LGL GROUP INC - Quarter Report: 2004 September (Form 10-Q)
Table of Contents
SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One) |
||
x
|
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004 | ||
or | ||
o
|
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OF 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
For the transition period from ____________ to ____________ | ||
Commission File No. 1-106 |
LYNCH CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Indiana
|
38-1799862 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
140 Greenwich Avenue, 4th Floor, Greenwich, CT
|
06830 | |
(Address of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip Code) |
(203) 622-1150
Registrants telephone number, including area code
50 Kennedy Plaza, Suite 1250, Providence, RI
|
02903 | |
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 whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o No x
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the Registrants classes of Common Stock, as of the latest practical date.
Class | Outstanding at November 1, 2004 | |
Common Stock, $0.01 par value | 1,632,126 |
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INDEX
LYNCH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
2
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Part 1 FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1 Financial Statements
LYNCH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS UNAUDITED
(In Thousands, except share amounts)
September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2004 (A) |
2003 (B) |
|||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
CURRENT ASSETS |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 2,647 | $ | 3,981 | ||||
Restricted cash (Note E) |
1,125 | 1,125 | ||||||
Investments Marketable Securities (Note F) |
3,045 | 2,311 | ||||||
Trade accounts receivables, less
allowances of $274 and $91, respectively |
5,050 | 3,366 | ||||||
Unbilled accounts receivable |
1,681 | 2,431 | ||||||
Inventories (Note G) |
9,427 | 4,911 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
57 | 57 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
1,621 | 456 | ||||||
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS |
24,653 | 18,638 | ||||||
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT |
||||||||
Land |
622 | 291 | ||||||
Buildings and improvements |
6,049 | 4,198 | ||||||
Machinery and equipment |
20,038 | 11,377 | ||||||
Less: accumulated depreciation |
(21,267 | ) | (11,689 | ) | ||||
NET PROPERTY PLANT AND EQUIPMENT |
5,442 | 4,177 | ||||||
OTHER ASSETS |
3,325 | 204 | ||||||
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ | 33,420 | $ | 23,019 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES: |
||||||||
Notes payable to banks (Note H) |
$ | 2,273 | $ | 1,976 | ||||
Due to seller |
8,736 | | ||||||
Trade accounts payable |
3,283 | 2,054 | ||||||
Accrued warranty expense (Note I) |
466 | 585 | ||||||
Accrued compensation expense |
1,281 | 1,219 | ||||||
Accrued income taxes |
649 | 716 | ||||||
Accrued professional fees |
274 | 273 | ||||||
Accrued commissions |
209 | 429 | ||||||
Margin liability on marketable securities |
1,548 | 1,033 | ||||||
Other accrued expenses (Note M) |
1,805 | 664 | ||||||
Customer advances |
1,010 | 1,206 | ||||||
Current maturities of long-term debt (Note H) |
746 | 998 | ||||||
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES |
22,280 | 11,153 | ||||||
LONG-TERM DEBT (Note H) |
2,093 | 833 | ||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES |
24,373 | 11,986 | ||||||
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note M) |
||||||||
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||
Common
stock, $0.01 par value 10,000,000 shares authorized; 1,513,191 shares issued; 1,495,483 shares outstanding at September 30, 2004; 1,497,883 shares outstanding at December 31, 2003; |
15 | 15 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
15,645 | 15,645 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(6,394 | ) | (4,460 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (Note K) |
271 | 291 | ||||||
Treasury stock, at cost, of 17,708 shares at September 30, 2004,
and 15,308 shares at December 31, 2003 |
(490 | ) | (458 | ) | ||||
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
9,047 | 11,033 | ||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
$ | 33,420 | $ | 23,019 | ||||
(A) | The Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2004 includes Piezo Technology, Inc. (PTI), acquired by Lynchs subsidiary, M-tron Industries, Inc., on October 15, 2004, effective September 30, 2004. (See Note D to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.) | |
(B) | The Balance Sheet at December 31, 2003 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. |
See accompanying notes
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Table of Contents
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1 Financial Statements
LYNCH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS UNAUDITED
(In Thousands, except share amounts)
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
September 30, |
September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2004 |
2003 |
|||||||||||||
SALES AND REVENUES |
$ | 8,257 | $ | 7,716 | $ | 21,805 | $ | 19,174 | ||||||||
Cost and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
Manufacturing cost of sales |
6,332 | 5,495 | 16,382 | 14,428 | ||||||||||||
Selling and administrative |
2,341 | 2,153 | 6,644 | 5,596 | ||||||||||||
Lawsuit settlement provision (Note M) |
100 | | 525 | | ||||||||||||
OPERATING LOSS |
(516 | ) | 68 | (1,746 | ) | (1,250 | ) | |||||||||
Other income (expense): |
||||||||||||||||
Investment Income |
6 | 360 | 14 | 528 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(63 | ) | (63 | ) | (176 | ) | (225 | ) | ||||||||
Other income (expense) |
23 | 754 | 45 | 763 | ||||||||||||
(34 | ) | 1,051 | (117 | ) | 1,066 | |||||||||||
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES |
(550 | ) | 1,119 | (1,863 | ) | (184 | ) | |||||||||
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes |
(16 | ) | (336 | ) | (71 | ) | 56 | |||||||||
NET INCOME (LOSS) |
$ | (566 | ) | $ | 783 | $ | (1,934 | ) | $ | (128 | ) | |||||
Weighted average shares outstanding. |
1,495,500 | 1,497,900 | 1,496,000 | 1,497,900 | ||||||||||||
BASIC AND DILUTED INCOME (LOSS)
PER SHARE: |
$ | (0.38 | ) | $ | 0.52 | $ | (1.29 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) | |||||
| Effective September 30, 2004, the Company acquired, through its subsidiary M-tron Industries, Inc., 100% of the common stock of Piezo Technology, Inc. (See Note D to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.) The three month and nine month results for the periods ending September 30, 2004 do not include Piezo Technology, Inc. |
See accompanying notes
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Table of Contents
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1 Financial Statements
LYNCH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS UNAUDITED
(In Thousands)
Nine Months Ended | ||||||||
September 30, |
||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
|||||||
OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (1,934 | ) | $ | (128 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: |
||||||||
Depreciation |
650 | 736 | ||||||
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets |
164 | 196 | ||||||
Lawsuit settlement provision (Note M) |
525 | | ||||||
Gain realized on sale of marketable securities |
| (483 | ) | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
||||||||
Receivables |
631 | (1,245 | ) | |||||
Inventories |
(2,031 | ) | (726 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
816 | 3,049 | ||||||
Other assets/liabilities |
(352 | ) | (1,584 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
(1,531 | ) | (185 | ) | ||||
INVESTING ACTIVITIES |
||||||||
Capital expenditures |
(266 | ) | (246 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities |
| 1,041 | ||||||
Purchase of marketable securities |
(754 | ) | (1,565 | ) | ||||
Payment on margin liability on marketable securities |
(300 | ) | (454 | ) | ||||
Cash (used in) investing activities |
(1,320 | ) | (1,224 | ) | ||||
FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
||||||||
Net borrowings (repayments) of notes payable |
297 | 272 | ||||||
Repayment of long-term debt |
(137 | ) | (707 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from long-term debt |
| 794 | ||||||
Purchase of treasury stock |
(32 | ) | | |||||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
128 | 359 | ||||||
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
(2,723 | ) | (1,050 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
3,981 | ) | 5,986 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Exclusive PTI cash acquired of $1,389 |
$ | 1,258 | $ | 4,936 | ||||
Non-cash transactions:
See accompanying notes
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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
A. Subsidiaries of the Registrant
As of September 30, 2004, the Subsidiaries of the Registrant are as follows:
Owned By Lynch |
||||
Lynch Systems, Inc. |
100.0 | % | ||
M-tron Industries, Inc. |
100.0 | % | ||
M-tron Industries, Ltd. |
100.0 | % | ||
Piezo Technology, Inc. (October 15, 2004) |
100.0 | % | ||
Piezo Technology India Private Ltd.(October 15, 2004) |
99.0 | % |
B. Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three month and nine month period ended September 30, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2004.
The balance sheet at December 31, 2003 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.
For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Registrant Company and Subsidiaries annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.
C. Adoption of Accounting Pronouncements
In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51 (FIN 46). FIN 46 clarifies the application of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements, to certain entities in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. The consolidation requirements of FIN 46, as revised, are required for periods ending after December 15, 2003 for interests in structures that are commonly referred to as special-purpose entities, while the application of this Interpretation for all other types of variable interest entities is required for periods ended March 15, 2004. The Company does not have any interest in variable interest entities.
D. Acquisition
On October 15, 2004, the Company acquired, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, M-tron Industries, Inc., 100% of the common stock of Piezo Technology, Inc. (PTI). The acquisition was effective September 30, 2004. PTI manufactures and markets high-end oscillators, crystals, resonators and filters used in electronic and communications systems. The purchase price was approximately $8,736,000 (before deducting cash acquired, and before adding acquisition costs and transaction fees). The Company funded the purchase price (a) by new debt of $6,936,000 and (b) proceeds of $1,800,000 received from the sale of Lynch Stock to Venator Merchant Fund (Venator), which is controlled by Lynchs chairman, Marc Gabelli.
The following is a preliminary allocation of the purchase price, based on managements estimates and essentially reflects PTIs net assets at historical cost. The Company has not yet completed the evaluation and allocation of the purchase price. Fair values will be determined based on internal studies and independent third-party appraisals. The Company will finalize the purchase price allocation after it receives final appraisal reports, completes its internal studies, and receives other relevant information relating to the acquisition. The final purchase price allocation may be significantly different than the preliminary estimate presented below. However, because the acquisition had an effective date of September 30, 2004, the impact of any adjustments to the final purchase price allocation will not have an impact on the Companys results of operations for this period.
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September 30, 2004 |
||||
(In Thousands) | ||||
Assets: |
||||
Cash |
$ | 1,389 | ||
Accounts receivable |
1,565 | |||
Inventories |
2,485 | |||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
813 | |||
Property and equipment |
1,649 | |||
Goodwill |
2,818 | |||
Other assets |
467 | |||
Total assets acquired |
$ | 11,186 | ||
Liabilities: |
||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 556 | ||
Accrued expenses |
749 | |||
Debt assumed by the Company |
1,145 | |||
Total liabilities assumed |
2,450 | |||
Amount due to seller |
$ | 8,736 | ||
On October 15, 2004, the closing of the PTI acquisition occurred. In connection with the closing, certain other transactions were consummated related to (a) the financing of the acquisition and (b) the required paydown of certain PTI obligations. The following is a summary of the cash related transactions that occurred at closing:
Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet at | ||||||||||||||||||||
Receipt of cash | Paydown of certain | September 30, 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||
Consolidated | proceeds from sale | of PTI's debt and | adjusted for cash | |||||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet at | of Lynch Stock and | Payment made to | obligations of | exchanged at | ||||||||||||||||
(In Thousands) |
September 30, 2004 |
new debt financing |
seller at Closing |
PTI's ESOP |
closing |
|||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash |
$ | 2,647 | $ | 8,736 | $ | (8,042 | ) | $ | (601 | ) | $ | 2,740 | ||||||||
Other Current Assets |
22,006 | | (694 | ) | 21,312 | |||||||||||||||
Non Current Assets |
8,767 | | | | 8,767 | |||||||||||||||
Total Assets |
$ | 33,420 | $ | 8,736 | $ | (8,736 | ) | $ | (601 | ) | $ | 32,819 | ||||||||
Current Liabilities |
$ | 22,280 | $ | 5,186 | $ | (8,736 | ) | $ | (241 | ) | $ | 18,489 | ||||||||
Non-current Liabilities |
2,093 | 1,750 | | (360 | ) | 3,483 | ||||||||||||||
Total Liabilities |
$ | 24,373 | $ | 6,936 | $ | (8,736 | ) | $ | (601 | ) | $ | 21,972 | ||||||||
Equity |
$ | 9,047 | $ | 1,800 | $ | | $ | | $ | 10,847 |
Immediately following the closing of the PTI acquisition, the total shares outstanding, adjusted for the sale of stock to Venator, was 1,632,126.
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PTIs nine month 2004 and twelve month 2003 unaudited pro-forma results of operations, assuming consummation of the purchase, issuance of additional shares and new bank debt at the beginning of 2003 and 2004, is as follows:
Pro Forma Nine months ended September 30, 2004 |
Pro Forma Twelve months ended December 31, 2003 |
|||||||
(In Thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 8,752 | $ | 9,797 | ||||
Net income |
31 | (603 | ) | |||||
Per Share Data: |
||||||||
Basic earnings |
$ | 0.02 | $ | (0.37 | ) | |||
Diluted earnings |
$ | 0.02 | $ | (0.37 | ) | |||
The
above pro forma statements reflect the results of operations based on
a preliminary allocation of the purchase price. These results will be
affected by the yet to be determined final allocation of the purchase
price. |
||||||||
Selected PTI Balance Sheet information is presented as follows: |
September 30, | |||||||
2004 | ||||||||
Current Assets |
$ | 6,252 | ||||||
Total Assets |
11,186 | |||||||
Current Liabilities |
1,640 | |||||||
Long-term Debt |
810 | |||||||
Due to Sellers |
$ | 8,736 |
E. Restricted Cash
At both September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, the Company had $1.1 million of Restricted Cash that secures a Letter of Credit issued by Fleet Bank to the First National Bank of Omaha as collateral for its M-tron subsidiarys loans.
F. Investments
The following is a summary of marketable securities (investments) held by the Company (In Thousands):
Gross | Gross | Estimated | ||||||||||||||
Unrealized | Unrealized | Fair | ||||||||||||||
Equity Securities |
Cost |
Gains |
Losses |
Value |
||||||||||||
September 30, 2004 |
$ | 2,774 | $ | 271 | | $ | 3,045 | |||||||||
December 31, 2003 |
$ | 2,020 | $ | 291 | | $ | 2,311 |
The Company has a margin liability against this investment of $1,548,000 at September 30, 2004 and of $1,033,000 at December 31, 2003 which must be settled upon the disposition of the related securities whose fair value is based on quoted market prices. The Company has designated these investments as available for sale pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities.
G. Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value. At September 30, 2004, inventories were valued by two methods: last-in, first-out (LIFO)54%, and first-in, first-out (FIFO) 46%. At December 31, 2003, inventories were valued by the same two methods: LIFO 73%, and FIFO 27%.
September 30, 2004 |
December 31, 2003 |
||||||||||
(In Thousands) | |||||||||||
Raw materials |
$ | 2,460 | $ | 1,394 | |||||||
Work in process |
3,834 | 1,641 | |||||||||
Finished goods |
3,133 | 1,876 | |||||||||
Total Inventories |
$ | 9,427 | $ | 4,911 | |||||||
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Current costs exceed LIFO value of inventories by $1,052,000 and $930,000 at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003 respectively.
H. Indebtedness
On a consolidated basis, at September 30, 2004, Lynch maintains short-term credit facilities totaling $10.0 million, of which $4.3 million was available for future borrowings, including up to $4.3 million for working capital and/or up to $3.2 million for Letters of Credit. These facilities generally limit the credit available under the lines of credit to certain variables, such as inventories and receivables, and are secured by the operating assets of the respective subsidiary borrower, and include various financial covenants, which currently restrict the transfer of substantially all the assets of the subsidiaries. Both M-tron and Lynch Systems renewed the credit agreements that expired on April 30, 2004 and May 30, 2004 respectively with the incumbent lenders for another year.
Lynch Systems, Inc. and M-tron Industries, Inc. maintain their own credit facilities. The Lynch Systems facilities include an unsecured parent Company guarantee. M-trons revolving credit agreement is supported by a $1.0 million Letter of Credit that is secured by a $1.1 million deposit in a Fleet Bank Treasury Fixed Income Fund (see Note E Restricted Cash).
In general, the credit facilities are secured by property, plant and equipment, inventory, receivables and common stock of certain subsidiaries and contain certain covenants restricting distributions to the Company.
September 30, |
December 31, |
|||||||
2004 |
2003 |
|||||||
(In Thousands) | ||||||||
Notes payable: |
||||||||
M-tron bank revolving loan at variable interest rates (4.75% at September 30, 2004), due May,
2005 |
$ | 1,923 | $ | 1,976 | ||||
Lynch Systems working capital loan revolving loan at variable interest rates, LIBOR + 2%
(3.84% at September 30, 2004), due June, 2005 |
350 | | ||||||
$ | 2,273 | $ | 1,976 | |||||
Long-term debt: |
||||||||
M-tron commercial bank term loan at variable interest rates (5.25% at September 30, 2004), due
May, 2007 |
$ | 743 | $ | 829 | ||||
Yankton Area Progressive Growth loan at 0.0% interest, due April, 2005 |
150 | 150 | ||||||
South Dakota Board of Economic Development at a fixed rate of 3%, due December, 2007 |
276 | 285 | ||||||
Yankton Areawide Business Council loan at a fixed interest rate of 5.5%, due November, 2007 |
85 | 90 | ||||||
Lynch Systems term loan at a fixed interest rate of 5.5%, due August, 2013 |
440 | 477 | ||||||
PTI capital loan at variable interest rate (4.75% at September 30, 2004), due February, 2005 |
134 | | ||||||
PTI pick and place loan at variable interest rates(4.75% at September 30, 2004), due July, 2005 |
16 | | ||||||
PTI Mortgage loan, LIBOR+2.5% (4.75% at September 30, 2004), due July, 2010 |
488 | | ||||||
Rice University Promissory Note at fixed interest rate 4.5%, due August, 2009 |
359 | | ||||||
Smythe Estate Promissory Note at fixed rate 4.5% due August, 2009 |
148 | | ||||||
2,839 | 1,831 | |||||||
Current maturities |
(746 | ) | (998 | ) | ||||
$ | 2,093 | $ | 833 | |||||
In addition, in connection with the closing of the PTI acquisition on October 15, 2004, the Company entered into additional financing arrangements (see Note D).
Current debt: |
||||
New revolving line of credit at variable interest rates (greater of prime or 4.5%) , due May, 2005 |
$ | 1,936 | ||
M-tron bridge loan at variable interest rates (greater of prime plus 50 basis points or 4.5%) due
October, 2005 |
3,000 | |||
M-tron term loan at variable interest rates (greater of prime plus 50 basis points or 4.5%) due
October, 2007 |
250 | |||
Total current debt |
5,186 | |||
Long-term debt: |
||||
M-tron term loan at variable interest rates (greater of prime plus 50 basis points or 4.5%) due
October, 2007 |
1,750 | |||
Total acquisition financing |
$ | 6,936 | ||
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Table of Contents
I. Long-Term Contracts and Warranty Expense
Lynch Systems, a 100% wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, is engaged in the manufacture and marketing of glass-forming machines and specialized manufacturing machines. Certain sales contracts require an advance payment (usually 30% of the contract price) which is accounted for as a customer advance. The contractual sales prices are paid either (i) as the manufacturing process reaches specified levels of completion or (ii) based on the shipment date or (iii) negotiated terms of sale. Guarantees by letter of credit from a qualifying financial institution are required for most sales contracts. Because of the specialized nature of these machines and the period of time needed to complete production and shipping, Lynch Systems accounts for these contracts using the percentage-of-completion accounting method as costs are incurred compared to total estimated project costs (cost-to-cost basis). At September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, unbilled accounts receivable were $1.7 million and $2.4 million, respectively.
Lynch Systems provides a full warranty to world-wide customers who acquire machines. The warranty covers both parts and labor and normally covers a period of one year or thirteen months. Based upon experience, the warranty accrual is based upon three to five percent of the selling price of the machine. The Company periodically assesses the adequacy of the reserve and adjusts the amounts as necessary.
(In Thousands) | ||||
Balance, December 31, 2003 |
$ | 585 | ||
Warranties issued during the period |
282 | |||
Settlements made during the period |
(364 | ) | ||
Changes in liabilities for pre-existing warranties during the period, including
expirations |
(37 | ) | ||
Balance, September 30, 2004 |
$ | 466 | ||
J. Earnings Per Share and Stockholders Equity
The Companys basic and diluted earnings per share are equivalent as the options issued in May 2002 to purchase 228,000 shares of the Companys common stock were anti-dilutive throughout 2003 and 2004.
On December 10, 2001, the Board of Directors approved, subject to shareholder approval at the May 2002 Annual Meeting, the 2001 Equity Incentive Plan and the issuance of up to 300,000 options to purchase shares of Company common stock to certain employees of the Company, of which 228,000 options were granted (subject to shareholder approval) at $17.50 per share on December 10, 2001. Although the grants were approved by the shareholders on May 2, 2002, the shares are not considered issued until exercised or in the money, neither event having transpired to-date. 224,000 of these options are fully vested, with the remaining options vesting over the next quarter.
The Company has a stock-based employee compensation plan. The Company accounts for the plan under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related Interpretations. No stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in net income, as all options granted under those plans had an exercise price equal to or above the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The Company provides pro-forma disclosures of the compensation expense determined under the fair value provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation as follows:
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Table of Contents
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
September 30, |
September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2004 |
2003 |
|||||||||||||
(In Thousands, except per share amounts) |
||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) as reported |
$ | (566 | ) | $ | 783 | $ | (1,934 | ) | $ | (128 | ) | |||||
Deduct: Total stock based employee
compensation expense determined under
fair value based method for all awards,
net of related tax effect |
(39 | ) | (39 | ) | (116 | ) | (116 | ) | ||||||||
Pro-forma net income (loss) |
$ | (605 | ) | $ | 744 | $ | (2,050 | ) | $ | (244 | ) | |||||
Basic & diluted income (loss) per share: |
||||||||||||||||
As reported |
$ | (0.38 | ) | $ | 0.52 | $ | (1.29 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) | |||||
Pro forma |
$ | (0.40 | ) | $ | 0.50 | $ | (1.37 | ) | $ | (0.16 | ) |
The net income (loss) as reported in each period did not include any stock-based compensation.
In the second quarter of 2004, the Company paid $382,000 to settle a previously recorded liability related to the stock appreciation rights for certain employees at Lynch Systems.
K. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Total comprehensive loss was $897,000 in the three months ended September 30, 2004, as opposed to a total comprehensive income of $347,000 in the third quarter of 2003. Other comprehensive loss, resulting from losses on available for sale securities included in the total comprehensive loss was $331,000 in the third quarter of 2004 and $436,000 in the quarter ending September 30, 2003.
Total comprehensive loss was $1,954,000 and $556,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 respectively, including other comprehensive loss of $20,000 for the first nine months of 2004 and other comprehensive loss of $428,000 in the first nine months of 2003 resulting from losses on available for sale securities.
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
September 30, |
September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2004 |
2003 |
|||||||||||||
(In Thousands) |
||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) as
reported |
$ | (566 | ) | $ | 783 | $ | (1,934 | ) | $ | (128 | ) | |||||
Unrealized gain (loss)
on available for sale
securities |
(331 | ) | (436 | ) | (20 | ) | (428 | ) | ||||||||
Total comprehensive
income (loss) |
$ | (897 | ) | $ | 347 | $ | (1,954 | ) | $ | (556 | ) | |||||
The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of related tax, at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, and September 30, 2003 are as follows:
September 30, | December 31, | September 30, | ||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2003 |
||||||||||
Balance beginning of
period |
$ | 291 | $ | 302 | $ | 302 | ||||||
Unrealized gain (loss) on
available for-sale
securities |
(20 | ) | (11 | ) | (428 | ) | ||||||
Accumulated other
comprehensive income |
$ | 271 | $ | 291 | $ | (126 | ) | |||||
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L. Segment Information
The Company has two reportable business segments. The first segment is Lynch Systems glass manufacturing equipment business. Frequency control devices (quartz crystals and oscillators) manufactured and sold by M-tron is the other segment. Except for M-trons Hong Kong subsidiary, which acts as a buying agent and sales representative, the businesses are located domestically. The balance sheet data on the segment report includes PTI, which was acquired on October 15, 2004, effective September 30, 2004.
Operating loss is equal to revenues less operating expenses, excluding investment income, interest expense and income taxes. The Company allocates a negligible portion of its general corporate expenses to its operating segments.
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
September 30, |
September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2004 |
2003 |
|||||||||||||
(In Thousands) |
(In Thousands) |
|||||||||||||||
Revenues |
||||||||||||||||
Glass manufacturing equipment USA |
$ | 132 | $ | 422 | $ | 465 | $ | 3,115 | ||||||||
Glass manufacturing equipment Foreign |
3,079 | 3,212 | 6,196 | 5,184 | ||||||||||||
Total Glass manufacturing equipment |
3,211 | 3,634 | 6,661 | 8,299 | ||||||||||||
Frequency control devices USA |
2,026 | 2,084 | 6,215 | 5,351 | ||||||||||||
Frequency control devices Foreign |
3,020 | 1,998 | 8,929 | 5,524 | ||||||||||||
Total Frequency control devices |
5,046 | 4,082 | 15,144 | 10,875 | ||||||||||||
Consolidated Total |
$ | 8,257 | $ | 7,716 | $ | 21,805 | $ | 19,174 | ||||||||
Operating Profit (Loss) |
||||||||||||||||
Glass manufacturing equipment |
$ | 17 | $ | 367 | $ | (505 | ) | $ | 30 | |||||||
Frequency control devices |
114 | 57 | 583 | (172 | ) | |||||||||||
Total manufacturing |
131 | 424 | 78 | (142 | ) | |||||||||||
Unallocated Corporate expenses |
(647 | ) | (356 | ) | (1,824 | ) | (1,108 | ) | ||||||||
Consolidated Total |
$ | (516 | ) | $ | 68 | $ | (1,746 | ) | $ | (1,250 | ) | |||||
Capital Expenditures |
||||||||||||||||
Glass manufacturing equipment |
$ | 61 | $ | 12 | $ | 74 | $ | 69 | ||||||||
Frequency control devices |
21 | 105 | 192 | 157 | ||||||||||||
General corporate |
| 20 | | 20 | ||||||||||||
Consolidated Total |
$ | 82 | $ | 137 | $ | 266 | $ | 246 | ||||||||
Total operating profit (loss) of reporting segments |
$ | (516 | ) | $ | 68 | $ | (1,746 | ) | $ | (1,250 | ) | |||||
Other profit or loss: |
||||||||||||||||
Investment income |
6 | 360 | 14 | 528 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(63 | ) | (63 | ) | (176 | ) | (225 | ) | ||||||||
Other income (expense) |
23 | 754 | 45 | 763 | ||||||||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes |
$ | (550 | ) | $ | 1,119 | $ | 1,863 | $ | (184 | ) | ||||||
Total Assets (includes PTI) |
||||||||||||||||
Glass manufacturing equipment |
$ | 10,939 | $ | 11,991 | ||||||||||||
Frequency control devices |
7,624 | 8,042 | ||||||||||||||
PTI |
11,186 | | ||||||||||||||
General Corporate |
3,671 | 4,464 | ||||||||||||||
Consolidated Total |
$ | 33,420 | $ | 24,497 | ||||||||||||
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M. Commitments and Contingencies
In the normal course of business, subsidiaries of the Registrant are Defendants in certain product liability, worker claims and other litigation in which the amounts being sought may exceed insurance coverage levels. The resolution of these matters is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Companys financial condition or operations. In addition, Registrant and/or one or more of its subsidiaries are parties to the following additional legal proceedings:
1. In re: Spinnaker Coating, Inc., Debtor/PACE Local 1-1069 v. Spinnaker Coating, Inc., and Lynch Corporation, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Maine, Chapter 11, Adv. Pro. No. 02-2007, and PACE Local 1-1069 v. Lynch Corporation and Lynch Systems, Inc. Cumberland County Superior Court, CV-2001-00352
On or about June 26, 2001, in anticipation of the July 15, 2001 closure of Spinnakers Westbrook, Maine facility, Plaintiff PACE Local 1-1069 (PACE) filed a three count complaint in Cumberland County Superior Court, CV-2001-00352 naming the following Defendants: Spinnaker Industries, Inc., Spinnaker Coating, Inc., and Spinnaker Coating-Maine, Inc. (collectively, the Spinnaker Entities) and Lynch. The complaint alleged that under Maines Severance Pay Act both the Spinnaker Entities and Lynch would be liable to pay approximately $1,166,000 severance pay under Maines Severance Pay Act in connection with the plant closure. The Defendants filed a notice of removal, thereby creating United States District Court Civil Action C.V. No. 01-236. The case was remanded to state court. The Spinnaker Entities also filed a separate complaint challenging the constitutionality of the Maine Severance Pay Act, United States District Court Civil Action No. 01-232 which later was dismissed by stipulation of the Spinnaker Entities. PACE also filed three separate Motions for Ex-Parte Attachment against the Spinnaker Entities and Lynch. PACE filed the First Motion for Attachment with its original Complaint. PACE sought to attach $1,166,483.44, an amount large enough to cover the claims of all PACEs members seeking severance. The Court denied that Motion as being premature. PACE then filed a second Motion against the Spinnaker Entities and Lynch for an attachment large enough to cover the claims of eight individual employees seeking severance pay in the amount of $120,736.27. On August 20, 2001, the Court granted that Motion in the amount of $118,500. On April 4, 2002, PACE subsequently recorded this attachment through UCC-1 filings with the Maine Secretary of State against Lynch Manufacturing and Lynch Corporation. PACE filed a third Motion for Ex-Parte Attachment on August 29, 2001. This Motion sought an attachment large enough to cover the severance pay claimed by the remaining PACE members, $1,048,003. The Court denied this Motion but permitted PACE the opportunity to obtain an attachment after all Defendants had an opportunity to respond and after hearing.
Before any further action was taken with respect to PACEs Third Motion for Attachment, the Spinnaker Defendants filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Following a series of filings in the United States District Court for the District of Maine and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maine which, like United States District Court Case No. 01-236, later were dismissed by the parties with prejudice and without costs, PACEs case continues to proceed against Lynch in Cumberland County Superior Court in Maine on the issue of whether Lynch has liability to PACEs members under the Maine Severance Pay Act.
On September 30, 2002, PACE requested a ruling from the Superior Court on its Third Motion for Attachment. On October 21, 2002, Lynch filed a Motion for Summary Judgment which incorporated its prior objection to any attachment. PACE filed an Opposition to Lynchs Motion for Summary Judgment, which included a request for summary judgment in its favor, and a Motion for Leave to Further Amend the Complaint on November 12, 2002. Lynch thereafter filed a Reply Memorandum in Support of its Motion for Summary Judgment on November 26, 2002 and an opposition to PACEs Motion for Leave to Further Amend the Complaint on December 3, 2002. On December 31, 2002, the Superior Court held a hearing on all pending Motions. The Superior Court requested that arguments focus on Lynchs Motion for Summary Judgment since the granting of that Motion would render PACEs Third Motion for Attachment and Motion to Further Amend the Complaint moot.
On July 28, 2003, the Superior Court issued an Order deciding both Lynchs and PACEs Motions for Summary Judgment. The Court denied Lynchs Motion for Summary Judgment, finding that there remained a
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disputed issue of material fact regarding one of Lynchprimary defenses. The Court granted partial summary judgment in favor of PACE to the extent that the Court found Lynch was the Spinnaker Entities parent corporation and, therefore, Lynch was an employer subject to potential liability under Maines Severance Pay Act. The Court held, however, that PACE must still prove its entitlement to severance pay under the Act. In a separate ruling also issued on July 28, 2003, the Court denied PACEs Third Motion for Attachment.
On March 8, 2004, Lynch filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on the issue of an exemption under the Maine Severance Pay Act, which is based upon the nexus between the plant closure in Westbrook, Maine and the Spinnaker Entities bankruptcy filing. PACE concurrently filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on Count II of the complaint on March 8, 2004. During a trial management conference on March 24, 2004, the parties agreed to submit a Stipulation of Facts to the Court in lieu of a trial on any remaining issues in the case.
During a Settlement Conference held in the Cumberland County Superior Court (Portland, Maine) on May 25, 2004, the Company offered $425,000 in full settlement of PACEs claim, which offer was rejected by PACE. Following this Settlement Conference, Lynch and PACE continued settlement discussions, which culminated in Lynch extending an offer of $525,000 on August 20, 2004. Counsel for PACE subsequently informed Lynch that PACE was not interested in responding to this offer.
On October 15, 2004, the Court heard oral arguments from the parties related to the pending motions for summary judgment and related to any remaining issues in the case. On November 3, 2004, the Court issued an Order that addressed the parties cross motions for summary judgment, which focused on whether the Spinnaker Entities bankruptcy precluded any liability for severance pay. The Court held that the Spinnaker Entities bankruptcy did not prevent the award of severance pay under the statute. The Court, therefore, granted summary judgment to PACE on Count II of its Complaint based on its earlier ruling that Lynch was the parent corporation of the Spinnaker Entities. The Court also issued a separate Order that related to the calculation of damages. The Court largely agreed with Lynch on the appropriate method of calculating damages and awarded PACE $653,018 in severance pay, which is approximately one-half the amount claimed by PACE. The Court rejected PACEs claim for pre-judgment interest but granted its request for attorney fees. PACE has until November 30, 2004, to file its application for attorney fees.
Although Lynch believes that it is not subject to the Maine Severance Pay Act, as now in effect, Lynch has not yet decided whether to appeal the Superior Courts decision to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. Management does not believe that the resolution of this case will have a material adverse effect on the Registrants consolidated financial condition and operations.
The Company does not believe that it has any other contingent liabilities related to Spinnaker.
2. Qui Tam Lawsuit
Lynch Corporation, Lynch Interactive Corporation (Interactive), and several other parties have been named as Defendants in a lawsuit brought under the so-called qui tam provisions of the federal False Claims Act in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The complaint was filed under seal with the court on February 14, 2001, and the seal was lifted on January 11, 2002. The Company was formally served with the complaint on July 9, 2002. The main allegation in the case is that the Defendants participated in the creation of sham bidding entities that allegedly defrauded the federal Treasury by improperly participating in Federal Communications Commission spectrum auctions restricted to small businesses, as well as obtaining bidding credits in other spectrum auctions allocated to small and very small businesses. The lawsuit seeks to recover an unspecified amount of damages, which would be subject to mandatory trebling under the statute. On September 19, 2002, Interactive, on behalf of itself and Lynch, filed two Motions with the court: a Motion to Transfer the Action to the Southern District of New York and a Motion to Dismiss the Lawsuit. The Relator filed an opposition reply to Interactives Motion to Dismiss and, on December 5, 2002, Interactive filed a Reply in Support of Its Motion to Dismiss. On September 30, 2003, the Court granted Interactives Motion to Transfer the Action to the Southern District of New York.
A scheduling conference was held on February 10, 2004, at which time the judge approved a scheduling order and discovery commenced. On June 7, 2004, the Defendants filed a Motion to Relator to refer the issues in this litigation to the Federal Communications Commission, which Motion was opposed by the Relator. On July 28, 2004, the judge denied in part and granted in part the Motion to Dismiss. Defendant bidding entities that did not win licenses were dismissed and the reverse false claims act count was dismissed as redundant. On September 14, 2004, the judge issued a ruling denying the Motion to refer the issues in this litigation to the Federal Communications Commission, and discovery continues.
The U. S. Department of Justice has notified the court that is has declined to intervene in the case. The Defendants strongly believe that the lawsuit is completely without merit and intend to defend the suit vigorously. Furthermore, under the separation agreement between the Company and Interactive pursuant to which Interactive was spun-off to the Companys shareholders on September 1, 1999, Interactive would be obligated to indemnify the Company for any losses or damaged incurred by the Company as a result of this lawsuit; and Interactive has, in fact, agreed in writing to defend the case on Lynchs behalf and to indemnify Lynch for any losses it may incur as a
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result of the lawsuit. Interactive has retained legal counsel to defend the claim on behalf of Lynch and Interactive at the expense of Interactive. Nevertheless, the Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome of the litigation nor can the Company predict the effect that the lawsuit or its outcome will have on the Companys business or plan of operation.
N. Income Taxes (excluding PTI)
The Company files consolidated federal income tax returns. The Company has a $4,300,000 net operating loss (NOL) carry-forward as of September 30, 2004. This NOL expires in 2025 if not utilized prior to that date.
O. Guarantees
The Company presently guarantees (unsecured) the SunTrust Bank loans of its subsidiary, Lynch Systems, and has guaranteed a Letter of Credit issued to the First National Bank of Omaha on behalf of its subsidiary, M-tron Industries, Inc. (see Note H Indebtedness Debt). As of September 30, 2004, there was a $350,000 obligation to the SunTrust Bank. As of September 30, 2004, the $1,000,000 Letter of Credit issued by Fleet Bank to The First National Bank of Omaha was secured by a $1,125,000 deposit in a Fleet Bank Treasury Fixed Income Fund. (See Note E Restricted Cash, also see subsequent events.)
Pursuant to the acquisition of PTI, M-tron entered into a new loan agreement with the First National Bank of Omaha. The new loan agreement dated October 14, 2004 includes an unsecured parent company guarantee.
There were no other financial, performance, indirect guarantees or indemnification agreements.
Item 2. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. |
Critical Accounting Policies
The Company has identified the accounting policies listed below that we believe are most critical to our financial condition and results of operations, and that require managements most difficult, subjective and complex judgments in estimating the effect of inherent uncertainties. This section should be read in conjunction with Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, which includes other significant accounting policies.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable on a consolidated basis consists principally of amounts due from both domestic and foreign customers. Credit is extended based on an evaluation of the customers financial condition and collateral is not generally required except at Lynch Systems. The Company considers concentrations of credit risk to be minimal due to the Companys diverse customer base. In relation to export sales, the Company requires letters of credit supporting a significant portion of the sales price prior to production to limit exposure to credit risk. Certain subsidiaries and business segments have credit sales to industries that are subject to cyclical economic changes. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts at a level that management believes is sufficient to cover potential credit losses.
We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our clients to make required payments. We base our estimates on our historical collection experience, current trends, credit policy and relationship of our accounts receivable and revenues. In determining these estimates, we examine historical write-offs of our receivables and review each clients account to identify any specific customer collection issues. If the financial condition of our customers was to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payment, additional allowances may be required. Our failure to estimate accurately the losses for doubtful accounts and ensure that payments are received on a timely basis could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Inventory Valuation
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value. Inventories valued using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method comprised approximately 54%%, 73% and 63% of consolidated inventories at September 30, 2004, December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The balance of inventories are valued using the first-in-first-out
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(FIFO) method. If actual market conditions are more or less favorable than those projected by management, including the demand for our products, changes in technology, internal labor costs and the costs of materials, adjustments may be required.
Revenue Recognition and Accounting for Long-Term Contracts
Revenues, with the exception of certain long-term contracts discussed below, are recognized upon shipment when title passes. Shipping costs are included in manufacturing cost of sales.
Lynch Systems, a 100% owned subsidiary of the Company, is engaged in the manufacture and marketing of glass-forming machines and specialized manufacturing machines. Certain sales contracts require an advance payment (usually 30% of the contract price) which is accounted for as a customer advance. The contractual sales prices are paid either (i) as the manufacturing process reaches specified levels of completion; or (ii) based on the shipment date; or (iii) negotiated terms of sale. Guarantees by Letter of Credit from a qualifying financial institution are required for most sales contracts. Because of the specialized nature of these machines and the period of time needed to complete production and shipping, Lynch Systems accounts for these contracts using the percentage-of-completion accounting method as costs are incurred compared to total estimated project costs (cost-to-cost basis). At September 30, 2004, and December 31, 2003, unbilled accounts receivable were $1.7 and $2.4 million respectively.
The percentage of completion method is used since reasonably dependable estimates of the revenues and costs applicable to various stages of a contract can be made, based on historical experience and milestones set in the contract. These estimates include current customer contract specifications, related engineering requirements and the achievement of project milestones. Financial management maintains contact with project managers to discuss the status of the projects and, for fixed-price engagements, financial management is updated on the budgeted costs and required resources to complete the project. These budgets are then used to calculate revenue recognition and to estimate the anticipated income or loss on the project. In the past, we have occasionally been required to commit unanticipated additional resources to complete projects, which have resulted in lower than anticipated profitability or losses on those contracts. Favorable changes in estimates result in additional profit recognition, while unfavorable changes in estimates result in the reversal of previously recognized earnings to the extent of the error of the estimate. We may experience similar situations in the future. Provisions for estimated losses on contracts are made during the period in which such losses become probable and can be reasonably estimated. To date, such losses have not been significant.
Warranty Expense
Lynch Systems provides a full warranty to world-wide customers who acquire machines. The warranty covers both parts and labor and normally covers a period of one year or thirteen months. Based upon experience, the warranty accrual is based upon three to five percent of the selling price of the machine. The Company periodically assesses the adequacy of the reserve and adjusts the amounts as necessary.
(In Thousands) | ||||
Balance, December 31, 2003 |
$ | 585 | ||
Warranties issued during the period |
282 | |||
Settlements made during the period |
(364 | ) | ||
Changes in liabilities for pre-existing warranties
during the period, including expirations |
(37 | ) | ||
Balance, September 30, 2004 |
$ | 466 | ||
Results of Operations
Third Quarter 2004 and Nine Months 2004 Compared to 2003
Sales and Revenues/Gross Margin
Sales and revenues for the third quarter of 2004 of $8.3 million were $0.5 million greater than the $7.8 million third quarter 2003 revenues. Improvements in M-trons sales were partially offset by reduced sales at Lynch Systems.
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Nine months 2004 sales and revenues of $21.8 million were $2.6 million greater than the $19.2 million revenue recorded in the first nine months of 2003 due to improvements in the telecommunications market that resulted in $4.2 million higher sales at M-tron, that were partially offset by $1.6 million lower sales at Lynch Systems.
Third quarter 2004 gross margin as a percent of sales was 23.3% or 5.5 points lower than the 28.8% gross margin achieved in the third quarter of 2003 due mainly to reduced sales and poor product mix at Lynch Systems.
Consolidated nine month 2004 gross margin as a percent of revenues of 24.9% was slightly better than the 24.8% for the first nine months of 2003.
Revenues at M-tron increased by $1.0 million, or 23.6%, to $5.0 million for the third quarter of 2004 and by $4.3 million, or 39.3%, to $15.1 million for the nine month period ending September 2004 due primarily (a) a stronger general economy; (b) improvements in the infrastructure segment of the telecommunications market; and (c) landing new customers.
Lynch Systems third quarter 2004 revenue of $3.2 million was $0.4 million, or 11.6%, below the same period of 2003. Lynch Systems revenues for the first nine months of 2004 declined by $1.6 million from the corresponding 2003 period to $6.7 million due mainly to depressed bookings for glass press machines throughout the corresponding period of 2003. However, order backlog of $7.6 million at September 30, 2004 represented an improvement of $4.8 million since December 31, 2003. The Company expects to recognize $3.6 million of the $6.6 million tableware order that was booked on April 27, 2004 in fiscal 2004, including $0.8 million that was recorded in the first nine months of 2004 and $2.8 million in the fourth quarter; the gross margin on this contract may be less than historical rates.
M-trons gross margin as a percentage of net sales for the third quarter of 2004 declined over the same period of 2003 from 24.4% to 23.1%. M-trons gross margin of 24.4% for the nine month period ending September 30, 2004 represented a 1.4% improvement over the 23.0% gross margin achieved in the first nine months of 2003. The sales improvement in the nine month period ending September 30, 2004 of 39.3% combined with selective price increases and operational efficiencies caused the improved gross margin rates.
Lynch Systems gross margin as a percentage of net sales for the third quarter of 2004 declined over the same period of 2003 from 33.8% to 23.6%. Lynch Systems gross margin of 26.0% for the nine month period ending September, 2004 was 1% lower than the first nine months 2003 gross margin of 27.0%. The decline in the third quarter and in the first nine months of 2004 were the result of (a) 11.6% less revenue in the third quarter and 24.6% less revenue in the first nine months; (b) $448,000 less high margin repair part business in third quarter 2004, and; (c) a shift from high margin CRT business to lower margin tableware products.
Operating Profit (Loss)
Operating loss for the third quarter 2004 was $516,000 compared to the third quarter 2003 operating profit of $68,000, representing an unfavorable variance of $584,000 resulting from lower margins, increased operating expenses, and a $100,000 provision for a potential legal settlement.
Nine months 2004 operating loss of $1.7 million was $0.5 million greater than the first nine months 2003 loss of $1.2 million because the gross margin on $2.6 million of additional revenue was offset by increased operating expenses and a $525,000 provision for a potential legal settlement.
For the third quarter of 2004, M-tron had an operating profit of $114,000, an improvement of $57,000 over the $57,000 profit in the third quarter of 2003. M-trons nine month 2004 operating profit of $583,000 represented a major improvement of $755,000 over M-trons $172,000 operating loss in the nine month period ending September 30, 2003. The operating profit improvements were due primarily to the 23.6% and 39.3% sales increases in the third quarter and nine months of 2004, respectively.
For the 2004 third quarter, Lynch Systems had an operating profit of $17,000 compared to an operating profit of $367,000 in the third quarter of 2003. Lynch Systems first nine months 2004 operating loss of $505,000
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was $535,000 unfavorable to the nine month 2003 operating profit of $30,000. Revenue declines resulted in the unfavorable operating results when comparing both the third quarter and first nine months of 2004 to the same periods in 2003.
Lynchs corporate headquarters incurred unallocated expenses of $647,000 in the third quarter of 2004, bringing the nine months 2004 headquarters expense to $1,824,000. The third quarter and nine month 2004 headquarters expenses exceeded the prior year by $281,000 and $716,000 respectively due to higher compensation costs, professional fees, liability insurance (D&O), directors fees, and a $100,000 provision in third quarter 2004 and $525,000 in the period ending September 30, 2004 for the potential settlement of the PACE suit that Lynch is defending due to the Companys past voting control of Spinnaker Industries, Inc.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Third quarter and nine month 2004 investment income was $354,000 and $514,000 respectively, less than 2003 due to (a) lower average cash balances; (b) investment in non-dividend paying securities; and (c) a realized gain on sale of marketable securities of $349,000 in the third quarter of 2003 and $483,000 for nine months 2003.
Third quarter interest expense of $63,000 was equal to 2003. Interest expense of $176,000 for the first nine months of 2004 was $49,000 less than the $225,000 incurred in the first nine months of 2003 due to fewer Letter of Credit fees, lower average borrowing to fund M-trons losses, and lower interest rates.
Third quarter 2003 other income of $754,000 included $728,000 that was realized upon the release of a customer-related contingency resulting from the final settlement reached during the third quarter. This June 30, 1998 contingency in the original amount of $2.43 million was a consequence of a custom glass press order that was cancelled by the customer.
Nine month 2004 other income of $45,000 was mainly the result of selling excess equipment that had no book value for $27,000 in the first quarter. Nine month 2003 other income of $763,000 included the $728,000 negotiated settlement mentioned above.
Income Taxes
The Company files consolidated federal income tax returns, which includes all subsidiaries.
Nine month 2004 income tax includes federal, state, local and foreign taxes. There was no state income tax benefit in first nine months of 2004 because tax carry-back is not available to the Companys Georgia business. There was no federal tax benefit in the first nine months of 2004 as a result of net operating losses (NOLs) because the Company had previously been refunded all taxes in its carry-back period and there is uncertainty regarding the utilization of the NOL carry-forward. The Company recorded a $16,000 tax provision in third quarter 2004 and $71,000 for the nine month period ending September 30, 2004 for taxes at the Hong Kong tax rate on M-trons foreign subsidiaries earnings.
The nine month 2003 income tax included federal, as well as state, local, and foreign taxes. The third quarter 2003 net tax provision of $336,000 was mainly the result of investment and other income. The nine months 2003 net tax benefit of $56,000 was the result of losses incurred which were expected to be realized in the fourth quarter.
Net Income (Loss)
Net loss for the third quarter of 2004 was $566,000 compared to a net profit of $783,000 in the quarter ending September 30, 2003. Nine month 2004 net loss of $1,934,000 was unfavorable to the $128,000 net loss in the first nine months of 2003 by $1,806,000. The $1,349,000 million additional loss in the third quarter is primarily due to lower gross margin, the $100,000 legal settlement provision recorded in the third quarter of 2004, realized gains on sale of marketable securities of $349,000, and other income of $728,000 upon the release of a customer-related contingency in the third quarter of 2003. As a result, fully diluted third quarter 2004 loss per share was $0.38 compared to a profit of $0.52 per share in the third quarter 2003.
Nine month 2004 fully diluted loss per share of $1.29 was $1.20 per share worse than the $0.09 per share loss in the first nine months of 2003 due mainly to the 2004 sales increase of $2.6 million that resulted in additional
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gross profit being more than offset by (a) the $525,000 legal settlement provision in 2004; (b) a tax provision in 2004 of $71,000 compared to a $56,000 tax benefit in 2003; (c) $514,000 less investment income due mainly to a realized gain on sale of marketable securities in 2003 of $483,000; and (d) $718,000 less other income because 2003 included an unusual $728,000 gain resulting from the final settlement of a customer-related contingency caused by an order cancellation in June 1998.
Backlog/New Orders
Total backlog of manufactured products at September 30, 2004 was $16.4 million, a $10.8 million improvement over the backlog at December 31, 2003, and $7.0 million more than the backlog at September 30, 2003 primarily due to the addition of PTIs $6.2 million backlog.
M-trons backlog improved by $0.3 million since last September and declined $0.2 million since December 31, 2003.
Lynch Systems backlog has improved by $4.8 million since December 31, 2003 as a result of a $6.6 million order for tableware manufacturing equipment. Nine month 2004 bookings of $12.5 million were $0.6 million more than nine months 2003 due to aforementioned tableware order.
Financial Condition
At September 30, 2004, the Company has current assets of $24.7 million and current liabilities of $22.3 million. Working capital was therefore $2.4 million, as compared to $7.5 million at December 31, 2003 and $6.6 million at September 30, 2003. The ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 1.11 to 1.00 at September 30, 2004; 1.67 to 1.00 at December 31, 2003; and 1.50 to 1.00 ratio at September 30, 2003. The increase in current liabilities at September 30, 2004 was mainly the result of the $8.7 million purchase price of PTI.
Cash used in operating activities was approximately $1.5 million in the first nine months of 2004 compared to cash used of approximately $0.2 million in the first nine months of 2003. The year-over-year unfavorable change in operating cash flow of $1.3 million was mainly the result of $0.8 million increase in operating loss and $0.4 million used in working capital. Capital expenditures were $266,000 in the nine months of 2004, compared to $246,000 in the period ending September 30, 2003.
Total debt of $5.1 million at September 30, 2004 was $1.3 million more than the amount outstanding at December 31, 2003 and $0.6 million more than the debt at September 30, 2003. This excludes the $8.7 million amount due to the seller of PTI (see Note D), but includes $1.1 million of PTI debt assumed by the Company. Debt outstanding at September 30, 2004 included $1.4 million of fixed rate debt at an average interest rate of 4.1%, and $3.7 million of variable rate debt at a September 30, 2004 average interest rate of 4.7%.
Restrictions on dividends under the M-tron loan with First National Bank of Omaha disallow distributions to the parent company without consent of the bank. Lynch Systems, under its loan with Sun Trust Bank, may pay a cash dividend to the parent company equal to 50% of Lynch Systems net income for the prior fiscal year, subject to the minimum net worth covenant in the loan agreement. Under the M-tron loan agreement, advances to the parent company are disallowed without the prior written consent of the lending bank. Under its loan agreement, Lynch Systems may pay an annual management fee to the parent company in an amount not to exceed $250,000. In addition, Lynch Systems may reimburse the parent company for expenses and taxes paid by the parent on behalf of Lynch Systems.
At September 30, 2004, the Companys total cash, cash equivalents and investments in marketable securities total $6.8 million (including $1.1 million of restricted cash). In addition, the Company had a consolidated borrowing capacity of $4.3 million under M-trons and Lynch Systems revolving line of credit. Therefore, gross cash and securities and availability under the revolving credit loans total $11.1 million and was more than the combined outstanding debt and margin liability on securities of $6.6 million by $4.5 million.
On May 29, 2004, Lynch Systems renewed its SunTrust Bank loan with a new maturity date of May 31, 2005. This long-time lender has provided a $7 million line-of-credit which can be used entirely for stand-by Letters of Credit or up to $4 million (formerly $2 million) for domestic revolving credit within the credit line. This loan, as
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well as the previous loan, includes an unsecured parent company guarantee. At September 30, 2004, there were outstanding Letters of Credit of $648,000 and borrowings of $350,000 under the working capital line.
On April 30, 2004, M-trons long-time lending bank, First National Bank of Omaha, renewed the $3 million revolving credit loan that now matures on April 30, 2005. On May 14, 2004, M-tron and First National Bank of Omaha also entered into a new term loan arrangement in the amount of $1,200,000. A portion of the proceeds from this new term loan were used to pay off the term loan that had a September 2004 maturity date. This new loan has an April 30, 2007 maturity date and bears interest at the banks base rate plus 0.50%. $743,000 is outstanding on the new loan as of September 30, 2004. This loan is secured by the August 31, 2001 loan agreement and $1,000,000 Letter of Credit dated September 9, 2002 issued by Fleet Bank on behalf of Lynch. (See Subsequent Events for borrowing to complete the PTI purchase transaction).
The Company has guaranteed a Letter of Credit issued to the First National Bank of Omaha on behalf of its subsidiary, M-tron Industries, Inc. As of September 30, 2004, the $1,000,000 Letter of Credit issued by Fleet Bank to The First National Bank of Omaha was secured by a $1,125,000 deposit in a Fleet Bank Treasury Fixed Income Fund. The Companys outstanding Letter of Credit in the amount of $1.0 million for the benefit of the bank can be reduced to $500,000 when M-tron is profitable for 5 of 6 consecutive months and the cumulative after-tax profit equals or exceeds $500,000. The remaining $500,000 Letter of Credit will be released when the earnings parameters are met for a second time. These thresholds were not met in 2003 or the first nine months of 2004 and there is no assurance they will be met in fourth quarter 2004.
In connection with the completion of the acquisition of PTI, on October 14, 2004, M-tron and PTI, each wholly-owned subsidiaries of Lynch Corporation, entered into a Loan Agreement with First National Bank of Omaha. The Loan Agreement provides for loans in the amounts of $2,000,000 (the Term Loan) and $3,000,000 (the Bridge Loan), together with a $5,500,000 Revolving Line of Credit (the Revolving Loan). The Term Loan bears interest at the greater of prime rate plus 50 basis points, or 4.5%, and is to be repaid in monthly installments of $37,514, with the then remaining principal balance plus accrued interest to be paid on the third anniversary of the Loan Agreement. The Bridge Loan bears interest at the same rate as the Term Loan. Accrued interest thereon is payable monthly and the principal amount thereof, together with accrued interest, is payable on the first anniversary of the Loan Agreement. The Revolving Loan bears interest at the greater of prime rate or 4.5%. Amounts outstanding are to be repaid, together with accrued interest, on April 30, 2005. All outstanding obligations under the Loan Agreement are collateralized by security interests in the assets of M-tron and PTI, as well as by a mortgage on PTIs premises. The Loan Agreement contains a variety of affirmative and negative covenants of types customary in an asset-based lending facility. The Loan Agreement also contains financial covenants relating to maintenance of levels of minimal tangible net worth and working capital, and current, leverage and fixed charge ratios, restricting the amount of capital expenditures.
Commensurate with this new financing, M-trons $3,000,000 line of credit with First National Bank of Omaha was replaced by the $5,500,000 Revolving Line of Credit. Pursuant to an Unconditional Guaranty for Payment and Performance, the Company has guaranteed to First National Bank of Omaha the payment and performance of its subsidiaries obligations under the Loan Agreement and ancillary agreements and instruments.
The Company does not, at present, have credit facilities at the parent company level. The Company believes that existing cash and cash equivalents, cash generated from operations and available borrowings under its subsidiaries lines of credit will be sufficient to meet its on-going working capital and capital expenditure requirements for the foreseeable future.
Adoption of Accounting Pronouncements
In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51 (FIN 46). Fin 46 clarifies the application of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements, to certain entities in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. The consolidation requirements of FIN 46, as revised, are required to be applied for periods ending after December 15, 2003 for interests in structures that are commonly referred to as special-purpose entities, while the application of this Interpretation for all other types of variable interest entities is required for periods ending after March 15, 2004. The Company does not have any interests in variable interest entities.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Aside from the Companys stand-by Letter of Credit in the amount of $1,000,000, the Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Aggregate Contractual Obligations
Details of the Companys contractual obligations for short-term debt, long-term debt, leases, purchases and other long term obligations as of September 30, 2004 are as follows:
Payments Due by Period Including Interest (In Thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Less Than | 1 3 | 3 5 | More Than | |||||||||||||||||
Contractual Obligations |
Total |
1 Year |
Years |
Years |
5 Years |
|||||||||||||||
Short-term Debt (Revolving Credit) |
$ | 2,335 | $ | 2,335 | | | | |||||||||||||
Long-term Debt Obligations |
3,190 | 901 | 1,540 | 622 | 127 | |||||||||||||||
Capital Lease Obligations |
| | | | | |||||||||||||||
Operating Lease Obligations |
443 | 257 | 186 | | | |||||||||||||||
Purchase Obligations |
| | | | | |||||||||||||||
Other Long-term Liabilities
Reflected on the Registrants
Balance Sheet under GAAP |
| | | | | |||||||||||||||
TOTAL |
$ | 5,968 | $ | 3,493 | $ | 1,726 | $ | 622 | $ | 127 | ||||||||||
Market Risk
The Company is exposed to market risk relating to changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates. Changes in interest rates affect the amounts of interest earned on the Companys cash equivalents and short-term investments (approximately $4.5 million at September 30, 2004). The Company generally finances the debt portion of the acquisition of long-term assets with fixed rate, long-term debt. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Management does not foresee any significant changes in the strategies used to manage interest rate risk in the near future, although the strategies may be reevaluated as market conditions dictate. There has been no significant change in market risk since September 30, 2004.
Since the Companys international sales are in U.S. Dollars, there is no monetary risk.
At September 30, 2004, approximately $3.7 million of the Companys debt bears interest at variable rates. Accordingly, the Companys earnings and cash flows are only slightly affected by changes in interest rates. Assuming the current level of borrowings for variable rate debt, and assuming a two percentage point increase in the 2004 average interest rate under these borrowings, it is estimated that the Companys interest expense would change by less than $0.1 million. In the event of an adverse change in interest rates, management would take actions to further mitigate its exposure.
Subsequent Events
Completion of Acquisition of Piezo Technology, Inc. (PTI)
On October 15, 2004, Lynch Corporations wholly-owned subsidiary, M-tron Industries, Inc. completed its acquisition of all the issued and outstanding shares of PTI for approximately $8.7 million in cash. Such shares were purchased from the Amended and Restated Employee Stock Plan and Trust for Employees of PTI and from individual shareholders. The buyer assumed seller debt of approximately $1.1 million and acquired cash of approximately $1.4 million in this transaction. In connection with the completion of the acquisition, M-tron and PTI entered into a loan agreement with First National Bank of Omaha. The Loan Agreement provides for loans in the amounts of $2,000,000 (the Term Loan) and $3,000,000 (the Bridge Loan), together with a $5,500,000 revolving line of credit (the Revolving Loan). M-trons $3,000,000 revolving line of credit was replaced by the new $5,500,000 revolving line of credit. All outstanding obligations under the Loan Agreement are collateralized by security interests in the assets of M-tron and PTI, as well as by a mortgage on PTIs premises. The Loan Agreement contains a variety of affirmative and negative covenants of types customary in an asset-based lending
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facility. The Loan Agreement also contains financial covenants relating to maintenance of levels of minimal tangible net worth and working capital, and current, leverage and fixed charge ratios, restricting the amount of capital expenditures. Pursuant to an Unconditional Guaranty for Payment and Performance, the Company has guaranteed to First National Bank of Omaha the payment and performance of its subsidiaries obligations under the Loan Agreement and ancillary agreements and instruments.
Also in connection with the completion of the acquisition, Lynch Corporation entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with Venator Merchant Fund, L.P. Under the Purchase Agreement, the Registrant sold to Venator 136,643 shares of it Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share for $13.173 per share, or an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1,800,000. Venator is an investment limited partnership controlled by Lynchs Chairman of the Board, Marc Gabelli. The per share purchase price for the Common Stock is equal to the average of the closing prices of the Common Stock during the 60-day trading period ended on October 13, 2004. In connection with the transaction, Lynch obtained a Fairness Opinion from Caymus Partners, LLC. and entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with Venator dated October 15, 2004 to register the Common Stock purchased by Venator.
On November 2, 2004, the Company announced the relocation of its corporate headquarters from Providence, Rhode Island, to 140 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, Connecticut.
Risk Factors
Certain subsidiaries and business segments of the Company sell to industries that are subject to cyclical economic changes. Any downturns in the economic environment would have a financial impact on the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and may cause the reported financial information herein not to be indicative of future operating results, financial condition or cash flows.
Future activities and operating results may be adversely affected by fluctuating demand for capital goods such as large glass presses, delay in the recovery of demand for components used by telecommunications infrastructure manufacturers, disruption of foreign economies and the inability to renew or obtain new financing for expiring loans.
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash investments and trade accounts receivable.
The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments with various financial institutions. These financial institutions are located throughout the country and the Companys policy is designed to limit exposure to any one institution. The Company performs periodic evaluations of the relative credit standing of those financial institutions that are considered in the Companys investment strategy. Other than certain accounts receivable, the Company does not require collateral on these financial instruments. In relation to export sales, the Company requires Letters of Credit supporting a significant portion of the sales price prior to production to limit exposure to credit risk. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts at a level that management believes is sufficient to cover potential credit losses.
Forward Looking Information
Included in this Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations are certain forward looking financial and other information, including without limitation matters relating to Risks. It should be recognized that such information are projections, estimates or forecasts based on various assumptions, including without limitation, meeting its assumptions regarding expected operating performance and other matters specifically set forth, as well as the expected performance of the economy as it impacts the Companys businesses, government and regulatory actions and approvals, and tax consequences, and the risk factors and cautionary statements set forth in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result, such information is subject to uncertainties, risks and inaccuracies, which could be material.
The Registrant makes available, free of charge, its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports, if any, on Form 8-K.
The Registrant also makes this information available on its website, whose internet address is www.lynchcorp.com.
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Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk |
See Market Risk under Item 2 above.
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures |
The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Companys disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15.
There have been no changes in the Registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrants last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrants internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
1. | In re Spinnaker Coating, Inc., Debtor/PACE Local I-1069 v. Spinnaker Coating, Inc., and Lynch Corporation, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Maine, Chapter 11, Adv. Pro. No. 02-2007; and PACE Local 1-1069 v. Lynch Corporation and Lynch Systems, Inc. Cumberland County Superior Court, CV-2001-00352: |
On or about June 26, 2001, in anticipation of the July 15, 2001 closure of Spinnakers Westbrook, Maine facility, Plaintiff PACE Local 1-1069 (PACE) filed a three count complaint in Cumberland County Superior Court, CV-2001-00352 naming the following Defendants: Spinnaker Industries, Inc., Spinnaker Coating, Inc., and Spinnaker Coating-Maine, Inc. (collectively, the Spinnaker Entities) and Lynch. The complaint alleged that under Maines Severance Pay Act both the Spinnaker Entities and Lynch would be liable to pay approximately $1,166,000 severance pay under Maines Severance Pay Act in connection with the plant closure. The Defendants filed a notice of removal, thereby creating United States District Court Civil Action C.V. No. 01-236. The case was remanded to state court. The Spinnaker Entities also filed a separate complaint challenging the constitutionality of the Maine Severance Pay Act, United States District Court Civil Action No. 01-232 which later was dismissed by stipulation of the Spinnaker Entities. PACE also filed three separate Motions for Ex-Parte Attachment against the Spinnaker Entities and Lynch. PACE filed the First Motion for Attachment with its original Complaint. PACE sought to attach $1,166,483.44, an amount large enough to cover the claims of all PACEs members seeking severance. The Court denied that Motion as being premature. PACE then filed a second Motion against the Spinnaker Entities and Lynch for an attachment large enough to cover the claims of eight individual employees seeking severance pay in the amount of $120,736.27. On August 20, 2001, the Court granted that Motion in the amount of $118,500. On April 4, 2002, PACE subsequently recorded this attachment through UCC-1 filings with the Maine Secretary of State against Lynch Manufacturing and Lynch Corporation. PACE filed a Third Motion for Ex-Parte Attachment on August 29, 2001. This Motion sought an attachment large enough to cover the severance pay claimed by the remaining PACE members, $1,048,003. The Court denied this Motion but permitted PACE the opportunity to obtain an attachment after all Defendants had an opportunity to respond and after hearing.
Before any further action was taken with respect to PACEs Third Motion for Attachment, the Spinnaker Defendants filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Following a series of filings in the United States District Court for the District of Maine and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maine which, like United States District Court Case No. 01-236, later were dismissed by the parties with prejudice and without costs, PACEs case continues to proceed against Lynch in Cumberland County Superior Court in Maine on the issue of whether Lynch has liability to PACEs members under the Maine Severance Pay Act.
On September 30, 2002, PACE requested a ruling from the Superior Court on its Third Motion for Attachment. On October 21, 2002, Lynch filed a Motion for Summary Judgment which incorporated its prior objection to any attachment. PACE filed an Opposition to Lynchs Motion for Summary Judgment, which included a request for summary judgment in its favor, and a Motion for Leave to Further Amend the Complaint on November 12, 2002. Lynch thereafter filed a Reply Memorandum in Support of its Motion for Summary Judgment on November 26, 2002 and an opposition to PACEs Motion for Leave to Further Amend the Complaint on December 3, 2002. On December 31, 2002, the Superior Court held a hearing on all pending Motions. The Superior Court requested that arguments
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focus on Lynchs Motion for Summary Judgment since the granting of that Motion would render PACEs Third Motion for Attachment and Motion to Further Amend the Complaint moot.
On July 28, 2003, the Superior Court issued an Order deciding both Lynchs and PACEs Motions for Summary Judgment. The Court denied Lynchs Motion for Summary Judgment, finding that there remained a disputed issue of material fact regarding one of Lynchs primary defenses. The Court granted partial summary judgment in favor of PACE to the extent that the Court found Lynch was the Spinnaker Entities parent corporation and, therefore, Lynch was an employer subject to potential liability under Maines Severance Pay Act. The Court held, however, that PACE must still prove its entitlement to severance pay under the Act. In a separate ruling also issued on July 28, 2003, the Court denied PACEs Third Motion for Attachment.
On March 8, 2004, Lynch filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on the issue of an exemption under the Maine Severance Pay Act, which is based upon the nexus between the plant closure in Westbrook, Maine and the Spinnaker Entities bankruptcy filing. PACE concurrently filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on Count II of the complaint on March 8, 2004. During a trial management conference on March 24, 2004, the parties agreed to submit a Stipulation of Facts to the Court in lieu of a trial on any remaining issues in the case.
During a Settlement Conference held in the Cumberland County Superior Court (Portland, Maine) on May 25, 2004, the Company offered $425,000 in full settlement of PACEs claim, which was rejected by PACE. Following this Settlement Conference, Lynch and PACE continued settlement discussions, which culminated in Lynch extending an offer of $525,000 on August 20, 2004. Counsel for PACE subsequently informed Lynch that PACE was not interested in responding to this offer.
On October 15, 2004, the Court heard oral arguments from the parties related to the pending motions for summary judgment and related to any remaining issues in the case. On November 3, 2004, the Court issued an Order that addressed the parties cross motions for summary judgment, which focused on whether the Spinnaker Entities bankruptcy precluded any liability for severance pay. The Court held that the Spinnaker Entities bankruptcy did not prevent the award of severance pay under the statute. The Court, therefore, granted summary judgment to PACE on Count II of its Complaint based on its earlier ruling that Lynch was the parent corporation of the Spinnaker Entities. The Court also issued a separate Order that related to the calculation of damages. The Court largely agreed with Lynch on the appropriate method of calculating damages and awarded PACE $653,018 in severance pay, which is approximately one-half the amount claimed by PACE. The Court rejected PACEs claim for pre-judgment interest but granted its request for attorney fees. PACE has until November 30, 2004, to file its application for attorney fees.
Although Lynch believes that it is not subject to the Maine Severance Pay Act, as now in effect, Lynch has not yet decided whether to appeal the Superior Courts decision to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. Management does not believe that the resolution of this case will have a material adverse effect on the Registrants consolidated financial condition and operations.
The Company does not believe that it has any other contingent liabilities related to Spinnaker.
2. Qui Tam Lawsuit
Lynch Corporation, Lynch Interactive Corporation (Interactive), and several other parties have been named as Defendants in a lawsuit brought under the so-called qui tam provisions of the federal False Claims Act in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The Complaint was filed under seal with the court on February 14, 2001, and the seal was lifted on January 11, 2002. The Company was formally served with the complaint on July 9, 2002. The main allegation in the case is that the Defendants participated in the creation of sham bidding entities that allegedly defrauded the federal Treasury by improperly participating in Federal Communications Commission spectrum auctions restricted to small businesses, as well as obtaining bidding credits in other spectrum auctions allocated to small and very small businesses. The lawsuit seeks to recover an unspecified amount of damages, which would be subject to mandatory trebling under the statute. On September 19, 2002, Interactive, on behalf of itself and Lynch, filed two Motions with the court: a Motion to Transfer the Action to the Southern District of New York and a Motion to Dismiss the Lawsuit. The relator filed an opposition reply to Interactives Motion to Dismiss and, on December 5, 2002, Interactive filed a Reply in Support of Its Motion to Dismiss. On September 30, 2003, the Court granted Interactives Motion to Transfer the Action to the Southern District of New York.
A scheduling conference was held on February 10, 2004, at which time the judge approved a scheduling order and discovery commenced. On June 7, 2004, the Defendants filed a Motion to Relator to refer the issues in this litigation to the Federal Communications Commission, which Motion was opposed by the Relator. On July 28, 2004, the judge denied in part and granted in part the Motion to Dismiss. Defendant bidding entities that did not win licenses were dismissed and the reverse false claims act count was dismissed as redundant. On September 14, 2004, the judge issued a ruling denying the Motion to refer the issues in this litigation to the Federal Communications Commission, and discovery continues.
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The U. S. Department of Justice has notified the court that is has declined to intervene in the case. The Defendants strongly believe that the lawsuit is completely without merit and intend to defend the suit vigorously. Furthermore, under the separation agreement between the Company and Interactive pursuant to which Interactive was spun-off to the Companys shareholders on September 1, 1999, Interactive would be obligated to indemnify the Company for any losses or damaged incurred by the Company as a result of this lawsuit; and Interactive has, in fact, agreed in writing to defend the case on Lynchs behalf and to indemnify Lynch for any losses it may incur as a result of the lawsuit. Interactive has retained legal counsel to defend the claim on behalf of Lynch and Interactive at the expense of Interactive. Nevertheless, the Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome of the litigation nor can the Company predict the effect that the lawsuit or its outcome will have on the Companys business or plan of operation.
Item 2. Issuer Purchase of Its Equity Securities
Maximum Number (or | ||||||||||||||||
Total Number of | Approximate Dollar | |||||||||||||||
Shares Purchased as | Value) of Shares | |||||||||||||||
Part of Publicly | that May Yet Be | |||||||||||||||
Total Number of | Average Price Paid | Announced Plans or | Purchased Under the | |||||||||||||
Period |
Shares Purchased |
per Share |
Programs |
Plans or Programs |
||||||||||||
February 4,
2004 February 29, 2004 |
400 | $ | 12.5125 | 400 | 49,600 Shares | |||||||||||
March 1,
2004 March 31, 2004 |
2,000 | $ | 13.5000 | 2,000 | 47,600 Shares | |||||||||||
April 1,
2004 June 30, 2004 |
| | | 47,600 Shares | ||||||||||||
July 1,
2004 September 30, 2004 |
| | | 47,600 shares | ||||||||||||
Total |
2,400 | $ | 13.3770 | 2,400 | 47,600 Shares |
On February 4, 2004, Lynch announced that on January 23, 2004, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 50,000 shares of the Companys outstanding common stock. The timing of the buy-back and the exact number of shares purchased will depend on market conditions; this program does not have an expiration date. The Company will buy back shares through both public and private channels at prices believed to be appropriate and in the best interest of shareholders.
As of September 30, 2004, the Company has repurchased 2,400 shares in the amount of $32,105, at an average price of $13.377 per share. 47,600 shares may yet be purchased under this program.
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Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
(a) | Exhibits filed herewith: |
31 | Certifications of Registrants principal executive and principal financial officers required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a). | |||
32 | Section 1350 Certifications of Registrants principal executive and principal financial officers required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(b). |
(b) | Reports on Form 8-K: |
1. | Registrants press release announcing its results of operations for the second quarter ending June 30, 2004 was filed with a Form 8-K on August 12, 2004. | |||
2. | Registrants press release announcing that it has signed an agreement in principle to purchase Piezo Technology, Inc., Orlando, Florida, for approximately $8.7 million cash was filed with a Form 8-K on September 8, 2004. | |||
3. | Registrants Form 8-K was filed on September 14, 2004 under Section 1.01, Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement, announcing that, on behalf of its subsidiary, M-tron Industries, Inc., Lynch Corporation had signed a Definitive Agreement to Purchase all of the issued and outstanding common stock of Piezo Technologies, Inc. | |||
4. | Registrants Form 8-K was filed on September 23, 2004, under Item 5.02, Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Officers; Appointment of Principal Officers; announcing the resignation of its Chairman and Vice Chairman, its appointment of the former Chairman to Chairman Emeritus status; the appointment of the former Chairman and Vice Chairman as Co-Chairman of a Board of Advisors; and the election of Marc Gabelli as the Companys New Chairman. | |||
5. | Registrants Form 8-K was filed on October 8, 2004 under Item 5.02, Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers, announcing the resignation of its President/Chief Operating Officer, its appointment of John C. Ferrara as President and Chief Executive Officer, and its appointment of Eugene Hynes as its Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. | |||
6. | Registrants Form 8-K was filed on October 20, 2004 under Item 1.01, Entry into Material Definitive Agreement and under Item 3.02, Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities, announcing that in connection with the Companys acquisition of PTI, the Company entered into a Loan Agreement with First National Bank of Omaha and sold shares of Common Stock to Venator Merchant Fund, L.P.; under Item 2.01, Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets, announcing the completion of the Companys purchase of PTI; under Item 2.03, Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant, announcing that on October 14, 2004, the Company entered into A Loan Agreement with First National Bank of Omaha; and under Item 9.01, Financial Statements and Exhibits, announcing that PTIs financial statements and pro forma financial information will be filed in a subsequent Form 8-K to be filed on or before December 30, 2004 and announcing that the following Exhibits were attached; 10.1 Loan Agreement, by and among M-tron, PTI and First National Bank of Omaha, dated October 14, 2004; 10.2 Unconditional Guaranty for Payment and Performance with First National Bank of Omaha, dated October 14, 2004; 10.3 Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Registrant and Venator, dated October 15, 2004 and 10.4, Registration Rights Agreement, by and among the Registrant and Venator, dated October 15, 2004. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
LYNCH CORPORATION (Registrant) |
||||
November 9, 2004 | By: | /s/ RAYMOND H. KELLER | ||
Raymond H. Keller | ||||
Chief Financial Officer | ||||
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit | ||
No. |
Description |
|
31
|
Certifications of Registrants principal executive and principal financial officers required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a). | |
32
|
Section 1350 Certifications of Registrants principal executive and principal financial officers required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(b). |
| Filed herewith. |
The Exhibits listed above have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission in conjunction with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or have been incorporated by reference into this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Upon request, Lynch Corporation will furnish to each of its shareholders a copy of any such Exhibit. Requests should be addressed to the Office of the Secretary, Lynch Corporation, 140 Greenwich Avenue, 4th Floor, Greenwich CT 06830.
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