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PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS CO - Quarter Report: 2020 March (Form 10-Q)

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020

OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                      

Commission file number: 0-31164

 

Preformed Line Products Company

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

Ohio

 

34-0676895

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

 

660 Beta Drive

Mayfield Village, Ohio

 

44143

(Address of Principal Executive Office)

 

(Zip Code)

(440) 461-5200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes      No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes      No  

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

 

Large accelerated filer

 

  

Accelerated filer

 

 

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer

 

  

  

Smaller reporting company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emerging growth company

 

 

 

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

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

The number of common shares outstanding as of April 27, 2020: 4,979,833.

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading Symbol

 

Name of exchange on which registered

Common stock, par value $2.00 per share

 

PLPC

 

NASDAQ

 

 


 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

Part I - Financial Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Financial Statements

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

28

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

28

 

 

 

 

 

Part II - Other Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

30

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

 

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

31

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

 

Mine Safety Disclosures

 

31

 

 

 

 

 

Item 5.

 

Other Information

 

31

 

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

 

31

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

32

 

2


 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

March 31, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

(Thousands of dollars, except share and per share data)

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

34,117

 

 

$

38,929

 

Accounts receivable, less allowances of $3,326 ($3,849 in 2019)

 

 

83,441

 

 

 

83,517

 

Inventories - net

 

 

92,513

 

 

 

95,718

 

Prepaids

 

 

6,255

 

 

 

6,921

 

Prepaid taxes

 

 

3,498

 

 

 

2,601

 

Other current assets

 

 

2,659

 

 

 

4,289

 

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

222,483

 

 

 

231,975

 

Property, plant and equipment - net

 

 

119,356

 

 

 

124,018

 

Operating lease, right-of-use assets

 

 

13,062

 

 

 

12,453

 

Intangibles - net

 

 

13,480

 

 

 

15,116

 

Goodwill

 

 

25,814

 

 

 

27,840

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

6,094

 

 

 

7,564

 

Other assets

 

 

12,968

 

 

 

14,605

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

413,257

 

 

$

433,571

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade accounts payable

 

$

28,534

 

 

$

28,282

 

Notes payable to banks

 

 

10,512

 

 

 

8,696

 

Operating lease liabilities, current

 

 

1,991

 

 

 

2,062

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

 

3,309

 

 

 

3,354

 

Accrued compensation and amounts withheld from employees

 

 

11,220

 

 

 

11,817

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

 

13,993

 

 

 

16,718

 

Accrued profit-sharing and other benefits

 

 

2,447

 

 

 

7,213

 

Dividends payable

 

 

1,205

 

 

 

1,173

 

Income taxes payable

 

 

1,240

 

 

 

1,758

 

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

74,451

 

 

 

81,073

 

Long-term debt, less current portion

 

 

58,724

 

 

 

53,722

 

Unfunded pension obligation

 

 

5,279

 

 

 

5,278

 

Operating lease liabilities, non-current

 

 

8,675

 

 

 

8,246

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

2,829

 

 

 

3,116

 

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

 

11,799

 

 

 

13,568

 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common shares - $2 par value per share, 15,000,000 shares authorized, 4,995,114 and

   4,992,979 issued and outstanding, at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019,

   respectively

 

 

13,003

 

 

 

12,848

 

Common shares issued to rabbi trust, 264,283 and 267,641 shares at March 31, 2020

   and December 31, 2019, respectively

 

 

(10,880

)

 

 

(10,981

)

Deferred compensation liability

 

 

10,880

 

 

 

10,981

 

Paid-in capital

 

 

39,747

 

 

 

38,854

 

Retained earnings

 

 

355,984

 

 

 

353,292

 

Treasury shares, at cost, 1,506,481 and 1,431,235 shares at March 31, 2020 and

   December 31, 2019, respectively

 

 

(83,086

)

 

 

(79,106

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(74,136

)

 

 

(57,353

)

TOTAL PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS, COMPANY SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

251,512

 

 

 

268,535

 

Noncontrolling interest

 

 

(12

)

 

 

33

 

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

251,500

 

 

 

268,568

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

$

413,257

 

 

$

433,571

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

3


 

PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

102,852

 

 

$

97,153

 

Cost of products sold

 

 

69,942

 

 

 

69,888

 

GROSS PROFIT

 

 

32,910

 

 

 

27,265

 

Costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling

 

 

8,905

 

 

 

8,413

 

General and administrative

 

 

13,434

 

 

 

12,318

 

Research and engineering

 

 

4,296

 

 

 

4,140

 

Other operating expense - net

 

 

1,122

 

 

 

348

 

 

 

 

27,757

 

 

 

25,219

 

OPERATING INCOME

 

 

5,153

 

 

 

2,046

 

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

111

 

 

 

179

 

Interest expense

 

 

(709

)

 

 

(368

)

Other income - net

 

 

549

 

 

 

71

 

 

 

 

(49

)

 

 

(118

)

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

 

5,104

 

 

 

1,928

 

Income tax expense

 

 

1,451

 

 

 

104

 

NET INCOME

 

$

3,653

 

 

$

1,824

 

Add:  Net adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

45

 

 

 

0

 

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS

   COMPANY SHAREHOLDERS

 

$

3,698

 

 

$

1,824

 

AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

5,008

 

 

 

5,045

 

Diluted

 

 

5,017

 

 

 

5,054

 

EARNINGS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK ATTRIBUTABLE TO

   PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY SHAREHOLDERS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.74

 

 

$

0.36

 

Diluted

 

$

0.74

 

 

$

0.36

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

4


 

PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

(Thousands of dollars)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

3,653

 

 

$

1,824

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

(16,881

)

 

 

1,353

 

Recognized net actuarial gain (net of tax provision of $31 and

   $32 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019,

   respectively).

 

 

98

 

 

 

93

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax

 

 

(16,783

)

 

 

1,446

 

Add:  Comprehensive adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

45

 

 

 

0

 

Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Preformed Line Products

   Company shareholders

 

$

(13,085

)

 

$

3,270

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

5


 

PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

(Thousands of dollars)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

3,653

 

 

$

1,824

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

3,357

 

 

 

3,140

 

Provision for accounts receivable allowances

 

 

424

 

 

 

440

 

Provision for inventory reserves

 

 

365

 

 

 

87

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

1,163

 

 

 

96

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

 

976

 

 

 

928

 

Gain on sale of property and equipment

 

 

0

 

 

 

(33

)

Other - net

 

 

(364

)

 

 

(137

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

(5,192

)

 

 

391

 

Inventories

 

 

(3,481

)

 

 

(2,376

)

Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

 

(2,112

)

 

 

1,481

 

Income taxes - net

 

 

(328

)

 

 

(775

)

Other - net

 

 

(1,516

)

 

 

(4,565

)

NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

(3,055

)

 

 

501

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(5,997

)

 

 

(2,396

)

Purchase of marketable securities

 

 

0

 

 

 

(496

)

Acquisition, net of cash acquired

 

 

0

 

 

 

(10,173

)

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

(5,997

)

 

 

(13,065

)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in notes payable to banks

 

 

3,337

 

 

 

(1,307

)

Proceeds from long-term debt

 

 

24,945

 

 

 

33,132

 

Payments of long-term debt

 

 

(17,652

)

 

 

(17,354

)

Dividends paid

 

 

(1,175

)

 

 

(1,043

)

Proceeds from issuance of common shares

 

 

236

 

 

 

0

 

Purchase of common shares for treasury

 

 

(1,602

)

 

 

(239

)

Purchase of common shares for treasury from related parties

 

 

(2,378

)

 

 

(2,055

)

NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

5,711

 

 

 

11,134

 

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(1,805

)

 

 

1,292

 

Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

 

(5,146

)

 

 

(138

)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year

 

 

39,263

 

 

 

43,910

 

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH AT END OF

     PERIOD(1)

 

$

34,117

 

 

$

43,772

 

 

(1)

Includes no restricted cash at March 31, 2020 and $.3 million at December 31, 2019.  For further information regarding restricted cash, refer to Note P, “Debt Arrangements.”

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

6


 

PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(In thousands, except share and per share data, unless specifically noted)

NOTE A – BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Preformed Line Products Company and subsidiaries (the “Company” or “PLPC”) have been prepared in accordance with United States of America (U.S.) generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.

The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. In the opinion of management, these consolidated financial statements contain all estimates and adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, required to fairly present the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim periods. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full-year ending December 31, 2020.

Noncontrolling interests are presented in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as if parent company investors (controlling interests) and other minority investors (noncontrolling interests) in partially-owned subsidiaries have similar economic interests in a single entity. As a result, investments in noncontrolling interests are reported as equity in our consolidated financial statements. Additionally, the Company’s consolidated financial statements include 100% of a controlled subsidiary’s earnings, rather than only its share. Transactions between the parent company and noncontrolling interests are reported in equity as transactions between stockholders, provided that these transactions do not create a change in control.

The Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2019 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements but does not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 6, 2020 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 

NOTE B – REVENUE

Revenue recognition

 

Net sales include products and shipping and handling charges, net of estimates for product returns. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring products. All revenue is recognized when the Company satisfies the performance obligations under the contract and control of the product is transferred to the customer, primarily based on shipping terms. Revenue for shipping and handling charges are recognized at the time the products are shipped to, delivered to or picked up by the customer. The Company estimates product returns based on historical return rates.

 

7


 

Disaggregated revenue

 

The Company’s revenues by segment and product type are as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 

Product Type

 

PLP-USA

 

 

The Americas

 

 

EMEA

 

Asia-Pacific

 

Consolidated

 

Energy

 

 

64

%

 

 

71

%

 

 

62

%

 

74

%

 

66

%

Communications

 

 

30

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

30

 

 

4

 

 

24

 

Special Industries

 

 

6

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

8

 

 

22

 

 

10

 

Total

 

 

100

%

 

 

100

%

 

 

100

%

 

100

%

 

100

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

 

Product Type

 

PLP-USA

 

 

The Americas

 

 

EMEA

 

Asia-Pacific

 

Consolidated

 

Energy

 

 

64

%

 

 

59

%

 

 

77

%

 

63

%

 

65

%

Communications

 

 

30

 

 

 

34

 

 

 

14

 

 

6

 

 

22

 

Special Industries

 

 

6

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

9

 

 

31

 

 

13

 

Total

 

 

100

%

 

 

100

%

 

 

100

%

 

100

%

 

100

%

 

 

NOTE C – OTHER FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION

Inventories – net

 

 

 

March 31,

2020

 

 

December 31,

2019

 

Raw materials

 

$

46,620

 

 

$

49,729

 

Work-in-process

 

 

9,270

 

 

 

9,352

 

Finished Goods

 

 

44,690

 

 

 

45,760

 

 

 

 

100,580

 

 

 

104,841

 

Excess of current cost over LIFO cost

 

 

(4,849

)

 

 

(4,667

)

Noncurrent portion of inventory

 

 

(3,218

)

 

 

(4,456

)

 

 

$

92,513

 

 

$

95,718

 

 

Cost of inventories for certain material is determined using the last-in-first-out (LIFO) method and totaled approximately $30.8 million at March 31, 2020 and $32.0 million at December 31, 2019.  An actual valuation of inventories under the LIFO method can be made only at the end of the year based on the inventory levels and costs at that time. Accordingly, interim LIFO calculations are based on management’s estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and costs. Because these estimates are subject to change and may be different than the actual inventory levels and costs at the end of the year, interim results are subject to the final year-end LIFO inventory valuation.  During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the net change in LIFO inventories resulted in $.2 million and $.3 million, respectively, of expense to Income before income taxes.

Noncurrent inventory is included in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Property, plant and equipment—net

Major classes of Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and were as follows:

 

 

 

March 31,

2020

 

 

December 31,

2019

 

Land and improvements

 

$

20,519

 

 

$

22,218

 

Buildings and improvements

 

 

80,885

 

 

 

82,811

 

Machinery, equipment and aircraft

 

 

172,777

 

 

 

180,221

 

Construction in progress

 

 

10,947

 

 

 

9,460

 

 

 

 

285,128

 

 

 

294,710

 

Less accumulated depreciation

 

 

(165,772

)

 

 

(170,692

)

 

 

$

119,356

 

 

$

124,018

 

 

8


 

Legal proceedings

The Company can be party to a variety of pending legal proceedings and claims arising in the normal course of business, including, but not limited to, litigation relating to employment, workers’ compensation, product liability, environmental and intellectual property. The Company has liability insurance to cover many of these claims.  

Although the outcomes of these matters are not predictable with certainty, the Company records a liability when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. In the event the Company determines that a loss is not probable, but is reasonably possible, and the likelihood to develop what the Company believes to be a reasonable range of potential loss exists, the Company will include disclosure related to such matters.  To the extent that there is a reasonable possibility the losses could exceed amounts already accrued, the Company will adjust the accrual in the period in which the determination is made, disclose an estimate of the additional loss or range of loss and if the amount of such adjustment cannot be reasonably estimated, disclose that an estimate cannot be made.

The Company and its subsidiaries Helix Uniformed Ltd. (“Helix”) and Preformed Line Products (Canada) Limited (“PLPC Canada”), were each named, jointly and severally, with each of SNC-Lavalin ATP, Inc. (“SNC ATP”), HD Supply Canada Inc., by its trade names HD Supply Power Solutions and HD Supply Utilities (“HD Supply”), and Anixter Power Solutions Canada Inc. (the corporate successor to HD Supply), “Anixter” and, together with the Company, PLPC Canada, Helix, SNC ATP and HD Supply, the (“Defendants”) in a complaint filed by Altalink, L.P. (the “Plaintiff”) in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta in Alberta, Canada in November 2016 (the “Complaint”).

The Complaint states that Plaintiff engaged SNC ATP to design, engineer, procure and construct numerous power distribution and transmission facilities in Alberta (the “Projects”) and that through SNC ATP and HD Supply (now Anixter), spacer dampers manufactured by Helix were procured and installed in the Projects.  The Complaint alleges that the spacer dampers have and may continue to become loose, open and detach from the conductors, resulting in damage and potential injury and a failure to perform the intended function of providing spacing and damping to the Project.  The Plaintiffs were initially seeking an estimated $56.0 million Canadian dollars in damages jointly and severally from the Defendants, representing the costs of monitoring and replacing the spacer dampers and remediating property damage, due to alleged defects in the design and construction of, and supply of materials for, the Projects by SNC ATP and HD Supply/Anixter and in the design of the spacer dampers by Helix.  The Plaintiffs reduced their demand for damages to $29.4 million Canadian dollars on June 1, 2018.  

The Company believes the claims against it are without merit and intends to vigorously defend against such claims. The Company is unable to predict the outcome of this case and cannot reasonably estimate a potential range of loss.  However, if it is to be determined to be adverse to the Company, it could have a material effect on the Company’s financial results.

The Company is not a party to any other pending legal proceedings that the Company believes would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

9


 

NOTE D – SHARE HOLDERS EQUITY

The following table reflects the changes in shareholders equity for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated Other

Comprehensive Income

(Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Shares

 

 

Common

Shares

Issued to

Rabbi Trust

 

 

Deferred

Compensation

Liability

 

 

Paid in

Capital

 

 

Retained

Earnings

 

 

Treasury

Shares

 

 

Cumulative

Translation

Adjustment

 

 

Unrecognized

Pension

Benefit Cost

 

 

Total

Preformed

Line

Products

Company

Equity

 

 

Noncontrolling

Interests

 

 

Total

Equity

 

 

 

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31,

   2019

 

$

12,848

 

 

$

(10,981

)

 

$

10,981

 

 

$

38,854

 

 

$

353,292

 

 

$

(79,106

)

 

$

(51,682

)

 

$

(5,671

)

 

$

268,535

 

 

$

33

 

 

$

268,568

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,698

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,698

 

 

 

(45

)

 

 

3,653

 

Foreign currency translation

   adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(16,881

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(16,881

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(16,881

)

Recognized net actuarial gain,

   net of tax provision of $31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

98

 

 

 

98

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

98

 

Total comprehensive

   income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(13,085

)

 

 

(45

)

 

 

(13,130

)

Share-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

976

 

 

 

(43

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

933

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

933

 

Purchase of 75,246 common

   shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3,980

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3,980

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3,980

)

Issuance of 77,381 common

   shares

 

 

155

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

155

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

155

 

Common shares distributed

   from rabbi trust of 3,358,

   net

 

 

 

 

 

 

101

 

 

 

(101

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

Cash dividends declared

   - $.20 per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(83

)

 

 

(963

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,046

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,046

)

Balance at March 31, 2020

 

$

13,003

 

 

$

(10,880

)

 

$

10,880

 

 

$

39,747

 

 

$

355,984

 

 

$

(83,086

)

 

$

(68,563

)

 

$

(5,573

)

 

$

251,512

 

 

$

(12

)

 

$

251,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated Other

Comprehensive Income

(Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common

Shares

 

 

Common

Shares

Issued to

Rabbi Trust

 

 

Deferred

Compensation

Liability

 

 

Paid in

Capital

 

 

Retained

Earnings

 

 

Treasury

Shares

 

 

Cumulative

Translation

Adjustment

 

 

Unrecognized

Pension

Benefit Cost

 

 

Total

Preformed

Line

Products

Company

Equity

 

 

Noncontrolling

Interests

 

 

Total

Equity

 

 

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2018

 

$

12,662

 

 

$

(11,008

)

 

$

11,008

 

 

$

34,401

 

 

$

334,170

 

 

$

(72,280

)

 

$

(53,710

)

 

$

(5,873

)

 

$

249,370

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

249,370

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,824

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,824

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,824

 

Foreign currency translation

   adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,353

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,353

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,353

 

Recognized net actuarial gain,

   net of tax provision of $32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

93

 

 

 

93

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

93

 

Total comprehensive

   income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,270

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

3,270

 

Share-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

928

 

 

 

(36

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

892

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

892

 

Purchase of 40,891 common

   shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,294

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,294

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,294

)

Issuance of 78,821 common

   shares

 

 

159

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(18

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

141

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

141

 

Common shares issued to rabbi

   trust of 705, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

(30

)

 

 

30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

Cash dividends declared - $.20

   per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(165

)

 

 

(1,011

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,176

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,176

)

Balance at March 31, 2019

 

$

12,821

 

 

$

(11,038

)

 

$

11,038

 

 

$

35,146

 

 

$

334,947

 

 

$

(74,574

)

 

$

(52,357

)

 

$

(5,780

)

 

$

250,203

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

250,203

 

 

10


 

NOTE E – PENSION PLANS

The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for the Preformed Line Products Company Employees’ Retirement Plan (the “Plan”).  Net periodic pension cost for this plan included the following components:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Service cost

 

$

91

 

 

$

47

 

Interest cost

 

 

327

 

 

 

354

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

(557

)

 

 

(488

)

Recognized net actuarial loss

 

 

129

 

 

 

125

 

Net periodic pension cost (benefit)

 

$

(10

)

 

$

38

 

 

No contributions were made to the Plan during the three months ended March 31, 2020. The Company does not plan to contribute additional funds to the Plan during the remainder of 2020.

NOTE F – ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (“AOCI”)

The following tables set forth the total changes in AOCI by component, net of tax:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

 

 

 

Unrecognized

pension

benefit cost

 

 

Currency

Translation

Adjustment

 

 

Total

 

 

Unrecognized

pension

benefit cost

 

 

Currency

Translation

Adjustment

 

 

Total

 

Balance at January 1

 

$

(5,671

)

 

$

(51,682

)

 

$

(57,353

)

 

$

(5,873

)

 

$

(53,710

)

 

$

(59,583

)

Other comprehensive loss before

   reclassifications:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) gain on foreign currency

   translation adjustment

 

 

0

 

 

 

(16,881

)

 

 

(16,881

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

1,353

 

 

 

1,353

 

Amounts reclassified from AOCI:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of defined benefit pension

   actuarial gain (a)

 

 

98

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

98

 

 

 

93

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

93

 

Net current period other comprehensive

   income (loss)

 

 

98

 

 

 

(16,881

)

 

 

(16,783

)

 

 

93

 

 

 

1,353

 

 

 

1,446

 

Balance at March 31

 

$

(5,573

)

 

$

(68,563

)

 

$

(74,136

)

 

$

(5,780

)

 

$

(52,357

)

 

$

(58,137

)

 

(a)

This AOCI component is included in the computation of net periodic pension costs.

NOTE G – COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share were computed by dividing Net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for each respective period. Diluted earnings per share were calculated by dividing Net income by the weighted-average of all potentially dilutive common stock that was outstanding during the periods presented.

11


 

The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 was as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Numerator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

3,698

 

 

$

1,824

 

Denominator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determination of shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding

 

 

5,008

 

 

 

5,045

 

Dilutive effect - share-based awards

 

 

9

 

 

 

9

 

Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding

 

 

5,017

 

 

 

5,054

 

Earnings per common share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.74

 

 

$

0.36

 

Diluted

 

$

0.74

 

 

$

0.36

 

 

For the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, 20,000 stock options were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share as the effect would have been anti-dilutive. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2019, no stock options were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share as there was no anti-dilutive effect.

 

NOTE H – GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLES

The Company’s finite and indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of the following:

 

 

 

March 31, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

 

 

Gross Carrying

Amount

 

 

Accumulated

Amortization

 

 

Gross Carrying

Amount

 

 

Accumulated

Amortization

 

Finite-lived intangible assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patents

 

$

4,806

 

 

$

(4,806

)

 

$

4,806

 

 

$

(4,806

)

Land use rights

 

 

1,078

 

 

 

(432

)

 

 

1,128

 

 

 

(331

)

Trademarks

 

 

1,579

 

 

 

(1,291

)

 

 

1,718

 

 

 

(1,358

)

Technology

 

 

6,687

 

 

 

(1,776

)

 

 

7,185

 

 

 

(1,708

)

Customer relationships

 

 

14,895

 

 

 

(7,260

)

 

 

15,811

 

 

 

(7,329

)

 

 

$

29,045

 

 

$

(15,565

)

 

$

30,648

 

 

$

(15,532

)

Indefinite-lived intangible assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

$

25,814

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

27,840

 

 

 

 

 

 

The aggregate amortization expense for other intangibles with finite lives for the three month periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 was $.4 million and $.3 million, respectively. Amortization expense is estimated to be $1.2 million for the remaining period of 2020, $1.5 million for each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023 and $1.4 million for 2024. The combined weighted-average remaining amortization period is approximately 13.0 years. The weighted-average remaining amortization period by intangible asset class is as follows: patents, 5.8 years; land use rights, 55.4 years; trademarks, 8.6 years; technology, 10.8 years; and customer relationships, 10.2 years.

12


 

The Company’s measurement date for its annual impairment test for goodwill is October 1st of each year. The Company performs its annual impairment test for goodwill utilizing a discounted cash flow methodology, market comparables, and an overall market capitalization reasonableness test in computing fair value by reporting unit. The Company then compares the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value to assess if goodwill has been impaired. Based on the assumptions as to growth, discount rates and the weighting used for each respective valuation methodology, results of the valuations could be significantly different. However, the Company believes that the methodologies and weightings used are reasonable and result in appropriate fair values of the reporting units.  The Company’s valuation method uses Level 3 inputs under the fair value hierarchy.

The Company’s only intangible asset with an indefinite life is goodwill. The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by segment, for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are as follows:

 

 

 

USA

 

 

The Americas

 

 

EMEA

 

 

Asia-Pacific

 

 

Total

 

Balance at January 1, 2020

 

$

3,078

 

 

$

4,158

 

 

$

13,442

 

 

$

7,162

 

 

$

27,840

 

Currency translation

 

 

0

 

 

 

(316

)

 

 

(769

)

 

 

(941

)

 

 

(2,026

)

Balance at March 31, 2020

 

$

3,078

 

 

$

3,842

 

 

$

12,673

 

 

$

6,221

 

 

$

25,814

 

 

 

NOTE I – SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

Long Term Incentive Plan of 2008 and 2016 Incentive Plan

The Company maintains an equity award program to give the Company a competitive advantage in attracting, retaining, and motivating officers, employees and directors and to provide an incentive to those individuals to increase shareholder value through long-term incentives directly linked to the Company’s performance. Under the Preformed Line Products Company Long Term Incentive Plan of 2008 (the “LTIP”), certain employees, officers, and directors were eligible to receive awards of options, restricted shares and restricted share units (RSUs). The total number of Company common shares reserved for awards under the LTIP was 900,000, of which 800,000 common shares were reserved for RSUs and 100,000 common shares have been reserved for share options. The LTIP was terminated and replaced with the Preformed Line Products Company 2016 Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) in May 2016 upon approval by the Company’s Shareholders at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 10, 2016. No further awards will be made under the LTIP and previously granted awards remain outstanding in accordance with their terms. Under the Incentive Plan, certain employees, officers, and directors will be eligible to receive awards of options, restricted shares and RSUs. The total number of Company common shares reserved for awards under the Incentive Plan is 1,000,000 of which 900,000 common shares have been reserved for restricted share awards and 100,000 common shares have been reserved for share options.  The Incentive Plan expires on May 10, 2026.

Restricted Share Units

For the regular annual grants, a portion of the RSUs is subject to time-based cliff vesting and a portion is subject to vesting based upon the Company’s performance over a set period for all participants except the CEO. All of the CEO’s regular annual RSUs are subject to vesting based upon the Company’s performance over a set-year period.

The RSUs are offered at no cost to the employees. The fair value of RSUs is based on the market price of a common share on the grant date and the shares underlying the awards are not issued until they vest.  Dividends declared are accrued in cash.

A summary of the RSUs outstanding under the LTIP for the three months ended March 31, 2020 is as follows:

 

 

 

Restricted Share Units

 

 

 

Performance

and Service

Required (1)

 

 

Service

Required

 

 

Total

Restricted

Share

Units

 

 

Weighted-Average

Grant-Date

Fair Value

 

Nonvested as of January 1, 2020

 

 

196,342

 

 

 

15,292

 

 

 

211,634

 

 

$

53.68

 

Granted

 

 

71,539

 

 

 

9,547

 

 

 

81,086

 

 

 

55.63

 

Vested

 

 

73,053

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

73,053

 

 

 

54.60

 

Forfeited

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0.00

 

Nonvested as of March 31, 2020

 

 

194,828

 

 

 

24,839

 

 

 

219,667

 

 

$

61.10

 

 

(1)

Nonvested, performance-based RSUs are reflected above at the maximum performance achievement level.

13


 

 

For time-based RSUs, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award in General and administrative expense in the accompanying Statements of Consolidated Income. Compensation expense related to the time-based RSUs for both three-month periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 was $.1 million. As of March 31, 2020, there was $.9 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to time-based RSUs that is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average remaining period of approximately 2.2 years.

For the performance-based RSUs, the number of RSUs in which the participants will vest depends on the Company’s level of performance measured by growth in either operating or pre-tax income and sales growth over a requisite performance period.  Depending on the extent to which the performance criterions are satisfied under the LTIP and the Incentive Plan, the participants are eligible to earn common shares over the vesting period.  Performance-based compensation expense for both three-month periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 was $.8 million. As of March 31, 2020, the remaining compensation expense of $5.1 million for outstanding performance-based RSU’s is expected to be recognized over a period of approximately 1.9 years.

In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the LTIP and the Incentive Plan), vesting of the RSUs will be accelerated and all restrictions will lapse. Unvested performance-based awards will vest on a target potential payout.

To satisfy the vesting of its RSU awards, the Company has reserved new shares from its authorized but unissued shares. Any additional awards granted will also be issued from the Company’s authorized but unissued shares.

Share Option Awards

The LTIP permitted and now the Incentive Plan permits the grant of 100,000 options to buy common shares of the Company to certain employees at not less than fair market value of the shares on the date of grant.  Options issued to date under the LTIP and the Incentive Plan vest 50% after one year following the date of the grant, 75% after two years, and 100% after three years, and expire from five to ten years from the date of grant. Shares issued as a result of stock option exercises will be funded with the issuance of new shares.

The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes option pricing model for estimating fair values of options. The Black-Scholes model requires assumptions regarding the volatility of the Company’s stock, the expected life of the stock award and the Company’s dividend yield. The Company utilizes historical data in determining these assumptions. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. zero coupon Treasury yield in effect at the time of grant.

There were no options granted for either of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.

Stock option activity under the Company’s LTIP for three months ended March 31, 2020 was as follows:

 

 

 

Number of

Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

per Share

 

 

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Term (Years)

 

 

Aggregate

Intrinsic

Value (000's)

 

Outstanding at January 1, 2020

 

 

31,750

 

 

$

58.77

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

 

0

 

 

$

0.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

 

0

 

 

$

0.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

0

 

 

$

0.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding (vested and expected to vest) at March 31, 2020

 

 

31,750

 

 

$

58.77

 

 

 

6.4

 

 

$

46

 

Exercisable at March 31, 2020

 

 

23,000

 

 

$

56.58

 

 

 

5.4

 

 

$

43

 

 

There were no shares exercised during either of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.

For both three-month periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recorded compensation expense related to the stock options currently vested of less than $.1 million. The total compensation cost related to nonvested awards not yet recognized at March 31, 2020 is expected to be $.1 million over a weighted-average period of approximately 2.3 years.

Deferred Compensation Plan

The Company maintains a trust, commonly referred to as a rabbi trust, in connection with the Company’s deferred compensation plan. This plan allows for two deferrals. First, Directors make elective deferrals of Director fees payable and held in the rabbi trust. The

14


 

deferred compensation plan allows the Directors to elect to receive Director fees in common shares of the Company at a later date instead of fees paid each quarter in cash. Second, this plan allows certain Company employees to defer restricted shares or RSUs for future distribution in the form of common shares. Assets of the rabbi trust are consolidated, and the value of the Company’s common shares held in the rabbi trust is classified in Shareholders’ equity and generally accounted for in a manner similar to treasury stock. The Company recognizes the original amount of the deferred compensation (fair value of the deferred stock award at the date of grant) as the basis for recognition in common shares issued to the rabbi trust. Changes in the fair value of amounts owed to certain employees or Directors are not recognized as the Company’s deferred compensation plan does not permit diversification and must be settled by the delivery of a fixed number of the Company’s common shares. As of March 31, 2020, 264,283 shares have been deferred and are being held in the rabbi trust.

NOTE J – FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

The Company measures and records certain assets and liabilities at fair value. A fair value hierarchy is used for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value that distinguishes between assumptions based on market data, (observable inputs), and the Company’s assumptions (unobservable inputs). The hierarchy consists of the following three levels:

Level 1

Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2

Inputs other than Level 1 inputs that are either directly or indirectly observable, which may include:

 

o

Quoted prices for similar assets in active markets;

 

o

Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;

 

o

Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and

 

o

Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

Level 3

Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and developed using estimates and assumptions developed by the Company which reflect those that a market participant would use.  

The following table summarizes the Company’s assets and liabilities, recorded and measured at fair value, in the consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

 

Description

 

Balance as of

March 31, 2020

 

 

Quoted Prices in

Active Markets for

Identical Assets or

Liabilities

(Level 1)

 

 

Significant Other

Observable Inputs

(Level 2)

 

 

Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

(Level 3)

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency forward contracts, net

 

$

456

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

456

 

 

$

0

 

Total Assets

 

$

456

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

456

 

 

$

0

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental profit sharing plan

 

$

5,326

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

5,326

 

 

$

0

 

Earn-out

 

 

192

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

192

 

Total Liabilities

 

$

5,518

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

5,326

 

 

$

192

 

 

Description

 

Balance as of

December 31, 2019

 

 

Quoted Prices in

Active Markets for

Identical Assets or

Liabilities

(Level 1)

 

 

Significant Other

Observable Inputs

(Level 2)

 

 

Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

(Level 3)

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental profit sharing plan

 

$

6,059

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

6,059

 

 

$

0

 

Earn-out

 

 

581

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

581

 

Total Liabilities

 

$

6,640

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

6,059

 

 

$

581

 

 

The Company operates internationally and enters into intercompany transactions denominated in foreign currencies. Consequently, the Company is subject to market risk arising from exchange rate movements between the dates foreign currency transactions occur and the dates they are settled. We currently use foreign currency forward contracts to reduce the risk related to some of these transactions.  These contracts usually have maturities of 90 days or less and generally require an exchange of foreign currencies for U.S. dollars at maturity at rates stated in the contracts. These contracts are not designated as hedging instruments under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the changes in the fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts are recognized in each accounting period in “Other operating expense - net” on the Consolidated Statements of Income together with the transaction gain or loss from the related balance sheet position. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company recognized net gains of $1.1 million on foreign currency forward contracts. There were no foreign currency contracts in place at March 31, 2019.    

15


 

The Company has a non-qualified Supplemental Profit Sharing Plan for its executives. The liability for this unfunded Supplemental Profit Sharing Plan was $5.3 million at March 31, 2020 and $6.1 million at December 31, 2019.  These amounts are recorded within Other noncurrent liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Supplemental Profit Sharing Plan allows participants the ability to hypothetically invest their proportionate award into various investment options, which primarily include mutual funds.  The Company credits earnings, gains and losses to the participants’ deferred compensation account balances based on the investments selected by the participants. The Company measures the fair value of the Supplemental Profit Sharing Plan liability using the market values of the participants’ underlying investment accounts.

The earn-out represents the estimated fair value of additional cash consideration payable in connection with a recent acquisition that is contingent upon the achievement of certain performance milestones using expected future cash flows over the earn-out period while applying a discount rate that appropriately captures the risk associated with the obligation.  These are considered to be Level 3 inputs.  The contingent liabilities at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 of $.2 million and $.6 million, respectively, are recorded in Other noncurrent liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.     

NOTE K – RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement,” which will modify the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, including the removal of certain disclosure requirements.  The amendments in ASU 2018-13 are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019.  The Company adopted the new disclosure requirements for the period ending March 31, 2020.  The additional components of this release did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326):  Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”).  ASU 2016-13 changes how entities will measure credit losses for most financial assets and other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income.  This update introduces the current expected credit loss (CECL) model, which will require an entity to measure credit losses for certain financial instruments and financial assets, including trade receivables. Under this update, on initial recognition and at each reporting period, an entity will be required to recognize an allowance that reflects the entity’s current estimate of credit losses expected to be incurred over the life of the financial instrument.  ASU 2016-13 is effective for public companies in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  The Company has completed its evaluation process and the January 1, 2020 adoption did not have a material impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

16


 

NOTE L – NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS TO BE ADOPTED

The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs.  Recently issued ASUs that are not considered were assessed and determined to be not applicable in the current reporting period.

NOTE M – SEGMENT INFORMATION

The following tables present a summary of the Company’s reportable segments for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. Financial results for the PLP-USA segment include the elimination of all segments’ intercompany profit in inventory.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Net sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLP-USA

 

$

46,601

 

 

$

41,425

 

The Americas

 

 

17,241

 

 

 

13,771

 

EMEA

 

 

20,360

 

 

 

15,634

 

Asia-Pacific

 

 

18,650

 

 

 

26,323

 

Total net sales

 

$

102,852

 

 

$

97,153

 

Intersegment sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLP-USA

 

$

2,860

 

 

$

2,263

 

The Americas

 

 

1,863

 

 

 

2,130

 

EMEA

 

 

450

 

 

 

237

 

Asia-Pacific

 

 

2,087

 

 

 

3,195

 

Total intersegment sales

 

$

7,260

 

 

$

7,825

 

Income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLP-USA

 

$

845

 

 

$

(513

)

The Americas

 

 

634

 

 

 

176

 

EMEA

 

 

86

 

 

 

75

 

Asia-Pacific

 

 

(114

)

 

 

366

 

Total income taxes

 

$

1,451

 

 

$

104

 

Net income attributable to Preformed Line

   Products Company shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLP-USA

 

$

3,550

 

 

$

(81

)

The Americas

 

 

995

 

 

 

964

 

EMEA

 

 

337

 

 

 

513

 

Asia-Pacific

 

 

(1,184

)

 

 

428

 

Total net income attributable to Preformed

   Line Products Company shareholders

 

$

3,698

 

 

$

1,824

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLP-USA

 

$

129,042

 

 

$

127,428

 

The Americas

 

 

66,056

 

 

 

71,908

 

EMEA

 

 

94,510

 

 

 

97,126

 

Asia-Pacific

 

 

123,649

 

 

 

137,109

 

Total identifiable assets

 

$

413,257

 

 

$

433,571

 

 

NOTE N – INCOME TAXES

The Company’s effective tax rate was 28% and 5% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.  The higher effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% was primarily due to increase in earnings in jurisdictions with higher tax rates than the U.S. federal statutory rate where such earnings are permanently reinvested and an increase in various U.S. permanent items, primarily limitations on the deductibility of executive compensation.   The lower effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% was primarily due to the recognition of benefits related to stock based compensation, partially offset by U.S. permanent items primarily related to deductibility of executive compensation and increased earnings in jurisdictions with higher tax rates than the U.S. statutory rate.  

17


 

The Company provides valuation allowances against deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of its deferred tax assets will not be realized.  No significant changes to the valuation allowances were reflected for the periods ended March 31, 2020 or March 31, 2019.

The Company previously considered the majority of the earnings in non-U.S. subsidiaries to be permanently reinvested and accordingly did not record any associated deferred income taxes on such earnings.  The Company intends to continue to invest most or all of these earnings, as well as its capital in these subsidiaries, indefinitely, outside of the U.S. and does not expect to incur any significant additional taxes related to such amounts.

NOTE O – PRODUCT WARRANTY RESERVE

The Company records an accrual for estimated warranty costs to Costs of products sold in the Statements of Consolidated Income. These amounts are recorded in Accrued expenses and other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company records and accounts for its warranty reserve based on specific claim incidents. Should the Company become aware of a specific potential warranty claim for which liability is probable and reasonably estimable, a specific charge is recorded and accounted for accordingly. Adjustments are made quarterly to the accruals as claim information changes.

The following is a rollforward of the product warranty reserve:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Beginning of period balance

 

$

1,309

 

 

$

928

 

Additions charged to income

 

 

38

 

 

 

4

 

Warranty usage

 

 

(28

)

 

 

(43

)

Currency translation

 

 

(152

)

 

 

9

 

End of period balance

 

$

1,167

 

 

$

898

 

 

NOTE P – DEBT ARRANGEMENTS

On March 13, 2018, the Company extended the term on its $65 million credit facility from June 30, 2019 to June 30, 2021.  All other terms remain the same, including the interest rate at LIBOR plus 1.125% unless its funded debt to Earnings before Interest, Taxes and Depreciation ratio exceeds 2.25 to 1, at which point the LIBOR spread becomes 1.500%.  At March 31, 2020, the Company’s Polish subsidiary had borrowed $6.0 million U.S. dollars at a rate of 1.125% plus the Warsaw Interbank Offer Rate with a term expiring June 30, 2021.  At March 31, 2020, the Company’s Australian subsidiary had borrowed $4.5 million U.S. dollars, also with a term expiring June 30, 2021.  At March 31, 2020, the interest rates on the U.S., Polish and Australian line of credit agreement were 2.118%, 2.755% and 1.955%, respectively.  Under the credit facility, at March 31, 2020, the Company had utilized $38.5 million with $26.5 million available under the line of credit, net of long-term outstanding letters of credit.  The line of credit agreement contains, among other provisions, requirements for maintaining levels of net worth and profitability. At March 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with these covenants.  

On February 28, 2019, the Company acquired its Austrian subsidiary, SubCon Electrical Fittings GmbH (“SubCon”), headquartered in Dornbirn, Austria.  The Company’s Austrian subsidiary has a 1.0 million euros, or $1.1 million U.S. dollars line of credit with a term expiration of May 31, 2020 with the option to renew for an additional twelve months indefinitely.  At March 31, 2020, the Company’s Austrian subsidiary had borrowed $.5 million on the line of credit at an interest rate of 1.400%.  

On April 25, 2019, the Company borrowed $8.0 million U.S. dollars on behalf of its Indonesian subsidiary at a rate of 3.501% with a term expiring on April 30, 2024.  At March 31, 2020, $7.3 million was outstanding on this debt facility, of which $.8 million is classified as current.

On August 14, 2019, the Company’s New Zealand subsidiary borrowed $5.3 million U.S. dollars at a rate of 3.900% with a term expiring on August 26, 2021.  At March 31, 2020, $4.6 million was outstanding on this facility, of which $.4 million is classified as current.  This loan is secured by the Company’s New Zealand subsidiary’s land and building.

For the periods ended March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company’s Asia Pacific segment had none and $.3 million, respectively, in restricted cash used to secure bank debt.  The restricted cash is shown on the balance sheet in Other assets.  

 

18


 

 

NOTE Q – LEASES

The Company regularly enters into leases in the normal course of business.  As of March 31, 2020, the leases in effect were related to land, buildings, vehicles, office equipment and other production equipment under operating leases with lease terms of up to 99 years.  The Company often has the option to renew lease terms for buildings and other assets.  The exercise of lease renewal options are generally at the Company’s sole discretion.  In addition, certain lease arrangements may be terminated prior to their original expiration date at the Company’s discretion.  The Company evaluates renewal and termination options at the lease commencement date to determine if the Company is reasonably certain to exercise the option on the basis of economic factors.  The weighted average remaining lease term for the Company’s operating and financing leases as of March 31, 2020 was 17.3 and 2.2 years, respectively.

Lease expense is recognized for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term with variable lease payments recognized in the period those payments are incurred.  The components of operating and finance lease costs are recognized in Costs and expenses and Interest expense, respectively, on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income.  The Company’s operating and finance lease costs for the three months ended March 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2020

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2019

 

Components of lease expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating lease cost

 

$

709

 

 

$

665

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finance lease cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of right-of-use assets

 

 

16

 

 

 

18

 

Interest on lease liabilities

 

 

2

 

 

 

3

 

Total lease cost

 

$

727

 

 

$

686

 

 

The discount rate implicit within each lease is often not determinable and, therefore, the Company establishes the discount rate based on its incremental borrowing rate.  The incremental borrowing rate for the Company’s leases is determined based on lease term and currency in which lease payments are made, adjusted for impacts of collateral.  The weighted average discount rate used to measure the Company’s operating and finance lease liabilities as of March 31, 2020 was 4.71% and 4.24%, respectively.  

Future maturities of the Company’s lease liabilities as of March 31, 2020 are as follows:

 

 

 

Operating Leases

 

 

Finance Leases

 

2020

 

$

1,781

 

 

$

91

 

2021

 

 

2,106

 

 

 

59

 

2022

 

 

1,671

 

 

 

40

 

2023

 

 

1,190

 

 

 

35

 

2024 and thereafter

 

 

9,406

 

 

 

6

 

Total lease payments

 

$

16,154

 

 

$

231

 

Less amount of lease payment representing interest

 

 

5,488

 

 

 

69

 

Total present value of lease payments

 

$

10,666

 

 

$

162

 

 

The total minimum sublease rentals under noncancelable subleases to be received through 2023 is $3.4 million.  

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases for the three-month period ended March 31, 2020 was as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2020

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2019

 

Supplemental cash flow information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating cash flows from operating leases

 

$

2

 

 

$

3

 

Operating cash flows from finance leases

 

 

730

 

 

 

702

 

Financing cash flows from finance leases

 

 

29

 

 

 

26

 

 

NOTE R – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

On January 2, 2020, the Company purchased 1,157 shares of the Company from a retired Officer at a price per share of $67.71, which was calculated from a 30-day average market price in connection with the vesting of equity awards.  The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors approved this transaction.

19


 

On February 5, 2020, the Company purchased 39,208 shares of the Company from current and retired Officers at a price per share of $58.65, which was calculated from a 30-day average market price in connection with the vesting of equity awards.  The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors approved this transaction.

 

 

NOTE S – BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

 

The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting and, accordingly, the assets and liabilities of the acquired entities are recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition.

 

On February 28, 2019, the Company acquired 100% of SubCon.  Subcon is headquartered in Dornbirn, Austria with manufacturing operations in Brno, Czech Republic.  The acquisition of SubCon will strengthen the Company’s position in the global substation market and will expand its operational presence in Europe.  The total purchase price was $10.1 million in cash, net of $1.9 million in cash acquired.  The purchase price was predominantly allocated to Goodwill of $6.6 million and Intangible assets of $4.7 million with useful lives ranging from 10 to 11 years.  SubCon’s overall purchase price included an estimated contingent liability of $.6 million for an earn-out consideration with a potential maximum payment of 4.0 million Euros that will be considered for remeasurement during each reporting period as the operating results of SubCon are evaluated during each reporting period based upon operating results over a four year period.  At March 31, 2020, the current earnout value of $.2 million is recorded in Other noncurrent liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

 

On April 1, 2019, the Company acquired MICOS Telcom s.r.o (“MICOS Telcom”) headquartered in Prostějov, Czech Republic.  The acquisition of MICOS Telcom will strengthen the Company’s position in the global telecom market and will also expand its operational presence in Europe.  The total purchase price was $8.8 million in cash, net of $.5 million in cash acquired, including a hold-back liability of $1.5 million payable in two years from the date of purchase and $.9 million of deferred consideration for the remaining 10%.  The hold-back liability and deferred consideration are recorded in Other noncurrent liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The purchase price was predominantly allocated to Goodwill of $5.6 million and Intangible assets of $3.4 million.  The Intangible assets included in the acquisition of MICOS have useful lives of 12 years.

 

The operating results and financial position of both SubCon and MICOS Telcom are included in the Company’s EMEA reportable segment as of their respective dates of acquisition.  Pro-forma results of the Company’s consolidated operations for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 would not have been materially different from reported results and are, therefore, not presented.

 

The following table summarizes the final fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition dates:

 

Assets acquired

 

 

 

 

Current assets, net of cash

 

$

5,976

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

 

1,189

 

Goodwill

 

 

12,132

 

Finite-lived intangible assets

 

 

8,092

 

Other long-term assets

 

 

1,883

 

Total assets acquired

 

$

29,272

 

Liabilities assumed

 

 

(10,378

)

Net assets acquired

 

$

18,894

 

 

NOTE T – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

On April 17, 2020, the Company extended the term on its $65 million credit facility from June 30, 2021 to June 30, 2024.  All other terms remain the same. In addition to extending the term, the Company added its Austrian subsidiary as a borrower on the credit facility. For further information regarding this debt, refer to Exhibit 10.1, Term Note dated April 17, 2020 between the Company and PNC Bank, National Association and Exhibit 10.2, Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated April 17, 2020 between the Company and PNC Bank, National Association.

  

 

20


 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) is intended to help the readers of our consolidated financial statements better understand our results of operations, financial condition and present business environment. The MD&A is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report.

The MD&A is organized as follows:

 

Overview

 

Preface

 

Results of Operations

 

Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Working Capital, Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

New Accounting Standards to be Adopted

OVERVIEW

Preformed Line Products Company (the “Company”, “PLPC”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) was incorporated in Ohio in 1947.  We are an international designer and manufacturer of products and systems employed in the construction and maintenance of overhead and underground networks for the energy, telecommunication, cable operators, information (data communication), and other similar industries. Our primary products support, protect, connect, terminate, and secure cables and wires. We also provide solar hardware systems, mounting hardware for a variety of solar power applications, and fiber optic and copper splice closures. PLPC is respected around the world for quality, dependability and market-leading customer service. Our goal is to continue to achieve profitable growth as a leader in the research, innovation, development, manufacture, and marketing of technically advanced products and services related to energy, communications and cable systems and to take advantage of this leadership position to sell additional quality products in familiar markets. We have 29 sales and manufacturing operations in 20 different countries.

We report our segments in four geographic regions: PLP-USA (including corporate), The Americas (includes operations in North and South America without PLP-USA), EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) and Asia-Pacific in accordance with accounting standards codified in Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 280, Segment Reporting. Each segment distributes a full range of our primary products. Our PLP-USA segment is comprised of our U.S. operations manufacturing our traditional products primarily supporting our domestic energy, telecommunications and solar products. Our other three segments, The Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific, support our energy, telecommunications, data communication and solar products in each respective geographical region.

The segment managers responsible for each region report directly to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, who is the chief operating decision maker, and are accountable for the financial results and performance of their entire segment for which they are responsible. The business components within each segment are managed to maximize the results of the entire operating segment and Company rather than the results of any individual business component of the segment.

We evaluate segment performance and allocate resources based on several factors primarily based on sales and net income.

PREFACE

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Our discussions of the financial results include non-GAAP measures (e.g., foreign currency impact) to provide additional information concerning our financial results and provide information that we believe is useful to the readers of our consolidated financial statements in the assessment of our performance and operating trends.

The following discussion describes our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The first quarter of 2020 saw the global outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”), which in the latter part of the quarter created significant global economic disruption.  While the recent outbreak did not have a material impact on our reported results for this three-month period, it created challenges for us in countries that were the earliest to be impacted by the pandemic, namely our Asia-Pacific business segment. Due to restrictions on our operations, the operations of our customers and the global supply chain, and we are actively monitoring its impact on the second quarter and for future periods.

21


 

As the virus spread, we took action to protect the health and safety of our employees while we maintained critical operations to protect our customers and suppliers.  Currently, many of our customers are considered “essential” and are open for business, although maybe in a limited capacity, which has slowed demand into the second quarter. Nearly all of our North American plants have remained operational and only some of our international plants have been closed temporarily. While there are some restrictions to the supply of products globally and those restrictions may continue or expand to other regions, our global supply chain currently remains strong.

Due to the uncertainty created by COVID-19, we are actively managing costs and our liquidity position to provide additional flexibility while still supporting our customers and their specific needs.  We are  scaling back capital expenditures and reducing operating expenses and could experience lower variable SG&A, primarily through a decrease in employee-related expenses and reduced travel-related expenses incurred by our associates, due to travel restrictions in place.

While we expect the COVID-19 outbreak will continue to have an adverse impact on our business, we cannot predict the duration or scope of the COVID-19 pandemic or the magnitude of its impact on our business and results of operations. The extent of any future impact is dependent upon several factors including those described below under Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors, and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 6, 2020 other than as set forth below.  In addition, the impact of COVID-19 could potentially exacerbate other risks discussed, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Our consolidated financial statements are subject to fluctuations in the exchange rates of foreign currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar. As foreign currencies strengthen against the U.S. dollar, our sales and costs increase as the foreign currency-denominated financial statements translate into more U.S. dollars, and, conversely, when foreign currencies weaken, our sales and costs decrease upon translation into U.S. dollars. The fluctuations of foreign currencies during the three months ended March 31, 2020 had a $4.1 million unfavorable effect on net sales compared to the same period in 2019. There was a $.1 million unfavorable effect on net income for the three-months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to the prior year. On a reportable segment basis, the impact of foreign currency on net sales and net income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was as follows:

 

 

 

Foreign Currency Translation Impact

 

 

 

Net Sales

 

 

Net Income

 

(Thousands of dollars)

 

Three Months

 

 

Three Months

 

The Americas

 

$

(2,431

)

 

$

(142

)

EMEA

 

 

(661

)

 

 

4

 

Asia-Pacific

 

 

(991

)

 

 

13

 

Total

 

$

(4,083

)

 

$

(125

)

 

The operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are compared to the same period in 2019. Net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2020 of $102.9 million increased $5.7 million, or 6%, compared to 2019.  As a percentage of net sales, gross profit increased to 32.0% in 2020 from 28.1% in 2019.  Gross profit for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 was $32.9 million and $27.3 million, respectively.  Excluding the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation, gross profit increased $6.9 million, or 25%, compared to 2019.  Costs and expenses of $27.8 million increased $2.5 million compared to 2019 and included a favorable impact from currency translation of $1.0 million.  Operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $5.2 million, an increase of $3.2 million compared to 2019. Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 of $3.7 million increased $1.8 million compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019. The effect of currency translation had a $.2 million and a $.1 million negative impact on operating income and net income, respectively.

The following table reflects the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

 

 

Foreign Currency Impact

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

(Thousands of dollars)

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Operating income

 

$

5,153

 

 

$

2,046

 

Translation loss

 

 

12

 

 

 

0

 

Transaction loss  (gain)

 

 

1,792

 

 

 

(20

)

Net gain on forward currency contracts

 

 

(1,125

)

 

 

0

 

Operating income excluding currency impact

 

$

5,832

 

 

$

2,026

 

 

Despite the constant changes in the current global economy, and aside from the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 outbreak, we believe our business fundamentals and our financial position are sound and that we are strategically well-positioned. We remain

22


 

focused on assessing our business structure, global facilities and overall capacity in conjunction with the requirements of local manufacturing in the markets that we serve. If necessary, we will modify redundant processes and utilize our global manufacturing network to manage costs, increase sales volumes and deliver value to our customers. We have continued to invest in the business to expand into new markets for the Company, improve efficiency, develop new products, increase our capacity and become an even stronger supplier to our customers. We currently have a bank debt to equity ratio of 28.8% and can borrow needed funds at a competitive interest rate under our credit facility.  

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2020 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2019

The following table sets forth a summary of the Company’s Statements of Consolidated Income and the percentage of net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. The Company’s past operating results are not necessarily indicative of future operating results.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

(Thousands of dollars)

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Change

 

Net sales

 

$

102,852

 

 

100.0%

 

 

$

97,153

 

 

100.0%

 

 

$

5,699

 

Cost of products sold

 

 

69,942

 

 

 

68.0

 

 

 

69,888

 

 

 

71.9

 

 

 

54

 

GROSS PROFIT

 

 

32,910

 

 

 

32.0

 

 

 

27,265

 

 

 

28.1

 

 

 

5,645

 

Costs and expenses

 

 

27,757

 

 

 

27.0

 

 

 

25,219

 

 

 

26.0

 

 

 

2,538

 

OPERATING INCOME

 

 

5,153

 

 

 

5.0

 

 

 

2,046

 

 

 

2.1

 

 

 

3,107

 

Other expense - net

 

 

(49

)

 

 

(0.0)

 

 

 

(118

)

 

 

(0.1)

 

 

 

69

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

 

5,104

 

 

 

5.0

 

 

 

1,928

 

 

 

2.0

 

 

 

3,176

 

Income tax expense

 

 

1,451

 

 

 

1.4

 

 

 

104

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

1,347

 

NET INCOME

 

 

3,653

 

 

 

3.6

 

 

 

1,824

 

 

 

1.9

 

 

 

1,829

 

Add:  Net adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

45

 

 

 

0.0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0.0

 

 

 

45

 

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY SHAREHOLDERS

 

$

3,698

 

 

3.6%

 

 

$

1,824

 

 

1.9%

 

 

$

1,874

 

 

Net sales. Net sales were $102.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, an increase of $5.7 million, or 6%, from the three months ended March 31, 2019.  Excluding the unfavorable effect of currency translation, net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2020 increased $9.8 million compared to the same period in 2019, or 10%, as summarized in the following table:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

(Thousands of dollars)

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Change

 

 

Change

Due to

Currency

Translation

 

 

Change

Excluding

Currency

Translation

 

 

%

change

 

Net sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLP-USA

 

$

46,601

 

 

$

41,425

 

 

$

5,176

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

5,176

 

 

 

12

%

The Americas

 

 

17,241

 

 

 

13,771

 

 

 

3,470

 

 

 

(2,431

)

 

 

5,901

 

 

 

43

 

EMEA

 

 

20,360

 

 

 

15,634

 

 

 

4,726

 

 

 

(661

)

 

 

5,388

 

 

 

34

 

Asia-Pacific

 

 

18,650

 

 

 

26,323

 

 

 

(7,673

)

 

 

(991

)

 

 

(6,683

)

 

 

(25

)

Consolidated

 

$

102,852

 

 

$

97,153

 

 

$

5,699

 

 

$

(4,083

)

 

$

9,782

 

 

 

10

%

 

The year-over-year increase in PLP-USA net sales of $5.2 million, or 12%, was primarily due to a volume increase in energy product sales. International net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2020 experienced an unfavorable impact of $4.1 million when local currencies were converted to U.S. dollars. The following discussion of net sales excludes the effect of currency translation.  The Americas net sales of $17.2 million increased $5.9 million, or 43%, primarily due to a volume increase in energy and communications product sales. EMEA net sales of $20.4 million increased $5.4 million, or 34%, primarily due to a volume increase in energy and communications product sales within the region, including incremental sales from the newly acquired businesses.  In Asia-Pacific, net sales of $18.7 million decreased $6.7 million, or 25%, compared to 2019 primarily due to a combined volume decrease in the energy, communications and special industries products mostly as a result of the disruption to the global economy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  

23


 

Gross profit. Gross profit was $32.9 million and $27.3 million for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.  Excluding the unfavorable effect of currency translation, gross profit increased $6.9 million, or 25%, as summarized in the following table:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

(Thousands of dollars)

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Change

 

 

Change

Due to

Currency

Translation

 

 

Change

Excluding

Currency

Translation

 

 

%

change

 

Gross profit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLP-USA

 

$

17,396

 

 

$

12,016

 

 

$

5,380

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

5,380

 

 

 

45

%

The Americas

 

 

5,246

 

 

 

4,071

 

 

 

1,175

 

 

 

(773

)

 

 

1,948

 

 

 

48

 

EMEA

 

 

5,959

 

 

 

4,589

 

 

 

1,370

 

 

 

(181

)

 

 

1,551

 

 

 

34

 

Asia-Pacific

 

 

4,309

 

 

 

6,589

 

 

 

(2,280

)

 

 

(257

)

 

 

(2,023

)

 

 

(31

)

Consolidated

 

$

32,910

 

 

$

27,265

 

 

$

5,645

 

 

$

(1,211

)

 

$

6,856

 

 

 

25

%

 

PLP-USA gross profit of $17.4 million increased $5.4 million compared to the same period in 2019 as a result of increased sales volume combined with a product sales mix shift to higher margin product and cost containment within material, labor and manufacturing expense.  International gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was unfavorably impacted by $1.2 million when local currencies were translated to U.S. dollars. The following discussion of gross profit excludes the effects of currency translation. The Americas gross profit increase of $1.9 million was primarily the result of a $5.9 million increase in sales combined with a product margin improvement in the region due to sales product mix.  EMEA gross profit increased $1.6 million, mainly as a result of increased sales volume. Asia-Pacific gross profit decreased $2.0 million primarily as a result of a year-over-year reduction in sales volume and the negative impact related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Costs and expenses. Costs and expenses of $27.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 increased $2.5 million, or 10%.  Excluding the favorable effect of currency translation, costs and expenses increased $3.5 million, or 14%, as summarized in the following table:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

(Thousands of dollars)

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Change

 

 

Change

Due to

Currency

Translation

 

 

Change

Excluding

Currency

Translation

 

 

%

change

 

Costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLP-USA

 

$

13,193

 

 

$

12,434

 

 

$

759

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

759

 

 

 

6

%

The Americas

 

 

3,530

 

 

 

2,990

 

 

 

540

 

 

 

(533

)

 

 

1,073

 

 

 

0

 

EMEA

 

 

5,601

 

 

 

4,057

 

 

 

1,544

 

 

 

(181

)

 

 

1,725

 

 

 

0

 

Asia-Pacific

 

 

5,433

 

 

 

5,738

 

 

 

(305

)

 

 

(259

)

 

 

(46

)

 

 

0

 

Consolidated

 

$

27,757

 

 

$

25,219

 

 

$

2,538

 

 

$

(973

)

 

$

3,511

 

 

 

14

%

 

PLP-USA costs and expenses of $13.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 increased $.8 million compared to 2019 mainly due to $.9 million of higher personnel-related expenses which were partially offset by net combined miscellaneous decreases of $.1 million.  Foreign currency exchange gains and losses are primarily related to translating into U.S. dollars its foreign denominated loans, trade and royalty receivables from its foreign subsidiaries at the March 31, 2020 exchange rates.  On a consolidated basis, costs and expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2020 were favorably impacted by $1.0 million when local currencies were translated to U.S. dollars.  The following discussion of costs and expenses excludes the effect of currency translation. The Americas costs and expenses of $3.5 million increased $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 primarily due to a $.5 million increase in personnel-related expenses and an increase in foreign currency exchange losses of $.7 million, partially offset by combined decreases in miscellaneous expenses of $.2 million.  EMEA costs and expenses of $5.6 million increased $1.7 million mainly due to incremental costs incurred with our acquired businesses.  Asia-Pacific costs and expenses of $5.4 million decreased less than $.1 million. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in combined personnel-related, travel and entertainment and commission expenses.

Other income (expense). Other expense for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 was $.4 million and $.1 million, respectively.

24


 

Income taxes. Income taxes for the three months ending March 31, 2020 and 2019 were $1.5 million and $.1 million, respectively, based on pre-tax income of $5.1 million and $1.9 million, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three-month periods ending March 31, 2020 and 2019 was 28% and 5%, respectively, compared to the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21%. Our tax rate is affected by recurring items, such as tax rates in foreign jurisdictions and the relative amount of income we earn in those jurisdictions.  It is also affected by discrete items that may occur in any given year but are not consistent from year to year. In addition to state and local income taxes, the following items had the most significant impact on the difference between our statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 21% and our effective tax rate:

 

2020

 

1.

A $.1 million, or 1%, net increase resulting from U.S. permanent items, primarily related to tax benefits related to stock-based compensation.

 

2.

A $.3 million, or 6%, increase resulting from earnings in jurisdictions with higher tax rates than the U.S. federal statutory rate where such earnings are permanently reinvested.

2019

 

1.

A $.4 million, or 21%, net decrease resulting from U.S. permanent items, primarily related to tax benefits related to stock-based compensation.

 

 

2.

A $.1 million, or 5%, increase resulting from earnings in jurisdictions with higher tax rates than the U.S. federal statutory rate where such earnings are permanently reinvested.

 

 

Net income. As a result of the preceding items, net income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $3.7 million, compared to $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of $1.9 million as summarized in the following table:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

(Thousands of dollars)

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Change

 

 

Change

Due to

Currency

Translation

 

 

Change

Excluding

Currency

Translation

 

 

%

change

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLP-USA

 

$

3,550

 

 

$

(81

)

 

$

3,631

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

3,631

 

 

NM

 

%

The Americas

 

 

995

 

 

 

964

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

(142

)

 

 

173

 

 

 

18

 

 

EMEA

 

 

337

 

 

 

513

 

 

 

(176

)

 

 

4

 

 

 

(180

)

 

 

(35

)

 

Asia-Pacific

 

 

(1,184

)

 

 

428

 

 

 

(1,612

)

 

 

13

 

 

 

(1,625

)

 

 

(380

)

 

Consolidated

 

$

3,698

 

 

$

1,824

 

 

$

1,874

 

 

$

(125

)

 

$

1,999

 

 

 

110

 

%

 

NM – Not meaningful

 

PLP-USA’s net income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 increased $3.6 million compared to the same period in 2019, primarily due to an increase in operating income of $4.6 million combined with an increase in other income of $.4 million, partially offset by an increase in income taxes of $1.4 million.  The following discussion of net income excludes the effect of currency translation.  The Americas net income increased $.2 million as a result of a $.9 million increase in operating income, partially offset by higher income taxes of $.5 million combined with an increase in other non-operating expense of $.2 million. EMEA net income decreased $.2 million as a result of a $.3 million decrease in operating income, partially offset by a $.1 million year-over-year increase in income tax expense. Asia-Pacific net income decreased $1.6 million due to a $1.9 million decrease in operating income and an increase in other expense of $.1 million, partially offset by a decrease in income tax expense of $.4 million.

PLP’s EMEA segment incurred a net adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interests of less than $.1 million, which when added back to net income, resulted in an immaterial change to net income attributable to PLP Shareholders.

POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

Our critical accounting policies are consistent with the information set forth in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed on March 6, 2020 with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are, therefore, not presented herein.  

25


 

WORKING CAPITAL, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Management Assessment of Liquidity

We measure liquidity on the basis of our ability to meet short-term and long-term operating needs, repay debt, fund additional investments, including acquisitions, and make dividend payments to shareholders. Significant factors affecting the management of liquidity are cash flows from operating activities, capital expenditures, cash dividends, business acquisitions and access to bank lines of credit.

Our investments include expenditures required for equipment and facilities as well as expenditures in support of our strategic initiatives. During the first three months of 2020, we used cash of $6.0 million for capital expenditures. We ended the first three months of 2020 with $34.1 million of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (“Cash”). Our Cash is held in various locations throughout the world. At March 31, 2020, the majority of our Cash was held outside the United States (“U.S.”). We expect most accumulated non-U.S. Cash balances will remain outside of the U.S. and that we will meet U.S. liquidity needs through future operating cash flows, use of U.S. Cash balances, external borrowings, or some combination of these sources. We complete comprehensive reviews of our significant customers and their creditworthiness by analyzing financial statements for customers where we have identified a measure of increased risk. We closely monitor payments and developments which may signal possible customer credit issues. We currently have not identified any potential material impact on our liquidity from customer credit issues.

Total debt, including notes payable, at March 31, 2020 was $72.5 million.  At March 31, 2020, our unused availability under our line of credit was $26.5 million and our bank debt to equity percentage was 28.8%.  In 2018, we extended the term on our $65 million credit facility from June 30, 2019 to June 30, 2021, and, on April 17, 2020, we further extended the term to June 30, 2024. All other terms remain the same, including the interest rate at LIBOR plus 1.125% unless our funded debt to Earnings before Interest, Taxes and Depreciation ratio exceeds 2.25 to 1, at which point the LIBOR spread becomes 1.500%.  The line of credit agreement contains, among other provisions, requirements for maintaining levels of net worth and funded debt-to-earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization along with an interest coverage ratio. The net worth and profitability requirements are calculated based on the line of credit agreement. At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we were in compliance with these covenants.

We expect that our major source of funding for 2020 and beyond will be our operating cash flows and our existing Cash as well as our line of credit agreement. We earn a significant amount of our operating income outside the U.S., which, except for current earnings in certain jurisdictions, is deemed to be indefinitely reinvested in foreign jurisdictions.

As we cannot predict the duration or scope of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our customers and suppliers, the negative financial impact to our financial results and liquidity cannot be reasonably estimated but could be material.  We are actively managing the business to maintain cash flow and secure favorable liquidity position. We believe that our future cash flows, together with these factors, will be more than sufficient to cover debt repayments, other contractual obligations, capital expenditures and dividends for the next twelve months and thereafter for the foreseeable future. In addition, we believe our borrowing capacity provides substantial financial resources, if needed, to supplement funding of capital expenditures and/or acquisitions. We also believe that we can expand our borrowing capacity, if necessary; however, we do not believe we would increase our debt to a level that would have a material adverse impact upon results of operations or financial condition.

Sources and Uses of Cash

Cash decreased $9.7 million compared to the same period in 2019.  Net Cash used in operating activities was $3.1 million. The most significant net investing and financing uses of Cash in the three months ended March 31, 2020 were payments of long-term debt of $17.7 million, capital expenditures of $6.0 million, share repurchases of $4.0 million and dividends paid of $1.2 million, partially offset by net debt and notes payable proceeds of $28.3 million. Currency had a negative $1.8 million impact on Cash when translating foreign denominated financial statements to U.S. dollars.

Net Cash from operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was a use of $3.1 million compared to $.5 million of cash generated in the prior year three-month period. The $3.6 million decrease was primarily a result of an increase in Cash usage for operating assets (net of operating liabilities) of $6.8 million, partially offset by a decrease in usage for non-cash items of $1.4 million and an  increase in net income of $1.8 million.

Net Cash used in investing activities of $6.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 decreased $7.1 million when compared to Cash used in investing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2019 of $13.1 million. The change was primarily related to Cash used in the prior year to fund the SubCon acquisition, net of Cash, of $10.2 million combined with cash used to purchase marketable securities of $.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019, partially offset by a year-over-year increase in capital expenditures of $3.6 million.

26


 

Cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $5.7 million compared to $11.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The $5.4 million reduction was primarily the result of a net decrease in debt borrowings in 2020 compared to 2019 of $3.8 million and an increase in share repurchases of $1.4 million.

RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

See Note K of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS TO BE ADOPTED

See Note L of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Cautionary Statement for “Safe Harbor” Purposes Under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This Form 10-Q and other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) contain forward-looking statements regarding the Company’s and management’s beliefs and expectations. As a general matter, forward-looking statements are those focused upon future plans, objectives or performance (as opposed to historical items) and include statements of anticipated events or trends and expectations and beliefs relating to matters not historical in nature. Such forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to the Company’s operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Such uncertainties and factors could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements.  

The following factors, among others, could affect the Company’s future performance and cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made in this report:

 

The overall demand for cable anchoring and control hardware for electrical transmission and distribution lines on a worldwide basis, which has a slow growth rate in mature markets such as the United States (“U.S”), Canada, Australia and Western Europe and may grow slowly or experience prolonged delay in developing regions despite expanding power needs;

 

The potential impact of global economic conditions on the Company’s ongoing profitability and future growth opportunities in the Company’s core markets in the U.S. and other foreign countries, which may experience continued or further instability due to political and economic conditions, social unrest, terrorism, changes in diplomatic and trade relationships and public health concerns (including viral outbreaks such as COVID-19). The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted worldwide economic conditions and has and will continue to have an adverse effect on the Company’s operations and businesses as government authorities impose mandatory closures, work-from-home orders and social distancing protocols along with other unknown potential restrictions.  The duration and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be predicted, therefore, anticipated negative financial impact to the Company’s operating results cannot be reasonably estimated;

 

The ability of the Company’s customers to raise funds needed to build the facilities their customers require;

 

Technological developments that affect longer-term trends for communication lines, such as wireless communication;

 

The decreasing demand for product supporting copper-based infrastructure due to the introduction of products using new technologies or adoption of new industry standards;

 

The Company’s success at continuing to develop proprietary technology and maintaining high quality products and customer service to meet or exceed new industry performance standards and individual customer expectations;

 

The Company’s success in strengthening and retaining relationships with the Company’s customers, growing sales at targeted accounts and expanding geographically;

 

The extent to which the Company is successful at expanding the Company’s product line or production facilities into new areas or implementing efficiency measures at existing facilities;

 

The effects of fluctuation in currency exchange rates upon the Company’s foreign subsidiaries’ operations and reported results from international operations, together with non-currency risks of investing in and conducting significant operations in foreign countries, including those relating to political, social, economic and regulatory factors;

 

The Company’s ability to identify, complete, obtain funding for and integrate acquisitions for profitable growth;

 

The potential impact of consolidation, deregulation and bankruptcy among the Company’s suppliers, competitors and customers and of any legal or regulatory claims;

27


 

 

The relative degree of competitive and customer price pressure on the Company’s products;

 

The cost, availability and quality of raw materials required for the manufacture of products and any tariffs that may be associated with the purchase of these products. The Company’s supply chain could be disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic which could have a material, adverse effect on the ability to secure raw materials and supplies;

 

Strikes, labor disruptions and other fluctuations in labor costs;

 

Changes in significant government regulations affecting environmental compliances or other litigation matters;

 

Security breaches or other disruptions to the Company’s information technology structure;

 

The telecommunication market’s continued deployment of Fiber-to-the-Premises; and

 

Those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in Item 1A, on page 11, of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 which was filed on March 6, 2020. The impact of COVID-19 could potentially exacerbate other risks discussed, any of which could have a material impact on the Company. The situation continues to change rapidly and additional impacts may arise that the Company is not aware of currently.  

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company operates manufacturing facilities and offices around the world and uses fixed and floating rate debt to finance the Company’s global operations. As a result, the Company is subject to business risks inherent in non-U.S. activities, including political and economic uncertainty, import and export limitations and market risk related to changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. The Company believes that the political and economic risks related to the Company’s international operations are mitigated due to the geographic diversity in which the Company’s international operations are located.

Effective July 1, 2018, Argentina was designated as a highly inflationary economy as the projected three-year cumulative inflation rate exceeded 100%.  As such, beginning July 1, 2018, the functional currency for the Company’s Argentina subsidiary became the U.S. dollar.  The remeasurement impact to the three-month periods ended March 31, 2020 was immaterial and is included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The Company does not hold derivatives for trading or speculative purposes.

The Company’s primary currency rate exposures are related to foreign denominated debt, intercompany debt, foreign denominated receivables and payables and cash and short-term investments. A hypothetical 10% change in currency rates would have a favorable/unfavorable impact on fair values on such instruments of $4.9 million and on income before taxes of $1.7 million.

The Company is exposed to market risk, including changes in interest rates and foreign exchange rates since we conduct business in a variety of foreign currencies. The Company is subject to interest rate risk on its variable rate revolving credit facilities and term notes, which consisted of long-term borrowings, which includes the current portion, of $62.0 million at March 31, 2020. A 100 basis point increase in the interest rate would have resulted in an increase in interest expense of approximately $.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

As discussed elsewhere in this report, the recent outbreak of COVID-19 could negatively impact the Company’s business and results of operations. Since we cannot predict the duration or scope of the COVID-19 pandemic, the potential negative financial impact to the Company’s results cannot be reasonably estimated, but could be material.  

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Accounting Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, were effective as of March 31, 2020.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no other changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 during the three-month period ended March 31, 2020 that materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to a variety of claims and lawsuits, including, but not limited to, litigation relating to employment, workers’ compensation, products liability, environmental and intellectual property.  The ultimate outcomes of these matters are not predictable with certainty.  The Company has liability insurance to cover many of these claims.  

The Company and its subsidiaries, Helix Uniformed Ltd. (“Helix”) and Preformed Line Products (Canada) Limited (“PLPC Canada”), were each named, jointly and severally, with each of SNC-Lavalin ATP, Inc. (“SNC ATP”), HD Supply Canada Inc., by its trade names HD Supply Power Solutions and HD Supply Utilities (“HD Supply”), and Anixter Power Solutions Canada Inc. (the corporate successor to HD Supply), “Anixter” and, together with the Company, PLPC Canada, Helix, SNC ATP and HD Supply, the (“Defendants”) in a complaint filed by Altalink, L.P. (the “Plaintiff”) in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta in Alberta, Canada in November 2016 (the “Complaint”).

The Complaint states that Plaintiff engaged SNC ATP to design, engineer, procure and construct numerous power distribution and transmission facilities in Alberta (the “Projects”) and that through SNC ATP and HD Supply (now Anixter), spacer dampers manufactured by Helix were procured and installed in the Projects.  The Complaint alleges that the spacer dampers have and may continue to become loose, open and detach from the conductors, resulting in damage and potential injury and a failure to perform the intended function of providing spacing and damping to the Project.  The Plaintiffs were initially seeking an estimated $56.0 million Canadian dollars in damages jointly and severally from the Defendants, representing the costs of monitoring and replacing the spacer dampers and remediating property damage, due to alleged defects in the design and construction of, and supply of materials for, the Projects by SNC ATP and HD Supply/Anixter and in the design of the spacer dampers by Helix.  The Plaintiffs reduced their demand for damages to $29.4 million Canadian dollars on June 1, 2018.  

The Company believes the claims against it are without merit and intends to vigorously defend against such claims. We are unable to predict the outcome of this case and cannot reasonably estimate a potential range of loss.  However, if it is determined adverse to the Company, it could have a material effect on the Company’s financial results.  

The Company is not a party to any other pending legal proceedings that the Company believes would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flow.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There were no defined material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 6, 2020 other than as set forth below. In addition, the impact of COVID-19 could potentially exacerbate other risks discussed, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company. The situation continues to change rapidly and additional impacts may arise that the Company is not aware of currently.  

Our business, results of operations and financial condition have been and may in the future be adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The outbreak of COVID-19, which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, has created significant volatility, uncertainty and disruption in the U.S. and global economies. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted and will result in lost or delayed revenue to us and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In response to recommendations by public health organizations, federal, state, local and foreign governments have adopted various measures in an effort to slow and limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus, including mandatory closures, work-from-home and shelter in place orders and social distancing protocols. These and other measures have had and may continue to have an adverse impact on our business, as well as those of our suppliers (particularly in the Asia-Pacific region), customers and other business partners, which could cause delays in the production and distribution of our products, delays and cancellations of projects utilizing our products and the loss of sales and customers.

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our business, results of operations and financial condition will depend on various factors which continue to evolve and cannot be predicted, including: the scope, duration and severity of the pandemic; the effectiveness of stimulus measures and other actions implemented by federal, state, local or foreign governments; the ability of our suppliers to obtain or produce the materials needed for our products or to meet delivery requirements and commitments; disruptions to our global supply chain; the effect on our customers’ demand for our services and products; limitations on our ability to sell and provide our services and products due to the inability of our employees to perform their job due to illness caused by the pandemic or

29


 

governmental stay at home orders or travel restrictions; reduced availability of ground or air transportation; the effectiveness of our actions to contain costs and maintain liquidity; and the ability of our customers to conduct their business or to pay for our services and products in a timely manner. The long-term financial and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic may be prolonged and cannot be reliably quantified or estimated at this time due to the uncertainty of these future developments.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

On December 13, 2017, the Board of Directors authorized a plan to repurchase up to an additional 228,138 of Preformed Line Products Company common shares, resulting in a total of 250,000 shares available for repurchase with no expiration date. The following table reflects repurchases for the three months ended March 31, 2020:

 

Period

 

Total

Number of

Shares

Purchased

 

 

Average

Price Paid

per Share

 

 

Total Number of

Shares Purchased as

Part of Publicly

Announced Plans

or Programs

 

 

Maximum Number

of Shares that may

yet be Purchased

under the Plans or

Programs

 

January

 

 

1,157

 

 

$

67.71

 

 

 

174,323

 

 

 

75,677

 

February

 

 

42,972

 

 

 

57.98

 

 

 

217,295

 

 

 

32,705

 

March

 

 

31,117

 

 

 

45.31

 

 

 

248,412

 

 

 

1,588

 

Total

 

 

75,246

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

None.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

On April 17, 2020, we entered into an amendment to the loan agreement for our $65 million credit facility to extend the term from June 30, 2021 to June 30, 2024 and to add its Austrian subsidiary as a borrower.  All other terms remain the same, including the interest rate at LIBOR plus 1.125% unless our funded debt to Earnings before Interest, Taxes and Depreciation ratio exceeds 2.25 to 1, at which point the LIBOR spread becomes 1.500%.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

  31.1

  

Certifications of the Principal Executive Officer, Robert G. Ruhlman, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.

 

 

 

  31.2

  

Certifications of the Principal Accounting Officer, Andrew S. Klaus, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.

 

 

 

  32.1

  

Certifications of the Principal Executive Officer, Robert G. Ruhlman, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, furnished.

 

 

 

  32.2

  

Certifications of the Principal Accounting Officer, Andrew S. Klaus, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, furnished.

 

 

 

101.INS

  

XBRL Instance Document.

 

 

 

101.SCH

  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

 

 

 

101.CAL

  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

 

 

 

101.DEF

  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

 

 

 

101.LAB

  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

 

 

 

101.PRE

  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

 

31


 

SIGNATURES

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

 

May 1, 2020

 

/s/ Robert G. Ruhlman

 

 

Robert G. Ruhlman

 

 

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

May 1, 2020

 

/s/ Andrew S. Klaus

 

 

Andrew S. Klaus

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

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