SHYFT GROUP, INC. - Quarter Report: 2014 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_________________

FORM 10-Q

Commission File Number 000-13611

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code:  (517) 543-6400

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.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC.

INDEX
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

There are certain statements within this Report that are not historical facts. These statements are called “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve important known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors and can be identified by phrases using “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “intend,” “predict,” “potential,” “future,” “may,” “will”, “should” and similar expressions or words. Our future results, performance or achievements may differ materially from the results, performance or achievements discussed in the forward-looking statements. There are numerous factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements, including, among others:

This list provides examples of factors that could affect the results described by forward-looking statements contained in this Report. However, this list is not intended to be all inclusive. The risk factors disclosed in Item 1A “Risk Factors” of Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in Part I – Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, include all known risks our management believes could materially affect the results described by forward-looking statements contained in this Report. However, those risks may not be the only risks we face. Our business, operations, and financial performance could also be affected by additional factors that are not presently known to us or that we currently consider to be immaterial to our operations. In addition, new risks may emerge from time to time that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. We believe that the forward-looking statements contained in this Report are reasonable. However, given these risks and uncertainties, we cannot provide you with any guarantee that the anticipated results will be achieved. All forward-looking statements in this Report are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this Section and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this Report as a prediction of actual results. We disclaim any obligation to update or revise information contained in any forward-looking statement to reflect developments or information obtained after the date this Report is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except par value) 

See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

NOTE 1 - GENERAL AND SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

For a description of key accounting policies followed, refer to the notes to the Spartan Motors, Inc. (the “Company”) consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2014. There have been no changes in such accounting policies as of the date of this report.

The Company has five wholly-owned operating subsidiaries: Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc., located at our corporate headquarters in Charlotte, Michigan (“Spartan Chassis”); Crimson Fire, Inc., located in Brandon, South Dakota (“Crimson”); Crimson Fire Aerials, Inc., located in Ephrata, Pennsylvania (“Crimson Aerials”); Utilimaster Corporation, located in Bristol and Wakarusa, Indiana (“Utilimaster”); and Classic Fire, LLC (“Classic Fire”), located in Ocala, Florida. Collectively, Crimson, Crimson Aerials and Classic Fire operate as Spartan ERV. Crimson is a participant in Spartan-Gimaex Innovations, LLC (“Spartan-Gimaex”), a 50/50 joint venture with Gimaex Holding, Inc. Spartan-Gimaex is reported as a consolidated subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc.

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments that are necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2014, the results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2014 and the cash flows for the nine month period ended September 30, 2014, and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The Company is required to disclose the fair value of its financial instruments in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Codification relating to “Disclosures about Fair Values of Financial Instruments.” The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and the Company’s fixed and variable rate debt instruments approximate their fair value at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

Certain immaterial amounts in the prior periods’ financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.

Recently issued accounting standard

In May, 2014 the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The new standard is based on the principle that revenue should be recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. The new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period, and may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of initial application. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard on its consolidated financial statements.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

NOTE 2 – INVENTORIES

Inventories are summarized as follows:

The Company has a number of demonstration units as part of its sales and training program. These demonstration units are included in the “Finished goods” line item above. The net carrying amount was $9,936 and $8,861 at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

NOTE 3 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Under the terms of its credit agreement with its banks, the Company has the ability to issue letters of credit totaling $15,000. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $10,407 and $10,429 related to certain emergency response vehicle contracts and the Company’s workers compensation insurance.

At September 30, 2014, the Company and its subsidiaries were parties, both as plaintiff and defendant, to a number of lawsuits and claims arising out of the normal course of their businesses. In the opinion of management, the financial position, future operating results or cash flows of the Company will not be materially affected by the final outcome of these legal proceedings.

Chassis Agreements 

Utilimaster is party to a chassis bailment inventory agreement with General Motors Company (“GM”) which allows GM to draw up to $5,000 against the Company’s revolving credit line for chassis placed at Utilimaster. As a result of this agreement, there was $2,642 and $1,865 outstanding on the Company’s revolving credit line at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013. Under the terms of the bailment inventory agreement, these chassis never become the property of Utilimaster, and the amount drawn against the credit line will be repaid by a GM dealer at the time an order is placed for a Utilimaster body, utilizing a GM chassis. As such, the chassis and the related draw on the line of credit are not reflected in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Contingent Consideration

In connection with the acquisition of Utilimaster in November, 2009, the Company incurred contingent obligations through 2014 in the form of certain performance-based earn-out payments, up to an aggregate maximum amount of $7,000. Through September 30, 2014, the Company has made earn-out payments totaling $5,068, leaving an aggregate maximum amount of future payments of $1,932. The Company has recorded a contingent liability for the estimated fair value of the future consideration of $1,165 based upon the likelihood of the payments, discounted to September 30, 2014. The contingent liability includes charges of $60 and $406 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, which are recorded within Selling, general and administrative on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Management believes that the Company has sufficient liquidity to fund the contingent obligations as they become due.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Warranty Related

The Company’s subsidiaries all provide limited warranties against assembly/construction defects. These warranties generally provide for the replacement or repair of defective parts or workmanship for a specified period following the date of sale. The end users also may receive limited warranties from suppliers of components that are incorporated into the Company’s chassis and vehicles.

Certain warranty and other related claims involve matters of dispute that ultimately are resolved by negotiation, arbitration or litigation. Infrequently, a material warranty issue can arise which is beyond the scope of the Company’s historical experience. The Company provides for any such warranty issues as they become known and are estimable. It is reasonably possible that additional warranty and other related claims could arise from disputes or other matters beyond the scope of the Company’s historical experience.

Changes in the Company’s warranty liability during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

NOTE 4 – EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE

The following table presents a reconciliation of the weighted average shares outstanding used in the Net earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) calculation:

Stock awards noted as anti-dilutive were not included in the basic (Restricted stock awards) and diluted (Stock option awards) weighted average common shares outstanding. Although these stock awards were not included in the Company’s calculation of basic or diluted EPS, they may have a dilutive effect on the EPS calculation in future periods if the price of the common stock increases or we report net income.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

NOTE 5 – TAXES

The Company’s effective tax rate was 24.0% and (72.3)% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2014 differs from the statutory rate as the Company recorded a $711 reduction to its reserve for unrecognized tax benefits, due to the expiration of certain statutes of limitation, and an $88 reduction to its deferred tax asset valuation allowance due to a change in a state’s tax law. Partially offsetting these credits, was a $380 charge recorded in the third quarter to increase the tax provision for the first half of 2014 to the Company’s current estimated effective tax rate of 34%.

The Company’s effective tax rate was 70.5% and 20.0% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013. The Company recorded income tax expense of $1,343 during the three months ended September 30, 2013, which included Q3 2013 income tax expense of $381, or 20.0% of the quarter’s pre-tax income, and a year-to-date adjustment of $962 to increase the tax provision for the first half of 2013 to the Company’s current estimated effective tax rate of 20.0%.

NOTE 6 – SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY

On October 19, 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the re-purchase of up to 1,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. At September 30, 2014, there were 618 shares remaining in this repurchase authorization. The following table represents the Company’s purchases of its common stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 under this share purchase program.

NOTE 7 - BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company identifies its reportable segments based on its management structure and the financial data utilized by its chief operating decision makers to assess segment performance and allocate resources among the Company’s operating units. The Company has three reportable segments: Emergency Response Vehicles, Delivery and Service Vehicles, and Specialty Chassis and Vehicles.

The Emergency Response Vehicles segment consists of the emergency response chassis operations of Spartan Chassis and the operations of Crimson, Crimson Aerials, Classic Fire and Spartan-Gimaex (collectively Crimson, Crimson Aerials and Classic Fire operate under the name Spartan ERV). This segment engineers and manufactures emergency response chassis and bodies. Previously, the company reported sales of emergency response chassis and emergency response bodies separately. Since 2012, when the emergency response vehicles business was aligned under the Spartan brand, the chassis and body operations have become increasingly aligned. As a result, the company believes it is appropriate to report revenue for this segment as one product group, Emergency Response Vehicles. Reporting for prior periods has been recast accordingly.

The Delivery and Service Vehicles segment consists of Utilimaster and focuses on designing and manufacturing walk-in vans for the delivery and service market and the production of commercial truck bodies along with related aftermarket parts and assemblies.

The Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segment consists of the Spartan Chassis operations that engineer and manufacture motor home chassis, defense vehicles and other specialty chassis and distribute related aftermarket parts and assemblies, primarily for our fire trucks, motor home chassis and defense vehicles.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Appropriate expense amounts are allocated to the three reportable segments and are included in their reported operating income or loss.

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described, or referred to, in Note 1 - General and Summary of Accounting Policies. Assets and related depreciation expense in the column labeled “Other” pertain to capital assets maintained at the corporate level. Segment loss from operations in the “Other” column contains corporate related expenses not allocable to the operating segments. Interest expense and Taxes on income are not included in the information utilized by the chief operating decision maker to assess segment performance and allocate resources, and accordingly, are excluded from the segment results presented below. Intercompany transactions between operating segments were immaterial in all periods presented.

Three Months Ended September 30, 2014

Three Months Ended September 30, 2013

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

NOTE 8 – SUBSEQUENT EVENT

On October 28, 2014 the Company announced that it will close its Ocala, FL plant at the end of 2014 as part of its strategic plan to improve the performance of its Emergency Response Vehicles segment. Fire truck production will transition from Ocala to the Company’s Brandon SD and Charlotte, MI facilities.

The Company expects to incur approximately $2,400 of pre-tax, one time charges in connection with the closure, of which approximately $1,800 is expected to be future cash expenditures. These estimated charges include employee separation and relocation costs of $900, equipment and inventory impairment charges of $500, and travel, training and other costs of $1,000. $100 of these charges were incurred in the three months ended September 30, 2014, and are included within Restructuring costs on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Approximately $1,700 of the charges are expected to be incurred in the fourth quarter of 2014, with the remaining charges expected to be incurred during the first half of 2015.

Spartan Motors, Inc. was organized as a Michigan corporation on September 18, 1975, and is headquartered in Charlotte, Michigan. We began development of our first product that same year and shipped our first fire truck chassis in October 1975.

We are known as a leading niche-market engineer and manufacturer in the heavy-duty, Specialty Chassis and Vehicles marketplace. We have five wholly-owned operating subsidiaries: Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc., located at our corporate headquarters in Charlotte, Michigan (“Spartan Chassis”); Crimson Fire, Inc., located in Brandon, South Dakota (“Crimson”); Crimson Fire Aerials, Inc., located in Ephrata, Pennsylvania (“Crimson Aerials”); Utilimaster Corporation, located in Bristol and Wakarusa, Indiana (“Utilimaster”); and Classic Fire, LLC (“Classic Fire”), located in Ocala, Florida. We are also a participant in Spartan-Gimaex Innovations, LLC (“Spartan-Gimaex) a joint venture between Crimson and Gimaex Holding, Inc. Spartan-Gimaex is reported as a consolidated subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. Our brand names, Spartan Chassis™, Spartan ERV™, and Utilimaster™ are known for quality, value, service and innovation.

Spartan Chassis is a leader in the designing, engineering and manufacturing of specialty heavy-duty chassis. The chassis consists of a frame assembly, engine, transmission, electrical system, running gear (wheels, tires, axles, suspension and brakes) and, for emergency response chassis and some specialty chassis applications, a cab. Spartan Chassis customers are original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) who manufacture the body or apparatus of the vehicle which is mounted on our chassis. Crimson specializes in the engineering and manufacturing of emergency response vehicles built on chassis platforms purchased from either Spartan Chassis or outside sources. Crimson Aerials engineers and manufactures aerial ladder components for fire trucks. Classic Fire specializes in manufacturing emergency response vehicles built on chassis from outside sources and provides strategic sourcing of pump modules. Collectively, Crimson, Crimson Aerials and Classic Fire operate under the Spartan ERV brand. Spartan-Gimaex is a 50/50 joint venture that was formed to leverage the complementary footprints, capabilities, brands, technologies and product portfolios of both companies to enable technology sharing, joint product development, commercial agreements and additional purchasing leverage, with the goal of enabling both companies to amass a true global presence in the emergency response vehicle market. Utilimaster is a leading manufacturer of vehicles made to customer specifications in the delivery and service market, including walk-in and hi-cube vans, truck bodies and the Reach^TM commercial van.

Our business strategy is to further diversify product lines and develop innovative design, engineering and manufacturing expertise in order to be the best value producer of specialty vehicle products. We have an innovative team focused on building lasting relationships with our customers. This is accomplished by striving to deliver premium Specialty Chassis and Vehicles, vehicle components, and services that inspire customer loyalty. Our diversification across several sectors creates numerous opportunities while minimizing overall risk. Additionally, our business model provides the agility to quickly respond to market needs, take advantage of strategic opportunities when they arise and correctly size operations to ensure stability and growth. 

Executive Overview

We reported sales of $144.2 million in the third quarter of 2014, an increase of 14.4% from the $126.1 million in sales we reported in the third quarter of 2013, primarily due to a $17.8 million increase in sales of emergency response vehicles. Our gross profit in the third quarter of 2014 was $20.1 million, a 25.5% increase from the $16.1 million we reported in the third quarter of 2013, driven by the higher sales volumes. Our gross margin in the third quarter of 2014 was 14.0%, compared to 12.8% in the third quarter of 2013. We reported net earnings of $3.2 million, or $0.09 per share for the third quarter of 2014, compared to net earnings of $0.6 million, or $0.02 per share for third quarter of 2013.

Our overall backlog was $233.4 million at September 30, 2014, which represents an increase of 0.6% compared to $231.9 million at September 30, 2013, but a decrease of 3.8% compared to $242.7 million at December 31, 2013. Our backlog at September 30, 2014 reflects strong order intake during the past year for our emergency response vehicles, with the decrease from December 31, 2013 mainly due to the substantial fulfillment of an order for emergency response vehicles for the Peru volunteer fire department that we received in late 2013.

During the third quarter of 2014 we repurchased 185,126 shares of our common stock at an aggregate purchase price of $1.0 million.

We believe we are well positioned to take advantage of long-term opportunities, and continue our efforts to bring product innovations to each of the markets that we serve. Some of our recent innovations, strategic developments and strengths include:

The following section provides a narrative discussion about our financial condition and results of operations. The comments should be read in conjunction with our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes thereto included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q and in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2014.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the components of the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as a percentage of sales (percentages may not sum due to rounding):

Quarter Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to the Quarter Ended September 30, 2013

Sales

For the third quarter of 2014, we reported consolidated sales of $144.2 million compared to $126.1 million for the same quarter in 2013, an increase of $18.1 million or 14.4%. These results reflect increases in our Emergency Response Vehicles segment, due to higher unit volumes, and Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segment due to a favorable product mix. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in sales in our Delivery and Service Vehicles segment, mainly due to decreased unit volume. Please refer to our segment discussion below for more information about our segment sales.    

Cost of Products Sold

Cost of products sold was $124.1 million in the third quarter of 2014 compared to $109.9 million in the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $14.2 million or 12.9%. This increase was mainly due to the higher unit volumes in our Emergency Response Vehicles segment.

Gross Profit

Gross profit was $20.1 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $16.1 million for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $4.0 million, or 24.8%. $3.3 million of this increase is due to higher unit volumes, while increased pricing on select products in our Delivery and Service Vehicles segment contributed $1.0 million to the increase. These increases were partially offset by higher warranty related charges in our Emergency Response Vehicles segment in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the prior year.

Gross Margin

Gross margin increased by 120 basis points to 14.0% in the third quarter of 2014 compared to 12.8% in the third quarter of 2013. Price increases implemented on select products in our Delivery and Service Vehicles segment in early 2014 added 60 basis points to our gross margin, with the remaining increase attributable to a sales mix that favored higher margin products in 2014 compared to 2013.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses were $15.9 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $14.3 million for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $1.6 million, or 11.2%. Research and development expense in the third quarter of 2014 was $3.0 million compared to $2.7 million for the same period in 2013 an increase of $0.3 million, or 11.1%, driven by higher spending on innovation and product development. Selling, general and administrative expense was $12.6 million in the third quarter of 2014, compared to $11.6 million in the same period of 2013, an increase of $1.0 million, or 8.6%, which was mainly due to an increase in legal costs in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.

Taxes

Our effective income tax rate was 24.0% in the third quarter of 2014, compared to 70.5% in the third quarter of 2013. Our effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2014 differs from the statutory rate due to the impacts of adjustments of $0.7 million to reduce our reserve for unrecognized tax benefits, as a result of the expiration of certain statutes of limitation, and $0.1 million to reduce our deferred tax asset valuation allowance due to a change in a state’s tax law. Partially offsetting these third quarter reductions was a $0.4 million adjustment to increase the tax provision recorded for the first half of 2013 to the Company’s current estimated effective tax rate of 34%.

Our effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2013 differed from the statutory rate due to an adjustment of $0.9 million recorded in the quarter to increase the 2013 tax provision as a result of a change in our expectations for full year 2013 financial performance.

Net Earnings

We recorded net earnings of $3.2 million, or $0.09 per share, for the third quarter of 2014, compared to net earnings of $0.6 million, or $0.02 per share for the same period in 2013. Driving the increase in net earnings compared with the prior year were the factors discussed above.

Order Backlog

At September 30, 2014, we had $233.4 million in backlog compared to $231.9 million at September 30, 2013, an increase of $1.5 million or 0.6%. This increase is mainly attributable to a $36.3 million increase in our emergency response vehicles backlog as a result of strong order intake over the past year. Partially offsetting this increase were decreases of $32.7 million in our delivery and service vehicles backlog, due to a reduction in the volume of Reach orders, and $2.1 million in our Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segment due to decreases in motor home and aftermarket parts and assemblies orders. Our backlog at September 30, 2014 includes the bodies, but not the chassis, for a fleet order for 665 walk-in vans that we received in late September. We have not yet determined whether we will recognize the sale price of these chassis as revenue. If so determined, the chassis for these walk-in vans would add approximately $13.6 million to our backlog at September 30, 2014.

While orders in the backlog are subject to modification, cancellation or rescheduling by customers, this has not been a major factor in the past. Although the backlog of unfilled orders is one of many indicators of market demand, several factors, such as changes in production rates, available capacity, new product introductions and competitive pricing actions, may affect actual sales. Accordingly, a comparison of backlog from period-to-period is not necessarily indicative of eventual actual shipments.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

Sales

For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we reported consolidated sales of $388.0 million compared to $343.1 million reported for the same period in 2013, an increase of $44.9 million or 13.1%. These results reflect increased revenue in our Emergency Response Vehicles segment, mainly due to a product mix that included a higher proportion of complete vehicles in 2014 compared to a higher proportion of chassis in 2013, and increased revenue in our Delivery and Service Vehicles segment due to higher unit sales. These increases were partially offset by lower sales in our Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segment, primarily due to lower aftermarket parts and assemblies sales. Please refer to our segment discussion below for more information about our segment sales.    

Cost of Products Sold

Cost of products sold was $340.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to $305.0 million for the same period in 2013, an increase of $35.4 million or 11.6%. This increase was driven by the higher sales volumes recorded in 2014.

Gross Profit

Gross profit was $47.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to $38.1 million for the same period in 2013, an increase of $9.5 million, or 24.9%, mainly due to higher unit volumes in our Delivery and Service Vehicles segment.

Gross Margin

Gross margin increased to 12.3% from 11.1% over the same time period, with a 220 basis point increase due to favorable overhead absorption as a result of higher unit sales volumes in 2014 in our DSV segment and a 50 basis point increase due to increased pricing on select products in our Delivery and Service Vehicles segment. These increases were partially offset by a 150 basis point decrease due to unfavorable product mix in our Emergency Response Vehicles and Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segments. A higher proportion of complete vehicles sold in 2014 compared to a higher proportion of chassis sold in 2013 in our Emergency Response Vehicles segment accounted for 80 basis points of the decrease, while lower sales of defense vehicles and related aftermarket parts and assemblies in 2014 in our Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segment accounted for 70 basis points of the decrease.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses were $46.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to $42.1 million for the same period in 2013 an increase of $4.7 million or 11.2%. Research and development expense was $0.2 million higher than the same period in 2013, mainly due to an increase in engineering projects in our Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segment. Selling, general and administrative expense increased by $4.4 million, or 13.1% to $38.0 million in 2014 from $33.6 million in 2013. $2.2 million of this increase was due to higher sales commissions and marketing expense in 2014, largely related to unit volume increases, and $1.2 million was the result of higher legal costs in 2014. An additional $1.0 million of the increase was due to severance accrued during the first quarter of 2014, including for the departure of two officers. We also incurred a $0.3 million restructuring charge in 2014, related to our recently announced initiative to reduce our footprint and improve operations in our Emergency Response Vehicles segment.

Taxes

Our effective income tax rate was (72.3)% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to 20.0% for the same period of 2013. Our effective rate in 2014 differed from the statutory rate due to a $0.7 million reduction to our reserve for unrecognized tax benefits, as a result of the expiration of certain statutes of limitations, and a $0.1 million reduction to our deferred tax asset valuation allowance due to a change in a state’s tax law.

Our effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 differed from the statutory rate mainly due to the impact of provisions for state income tax expense.

 Net Earnings

We recorded net earnings of $1.3 million, or $0.04 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to a net loss of $3.0 million, or $0.09 per share for the same period in 2013. Driving the increase in net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared with the prior year were the factors discussed above.

Our Segments

We identify our reportable segments based on our management structure and the financial data utilized by our chief operating decision makers to assess segment performance and allocate resources among our operating units. We have three reportable segments: Emergency Response Vehicles, Delivery and Service Vehicles, and Specialty Chassis and Vehicles. Our Emergency Response Vehicles segment consists of the emergency response chassis operations of Spartan Chassis, the Spartan ERV operations and the Spartan-Gimaex joint venture. Our Delivery and Service Vehicles segment is comprised of our Utilimaster operations. Our Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segment consists of our operations that engineer and manufacture motor home chassis, defense and other specialty vehicles and distribute related aftermarket parts, primarily for our fire trucks, motor home chassis and defense vehicles. For certain financial information related to each segment, see Note 7 - Business Segments, of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Emergency Response Vehicles 

Comparison of the Quarters Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

Sales in our Emergency Response Vehicles segment were $60.7 million in the third quarter of 2014 compared to $42.9 million for the same period of 2013, an increase of $17.8 million, or 41.5%, due to higher unit volumes. There were no changes in pricing of products sold by our Emergency Response Vehicles segment that had a significant impact on our financial statements when comparing these periods.

Operating income for our Emergency Response Vehicles segment was $1.7 million in the third quarter of 2014 compared to operating income of $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $1.0 million, or 142.9%. Operating income increased by $2.6 million due to increased unit volumes, partially offset by a $1.0 million increase in legal costs, and a $0.3 million increase in warranty related costs in 2014. Operating income was further reduced by restructuring charges of $0.3 million in 2014 that were not incurred in 2013.

Comparison of the Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

Sales in our Emergency Response Vehicles segment were $138.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to $121.6 million for the same period of 2013, an increase of $17.1 million, or 14.1%. This increase was mainly due to a sales mix in 2014 that included a higher proportion of complete vehicle sales, compared to 2013 which included a higher proportion of chassis sales. There were no changes in pricing of products sold by our Emergency Response Vehicles segment that had a significant impact on our financial statements when comparing these periods.

Operating loss for our Emergency Response Vehicles segment was $3.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to a loss of $1.4 million for the same period of 2013, an increase of $2.1 million, or 150.0%. $1.0 million of this increase was due to higher legal costs incurred in 2014, while $0.5 million was due to less favorable product mix in 2014 and $0.5 million was due to higher marketing expense incurred in 2014 compared to 2013.

Delivery and Service Vehicles

Comparison of the Quarters Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

Sales in our Delivery and Service Vehicles segment were $52.5 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $54.9 million for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $2.4 million or 4.4%. This decrease was primarily due to lower unit shipments in the third quarter of 2014, particularly for our walk-in vans, which were partially offset by $1.0 million of price increases on certain delivery vans enacted in early 2014.

Operating income in our Delivery and Service Vehicles segment for the third quarter of 2014 was $1.8 million, compared to operating income of $1.3 million for the same period of 2013, an increase of $0.5 million or 38.5%. Operating income increased by $1.0 million as a result of the price increases enacted in 2014, partially offset by overall lower unit volumes.

Comparison of the Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

Sales in our Delivery and Service Vehicles segment were $167.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to $131.0 million for the same period of 2013, an increase of $36.2 million or 27.6%. Price increases enacted in early 2014 on certain delivery vans contributed $1.7 million to the sales increase in 2014, with the remaining sales increase driven by higher unit shipments in the first nine months of 2014, particularly for our Reach commercial van. Sales for the first nine months of 2014 include approximately $7.0 million for shipments of Reach units that were delayed from the fourth quarter of 2013 due to a supplier component shortage.

Operating income was $6.1 million, an increase of $10.4 million, compared to an operating loss of $4.3 million for the same period of 2013. $1.7 million of this increase is due to the pricing increases, with the remainder mainly due to favorable overhead absorption as a result of the higher sales volumes in 2014.

Specialty Chassis and Vehicles

Comparison of the Quarters Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

Sales in our Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segment were $31.1 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $28.5 million for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $2.6 million or 9.1%. This increase was primarily due to the mix of motor home chassis and specialty vehicles sold in 2014, which favored higher dollar and higher margin products in 2014 compared to 2013. There were no changes in pricing of products sold by our Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segment that had a significant impact on our financial statements when comparing the third quarter of 2014 to the third quarter of 2013.

Operating income for our Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segment for the third quarter of 2014 was $2.9 million compared to $1.6 million for the same period of 2013, an increase of $1.3 million, or 81.3%, driven by the favorable mix in 2014, as described above.

Comparison of the Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

Sales in our Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segment were $82.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to $90.5 million for the same period of 2013, a decrease of $8.4 million or 9.3%. This decrease was due to a $7.6 million decrease in sales of defense related aftermarket parts and assemblies as a result of budget cuts, and a $1.8 million decrease in sales of other specialty vehicles, mainly defense related vehicles following the completion of an order in the second quarter of 2013. These decreases were partially offset by a $1.1 million increase in sales of motor home chassis, driven by favorable product mix in 2014. There were no changes in pricing of products sold by our Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segment that had a significant impact on our financial statements when comparing the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to the same period of 2013.

Operating income for our Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $5.0 million, compared to $6.8 million for the same period of 2013, a decrease of $1.8 million, or 26.5%, mainly due to lower sales of defense related vehicles and aftermarket parts and assemblies in 2014.

Subsequent Event

On October 28, 2014 we announced the closure our Ocala, FL plant as part of our strategic plan to improve the performance of our Emergency Response Vehicles segment. Fire truck production will transition from Ocala to our Brandon SD and Charlotte, MI facilities.

We expect to incur approximately $2.4 million of pre-tax, one time charges in connection with the closure, of which approximately $1.8 million is expected to be future cash expenditures. These estimated charges include employee separation and relocation costs of $0.9 million, equipment and inventory impairment charges of $0.5 million, and travel, training and other costs of $1.0 million. $0.1 million of these charges were incurred in the three months ended September 30, 2014, and are included within Restructuring costs on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Approximately $1.7 million of the charges are expected to be incurred in the fourth quarter of 2014, with the remaining charges expected to be incurred during the first half of 2015.

Financial Condition

Balance Sheet at September 30, 2014 compared to December 31, 2013

Cash decreased by $2.2 million, or 7.2%, to $28.5 million at September 30, 2014 from $30.7 million at December 31, 2013. Please see the discussion of cash flow activity below for more information on our uses of cash in the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

Accounts receivable increased by $11.8 million, or 24.8%, to $59.4 million at September 30, 2014, compared to $47.6 million at December 31, 2013, as a result of open receivables related to higher seasonal revenue in the third quarter of 2014 compared to sales in the fourth quarter of 2013. Days sales outstanding decreased by 3 days to 35 days during the third quarter of 2014 compared to 38 days for the fourth quarter of 2013 due to a sales mix in the third quarter of 2014 that favored products with shorter receivable terms.

Inventory decreased by $7.7 million or 9.5% to $73.7 million at September 30, 2014 compared to $81.4 million at December 31, 2013, mainly due to lower delivery and service vehicle related inventory. Days inventory outstanding decreased to 61 days in the third quarter of 2014, compared to 71 days in the fourth quarter of 2013, due to the impact of reduced inventory levels in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the fourth quarter of 2013.

Accounts payable decreased by $1.3 million or 4.3% to $29.2 million at September 30, 2014 compared to $30.5 million at December 31, 2013 due to decreased inventory levels and the timing of payments.

Accrued warranty increased by $1.9 million or 25.0% to $9.5 million at September 30, 2014 compared to $7.6 million at December 31, 2013 mainly as a result of unfavorable claims experience in 2014.

Accrued customer rebates increased by $1.2 million or 54.5 % to $3.4 million at September 30, 2014 compared to $2.2 million at December 31, 2013 due to increased sales of products subject to rebates in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the fourth quarter of 2013.

Accrued compensation and related taxes increased by $2.3 million or 35.9 % to $8.7 million at September 30, 2014 compared to $6.4 million at December 31, 2013 due to increases in accrued vacation and accrued bonuses.

Deposits from customers decreased by $4.8 million or 55.6 % to $13.2 million at September 30, 2014 compared to $18.0 million at December 31, 2013 due to the 2014 shipment of a large order of emergency response vehicles that included customer deposits.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash Flows

Through September 30, 2014, cash and cash equivalents decreased by $2.2 million to a balance of $28.5 million compared to $30.7 million at December 31, 2013. These funds, in addition to cash generated from future operations and available credit facilities, are expected to be sufficient to finance the Company’s foreseeable liquidity and capital needs.

Cash Flow from Operating Activities

For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we generated $3.9 million of cash from operating activities, which represents a $3.8 million increase from the $0.1 million of cash that was generated in operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The increase in cash generated in 2014 was driven by net income of $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to a $3.0 million net loss for the same period of 2013.

See the Financial Condition section contained in Item 2 of this Form 10-Q for further information regarding balance sheet line items that drove cash flows for the nine month period ended September 30, 2014. Also see the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows contained in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for the other various factors that represented the remaining fluctuation of cash from operations between the periods.

Cash Flow from Investing Activities

We utilized $2.0 million of cash in investing activities during the first nine months of 2014, a $1.6 million increase compared to the $0.4 million utilized in the first nine months of 2013. This increase is mainly due to the collection in 2013 of a $2.5 million note receivable related the December 31, 2012 sale of our Wakarusa, Indiana facilities.

In the fourth quarter of 2014 we expect to make total cash capital investments of $1.5 million to $2 million, including capital spending related to our Emergency Response Vehicles segment restructuring and replacement and upgrades of machinery and equipment used in operations.

Cash Flow from Financing Activities

For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 we utilized $4.1 million of cash in financing activities, an increase of $2.6 million compared to $1.5 million utilized in financing activities in the first nine months of 2013. This change is mainly due to repurchases of our common stock totaling $2.0 million completed in 2014 and a decrease in the amount of cash received from option exercises in 2014 compared to 2013.

Working Capital

Our working capital was as follows (in thousands):

The increase in our working capital at September 30, 2014 from December 31, 2013, was driven by an increase in accounts receivable which was partially offset by decreases in cash and inventory. Refer to the balance sheet discussion appearing above in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for an explanation of the causes of the material changes in working capital line items.

Contingent Obligations

In connection with our acquisition of Utilimaster on November 30, 2009, we incurred contingent obligations through 2014 in the form of certain performance-based earn-out payments, up to an aggregate maximum amount of $7.0 million. Through September 30, 2014, we have made payments totaling $5.1 million, leaving an aggregate maximum amount of future payments of $1.9 million. In accordance with accounting guidance, we recorded the estimated fair value of the future consideration on the acquisition date and subsequently adjusted the balance to reflect amortization of the discount and changes in Utilimaster’s expected performance, resulting in a balance of $1.2 million at September 30, 2014, based upon the likelihood of the payments, discounted to the reporting date. We believe that we have sufficient liquidity to fund the contingent obligations as they become due.

Debt

On December 16, 2011, we amended our unsecured revolving credit facility under which we may borrow up to $70.0 million from a syndicate of lenders, including Wells Fargo Bank N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., to, among other things, extend the maturity of the credit facility for an additional five years. Under the terms of the agreement, we may request an increase in the facility of up to $35.0 million in the aggregate, subject to customary conditions. Interest rates on borrowings under the credit facility are based on applicable rates at the time of issuance but are generally an adjusted LIBOR rate plus margin, ranging from 125 to 225 basis points, based on specified leverage ratio tiers from period to period. In addition, commitment fees range from 20 to 35 basis points on the unused portion of the line. The credit facility matures on December 16, 2016. We had no drawings against this credit line as of September 30, 2014 or December 31, 2013. During the period ended September 30, 2014, and in future periods, our revolving credit facility was utilized, and will continue to be utilized, by General Motors Company (“GM”) to finance commercial chassis received by our Utilimaster subsidiary under a chassis bailment inventory agreement. Under the terms of the bailment inventory agreement, these chassis never become the property of Utilimaster, and the amount drawn against the credit line will be repaid by a GM dealer at the time an order is placed for a Utilimaster body, utilizing a GM chassis. Accordingly, we do not consider the chassis and related draws against our credit line to be our assets or liabilities, and do not record them on our balance sheets. This funding is reflected as a reduction of up to $5.0 million on the revolving credit facility available to us. See Note 3, Commitments and Contingent Liabilities, in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for further details about Utilimaster’s chassis bailment inventory agreement.

On November 30, 2012, we entered into an amendment to our existing amended and restated private shelf agreement with Prudential Investment Management, Inc. Under the original private shelf agreement, we issued $5.0 million of 5.46% Series B Senior Notes, due December 1, 2016. The amended agreement extended the period during which we may issue private notes by three years to November 30, 2015 and increased the limit of the uncommitted shelf facility up to $50.0 million. The interest rate is determined based on applicable rates at time of issuance. The total outstanding debt under this agreement was $5.0 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

Under the terms of our credit agreement with our banks, we have the ability to issue letters of credit totaling $15.0 million. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had outstanding letters of credit totaling $10.4 million and $10.4 million related to certain emergency response vehicle contracts and our workers compensation insurance.

Under the terms of the line of credit and the term notes detailed above, we are required to maintain certain financial ratios and other financial conditions. The agreements prohibit us from incurring additional indebtedness; limit certain acquisitions, investments, advances or loans; and restrict substantial asset sales. At September 30, 2014, we were in compliance with all debt covenants, and, based on our current outlook for 2014, we expect to be able to meet these financial covenants over the next twelve months.

We had capital lease obligations outstanding of $0.3 million as of September 30, 2014 due and payable over the next six years.

Equity Securities

On October 19, 2011, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to a total of 1.0 million shares of our common stock in open market transactions, contingent upon market conditions. During the quarter ended September 30, 2014 we repurchased 185,126 shares at a total cost of $1.0 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 we repurchased 382,213 shares at a total cost of $2.0 million, leaving 617,787 shares available for repurchase under the 2011 authorization.

Dividends

The amounts or timing of any dividend distribution are subject to current and expected future earnings, financial condition, liquidity, capital requirements and such other factors as our Board of Directors deems relevant.

On October 23, 2014 our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per share of common stock, payable on December 18, 2014 to shareholders of record on November 13, 2014.

On May 1, 2014 our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per share of common stock, which was paid on June 19, 2014 to shareholders of record on May 15, 2014.

We expect to pay an aggregate amount of $3.4 million of dividends in 2014.

On October 24, 2013 our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per share of common stock, which was paid on December 19, 2013 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 14, 2013.

On May 8, 2013 our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per share of common stock, which was paid on June 27, 2013 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 23, 2013.

The aggregate amount of dividends paid in 2013 was $3.4 million.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following discussion of critical accounting policies is intended to supplement Note 1 - General and Summary of Accounting Policies, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2014. These policies were selected because they are broadly applicable within our operating units, and they involve additional management judgment due to the sensitivity of the methods, assumptions and estimates necessary in determining the related income statement, asset and/or liability amounts.

Revenue Recognition - We recognize revenue in accordance with authoritative guidelines, including those of the SEC. Accordingly, revenue is recognized when title to the product and risk of ownership passes to the buyer. On certain customer requested bill and hold transactions, revenue recognition occurs after the customer has been notified that the products have been completed according to the customer specifications, have passed all of our quality control inspections, and are ready for delivery. All sales are shown net of returns, discounts and sales incentive programs, which historically have not been significant. The collectability of any related receivable is reasonably assured before revenue is recognized.

In May, 2014 the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The new standard is based on the principle that revenue should be recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. The new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period, and may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of initial application. Early adoption is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard on our consolidated financial statements.

Accounts Receivable - We maintain an allowance for customer accounts that reduces receivables to amounts that are expected to be collected. In estimating the allowance for doubtful accounts, we make certain assumptions regarding the risk of uncollectable open receivable accounts. This risk factor is applied to the balance on accounts that are aged over 90 days: generally this reserve has an estimated range from 10-25%. The risk percentage applied to the aged accounts may change based on conditions such as: general economic conditions, industry-specific economic conditions, historical and anticipated customer performance, historical experience with write-offs and the level of past-due amounts from year to year. However, generally our assumptions are consistent year-over-year and there has been little adjustment made to the percentages used. In addition, in the event there are certain known risk factors with an open account, we may increase the allowance to include estimated losses on such “specific” account balances. The “specific” reserves are identified by a periodic review of the aged accounts receivable. If there is an account in question, credit checks are made and there is communication with the customer, along with other means to try to assess if a specific reserve is required. The inclusion of the “specific” reserve has caused the greatest fluctuation in the allowance for doubtful accounts balance historically. Please see Note 1 - General and Summary of Accounting Policies, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 for further details.

Goodwill and Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets – We perform our annual impairment testing for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets as of October 1 of each year, or more frequently if an event occurs or conditions change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the asset below its carrying value. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had goodwill recorded on the financial statements of our Utilimaster subsidiary. Utilimaster comprises the Delivery and Service Vehicles reportable segment, which was also determined to be a reporting unit for goodwill impairment testing.

The date of our most recently completed annual impairment testing was October 1, 2013. We performed a two-step impairment test, whereby the first step was comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. The fair value of the reporting unit was determined by estimating the future cash flows of the reporting unit to which the goodwill relates, and then discounting the future cash flows at a market-participant-derived weighted-average cost of capital. Based on the results of the first step of our two-step impairment test we determined that the fair value of our Delivery and Service Vehicles reporting unit exceeded its carrying costs, and accordingly, there was no impairment of goodwill at the annual testing date.

We completed our most recent annual impairment testing for our indefinite-lived intangible assets, which consist of our Utilimaster and Classic Fire trade names, as of October 1, 2013 by comparing the estimated fair value of the trade name with its carrying value. We estimate the fair value of our trade names based on estimates of future royalty payments that are avoided through our ownership of the trade names, discounted to their present value. Based on the results of our impairment testing, we determined that the fair value of our indefinite-lived intangible assets exceeded their carrying cost at October 1, 2013, and accordingly, there was no impairment at the annual testing date.

Since October 1, 2013, there have been no events or changes in circumstances that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of our Delivery and Service Vehicles reporting unit or our indefinite-lived intangible assets below their respective carrying costs.

We cannot predict the occurrence of certain events or changes in circumstances that might adversely affect the carrying value of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. Such events may include, but are not limited to, the impact of the general economic environment; a material negative change in relationships with significant customers; strategic decisions made in response to economic and competitive conditions; and other risk factors as detailed in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

See Note 1, General and Summary of Accounting Policies and Note 6, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 for further details on our accounting policies and other information regarding goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets.

Warranties - Our policy is to record a provision for the estimated cost of warranty-related claims at the time of the sale, and periodically adjust the warranty liability to reflect actual experience. The amount of warranty liability accrued reflects actual historical warranty cost, which is accumulated on specific identifiable units. From that point, there is a projection of the expected future cost of honoring our obligations under the warranty agreements. Historically, the cost of fulfilling our warranty obligations has principally involved replacement parts and labor for field retrofit campaigns and recalls, which increase the reserve. Our estimates are based on historical experience, the number of units involved and the extent of features and components included in product models. Over time, this method has been consistently applied and has proven to be an appropriate approach to estimating future costs to be incurred. See also Note 3 – Commitments and Contingent Liabilities, of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q, for further information regarding warranties.

EFFECT OF INFLATION

Inflation affects us in two principal ways. First, our revolving note payable is generally tied to the prime and LIBOR interest rates so that increases in those interest rates would result in additional interest expense. Second, general inflation impacts prices paid for labor, parts and supplies. Whenever possible, we attempt to cover increased costs of production and capital by adjusting the prices of our products. However, we generally do not attempt to negotiate inflation-based price adjustment provisions into our contracts. Since order lead times can be as much as ten months, we have limited ability to pass on cost increases to our customers on a short-term basis. In addition, the markets we serve are competitive in nature, and competition limits our ability to pass through cost increases in many cases. We strive to minimize the effect of inflation through cost reductions and improved productivity.

Our primary market risk exposure is a change in interest rates and the effect of such a change on outstanding variable rate short-term and long-term debt. At September 30, 2014, we had no debt outstanding under our variable rate short-term and long-term debt agreements. Therefore, an increase of 1% in interest rates would not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations. We do not enter into market-risk-sensitive instruments for trading or other purposes.

We do not believe that there has been a material change in the nature or categories of the primary market risk exposures or the particular markets that present the primary risk of loss to us. As of the date of this report, we do not know of or expect any material changes in the general nature of our primary market risk exposure in the near term. In this discussion, “near term” means a period of one year following the date of the most recent balance sheet contained in this report.

Prevailing interest rates and interest rate relationships are primarily determined by market factors that are beyond our control. All information provided in response to this item consists of forward-looking statements. Reference is made to the section captioned “Forward-Looking Statements” before Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of the limitations on such statements.

An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of September 30, 2014. Based on and as of the time of such evaluation, our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2014 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

We have included in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, a description of certain risks and uncertainties that could affect our business, future performance or financial condition (the “Risk Factors”). There have been no material changes from the disclosure provided in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 with respect to the Risk Factors. Investors should consider the Risk Factors prior to making an investment decision with respect to our stock.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On October 19, 2011, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to a total of 1.0 million shares of our common stock in open market transactions, contingent upon market conditions.

The following table shows our purchases of our common stock during the quarter ended September 30, 2014.