FREQUENCY ELECTRONICS INC - Annual Report: 2008 (Form 10-K)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-K
(Mark
one)
x |
ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934
|
For
the
Fiscal Year ended April 30, 2008
OR
o |
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934
|
For
the
transition period from __________ to __________
Commission
File No. 1-8061
FREQUENCY
ELECTRONICS, INC.
(Exact
name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
|
11-1986657
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
incorporation
or organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.)
|
55
CHARLES LINDBERGH BLVD., MITCHEL FIELD, N.Y.
|
11553
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
Registrant's
telephone number, including area code: 516-794-4500
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:
Title of each class
|
Name of each exchange on
which registered
|
|
Common Stock (par value $1.00 per share)
|
NASDAQ Global Market
|
Securities registered pursuant
to Section 12 (g) of the Act:
None
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined
in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes
o
No
x
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes o No x
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 o
Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant 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. x
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated
filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check
one):
Large
accelerated filer o Accelerated
filer o Non-accelerated
filer o Smaller
Reporting Company x
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No
x
The
aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant
as of October 31, 2007 - $52,700,000
APPLICABLE
ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:
The
number of shares outstanding of Registrant's Common Stock, par value $1.00
as of
July 25, 2008 - 8,761,114
DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: PART III incorporates information by reference from
the definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be
held
on or about October 7, 2008.
(Cover
page 1 of 58 pages)
Exhibit
Index at Page 51
PART
I
Item
1. Business
GENERAL
DISCUSSION
Frequency
Electronics, Inc. (sometimes referred to as "Registrant", "Frequency
Electronics" or the "Company") was founded in 1961 as a research and development
firm in the technology of time and frequency control. Unless the context
indicates otherwise, references to the Registrant or the Company are to
Frequency Electronics, Inc. and its subsidiaries. References to “FEI” are to the
parent company alone and do not refer to any of the subsidiaries.
Frequency
Electronics was incorporated in Delaware in 1968 and became the successor to
the
business of Frequency Electronics, Inc., a New York corporation, organized
in
1961. The principal executive office of Frequency Electronics is located at
55
Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, Mitchel Field, New York 11553. Its telephone number
is 516-794-4500 and its website is www.frequencyelectronics.com.
In
the
mid-1990’s, the Company transformed itself from primarily a defense contract
manufacturer into a high-tech provider of precision time and frequency products
for commercial applications found in both ground-based communication stations
and on-board satellites. The Company also continues to support the United States
government with products for defense and space applications.
The
Company is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of
high-technology frequency, timing and synchronization products for satellite
and
terrestrial voice, video and data telecommunications. The Company’s technologies
provide unique solutions that are essential building blocks for the next
generation of broadband wireless and for the ongoing expansion of existing
wireless and wireline networks. The Company’s mission is to provide the most
advanced control of frequency and time - essential factors for synchronizing
communication networks and for providing reference frequencies for certain
military, commercial and scientific, terrestrial and space
applications.
The
Company has identified the following major markets for its products and
technology:
SATELLITE
PAYLOADS
(1)
Commercial communication satellites- The globe is encircled by over 120
geostationary satellites used for communication, TV and video broadcasting,
and
data transmission. These satellites are going through a replacement and
augmentation cycle which will last for many years.
(2)
Satellites for U.S. Government Department of Defense (“DOD”) and National
Aeronautics and Space Administrations (“NASA”)- Such satellites, which may be in
geostationary, mid- and low-earth orbits, are used for secure communications,
surveillance, guidance, global positioning (GPS) and weather tracking.
Industry
estimates predict approximately 20 additional and replacement satellites will
be
built each year over the next decade.
TELECOMMUNICATION
NETWORKS
(3)
Wireless communications- Cellular telephone infrastructure requires precise
signal synchronization. In the architecture of many of the cellular systems,
this synchronization is obtained through oscillators provided by the Company.
As
more services are added and more users come online, the need for synchronization
is increased.
(4)
WiMAX- The nascent Internet access technology is part of the wireless
communications alternatives. The consortium of Motorola, Intel and Sprint,
for
example, are currently building WiMax networks in select cities in the United
States as well as in other countries. For mobile WiMax, precise signal
synchronization is provided by Frequency’s oscillators.
(5)
Wireline synchronization- World-wide, a vast infrastructure supports the wired
communications networks. These networks also require significant synchronization
equipment which is housed in thousands of Central Offices operated by the
telephone companies. These equipments require upgrade and replacement to
maintain the integrity of the wireline networks and
inter-connectivity.
2
U.S.
GOVERNMENT & DOD (non-space)
(6)
U.S.
Government applications- In addition to DOD and NASA satellites, the U.S.
Government is in need of ever more secure communication capabilities and is
developing a secure radio for all branches of the military. The military is
also
increasing its use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and improving the accuracy
of the radar and guidance systems on all moving platforms.
OTHER
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS
(7)
Remote management of networks, such as power grids and gas lines, can be
accomplished through the Company’s LYNX SCADA system.
(8)
Deep
earth drilling for oil and gas in harsh environments can be done more
efficiently through utilization of the Company’s high temperature tolerant
oscillators and GPS technology.
To
address these markets, the Company has formed several corporate entities which
operate under three reportable segments. (See also the section entitled
REPORTABLE SEGMENTS below):
1. |
FEI-NY
The Company’s space and terrestrial commercial communications products are
designed, developed and manufactured by its wholly owned subsidiary,
FEI
Communications, Inc. (“FEIC”). FEIC was incorporated in Delaware in
December 1991, as a separate subsidiary company to provide ownership
and
management of assets and other services appropriate for commercial
clients, both domestic and foreign.
|
Frequency
Electronics, Inc. Asia (“FEI-Asia”) was established in fiscal year 2002 to be
the Company’s Asian-based low cost manufacturer of certain commercial
communications products used primarily in the wireless and wireline markets.
FEI-Asia is located in the Free-Trade Zone in Tianjin, China.
The
Company’s subsidiary, FEI Government Systems, Inc. (“FEI-GSI”), was formed in
fiscal year 2002 to focus on supplying the Company’s technology and legacy
proprietary products to the United States military and other U.S. Government
agencies.
2. |
Gillam-FEI
-
The Company’s Belgian subsidiary, acquired in September 2000, develops and
manufactures products for wireline and network synchronization systems.
Products delivered by Gillam-FEI provide essential network management
and
wireline synchronization for a variety of industries and
telecommunications providers in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and
Asia.
|
3. |
FEI-Zyfer
-
Precision time and frequency generation and synchronization products
that
incorporate global positioning systems (“GPS”) technology are manufactured
by the Company’s subsidiary FEI-Zyfer, Inc. (“FEI-Zyfer”), which was
acquired in fiscal year 2004. FEI-Zyfer’s GPS capability complements the
Company’s existing technologies and permits the combined entities to
provide a broader range of embedded systems for a variety of timing
functions.
|
In
addition to the operating segments, the Company has made a strategic investment
in Morion, Inc. (“Morion”), a Russian crystal oscillator manufacturer located in
St. Petersburg, Russia. The Company’s equity investment in Morion permits the
Company to secure a cost-effective source for high precision quartz resonators
and crystal oscillators, many of which are based on the Company’s design and
development work. As of April 30, 2008, the Company owned 8.0% of the
outstanding shares of Morion’s common stock. Accordingly, the Morion investment
is accounted for under the cost method.
In
December 2006, the Company acquired a 25% interest (20% on a fully-diluted
basis) in Elcom Technologies, Inc. (“Elcom”), a privately-held RF microwave
company. Elcom designs and manufactures high switching speed, low phase noise
microwave synthesizers, up-down converters, receivers, ceramic resonant
oscillators and dielectric resonant oscillators up to 40 GHz. These instruments
and components are critical for communication, surveillance, signal
intelligence, automatic testing, satellite ground stations and satellite
payloads. The Company accounts for its Elcom investment on the equity basis
and
the Company’s statement of operations includes its proportionate share of
Elcom’s operating results.
3
FISCAL
2008 SIGNIFICANT EVENT
Sale
of Morion shares
In
June
2007, the Company reduced its investment in Morion from 36.6% to 8% of Morion’s
outstanding shares. Based upon a determination by the Russian Federation that
Morion was in a “strategic industry,” Gazprombank, a Russian government
majority-owned joint stock bank, acquired the majority interest in Morion
previously held by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and
a
portion of the shares previously held by Frequency Electronics, both at the
same
price per share. Gazprombank, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Finproject,
Ltd., paid the Company approximately $5.6 million. In the first quarter of
fiscal year 2008, the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of approximately $3.0
million. This is in addition to approximately $2.0 million in equity income
realized in prior periods from the Morion investment. In connection with the
sale of the Morion stock and dilution in its ownership from 36.6% to 8%,
effective June 2007, the Company changed its method of accounting for its
investment in Morion from the equity basis to the cost basis.
REPORTABLE
SEGMENTS
The
Company operates under three reportable segments, primarily aligned with its
geographical locations: (1) FEI-NY, (2) Gillam-FEI; and (3) FEI-Zyfer. Within
each segment the Company designs, develops, manufactures and markets precision
time and frequency control products for different markets as described below.
The Company’s Chief Executive Officer measures segment performance based on
total revenues and profits generated by each geographic center rather than
on
the specific types of customers or end-users. Consequently, the Company
determined that limiting the number of segments to the three indicated above
appropriately reflects the way the Company’s management views the
business.
The
Company reports its segment information on an essentially geographic basis.
The
FEI-NY segment, which operates out of the Company’s New York headquarters
facility also includes the operations of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary,
FEI-Asia. FEI-Asia functions primarily as a manufacturing facility for the
FEI-NY segment.
The
products for the FEI-NY segment are principally marketed to wireless
communications networks, to the commercial and U.S. Government satellite markets
and to other U.S. Department of Defense programs. The Gillam-FEI segment
designs, develops and manufactures products for wireline and network
synchronization. Its products are currently sold to non-U.S. customers and
its
US5G system has recently been introduced to the domestic U.S. market. The
FEI-Zyfer segment designs and manufactures products which incorporate GPS
technologies. FEI-Zyfer sells its products to both commercial and U.S.
Government customers and collaborates with other FEI segments on joint product
development activities.
During
fiscal years 2008 and 2007 approximately 72% and 71%, respectively, of the
Company’s consolidated revenues were from products sold by the FEI-NY segment.
Sales by Gillam-FEI were approximately 18% and 20% of fiscal years 2008 and
2007
consolidated revenues, respectively. In fiscal years 2008 and 2007, sales for
the FEI-Zyfer segment were 14% and 13% of consolidated revenues, respectively.
Additional sales information for the FEI-NY, Gillam-FEI, and FEI-Zyfer segments
during each of the last five years is set forth in Item 6 (Selected Financial
Data).
Consolidated
revenues include sales to end-users in countries located outside of the United
States. During fiscal years 2008 and 2007, foreign sales comprised 31% and
32%,
respectively, of consolidated revenues. Segment information regarding revenues,
including foreign sales, operating profits, depreciation and assets is more
fully disclosed in Note 15 to the accompanying financial
statements.
FEI-NY
segment:
The
Company provides precision time, frequency and synchronization products that
are
found in ground-based communication stations, on-board earth-orbiting satellites
and imbedded in moving platforms operated by the U.S. military. The Company
has
made a substantial investment in research and development to apply its core
technologies to telecommunication and satellite payload markets. Revenues for
this segment have varied considerably over the past eight fiscal years, based
on
infrastructure spending patterns by wireless telecommunication companies and
demand for new satellites. Over this eight-year time frame, the Company
initially experienced accelerated growth in wireless infrastructure revenues
followed by a “telecom trough” in fiscal years 2002 and 2003. Accelerated growth
began again in late fiscal year 2004 and continued through early fiscal year
2005, to be followed by another slow down into the first two quarters of fiscal
year 2006. Beginning in the latter portion of fiscal year 2006, revenues from
satellite payloads, both for commercial and U.S. Government applications, began
to accelerate. The Company expects to continue to generate substantial revenues
from deployment of new and replacement satellites. The Company also believes
that the wireless industry provides a large opportunity for future sales growth
but the timing of any growth will be based on capital spending decisions by
domestic and worldwide telecommunications companies.
4
Terrestrial
Communications
The
development of new and enhanced technologies will bring expanded and more
reliable telecommunications services to the public. As digital cellular systems
and PCS networks grow they require more base stations to meet the demand for
better connectivity, higher data rates and dependable high quality for cell
phone service. Cellular infrastructure integrators and original equipment
manufacturers, consisting of some of the world’s largest telecommunications
companies, are building out existing networks even as they develop new
technologies for future systems. These new technologies include advances such
as
EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution), 3G (3rd
Generation) and others, that can provide not only improved voice connectivity
but also Internet, video and data transmission. A full buildout of WiMAX
networks in the United States alone, contemplates hundreds of thousands of
base
stations. Mobile WiMAX would require high levels of synchronization such as
that
provided by Frequency Electronics.
Wireless
communication networks consist of numerous installations located throughout
a
service area, each with its own base station connected by wire or microwave
radio through a network switch. Network operators are in the process of
converting older networks from analog to digital technology and enhanced systems
such as CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). These upgrades require more
precise frequency control at the base stations to achieve a higher dependability
and quality of services.
With
increased demand for wireless services on limited bandwidth, the requirement
for
precise timing to ensure system-wide synchronization becomes paramount. The
Company manufactures a Rubidium Atomic Standard, a small, low cost,
temperature-stable atomic “clock” as well as temperature-stable quartz crystal
oscillators, which are ideally suited for use in advanced cellular
communications base stations. Whether the network uses CDMA (Code Division
Multiple Access), TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), UMTS (Universal Mobile
Telecommunications System) or GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications)
or a
hybrid of these systems, timing to ensure signal synchronization is
essential.
Over
the
past five years, in conjunction with its European subsidiary, Gillam-FEI, the
Company has developed a new, state-of-the-art signal synchronization unit
identified as the US5G. This unit is intended to provide synchronization for
wireline networks within the United States where approximately 35,000 “shelves”
are located in 25,000 Central Offices around the country. The current equipment
in these Central Offices is old and in need of upgrade or replacement. During
fiscal year 2008, the Company’s US5G unit completed the validation phase at two
of the Regional Bell Operating Companies (“RBOC”) and the Company recorded its
first sales of this product in the United States. The Company expects to realize
increasing sales of this product line during fiscal year 2009.
Satellite
Payloads
The
use
of satellites launched for communications, navigation, weather forecasting,
video and data transmissions has expanded the need to transmit increasing
amounts of voice, video, and data to earth-based receivers. This requires more
precise timing and frequency control at the satellite. The Company manufactures
the master clocks (quartz, rubidium and cesium) and other significant timing
products for many satellite communication systems, and many of the Company’s
other space assemblies are used onboard spacecraft for command, control and
power distribution. Efficient and reliable DC-DC power converters are also
manufactured for the Company’s own instruments and as stand-alone products for
space applications. The Company’s oven-controlled quartz crystal oscillators are
cost-effective precision clocks suited for high-end performance required in
satellite transmissions, airborne telephony and geophysical survey positioning
systems. Newly developed frequency generators, synthesizers, distribution
amplifiers and up/down converters and receivers have augmented the Company’s
product offerings and positioned the Company to provide a greater share of
a
typical satellite’s payload. Commercial satellite programs such as ICO,
TerreStar, Intelsat, ANIK, Eutelsat, Inmarsat and Worldstar have utilized the
Company’s space-qualified products.
5
In
the
years ahead, the U.S. Government’s DOD will require more secure communication
capabilities, more assets in space and greater bandwidth. The Global Positioning
Satellite System, the MILSTAR Satellite System and the AEHF Satellite System,
are examples of the programs in which the Company participates. The Company
has
manufactured the master clock for the Trident missile, the basic timing system
for the Voyager I and Voyager II deep space exploratory missions and the quartz
timing system for the Space Shuttle. The Company’s product offerings for U.S.
Government satellite programs are similar in design and function to those used
on commercial satellites, as described above.
U.S.
Government-
non-space:
In
addition to space-based programs, the Company’s proprietary products have been
used in airborne and ground-based guidance, navigation, communications, radar,
sonar surveillance and electronic countermeasure and timing systems. The Company
has recently developed a low-g (gravity) sensitivity oscillator which offers
a
100-fold improvement in accuracy for certain guidance and targeting systems.
The
Company has demonstrated the functionality of its oscillators on over a dozen
U.S. Government platforms and anticipates that many of these programs will
be a
source of substantial future revenue. Products are built in accordance with
DOD
standards and are in use on many of the United States’ most sophisticated
military aircraft, satellites and missiles.
The
Company’s sales on U.S. Government programs for both space and non-space
applications, are generally made under fixed price contracts either directly
with U.S. Government agencies or indirectly through subcontracts intended for
government end-use. The price paid to the Company is not subject to adjustment
by reason of the costs incurred by the Company in the performance of the
contract, except for costs incurred due to contract changes ordered by the
customer. These contracts are negotiated on terms under which the Company bears
the risk of cost overruns and derives the benefit from cost savings.
Recently
the Company has also received several cost plus fee contracts. Under these
contracts, the Company may be able to recover all of its direct and indirect
costs related to the programs plus a pre-determined fee. In the event of
substantial cost overruns, the fee may be reduced.
Negotiations
on U.S. Government contracts are sometimes based in part on Certificates of
Current Costs. An inaccuracy in such certificates may entitle the government
to
an appropriate recovery. From time to time, the Defense Contracts Audit Agency
("DCAA") audits the Company's accounts with respect to these contracts. The
Company is not aware of any basis for recovery with respect to past
certificates.
All
U.S.
Government end-use contracts are subject to termination by the purchaser for
the
convenience of the U.S. Government and are subject to various other provisions
for the protection of the U.S. Government. In the event of such termination,
the
Company is entitled to receive compensation as provided under such contracts
and
in the applicable U.S. Government regulations.
Gillam-FEI
segment:
Gillam-FEI
extends the Company’s competencies into wireline synchronization, network
management,
and
specialized test equipment. With the advent of new digital broadband
transmission technologies, reliable synchronization has become the warranty
to
quality of service for telecommunications operators. Gillam-FEI is among the
world leaders in the field of wireline synchronization technology, and its
products are targeted for telecommunication operators and network equipment
manufacturers that utilize modular and flexible platforms to build reliable
digital-network-systems worldwide. Telecommunications operators such as
Belgacom, France Telecom, Telefonica and other service providers are among
Gillam-FEI’s major customers. With the development of the US5G unit for the
FEI-NY segment and the U.S. market, Gillam-FEI also developed a state-of-the-art
US5Ge unit and ancillary products intended for deployment in the European,
Middle Eastern, Asian and African markets.
Network
management systems marketed under the brand name LYNX, are a flexible suite
of
complementary software modules that are arranged to satisfy the specific needs
of telecom operators, electrical utilities, and other operators of distribution
networks. The multi-task capability of the LYNX system allows operators to
supervise and manage the distribution of electricity, gas, video cables, public
lighting, and other networks. Deregulation of utilities, especially in Europe,
has created a greater demand for the LYNX product. Major customers presently
using LYNX include SIG Electrical Services of Geneva, Switzerland; Electricity
Distribution Management for the city of Lausanne, Switzerland; UEM Electricity
Distribution Management for the city of Metz, France; Brussels International
Airport and Belgian Railways.
6
Gillam-FEI’s
specialized test equipment is mainly targeted for the telecommunications
industry.
FEI-Zyfer
segment:
FEI-Zyfer
designs, develops and manufactures products for precision time and frequency
generation and synchronization, primarily incorporating GPS technology.
FEI-Zyfer’s products make use of both “in-the-clear” civil and “crypto-secured”
military signals from GPS. In most cases, FEI-Zyfer’s products are integrated
into communications systems, computer networks, test equipment, and military
command and control terminals for ground and satellite link applications. More
than 60% of revenues are derived from sales where the end user is the U.S.
Government. FEI-Zyfer’s products are an important extension of FEI’s core
product line, specifically in the area of GPS capabilities.
PRODUCTS
The
Company's products are manufactured from raw material which, when combined
with
conventional electronic parts available from multiple sources, become finished
products used for commercial wireless and wireline communications, satellite
applications, space exploration, position location, radar, sonar and electronic
counter-measures. These products are employed in ground-based earth stations,
fixed, transportable, portable and mobile communications installations, domestic
and international satellites, as well as aircraft, ships, submarines and
missiles. The Company’s products are marketed as components, instruments, or
complete systems. Prices are determined based upon the complexity, design
requirement, purchased quantity and delivery schedule.
Components -
The
Company's key technologies utilize quartz, rubidium and cesium to manufacture
precision time and frequency standards and higher level assemblies which allow
the users to generate, transmit, and receive synchronous signals in order to
communicate effectively, locate position accurately, secure a communications
system, or guide a missile. The components class of the Company's products
includes crystal filters and discriminators, surface acoustic wave resonators,
and high-reliability thick and thin film hybrid assemblies for space and other
applications.
Precision
quartz oscillators use quartz resonators in conjunction with electronic
circuitry to produce signals with accurate and stable frequency. The Company's
products include several types of quartz oscillators, suited to a wide range
of
applications, including ultrastable and low-g sensitivity units for moving
platforms and satellite systems. These products also feature fast warm-up and
low power consumption for mobile applications, including voice and data
communications.
The
ovenized quartz oscillator is the most accurate of the Company’s crystal
oscillators. The crystal is enclosed in a temperature controlled environment
called a proportional oven. The Company manufactures several varieties of
temperature controlling devices and ovens.
The
voltage-controlled quartz oscillator features electronic controls for frequency
stabilization or modulation, depending upon the application.
The
temperature compensated quartz oscillator is controlled using a temperature
sensitive device to directly compensate for the effect of temperature on the
oscillator's frequency.
The
rubidium lamp, filter and resonance cell provide the optical subassembly for
the
manufacture of the Company's optically pumped atomic rubidium frequency
standards. The cesium tube resonator is used in the manufacture of the Company's
cesium primary standard atomic clocks.
High
reliability hybrid assemblies are manufactured in thick and thin film
technologies for applications from DC to 44 GHz. These hybrids are used in
manufacturing the Company's products and also supplied directly to customers,
for use in space and other high reliability systems.
7
Efficient
and reliable DC-DC power converters are manufactured for the Company's own
instruments and as stand alone products, for space
applications.
The
Company manufactures filters and discriminators using its crystal resonators
for
its own radio-frequency and microwave receiver, signal conditioner and signal
processor products.
Instruments
- The
Company's instrument line consists of three basic time and frequency generating
instruments and a number of instruments which test and distribute the time
and
frequency. The Company's time and frequency generating instruments are the
quartz frequency standard, rubidium atomic standard and cesium beam atomic
standard.
The
quartz frequency standard is an electronically controlled solid-state device
which utilizes a quartz crystal oscillator to produce a highly stable output
signal at a standardized frequency. These frequency standards are used in
communications, guidance and navigation and time synchronization systems. The
Company's products also include a precision frequency standard with battery
back-up and memory capability enabling it to remain in operation if a loss
of
power has occurred.
The
optically pumped atomic rubidium frequency standard is a solid-state instrument
which provides both timing and low phase noise frequency references used in
commercial communications systems. Rubidium oscillators combine sophisticated
glassware, light detection devices and electronics packages to generate a highly
stable frequency output. Rubidium, when energized by a specific radio frequency,
will absorb less light. The oscillator’s electronics package generates this
specific frequency and the light detection device ensures, through monitoring
the decreased absorption of light by the rubidium and the use of feedback
control loops, that this specific frequency is maintained. This highly stable
frequency is then captured by the electronics package and generated as an output
signal. Rubidium oscillators provide atomic oscillator stability, at lower
costs
and in smaller packages.
The
cesium beam atomic standard utilizes the atomic resonance characteristics of
cesium atoms to generate precise frequency several orders of magnitude more
accurate and stable than other types of quartz frequency generators. The
Company’s atomic standard is a compact, militarized solid-state device which
generates these precision frequencies for use with advanced communications
and
navigation equipment. A digital time-of-day clock is incorporated which provides
visual universal time display and digital timing for systems use. The atomic
standard manufactured by the Company is a primary standard, capable of producing
time accuracies of better than one second in several hundred thousand
years.
As
the
demands on communications systems increase, the requirement for precise
frequency signals to drive a multitude of electronic equipment is greatly
expanded. To meet this growing requirement, the Company manufactures a
distribution amplifier which is an electronically controlled solid-state device
that receives a base frequency from a frequency standard and provides multiple
signal outputs of the input frequency. A distribution amplifier enables many
items of electronic equipment in a single facility, aircraft or ship to
receive a standardized frequency and/or time signal from a quartz, rubidium
or cesium atomic standard.
Systems -
The
systems portion of the Company's business includes manufacturing and integrating
selections of its specialized components into higher level subsystems and
systems that meet customer-defined needs. The Company has a unique knowledge
and
demonstrated capability to interface these technologies and experience in
applying them to a wide range of systems. The systems generate electronic
frequencies of predetermined value and then divide, multiply, mix, convert,
modulate, demodulate, filter, distribute, combine, separate, switch, measure,
analyze, and/or compare these signals depending on the system
application.
This
portion of the Company’s business includes a complete line of time and frequency
control systems, capable of generating many frequencies and time scales that
may
be distributed to widely dispersed users, or within the confines of a facility
or platform, or for a single dedicated purpose. Time and frequency control
systems combine the Company's cesium, rubidium and/or crystal instruments with
its other components, to provide systems for wireless, wireline, space and
defense applications.
For
the
wireless industry, the Company integrates its core components such as quartz
oscillators and rubidium atomic standards with software applications,
microprocessors, and other digital circuitry into complete subsystems. These
subsystems supply frequency and time reference signals that facilitate wireless
communications and are necessary for the various wireless technologies to
operate properly. The customers for these subsystems are global wireless
infrastructure manufacturers.
8
For
the
wireline industry, the Company integrates its core components with other
electronic modules into high-level platforms that provide a total
synchronization solution. These signal synchronization units (“SSUs”) are
designed and manufactured by Gillam-FEI. SSUs are inserted into digital
telecommunication networks and provide reliable synchronization for proper
operation of the network. The systems are primarily sold to telecommunication
operators and vary from a few SSUs for a simple network to hundreds of units
for
complex networks. For operators of distribution networks such as electrical
utilities and telecommunications operators, the Company offers the LYNX system—a
flexible suite of complementary software modules that are distinctively combined
to satisfy the requirements of the users. With the advent of digital broadband
transmission technologies, reliable synchronization has become the Quality
of
Service for telecommunications operators world-wide.
For
the
space and defense sectors the Company combines its core products in a wide
range
of diverse applications that provide systems for space and ground based
communications, space exploration, satellite tracking stations, satellite-based
navigation and position location, secure communication, submarine and ship
navigation, calibration, and electronic counter-measures applications. These
time and frequency control systems can provide up to quadruple redundancy to
assure operational longevity and dependability. The past experience of major
contactors in these sectors has led satellite integrators to outsource
increasing amounts of these systems to highly qualified producers who have
validated their capabilities through extensive successful participation in
past
defense and space programs. Historically, the Company ranks among the top
producers in this category.
The
Company’s subsidiary, FEI-Zyfer, manufactures products incorporating GPS
technology by utilizing GPS signals to provide required performance in
conjunction with precision time and frequency information. These systems and
subsystems are used in secure government programs such as SAASM (Selective
Acquisition Anti-spoofing Module) and commercial communications and other
applications.
The
GPS
expertise of FEI-Zyfer has been joined with the technological capabilities
and
experience of the FEI-NY segment in building crystal oscillators for harsh
environments, to jointly develop a new system to be utilized to enhance seismic
data in deep earth and other exploratory drilling for natural
resources.
BACKLOG
As
of
April 30, 2008, the Company's consolidated backlog amounted to approximately
$39
million (see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations). Approximately 80% of this backlog is expected to
be
filled during the Company’s fiscal year ending April 30, 2009. Included in the
backlog at April 30, 2008 is approximately $7 million under cost plus fee
contracts which the Company believes represent firm commitments from its
customers for which the Company has not received full funding to date. The
backlog is subject to change by reason of several factors including possible
cancellation of orders, change orders, terms of the contracts and other factors
beyond the Company's control. Accordingly, the backlog is not necessarily
indicative of the revenues or profits (losses) which may be realized when the
results of such contracts are reported.
CUSTOMERS
AND SUPPLIERS
The
Company markets its products both directly and through approximately 50
independent sales representative organizations located in the United States,
Europe and Asia. Sales to non-U.S. customers, including the revenues of its
overseas subsidiaries, totaled approximately 31% and 32%, of net sales in fiscal
years 2008 and 2007, respectively.
The
Company's products are sold to both commercial and governmental customers.
For
the years ended April 30, 2008 and 2007, approximately 27% and 24%,
respectively, of the Company's sales were made under contracts to the U.S.
Government or subcontracts for U.S. Government end-use.
The
Company’s consolidated sales for the year ended April 30, 2008 included sales to
Boeing Corporation (“Boeing”), Motorola Corp. (“Motorola”), and Space
Systems/Loral (“SS/L”), each of which accounted for greater than 10% of
consolidated sales. In the aggregate, for fiscal year 2008 these three customers
accounted for 37% of consolidated sales and 52% of the revenues of the Company’s
FEI-NY segment. In fiscal year 2007, revenues from Motorola, SS/L and
Alcatel-Lucent (“Lucent”) each accounted for greater than 10% of consolidated
sales, aggregating approximately 43% of consolidated sales and 61% of the
revenues of the FEI-NY segment.
9
During
fiscal years 2008 and 2007, France Telecom and Belgacom were major customers
of
the Gillam-FEI segment. These European telecommunication companies accounted
for
an aggregate of 39% and 35%, respectively, of the segment’s revenues in those
fiscal years.
In
the
FEI-Zyfer segment, in fiscal year 2008, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department
accounted for 12% of the segment’s revenue and during fiscal year 2007, Computer
Sciences Corporation and SI International accounted for an aggregate of 21%
of
the segment’s revenues.
None
of
the customers in the Gillam-FEI or FEI-Zyfer segments accounted for more than
10% of consolidated revenues.
The
loss
by the Company of any one of these customers would have a material adverse
effect on the Company’s business. The Company believes its relationship with
these companies to be mutually satisfactory and is not aware of any prospect
for
the cancellation or significant reduction of any of its commercial or existing
U.S. Government contracts.
The
Company purchases a variety of components such as transistors, resistors,
capacitors, connectors and diodes for use in the manufacture of its products.
The Company is not dependent upon any one supplier or source of supply for
any
of its component part purchases and maintains alternative sources of supply
for
all of its purchased components. The Company has found its suppliers generally
to be reliable and price-competitive.
RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT
The
Company's technological expertise continues to be an important factor to support
future growth in revenues and earnings. The Company has focused its internal
research and development efforts on improving the core physics and electronic
packages in its time and frequency products, conducting research to develop
new
time and frequency technologies, improving product manufacturability by seeking
to reduce its production costs through product redesign and process improvements
and other measures to take advantage of lower cost components.
The
Company continues to focus a significant portion of its own resources and
efforts on developing hardware for satellite (commercial and U.S. Government)
and terrestrial commercial communications systems, including wireless, wireline
and GPS-related systems. During fiscal years 2008 and 2007, the Company expended
$7.1 million and $9.4 million of its own funds, respectively, on such research
and development activity. (See also Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.) For fiscal year 2009, the
Company is targeting to spend between $5.0 million and $7.0 million on research
and development in similar areas. The actual amount spent in fiscal year 2009
will depend on market conditions and identification of new opportunities.
PATENTS
AND LICENSES
The
Company believes that its business is generally not dependent on patent or
license protection. Rather, it is primarily dependent upon the Company's
technical competence, the quality of its products and its prompt and responsible
contract performance. However, employees working for the Company assign all
rights to inventions to the Company and the Company presently holds such patents
and licenses. In certain limited circumstances, the U.S. Government may use
or
permit the use by the Company’s competitors of certain patents or licenses the
government has funded. During fiscal year 2003, the Company received a broad
and
significant patent for new, proprietary quartz oscillator technology which
the
Company intends to exploit in both legacy and new applications. In 2006, the
Company obtained a basic patent for its low-g technology.
COMPETITION
The
Company experiences competition in all areas of its business. The Company
competes primarily on the basis of the accuracy, performance and reliability
of
its products, the ability of its products to function under severe conditions,
such as in space or other extreme hostile environments, prompt and responsive
contract performance, technical competence and price. The Company has a unique
and broad product line which includes all three frequency standards - quartz,
rubidium, and cesium. Because of the very high precision of certain of its
products, the Company has few competitors. For lower precision components there
is significant competition from a number of suppliers.
10
In
recent
years, the Company has successfully outsourced certain component manufacturing
processes to third parties and more recently to its wholly-owned subsidiary,
FEI-Asia in Tianjin, China and to Russian-based Morion, Inc., in which the
Company is a minority shareholder. The Company expects this outsourcing to
enhance its competitive position on cost while maintaining its high quality
standards. The Company believes its ability to obtain raw materials, manufacture
finished products, integrate them into systems and sub-systems and interface
these systems with end-user applications provides a strong competitive
advantage.
Certain
of the Company's competitors are larger, have greater financial resources and
have larger research and development and marketing staffs. The Company has
a
strong history of competing successfully in this environment due to the quality,
reliability and outstanding record of performance its products have
achieved.
With
respect to its instruments and systems for timing and synchronization, the
Company competes with Agilent
Technologies,
Symmetricom, Inc, E. G. and G., Inc., Vectron, Inc. and others. Systems for
the
wireline industry produced by the Gillam-FEI segment compete with Symmetricom,
Inc. and Oscilloquartz, a division of Swatch. The Company’s principal
competition for space products is the in-house capability of its major
customers.
EMPLOYEES
The
Company employs approximately 500 full-time persons worldwide. None of the
U.S.
employees are represented by labor unions, while in Europe approximately five
employees in one facility are represented by a French labor union.
OTHER
ASPECTS
The
Company's business is not seasonal although it expects to experience some
fluctuation in revenues during the second fiscal quarter as a result of extended
holiday periods in August. No unusual working capital requirements
exist.
EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
The
executive officers hold office until the annual meeting of the Board of
Directors following the annual meeting of stockholders, subject to earlier
removal by the Board of Directors.
The
names
of all executive officers of the Company and all positions and offices with
the
Company which they presently hold are as follows:
Joseph
P. Franklin
|
-
|
Chairman
of the Board of Directors
|
Martin
B. Bloch
|
-
|
President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
Markus
Hechler
|
-
|
Executive
Vice President, President of FEI Government Systems, Inc. and Assistant
Secretary
|
Steven
Strang
|
-
|
President,
FEI-Zyfer
|
Charles
S. Stone
|
-
|
Vice
President, Low Noise Development
|
Leonard
Martire
|
-
|
Vice
President, Program Management
|
Oleandro
Mancini
|
-
|
Vice
President, Business Development
|
Thomas McClelland
|
-
|
Vice
President, Commercial Products
|
Adrian
Lalicata
|
-
|
Vice
President, RF & Microwave Systems
|
Alan
Miller
|
-
|
Treasurer
and Chief Financial Officer
|
Harry
Newman
|
-
|
Secretary
|
None of the officers and directors is related. |
11
Joseph
P.
Franklin, age 74, has served as a Director of the Company since March 1990.
In
December 1993 he was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors. He also served
as Chief Executive Officer from December 1993 through October 1998 and as Chief
Financial Officer from September 1996 through October 1998. From August 1987
to
November 1993, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Franklin S.A., a Spanish
business consulting company located in Madrid, Spain, specializing in joint
ventures, and was a director of several prominent Spanish companies. General
Franklin was a Major General in the United States Army until he retired in
July
1987.
Martin
B.
Bloch, age 72, has been a Director of the Company and of its predecessor since
1961. Mr. Bloch is the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and has
held such positions since inception of the Company, except for the period from
December 1993 through October 1998 when General Franklin held the CEO position.
Previous to forming the Company, Mr. Bloch served as chief electronics engineer
of the Electronics Division of Bulova Watch Company.
Markus
Hechler, age 62, joined the Company in 1967. He was elected to the position
of
Executive Vice President in February 1999, prior to which he served as Vice
President, Manufacturing since 1982. In October 2001, he was named President
of
the Company’s subsidiary, FEI Government Systems, Inc. He has served as
Assistant Secretary since 1978.
Steven
Strang, age 44, was named President of FEI-Zyfer, Inc., effective May 1, 2005.
Previously, Mr. Strang was Executive Vice President of this subsidiary and
its
predecessor companies where he has served for 17 years in various technical
and
management positions.
Charles
S. Stone, age 77, joined the Company in 1984, and has served as its Vice
President since that time. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Stone served as
Senior Vice President of Austron Inc., from 1966 to 1979, and Senior Scientist
of Tracor Inc., from 1962 to 1966.
Leonard
Martire, age 71, joined the Company in August 1987 and served as Executive
Vice
President of FEI Microwave, Inc., the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, until
May 1993 when he was elected Vice President, Marketing and Sales. In fiscal
year
2007, Mr. Martire assumed a new role as Vice President Program
Management.
Oleandro
Mancini, age 59, joined the Company in August 2000 as Vice President, Business
Development. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Mancini served from 1998 as
Vice
President, Sales and Marketing at Satellite Transmission Systems, Inc. and
from
1995 to 1998 as Vice President, Business Development at Cardion, Inc., a Siemens
A.G. company. From 1987 to 1995, he held the position of Vice President,
Engineering at Cardion, Inc.
Thomas
McClelland, age 53, joined the Company as an engineer in 1984 and was elected
Vice President, Commercial Products in March 1999.
Adrian
Lalicata, age 61, joined the Company in 2006 as Vice President, RF &
Microwave Systems. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Lalicata served as Vice
President of Engineering at Herley-CTI and Communication Techniques, a Dover
Company. Mr Lalicata has served as Director of Engineering at Microphase Corp.
and Adcomm, Inc. He also held leading engineering positions at Loral Electronic
Systems, Cardion Electronics, and Airborne Instruments
Laboratories.
Alan
Miller, age 59, joined the Company in November 1995 as its corporate controller
and was elected to the position of Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer in
October 1998. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Miller served as an operations
manager and a consultant to small businesses from 1992 through 1995 and as
a
Senior Audit Manager with Ernst & Young, L.L.P. from 1980 to
1991.
Harry
Newman, age 61, Secretary, has been employed by the Company since 1979, prior
to
which he served as Divisional Controller of Jonathan Logan, Inc., apparel
manufacturers, from 1976 to 1979, and as supervising Senior Accountant with
Clarence Rainess and Co., Certified Public Accountants, from 1971 to
1975.
Item
1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None
12
Item
2. Properties
The
Company operates out of several facilities located around the world. Each
facility is used for manufacturing its products and for administrative
activities. The following table presents the location, size and terms of
ownership/occupation:
Location
|
Size (sq. ft.)
|
Own or Lease
|
|||||
Long
Island, NY
|
93,000
|
Lease
|
|||||
Garden
Grove, CA
|
27,850
|
Lease
|
|||||
Liege,
Belgium
|
34,000
|
Own
|
|||||
Chalon
Sur Saone, France
|
5,000
|
Lease
|
|||||
Tianjin,
China
|
27,000
|
Lease
|
The
Company’s facility located in Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York, is part of
the building that the Company constructed in 1981 and expanded in 1988 on land
leased from Nassau County. In January 1998, the Company sold this building
and
the related land lease to Reckson Associates Realty Corp. (“Reckson”), leasing
back the space that it presently occupies.
The
Company leases its manufacturing and office space from Reckson under an initial
11-year lease at an annual rental of $400,000 per year with the Company paying
its pro rata share of real estate taxes along with the costs of utilities and
insurance. During fiscal year 2008, the Company notified Reckson that it would
renew the lease for the first 5-year renewal period beginning January 2009
at an
annual rental of $600,000. The lease will end in January 2014 unless the Company
exercises its option to continue the lease for a second 5-year renewal period
with annual rental of $800,000. The leased space is adequate to meet the
Company’s domestic operational needs which encompass the principal operations of
the FEI-NY
segment
and also serves as the Company’s world-wide corporate headquarters.
The
sale
of its building to Reckson, a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) whose shares
were then traded on the New York Stock Exchange, was effected through a
tax-deferred exchange of the building for approximately 513,000 participation
units of Reckson Operating Partnership, L.P. (“REIT units”) which were valued at
closing at $12 million. In March 2005, the Company exercised its option to
convert all of the REIT units into 513,000 shares of the REIT. Upon conversion
of the REIT units, the Company recognized a gain of $4.6 million and deferred
an
additional $1.3 million gain. The deferred gain will be recognized into income
over the remaining term of the initial leaseback period which ends in January
2009. (See Note 6 to the accompanying financial statements.)
When
the
Company completed the acquisition of Gillam-FEI it also acquired the property
located in Liege, Belgium as well as a manufacturing facility in France. The
French facility was subsequently sold and the France sales office is now housed
in a leased facility in Chalon Sur Saone, France. These facilities are adequate
to meet the present and future operational requirements of
Gillam-FEI.
The
Tianjin, China facility is the location of the Company’s wholly-owned
subsidiary, FEI-Asia. In late fiscal year 2005, the subsidiary acquired
additional leased space within a manufacturing facility located in the Tianjin
Free-Trade Zone. The lease is renewable annually with rent of $15,000 payable
quarterly. The new facility is adequate for the near-term manufacturing
expectations for the Company.
The
Garden Grove, California facility is leased by the Company’s subsidiary,
FEI-Zyfer, Inc. The facility consists of a combination office and manufacturing
space. The lease, which expires in August 2017, currently requires monthly
payments of $24,500 and will increase each year over the remaining 113 months
of
the lease term.
Item
3. Legal Proceedings
From
time
to time, the Company is a defendant in litigation arising out of the ordinary
course of business. The Company is not a party to any material, pending legal
proceeding other than routine litigation incidental to its
business.
13
Item
4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
No
matters were required to be submitted by Registrant to a vote of security
holders during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008.
PART
II
Item
5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities
Effective
August 1, 2006, the Common Stock of the Company was listed on The
Nasdaq Global Market (“NASDAQ”) under
the
ticker symbol “FEIM.” Prior to that date, the Company’s shares were traded on
the
American Stock Exchange under the symbol "FEI".
The
following table shows the high and low sale price for the Company's Common
Stock
for the quarters indicated, as reported by the American Stock Exchange through
July 31, 2006 and on the NASDAQ from August 1, 2006 through April 30,
2008.
FISCAL
QUARTER
|
HIGH SALE
|
LOW SALE
|
|||||
2008–
|
|||||||
FIRST
QUARTER
|
$
|
11.66
|
$
|
9.75
|
|||
SECOND
QUARTER
|
11.49
|
9.61
|
|||||
THIRD
QUARTER
|
10.35
|
8.46
|
|||||
FOURTH
QUARTER
|
9.23
|
6.50
|
|||||
2007
–
|
|||||||
FIRST
QUARTER
|
$
|
15.00
|
$
|
11.20
|
|||
SECOND
QUARTER
|
14.00
|
10.04
|
|||||
THIRD
QUARTER
|
13.60
|
11.01
|
|||||
FOURTH
QUARTER
|
12.47
|
9.86
|
As
of
July 25, 2008, the approximate number of holders of record of common stock
was
600. The closing share price of the Company’s stock on April 30, 2008 was $6.63.
The closing share price of the Company’s stock on July 25, 2008 was
$6.01.
DIVIDEND
POLICY
In
1997,
the Company initiated a policy of paying a cash dividend to stockholders of
record as of April 30 and October 31 of each year subject to prevailing
financial conditions. The Board of Directors determines dividend amounts prior
to each declaration. In fiscal year 2007, the Company declared semi-annual
cash
dividends of $0.10 per share of common stock to shareholders. For fiscal year
2008, the Company declared a dividend of $0.10 per share of common stock to
shareholders of record as of October 31, 2007 and payable on December 1, 2007.
In March 2008, in the context of extraordinary uncertainties in credit and
capital markets and the importance of preserving capital, the Board determined
that no cash dividend would be paid in June 2008. The Board of Directors
indicated it would review dividend policy at subsequent meetings.
STOCK
BUYBACK PROGRAM
In
March
2005, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program for
up to $5 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Shares may be
purchased in open market purchases, private transactions or otherwise at such
times and from time to time, and at such prices and in such amounts as the
Company believes appropriate and in the best interests of its shareholders.
The
timing and volume of repurchases will vary depending on market conditions and
other factors. Purchases may be commenced or suspended at any time without
notice. During fiscal year 2008, the Company repurchased 32,312 shares under
the
buyback program, paying an average of $9.63 per share or an aggregate amount
of
approximately $311,000. No shares were repurchased during fiscal year 2007.
The
Company anticipates that it will repurchase more shares under the buyback
program in fiscal year 2009 than it repurchased in fiscal year
2008.
14
EQUITY
COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
Plan
Category
|
Number of Securities to
be Issued upon exercise
of Outstanding Options
Warrants and Rights
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options
Warrants and Rights
|
Number of Securities
Remaining available for
Future Issuance under
Equity Compensation Plans
(Excluding Securities
Reflected in Column (a))
|
|||||||
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
||||||||
Equity
Compensation Plans
|
||||||||||
Approved
by Security Holders
|
856,775
|
$
|
10.17
|
1,625
|
||||||
Equity
Compensation Plans Not
|
||||||||||
Approved
by Security Holders
|
632,800
|
$
|
12.82
|
-
|
||||||
TOTAL
|
1,489,575
|
$
|
11.30
|
1,625
|
Item
6. Selected Financial Data
The
following table sets forth selected financial data including net sales and
operating profit (loss) for the five-year period ended April 30, 2008. The
information has been derived from the audited financial statements of the
Company for the respective periods.
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA
Years
Ended April 30,
|
||||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
||||||||||||
(in
thousands, except share and dividend data)
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
Sales
|
||||||||||||||||
FEI-NY
|
$
|
46,258
|
$
|
40,184
|
$
|
35,801
|
$
|
37,067
|
$
|
35,288
|
||||||
Gillam-FEI
(1)
|
11,459
|
11,382
|
9,170
|
12,599
|
12,197
|
|||||||||||
FEI-Zyfer
|
9,089
|
7,542
|
10,055
|
8,803
|
6,560
|
|||||||||||
less
intersegment sales (1)
|
(2,409
|
)
|
(2,902
|
)
|
(2,216
|
)
|
(3,296
|
)
|
(3,939
|
)
|
||||||
Total
Net Sales
|
$
|
64,397
|
$
|
56,206
|
$
|
52,810
|
$
|
55,173
|
$
|
50,106
|
||||||
Operating
(Loss) Profit
|
$
|
(2,578
|
)
|
$
|
(3,721
|
)
|
$
|
1,710
|
$
|
(1,269
|
)
|
$
|
(1,646
|
)
|
||
Net
Income (Loss)
|
$
|
887
|
(2)
|
$
|
(257
|
)
|
$
|
4,798
|
(3)
|
$
|
5,037
|
(4)
|
$
|
320
|
(5,6)
|
|
Average
Common Shares Outstanding
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
8,710,260
|
8,620,776
|
8,537,427
|
8,484,682
|
8,374,399
|
|||||||||||
Diluted
|
8,778,059
|
8,620,776
|
8,690,617
|
8,684,758
|
8,542,575
|
|||||||||||
Earnings
(Loss) per Common Share
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
$
|
0.10
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
$
|
0.56
|
$
|
0.59
|
$
|
0.04
|
(6)
|
||||
Diluted
|
$
|
0.10
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
$
|
0.55
|
$
|
0.58
|
$
|
0.04
|
(6)
|
||||
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET DATA
|
||||||||||||||||
Total
Assets
|
$
|
96,920
|
$
|
93,826
|
$
|
86,741
|
$
|
88,374
|
$
|
92,867
|
(7)
|
|||||
Long-Term
Obligations and Deferred Items
|
$
|
11,233
|
$
|
9,311
|
$
|
9,120
|
$
|
9,337
|
$
|
17,609
|
||||||
$
|
0.10
|
$
|
0.20
|
$
|
0.20
|
$
|
0.20
|
$
|
0.20
|
15
Notes
to Selected Financial Data
(1)
|
Includes
intercompany sales to FEI-NY
segment
of
$0.2 million, $0.5 million, $0.9 million, $2.4 million and $3.5 million
in
fiscal years 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively, for
development of US5G product.
|
(2)
|
Includes
$3.0 million from gain on the sale of 28.6% interest in Morion
Inc.
|
(3)
|
Includes
$2.1 million from gain on the sale of REIT common shares and $680,000
from
gain on the sale of a European subsidiary’s former manufacturing
facility.
|
(4)
|
Includes
$6.9 million from gain on conversion of REIT units into REIT common
shares
and subsequent sale of a portion of the REIT common
shares.
|
(5)
|
Includes
$400,000 reversal of tax liabilities established in prior
years.
|
(6)
|
Includes
$158,000 for restatement of equity income from Morion, Inc. in fiscal
years 2004 which also increased fiscal year 2004 Earnings per Common
Share
by $0.02 from the amount reported before
restatement.
|
(7)
|
Total
assets are restated by $207,000 for fiscal year 2004 from amounts
reported
in prior fiscal years to reflect the Company’s equity interest in Morion,
Inc.
|
Item
7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
“Safe
Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995:
The
statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K regarding future earnings and
operations and other statements relating to the future constitute
"forward-looking" statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements
inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to
differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause
or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, inability
to
integrate operations and personnel, actions by significant customers or
competitors, general domestic and international economic conditions, consumer
spending trends, reliance on key customers, continued acceptance of the
Company's products in the marketplace, competitive factors, new products and
technological changes, product prices and raw material costs, dependence upon
third-party vendors, competitive developments, changes in manufacturing and
transportation costs, the availability of capital, and the outcome of any
litigation and arbitration proceedings. By making these forward-looking
statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements
for
revisions or changes after the date of this report.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
The
Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the
consolidated financial statements. The Company believes its most critical
accounting policies to be the recognition of revenue and costs on production
contracts and the valuation of inventory. Each of these areas requires the
Company to make use of reasonable estimates including estimating the cost to
complete a contract, the realizable value of its inventory or the market value
of its products. Changes in estimates can have a material impact on the
Company’s financial position and results of operations.
Revenue
Recognition
Revenues
under larger, long-term contracts which generally require billings based
on
achievement of milestones rather than delivery of product, are reported in
operating results using the percentage of completion method. On fixed-price
contracts, which are typical for commercial and U.S. Government satellite
programs and other long-term U.S. Government projects, and which require
initial
design and development of the product, revenue is recognized on the cost-to-cost
method. Under this method, revenue is recorded based upon the ratio that
incurred costs bear to total estimated contract costs with related cost of
sales
recorded as the costs are incurred. Each month management reviews estimated
contract costs through a process of aggregating actual costs incurred and
estimating additional costs to complete based upon the current available
information and status of the contract. The effect of any change in the
estimated gross margin percentage for a contract is reflected in revenues
in the
period in which the change is known. Provisions for anticipated losses on
contracts are made in the period in which they become determinable. (See
Significant Events below)
16
On
production-type orders, revenue is recorded as units are delivered with the
related cost of sales recognized on each shipment based upon a percentage of
estimated final program costs. Changes in job performance may result in
revisions to costs and income and are recognized in the period in which
revisions are determined to be required. Provisions for anticipated losses
on
customer orders are made in the period in which they become
determinable.
For
customer orders in the Company’s Gillam-FEI and FEI-Zyfer segments or smaller
contracts or orders in the other business segments, sales of products and
services to customers are reported in operating results based upon (i) shipment
of the product or (ii) performance of the services pursuant to terms of the
customer order. When payment is contingent upon customer acceptance of the
installed system, revenue is deferred until such acceptance is received and
installation completed.
Costs
and Expenses
Contract
costs include all direct material, direct labor costs, manufacturing overhead
and other direct costs related to contract performance. Selling, general and
administrative costs are charged to expense as incurred.
Inventory
In
accordance with industry practice, inventoried costs contain amounts relating
to
contracts and programs with long production cycles, a portion of which will
not
be realized within one year. Inventory reserves are established for slow-moving
and obsolete items and are based upon management’s experience and expectations
for future business. Any changes in reserves arising from revised expectations
are reflected in cost of sales in the period the revision is made.
RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
The
table
below sets forth for the fiscal years ended April 30 the percentage of
consolidated net sales represented by certain items in the Company’s
consolidated statements of operations:
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Net
Sales
|
|||||||
FEI-NY
|
71.8
|
%
|
71.5
|
%
|
|||
Gillam-FEI
|
17.8
|
20.3
|
|||||
FEI-Zyfer
|
14.1
|
13.4
|
|||||
Less
intersegment sales
|
(3.7
|
)
|
(5.2
|
)
|
|||
100.0
|
100.0
|
||||||
Cost
of Sales
|
72.6
|
69.6
|
|||||
Gross
Margin
|
27.4
|
30.4
|
|||||
Selling
and Administrative expenses
|
20.4
|
20.2
|
|||||
Research
and Development expenses
|
11.0
|
16.8
|
|||||
Operating
Loss
|
(4.0
|
)
|
(6.6
|
)
|
|||
Other
Income, net
|
6.3
|
3.4
|
|||||
Provision
(Benefit) for Income Taxes
|
0.9
|
(2.8
|
)
|
||||
Net
Income
(Loss)
|
1.4
|
%
|
(0.4
|
)%
|
Significant
Events
Operating
results for fiscal year 2008 were impacted by activities on several major
satellite payload programs. Revenues from space-related programs increased
by
over 40% from fiscal year 2007 but higher than anticipated engineering and
manufacturing costs as a result of testing failures encountered in the fourth
quarter resulted in lower gross margin on certain contracts. As a resresult,
during the course of the Company’s year end closing process, management
determined that the original estimate of expected costs to complete certain
contracts as of April 30, 2008 were inadequate and had to be increased. Such
estimate revisions resulted in a reduction of revenues reported in the statement
of operations for the year ended April 30, 2008 and the recording of additional
losses on certain contracts in the fourth quarter. As a result, the Company
recorded an operating loss and negative operating cash flow for the year
ended
April 30, 2008.
17
The
Company’s management constantly monitors its estimates and intends to
continually enhance its estimation process to enable the Company to react more
quickly to changing estimates and to reflect such changes in the applicable
contracts and in the Company's financial statements.
During
the first quarter of fiscal year 2008, the Company completed the sale of 28.6%
of the outstanding shares of Morion, reducing its investment in Morion from
36.6% to 8% of Morion’s outstanding shares. The Company received approximately
$5.6 million from the sale and recognized a pre-tax gain of approximately $3.0
million.
Net
Sales
Years
ended April 30,
|
|||||||||||||
(in
millions)
|
|||||||||||||
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
Change
|
|||||||||
FEI-NY
|
$
|
46.3
|
$
|
40.2
|
$
|
6.1
|
15
|
%
|
|||||
Gillam-FEI
|
11.4
|
11.4
|
0.0
|
0
|
%
|
||||||||
FEI-Zyfer
|
9.1
|
7.5
|
1.6
|
21
|
%
|
||||||||
Intersegment
sales
|
(2.4
|
)
|
(2.9
|
)
|
0.5
|
|
|
||||||
$
|
64.4
|
$
|
56.2
|
$
|
8.2
|
15
|
%
|
For
the
year ended April 30, 2008, the 15% revenue increase in the FEI-NY segment and
the 21% increase in the FEI-Zyfer segment were derived from two primary market
areas: satellite payloads (both commercial and U.S. Government programs) and
other U.S. Government, non-space programs. Revenues from these sources each
increased by over 40% from year ago levels. Satellite payload programs are
managed by the FEI-NY segment and both FEI-NY and FEI-Zyfer provide products
to
non-space U.S. Government programs. Telecommunication network revenues,
generated by all three segments, was lower by less than 10% from the fiscal
year
2007 levels as customer demand softened. Gillam-FEI revenues also benefited
from
the increased value of the Euro compared to the U.S. dollar. In Euro-denominated
terms and excluding intersegment sales, Gillam-FEI fiscal year 2008 revenues
declined by 4% from the prior year.
For
the
year ended April 30, 2007, revenue in the FEI-NY segment increased by 12% over
the prior year. Wireless telecommunications-related revenues, revenues from
satellite payloads for commercial and U.S. Government programs, other U.S.
Government, non-space programs and other commercial revenues all increased
as
compared to the prior fiscal year. Gillam-FEI revenues in fiscal 2007 (exclusive
of intercompany sales of $1.8 million related to increased inventory for and
development efforts expended on the new wireline synchronization product line)
increased by 17%. Approximately one-fourth of the sales increase is attributable
to the increased value of the Euro compared to the U.S. dollar. Revenues for
the
FEI-Zyfer segment during fiscal year 2007 declined by $2.5 million as many
orders were delayed compared to expectations.
During
fiscal year 2009, based on current backlog and significant bookings subsequent
to the end of fiscal year 2008, the Company expects to realize significant
revenues from commercial and U.S. Government satellite programs. In addition,
the Company’s recent work on U.S. Government-sponsored development contracts and
current proposal activity should generate increased revenues from U.S.
Government programs such as secure radios, unmanned aerial vehicles, weapons
guidance systems and secure communications. The timing and magnitude of revenues
from these sources is dependent on the U.S. Government’s procurement and
budgeting process. Increased U.S. Government spending during fiscal year 2009
is
expected to benefit the Company’s FEI-NY and FEI-Zyfer segment. In addition, in
late fiscal year 2008, the Company began booking orders for its new,
state-of-the-art wireline synchronization systems. The Company expects to see
increased bookings and revenues in fiscal year 2009 which would benefit both
the
FEI-NY and Gillam-FEI segments.
18
Gross
Margin Rates
Years
ended April 30,
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
Change
|
|||||||
$
|
17,662
|
$
|
17,076
|
$
|
586
|
3
|
%
|
||||||
GM
Rate
|
27.4
|
%
|
30.4
|
%
|
For
the
year ended April 30, 2008, total gross margin increased as a result of the
15%
increase in revenues but declined as a percentage of revenues. The rate decrease
is primarily the result of higher than anticipated engineering and manufacturing
costs on certain satellite payload programs. Throughout fiscal year 2008, the
Company’s satellite-payload business continued to reconfigure its manufacturing
processes to provide increased production capacity for the higher demand for
space-related assemblies. Late in the year, the Company also experienced higher
than expected costs on two late-stage programs in final assembly and test of
flight hardware. These expenses not only increased cost of sales but also
delayed the recognition of revenue on the contracts, which are accounted for
on
the percentage of completion method, further reducing gross margins. The two
late-stage programs are expected to be completed in the first few months of
fiscal 2009. The gross margin rates in the telecommunications and non-space
U.S.
Government business areas met the Company’s targets for these areas which range
from 35% to 45%.
For
the
year ended April 30, 2007, gross margin declined both in total and as a
percentage of revenues as compared to the prior year. This is primarily the
result of higher than anticipated engineering costs on certain satellite payload
programs. The Company encountered a significant learning curve in its efforts
to
increase its production capacity of certain space-related assemblies by a factor
of 10. During fiscal year 2007, substantial resources were expended in
late-stage assembly and testing of the Company’s products to meet the specific
requirements of two long-term contracts. This process also delayed the
completion of these contracts which occurred in early fiscal year
2008.
The
Company’s target is to achieve an overall gross margin rate of 40% or better
through greater sales volume, continued process improvements, better performance
on long-term contracts and utilization of lower cost manufacturing in China.
During fiscal year 2009, as the more challenging satellite programs are
completed and are replaced by substantial cost-plus programs, the Company
expects to realize increasing gross margin rates approaching its targeted
rate.
Selling
and Administrative expenses
Years
ended April 30,
|
|||||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
Change
|
|||||||||
$ |
13,139
|
$
|
11,359
|
$
|
1,780
|
16
|
%
|
Fiscal
year 2008 selling and administrative costs increased over fiscal year 2007
principally from higher medical expenses, normal salary increases, higher
deferred compensation expense, increased marketing expenses for new products
and
the cost of moving the Company’s California facility to larger leased space and
the related increased rent expense. Also, in euro-denominated terms, selling
and
administrative expenses at Gillam-FEI were comparable to the prior year but
when
denominated in U.S. dollars, increased by 10% in fiscal year 2008 due to the
declining value of the dollar. For the years ended April 30, 2008 and 2007,
selling and administrative expenses include stock compensation expense of
$236,400 and $274,000, respectively.
Fiscal
year 2007 selling and administrative costs increased over fiscal year 2006
principally from higher compensation expense related to an increase in
personnel, normal salary increases, higher deferred compensation expense and
partially offset by lower incentive compensation charges due to operating losses
recorded during the year.
As
a
percentage of sales, selling and administrative expenses were 20.4% and 20.2%
in
fiscal years 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Company targets selling and
administrative expenses not to exceed 20% of consolidated sales. For fiscal
year
2009, the Company expects to achieve its targeted level of selling and
administrative expenses.
19
Research
and Development expenses
Years
ended April 30,
|
|||||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
Change
|
|||||||||
$ |
7,101
|
$
|
9,438
|
$ |
(2,337
|
)
|
(25
|
)%
|
Research
and development expenditures represent investments intended to keep the
Company’s products at the leading edge of time and frequency technology and
enhance competitiveness for future sales. For the prior fiscal year ended April
30, 2007, R&D spending was at a greater than normal level as a direct result
of internally-funded projects to enhance the Company’s product offerings for
satellite payloads and to design such products for more efficient production.
Some of that effort continued into fiscal year 2008 but at a lower rate. In
addition, during early fiscal year 2008, the Company completed development
of
its new US5G wireline synchronization product and the upgrade of its GPS-based
synchronization product line. R&D spending was 11% and 16.8% of consolidated
revenues in fiscal years 2008 and 2007, respectively, exceeding the Company’s
target of 10% of revenues for such efforts.
The
Company will continue to focus its research and development activities on those
products which it expects will provide the best return on investment and
greatest prospects for the future growth of the Company. For fiscal year 2009,
the Company will continue to make investments in improved satellite payload
products, develop and improve miniaturized rubidium atomic clocks, develop
new
GPS-based synchronization products and further enhance the capabilities of
its
line of “low-g” oscillators. The Company will also be engaged in development
efforts that are funded by its customers, the results of which will enhance
its
own product offerings. Thus, the Company’s target for fiscal year 2009 is to
spend less than 10% of revenues on research and development activities, although
the actual level of spending is dependent on new opportunites and the rate
at
which it succeeds in bringing new products to market. Internally generated
cash
and cash reserves will be adequate to fund these development
efforts.
Operating
Loss
Years
ended April 30,
|
|||||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||||||
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
Change
|
|||||||
$ |
(2,578
|
) | $ |
(3,721
|
)
|
$
|
1,143
|
31
|
%
|
As
discussed above, the operating losses incurred in fiscal years 2008 and 2007
are
the result of lower gross margin and higher research and development spending,
both of which are due to higher than anticipated engineering and manufacturing
costs incurred in connection with the Company’s satellite payload products and
programs.
The
Company expects to realize substantially improved operating profits in fiscal
year 2009
as
earlier large volume satellite programs are completed and are augmented by
new,
large cost-plus programs.
With
recent satellite and wireline telecommunication bookings, the Company expects
to
report improved gross margins while maintaining other operating expenses within
their targeted amounts.
Other
Income (Expense)
Years
ended April 30,
|
|||||||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
Change
|
|||||||||||
Investment
income
|
$
|
4,106
|
$
|
1,024
|
$
|
3,082
|
301
|
%
|
|||||
Equity
(loss) income
|
(104
|
)
|
708
|
(812
|
)
|
(115
|
)%
|
||||||
Interest
expense
|
(522
|
)
|
(136
|
)
|
(386
|
)
|
(284
|
)%
|
|||||
Other
income, net
|
545
|
313
|
232
|
74
|
%
|
||||||||
$
|
4,025
|
$
|
1,909
|
$
|
2,116
|
111
|
%
|
Investment
income in fiscal year 2008 includes net gains on sales of investments of $3.3
million which includes the $3.0 million gain on the partial sale of the
Company’s investment in Morion, as indicated above. By comparison, in fiscal
year 2007, the Company recorded net losses on the sale of marketable securities
of approximately $44,000. Investment income also includes interest and dividend
income on marketable securities. Income from this source was approximately
$800,000 in fiscal year 2008 compared to approximately $1.0 million in fiscal
year 2007 as a result of lower interest rates after the redemption of certain
marketable securities in fiscal year 2008. During fiscal year 2009, the Company
will realize investment income primarily from interest on its bond portfolio
and
anticipates that the amount earned will be approximately the same as that earned
in fiscal year 2008.
20
In
fiscal
year 2008, the Company recorded equity loss from its 25% interest in Elcom.
In
fiscal year 2007, equity income also included the Company’s share of income
earned by Morion. Subsequent to the reduction in the Company’s interest in
Morion from 36% to 8% in early fiscal year 2008, the Company records its Morion
investment on the cost basis and does not include any share of Morion’s earnings
in the Company’s financial statements. In fiscal year 2007, the Company’s share
of Morion’s earnings exceeded its share of Elcom’s losses.
In
fiscal
years 2008 and 2007, interest expense was incurred on borrowings under
short-term credit obligations and on certain deferred compensation obligations.
In fiscal year 2008, the Company also entered into a capital lease for
equipment. For the year ended April 30, 2008, interest expense increased over
the prior year due to greater utilization of its bank line of credit to cover
working capital requirements. The Company anticipates that interest expense
in
fiscal year 2009 will decrease as it repays the bank line of credit through
improved cash flow from operating activities.
During
both fiscal years 2008 and 2007, the Company recognized $353,000 of income
from
amortization of the deferred gain from the 1998 sale of its corporate
headquarters building in New York, which income is included in the caption
“Other income, net.” The deferred gain is being amortized over the remaining
life of the original eleven-year lease. Also, in fiscal year 2008, other income
included a realized gain of approximately $290,000 from the excess of proceeds
over the cash values of life insurance policies on the lives of two former
employees. Other income is partially offset by certain nonrecurring expenses.
In
fiscal year 2009, “Other income, net” will include amortization into income of
the final $235,000 of deferred gain on the 1998 sale of its building. The
Company anticipates that in future years other items in this category will
not
be significant to pretax earnings.
Income
Taxes
The
Company is subject to taxation in several countries. The statutory federal
rates
are 34% in the United States and 33% in Europe. The fiscal year 2008 tax gain
on
the partial sale of the Morion investment is greater than the gain recorded
for
financial reporting purposes, resulting in a higher than expected effective
tax
rate of 39%. In fiscal year 2007, the tax benefit derived from carrying forward
that year’s tax loss and unapplied tax credits as well as the reversal of a
portion of a reserve on foreign taxes, resulted in effective tax benefit rate
greater than 85%. The effective rate is also impacted by the income or loss
of
certain of the Company’s European and Asian subsidiaries which are currently not
taxed. The Company may commence tax payments in China during calendar 2009
based
on the operating profits of its subsidiary, FEI-Asia. The Company utilizes
the
availability of research and development tax credits in the United States to
lower its tax rate. (See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements.)
The
Company’s European subsidiaries have available net operating loss carryforwards
of approximately $1.2 million to offset future taxable income. These loss
carryforwards have no expiration date. The fiscal year 2007 operating loss
carryforwards for the U.S. subsidiaries of the Company will be used to offset
taxable income in fiscal year 2008.
LIQUIDITY
AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The
Company’s balance sheet continues to reflect a highly liquid position with
working capital of $58.9 million at April 30, 2008. Included in working capital
at April 30, 2008 is $15.4 million consisting of cash, cash equivalents and
short-term investments but offset by $4.9 million in borrowings under its bank
line of credit. The Company’s current ratio at April 30, 2008 is 5.9 to 1.
Net
cash
used in operating activities for the year ended April 30, 2008, was $1.9 million
compared to $6.6 million used in operations in fiscal year 2007. The primary
causes for the decrease in cash was the operating loss generated by higher
operating expenses and a 27% increase in accounts receivable, including an
increase of over $3 million in unbilled receivables. Unbilled receivables arise
when the Company recognizes revenues at different intervals than the related
milestone billings under long-term contracts, primarily related to satellite
payload programs. The timing for such billings is determined by the contract
terms which the Company must meet in order to invoice its customers. Under
long-term contract accounting the Company recognizes revenues on the percentage
of completion basis as measured by the ratio of actual costs to estimated
program costs. Such revenue recognition often results in recording receivables
for costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings or “unbilled
receivables.” (See Note 3 to the accompanying financial statements.) In
fiscal year 2009, the Company anticipates that it will generate positive cash
flow from operations by realizing operating profits and as certain long-term
contracts are completed and are replaced by large, cost-plus
programs.
21
Net
cash
provided by investing activities for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2008,
was
approximately $13.3 million compared to $2.0 million in the prior year. The
fiscal year 2008 increase was primarily due to the receipt of approximately
$5.6
million upon the partial sale of the Company’s investment in Morion and the sale
or redemption of certain marketable securities, net of purchases of other
marketable securities, which generated approximately $9.8 million. In fiscal
year 2008, the Company acquired capital equipment of $3.3 million by paying
cash
of $2.1 million and entering into a long-term capital lease for $1.2 million
(non-cash transaction). In the prior year, the Company had net proceeds from
the
sale or redemption of marketable securities of $8.1 million, acquired capital
equipment for $2.7 million and made an investment in Elcom, including a
convertible note in the amount of $1.5 million. The Company may continue to
invest cash equivalents in longer-term securities or to convert short-term
investments to cash equivalents as dictated by its investment and acquisition
strategies. The Company will continue to acquire more efficient equipment to
automate its production process. It intends to spend approximately $2 million
to
$3 million on capital equipment during fiscal year 2009. Internally generated
cash will be adequate to acquire this capital equipment.
The
Company has an $11.5 million line of credit with the financial institution
which
also manages a substantial portion of its investment in marketable securities.
The line is secured by the investments which earn, on average, approximately
a
5% annual return. Rather than liquidate some of these investments to meet
short-term working capital requirements, during fiscal years 2008 and 2007,
the
Company borrowed between $4.5 million and $9 million against the line of credit
at fixed and variable interest rates between 3.97% and 6.99%. In addition,
the
Company’s European subsidiaries have available approximately $2.6 million in
bank credit lines to meet short-term cash flow requirements. The rate of
interest on these borrowings is based on the one month EURO Interbank Offered
Rate (EURIBOR). As of April 30, 2008, the Company had an outstanding balance
of
$4.9 million under the line of credit secured by investments.
During
the year ended April 30, 2008, cash used in financing activities was $2.0
million compared to cash provided by financing activities of $3.6 million in
fiscal year 2007. The principal use of cash in both fiscal year 2008 and 2007
was the payment of the Company’s semi-annual dividend which aggregated $1.7
million in both years. Additionally, the Company acquired approximately 32,000
shares of its common stock for the treasury, paying approximately $311,000
or an
average of about $9.63 per share. The primary source of cash in fiscal year
2007
was $5.0 million borrowed under the line of credit referred to in the preceding
paragraph. In the years ended April 30, 2008 and 2007, an additional $158,000
and $293,000, respectively, was received upon the exercise of stock options.
The
Company will continue to use treasury shares to satisfy the future exercise
of
stock options granted to officers and employees. The Company has been authorized
by its Board of Directors to repurchase up to $5 million worth of shares of
its
common stock for treasury whenever appropriate opportunities arise but it has
neither a formal repurchase plan nor commitments to purchase additional shares
in the future. The Company anticipates that in fiscal year 2009, the number
of
shares to be repurchased under the stock buyback authorization will increase
compared to fiscal year 2008.
The
Company will continue to expend resources to develop and improve products for
space applications, guidance and targeting systems, wireless networks and
wireline communication systems which management believes will result in future
growth and continued profitability. During fiscal year 2009, the Company intends
to make a substantial investment of capital and technical resources to develop
new products to meet the needs of the U.S. Government, commercial space and
telecommunications infrastructure marketplaces and to invest in more efficient
product designs and manufacturing procedures. Where possible, the Company will
secure partial customer funding for such development efforts but is targeting
to
spend its own funds at a rate less than 10% of revenues to achieve its
development goals. Internally generated cash will be adequate to fund these
development efforts.
22
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
The
Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are
reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on the Company’s financial
condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of
operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is
material to investors.
Contractual
obligations
As
of
April 30, 2008
Payments due by period
|
||||||||||||||||
Contractual Obligations
|
Total
(in thousands)
|
Less than
1 Year
|
1 to 3 Years
|
3 to 5 Years
|
More than
5 Years
|
|||||||||||
Capital
Lease Obligations
|
$
|
1,287
|
$
|
281
|
$
|
562
|
$
|
444
|
$
|
-
|
||||||
Operating
Lease Obligations
|
6,570
|
789
|
1,874
|
1,914
|
1,993
|
|||||||||||
Deferred
Compensation **
|
9,467
|
* |
336
|
344
|
128
|
8,659
|
||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
17,324
|
$
|
1,406
|
$
|
2,780
|
$
|
2,486
|
$
|
10,652
|
**
Deferred Compensation liability (See Note 12 in the accompanying financial
statements) reflects payments due to current retirees receiving benefits. The
amount of $8,659 in the more than 5 years column includes benefits due to
participants in the plan who are not yet receiving benefits although some
participants may opt to retire and begin receiving benefits within the next
5
years.
As
of
April 30, 2008, the Company's consolidated backlog amounted to approximately
$39
million (see Item 1). Approximately 80% of this backlog is expected to be filled
during the Company’s fiscal year ending April 30, 2009. Included in the backlog
at April 30, 2008 is approximately $7 million under cost plus contracts which
the Company believes represent firm commitments from its customers for which
the
Company has not received full funding to date.
*******
The
Company’s liquidity is adequate to meet its foreseeable operating and investment
needs. In addition, with its available cash and marketable securities, the
Company is able to continue paying semi-annual dividends, subject to the review
and approval of its Board of Directors.
RECENT
ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In
September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.”
(“FAS 157”) This statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for
measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and
expands disclosures about fair value measurements. FAS 157 does not require
any
new fair value measurements but simplifies and codifies related guidance. The
Company will comply with the provisions of FAS 157 when it becomes effective
in
fiscal year 2009. The impact of such adoption is not expected to have a material
impact on the Company’s financial statements since the Company utilizes fair
value measures wherever required by current GAAP.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities including an amendment of SFAS No.
115” (“FAS 159”). The new statement allows entities to choose, at specified
election dates, to measure eligible financial assets and liabilities at fair
value that are not otherwise required to be measured at fair value. If a company
elects the fair value option for an eligible item, changes in that item’s fair
value in subsequent reporting periods must be recognized in current earnings.
FAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The
Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of FAS 159 on its financial
position and results of operations.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued Statements No. 141(R), “Business Combinations”,
and No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements.”
Effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, these statements
revise and converge internationally the accounting for business combinations
and
the reporting of noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements.
The adoption of these statements has no impact on the Company’s current
financial statements but will change the Company’s accounting treatment for
business combinations on a prospective basis.
23
In
March
2008, the FASB issued Statement No.161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities - An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (“FAS
161”). FAS 161 requires enhanced qualitative disclosures about objectives and
strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value
amounts of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures
about
credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements. FAS 161 is
effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods
beginning after November 15, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the
impact of FAS 161 on its consolidated financial statements although it does
not
anticipate that the statement will have a material impact since the Company
has
not historically engaged in hedging activities or acquired derivative
instruments.
On
May 1,
2007, the Company adopted the provisions of FASB Financial Interpretation No.
48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB
Statement No. 109.” (“FIN 48”) This interpretation clarifies the accounting for
uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an entity’s financial statements and
prescribes recognition thresholds and measurement attributes for tax positions
taken in a tax return. Tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not
recognition threshold at the effective date to be recognized upon the adoption
of FIN 48 and in subsequent periods. As a result of the implementation of FIN
48, the Company has evaluated its tax positions and has concluded that the
tax
positions meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold. As such, there
is
no impact on the Company’s financial position or results of
operations.
OTHER
MATTERS
The
financial information reported herein is not necessarily indicative of future
operating results or of the future financial condition of the Company. Except
as
noted, management is unaware of any impending transactions or events that are
likely to have a material adverse effect on results from
operations.
INFLATION
During
fiscal 2008, as in fiscal year 2007, the impact of inflation on the Company's
business has not been materially significant.
24
Item
8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The
Board
of Directors and Stockholders
Frequency
Electronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Mitchel
Field, New York
We
have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Frequency Electronics,
Inc. and Subsidiaries (the "Company") as of April 30, 2008 and 2007 and the
related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash
flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are
the
responsibility of the Company's management. 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 audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
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 audits 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 financial statements. An audit also includes 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 consolidated financial position of Frequency
Electronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries at April 30, 2008 and 2007 and the
consolidated results of its operations and its consolidated cash flows for
the
years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in
the United States of America.
Holtz
Rubenstein Reminick LLP
|
July
25, 2008
|
25
FREQUENCY
ELECTRONICS, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
April
30,
2008 and 2007
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
(In
thousands)
|
|||||||
ASSETS:
|
|||||||
Current
assets:
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
|
11,029
|
$
|
1,336
|
|||
Marketable
securities
|
4,414
|
14,268
|
|||||
Accounts
receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $185 in 2008
and
$276 in 2007
|
19,827
|
15,626
|
|||||
Inventories,
net
|
30,218
|
31,201
|
|||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
3,974
|
3,075
|
|||||
Income
taxes receivable
|
151
|
596
|
|||||
Prepaid
expenses and other
|
1,371
|
1,501
|
|||||
Total
current assets
|
70,984
|
67,603
|
|||||
Property,
plant and equipment, at cost, less accumulated depreciation and
amortization
|
9,531
|
7,839
|
|||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
2,990
|
2,945
|
|||||
Goodwill
and other intangible assets
|
405
|
453
|
|||||
Cash
surrender value of life insurance and cash held in trust
|
7,671
|
6,815
|
|||||
Investment
in and loans receivable from affiliates
|
4,522
|
7,354
|
|||||
Other
assets
|
817
|
817
|
|||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
96,920
|
$
|
93,826
|
|||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
|
|||||||
Current
liabilities:
|
|||||||
Short-term
credit obligations
|
$
|
5,168
|
$
|
5,035
|
|||
Accounts
payable - trade
|
2,215
|
3,771
|
|||||
Accrued
liabilities
|
4,694
|
3,956
|
|||||
Dividend
payable
|
-
|
869
|
|||||
Total
current liabilities
|
12,077
|
13,631
|
|||||
Lease
obligation- noncurrent
|
911
|
-
|
|||||
Deferred
compensation
|
9,467
|
8,669
|
|||||
Deferred
gain and other liabilities
|
855
|
642
|
|||||
Total
liabilities
|
23,310
|
22,942
|
|||||
Commitments
and contingencies
|
|||||||
Stockholders'
equity:
|
|||||||
Preferred
stock - authorized 600,000 shares of $1.00 par value; no shares
issued
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Common
stock - authorized 20,000,000 shares of $1.00 par value; issued
-
9,163,940 shares
|
9,164
|
9,164
|
|||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
48,213
|
47,138
|
|||||
Retained
earnings
|
13,558
|
13,541
|
|||||
70,935
|
69,843
|
||||||
Common
stock reacquired and held in treasury - at cost (427,366 shares
in 2008
and 474,693 shares in 2007)
|
(2,175
|
)
|
(2,080
|
)
|
|||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
4,850
|
3,121
|
|||||
73,610
|
70,884
|
||||||
Total
liabilities and stockholders' equity
|
$
|
96,920
|
$
|
93,826
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
26
FREQUENCY
ELECTRONICS, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated
Statements of Operations
Years
ended April 30, 2008 and 2007
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
(In thousands, except share data)
|
|||||||
Net
sales
|
$
|
64,397
|
$
|
56,206
|
|||
Cost
of sales
|
46,735
|
39,130
|
|||||
Gross
margin
|
17,662
|
17,076
|
|||||
Selling
and administrative expenses
|
13,139
|
11,359
|
|||||
Research
and development expenses
|
7,101
|
9,438
|
|||||
Operating
loss
|
(2,578
|
)
|
(3,721
|
)
|
|||
Other
income (expense):
|
|||||||
Investment
income
|
4,106
|
1,024
|
|||||
Equity
(loss) income
|
(104
|
)
|
708
|
||||
Interest
expense
|
(522
|
)
|
(136
|
)
|
|||
Other
income, net
|
545
|
313
|
|||||
Income
(Loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes
|
1,447
|
(1,812
|
)
|
||||
Provision
(Benefit) for income taxes
|
560
|
(1,555
|
)
|
||||
Net
income (loss)
|
$
|
887
|
$
|
(257
|
)
|
||
Net
income (loss) per common share:`
|
|||||||
Basic
|
$
|
0.10
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
||
Diluted
|
$
|
0.10
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
||
Average
shares outstanding:
|
|||||||
Basic
|
8,710,260
|
8,620,776
|
|||||
Diluted
|
8,778,059
|
8,620,776
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
27
FREQUENCY
ELECTRONICS, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
Years
ended April 30, 2008 and 2007
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
(In thousands)
|
|||||||
Cash
flows from operating activities:
|
|||||||
Net
income (loss)
|
$
|
887
|
$
|
(257
|
)
|
||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating
activities:
|
|||||||
Deferred
income tax (benefit)
|
(820
|
)
|
(1,305
|
)
|
|||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
1,969
|
1,725
|
|||||
Deferred
lease obligation
|
287
|
-
|
|||||
Provision
for losses on accounts receivable and inventories
|
1,409
|
1,946
|
|||||
Gain
on REIT conversion
|
(353
|
)
|
(353
|
)
|
|||
(Gain)
loss on marketable securities and other assets, net
|
(3,555
|
)
|
77
|
||||
Equity
loss (income)
|
104
|
(708
|
)
|
||||
Stock
compensation expense
|
560
|
559
|
|||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
(2,703
|
)
|
(260
|
)
|
|||
Inventories
|
709
|
(9,012
|
)
|
||||
Prepaid
expenses and other
|
146
|
(189
|
)
|
||||
Other
assets
|
(560
|
)
|
(559
|
)
|
|||
Accounts
payable - trade
|
(2,388
|
)
|
1,272
|
||||
Accrued
liabilities
|
256
|
118
|
|||||
Liability
for employee benefit plans
|
1,713
|
1,330
|
|||||
Income
taxes
|
443
|
(525
|
)
|
||||
Other
liabilities
|
50
|
(505
|
)
|
||||
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
(1,846
|
)
|
(6,646
|
)
|
|||
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
|||||||
Proceeds
from sale of Morion investment
|
5,643
|
-
|
|||||
Purchase
of minority interest in technology partners
|
-
|
(1,817
|
)
|
||||
Loan
to investee technology partner
|
-
|
(1,500
|
)
|
||||
Purchase
of marketable securities
|
(3,140
|
)
|
(1,490
|
)
|
|||
Proceeds
from sale or redemption of marketable securities
|
12,923
|
9,568
|
|||||
Capital
expenditures
|
(2,106
|
)
|
(2,712
|
)
|
|||
Net
cash provided by investing activities
|
13,320
|
2,049
|
Continued
28
FREQUENCY
ELECTRONICS, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
Years
ended April 30, 2008 and 2007
(Continued)
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
(In thousands)
|
|||||||
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
|||||||
Proceeds
from short-term credit obligations
|
(9,000
|
)
|
5,000
|
||||
Payment
of short-term credit and lease obligations
|
(9,151
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Payment
of cash dividend
|
(1,739
|
)
|
(1,717
|
)
|
|||
Repurchase
of stock for treasury
|
(311
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Exercise
of stock options
|
158
|
293
|
|||||
Net
cash (used in) provided by financing activities
|
(2,043
|
)
|
3,576
|
||||
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents before effect of
exchange
rate changes
|
9,431
|
(1,021
|
)
|
||||
Effect
of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
equivalents
|
262
|
(282
|
)
|
||||
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
9,693
|
(1,303
|
)
|
||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
1,336
|
2,639
|
|||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of year
|
$
|
11,029
|
$
|
1,336
|
|||
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information:
|
|||||||
Cash
paid during the year for:
|
|||||||
Interest
|
$
|
476
|
$
|
92
|
|||
Income
taxes
|
$
|
940
|
$
|
319
|
|||
Other
activities which affect assets or liabilities but did not result
in cash
flow during the fiscal years:
|
|||||||
$
|
1,193
|
-
|
|||||
Declaration
of cash dividend, not paid
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
869
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
29
FREQUENCY
ELECTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated
Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
Years
ended April 30, 2008 and 2007
(In
thousands, except share data)
Additional
|
Treasury stock
|
Accumulated
other
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock
|
paid in
|
Retained
|
(at
cost)
|
comprehensive
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
capital
|
earnings
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
income
(loss)
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||
Balance
at April 30, 2006
|
9,163,940
|
$ |
9,164
|
$ |
45,688
|
$ |
15,527
|
592,194
|
$ |
(2,437
|
)
|
$ |
2,691
|
$ |
70,633
|
||||||||||
Exercise
of stock options
|
171
|
(40,300
|
)
|
122
|
293
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Contribution
of stock to 401(k) plan
|
340
|
(37,550
|
)
|
115
|
455
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash
dividend
|
(1,729
|
)
|
(1,729
|
)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Investment
in Elcom Technologies
|
380
|
(39,651
|
)
|
120
|
500
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Stock
compensation expense
|
559
|
559
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Increase
in market value of marketable Securities, net of tax effect of
$222
|
333
|
333
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
97
|
97
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
(257
|
)
|
(257
|
)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
income- 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
173
|
|||||||||||||||||
Balance
at April 30, 2007
|
9,163,940
|
9,164
|
47,138
|
13,541
|
474,693
|
(2,080
|
)
|
3,121
|
70,884
|
||||||||||||||||
Exercise
of stock options
|
109
|
(18,312
|
)
|
49
|
158
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Contribution
of stock to 401(k) plan
|
406
|
(61,327
|
)
|
167
|
573
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash
dividend
|
(870
|
)
|
(870
|
)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Stock
compensation expense
|
560
|
560
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase
of stock for treasury
|
32,312
|
(311
|
)
|
(311
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Decrease
in market value of marketable securities, net of tax effect of
$174
|
(261
|
)
|
(261
|
)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
1,990
|
1,990
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
887
|
887
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
income- 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,616
|
|||||||||||||||||
Balance
at April 30, 2008
|
9,163,940
|
$
|
9,164
|
$
|
48,213
|
$
|
13,558
|
427,366
|
$ |
(2,175
|
)
|
$
|
4,850
|
$
|
73,610
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
30
NOTES
TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.
Summary of Accounting Policies
Principles
of Consolidation:
The
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Frequency Electronics,
Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the "Company" or "Registrant").
References to “FEI” are to the parent company alone and do not refer to any of
its subsidiaries. The Company is principally engaged in the design, development
and manufacture of precision time and frequency control products and components
for microwave integrated circuit applications. See Note 15 for information
regarding the Company’s FEI-NY (which includes the subsidiaries FEI Government
Systems, Inc., FEI Communications, Inc., and FEI-Asia, Inc.), Gillam-FEI,
and
FEI-Zyfer business segments. Intercompany accounts and significant intercompany
transactions are eliminated in consolidation. To accommodate the different
fiscal periods of Gillam-FEI, the Company recognizes its share of net income
or
loss on a one month lag. Any material events which may occur during the
intervening month at Gillam-FEI will be accounted for in the consolidated
financial statements.
These
financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles and require management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect amounts reported and disclosed in the financial statements and
related notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Reclassifications:
Certain
prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year
presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on
reported consolidated earnings.
Cash
Equivalents:
The
Company considers certificates of deposit and other highly liquid investments
with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
The
Company places its temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial
institutions. Such investments may be in excess of the FDIC insurance limit.
No
losses have been experienced on such investments.
Marketable
Securities:
Marketable
securities consist of investments in common stocks, mutual funds, and debt
securities of U.S. government agencies. Substantially all marketable securities
at April 30, 2008 were held in the custody of two financial institutions.
Investments in debt and equity securities are categorized as available for
sale
and are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded
from
income and recorded directly to stockholders' equity. The Company recognizes
gains or losses when securities are sold using the specific identification
method.
Allowance
for Doubtful Accounts:
Losses
from uncollectible accounts receivable are provided for by utilizing the
allowance for doubtful accounts method based upon management’s estimate of
uncollectible accounts. Management specifically analyzes accounts receivable
and
the potential for bad debts, customer concentrations, credit worthiness,
current
economic trends and changes in customer payment terms when evaluating the
allowance for doubtful accounts.
Inventories:
Inventories,
which consist of finished goods, work-in-process, raw materials and components,
are accounted for at the lower of cost (specific and average) or
market.
Property,
Plant and Equipment:
Property,
plant and equipment are recorded at cost and include interest on funds borrowed
to finance construction. Expenditures for renewals and betterments are
capitalized; maintenance and repairs are charged to income when incurred.
When
fixed assets are sold or retired, the cost and related accumulated depreciation
and amortization are eliminated from the respective accounts and any gain
or
loss is credited or charged to income.
31
NOTES
TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
If
events
or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived
asset may not be recoverable, the Company estimates the future cash flows
expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition.
If
the sum of the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest
charges) is less than the carrying amount of the long-lived asset, an impairment
loss is recognized. To date, no impairment losses have been
recognized.
Depreciation
and Amortization:
Depreciation
of fixed assets is computed on the straight-line method based upon the estimated
useful lives of the assets (40 years for buildings and 3 to 10 years for
other
depreciable assets). Leasehold improvements are amortized on the straight-line
method over the shorter of the term of the lease or the useful life of the
related improvement.
Amortization
of identifiable intangible assets is based upon the expected lives of the
assets
and is recorded at a rate which approximates the Company’s utilization of the
assets
Intangible
Assets:
Intangible
assets consist of customer lists which result from the excess purchase price
over the fair value of acquired tangible assets. The customer lists are measured
at fair value and amortized over the estimated useful life of 3 to 6
years.
Goodwill:
The
Company records goodwill as the excess of purchase price over the fair value
of
identifiable net assets acquired. In accordance with Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards ("FAS") No. 142 "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,"
goodwill is tested for impairment on at least an annual basis. When it is
determined that the carrying value of investments may not be recoverable,
the
Company writes down the related goodwill to an amount commensurate with the
revised value of the acquired assets. The Company measures impairment based
on
revenue projections, recent transactions involving similar businesses and
price/revenue multiples at which they were bought and sold, price/revenue
multiples of competitors, and the present market value of publicly-traded
companies in the Company’s industry.
Revenue
and Cost Recognition:
Revenues
under larger, long-term contracts, which generally require billings based
on
achievement of milestones rather than delivery of product, are reported in
operating results using the percentage of completion method. For U.S. Government
and other fixed-price contracts that require initial design and development
of
the product, revenue is recognized on the cost-to-cost method. Under this
method, revenue is recorded based upon the ratio that incurred costs bear
to
total estimated contract costs with related cost of sales recorded as the
costs
are incurred. Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted
contracts are included in accounts receivable
On
production-type orders, revenue is recorded as units are delivered with the
related cost of sales recognized on each shipment based upon a percentage
of
estimated final program costs. Changes in job performance may result in
revisions to costs and revenue and are recognized in the period in which
revisions are determined to be required. Provisions for anticipated losses
are
made in the period in which they become determinable.
For
customer orders in the Company’s subsidiaries, and smaller contracts or orders
in the other business segments, sales of products and services to customers
are
reported in operating results upon shipment of the product or performance
of the
services pursuant to terms of the customer order.
Contract
costs include all direct material, direct labor costs, manufacturing overhead
and other direct costs related to contract performance. Selling, general
and
administrative costs are charged to expense as incurred.
In
accordance with industry practice, inventoried costs contain amounts relating
to
contracts and programs with long production cycles, a portion of which will
not
be realized within one year.
32
NOTES
TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
Comprehensive
Income:
Comprehensive
income consists of net income and other comprehensive income. Other
comprehensive income includes unrealized gains or losses, net of tax, on
securities available for sale during the year and the effects of foreign
currency translation adjustments.
Research
and Development expenses:
The
Company engages in research and development activities to identify new
applications for its core technologies, to improve existing products and
to
improve manufacturing processes to achieve cost reductions and manufacturing
efficiencies. Research and development costs include direct labor, manufacturing
overhead, direct materials and contracted services. Such costs are expensed
as
incurred. In the normal course of business the Company is also contracted
to
perform research and development for others. The costs incurred under such
contracts are recorded in cost of sales.
Income
Taxes:
The
Company recognizes deferred tax liabilities and assets based on the expected
future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial
statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax liabilities and
assets are determined based on the difference between the financial statement
and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect
for
the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances
are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount
expected to be realized.
Effective
May 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting
Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in
Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 prescribes recognition thresholds that must be
met before a tax benefit is recognized in the financial statements and provides
guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting
in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. Under FIN 48, an entity may
only
recognize or continue to recognize tax positions that meet a "more likely
than
not" threshold. The adoption of FIN 48 did not have a material effect on
the
Company's financial statements.
Earnings
Per Share:
Basic
earnings per share are computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted
average
number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted earnings per share
are
computed by dividing net earnings by the sum of the weighted average number
of
shares of common stock and the if-converted effect of unexercised stock options.
Fair
Values of Financial Instruments:
Cash
and
cash equivalents and short-term credit obligations are reflected in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheets at amounts considered by management
to
reasonably approximate fair value based upon the nature of the instrument
and
current market conditions. Management is not aware of any factors that would
significantly affect the value of these amounts. The Company also has minority
interests in two privately-held companies, Morion, Inc. (“Morion”) and Elcom
Technologies, Inc. (“Elcom”) The Company is unable to reasonably estimate a fair
value for these investments. Accordingly, the Morion investment is carried
at
cost and the Elcom investment is accounted for on the equity method, adjusting
the original cost for the Company’s share of Elcom’s net income or
loss.
Foreign
Operations and Foreign Currency Adjustments:
The
Company maintains manufacturing operations in Belgium and the People’s Republic
of China. The Company is vulnerable to currency risks in these countries.
The
local currency is the functional currency of each of the Company’s non-US
subsidiaries. No foreign currency gains or losses are recorded on intercompany
transactions since they are effected at current rates of exchange. The results
of operations of foreign subsidiaries, when translated into US dollars, reflect
the average rates of exchange for the periods presented. The balance sheets
of
foreign subsidiaries, except for non-monetary items and equity accounts,
which
are translated at historical rate, are translated into US dollars at the
rates
of exchange in effect on the date of the balance sheet. As a result, similar
results in local currency can vary significantly upon translation into US
dollars if exchange rates fluctuate significantly from one period to the
next.
33
NOTES
TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
Equity-based
Compensation:
Effective
May 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment”
(“FAS 123(R)”), using the modified prospective transition method. Under the
modified prospective transition method, compensation cost includes: (a)
compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not
yet
vested as of May 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in
accordance with the original provisions of FAS 123, and (b) compensation
cost
for all share-based payments granted subsequent to May 1, 2006, based on
the
grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of FAS
123(R).
Results for prior periods were not restated.
Upon
adoption of FAS 123(R), the Company elected to continue to value its share-based
payment transactions using the Black-Scholes valuation model, which was
previously used by the Company for purposes of preparing the pro forma
disclosures under FAS 123. Such value is recognized as expense on a
straight-line basis over the service period of the awards, which is generally
the vesting period, net of estimated forfeitures.
The
weighted average fair value of each option has been estimated on the date
of
grant using the Black-Scholes options pricing model with the following weighted
average assumptions used for grants in each of the years ended April 30,
2008
and 2007: dividend yield of 1.5% and 1.3%; expected volatility of 38% and
40%;
risk free interest rate of 4.0% and 5.0%; and expected lives of six and one-half
years, respectively.
The
expected life assumption was determined based on the Company’s historical
experience. For purposes of both FAS 123 and FAS 123(R), the expected volatility
assumption was based on the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock.
The dividend yield assumption was determined based upon the Company’s past
history of dividend payments and its intention to make future dividend payments.
The risk-free interest rate assumption was determined using the implied yield
currently available for zero-coupon U.S. government issues with a remaining
term
equal to the expected life of the stock options.
Concentration
of Credit Risk
Financial
instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit
risk, consist principally of trade receivables. Concentration of credit risk
with respect to these receivables is generally diversified due to the large
number of entities comprising the Company’s customer base and their dispersion
across geographic areas principally within the United States. The Company
routinely addresses the financial strength of its customers and, as a
consequence, believes that its receivable credit risk exposure is limited.
The
Company does not require customers to post collateral although for certain
foreign-based customers, it may request a letter of credit to secure
payment.
New
Accounting Pronouncements:
In
September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.”
(“FAS 157”) This statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for
measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and
expands disclosures about fair value measurements. FAS 157 does not require
any
new fair value measurements but simplifies and codifies related guidance.
The
Company will comply with the provisions of FAS 157 when it becomes effective
in
fiscal year 2009. The impact of such adoption is not expected to have a material
impact on the Company’s financial statements since the Company utilizes fair
value measures wherever required by current GAAP.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities including an amendment of SFAS
No.
115” (“FAS 159”). The new statement allows entities to choose, at specified
election dates, to measure eligible financial assets and liabilities at fair
value that are not otherwise required to be measured at fair value. If a
company
elects the fair value option for an eligible item, changes in that item’s fair
value in subsequent reporting periods must be recognized in current earnings.
FAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.
The
Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of FAS 159 on its financial
position and results of operations.
34
NOTES
TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
In
December 2007, the FASB issued Statements No. 141(R), “Business Combinations”,
and No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements.”
Effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, these statements
revise and converge internationally the accounting for business combinations
and
the reporting of noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements.
The adoption of these statements has no impact on the Company’s current
financial statements but will change the Company’s accounting treatment for
business combinations on a prospective basis.
In
March
2008, the FASB issued Statement No.161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities - An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (“FAS
161”). FAS 161 requires enhanced qualitative disclosures about objectives and
strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value
amounts of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures
about
credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements. FAS 161
is
effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods
beginning after November 15, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the
impact of FAS 161 on its consolidated financial statements although it does
not
anticipate that the statement will have a material impact since the Company
has
not historically engaged in hedging activities or acquired derivative
instruments.
On
May 1,
2007, the Company adopted the provisions of FASB Financial Interpretation
No.
48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB
Statement No. 109.” (“FIN 48”) This interpretation clarifies the accounting for
uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an entity’s financial statements and
prescribes recognition thresholds and measurement attributes for tax positions
taken in a tax return. Tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not
recognition threshold at the effective date to be recognized upon the adoption
of FIN 48 and in subsequent periods. As a result of the implementation of
FIN
48, the Company has evaluated its tax positions and has concluded that the
tax
positions meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold. As such, there
is
no impact on the Company’s financial position or results of
operations.
2. Earnings
Per Share
Reconciliations
of the weighted average shares outstanding for basic and diluted Earnings
Per
Share are as follows:
Years
ended April 30,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Basic
EPS Shares outstanding (weighted average)
|
8,710,260
|
8,620,776
|
|||||
Effect
of Dilutive Securities
|
67,799
|
***
|
|||||
Diluted
EPS Shares outstanding
|
8,778,059
|
8,620,776
|
***
Dilutive securities are excluded for fiscal year 2007 since the inclusion
of
such shares would be antidilutive due to the net loss for that
year.
Options
to purchase 820,000 and 571,550 shares of common stock were outstanding during
each of the years ended April 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, but were not
included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise
price of the options was greater than the average market price of the Company’s
common shares during the respective periods. Since the inclusion of such
options
would have been antidilutive they are excluded from the computation.
3. Accounts
Receivable
Accounts
receivable include costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on
uncompleted contracts accounted for on the percentage of completion basis
of
approximately $9,556,000 at April 30, 2008 and $6,259,000 at April 30, 2007.
Such amounts represent revenue recognized on long-term contracts that has
not
been billed, pursuant to contract terms, and was not billable at the balance
sheet date.
35
NOTES
TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
4. Inventories
Inventories,
which are reported net of reserves of $6,206,000 and $5,028,000 (including
fourth quarter adjustments to increase reserves by $1,000,000 and $800,000,
respectively) at April 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, consisted of the
following (in thousands):
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Raw
Materials and Component Parts
|
$
|
12,523
|
$
|
16,119
|
|||
Work
in Progress
|
13,938
|
12,821
|
|||||
Finished
Goods
|
3,757
|
2,261
|
|||||
$
|
30,218
|
$
|
31,201
|
5. Marketable
Securities
The
cost,
gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair market value of
available-for-sale securities at April 30, 2008 and 2007 are as follows (in
thousands):
April
30, 2008
|
|||||||||||||
Gross
|
Gross
|
Fair
|
|||||||||||
Unrealized
|
Unrealized
|
Market
|
|||||||||||
Cost
|
Gains
|
Losses
|
Value
|
||||||||||
Fixed
income securities
|
$
|
4,593
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
(526
|
)
|
$
|
4,067
|
||||
Equity
securities
|
444
|
7
|
(104
|
)
|
347
|
||||||||
$
|
5,037
|
$
|
7
|
$
|
(630
|
)
|
$
|
4,414
|
April
30, 2007
|
|||||||||||||
Gross
|
Gross
|
Fair
|
|||||||||||
Unrealized
|
Unrealized
|
Market
|
|||||||||||
Cost
|
Gains
|
Losses
|
Value
|
||||||||||
Fixed
income securities
|
$
|
14,172
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
(229
|
)
|
$
|
13,943
|
||||
Equity
securities
|
283
|
42
|
-
|
325
|
|||||||||
$
|
14,455
|
$
|
42
|
$
|
(229
|
)
|
$
|
14,268
|
The
following table presents the fair value and unrealized losses, aggregated
by
investment type and length of time that individual securities have been in
a
continuous unrealized loss position:
Less
than 12 months
|
12
Months or more
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||
Fair
|
Unrealized
|
Fair
|
Unrealized
|
Fair
|
Unrealized
|
||||||||||||||
Value
|
Losses
|
Value
|
Losses
|
Value
|
Losses
|
||||||||||||||
April
30, 2008
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Fixed
Income Securities
|
$
|
2,513
|
$
|
(28
|
)
|
$
|
1,554
|
$
|
(497
|
)
|
$
|
4,067
|
$
|
(526
|
)
|
||||
Equity
Securities
|
341
|
(104
|
)
|
-
|
-
|
341
|
(104
|
)
|
|||||||||||
$
|
2,854
|
$
|
(132
|
)
|
$
|
1,554
|
$
|
(497
|
)
|
$
|
4,408
|
$
|
(630
|
)
|
|||||
April
30, 2007
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Fixed
Income Securities
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
13,943
|
$
|
(229
|
)
|
$
|
13,943
|
$
|
(229
|
)
|
|||||
Equity
Securities
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||
|
$ | - |
$
|
-
|
$
|
13,943
|
$
|
(229
|
)
|
$
|
13,943
|
$
|
(229
|
)
|
The
Company regularly reviews its investment portfolio to identify and evaluate
investments that have indications of possible impairment. The Company does
not
believe that its investments in marketable securities with unrealized losses
at
April 30, 2008 are other-than-temporary due to market volatility of the
security’s fair value, analysts’ expectations and the Company’s ability to hold
the securities for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated
recoveries in market value.
36
NOTES
TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
Proceeds
from the sale or redemption of available-for-sale securities and the resulting
gross realized gains and losses included in the determination of net income
(loss) are as follows (in thousands):
For
the years ended April 30,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Proceeds
|
$
|
12,923
|
$
|
9,568
|
|||
Gross
realized gains
|
$
|
392
|
$
|
39
|
|||
Gross
realized losses
|
$
|
(27
|
)
|
$
|
(89
|
)
|
Maturities
of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale at April 30,
2008
are as follows (in thousands):
Current
|
$
|
-
|
||
Due
after one year through five years
|
2,052
|
|||
Due
after five years through ten years
|
2,541
|
|||
$
|
4,593
|
6. Property,
Plant and Equipment
Property,
plant and equipment at April 30, 2008 and 2007, consists of the following
(in
thousands):
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Buildings
and building improvements
|
$
|
4,700
|
$
|
3,464
|
|||
Machinery,
equipment and furniture
|
38,096
|
34,768
|
|||||
42,796
|
38,232
|
||||||
Less,
accumulated depreciation
|
33,265
|
30,393
|
|||||
$
|
9,531
|
$
|
7,839
|
Depreciation
expense for the years ended April 30, 2008 and 2007 was $1,920,000 and
$1,665,000, respectively.
Maintenance
and repairs charged to operations for the years ended April 30, 2008 and
2007
was approximately $886,000 and $912,000, respectively.
In
January 1998, the Company sold the Long Island, New York building that it
occupies to Reckson Associates Realty Corp., a real estate investment trust
(“REIT”) whose shares were then traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The sale
involved a tax-deferred exchange of the building for approximately 513,000
participation
units of Reckson Operating Partnership, L.P. (“REIT units”) which were valued at
closing at $12 million. Each REIT unit was convertible into one share of
the
common stock of the REIT.
The
Company leased back approximately 43% of the building from the purchaser
(the
"Reckson lease"). Under the accounting provisions for sale and leaseback
transactions, the sale of this building was initially considered a financing
until the REIT units were converted to Reckson stock in March 2005. Upon
conversion of the REIT units, the Company recognized a gain of $4.6 million
and
deferred an additional $1.3 million gain. The deferred gain will be recognized
into income over the remaining term of the initial leaseback period. Annual
rental payments are $400,000 for the initial 11-year term which ends in January
2009. The Reckson lease contains two five-year renewal periods at the option
of
the Company. On May 16, 2007, the Company exercised its option to renew the
lease for the first five year period and, commencing February 2009, will
pay
annual rent of $600,000. Under the terms of the lease, the Company is required
to pay its proportional share of real estate taxes, insurance and other charges.
In
addition, the Company’s subsidiaries in China, France and California lease their
office and manufacturing facilities. The lease for the FEI-Asia facility
is for
a one-year term with rent of $15,000 payable quarterly. In July 2007, FEI-Zyfer
moved into newly leased space encompassing 27,850 square feet. Monthly rental
payments will be $23,700 for the first year and will increase each year over
the
125 month lease term. Satel-FEI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gillam-FEI,
occupies office space under a 9-year lease, cancelable after three years,
at an
approximate rate of $2,000 per month.
37
Rent
expense under operating leases for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2008
and
2007 was approximately $1.0 million and $760,000, respectively. Beginning
in
fiscal year 2008, the Company records rent expense on its New York building
and
FEI-Zyfer facility on the straightline method over the lives of the respective
leases. As a result, as of April 30, 2008, the Company’s balance sheet includes
deferred rent of approximately $439,000 which will be amortized over the
respective rental periods.
During
fiscal year 2008, the Company acquired manufacturing equipment of approximately
$1.2 million. This acquisition was financed by entering into a 5-year capital
lease payable in monthly installments of approximately $24,000, including
interest at 6.57%. At the end of the lease term, the Company may retain the
equipment for a nominal charge.
Future
minimum lease payments required by the leases are as follows (in
thousands):
Years ending
|
||||||||
April 30,
|
Operating Leases
|
Capital Lease
|
||||||
2009
|
$
|
789
|
$
|
281
|
||||
2010
|
932
|
281
|
||||||
2011
|
942
|
281
|
||||||
2012
|
952
|
281
|
||||||
2013
|
962
|
163
|
||||||
Thereafter
|
1,993
|
-
|
||||||
Less amount representing interest | - | (163 | ) | |||||
Present value of future minimum lease payments |
$
|
6,570
|
$
|
1,124
|
7.
|
Short-Term
Debt Obligations
|
The
Company has an $11.5 million line of credit with the financial institution
which
also manages a substantial portion of its investment in marketable securities.
The line is secured by the investments and has no maturity date so long as
the
Company maintains its investments with the financial instituion. During fiscal
year 2008, the Company had borrowings under the line which varied between
$4.5
million and $9 million. During the 2007 fiscal year, the Company borrowed
$5
million under this line of credit. During fiscal year 2008, advances against
the
line of credit bore interest at variable interest rates between 3.97% and
6.99%.
The
Company’s European subsidiaries have available approximately 1.7 million Euros
(approximately $2.6 million based on current rates of exchange between the
dollar and the Euro) in bank credit lines to meet short-term cash flow
requirements. As of April 30, 2008, no amount was outstanding under such
lines
of credit. Borrowings under the bank credit lines, if any, must be repaid
within
one year of receipt of funds. Interest on these credit lines varies from
0.5% to
1.5% over the EURO Interbank Offered rate (EURIBOR). At April 30, 2008 and
2007,
the rate was 4.295% and 4.361%, respectively, based on the 1 month
EURIBOR.
8.
|
Accrued
Liabilities
|
Accrued
liabilities at April 30, 2008 and 2007 consist of the following (in
thousands):
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Other
compensation including payroll taxes
|
$
|
2,095
|
$
|
2,104
|
|||
Vacation
accrual
|
1,175
|
839
|
|||||
Due
customers
|
299
|
447
|
|||||
Other
|
1,125
|
566
|
|||||
$
|
4,694
|
$
|
3,956
|
9. Investment
in Morion, Inc.
In
fiscal
year 2007, the Company’s investment in Morion, Inc., a privately-held Russian
company, was 36.6% of Morion’s outstanding shares. The Company reported its
investment under the equity method and recorded its proportionate share of
the
earnings of Morion. In June 2007, the Company completed the sale of 28.6%
of the
outstanding shares of Morion, reducing its investment in Morion from 36.6%
to 8%
of its
outstanding shares. Based upon a determination by the Russian Federation
that
Morion was in a “strategic industry,” Gazprombank, a Russian government
majority-owned joint stock bank, acquired the majority interest in Morion
previously held by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and
a
portion of the shares previously held by the Company, both at the same price
per
share. Gazprombank, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Finproject, Ltd.,
paid
the Company net proceeds of approximately $5.6 million. As a result of the
sale,
the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of approximately $3.0 million on the
sale
of the Morion shares. This is in addition to approximately $2.0 million in
equity income realized in prior periods from the Morion investment. Effective
June 2007, the Company began accounting for its remaining investment in Morion
on the cost basis.
38
NOTES
TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
During
the fiscal years ended April 30, 2008 and 2007, the Company acquired product
from Morion in the aggregate amount of approximately $710,000 and $454,000,
respectively, and the Company sold product to Morion in the aggregate amount
of
approximately $248,000 and $269,000, respectively.
10. Goodwill
and Other Intangible Assets
During
fiscal year 2004 the Company acquired FEI-Zyfer, Inc. (“FEI-Ayfer”). This
acquisition resulted in the recording of approximately $200,000 in goodwill.
Management has determined that this goodwill is not impaired as of April
30,
2008 and 2007.
In
addition, the Company acquired customer lists in the FEI-Zyfer acquisition
with
a value of $600,000 which is being amortized over
6
years.
Amortization expense related to these customer lists for the years ended
April
30, 2008 and 2007 was approximately $48,000 and $60,000, respectively. For
the
fiscal year ending April 30, 2009, amortization expense will be approximately
$186,000 which will fully amortize the remaining asset.
11. Investment
in Elcom Technologies, Inc.
In
December 2006, the Company acquired a 25% interest (20% on a fully-diluted
basis) in the outstanding shares of Elcom Technologies, Inc., a privately-held
company which designs and manufactures advanced RF microwave devices. The
Company and Elcom entered into a mutual business and facilities support
agreement and Frequency Electronics obtained an exclusive license to use
Elcom’s
technology in space-borne applications. The Company received preferred stock,
a
$1.5 million convertible note and a 10-year warrant to purchase additional
stock
in exchange for cash and 39,651 shares of Frequency Electronics common stock.
The Company accounts for this investment on the equity method.
The
Company reviewed Elcom’s financial condition at April 30, 2008 and concluded
that no impairment charge or valuation allowance related to its investment
in
Elcom was required. At April 30, 2008, Elcom had total assets of approximately
$7.9 million, total liabilities of approximately $4.2 million and stockholders’
equity of $3.7 million
During
the fiscal years ended April 30, 2008 and 2007, the Company acquired technical
services from Elcom in the aggregate amount of approximately $622,000 and
$280,000, respectively, and the Company recorded interest income on Elcom’s
convertible note in the amount of approximately $113,000 and $41,000,
respectively.
12. Employee
Benefit Plans
Profit
Sharing Plan:
The
Company adopted a profit sharing plan and trust under section 401(k) of the
Internal Revenue Code. This plan allows all eligible employees to defer a
portion of their income through voluntary contributions to the plan. In
accordance with the provisions of the plan, the Company can make discretionary
matching contributions in the form of cash or common stock. For the years
ended
April 30, 2008 and 2007, the Company contributed 61,327 and 37,550 shares
of
common stock, respectively. The approximate value of these shares at the
date of
issuance was $573,000 in fiscal year 2008 and $455,000 in fiscal year
2007.
39
NOTES
TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
Income
Incentive Pool:
The
Company maintains incentive bonus programs for certain employees which are
based
on operating profits of the individual subsidiaries to which the employees
are
assigned. The Company also adopted a plan for the President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, which formula is based on consolidated pre-tax profits.
The Company charged $100,000 and $30,000 to operations under these plans
for the
fiscal years ended April 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Independent
Contractor Stock Option Plan:
The
Company had an Independent Contractor Stock Option Plan under which up to
350,000 shares could be granted. This plan was terminated in fiscal year
2006.
An Independent Contractor Stock Option Committee determined to whom options
may
be granted from among eligible participants, the timing and duration of option
grants, the option price, and the number of shares of common stock subject
to
each option. Options were granted to certain independent contractors at a
price
equal to the then fair market value of the Company’s common stock. The options
were exercisable over specified periods per terms of the individual agreements.
No compensation expense was recorded during the years ended April 30, 2008
and
2007 as no other grants were made in those years and previous grants have
been
fully expensed. As a result of the adoption by the stockholders of the 2005
Stock Award Plan, the Independent Contractor Stock Option Plan was discontinued.
No additional grants will be made under this plan.
Transactions
under this plan, including the weighted average exercise prices of the options,
are as follows:
2008
|
2007
|
||||||||||||
Wtd Avg
|
Wtd Avg
|
||||||||||||
Shares
|
Price
|
Shares
|
Price
|
||||||||||
Outstanding
at beginning of year
|
141,050
|
$
|
15.33
|
141,050
|
$
|
15.33
|
|||||||
Expired
|
(100,750
|
)
|
15.75
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||
Exercised
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
Outstanding
at end of year
|
40,300
|
$
|
14.29
|
141,050
|
$
|
15.33
|
|||||||
Exercisable
at end of year
|
40,300
|
$
|
14.29
|
131,050
|
$
|
15.38
|
Employee
Stock Plans:
The
Company has various stock plans for key management employees, including officers
and directors who are employees. The plans are Nonqualified Stock Option
(“NQSO”) plans, Incentive Stock Option ("ISO”) plans and Stock Appreciation
Rights (“SARS”). Under these plans, options or SARS are granted at the
discretion of the Stock Option committee at an exercise price not less than
the
fair market value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. Under
one
NQSO plan the options were exercisable one year after the date of grant.
Under
the remaining plans the options and SARS are exercisable over a four-year
period
beginning one year after the date of grant. The options and SARS expire ten
years after the date of grant and are subject to certain restrictions on
transferability of the shares obtained on exercise. As of April 30, 2008,
eligible employees had been granted options to purchase 1,182,500 shares
of
Company stock under ISO plans of which approximately 388,000 options are
outstanding and approximately 358,000 are exercisable. Through April 30,
2008,
eligible employees have been granted options to acquire 1,090,000 shares
of
Company stock under NQSO plans. Of the NQSO options, approximately 640,000
are
both outstanding and exercisable (see tables below). As of April 30, 2008,
eligible employees have been granted SARS based on approximately 398,000
shares
of Company stock, all are of which outstanding and approximately 44,000 are
exercisable. When the SARS become exercisable, the Company will settle the
SARS
by issuing to exercising recipients the number of shares of stock equal to
the
appreciated value of the Company’s stock between the grant date and exercise
date. At the time of exercise, the quantity of shares under the SARS grant
equal
to the exercise value divided by the then market value of the shares will
be
returned to the pool of available shares for future grant under the Company’s
stock plan.
40
NOTES
TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
The
excess of the consideration received over the par value of the common stock
or
cost of treasury stock issued under both types of option plans has been
recognized as an increase in additional paid-in capital.
The
following table summarizes information about stock option activity for the
years
ended April 30:
Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
|
|||||||||||||
Weighted
|
|||||||||||||
Average
|
|||||||||||||
Weighted-
|
Remaining
|
||||||||||||
Average
|
Contractual
|
Aggregate
|
|||||||||||
Shares
|
Exercise Price
|
Term
|
Intrinsic Value
|
||||||||||
Outstanding
– May 1, 2006
|
1,133,387
|
$
|
11.32
|
4.6
years
|
$
|
2,900,000
|
|||||||
Granted
|
172,500
|
11.93
|
|||||||||||
Exercised
|
(40,300
|
)
|
7.28
|
||||||||||
Outstanding
– April 30, 2007
|
1,265,587
|
$
|
11.53
|
4.4
years
|
$
|
-
|
|||||||
Granted
|
225,875
|
9.73
|
|||||||||||
Exercised
|
(18,312
|
)
|
8.60
|
||||||||||
Expired
or Canceled
|
(46,375
|
)
|
10.23
|
||||||||||
Outstanding
– April 30, 2008
|
1,426,775
|
$
|
11.33
|
4.5
years
|
$
|
-
|
|||||||
Exercisable
|
1,042,150
|
$
|
11.55
|
2.9
years
|
$
|
-
|
|||||||
Available
for future grants
|
1,625
|
As
of
April 30, 2008, total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested
options and stock appreciation rights under the plans was approximately $1.4
million. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average
period of 2.85 years.
During
the year ended April 30, 2008, 98,875 shares vested the fair value of which
was
approximately $546,000. Cash received from stock option exercises for the
year
ended April 30, 2008 was $83,000.
Restricted
Stock Plan:
During
fiscal 1990, the Company adopted a Restricted Stock Plan which provided that
key
management employees could be granted rights to purchase an aggregate of
375,000
shares of the Company's common stock. The grants, transferability restrictions
and purchase price were determined at the discretion of a special committee
of
the board of directors. The purchase price could not be less than the par
value
of the common stock. As a result of the adoption by the Company’s stockholders
of the 2005 Stock Award Plan, the Restricted Stock Plan was discontinued.
No
additional grants will be made under this plan. As of April 30, 2008 and
2007,
grants for 22,500 restricted shares are available to be purchased at a price
of
$4.00 per share.
Transferability
of shares is restricted for a four-year period, except in the event of a
change
in control as defined.
Employee
Stock Ownership Plan/Stock Bonus Plan:
During
1990 the Company amended its Stock Bonus Plan to become an Employee Stock
Ownership Plan (“ESOP”). By means of a bank note, subsequently repaid, the
Company reacquired 561,652 shares of its common stock during fiscal 1990.
These
shares plus approximately 510,000 additional shares issued by the Company
from
its authorized, unissued shares were sold to the ESOP in May 1990. Shares
were
released for allocation to participants based on a formula as specified in
the
ESOP document. By the end of fiscal 2000, all shares (1,071,652) had been
allocated to participant accounts of which 556,785 shares remain in the
ESOP.
41
NOTES
TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
Deferred
Compensation Plan:
The
Company has a program for key employees providing for the payment of benefits
upon retirement or death. Under the plan, each key employee receives specified
retirement payments for the remainder of the employee's life with a minimum
payment of ten years' benefits to either the employee or his beneficiaries.
The
plan also provides for reduced benefits upon early retirement or termination
of
employment. The Company pays the benefits out of its working capital but
has
also purchased whole life or term life insurance policies on the lives of
certain of the participants to cover the optional lump sum obligations of
the
plan upon the death of the participant. During the year ended April 30, 2008,
two former employees who were receiving retirement benefits, died. The Company
received proceeds from the life insurance policies on these participants.
The
amount received exceeded the cash surrender value of the policies and the
Company recognized a gain of approximately $290,000. Deferred compensation
expense charged to operations during the years ended April 30, 2008 and 2007
was
approximately $1.1 million and $878,000, respectively.
13. Income
Taxes
The
income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes consisted of (in
thousands):
Year
Ended April 30,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
U.S.
|
$
|
1,614
|
$
|
(1,944
|
)
|
||
Foreign
|
(167
|
)
|
132
|
||||
$
|
1,447
|
$
|
(1,812
|
)
|
The
provision (benefit) for income taxes consists of the following (in
thousands):
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Current:
|
|||||||
Federal
|
$
|
1,260
|
$
|
(150
|
)
|
||
Foreign
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
State
|
120
|
(100
|
)
|
||||
Current
provision (benefit)
|
1,380
|
(250
|
)
|
||||
Deferred
|
|||||||
Federal
|
(620
|
)
|
(950
|
)
|
|||
Foreign
|
(90
|
)
|
(205
|
)
|
|||
State
|
(110
|
)
|
(150
|
)
|
|||
Deferred
benefit
|
(820
|
)
|
(1,305
|
)
|
|||
Total
provision (benefit)
|
$
|
560
|
$
|
(1,555
|
)
|
The
following table reconciles the reported income tax expense (benefit) with
the
amount computed using the federal statutory income tax rate (in
thousands)
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Computed
"expected" tax expense (benefit)
|
$
|
492
|
$
|
(616
|
)
|
||
State
and local tax, net of federal benefit
|
7
|
(165
|
)
|
||||
Tax
basis gain on sale of Morion shares
|
531
|
-
|
|||||
Nontaxable
loss (income) from foreign subsidiaries
|
207
|
(73
|
)
|
||||
Reserve
reversal on foreign deferred taxes
|
-
|
(405
|
)
|
||||
Nondeductible
expenses
|
146
|
75
|
|||||
Nontaxable
life insurance cash value increase
|
(222
|
)
|
(102
|
)
|
|||
Tax
credits
|
(534
|
)
|
(251
|
)
|
|||
Other
items, net, none of which individually exceeds 5% of federal taxes
at
statutory rates
|
(67
|
)
|
(18
|
)
|
|||
$
|
560
|
$
|
(1,555
|
)
|
42
NOTES
TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
The
components of deferred taxes are as follows (in thousands):
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Deferred
tax assets:
|
|||||||
Employee
benefits
|
$
|
5,178
|
$
|
4,563
|
|||
Inventory
|
2,100
|
1,650
|
|||||
Accounts
receivable
|
550
|
350
|
|||||
Marketable
securities
|
300
|
75
|
|||||
Research
& development
|
756
|
1,149
|
|||||
Other
liabilities
|
-
|
66
|
|||||
Foreign
net operating loss carryforwards
|
627
|
425
|
|||||
Miscellaneous
|
119
|
-
|
|||||
Total
deferred tax asset
|
9,630
|
8,278
|
|||||
Deferred
tax liabilities:
|
|||||||
Property,
plant and equipment
|
1,361
|
1,156
|
|||||
Net
deferred tax asset
|
8,269
|
7,122
|
|||||
Valuation
allowance
|
(1,305
|
)
|
(1,102
|
)
|
|||
$
|
6,964
|
$
|
6,020
|
The
total
valuation allowance relates to deferred tax assets of foreign subsidiaries.
At
April 30, 2008, the Company has available approximately $1.2 million in net
operating losses available to offset future income of certain of its foreign
subsidiaries.
On
May 1,
2007, the Company adopted the provisions of FASB Financial Interpretation
No.
48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB
Statement No. 109.” (“FIN 48”) This interpretation clarifies the accounting for
uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an entity’s financial statements and
prescribes recognition thresholds and measurement attributes for tax positions
taken in a tax return. Tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not
recognition threshold at the effective date to be recognized upon the adoption
of FIN 48 and in subsequent periods. As a result of the implementation of
FIN
48, the Company has evaluated its tax positions and has concluded that the
tax
positions meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold. As such, there
is
no impact on the Company’s financial position or results of
operations.
14.
Product
Warranties
The
Company generally provides its customers with a one-year warranty regarding
the
manufactured quality and functionality of its products. For some limited
products, the warranty period has been extended. The Company establishes
warranty reserves based on its product history, current information on repair
costs and annual sales levels. Changes in the carrying amount of accrued
product
warranty costs are as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended April 30,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Balance
at beginning of year
|
$
|
350
|
$
|
350
|
|||
Warranty costs incurred
|
(354
|
)
|
(596
|
)
|
|||
Product warranty accrual
|
399
|
596
|
|||||
Balance
at end of year
|
$
|
395
|
$
|
350
|
43
NOTES
TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
15. Segment
Information
The
Company operates under three reportable segments:
(1) |
FEI-NY
– consists principally of precision time and frequency control products
used in three principal markets- communication satellites (both
commercial
and U.S. Government-funded); terrestrial cellular telephone or
other
ground-based telecommunication stations and other components and
systems
for the U.S. military.
|
(2) |
Gillam-FEI
- the Company’s Belgian subsidiary primarily sells wireline
synchronization and network management
systems.
|
(3) |
FEI-Zyfer
- the products of the Company’s subsidiary incorporate Global Positioning
System (GPS) technologies into systems and subsystems for secure
communications, both government and commercial, and other locator
applications.
|
The
Company reports its segment information on primarily a geographic basis.
The
FEI-NY segment, which operates out of the Company’s New York headquarters
facility, also includes the operations of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary,
FEI-Asia. FEI-Asia functions primarily as a manufacturing facility for the
FEI-NY segment.
The
Company’s Chief Executive Officer measures segment performance based on total
revenues and profits generated by each geographic center rather than on the
specific types of customers or end-users. Consequently, the Company determined
that limiting the number of segments to the three indicated above more
appropriately reflects the way the Company’s management views the
business.
The
accounting policies of the three segments are the same as those described
in the
“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.” The Company evaluates the
performance of its segments and allocates resources to them based on operating
profit which is defined as income before investment income, interest expense
and
taxes. The European-based director of Gillam-FEI and the president of FEI-Zyfer
manage the assets of these segments. All acquired assets, including intangible
assets, are included in the assets of these two segments.
The
table
below presents information about reported segments for each of the years
ended
April 30 with reconciliation of segment amounts to consolidated amounts as
reported in the statement of operations or the balance sheet for each of
the
years (in thousands):
2008
|
|
2007
|
|||||
Net
sales:
|
|||||||
FEI-NY
|
$
|
46,258
|
$
|
40,184
|
|||
Gillam-FEI
|
11,459
|
** |
11,382
|
** | |||
FEI-Zyfer
|
9,089
|
7,542
|
|||||
less
intersegment sales
|
(2,409
|
)** |
(2,902
|
)** | |||
Consolidated
Sales
|
$
|
64,397
|
$
|
56,206
|
|||
Operating
(loss) profit:
|
|||||||
FEI-NY
|
($2,889
|
)
|
$
|
(3,336
|
)
|
||
Gillam-FEI
|
273
|
** |
412
|
** | |||
FEI-Zyfer
|
496
|
(339
|
)
|
||||
Corporate
|
(458
|
)
|
(458
|
)
|
|||
Consolidated
Operating Loss
|
($
2,578
|
)
|
($
3,721
|
)
|
** |
For
the fiscal years ended April 30, 2008 and 2007, includes Gillam-FEI
intersegment sales of $1.0 million and $1.8 million, respectively,
to the
FEI-NY segment. In fiscal years 2008 and 2007, such sales included
final
development costs and manufacture of assemblies and units of a
wireline
synchronization product for ultimate production and sale in the
U.S. In
the Gillam-FEI segment, these transactions increased the operating
profit
in each of the fiscal years.
|
44
NOTES
TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Identifiable
assets:
|
|||||||
FEI-NY
|
$
|
54,522
|
$
|
49,868
|
|||
Gillam-FEI
|
18,611
|
13,750
|
|||||
FEI-Zyfer
|
6,538
|
5,366
|
|||||
less
intersegment balances
|
(17,786
|
)
|
(11,773
|
)
|
|||
Corporate
|
35,035
|
36,615
|
|||||
Consolidated
Identifiable Assets
|
$
|
96,920
|
$
|
93,826
|
|||
Depreciation
and amortization (allocated):
|
|||||||
FEI-NY
|
$
|
1,469
|
$
|
1,290
|
|||
Gillam-FEI
|
203
|
164
|
|||||
FEI-Zyfer
|
278
|
252
|
|||||
Corporate
|
19
|
19
|
|||||
Consolidated
Depreciation and Amortization Expense
|
$
|
1,969
|
$
|
1,725
|
Major
Customers
In
fiscal
year 2008, sales to four customers of the FEI-NY segment aggregated $29.1
million or 63% of that segment’s total sales. Three of these customers accounted
for 15%, 12% and 11%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated sales for the
year. In the Gillam-FEI segment, sales to two customers aggregated $4.5 million
or 39% of that segment’s revenues. In the FEI-Zyfer segment, one customer
accounted for $1.1 million or 12% of that segment’s sales. None of the customers
in the Gillam-FEI or FEI-Zyfer segments accounted for more than 10% of
consolidated revenues.
In
fiscal
year 2007, sales to three customers of the FEI-NY segment aggregated $24.4
million or 61% of that segment’s total sales. These customers accounted for 17%,
14% and 13%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated sales for the year.
During the year ended April 30, 2007, in the Gillam-FEI segment, sales to
two
customers aggregated $4.0 million or 42% of that segment’s revenues (exclusive
of the $1.8 million of intersegment sale). In the FEI-Zyfer segment, two
customers accounted for $1.6 million or 21% of that segment’s sales. None of the
customers in the Gillam-FEI or FEI-Zyfer segments accounted for more than
10% of
consolidated revenues.
The
loss
by the Company of any one of these customers would have a material adverse
effect on the Company’s business. The Company believes its relationship with
these companies to be mutually satisfactory.
Foreign
Sales
Revenues
in each of the Company’s segments include sales to foreign governments or to
companies located in foreign countries. Revenues, based on the location of
the
procurement entity, were derived from the following countries:
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Belgium
|
$
|
5,717
|
$
|
5,612
|
|||
China
|
5,038
|
5,799
|
|||||
France
|
2,515
|
2,653
|
|||||
Canada
|
1,042
|
953
|
|||||
Other
|
5,395
|
2,899
|
|||||
$
|
19,707
|
$
|
17,916
|
45
NOTES
TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
16. Interim
Results (Unaudited)
Quarterly
results for fiscal years 2008 and 2007 are as follows:
(in
thousands, except per share data)
|
|||||||||||||
2008
Quarter
|
|||||||||||||
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
4th
|
||||||||||
Net
sales
|
$
|
15,557
|
$
|
17,494
|
$
|
17,055
|
$
|
14,291
|
|||||
Gross
margin
|
4,471
|
5,470
|
5,455
|
2,266
|
|||||||||
Net
income (loss)
|
1,380
|
409
|
758
|
(1,660
|
)
|
||||||||
*Earnings
(loss) per share
|
|||||||||||||
Basic
|
$
|
0.16
|
$
|
0.05
|
$
|
0.09
|
$
|
(0.19
|
)
|
||||
Diluted
|
$
|
0.16
|
$
|
0.05
|
$
|
0.09
|
$
|
(0.19
|
)
|
* |
Quarterly
earnings per share data do not equal the annual amount due to changes
in
the average common equivalent shares
outstanding.
|
During
the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008, the Company increased inventory reserves
by $1,000 and incurred higher than anticipated engineering and manufacturing
costs as a result of testing failures on certain satellite payload contracts.
Such costs reduced revenues and increased the net loss.
(in
thousands, except per share data)
|
|||||||||||||
2007
Quarter
|
|||||||||||||
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
4th
|
||||||||||
Net
sales
|
$
|
14,314
|
$
|
14,320
|
$
|
12,117
|
$
|
15,455
|
|||||
Gross
margin
|
4,853
|
5,340
|
3,777
|
3,106
|
|||||||||
Net
income (loss)
|
898
|
187
|
(754
|
)
|
(588
|
)
|
|||||||
*Earnings
(loss) per share
|
|||||||||||||
Basic
|
$
|
0.10
|
$
|
0.02
|
$
|
(0.09
|
)
|
$
|
(0.07
|
)
|
|||
Diluted
|
$
|
0.10
|
$
|
0.02
|
$
|
(0.09
|
)
|
$
|
(0.07
|
)
|
* |
Quarterly
earnings per share data do not equal the annual amount due to changes
in
the average common equivalent shares
outstanding.
|
46
Item
9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure
NONE
Item
9A(T) Controls and Procedures
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
The
Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s chief executive
officer and chief financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the
Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules
13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the “Exchange
Act”))
as of
the end of the period covered by this report. There are inherent limitations
to
the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including
the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the
controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and
procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control
objectives. Based on their evaluation, the Company’s chief executive officer and
chief financial officer have concluded that, as of April 30, 2008, the Company’s
disclosure controls and procedures were not effective for the reasons discussed
below, to ensure that information relating to the Company, including its
consolidated subsidiaries, required to be included in its reports that it filed
or submitted under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed, summarized and
reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission
rules and forms.
Management’s
Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management
of Frequency Electronics is responsible for establishing and maintaining
adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f)
and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control system is
designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes
in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of inherent
limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect
misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future
periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because
of
changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or
procedures may deteriorate.
Management
has assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting as of April 30, 2008. In making this assessment, management used
the
criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (COSO). Based on this evaluation, management has concluded that
the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of
April 30, 2008. The Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial
officer have concluded that the Company has material weaknesses in its internal
control over financial reporting.
A
material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal
control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility
that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial
statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
Financial
Reporting
The
Company had inadequate resources and an insufficient number of personnel having
adequate knowledge, experience and training to provide effective oversight
and
review of our internal controls within the prescribed timeframe. As a result,
as
of April 30, 2008, there was a material weakness in the Company’s internal
control because management has not performed a self-assessment or the necessary
documentation and testing of the internal controls at two of the Company’s
subsidiaries, Gillam-FEI and FEI-Zyfer. The lack of documentation and testing
of
these subsidiaries constitutes a material weakness. In order to remediate this
material weakness, management will continue to establish policies and procedures
to provide for the necessary documentation and testing of such internal controls
over the coming year. During fiscal year 2009, the Company plans to fully
document and test the internal controls over financial reporting at its
Gillam-FEI and FEI-Zyfer subsidiaries. If this process identifies material
weaknesses or significant deficiencies over such internal controls, the Company
will implement appropriate remediation efforts.
47
Due
to
the Company’s small size and lack of resources and staffing, the Chief Financial
Officer is actively involved in the preparation of the financial statements
and
therefore, cannot provide an independent review and quality assurance function
within the accounting and financial reporting group. The limited number of
accounting personnel results in an inability to have independent review and
approval by the Chief Financial Officer of financial accounting entries. There
is a risk that a material misstatement of the financial statements could be
caused, or at least not be detected in a timely manner, due to this insufficient
segregation of duties. During fiscal year 2009, the Company plans to remediate
this material weakness by engaging third-party accounting advisors and by
creating processes whereby personnel in its Accounting Department (other than
the Chief Financial Officer) will create analysis and original accounting
entries, which will subsequently be reviewed and approved by the Chief Financial
Officer.
This
annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered
public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered
public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report
in this annual report.
Changes
in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.
There
were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as
such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act)
during the quarter ending April 30, 2008 to which this report relates that
have
materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item
9B Other Information
NONE
PART
III
Item
10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Company
The
information required to be furnished pursuant to this item with respect to
Directors of the Company, in compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Company’s code of ethics is
incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement
for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on or about October 7, 2008.
The information required to be furnished pursuant to this item with respect
to
Executive Officers is set forth, pursuant to General Instruction G of Form
10-K,
under Part I of this Report.
Item
11. Executive Compensation
This
item
is incorporated herein by reference from the Company's definitive proxy
statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on or about October
7, 2008.
Item
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters
This
item
is incorporated herein by reference from the Company's definitive proxy
statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on or about October
7, 2008.
Item
13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
This
item
is incorporated herein by reference from the Company's definitive proxy
statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on or about October
7, 2008.
Item
14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
This
item
is incorporated herein by reference from the Company's definitive proxy
statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on or about October
7, 2008.
48
PART
IV
Item
15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) Index
to Financial Statements and Exhibits
The
financial statements and exhibits are listed below and are filed as part of
this
report.
(1)
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Included
in Part II of this report:
Page(s)
|
||||
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
25
|
|||
Consolidated
Balance Sheets April 30, 2008 and 2007
|
26
|
|||
Consolidated
Statements of Operations -years ended April 30, 2008 and
2007
|
27
|
|||
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows - years ended April 30, 2008 and
2007
|
28-29
|
|||
Consolidated
Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - years ended April
30, 2008
and 2007
|
30
|
|||
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
31-46
|
(2)
EXHIBITS
Exhibit
21
|
List
of Subsidiaries of Registrant
|
|
Exhibit
23.1
|
Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
|
Exhibit
31.1
|
Certification
of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
|
Exhibit
31.2
|
Certification
of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
|
Exhibit
32.1
|
Certification
of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
|
Exhibit
32.2
|
Certification
of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
The
exhibits listed on the accompanying Index to Exhibits beginning on page 51
are
filed as part of this annual report.
49
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) 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.
FREQUENCY ELECTRONICS, INC. | ||
By
|
/s/
Martin B. Bloch
|
|
Martin
B. Bloch
|
||
President
and CEO
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Alan L. Miller
|
|
Alan
L. Miller
|
||
Chief
Financial Officer
|
||
and
Treasurer
|
Dated:
July 29, 2008
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has
been
signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
||
/s/
Joseph P. Franklin
|
Chairman
of the Board
|
7/29/08
|
||
Joseph
P. Franklin
|
||||
/s/
Joel Girsky
|
Director
|
7/29/08
|
||
Joel
Girsky
|
||||
/s/
E. Donald Shapiro
|
Director
|
7/29/08
|
||
E.
Donald Shapiro
|
||||
/s/
S. Robert Foley
|
Director
|
7/29/08
|
||
S.
Robert Foley
|
||||
/s/
Richard Schwartz
|
Director
|
7/29/08
|
||
Richard
Schwartz
|
||||
/s/
Martin B. Bloch
|
President
and CEO
|
7/29/08
|
||
Martin
B. Bloch
|
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
|||
/s/
Alan L. Miller
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
7/29/08
|
||
Alan
L. Miller
|
and
Treasurer
|
|||
(Principal
Financial Officer)
|
50
INDEX
TO
EXHIBITS
ITEM
15(a)(3)
Certain
of the following exhibits were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
as exhibits, numbered as indicated below, to the Registration Statement or
report specified below, which exhibits are incorporated herein by
reference:
Exhibit
No. in
|
||||
this
Form 10-K
|
Description
of Exhibit
|
NOTE
|
||
3.1
|
Copy
of Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant filed with the
Secretary
of State of Delaware
|
(1)
|
||
3.2
|
Amendment
to Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant filed with the
Secretary
of State of Delaware on March 27, 1981
|
(2)
|
||
3.3
|
Amendment
to Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant filed with Secretary
of
State of Delaware on October 26, 1984
|
(5)
|
||
3.4
|
Amendment
to Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant filed with the
Secretary
of State of Delaware on October 22, 1986
|
(7)
|
||
3.5
|
Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant filed
with the
Secretary of State of Delaware on October 26, 1987
|
(9)
|
||
3.6
|
Amended
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company filed with the Secretary
of
State of Delaware on November 2, 1989
|
(9)
|
||
3.7
|
Copy
of By-Laws of the Registrant, as amended to date
|
(3)
|
||
4.1
|
Specimen
of Common Stock certificate
|
(1)
|
||
10.1
|
Registrant’s
1997 Independent Contractor Stock Option Plan
|
(10)
|
||
10.8
|
Employment
agreement between Registrant and Harry Newman
|
(4)
|
||
10.9
|
Employment
agreement between Registrant and Marcus Hechler
|
(4)
|
||
10.10
|
Employment
agreement between Registrant and Charles Stone
|
(8)
|
||
10.13
|
Lease
agreement between Registrant and Reckson Operating Partnership,
L.P. dated
January 6, 1998
|
(11)
|
||
10.16
|
Registrant’s
Cash or Deferral Profit Sharing Plan and Trust under Internal Revenue
Code
Section 401, dated April 1, 1985
|
(6)
|
||
10.21
|
Form
of Agreement concerning Executive Compensation
|
(2)
|
||
10.23
|
Registrant’s
Senior Executive Stock Option Plan
|
(8)
|
||
10.24
|
Amendment
dated Jan. 1, 1988 to Registrant’s Cash or Deferred
Profit Sharing Plan and Trust under Section 401 of Internal Revenue
Code
|
(8)
|
51
Exhibit
No. in
|
||||
this
Form 10-K
|
Description
of Exhibit
|
NOTE
|
||
10.25
|
Executive
Incentive Compensation Plan between Registrant and various employees
|
(8)
|
||
21
|
List
of Subsidiaries of Registrant
|
Filed herewith
|
||
23.1
|
Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm to incorporation
by
reference of 2008 audit report in Registrant’s Form S-8 Registration
Statement.
|
Filed herewith
|
||
31.1
|
Certification
of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
Filed herewith
|
||
31.2
|
Certification
of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
Filed herewith
|
||
32.1
|
Certification
of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
Filed herewith
|
||
32.2
|
Certification
of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
Filed herewith
|
NOTES:
(1) |
Filed
with the SEC as an exhibit, numbered as indicated above, to the
registration statement of Registrant on Form S-1, File No. 2-29609,
which
exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(2) |
Filed
with the SEC as an exhibit, numbered as indicated above, to the
registration statement of Registrant on Form S-1, File No. 2-71727,
which
exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(3) |
Filed
with the SEC as an exhibit, numbered as indicated above, to the annual
report of Registrant on Form 10-K, File No. 1-8061 for the year ended
April 30, 1981, which exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(4) |
Filed
with the SEC as an exhibit, numbered as indicated above, to the
registration statement of Registrant on Form S-1, File No. 2-69527,
which
exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(5) |
Filed
with the SEC as an exhibit, numbered as indicated above, to the annual
report of Registrant on Form 10-K, File No. 1-8061, for the year
ended
April 30, 1985, which exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(6) |
Filed
with the SEC as exhibit, numbered as indicated above, to the annual
report
of Registrant on Form 10-K, File No. 1-8061, for the year ended April
30,
1986, which exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(7) |
Filed
with the SEC as an exhibit, numbered as indicated above, to the annual
report of Registrant on Form 10-K, File No. 1-8061, for the year
ended
April 30, 1987, which exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(8) |
Filed
with the SEC as an exhibit, numbered as indicated above, to the annual
report of Registrant on Form 10-K, File No. 1-8061, for the year
ended
April 30, 1989, which exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(9)
|
Filed
with the SEC as an exhibit, numbered as indicated above, to the annual
report of Registrant on Form 10-K, File No. 1-8061, for the year
ended
April 30, 1990, which exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(10)
|
Filed
with the SEC as an exhibit, numbered as indicated above, to the
registration statement of Registrant on Form S-8, File No. 333-42233,
which exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(11)
|
Filed
with the SEC as an exhibit, numbered as indicated above, to the annual
report of Registrant on Form 10-K, File No. 1-8061, for the year
ended
April 30, 1998, which exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference.
|
52