QUALSTAR CORP - Quarter Report: 2019 March (Form 10-Q)

 

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		March 31, 2019				December 31, 2018
		(Unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	4,665			$	4,781
Restricted cash			100				100
Accounts receivables, net			1,745				1,809
Inventories, net			2,775				2,897
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			188				180
Total current assets			9,473				9,767
Non-current assets:
Property and equipment, net			99				112
Right-of-use			363				-
Other assets			132				119
Total non-current assets			594				231
Total assets		$	10,067			$	9,998
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	943			$	1,023
Accrued payroll and related liabilities			175				185
Deferred service revenue, short-term			740				736
Lease liabilities, current			229				-
Other accrued liabilities			524				559
Total current liabilities			2,611				2,503
Long-term liabilities:
Other long-term liabilities			40				40
Lease liabilities, long term			152				-
Deferred service revenue			124				127
Total long-term liabilities			316				167
Total liabilities			2,927				2,670
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, no par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued			-				-
Common stock, no par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized, shares issued and outstanding 1,971,283 at March 31, 2019 and 2,030,017 shares at December 31, 2018			19,097				19,426
Accumulated deficit			(11,957	)			(12,098	)
Total shareholders’ equity			7,140				7,328
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$	10,067			$	9,998

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		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2019				2018
Net revenues		$	2,856			$	2,935
Cost of goods sold			1,936				1,507
Gross profit			920				1,428
Operating expenses:
Engineering			123				121
Sales and marketing			308				295
General and administrative			353				422
Total operating expenses			784				838
Income from operations			136				590
Other income			5				-
Income before income taxes			141				590
Provision for income taxes			-				-
Net Income		$	141			$	590
Earnings per share:
Basic		$	0.07			$	0.29
Diluted		$	0.07			$	0.28
Shares used in per share calculation:
Basic			1,971				2,048
Diluted			1,971				2,101

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		Common Stock								Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income				Accumulated
		Shares				Amount				(Loss)				Deficit				Total
Balances at December 31, 2017			2,043			$	19,480			$	—			$	(13,584	)		$	5,896
Exercise of stock options			5				34				—				—				34
Net income			—				—				—				590				590
Balances at March 31, 2018			2,048			$	19,514			$	—			$	(12,994	)		$	6,520

		Common Stock								Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income				Accumulated
		Shares				Amount				(Loss)				Deficit				Total
Balances at December 31, 2018			2,030			$	19,426			$	—			$	(12,098	)		$	7,328
Stock repurchase			(59	)			(329	)			—				—				(329	)
Net income			—				—				—				141				141
Balances at March 31, 2019			1,971			$	19,097			$	—			$	(11,957	)		$	7,140

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		Three months Ended March,
		2019				2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	141			$	590
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			13				30
Provision for inventory obsolescence			36				87
Amortization of right of use			33				-
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			64				(177	)
Inventories			86				(134	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(21	)			(8	)
Accounts payable			(80	)			(262	)
Accrued payroll and related liabilities			(10	)			(6	)
Deferred service revenue			1				394
Lease liabilities			(36	)			-
Other accrued liabilities			(14	)			(15	)
Total adjustments			72				(91	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			213				499
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options			-				34
Purchase of common stock			(329	)			-
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(329	)			34
Net increase (decrease) in cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents			(116	)			533
Cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			4,881				4,798
Cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	4,765			$	5,331
Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
Income taxes paid		$	-			$	-

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NOTE 1 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018, has been derived from audited consolidated financial statements. The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as our annual audited consolidated financial statements and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial statements.

 

Preparing condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses.  Examples include estimates of loss contingencies, product life cycles and inventory obsolescence, bad debts, sales returns, share-based compensation, forfeiture rates, the potential outcome of future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns and determining when investment impairments are other-than-temporary.  Actual results and outcomes may differ from management’s estimates and assumptions.

 

Qualstar has established two additional subsidiaries to aid in the Company’s global expansion. On July 4, 2018, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualstar Corporation, Qualstar Limited, was created to operate the Company’s data storage business in Europe and Africa. On September 5, 2018, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualstar Corporation, Q-Smart Data Private Limited, was created to operate the Company’s data storage business in Asia.  

 

We design our products at our facilities in California and Singapore. We sell our products globally through authorized resellers and directly to OEMs. N2Power utilizes contract manufacturers in Asia to produce our power solutions products. Our storage products are manufactured by us at our factory in Simi Valley, California and by our OEM suppliers in other parts of the world.  

 

The Company's significant accounting policies are disclosed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 7, 2019 (the “Annual Report”). There were no material changes to the significant accounting policies during the three months ended March 31, 2019, apart from the Company's accounting policy related to the accounting for leases, as discussed below.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of each of our wholly owned subsidiaries that were in existence during the periods presented: Qualstar Corporation Singapore Private Limited, N2Power, Inc., Qualstar Limited and Q-Smart Data Private Limited. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.  The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with information included in the Company’s Annual Report.

 

 

QUALSTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)-(Continued)

 

 Revenue Recognition

 

The Company recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services.  To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that the Company determines are within the scope of ASC 606, we perform the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) we satisfy a performance obligation. The five-step model is applied to contracts when it is probable that we will collect the consideration we are entitled to in exchange for the goods or services transferred to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, we assess the goods or services promised within each contract and determine those that are performance obligations and assess whether each promised good or service is distinct. We then recognize revenue in the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.

 

Title and risk of loss generally pass to our customers upon shipment.  In limited circumstances where either title or risk of loss pass upon destination, we defer revenue recognition until such events occur. We derive revenues from two primary sources: products and services. Product revenue includes the shipment of product according to the agreement with our customers for data storage products and power supplies. Services include customer support (technical support), installations, consulting, and design services. A contract may include both product and services. Rarely, contracts with customers contain multiple performance obligations. For these contracts, the Company accounts for individual performance obligations separately if they are distinct. The transaction price is allocated to the separate performance obligations on a relative standalone selling price basis. Standalone selling prices are typically estimated based on observable transactions when these services are sold on a standalone basis.

 

A variety of technical services can be contracted by our customers for a designated period of time. The service contracts allow customers to call Qualstar for technical support, replace defective parts and to have onsite service provided by Qualstar’s third party contract service provider. We record revenue for contract services at the amount of the service contract, but such amount is deferred at the beginning of the service term and amortized ratably over the life of the contract.

 

Deferred service revenue is shown separately in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as current and long term.  At March 31, 2019 we had deferred service revenue of approximately $864,000.  At December 31, 2018, we had deferred service revenue of approximately $863,000.

 

Legal and Other Contingencies

 

The outcomes of legal proceedings and claims brought against us are subject to significant uncertainty. An estimated loss from a loss contingency such as a legal proceeding or claim is accrued by a charge to income if it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. When legal costs that the entity expects to incur in defending itself in connection with a loss contingency accrual are expected to be material, the loss should factor in all costs and, if the legal costs are reasonably estimable, they should be accrued in accordance with ASC 450, regardless of whether a liability can be estimated for the contingency itself. Disclosure of a contingency is required if there is at least a reasonable possibility that a loss has been incurred. Changes in these factors could materially impact our condensed consolidated financial statements. At March 31, 2019 we had a loss contingency of $97,000.  At December 31, 2018, we had a loss contingency reserve of $100,000.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of the Company's financial instruments, which include cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, related party, and other long-term liabilities, approximate their fair values.

 

 

 QUALSTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)-(Continued)

 

Accounting for Income Taxes

 

We estimate our tax liabilities based on current tax laws in the statutory jurisdictions in which we operate in accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” These estimates include judgments about deferred tax assets and liabilities resulting from temporary differences between assets and liabilities recognized for financial reporting purposes and such amounts recognized for tax purposes, as well as about the realization of deferred tax assets.  We may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. ASC 740 also provides guidance on derecognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, and income tax disclosures.

 

We maintain a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty surrounding the timing of realizing the benefits of net deferred tax assets in future years. We have considered future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for such a valuation allowance. In the event we were to determine that we would be able to realize all or part of our net deferred tax asset in the future, the valuation allowance would be decreased accordingly.

 

We may periodically undergo examinations by the federal and state regulatory authorities and the Internal Revenue Service. We may be assessed additional taxes and/or penalties contingent on the outcome of these examinations. Our previous examinations have not resulted in any unfavorable or significant assessments. No provision is required, as the Company has net operating loss carryforwards available to offset taxable income.

 

Leases

 

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company accounts for its leases under ASC 842, Leases.  Under this guidance, arrangements meeting the definition of a lease are classified as operating or financing leases, and are recorded on the consolidated balance sheet as both a right of use asset and lease liability, calculated by discounting fixed lease payments over the lease term at the rate implicit in the lease or the Company’s incremental borrowing rate.  Lease liabilities are increased by interest and reduced by payments each period, and the right of use asset is amortized over the lease term.  For operating leases, interest on the lease liability and the amortization of the right of use asset result in straight-line rent expense over the lease term.  For finance leases, interest on the lease liability and the amortization of the right of use asset results in front-loaded expense over the lease term.  Variable lease expenses are recorded when incurred.

 

In calculating the right of use asset and lease liability, the Company elects to combine lease and non-lease components.  The Company excludes short-term leases having initial terms of 12 months or less from the new guidance as an accounting policy election, and recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

 

 The Company continues to account for leases in the prior period financial statements under ASC Topic 840.

 

Operating Segments

 

The Company operates in two segments, Data Storage and Power Supplies. Operating segments are identified as functional groups within an enterprise in which discrete financial information is utilized by the chief operating decision maker in allocating resources and assessing performance. In the case of Qualstar, the chief operating decision maker is its President and Chief Executive Officer. This position maintains decision-making control over, and assesses the performance of, the two divisional levels of the Company.

 

 

 QUALSTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)-(Continued)

 

 

NOTE 2 – RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

Recent accounting guidance adopted

 

FASB issued ASU 2016-02, ASU 2018-09, ASU 2018-10, 2018-11, and 2019-01 to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements and to provide guidance related to accounting for leases, such as the application of an implicit rate, lessee reassessment of lease classification and certain transition adjustments. The Company elected ASU-11’s alternative transition approach of recording lease liabilities and right-of-use assets via a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings at the date of adoption. Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02, ASU 2018-09, ASU 2018-10, 2018-11 and 2019-0. The result is the recording of the lease liability and the right-of-use asset to the balance sheet and it did not have a material effect on our consolidated results of operations or consolidated cash flows.

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07 as a simplification for the accounting for non-employee share-based payment transactions resulting from expanding the scope of Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2018-07 and it did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02 to provide guidance related to adjustments for deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the changes created by the U.S. federal government tax bill enacted December 22, 2017. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2018-02 and it did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

 

 

NOTE 3 - BALANCE SHEET DETAILS

 

The following tables provide details of selected balance sheet accounts (in thousands):

 

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out basis) or net realizable value. Inventories are comprised as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Property and equipment, net

The components of property and equipment are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 QUALSTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)-(Continued)

 

Depreciation and amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 was $13,000 and $30,000 (unaudited), respectively.

 

Other Accrued Liabilities

The components of other liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

NOTE 4 –CONTINGENCIES

 

Accrued Warranty

 

We provide a three-year advance replacement warranty on all XLS and RLS libraries and a two-year warranty on our Q-Series libraries. This includes replacement of components, or if necessary, complete libraries. XLS libraries sold in North America also include one year of on-site service. Customers may purchase on-site service if they are located in the United States, Canada, and selected countries in Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. All customers may purchase extended warranty service coverage upon expiration of the standard warranty.

 

We provide a three-year warranty on all power supplies that includes repair or if necessary, replacement of the power supply.

 

A provision for costs related to warranty expense is recorded when revenue is recognized, which is estimated based on historical warranty costs incurred.

 

Activity in the liability for product warranty (included in other accrued liabilities) for the periods presented is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 QUALSTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)-(Continued)

 

 

NOTE 5 – NET EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

Basic net earnings per share has been computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.   Diluted net earnings per share has been computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average common shares outstanding plus dilutive securities or other contracts to issue common stock as if these securities were exercised or converted to common stock.

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per share for the periods indicated, in thousands, except per share amounts.

 

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, 178,000 and 4,666 outstanding stock options were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per share as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

 

 

NOTE 6 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

On December 5, 2018, the board of directors approved a stock repurchase program (the “Stock Repurchase Program”) to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock. The program permitted repurchases of up to a maximum aggregate purchase price of $2,400,000 and the number of shares of Common Stock repurchased shall not exceed 409,000. Under the Stock Repurchase Program, 58,734 shares were repurchased during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and a total of 76,836 shares have been repurchased since the program began. The program expires December 5, 2019.

 

 

NOTE 7 –STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS AND SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

 

Share-Based Compensation

 

The Company did not incur an expense for share-based compensation associated with outstanding stock options for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. No income tax benefit was recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for share-based arrangements in any period presented. At March 31, 2019, the Company did not have any unrecognized compensation costs related to share-based compensation.

 

 

 QUALSTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)-(Continued)

 

Stock Option Plan

 

The Company has two share-based compensation plans as described below.

 

Qualstar adopted the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan”) under which incentive and nonqualified stock options and restricted stock could be granted for shares of common stock. The 2008 Plan has expired and no additional options may be granted under that plan. However, 20,000 options that were previously granted under the 2008 Plan will continue under their terms.

 

The 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”) was approved by Qualstar shareholders on June 13, 2017. The 2017 Plan permits the award of stock options (both incentive and non-qualified options), stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, unrestricted stock, performance shares, dividend equivalent rights and cash-based awards to employees (including executive officers), directors and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries. The 2017 Plan authorizes the issuance of an aggregate of 200,000 shares of common stock and the plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

With respect to options, the fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model that uses various assumptions, such as volatility, expected term and risk-free interest rate. Expected volatilities are based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock. The Company uses historical data to estimate option exercise and employee termination in determining forfeiture rates. The expected term of options granted is estimated based on the vesting term of the award, historical employee exercise behavior, expected volatility of the Company’s stock and an employee’s average length of service. The risk-free interest rate used in this model correlates to a U.S. constant rate Treasury security with a contractual life that approximates the expected term of the option award.

 

The following table summarizes stock option activity:

 

 

 

NOTE 8 – INCOME TAXES

 

We did not record a provision or benefit for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, as the Company has net operating loss carryforwards available to offset taxable income. The Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets based on the Company’s assessment regarding the realizable nature of these net deferred tax assets in future periods.

 

 

 QUALSTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)-(Continued)

 

 

NOTE 9 – SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS, CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK, AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

 

We have no outstanding debt nor do we utilize auction rate securities or derivative financial instruments in our investment portfolio. Cash and other investments may be in excess of FDIC insurance limits.

 

Our financial results could be affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates or weak economic conditions in foreign markets. As all sales are currently made in U.S. dollars, a strengthening of the dollar could make our products less competitive in foreign markets.

 

 

Two customers accounted for 12.7% and 10.1% of the Company’s net revenue for the three-month period ended March 31, 2019.  At March 31, 2019, the same two customers were 19.0% of the accounts receivable balance. The accounts receivable balances totaled 2.3% of net accounts receivable for the same two customers as of December 31, 2018. Two customers accounted for 23.5% and 11.0% of the Company’s net revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2018. 

 

 

NOTE 10 – COMMITMENTS

 

Lease Agreements

 

The Company has entered into a new lease in Camarillo, California for its headquarters beginning June 1, 2019. The facility is 9,910 square feet and is a 5 year and two-month lease, expiring July 31, 2024. The rent on this facility is $9,910 per month with a 3% step-up annually.

 

Qualstar leases a 15,160 square foot facility located in Simi Valley, California. The three-year lease began December 15, 2014 and has been renewed for an additional three years, expiring February 28, 2021. Rent on this facility is $11,000 per month with a step-up of 3% annually. Qualstar subleases a portion of the warehouse space to Interlink Electronics, Inc. (“Interlink”) and is reimbursed for the space and other related expenses on a monthly basis. As described in Note 14, Interlink is a related party.

 

Qualstar also leases approximately 5,400 square feet of office space in Westlake Village, California, that expires January 31, 2020. Rent on this facility is $11,000 per month, with a step-up of 3% annually. Effective March 21, 2016, Qualstar entered into a sublease agreement for the Westlake Village facility. The term of the sublease expires at the same time as the term of the master lease and the tenant pays Qualstar $12,000 per month with a step-up of 3% annually.

 

Effective April 1, 2016, a two-year lease was signed for 1,359 square feet for $2,500 per month in Singapore, which has been renewed until March 31, 2020.

 

Such leases do not require any contingent rental payments, impose any financial restrictions, or contain any residual value guarantees.  Variable expenses generally represent the Company’s share of the landlord’s operating expenses.  The Company does not have any leases classified as financing leases.

 

 

 QUALSTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)-(Continued)

 

The rate implicit in each lease is not readily determinable, and we therefore use our incremental borrowing rate to determine the present value of the lease payments. The weighted average incremental borrowing rate used to determine the initial value of right of use (ROU) assets and lease liabilities during the three months ended March 31, 2019 was 6.75%, derived from borrowing rate quotes as obtained from the Company’s business bank. We have certain contracts for real estate which may contain lease and non-lease components which we have elected to treat as a single lease component.

  

Right of use assets for operating leases are periodically reduced by impairment losses. We use the long-lived assets impairment guidance in ASC Subtopic 360-10, Property, Plant, and Equipment – Overall, to determine whether a ROU asset is impaired, and if so, the amount of the impairment loss to recognize.  As of March 31, 2019, we have not recognized any impairment losses for our ROU assets.

  

We monitor for events or changes in circumstances that require a reassessment of one of our leases. When a reassessment results in the remeasurement of a lease liability, a corresponding adjustment is made to the carrying amount of the corresponding ROU asset unless doing so would reduce the carrying amount of the ROU asset to an amount less than zero. In that case, the amount of the adjustment that would result in a negative ROU asset balance is recorded in profit or loss.  

 

At March 31, 2019, the Company had current and long-term operating lease liabilities of $229,000 and $152,000, respectively, and right of use assets of $363,000.

 

Future minimum lease payments under these leases are as follows, in thousands, (unaudited):

 

 

In the Company's financial statements for periods prior to January 1, 2019, the Company accounts for leases under ASC 840, and provides for rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease terms. Net rent expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $38,000.

 

Other information related to our operating leases is as follows:

 

 

 

 QUALSTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)-(Continued)

 

 

NOTE 11 – SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

In its operation of the business, management reviews certain financial information, including segmented internal profit and loss statements prepared on a basis consistent with U.S. GAAP. Our two segments are Power Supplies and Data Storage. The two segments discussed in this analysis are presented in the way we internally manage and monitor performance for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. Our allocations of internal resources were made to the two business segments for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. The types of products and services provided by each segment are summarized below:

 

Power Supplies — The Company designs and markets high-efficiency switching power supplies. We utilize contract manufacturers in Asia to produce the power supply products. These power supplies are used to convert AC line voltage to DC voltages, or DC voltages to other DC voltages for use in a wide variety of electronic equipment such as communications equipment, industrial machine tools, wireless systems, as well as medical and gaming devices. We sell our products globally through authorized resellers and directly to original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”).

 

Storage — The data storage industry is experiencing a tremendous increase in newly generated digital data due to Rich Media Content, Internet of Things, Data Mining and the Cloud. Tape based storage solution providers enable businesses to manage the massive growth of digital data assets in a cost-effective manner. Our tape-based data storage product lines address long-term archive, backup and recovery of electronic data. These products consist of networked libraries that store and move high-density tape cartridges and high-speed tape drives that stream data to and from the tape cartridges. These optimized solutions allow the video centric markets such as media and entertainment, oil and gas, surveillance, digital security and medical imaging to achieve targeted data workflows.

 

Segment revenue, income before taxes and total assets were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 QUALSTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)-(Continued)

 

 

 

NOTE 12 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

Steven N. Bronson is the Company’s CEO and is also the President and CEO and a majority shareholder of Interlink Electronics, Inc. (“Interlink”) and BKF Capital Group, Inc. (“BKF”). Interlink reimburses Qualstar for leased space at the Simi Valley facility and for other administrative expenses paid by or on behalf of the Company. The total amount charged to Interlink for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 was $6,000 and $4,000, respectively. Interlink owed Qualstar $2,000 and $2,000 at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

 

The Company reimburses Interlink for expenses paid on the Company’s behalf. Interlink occasionally pays travel, consulting and other expenses incurred by Qualstar. The Company reimbursed Interlink $57,000 and $57,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Qualstar owed Interlink $17,000 as of March 31, 2019. At December 31, 2018, Qualstar owed Interlink $2,000.

 

The Company reimburses BKF for expenses paid on the Company’s behalf. BKF occasionally pays consulting expenses incurred by Qualstar. The Company reimbursed BKF $2,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Qualstar did not owe BKF any monies at March 31, 2019 and owed $2,000 as of December 31, 2018.

 

 

QUALSTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)-(Continued)

 

 

NOTE 13 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

On April 13, 2019, we entered into a new employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) with Steven N. Bronson, whereby Mr. Bronson will continue to serve as our Chief Executive Officer and President. The Employment Agreement is effective from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020, unless terminated earlier pursuant to its terms.

 

Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Bronson will receive an annual base salary of $200,000 and is eligible to earn up to 50% of his annual base salary during each calendar year during the term, in the form of a bonus based on the our achievement of financial objectives established by our Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors (“Compensation Committee”) and Mr. Bronson’s achievement of agreed-to personal business objectives. The Employment Agreement also provides that, within ninety (90) days following the execution of the Employment Agreement, we shall grant to Mr. Bronson 50,000 restricted stock units (the “Restricted Stock Units”) for shares of our common stock under the terms of our 2017 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. For each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, Restricted Stock Units for 25,000 shares of our common stock shall vest and become issuable subject to our achievement of financial and performance objectives for the applicable fiscal year established by our Compensation Committee. The Employment Agreement further provides that Mr. Bronson will be eligible to receive any benefit and participate in any benefit plan generally available to our officers.

 

Mr. Bronson may terminate the Employment Agreement at any time by giving no less than ninety (90) days written notice to us. Upon Mr. Bronson’s voluntary termination of the Employment Agreement, our only obligation to Mr. Bronson will be (i) to pay any salary earned on or before his last day of employment (the “Separation Date”); (ii) reimburse Mr. Bronson for any reimbursable expenses incurred through and including the Separation Date; and (iii) pay Mr. Bronson for any accrued, unused vacation as of the Separation Date (collectively, the “Final Pay”). Upon such voluntary termination, Mr. Bronson will retain vested benefits, if any, which vested benefits will be handled in accordance with their controlling plans and documents. All further vesting of equity awards will cease on the date of such termination.

 

If Mr. Bronson’s employment is terminated due to his death or Disability (as such term is defined in the Employment Agreement), Mr. Bronson or his beneficiaries will be entitled to receive the Final Pay and all equity, including the Restricted Stock Units, issued to Mr. Bronson by us but not vested as of the Separation Date will immediately fully vest, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. In addition, we will pay Mr. Bronson a pro-rated portion of any earned target bonus through the Separation Date.

 

We may terminate the Employment Agreement without Cause (as such term is defined in the Employment Agreement) at any time and Mr. Bronson may terminate his employment for Good Reason (as such term is defined in the Employment Agreement) at any time. Upon a termination of Mr. Bronson’s employment by us without Cause or by Mr. Bronson for Good Reason, Mr. Bronson will be entitled to receive the Final Pay and subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions (i) a severance payment equal to 12 months of his base salary; (ii) a pro-rated portion of any earned target bonus through the Separation Date; (iii) certain COBRA benefits; and (iv) all equity awards, including the Restricted Stock Units, issued by us but not yet vested as of the Separation Date, shall immediately vest in full and be earned (collectively, the “Severance Benefits”). Upon a termination of Mr. Bronson’s employment by us for Cause, Mr. Bronson will be entitled to receive only the Final Pay.

 

In the event of a Change in Control (as such term is defined in the Employment Agreement) of the company that results in the termination of Mr. Bronson’s employment for Good Reason or without Cause within 180 days after the effective date of the Change in Control, Mr. Bronson shall be entitled to receive the Final Pay, and subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, the Severance Benefits.

 

The Employment Agreement also contains certain non-disclosure covenants that apply during his employment and thereafter.

 

 

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