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SMITH MIDLAND CORP - Annual Report: 2018 (Form 10-K)

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 FORM 10-K
 
Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2018
 
or
 
Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Commission File Number 1-13752
Smith-Midland Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
 
Delaware
54-1727060
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
P.O. Box 300, 5119 Catlett Road
Midland, Virginia  22728
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code)
(540) 439-3266
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities Registered Under Section 12(b) of the Act:  None
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $.01 par value per share
(Title of Class)
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.Yes   No
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.Yes  No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.Yes ☒ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).Yes No
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer
 
Accelerated filer
 
Non-accelerated filer
 
Smaller reporting company
 
Emerging growth company
 
 
 
 
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).Yes   No
The aggregate market value of the shares of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the average bid and asked price of such common equity as of June 30, 2018 (the last business day of the Company’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was $22,936,322. For the sole purpose of making this calculation, the term “non-affiliate” has been interpreted to exclude directors, officers, and holders of 10% or more of the Company’s common stock.
 
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As of March 5, 2019, the Company had outstanding 5,134,492 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, net of treasury shares.
 
Documents Incorporated By Reference
None
 
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report and related documents include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the Company’s actual results, performance (financial or operating) or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements not to occur or be realized. Such forward looking statements generally are based upon the Company’s best estimates of future results, performance or achievement, based upon current conditions and the most recent results of operations. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “continue,” or similar terms, variations of those terms or the negative of those terms. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among other things, such factors as:

While the Company reported net income for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, there are no assurances the Company can remain profitable in future periods,
 
our debt level increased in 2018, and our ability to satisfy the same cannot be assured,
 
the continued availability of financing in the amounts, at the times, and on the terms required, to support our future business and capital projects,
 
the extent to which we are successful in developing, acquiring, licensing or securing patents for proprietary products,
 
changes in economic conditions specific to any one or more of our markets (including the availability of public funds and grants for construction),
 
changes in general economic conditions in the Company's primary service areas,
 
adverse weather which inhibits the demand for our products,
 
our compliance with governmental regulations,
 
the outcome of future litigation, if any,
 
on material construction projects, our ability to produce and install product that conforms to contract specifications and in a time frame that meets the contract requirements,
 
the cyclical nature of the construction industry,
 
our exposure to increased interest expense payments should interest rates change,
 
the Company’s Board of Directors, which is composed of five members, has only two outside, independent directors, and
 
the other factors and information disclosed and discussed in other sections of this report.

Investors and shareholders should carefully consider such risks, uncertainties and other information, disclosures and discussions which contain cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those provided in the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
 
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PART I

Item 1    Business

General

Smith-Midland Corporation (the "Company") invents, develops, manufactures, markets, leases, licenses, sells, and installs a broad array of precast concrete products for use primarily in the construction, highway, utilities and farming industries through its six wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company's precast, licensing and barrier rental customers are primarily general contractors and federal, state, and local transportation authorities located in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Midwestern and Southeastern regions of the United States. The Company's operating strategy has involved producing innovative and proprietary products, including SlenderWall®, a patent pending, lightweight, energy efficient concrete and steel exterior wall panel for use in building construction; J-J Hooks® Highway Safety Barrier, a patented, positive-connected highway safety barrier; SoftSound™, a proprietary sound absorptive finish used on the face of sound barriers to absorb some of the traffic noise; Sierra Wall™, a patented sound barrier primarily for roadside use; Easi-Set® and Easi-Span® patented transportable concrete buildings; and Beach Prisms™ erosion mitigating modules. In addition, the Company's precast subsidiaries produce farm products such as cattleguards and water and feed troughs as well as custom order precast concrete products with various architectural surfaces, as well as generic highway sound barriers, retaining walls and utility vaults.

The Company was incorporated in Delaware on August 2, 1994. Prior to a corporate reorganization completed in October 1994, the Company conducted its business primarily through Smith-Midland Virginia, which was incorporated in 1960 as Smith Cattleguard Company, a Virginia corporation, and which subsequently changed its name to Smith-Midland Corporation in 1985. The Company’s principal offices are located at 5119 Catlett Road, Midland, Virginia 22728 and its telephone number is 540-439-3266. As used in this report, unless the context otherwise requires, the term the “Company” refers to Smith-Midland Corporation and its subsidiaries. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries consist of Smith-Midland Corporation, a Virginia corporation; Smith-Carolina Corporation, a North Carolina corporation; Smith-Columbia Corporation, a South Carolina corporation, Easi-Set Industries Worldwide, Inc., a Virginia corporation; Concrete Safety Systems, Inc., a Virginia corporation; and Midland Advertising and Design, Inc., a Virginia corporation doing business as Midland Advertising + Design.

Market

The Company's precast concrete products market and barrier rental market primarily consists of general contractors performing public and private construction contracts, including the construction of commercial buildings, public and private roads and highways, and airports, municipal utilities, and federal, state, and local transportation authorities, primarily located in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Midwestern and Southeastern states. Due to the lightweight characteristics of the SlenderWall® exterior cladding system, the Company has expanded its competitive services outside of the Mid-Atlantic states.  The Company's licensing subsidiary licenses its proprietary products to precast concrete manufacturers nationwide and internationally in Canada, Belgium, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, Trinidad, Spain, and Chile.

The precast concrete products market is affected by the cyclical nature of the construction industry. In addition, the demand for construction varies depending upon weather conditions, the availability of financing at reasonable interest rates, overall fluctuations in the national and regional economies, past overbuilding, labor relations in the construction industry, and the availability of material and energy supplies. A substantial portion of the Company's business is derived from local, state, and federal building projects, which are further dependent upon budgets and, in some cases, voter-approved bonds.

Products

The Company's precast concrete products are cast in manufacturing facilities and delivered to a site for installation, as contrasted to ready-mix concrete, which is produced offsite in a “batch plant,”and delivered with a concrete mixer truck where it is mixed and delivered to a construction site to be poured and set at the site.  Precast concrete products are used primarily as parts of buildings or highway structures, and may be used architecturally, as in a decorative wall of a building. Structural uses include building walls, frames, floors, or roofs. The Company currently manufactures and sells a wide variety of products for use in the construction, transportation and utility industries.
 
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Easi-Set SlenderWall® Lightweight Construction Panels

The SlenderWall® system is a prefabricated, energy-efficient, lightweight exterior cladding system that is offered as a cost-effective alternative to the traditional cladding used for the exterior walls of buildings. The Company's SlenderWall® system combines the essential components of a wall system into a single panel ready for interior dry wall mounting upon installation. The base components of each SlenderWall® panel consists of a galvanized stud frame with an exterior surface of approximately two-inch thick, steel reinforced, high-density, precast concrete (with integral water repellant), a thermal break, and various architectural surfaces. The exterior architectural concrete facing is attached to the interior steel frame by use of coated stainless steel fasteners that position the exterior concrete away from the steel frame to provide improved thermal performance.

SlenderWall® panels are approximately one-third the weight of traditional precast concrete walls of equivalent size, permanence and durability, and are also significantly improved as to permanence and durability. The lighter weight translates into reduced construction costs resulting from less onerous structural and foundation requirements as well as lower shipping costs. Additional savings result from reduced installation time, ease of erection, and the use of smaller cranes for installation. Closed-cell foam insulation and windows can be plant-installed further reducing cost and construction schedules.

The Company custom designs, manufactures, installs and licenses the SlenderWall® exterior cladding system. The exterior of the SlenderWall® system can be produced in a variety of attractive architectural finishes, such as concrete, exposed stone, granite or thin brick and can be integrated with other cladding materials.

Easi-Set Sierra Wall

The Easi-Set Sierra Wall™ ("Sierra Wall") combines the strength and durability of precast concrete with a variety of finishes to provide an effective and attractive sound and sight barrier for use alongside highways around residential, industrial, and commercial properties. With additional reinforcement, Sierra Wall can also be used as a retaining wall to retain earth in both highway and residential construction. Sierra Wall is typically constructed of four-inch thick, steel-reinforced concrete panels with an integral column creating a tongue and groove connection system. This tongue and groove connection system and its foundation connection make Sierra Wall easy to install and move if boundaries change or highways are relocated after the completion of a project. The patented Sierra Wall II one-piece extended post and panel design reduces installation time and cost.

The Company custom designs and manufactures Sierra Wall components to conform to the specifications provided by the contractor. The width, height, strength, and exterior finish of each wall varies depending upon the terrain and application. The Company also produces generic post and panel design sound barrier wall systems. These systems are constructed of steel or precast concrete columns (the Company manufactures the precast or prestressed columns) with precast concrete panels which slide down into the groove in each column.

Sierra Wall is used primarily for highway projects as a noise barrier as well as for residential purposes, such as privacy walls between homes, security walls or windbreaks, and for industrial or commercial purposes, such as to screen and protect shopping centers, industrial operations, institutions or highways. The variety of available finishes enables the Company to blend the Sierra Wall with local architecture, creating an attractive, as well as functional, barrier.

Easi-Set J-J Hooks® Highway Safety Barrier

The Easi-Set J-J Hooks® highway safety barriers (the "J-J Hooks Barriers") are crash-tested (privately funded), positively connected, safety barriers that the Company sells, rents, delivers, installs and licenses for use on roadways to separate lanes of traffic (in free-standing, bolted, or pinned installations) in construction work zones or for traffic control. Barriers are deemed to be positively connected when the connectors on each end of the barrier sections are interlocked with one another.  J-J Hooks Barriers interlock without the need for a separate locking device. The primary advantage of a positive connection is that a barrier with such a connection can withstand vehicle crashes at higher speeds without separating. The Federal Highway Administration ("FHWA") requires that states use only positively connected barriers, which meet NCHRP-350 or MASH crash test requirements. J-J Hooks Barriers that meet NCHRP-350 and MASH TL3 requirements are deemed eligible by the FHWA for federal-aid reimbursement. The Company has benn issued patents with respect to J-J Hooks in the United States, Canada, and other countries.
 
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The Company has received “design protection” in the U.S for the “end taper” on each end of the barrier sections. The United States has issued a "trade dress" registration for the "end taper" design feature. Accordingly, in the United States, these features cannot be legally copied by others.

The proprietary feature of J-J Hooks Barriers is the design of its positive connection. Protruding from each end of a J-J Hooks Barrier section is a fabricated bent steel connector; rolled in toward the end of the barrier, resembling the letter "J" when viewed from directly above. The connector protruding from each end of the barrier is rolled identically so that when one end of a barrier faces the end of another, the resulting "J-Hook" face each other. To connect one section of a J-J Hooks Barrier to another, a contractor merely positions the J-Hook of an elevated section of the barrier above the J-Hook of a set section and lowers the elevated section into place. The positive connection is automatically engaged using the cast-in alignment slot.

The Company believes that the J-J Hooks Barrier connection design is superior to other highway safety barriers that were positively connected through the "eye and pin" technique. Barriers incorporating this technique have eyes or loops protruding from each end of the barrier, which must be aligned during the setting process. Once set, a crew inserts pins or long bolts through the eyes which connects and bolts the barrier sections together. Compared to this technique, the J-J Hooks Barriers are easier and faster to install and remove, require a smaller crew, and eliminates the need for loose hardware to make the connection.

In March 1999, the FHWA approved the free-standing J-J Hooks Barrier (tested in accordance with NCHRP-350 Test Level 3) following successful crash testing in accordance with National Cooperative Highway Research Program requirements. In December 2012 the FHWA approved the pinned and bolted J-J Hooks and in March 2018 approved the free-standing J-J Hooks. In September 2018 the FHWA approved a 20-foot deisgn originally tested to NCHRP 350 TL3 requirements and approved by the FHWA (tested in accordance with MASH Test Level 3) for use on federally aided highway projects following the successful completion of crash testing based on criteria from the AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware.

J-J Hooks NCHRP-350 free-standing barrier has been approved for use on state and federally funded projects by 42 states, plus Washington, D.C. The Company is in various stages of the application process in additional states and believes that approval in some of the states will be granted; however no assurance can be given that approval will be received from any or all of the remaining states or that such approval will result in the J-J Hooks Barrier being used in such states. In addition, J-J Hooks Barrier has been approved by the appropriate authorities for use in the countries of Canada (Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario), Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Germany and Chile.

J-J Hooks restrained (pinned or bolted) barrier successfully passed the MASH TL3 tests in August of 2012 and received FHWA Eligibility Letters in December 2012. Currently 32 states have approved the MASH restrained barrier and 17 states have approved the MASH free-standing design as an alternate to their state standard. In Canada, the provinces of Alberta and Nova Scotia have approved the MASH tested barrier. The new J-J Hooks free-standing barrier successfully passed the two required MASH TL3 tests and in January 2018 and August 2018 received the FHWA federal-aid eligibility letters. The FHWA Eligibility letters B300 and B307 have been issued as of February 2018 and September 2018, respectively.

Easi-Set Precast Building and Easi-Span®  Expandable Precast Building

Easi-Set Precast Buildings are transportable, prefabricated, single-story, all concrete buildings designed to be adaptable to a variety of uses ranging from housing communications operations, traffic control systems, mechanical and electrical stations, to inventory or supply storage, restroom facilities or kiosks. Easi-Set Precast Buildings and Restrooms are available in a variety of exterior finishes and in 38 standard sizes, or can be custom sized. The roof and floor of each Easi-Set Building is manufactured using the Company's second generation post-tensioned system, which helps seal the buildings against moisture. As freestanding units, the Easi-Set Buildings require no poured foundations or footings and can be easily installed within a few hours. After installation the buildings can be moved, if desired, and reinstalled in a new location. The Company has been issued patents in connection with this product in the United States and Canada.

The Company also offers Easi-Span® a line of expandable precast concrete buildings. Easi-Span® incorporates the technology of the Easi-Set Buildings, but are available in larger sizes and, through its modular construction, can be combined in varied configurations to permit expansion capabilities. Since these larger buildings have less competition from other materials and methods, they produce higher profit margins. Both the Easi-Span and Easi-Set Buildings offer lines of fully-outfitted restrooms with over a dozen standard models.
 
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The Company has sold its Easi-Set® and Easi-Span® Precast Buildings for the following uses:

Communications Operations — to house fiber optics regenerators, switching stations and microwave transmission shelters, cellular phone sites, and cable television repeater stations.
 
Government Applications — to federal, state and local authorities for uses such as weather and pollution monitoring stations; military storage, housing and operations; park vending enclosures; rest rooms; kiosks; traffic control systems; school maintenance and athletic storage; airport lighting control and transmitter housing; and law enforcement evidence and ammunition storage.
 
Utilities Installations — for electrical switching stations and transformer housing, gas control shelters and valve enclosures, water and sewage pumping stations, and storage of contaminated substances or flammable materials which require spill containment.
 
Commercial and Industrial Locations — for electrical and mechanical housing, cemetery maintenance storage, golf course vending enclosures, mechanical rooms, rest rooms, emergency generator shelters, gate houses, automobile garages, hazardous materials storage, food or bottle storage, animal shelters, and range houses.

Easi-Set Utility Vault

The Company produces a line of precast concrete underground utility vaults ranging in size from 27 to 1,008 cubic feet. Each Easi-Set utility vault normally comes with a manhole opening on the top for ingress and egress and openings around the perimeter, in accordance with the customer's specifications, to access water and gas pipes, electrical power lines, telecommunications cables, or other such media of transfer. The utility vaults may be used to house equipment such as cable, telephone or traffic signal equipment, and for underground storage. The Company also manufactures custom-built utility vaults for special needs.

SoftSound™ Soundwall Panels

SoftSound™ soundwall panels utilize a “wood chip aggregate” sound absorptive material applied to the face of soundwall panels, which is used to absorb highway noise. SoftSound™ is a proprietary product developed and tested by the Company and is currently approved for use in Virginia, Maryland, seven additional states, and the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, Canada. Approvals are still pending in a number of additional states. The Company introduced this product line into its licensing program and is in the process of seeking to obtain approvals in all 50 states and the Canadian Provinces.

Beach Prisms™ Erosion Control Modules

In 2006, the Company began production and launched full-scale advertising and promotional efforts for its product, Beach Prisms™, a shoreline erosion control product that uses the preferred natural "soft" approach as opposed to the "hard" approach of seawalls and jetties, to solve this worldwide problem. This product is expected to provide a higher margin than many of the Company’s other product lines. Beach Prisms™ work by reducing the amount of energy in incoming waves before the waves reach the shoreline. Waves pass through the specially designed slots in the triangular 3-4 foot tall by 10 foot long Beach Prisms™ modules. The success of a Beach Prisms ™ installation is dependent on the prevailing wind in relation to the shoreline, the tides, the fetch and the availability of sand in the surf. Beach Prisms™ are primarily for river- and bay-front property owners who want an alternative to traditional armor stone, or groins and jetties. The Company received “design protection” in the United States for the Beach Prisms™ in 2010.

The Company currently has orders and is also accepting new orders with deposits for the Beach Prism product, and the Company is working with the states of Virginia and Maryland to secure approval of each state’s environmental agency. Each project must apply for approval by the appropriate state to obtain a permit to install the Beach Prism. Such approvals are meeting resistance from the environmental agencies, however, the Company believes approval is forthcoming. One permit was received from the State of Maryland, and the Company is hopeful to begin production to fulfill a potential order. In the event that approvals are not timely received, these orders may be cancelled.
 
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H2Out™ Secondary Drainage System

H2Out™ is the first "in the caulk joint" secondary drainage and street level leak detection product for panelized exterior cladding. A second line of caulking and drainage strip located behind the exterior line of caulking exits all water leakage to the exterior of the building preventing moisture and mold, and hence deterring lawsuits from tenants and owners of buildings. H2Out™ has been added as a feature of the SlenderWall® system and is being included in the product literature, website, and all sales presentations.

Although the Company is optimistic about the success of Beach Prisms™ and H2Out™, there can be no assurance of the commercial acceptance of these products.
    
Sources of Supply

All of the raw materials necessary for the manufacture of the Company's products are available from multiple sources. To date, the Company has not experienced significant delays in obtaining materials and believes that it will continue to be able to obtain required materials from a number of suppliers at commercially reasonable prices.

Licensing

The Company presently grants licenses through its wholly-owned subsidiary Easi-Set Industries for the manufacturing and sale rights for certain proprietary products, such as the J-J Hooks® Barrier, Easi-Set®/Easi-Span® Precast Buildings, SlenderWall®, SoftSound™ and Beach Prisms™ as well as certain non-proprietary products, such as the Company's cattleguards. Generally, licenses are granted for a point of manufacture. The Company receives an initial one-time training & administration license fee varying on the product licensed. License royalties vary depending upon the product licensed, but the range is typically 4% to 6% of the net sales of the licensed product. In addition, Easi-Set®/Easi-Span® Buildings and SlenderWall® licensees pay the Company a monthly fee for co-op advertising & promotional programs. The Company produces and distributes advertising & promotional materials and promotes the licensed products through its own advertising subsidiary, Midland Advertising + Design.

The Company maintains 56 licensing agreements in the United States, 9 in Canada, and 1 each in Australia, Belgium, Mexico, New Zealand and Trinidad, for a total of 70 licensees worldwide.

The Company is continually discussing new license arrangements with potential precast companies and, although no assurance can be given, expects to increase its licensing activities.

Marketing and Sales

The Company uses an in-house sales force and, to a lesser extent, independent sales representatives to market its precast concrete products through trade show attendance, sales presentations, advertisements in trade publications, and direct mail to end users. Currently, our South Carolina production facility is utilizing the sales force from the Virginia production facility until they fully establish their own.

The Company has also established a cooperative advertising program in which the Company and its Easi-Set®/Easi-Span® Buildings  and SlenderWall® licensees combine resources to promote certain precast concrete products. Licensees pay a monthly fee and the Company pays any additional amounts required to advertise the products across the country. Although the Company advertises nationally, the Company's precast subsidiaries marketing efforts are concentrated on the region within a 250-mile radius from its facilities, which includes most of Virginia, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and parts of Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and West Virginia.

The Company's precast product sales and barrier rental sales result primarily from the submission of estimates or proposals to general contractors who then include the estimates in their overall bids to various government agencies and other end users that solicit construction contracts through a competitive bidding process. In general, these contractors solicit and obtain their construction contracts by submitting the most attractive bid to the party desiring the construction. The Company's role in the bidding process is to provide estimates to the contractors desiring to include the Company's products or services in the contractor's bid. If a contractor who accepts the Company's bid is selected to perform the construction, the Company provides the agreed upon products or services. In many instances, the Company provides estimates to more than one of the contractors bidding on a single project. The Company also occasionally negotiates with and sells directly to end-users.
 
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Competition

The precast concrete industry is highly competitive and consists of a few large companies and many small to mid-size companies, several of which have substantially greater financial and other resources than the Company. Nationally, several large companies dominate the precast concrete market. However, due to the weight and costs of delivery of precast concrete products, competition in the industry tends to be limited by geographical location and distance from the construction site and is fragmented with numerous manufacturers in a large local area.

The Company believes that the principal competitive factors for its precast products are price, durability, ease of use and installation, speed of manufacture and delivery time, ability to customize, FHWA and state approval, and customer service. The Company believes that its plants in Midland, Virginia, Reidsville, North Carolina and Columbia, South Carolina compete favorably with respect to each of these factors in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States. Finally, the Company believes it offers a broad range of products that are very competitive in these markets.

Patents and Proprietary Information

The Company currently owns U.S., Canadian, Australian and New Zealand patents for J-J Hooks® highway barrier, U.S. and Canadian patents for Easi-Set® Precast Building features and U.S. patents for Sierra Wall. The original patents on the J-J Hooks barrier and SlenderWall have expired. Since the original patents were obtained, the Company has filed new patent applications, and obtained patents, for the crash tested J-J Hooks barrier. A patent application has also been filed for the newest version of SlenderWall. Additionally, the Company has “trade dress” applications for J-J Hooks features filed in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand and “distinguishing guise” applications for J-J Hooks features filed in Canada. A U.S. “trade dress” application for Beach Prisms and the J-J Hooks "end taper" have been issued in the U.S.

The Company owns U.S. registered trademarks for Smith-Midland (logo), Smith Cattleguard (words), Excellence in Precast Concrete (words), Easi-Set (logo & words), Easi-Span (words), Easi-Set Industries (words), J-J Hooks (logo), SlenderWall (logo), Thermaguard (words) and J-J Hooks "V" taper (trade-dress). The J-J Hooks logo is registered in Canada, European Community, Australia, and New Zealand.

While the Company intends to vigorously enforce its patent rights against infringement by third parties, no assurance can be given that the patents or the Company's patent rights will be enforceable or provide the Company with meaningful protection from competitors or that its patent applications will be allowed. Even if a competitor's products were to infringe patents held by the Company, enforcing the patent rights in an enforcement action would be very costly, and assuming the Company has sufficient resources, would divert funds and resources that otherwise could be used in the Company's operations. No assurance can be given that the Company would be successful in enforcing such rights, that the Company's products or processes do not infringe the patent or intellectual property rights of a third party, or that if the Company is not successful in a suit involving patents or other intellectual property rights of a third party, that a license for such technology would be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.

Government Regulation

The Company frequently supplies products and services pursuant to agreements with general contractors who have entered into contracts with federal or state governmental agencies. The successful completion of the Company’s obligations under such contracts is often subject to the satisfactory inspection or approval of such products and services by a representative of the contracting agency. Although the Company endeavors to satisfy the requirements of each such contract to which it is a party, no assurance can be given that the necessary approval of its products and services will be granted on a timely basis or at all and that the Company will receive any payments due to it. Any failure to obtain such approval and payment may have a material adverse effect on the Company's business.

The Company's operations are subject to extensive and stringent governmental regulations including regulations related to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and environmental protection. The Company believes that it is substantially in compliance with all applicable regulations. The cost of maintaining such compliance is not considered by the Company to be significant.
 
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The Company's employees in its manufacturing division operate complicated machinery that may cause substantial injury or death upon malfunction or improper operation. The Company's manufacturing facilities are subject to the workplace safety rules and regulations of OSHA. The Company believes that it is in compliance with the requirements of OSHA.

During the normal course of its operations, the Company uses and disposes of materials, such as solvents and lubricants used in equipment maintenance, that are classified as hazardous by government agencies that regulate environmental quality. The Company attempts to minimize the generation of such waste as much as possible, and to recycle such waste where possible. Remaining wastes are disposed of in permitted disposal sites in accordance with applicable regulations.

In the event that the Company is unable to comply with the OSHA or environmental requirements, the Company could be subject to substantial sanctions, including restrictions on its business operations, monetary liability and criminal sanctions, any of which could have a material adverse effect upon the Company's business.

Employees

As of March 5, 2019, the Company had a total of 220 employees, of which 191 are full-time, 8 are part-time and 21 are temporary workers, with 159 located at the Company's Midland, Virginia facility, 32 are located at the Company's facility in Reidsville, North Carolina and 29 are located at the Company's facility in Hopkins, South Carolina. None of the Company's employees are represented by labor organizations and the Company is not aware of any activities seeking such organization. The Company considers its relationships with its employees to be satisfactory.

Item 1A.              Risk Factors

Not applicable

Item 1B               Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable

Item 2.                 Properties

Facilities

The Company operates three manufacturing facilities. The largest manufacturing operations facility is a 44,000 square foot manufacturing plant located on approximately 28 acres of land in Midland, Virginia, of which the Company owns approximately 25 acres and 3 acres are leased from Rodney I. Smith, the Company's Chairman of the Board, at an annual rental rate of $24,000. The manufacturing facility houses two concrete mixers and one concrete blender. The plant also includes two environmentally controlled casting areas, two batch plants, a form fabrication shop, a welding and metal fabrication facility, a carpentry shop, a quality control center and a covered steel reinforcing fabrication area of approximately 8,000 square feet. The Company's Midland facility also includes a large storage yard for inventory and stored materials.
 
 The Company's second manufacturing facility is located in Reidsville, North Carolina on ten acres of owned land and includes an 8,000 square foot manufacturing plant and administrative offices. The Company currently owns 46 acres on which it is in the process of building a 15,000 square foot manufacturing plant with additional space for future expansion. The expansion is estimated to cost $3.3 million and will increase production and storage capacity. The project will be funded through bank financing. Management expects completion of the new facility during the third quarter 2019 with manufacturing expected to begin during that same time period. The current North Carolina facility has remained operational during the construction of the new plant, and future use is not determined at this time. There can be no assurance as to the cost, financing, timetable, completion, or success of this project.

The Company's third manufacturing facility is located in Hopkins (Columbia), South Carolina. The facility is located on 39 acres of land and has approximately 40,000 square feet of production space and administrative offices. The South Carolina facility gives the Company sufficient capacity to cover additional territory from the Atlantic Coast region to the northern part of Florida.

The Company's present facilities are adequate for its current needs.

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Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

The Company is not presently involved in any litigation of a material nature.

Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable
 
11


PART II
 
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

The Company's Common Stock trades on the OTCQX Markets under the symbol "SMID".

As of March 5, 2019, there were approximately 100 record holders of the Company's Common Stock. Management believes there are at least 700 beneficial owners of the Company's Common Stock.
 
Dividends

Although the Company paid a dividend for seven consecutive years, the Company cannot guarantee the continued payment of dividends due to the internal need for funds in the development and expansion of its business. The declaration of dividends in the future will be at the election of the Board of Directors and will depend upon earnings, capital requirements and financial position of the Company, general economic conditions and other pertinent factors.  

Item 6.    Selected Financial Data

Not applicable.
 
Item 7.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company (including the Notes thereto) included elsewhere in this report. Dollar amounts are in thousands, except for per share amounts.

The Company generates revenues primarily from the sale, leasing, licensing, shipping and installation of precast concrete products for the construction, utility and farming industries. The Company's operating strategy has involved producing innovative and proprietary products, including Slenderwall™, a patent pending, lightweight, energy efficient concrete and steel exterior wall panel for use in building construction; J-J Hooks® Barrier, a patented positive-connected highway safety barrier; Sierra Wall™, a patented sound barrier primarily for roadside use; transportable concrete buildings; and SoftSound™, a highway sound attenuation system. In addition, the Company produces utility vaults; farm products such as cattleguards; and custom order precast concrete products with various architectural surfaces.
 
12

 
As a part of the construction industry, the Company's sales and net income may vary greatly from quarter to quarter over a given year. Because of the cyclical nature of the construction industry, many factors not under our control, such as weather and project delays, affect the Company's production schedule, possibly causing a momentary slowdown in sales and net income. As a result of these factors, the Company is not always able to earn a profit for each period, therefore, please read Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the accompanying financial statements with these factors in mind.
 
Overview

Overall, the Company’s financial performance was slightly lower in 2018 when compared to 2017. The Company had net income in 2018 in the amount of $1,687 compared to net income of $2,684 for 2017. The primary reason for the decrease in net profit was due to the deferred guaranteed buy-back agreement with a customer, which at December 31, 2018, had associated deferred revenues of $6,592 and deferred costs of $5,304, which amounts will increase as more product is delivered. Although barrier product sales are not being recognized, the Company has begun recognizing barrier rental revenue which will continue through the life of the customer's project. Accordingly, once all product is delivered to this customer, the Company will nonetheless continue to recognize the net profits from this project until the buy-back option is either exercised or expired. Delivery of product commenced in the second quarter of 2018 and is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2019. The buy-back option expires when the customer completes the project utilizing the barrier, which is expected to be in 2022. Thus, whereas the Company will likely have completed its obligations in 2019, it will nonetheless continue to recognize net profits through 2022. It should be noted that the amount of the buy-back obligation is not amortized over this period, but as it is equal in the amount to revenue and expense, and the full amount of the net profit is recognized over this period. Sales were particularly strong in the first quarter of 2017 due to one large short-term barrier rental project, which produced profits slightly higher than our normal rental projects because of the large amount of preparation, installation and removal, and follow through that was accomplished in a short period of time that impacted the year-over-year comparison. Sales continue to look stable for 2019, with the current backlog and bidding remaining strong. Based on current market activity and the Company's backlog of $31.1 million as of March 5, 2019, management believes that 2019 will be another strong financial year for the Company, although no assurance can be given.

Results of Operations

Year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the year ended December 31, 2017

For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company had total revenue of $40,220 compared to total revenue of $41,717 for the year ended December 31, 2017, a decrease of $1,497, or 3.6%. Sales include revenues from product sales, barrier rental income, royalty revenue, and shipping and installation income. Product sales are further divided into Soundwall, architectural and SlenderWall™ panels, miscellaneous wall panels, highway barrier, Easi-Set®/Easi-Span® buildings, utility and farm products, and miscellaneous precast products. The following table summarizes the revenue by type and a comparison for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

Revenue by Type (Disaggregated Revenue)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
Change
 
 
% of
Change
 
Product Sales:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Soundwall Sales
 $9,867
 
 $7,571 
 $2,296 
  30.3%
Architectural Sales
  876
 
  829 
  47
 
  5.7%
SlenderWall Sales
  5,572
 
  2,048
 
  3,524
 
  172.1%
Miscellaneous Sales
  1,760
 
  2,793
 
  (1,033)
  (37.0)%
Barrier Sales
  7,264
 
  11,276
 
  (4,012)
  (35.6)%
Easi-Set and Easi-Span Building Sales
  2,114 
  2,484
 
  (370)
  (14.9)%
Utility and Farm Product Sales
  1,232
 
  1,492
 
  (260)
  (17.4)%
Miscellaneous Product Sales
  474
 
  562
 
  (88)
  (15.7)%
Total Product Sales
  29,159
 
  29,055
 
  104
 
  0.4%
Barrier Rentals 
  1,729 
  4,267
 
  (2,538)
  (59.5)%
Royalty Revenue
  1,675
 
  1,885
 
  (210)
  (11.1)%
Shipping and Installation
  7,657
 
  6,510
 
  1,147
  17.6%
Total Service Revenue
  11,061
 
  12,662
 
  (1,601)
  (12.6)%
Total Revenue
 $40,220
 
 $41,717
 
 $(1,497)
  (3.6)%

13

 
Soundwall Sales – Soundwall panel sales increased significantly by 30.3% in 2018 compared to 2017 due primarily to the larger number of projects in production during 2018 at all three manufacturing facilities as compared to 2017. The Company continued to have increasing soundwall sales out of Reidsville, North Carolina and Columbia, South Carolina to expand the customer base for highway soundwall panel production. Soundwall sales were higher at each location, driving the increase for 2018. Soundwall bid projects continue to remain strong in 2019 and management maintains a positive outlook with addtional projects being released on the east coast from Maryland to Georgia, although no assurance can be given on awards.
 
Architectural Sales – Architectural panel sales slightly increased by 5.7% in 2018 compared to 2017 as the Company was awarded more architectural wall panels to produce during 2018, which coincided with SlenderWall production (see the SlenderWall section below). The architectural product line is lagging far behind our other product lines, as it becomes a more of a commodity product in the market, but still continues to be a complimentary product to the Company's proprietary Slenderwall panel system. Management does believe, however, that 2019 architectural sales should increase over the 2018 sales volume.

SlenderWall Sales – SlenderWall panel sales increased significantly by 172.1% in 2018 when compared to 2017. The Company had a total of three SlenderWall projects in production in 2018, including the largest SlenderWall project ever produced. SlenderWall sales should stay strong in 2019 as the Company is working diligently to close numerous SlenderWall projects. Currently, the Company has received authorization to begin engineering and production on a couple of the projects by the owners. Management believes the SlenderWall projects have a high probability of being awarded to the Company, which will continue to increase awareness of the proprietary product in the marketplace, although no assurance can be given.

Miscellaneous Sales – Miscellaneous sales are highly customized precast concrete products that don't fit other standard revenue types. Miscellaneous sales decreased by 37.0% in 2018 when compared to 2017, due mainly to one large order for a highly customized barrier produced in 2017. Miscellaneous projects are difficult to predict from year to year, however, based on the Company's current backlog of orders and our bid outlook, management believes that production and sales of miscellaneous products in 2019 will be similar or less than 2018 levels.

Barrier Sales – Barrier sales are dependent on the number of highway projects active during the period and whether customers are more prone to buy barrier than to rent. In 2018 barrier sales decreased by 35.6% as compared to 2017. Although barrier production increased in 2018 as compared to 2017, a large portion is not being recognized as barrier sales due to the guaranteed buy-back agreement with a customer; instead the Company will recognize the income as barrier rental revenue (less associated expenses) over the duration of the project, for which deliveries began in the second quarter of 2018 and are expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2019. Accordingly, during and after product delivery to this customer, the Company will recognize revenue as barrier rental revenue until the buy-back option is either exercised or expired, which is expected to be in 2022. Thus, whereas the Company is likely to have completed its production and delivery of all product in 2019, it will recognize net profits through 2022. See "Overview". Management expects barrier sales to be lower for 2019 as compared to annual barrier sales for 2018.

Easi-Set® and Easi-Span® Building Sales – The Easi-Set® Buildings program includes Easi-Set®, plant assembled and Easi-Span®, site assembled, and an extensive line of pre-engineered restrooms. Building sales decreased by 14.9% in 2018 compared to 2017. The Company is currently producing buildings out of all three manufactcuring facilities. Building sales are expected in increase in 2019, although no assurance can be given.

Utility and Farm Product Sales – Utility and farm products are mainly underground utility vaults used in infrastructure construction. Utility and farm product sales decreased by 17.4% in 2018 compared to 2017. The utility market is extremely competitive, with many competitors who specialize in lower priced utility products. The Company is much more competitive on larger quantity projects, but did not receive significant orders during 2018. As the recently funded highway projects also require utility vaults for underground placement of utilities, management believes that manhole sales should improve for 2019.
 
14

 
Miscellaneous Product Sales – Miscellaneous products are products that are produced or sold that do not meet the criteria defined for other revenue categories. Examples would include precast concrete slabs, waste blocks or small add-on items. For 2018, miscellaneous product sales decreased by 15.7% when compared to 2017. The decrease in sales was due to less demand for these types of products. Management expects miscellaneous product sales to remain flat or decrease in 2019, as these products are typically small in nature and the Company focuses it's priorities on larger, more profitable jobs.

Barrier Rentals – Barrier rentals decreased by 59.5% in 2018 when compared to 2017. The decrease resulted primarily from one large rental contract awarded to the Company for a short-term barrier rental project in January 2017. As described in "Overview" and "Barrier Sales" above, the Company began recognizing revenue under a deferred guaruanteed buy-back agreement with a customer for barrier, which will continue until the buy-back option is either exercised or expires when the customer completes the project utilizing the barrier, which is expected to be in 2022. The Company's standard highway barrier rentals remained strong in 2018 with an increase over the year 2017. Management believes standard highway barrier rentals will continue to be strong in 2019 as the outlays for infrastructure spending by federal and state governments continues to increase. The Company increased its barrier rental fleet again during 2018, while also adding additional services and products to the rental division. The Company continues to pursue its rental barrier expansion plans for its local geographical sales areas and expects its core rental business to increase.
 
Royalty Revenue – Royalty revenues decreased by 11.1% in 2018 as compared to 2017. The decrease was a result of lower barrier royalties, which was mainly impacted by weather throughout the country. The Company signed addtional barrier and SlenderWall licensees during 2018. SlenderWall royalties continued to increase during 2018. The Company continues to explore opportunities around the world to expand the reach of SlenderWall and J-J Hooks barrier with the newest crash test being completed in Australia during 2018. Management believes that overall royalties will increase during 2019 as the construction industry continues to expand, especially in the infrastructure section of the market.

Shipping and Installation – Shipping revenue results from shipping our products to the customers' final destination and is recognized when the shipping services take place. Installation activities include installation of our products at the customers’ construction site. Installation revenue results when attaching architectural wall panels to a building, installing an Easi-Set® building at a customers' site, setting highway barrier, or setting any of our other precast products at a site specific to the requirements of the owner. Shipping and installation revenues increased by 17.6% for 2018 when compared to 2017. The increase was mainly due to the increase of delivery and installation of barrier associated with the deferred buy-back agreement and an increase in SlenderWall installation as compared to 2017. With large SlenderWall projects expected to be delivered in 2019, management believes that shipping and installation revenues for 2019 will be similar to 2018.
  
Cost of Goods Sold – Total cost of goods sold for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $29,730, a decrease of $523, or 1.7%, from $30,253 for the year ended December 31, 2017. Total cost of goods sold, as a percentage of total revenue not including royalties, increased to 77% for the year ended December 31, 2018 from 76% for the year ended December 31, 2017. The increase in the cost of goods sold as a percentage of total revenue was due, in part, to product mix and an increase in barrier rental sales. Raw material costs increased slightly in 2018 over 2017 with some inflationary pressures for the Company. Prices for steel and cement, some of our largest input costs, increased during 2018, and is expected to remain relatively flat in 2019. In addition, the Company had one large short-term barrier rental project in 2017 that sold at higher margins than many of our normal precast product sales, which had a favorable effect on margins for 2017. The Company continues to seek new vendor partnerships to help develop a price advantage for its raw materials as well as a continuous supply of these materials and has changed several vendors due to better supply sources and better pricing.

General and Administrative Expenses – For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company's general and administrative expenses increased by $422, or 8.0%, to $5,675 from $5,253 during the same period in 2017. The increase in general and administrative expenses resulted primarily from an increase in salaries and insurance expenses. The stock compensation continued in 2018 to reward and retain key associates for continuous improvement and performance.

Selling Expenses – Selling expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018 increased by $103, or 4.1%, to $2,599 from $2,496 for the year ended December 31, 2017. The increase was due to an increase in salary and commission expense with some of the largest sales contracts in Company history. The Company recently hired additional sales persons at the Columbia, South Carolina facility. With the current increase in sales and continued anticipation of increases in future years, additional sales persons remain a priority for the Company.
 
15

 
Operating Income – The Company had operating income for the year ended December 31, 2018 of $2,216 compared to operating income of $3,715 for the year ended December 31, 2017, a decrease of $1,499. The decrease in operating income was primarily the result of the deferred revenue of $6,592 and deferred costs of $5,304 associated with the guaranteed buy-back agreement, and the higher margin special project, which occurred in the first quarter of 2017.

Interest Expense – Interest expense was $176 for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $184 for the year ended December 31, 2017. The decrease of $8, or 4.3%, was due primarily to long-term balances nearing the end of the loan term. The North Carolina expansion is being financed primarily through borrowings, with expected completion in the third quarter of 2019, and accordingly, interest expense is expected to increase in 2019.

Income Tax Expense – The Company had income tax expense of $572 for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to income tax expense of $1,057 for the year ended December 31, 2017. The Company had an effective rate of 25.3% for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to an effective rate of 28.3% for the same period in 2017.

Net Income – The Company had net income of $1,687 for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to net income of $2,684 for the same period in 2017. The basic and diluted income per share was $0.33 for 2018, compared to basic and diluted income per share of $0.53 for the year ended December 31, 2017. There were 5,080 basic and 5,096 diluted weighted average shares outstanding in 2018 and 5,042 basic and 5,079 diluted weighted average shares outstanding in the 2017.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company financed its capital expenditures requirements for 2018 with cash flows from operations, cash balances on hand and notes payable to a bank. The Company had $4,503 of debt obligations at December 31, 2018, of which $1,711 is scheduled to mature within twelve months. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the Company made repayments of outstanding debt in the amount $660.

The Company has a note payable to Summit Community Bank (the “Bank”) with a balance of $711 as of December 31, 2018. The note has a remaining term of approximately three years and a fixed interest rate of 3.99% annually with monthly payments of $26 and is secured by principally all of the assets of the Company. Under the terms of the note, the Bank will permit chattel mortgages on purchased equipment not to exceed $250 for any one individual loan so long as the Company is not in default. The Company's maintains a limit of $3,500 for annual capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions and plant expansions. At December 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all covenants pursuant to the loan agreement.

On March 27, 2016, the Company executed an agreement to purchase the land, building and fixtures of a facility located in Hopkins, South Carolina ("Smith-Columbia") for a purchase price of $1,550. The facility is located on 39 acres of land and has approximately 40,000 square feet of production space. The agreement was completed in July 2016, and was financed by a new 15 year term facility from the Bank. The note has a remaining term of approximately eleven and one-half years and a fixed interest rate of 5.29% annually with monthly payments of $11 and is secured by all of the assets of Smith-Columbia and a guarantee by the Company. The balance of the note payable at December 31, 2018 was $1,169.
 
In addition to the notes payable discussed above, the Company also has a $4,000 line of credit with the Bank that had a balance of $1,000 at December 31, 2018 used to fund the construction of the North Carolina expansion, which will be converted to long-term debt when the financing closes in 2019. The line of credit is evidenced by a commercial revolving promissory note which carries a variable interest rate of prime and matures on September 18, 2019. The loan is collateralized by a first lien position on the Company's accounts receivable and inventory and a second lien position on all other business assets. Key provisions of the line of credit require the Company, (i) to obtain bank approval for capital expenditures in excess of $3,500 during the term of the loan; and (ii) to obtain bank approval prior to its funding any acquisition. On September 18, 2018 the Company received a Commitment Letter from the Bank to provide a guidance line of credit specifically to purchase business equipment in an amount up to $1,500. The commitment provides for the purchase of equipment with minimum advances of $50 for which a note payable will be executed with a term not to exceed five years with an interest rate at the Wall Street Journal prime rate plus .5% with a floor of 4.49% per annum. The loan is collateralized by a first lien position on all equipment purchased under the line. The commitment for the guidance line of credit matures on September 17, 2019. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had not purchased any equipment pursuant to the $1,500 commitment.
 
16

 
At December 31, 2018, the Company had cash totaling $1,946 and $1,107 of investment securities available for sale compared to cash totaling $3,390 and $1,098 of investment securities available for sale at December 31, 2017. During 2018, the Company’s operating activities provided $8,472 of cash due mainly to the treatment of the deferred buy-back guarantee, which the Company received payment as the product was produced. In 2018, investing activities used $10,642 in cash primarily for the barrier associated with the guaranteed buy-back and for the purchase of property and capital equipment. Financing activities provided $726 in cash in 2018, resulting primarily from new loans for the North Carolina expansion and the financing of capital expenditures.

Capital spending, including financed additions, increased from $2,741 in 2017 to $5,234 in 2018. Capital expenditures in 2018 included spending for rental barrier, yard expansions in Virginia, the North Carolina expansion, and manufacturing equipment. In 2019, the Company intends to continue to make capital improvements which include additional yard expansions in Virginia and the North Carolina expansion, along with manufacturing equipment. The Company anticipates capital spending for 2019 to be $2,000 within the $3,500 loan covenant from the bank, excluding acquisitions and plant expansions which is expected to be an additional $2,200.

The Company’s cash flow from operations is affected by production schedules set by contractors, which generally provide for payment 45 to 75 days after the products are produced and with some architectural contracts, retainage may be held until the entire project is completed. This payment schedule could result in liquidity problems for the Company because it must bear the cost of production for its products before it receives payment. The Company's days sales outstanding (DSO) in 2018 was 86 days compared to 75 days in 2017. The DSO increased due to the increase in retainage outstanding on large SlenderWall projects. Although no assurance can be given, the Company believes that anticipated cash flow from operations with adequate project management on jobs will be sufficient to finance the Company’s operations and necessary capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months.

The Company’s inventory at December 31, 2018 was $3,560 and at December 31, 2017 was $3,515, an increase of $45. The annual inventory turns for 2018 and 2017 were 11.9 and 7.1, respectively. The inventory turns for 2018 have increased due to the Company having limited inventory, and all major contracts were recognized in revenue, or as deferred revenue, as produced. Finished goods inventory remained flat for 2018 as compared to 2017.
 
Critical Accounting Policies

The Company’s significant accounting policies are more fully described in its Summary of Accounting Policies to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted within the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported in the accompanying financial statements and related notes. In preparing these consolidated financial statements, management has made its best estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the consolidated financial statements, giving due consideration to materiality. The Company does not believe there is a great likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported related to the accounting policies described below, however, application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and the use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.

The Company evaluates the adequacy of its allowance for doubtful accounts at the end of each quarter. In performing this evaluation, the Company analyzes the payment history of its significant past due accounts, subsequent cash collections on these accounts and comparative accounts receivable aging statistics. Based on this information, along with other related factors, the Company develops what it considers to be a reasonable estimate of the uncollectible amounts included in accounts receivable. This estimate involves significant judgment by the management of the Company. Actual uncollectible amounts may differ from the Company’s estimate.

The Company recognizes revenue on the sale of its standard precast concrete products at shipment date, including revenue derived from any projects to be completed under short-term contracts. Installation services for precast concrete products, leasing and royalties are recognized as revenue as they are earned. Certain sales of Soundwall, Slenderwall, and other architectural concrete products are recognized over time. Over time contracts are estimated based on the number of units produced (output method) during the period multiplied by the unit rate stated in the contract. As the output method is driven by units produced, the Company recognizes revenues based on the value transferred to the customer relative to the remaining value to be transferred. The Company also matches the costs associated with the units produced. If a contract is projected to result in a loss, the entire contract loss is recognized in the period when the loss was first determined and the amount of the loss updated in subsequent reporting periods. Revenue recognition also includes an amount related to a contract asset or contract liability. If the recognized revenue is greater than the amount billed to the customer, a contract asset is recorded in accounts receivable - unbilled. Conversely, if the amount billed to the customer is greater than the recognized revenue, a contract liability is recorded in customer deposits on uncompleted contracts. Changes in the job performance, job conditions and final contract settlements are factors that influence management’s assessment of total contract value and therefore, profit and revenue recognition.
 
17

 
Seasonality

The Company services the construction industry primarily in areas of the United States where construction activity may be inhibited by adverse weather during the winter. As a result, the Company may experience reduced revenues from December through February and realize the substantial part of its revenues during the other months of the year. The Company may experience lower profits, or losses, during the winter months, and as such, must have sufficient working capital to fund its operations at a reduced level until the spring construction season. The failure to generate or obtain sufficient working capital during the winter may have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Inflation

Management believes that the Company's operations were not significantly affected by inflation in 2018 and 2017, particularly in the purchases of certain raw materials such as cement and steel. The Company believes that raw material pricing will likely remain flat or slightly increase in 2019, although no assurance can be given regarding future pricing.

Backlog

As of March 5, 2019 the Company's sales backlog was approximately $31.1 million as compared to approximately $29.5 million at approximately the same time in 2018. It is estimated that most of the projects in the sales backlog will be produced within 12 months, but a few will be produced through the year 2020. There has been an increase in the backlog for 2019 when compared to the approximately the same time in 2018, and the Company expects it to continue to grow as the Company continues to bid on large infrastructure and SlenderWall projects, although no assurance can be given.

The risk exists that recessionary economic conditions may adversely affect the Company more than it has experienced to date. To mitigate these economic and other risks, the Company has a broader product offering than most competitors and has historically been a leader in innovation and new product development in the industry. The Company is continuing this strategy through the development, marketing and sales efforts for its new products.  

The Company continues to evaluate its processes, both production and administrative processes, and has streamlined many of these processes through lean activities. During 2018 and 2017, the Company, through lean activities, has begun to to see positive effects to the bottom line. It is management's intention to continue in this effort on a significant level to help reach our goals for 2019 which are to substantially reduce quality issues, significantly reduce design and drawing issues, while increasing production capacity and sales volume. In order to meet these goals, substantial improvements through lean tools and lean thinking must be implemented company wide.

The Company is continuing its marketing, advertising and promotional efforts for both Beach Prisms™, a shoreline erosion control product that uses the preferred natural "soft" approach as opposed to the "hard" approach of seawalls and jetties, to solve this worldwide problem and H2Out™, the world’s first “in the caulk joint” secondary drainage and street level leak detection product for panelized exterior cladding. While the Company has received a permit to install Beach Prisms™ at a specific site in Virginia and other states, and has received one permit in Maryland, it is still in the process of seeking to secure additional site permit approvals in Virginia and Maryland and the support of the appropriate environmental agencies in neighboring states for its Beach Prisms™. Although the Company is optimistic about the success of Beach Prisms™ and H2Out™, there can be no assurance of the commercial acceptance of these products.
  
18

 
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Not applicable.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

The consolidated financial statements table of contents, which appears on page F-2, are filed as part of this report.

Item 9.  Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Not applicable.
 
Item 9A.  Controls and Procedures

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. This process includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to risk that the internal control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate.

The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in “Internal Control – Integrated Framework (1992)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) as of December 31, 2018, and concluded that its controls were effective as of such date.

This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission rules that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

Disclosure controls and procedures

We carried out our evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report, pursuant to Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based on our evaluation, our principal executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report were effective.
 
19

 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2018 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B.    Other Information

None.
 
20

 
PART III

Item 10.    Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Certain information with respect to our Directors and executive officers is set forth below.

Name
 
Age
 
Director or
Executive
Officer Since
 
Position
Rodney I. Smith
 
80
 
1970
 
Chairman of the Board of Directors
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ashley B. Smith
 
56
 
1994
 
Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wesley A. Taylor
 
71
 
1994
 
Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
James Russell Bruner
 
63
 
2018
 
Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Richard Gerhardt
 
52
 
2016
 
Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adam J. Krick
 
33
 
2018
 
Chief Financial Officer

Background

The following is a brief summary of the background of each Director and executive officer of the Company:

Rodney I. Smith. Chairman of the Board of Directors. Rodney I. Smith co-founded the Company in 1960 and became its President and Chief Executive Officer in 1965. He served as President until 2012 and Chief Executive Officer until May 2018. Mr. Smith currently remains as a part-time employee of the Company. He has served on the Board of Directors and has been its Chairman since 1970. Mr. Smith is the principal developer and inventor of the Company’s proprietary and patented products. He is the past President of the National Precast Concrete Association. Mr. Smith has served on the Board of Trustees of Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Virginia since 1986. The Company believes that Mr. Smith’s extensive experience in the precast concrete products industry and his knowledge of the marketplace gives him the qualifications and skills necessary to serve in the capacity as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Ashley B. Smith.  Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director. Ashley B. Smith has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company since May 2018, President of the Company since 2012, Vice President of the Company from 1990 to 2011, and as a Director since 1994. He is the immediate past Chairman of the National Precast Concrete Association. Mr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Bridgewater College. Mr. Ashley B. Smith is the son of Mr. Rodney I. Smith. The Company believes that Mr. Smith’s education, experience in the precast concrete industry and business experience give him the qualifications and skills necessary to serve in the capacity as a director.

Wesley A. Taylor.  Director. Wesley A. Taylor served as Vice President of Administration of the Company from 1989 until 2017 and has served as a Director since 1994. Mr. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern State University. The Company believes that Mr. Taylor’s education, business experience and his extensive experience in the precast concrete industry gives him the qualifications and skills necessary to serve in the capacity as a director.
 
21

 
James Russell Bruner. Director. Mr. Bruner has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company since December 2018. Mr. Bruner has served as Chairman of Maersk Line, Limited (“Maersk Line”) since November 2016 and was President and Chief Executive Officer of Maersk Line from January 2014 to November 2017. Maersk Line owns and operates a fleet of container and tanker ships that are under the flag of the United States. These ships support military, government and humanitarian missions through the transportation of United States government cargo on an international basis. Through its subsidiaries, Maersk Line owns and/or operates ships designed to carry wheeled cargo and a fleet of tankers and maritime support vessels. Maersk Line operates as a subsidiary of A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, an integrated transport and logistics company headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. Mr. Bruner attended Bridgewater College in Virginia. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan Executive Program and Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program. The Company believes that Mr. Bruner's current and past business-related experience provides him with the knowledge and skills necessary to serve in the capacity as a director of the Company.

Richard Gerhardt. Director. Mr. Gerhardt has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company since 2016. He currently is serving his first term as a Fauquier County, Virginia Supervisor for the Cedar Run Magisterial District. Mr. Gerhardt presently serves on the boards of Path Foundation (formally Fauquier Health Foundation), Virginia Gold Cup Association and Fauquier Free Clinic. From 2003 to 2014, Mr. Gerhardt served in an escalating succession of positions for three global shipping and logistic companies: DHL Global Mail, ESI Global Logistic and MSI Worldwide. His eight years as President, Chief Operating Officer, and a shareholder of MSI Worldwide culminated in its acquisition by Belgian Post. Mr. Gerhardt holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a minor in Economics from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. The Company believes that Mr. Gerhardt's current and past business-related experience provides him with the knowledge and skills necessary to serve in the capacity as a director of the Company.

Adam J. Krick. Chief Financial Officer. Adam J. Krick has served as Chief Financial Officer of the Company since January 2018. Prior to becoming the Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Krick served as the Accounting Manager for the Company since 2014. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Krick worked in public accounting focusing on tax and business consulting. Mr. Krick is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from James Madison University.

Section 16(a)    Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) (“Section 16(a)”) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires executive officers and Directors and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent (10%) of the Company’s Common Stock to file initial reports of ownership on Form 3 and reports of changes in ownership on Form 4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any national securities exchange on which the Corporation’s securities are registered.

Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms furnished to the Company, the Company believes that all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its executive officers, Directors and greater than ten percent (10%) beneficial owners were satisfied during 2018, except that James Russell Bruner filed his Form 3 Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities one day after it was due during 2018.

Code of Ethics

The Company adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Accounting Manager and persons performing similar functions. The Board of Directors approved the code of ethics at their meeting on December 17, 2003. A copy of the code of ethics was filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2003, and a copy may be obtained without charge by requesting one in writing from Secretary, Smith-Midland Corporation, P.O. Box 300, 5119 Catlett Road, Midland, VA 22728.
 
22

 
Audit Committee

The Company created an Audit Committee in August 2018. The Audit Committee consists of James Russell Bruner and Richard Gerhardt, the two independent board members. Mr. James Russell Bruner is an audit committee financial expert.
 
Item 11.    Executive Compensation

The following table sets forth the compensation paid by the Company for services rendered for 2018 and 2017 to the principal executive officer and the Company’s two most highly compensated executive officers other than the principal executive officer (the “named executive officers”) as of the end of 2018:

Summary Compensation Table
 
 
 
Name and Principal Position
 
 
Year
 
 
Salary
($)(1)
 
 
Bonus
($)(2)
 

Stock Awards
($)
 
 
All Other
Compensation
($)
 
 
Total
($)
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rodney I. Smith
2018
  123,247
 
  60,350
 
  
 
  102,000 
  285,597
 
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board (3)(4)
2017
  116,774
 
  64,230
 
  228,900
 
  102,000 
  511,904
 
 
    
    
    
    
    
Ashley B. Smith
2018
  188,823
 
  119,006
 
   
  3,000 
  310,829
 
Chief Executive Officer and President (4)(5)
2017
  201,994
 
  59,808
 
   
  3,000 
  264,802
 
 
    
    
    
    
    
Adam J. Krick 
2018
  134,437
 
  20,350
 
  17,225
 
  3,000
 
  175,012
 
Chief Financial Officer  (6)

    
    
    
    
    

(1)  Represents salaries paid in 2018 and 2017 for services provided by each named executive officer serving in the capacity listed.

(2)  Represents amounts paid for annual performance-based bonus related to operations for the prior year.

(3)  Mr. Rodney I. Smith was paid $99,000 in each of 2018 and 2017, which is included in the column titled “All Other Compensation”, for royalty payments due under his employment contract with the Company, which is more fully described in the following section titled “Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment and Change in Control Arrangements”. In addition, Mr. Rodney Smith received director’s compensation in the amount of $3,000 for the years 2018 and 2017. Includes, under Stock Awards, 42,000 restricted shares granted to Mr. Smith in January 2017, vesting ratably, on an annual basis, over a three year vesting period. The value of the common stock shares at the grant date was $228,900.
 
(4)  Mr. Ashley B. Smith replaced Mr. Rodney I. Smith as Chief Executive Officer in May 2018.

(5)  Mr. Ashley B. Smith received director’s compensation in the amount of $3,000 for each of the years 2018 and 2017.
 
(6) Includes 2,500 restricted shares granted in January 2018 pursuant to the Company's 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, which shares vested in full immediately on the grant date. The value of the common stock shares at the grant date was $17,225. Mr. Krick received advisory director's compensation in the amount of $3,000 for the year 2018, as shown in "All Other Compensation".
 
23

 
Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End

The following table sets forth information for the named executive officers regarding any common share purchase options, stock awards or equity incentive plan awards that were outstanding as of December 31, 2018.

 
Name
 
 
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
 
 
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
 
 
Option
Exercise  Price
($/Sh)
 
 
Option
Expiration Date
 
 
Number of Shares or Units of Stock that have not Vested (#)(1)
 
 
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock that have not Vested ($)
 
 
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights that have not Vested (#)
 
 
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights that have not Vested ($)
 
Rodney I. Smith
   
   
   
   
 28,000 
 152,600
   
   
Ashley B. Smith
   
   
   
   
 10,667
 52,800
   
   
Adam J. Krick
   
   
   
   
 167
 825
   
   
TOTAL  
   
   
    
    
 38,834
 206,225
   
   

(1) Restricted shares granted vest, ratably, on an annual basis, over three years from the date of grant. All shares were granted prior to 2018.

Compensation of Directors

All Directors receive $1,000 per meeting as compensation for their services as Directors and are reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties.

Fiscal 2018 Director Compensation
 
Name
 
 
Fees  Earned
or Paid in
Cash ($)
 
 
Stock
Awards ($)(2)
 
 
Option
Awards  ($)
 
 
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compen-
sation
 
 
Non-
Qualified
Deferred
Compen-
sation
Earnings
 
 
All Other
Compen-
sation
 
 
Total ($)
 
Rodney I. Smith
  3,000 
  
 
   
   
   
   
  3,000(1)
Ashley B. Smith
  3,000 
   
   
   
   
   
  3,000(1)
Wesley A. Taylor
  3,000 
  
 
   
   
   
   
  3,000 
G. E. "Nick" Borst (retired)
  3,000 
   
   
   
   
   
  3,000 
James Russell Bruner
  1,000
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  1,000
 
Richard Gerhardt
  2,000 
   
   
   
   
   
  2,000 

(1)
Reflected in Summary Compensation Table above.

 
24

 
Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment and Change in Control Arrangements.

The Company entered an Employment Agreement with Rodney I. Smith, its former Chief Executive Officer and current Chairman of the Board, effective as of September 30, 2002. The agreement provides for an annual base salary of $99,000 (“Base Salary”), which is reviewed at least annually and adjusted from time to time at the determination of the Board of Directors. It also provides for an annual royalty fee of $99,000 payable as consideration for Mr. Smith’s assignment to the Company of all of his rights, title and interest in and to the Patents (as defined in the agreement). Payment of the royalty continues for as long as the Company is using the inventions underlying the Patents. Mr. Smith is also entitled to a performance-based bonus as determined by the Board each calendar year.

Mr. Smith’s employment agreement provides further that if Mr. Smith (i) voluntarily leaves the employ of the Company within six months of his becoming aware of a Change of Control (as defined in the agreement) of the Company, then he shall be entitled to receive a lump sum amount equal to three times the five-year average of his combined total annual compensation, which includes the Base Salary and bonus, less one dollar ($1.00), and certain other unpaid accrued amounts as of the date of his termination, or (ii) is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in the agreement) or leaves the Company with Good Reason (as defined in the agreement), Mr. Smith shall be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to three times the combined Base Salary and bonus paid during the immediately preceding calendar year, and such other unpaid accrued amounts. In any of such cases, the Company will provide Mr. Smith with certain Company fringe benefits for two years, subject to certain conditions as provided for in the agreement, and all of Mr. Smith’s unvested options to purchase Company stock shall become fully vested and exercisable on the date of termination. Mr. Smith will be entitled to exercise all such options for three years from the date of termination and all restricted stock shall become fully vested on the date of termination, if any. The Company will have no further obligations to Mr. Smith, other than with respect to the payment of royalties.
 
In the event Mr. Smith’s employment by the Company is terminated as a result of Mr. Smith’s (i) death, his estate shall be entitled to a lump sum payment of one times the combined Base Salary and bonus, and certain other accrued and unpaid amounts, or (ii) disability, Mr. Smith shall be entitled to Base Salary and bonus for a period of one year commencing with the date of termination, and all other unpaid accrued amounts.

The employment agreement also contains non-competition and non-solicitation covenants for one year following Mr. Smith’s termination of employment for any reason.
 
Mr. Smith is currently being compensated in accordance with the employment agreement.
 
25

 
Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The following table sets forth, as of March 5, 2019, certain information concerning ownership of the Company’s Common Stock by (i) each person known by the Company to own of record or be the beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of the Company’s Common Stock, (ii) named executive officers and Directors, and (iii) all Directors and Executive Officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, the stockholders listed in the table have sole voting and investment powers with respect to the shares indicated.

 
  Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
 
 
Number of Shares
Beneficially
Owned (2)
 
 
Percentage
of Class
 
Rodney I. Smith (1)(3)(4)(5)
  684,798 
  13.3%
 
    
    
Ashley B. Smith (1)(3)(4)(6)
  173,042 
  3.4%
 
    
    
Wesley A. Taylor (1)(7)
  28,667 
  * 
 
    
    
Richard Gerhardt (8)(9)
  2,000 
  * 
 
    
    
James Russell Bruner
  
 
  
 
   
 
    
Adam J. Krick (1)(10)
  3,390
 
  * 
 
    
    
ARS Investment Partners, LLC (11)
  391,206
 
  7.6%
 
    
    
Thompson Davis & Co., Inc. (12)
  525,033
 
  10.2%
 
    
    
Wax Asset Management, LLC (13)
  538,490
 
  10.5%
 
    
    
All directors and executive officers as a group (6 persons)(14)
  891,897
 
  17.4%

* Less than 1%.

(1)     The address for each of Messrs. Rodney I. Smith, Ashley B. Smith, Wesley A. Taylor, and Adam J. Krick is c/o Smith-Midland Corporation, P.O. Box 300, 5119 Catlett Road, Midland, Virginia 22728.

(2)     Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, shares of Common Stock that an individual or group has a right to acquire within 60 days pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants are deemed to be outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of such individual or group, but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person shown in the table.

(3)     Ashley B. Smith is the son of Rodney I. Smith. Each of Rodney I. Smith and Ashley B. Smith disclaims beneficial ownership of the other’s shares of Common Stock.

(4)     Does not include an aggregate of 79,883 shares of Common Stock held by Matthew Smith and Roderick Smith. Matthew Smith and Roderick Smith are sons of Rodney I. Smith, and brothers of Ashley B. Smith. Also, does not include shares held by Merry Robin Bachetti, sister of Rodney I. Smith and aunt of Ashley B. Smith, for which each of Rodney I. Smith and Ashley B. Smith disclaims beneficial ownership.

(5)     Does not include 2,500 shares of Common Stock held by Hazel Bowling, former wife of Rodney I. Smith, and mother of Mr. Smith’s children. Mr. Smith disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by Hazel Bowling. Includes 14,000 unvested restricted shares granted pursuant to the Company's 2016 Equity Incentive Plan.

(6)     Includes 10,667 unvested restricted shares granted pursuant to the Company's 2016 Equity Incentive Plan.

(7)     Includes 5,667 unvested restricted shares granted pursuant to the Company's 2016 Equity Incentive Plan.
 
(8)     Includes 667 unvested restricted shares granted pursuant to the Company's 2016 Equity Incentive Plan.
 
(9)     Address of holder is 8305 Old Dumfries Road, Catlett, VA 20119.
  
(10)   Includes 167 unvested restricted shares granted pursuant to the Company's 2016 Equity Incentive Plan.
 
26



(11)    Address of holder is 500 Fifth Avenue, Ste 1440, New York, NY 10110.

(12)    Address of holder is 15 S. 5th Street, Richmond, VA 23219.
 
(13)    Address of holder is 44 Cherry Lane, Madison, CT 06443.

(14)    Includes 31,168 unvested restricted shares for all directors and executive officers as a group.

 
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2018, regarding the Company's equity compensation plans.

 
Plan Category 
 
 
(a) Number of
securities to be
issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
 
 
(b) Weighted
average exercise
price of
outstanding
options,
warrants and
rights
 
 
(c) Number of
securities
remaining
available for
future issuance
under equity
compensation
plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))(1)
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1)
  
 
  
 
   
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
   
   
  226,500 
Total
  
 
  
 
  226,500 

(1) A brief description of the Company's 2016 Equity Incentive Plan is contained in Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The Equity Incentive Plan has a balance of 226,500 shares of stock unissued and available for award at December 31, 2018.

On October 13, 2016 the Company's Board of Directors adopted the Smith-Midland Corporation 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Equity Incentive Plan"). Employees, directors and consultants of the Company are eligible to participate in the Equity Incentive Plan. The Equity Incentive Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors or the full Board during such times as no committee is appointed by the Board or during such times as the Board is acting in lieu of the committee (the "Committee"). The Equity Incentive Plan provides for the grant of equity-based compensation in the form of restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance cash and other share-based awards. The Committee has the authority to determine the type of award, as well as the amount, terms and conditions of each award, under the Equity Incentive Plan subject to the limitations and other provisions of the Equity Incentive Plan. An aggregate of 400,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share, were authorized for issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan, subject to adjustment for stock splits, dividends, distributions, recapitalizations and other similar transactions or events, of which amount 226,500 remains available for issuance. If any shares subject to an award are forfeited, expire, or otherwise terminate without issuance of such shares, such shares shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration, or termination, again be available for issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan.
 
27


Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

There are two independent directors of the Company, Mr. James Russell Bruner and Mr. Richard Gerhardt. The test utilized by the Company for the determination of independence is that under the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules.

On an ongoing basis, the Company reviews all “related party transactions” (those transactions that are required to be disclosed by SEC Regulation S-K, Item 404), if any, for potential conflicts of interest and all such transactions must be approved by the Board of Directors. No transactions meet the criteria for disclosure.
 

Item 14.    Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The aggregate fees billed for each of the past two fiscal years for professional services rendered by BDO USA, LLP, the principal accountant for the audit of the Company; for assurance and related services related to the audit; for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning; and for all other fees for products and services are shown in the table below (in thousands). Fees are reported as billed to the Company.

Audit Fees. Fees charged as audit fees are for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and review of financial statements included in the Company’s Forms 10-Q or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

Tax Fees. Tax fees are for professional services rendered by BDO USA, LLP for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning.

Audit-Related Fees. Fees paid to BDO USA, LLP for the audit of the Company’s 401(k) benefit plan.
 
The Audit Committee has established pre-approval policies and procedures with respect to the engagement of BDO USA, LLP and such policies and procedures do not include the delegation of the responsibilities of the Audit Committee to management.

 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Audit Fees
 $168
 
 $186
 
Tax Fees
  54
 
  52 
Audit-Related Fees
  10 
  10 
 
    
    
Total Fees
 $232
 
 $248
 
 
28

 
PART IV

 
Item 15.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 
 
(1)
The financial statements of the Company are included following Part IV of this Form 10-K.
 
 
(2)
Schedules have been omitted since they are either not applicable, not required or the information is included elsewhere herein.
 
 
(3)
The following exhibits are filed herewith:

 
Exhibit 
Number
 
Description
 
 
 
3.1
 
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (No. 33-89312) declared effective by the Commission on December 13, 1995).
 
 
 
3.2
 
Bylaws (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 16, 2018).
 
 
 
4.1
 
Specimen Common Stock Certificate (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (No. 33-89312) declared effective by the Commission on December 13, 1995).
 
 
 
10.1
 
Lease Agreement, dated January 1, 1995, between the Company and Rodney I. Smith (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (No. 33-89312) declared effective by the Commission on December 13, 1995).
 
 
 
10.2
 
Collateral Assignment of Letters Patent, dated between the Company and Rodney I. Smith (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Form SB-2 (No. 33-89312) declared effective by the Commission on December 13, 1995).
 
 
 
10.3
 
 
 
 
10.4
 
 
 
 
10.5
 
 
 
 
10.6
 

 

10.7  
 
 
29

 
10.8
 
Contract for Purchase and Sale, dated February 16, 2016, between Nelson Cherry Properties, LLC and Smith-Columbia Corporation (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2016).
 
    
10.9
 
Promissory Note, dated July 19, 2016, in the amount of $1,317,500 issued by the Company to Summit Community Bank (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2016).
 
    
10.10
 
Commercial Security Agreement, dated July 19, 2016, between the Company, as debtor, and Summit Community Bank, as secured party, related to Company’s note payable in the amount of $1,317,500 with Summit Community Bank (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2016).
 
    
10.11
 
Commitment Letter, dated September 18,2018, for a line of credit in the of $4,000,000 with Summit Community Bank (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018).
 
    
10.12
 
Commitment Letter, dated September 18,2018, for an equipment line of credit in the amount of $1,500,000 with Summit Community Bank (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018).
 
 

10.13  
 
 
 

10.14  
 
 
    
10.15
 
Promissory Note, dated October 6, 2017, for the acquisition of six acres of land purchased in 2016 in the amount of $239,232 with Summit Community Bank (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 8, 2017).
 
    
10.16
 
2016 Equity Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-214788) filed on November 23, 2016).
 
    
14.1
 
Code of Professional Conduct (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2003).
 
    
21.1
 
List of Subsidiaries of the Company (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1995).
 
    
23.1
 
 
    
31.1
 
 
    
31.2
 
 
    
32.1
 
 
    
 
101.INS
 
 
XBRL Instance Document.
 
101.SCH
 
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
 
101.CAL
 
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
 
101.DEF
 
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
 
101.LAB
 
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
 
101.PRE
 
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
 
30

 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 
SMITH-MIDLAND CORPORATION
 
 
 
 
 
Date: March 26, 2019
By:  
/s/ Ashley B. Smith
 
 
 
Ashley B. Smith  
 
 
 
Chief Executive Officer and President
 
 
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date: March 26, 2019
By:  
/s/ Adam J. Krick
 
 
 
Adam J. Krick 
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
    
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)  
 
    
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Name
 
Capacity
 
Date
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Rodney I. Smith
 
Director
 
March 26, 2019
Rodney I. Smith
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Ashley B. Smith
 
Director
 
March 26, 2019
Ashley B. Smith
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Wesley A. Taylor
 
Director
 
March 26, 2019
Wesley A. Taylor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ James Russell Bruner
 
Director
 
March 26, 2019
James Russell Bruner
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Richard Gerhardt
 
Director
 
March 26, 2019
Richard Gerhardt
 
 
 
 
 
31


Smith-Midland Corporation
and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 
 

Smith-Midland Corporation
and Subsidiaries

Contents
 
 
 
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Income
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
 
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 

F-1


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Board of Directors and Stockholders
Smith-Midland Corporation
Midland, Virginia
 
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Smith-Midland Corporation (the “Company”) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2018, and the summary of significant accounting policies and related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and subsidiaries at December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2018, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
Basis for Opinion
 
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
 
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/BDO USA, LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 1996.
 
Richmond, Virginia
March 26, 2019 
 

F-2

 
Smith-Midland Corporation
and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share data)
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash
 $1,946
 
 $3,390
 
Investment securities, available-for-sale, at fair value
  1,107
 
  1,098
 
Accounts receivable, net
    
    
Trade - billed (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $214 and $208), including contract retentions
  12,281
 
  8,967
 
Trade - unbilled
  1,313
 
  251 
Inventories, net
    
    
Raw materials
  1,005
 
  819
 
Finished goods
  2,555
 
  2,696
 
Prepaid expenses and other assets
  480
 
  452
 
Refundable income taxes
  909
 
  1,359
 
 
    
    
Total current assets
  21,596
  19,032 
 
    
    
Property and equipment, net
  14,102
 
  9,867
 
 
    
    
Deferred buy-back lease asset, net
  5,304
 
  
 

    
    
Other assets
  367
 
  326
 
 
    
    
Total assets
 $41,369
 
 $29,225
 

See accompanying summary of significant accounting policies and notes to consolidated financial statements.
 

F-3

 
Smith-Midland Corporation
and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share data)
(continued)
 
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable - trade
 $4,212
 
 $3,059
 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
  610
 
  588
 
Deferred revenue
  1,683
 
  1,144
 
Accrued compensation
  1,556
 
  1,231
 
Dividend payable
  281
 
  256
 
Line-of-credit construction draw 
  1,000
 
  
 
Current maturities of notes payable
  711
 
  637
 
Customer deposits
  1,658
 
  919
 
 
    
    
Total current liabilities
  11,711
 
  7,834
 
 
    
    
Deferred buy-back lease obligation 
  6,592
 
  
 
Notes payable - less current maturities
  2,792
 
  2,896
 
Deferred tax liability
  1,427
 
  1,290
 
 
    
    
Total liabilities
  22,522
 
  12,020
 
 
    
    
Commitments and contingencies
   
   
 
    
    
Stockholders’ equity
    
    
Preferred stock, $.01 par value; authorized 1,000,000 shares, none issued and outstanding
   
   
Common stock, $.01 par value; authorized 8,000,000 shares; 5,223,245 and 5,214,148 issued and 5,112,825 and 5,047,895 outstanding, respectively
  51 
  51
 
Additional paid-in capital
  5,973
 
  5,719
 
Treasury stock, at cost, 40,920 shares
  (102)
  (102)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
  (37)
  (19)
Retained earnings
  12,962
 
  11,556
 
 
    
    
Total stockholders’ equity
  18,847
 
  17,205
 
 
    
    
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 $41,369
 
 $29,225
 
 
See accompanying summary of significant accounting policies and notes to consolidated financial statements.
 

F-4

  
Smith-Midland Corporation
and Subsidiaries
 
Consolidated Statements of Income
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Revenue
 
 
 
 
 
 
Product sales
 $29,159
 
 $29,055
 
Barrier rentals
  1,729
 
  4,267
 
Royalties
  1,675
 
  1,885
 
Shipping and installation
  7,657
 
  6,510
 
 
    
    
Total revenue
  40,220
 
  41,717
 
 
    
    
Cost of goods sold
  29,730
 
  30,253
 
 
    
    
Gross profit
  10,490
 
  11,464
 
 
    
    
General and administrative expenses
  5,675
  5,253
 
Selling expenses
  2,599
 
  2,496
 
 
    
    
Total operating expenses
  8,274
 
  7,749
 
 
    
    
Operating income
  2,216
  3,715
 
 
    
    
Other income (expense)
    
    
Interest expense
  (176)
  (184)
Interest income
  42
 
  37 
Gain on sale of assets
  126
 
  51
 
Other income
  51
  122
 
 
    
    
Total other income (expense)
  43
 
  26 
 
    
    
Income before income tax expense
  2,259
 
  3,741
 
 
    
    
Income tax expense
  572
 
  1,057
 
 
    
    
Net income
 $1,687
 
 $2,684
 
 
    
    
Basic and diluted earnings per share
 $0.33
 
 $0.53
 

See accompanying summary of significant accounting policies and notes to consolidated financial statements.
 

F-5

 
Smith-Midland Corporation
and Subsidiaries
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(in thousands)

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Net income
 $1,687
 $2,684
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: (1)
    
    
  Net unrealized holding income (loss)
  (18)
  6 
    Comprehensive income
 $1,669
 
 $2,690
 

(1) Net unrealized income (loss) on available for sale securities are shown net of income tax (benefit) expense of ($6) and $10 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

See accompanying summary of significant accounting policies and notes to consolidated financial statements.
 

F-6

 
Smith-Midland Corporation
and Subsidiaries
 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
(in thousands)

 
 
Common
Stock
 
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
 
Treasury
Stock
 
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
 
 
Retained
Earnings
 
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, January 1, 2017
 $50 
 $5,192
 
 $(102)
 $(25)
 $9,128
 
 $14,243
 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Accrued dividends payable
   
   
   
   
  (256)
  (256)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Net unrealized holding gain
   
   
   
  6 
   
  6 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Proceeds from options exercised
  1 
  116
 
   
   
   
  117
 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Vesting of restricted stock
  
 
  411
 
  
  
  
  411
 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Net income
   
   
   
   
  2,684
 
  2,684
 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Balance, December 31, 2017
  51
 
  5,719
 
  (102)
  (19)
  11,556
 
  17,205
 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Accrued dividends payable
   
   
   
   
  (281)
  (281)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Net unrealized holding loss
   
   
   
  (18)
   
  (18)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Proceeds from options exercised
  
 
  12
 
   
   
   
  12
 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Vesting of restricted stock
  
 
 242
 
   
   
   
 242
 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Net income
   
   
   
   
  1,687
 
  1,687
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Balance, December 31, 2018
 $51
 $5,973
 $(102)
 $(37)
 $12,962
 
 $18,847
 

See accompanying summary of significant accounting policies and notes to consolidated financial statements.
 

F-7

 
Smith-Midland Corporation
and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)

 
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 $1,687
 
 $2,684
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
    
    
Depreciation and amortization
  1,247
 
  926
 
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  6 
  (139)
Gain on sale of fixed assets
  (126)
  (51)
Stock compensation
 242
  411
 
Deferred taxes
  153
  526
 
(Increase) decrease in
    
    
Accounts receivable - billed
  (3,320)
  (1,640)
Accounts receivable - unbilled
  (1,062)
  20 
Inventories
  (45)
  (937)
Refundable income taxes
  450
  (1,107
)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
  (130)
  (285)
Increase (decrease) in
    
    
Accounts payable - trade
  1,153
 
  969
 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
  22
 
  294
 
Deferred revenue
  539
 
  420 
Accrued compensation
  325
 
  347
 
Deferred buy-back lease obligation, net
  6,592
 
   
Customer deposits
  739
  488 
 
    
    
Net cash provided by operating activities
 $8,472
 $2,926
 


F-8

 
Smith-Midland Corporation
and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(continued)

 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchases of investment securities available-for-sale
 $(33)
 $(32)
Purchases of property and equipment
  (5,234)
  (2,741)
Deferred buy-back lease asset
  (5,507)
   
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets
  132
 
  46
 
 
    
    
Net cash absorbed by investing activities
  (10,642)
  (2,727)
 
    
    
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
    
    
Proceeds from the line-of-credit construction draw
  1,000
 
   
Proceeds from long-term borrowings
  630
 
  184
 
Repayments of long-term borrowings
  (660)
  (584)
Dividends paid on common stock
  (256)
  (49)
Proceeds from options exercised
  12
 
  117
 
 
    
    
Net cash provided by or (absorbed by) financing activities
  726
  (332)
 
    
    
Net decrease in cash
  (1,444)
  (133)
Cash, beginning of year
  3,390
 
  3,523
 
 
    
    
Cash, end of year
 $1,946
 
 $3,390
 
 
    
    
Cash payments for interest
 $176
 
 $184
 
Cash payments for income taxes
 $
 
 $1,292
 

See accompanying summary of significant accounting policies and notes to consolidated financial statements.
 

F-9

 
Smith-Midland Corporation
and Subsidiaries

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business

Smith-Midland Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Company”) develop, manufacture, license, sell and install precast concrete products for the construction, transportation and utilities industries in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Midwestern and Southeastern regions of the United States.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Smith-Midland Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries consist of Smith-Midland Corporation, a Virginia corporation, Smith-Carolina Corporation, a North Carolina corporation, Smith-Columbia Corporation, a South Carolina corporation, Easi-Set Industries, Inc., a Virginia corporation, Concrete Safety Systems, Inc., a Virginia corporation, and Midland Advertising and Design, Inc., doing business as Midland Advertising + Design, a Virginia corporation. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Cash

The Company considers all unrestricted cash and money market accounts purchased with an original or remaining maturities of three months or less as cash.

Investments

Investments in marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale and are stated at market value with unrealized holding gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity until realized.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method, or net realizable value. Inventory reserves (in thousands) were approximately $65 and $39 at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is stated at cost. Expenditures for ordinary maintenance and repairs are charged to income as incurred. Costs of betterments, renewals, and major replacements are capitalized. At the time properties are retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and allowance for depreciation are eliminated from the accounts and any gain or loss on disposition is reflected in income.

Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

 
 
Years
 
Buildings
  10-40 
Trucks and automotive equipment
  3-10 
Shop machinery and equipment
  3-10 
Land improvements
  10-15 
Rental equipment
  5-10 
Office equipment
  3-10 
 

F-10

 
Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

As of December 31, 2018, the Company has not identified any uncertain tax positions. The Company files tax returns in the U.S. Federal and various state jurisdictions. The Company recognizes, when applicable, interest and penalties related to income taxes in other income (expense) in its consolidated statement of income. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. or state tax examinations for the years prior to 2015. The Company does not believe there will be any material changes in unrecognized tax positions over the next twelve months.

Stock Compensation

On October 13, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan which allows the Company to grant up to 400,000 shares of common stock of the Company to employees, officers, directors and consultants. The grants may be in the form of restricted or performance shares of common stock of the Company. The fair value of each restricted stock grant is estimated to be the sales price of the common stock at the close of business on the day of the grant.

Revenue Recognition

Product Sales - Over Time

Under Topic 606, the Company recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for goods or services provided. Revenue associated with contracts with customers is recognized over time as the Company's performance creates or enhances customer controlled assets or creates or enhances an asset with no alternative use, which the Company has an enforceable right to receive compensation as defined under the contract for performance completed. To determine the amount of revenue to recognize over time, the Company recognizes revenue over the contract terms based on the output method. The Company applied the "as invoiced" practical expedient as the amount of consideration the Company has the right to invoice corresponds directly with the value of the Company's performance to date.
 
As the output method is driven by units produced, the Company recognizes revenues based on the value transferred to the customer relative to the remaining value to be transferred. The Company also matches the costs associated with the units produced. If a contract is projected to result in a loss, the entire contract loss is recognized in the period when the loss was first determined and the amount of the loss updated in subsequent reporting periods. Revenue recognition also includes an amount related to a contract asset or contract liability. If the recognized revenue is greater than the amount billed to the customer, a contract asset is recorded in accounts receivable - unbilled. Conversely, if the amount billed to the customer is greater than the recognized revenue, a contract liability is recorded in customer deposits on uncompleted contracts. Changes in the job performance, job conditions and final contract settlements are factors that influence management’s assessment of total contract value and therefore, profit and revenue recognition.
 
A portion of the work the Company performs requires financial assurances in the form of performance and payment bonds or letters of credit at the time of execution of the contract. Some contracts include retention provisions of up to 10% which are generally withheld from each progress payment as retainage until the contract work has been completed and approved. 
  

F-11

  
Product Sales - Point in Time
 
For certain product sales that do not meet the over time criteria, under Topic 606 the Company recognizes revenue when the product has been shipped to the destination in accordance with the terms outlined in the contract where a present obligation to pay exists as the customers have gained physical possession of the product.
 
Accounts Receivable and Contract Balances
 
The timing of when we bill our customers is generally dependent upon advance billing terms, milestone billings based on the completion of certain phases of the work, or when services are provided or products are shipped. Projects with performance obligations recognized over time that have costs and estimated earnings recognized to date in excess of cumulative billings, are reported on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as "Accounts receivable trade - unbilled" (i.e. contract assets). Projects with performance obligations recognized over time that have cumulative billings in excess of costs and estimate earnings recognized to date, are reported on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as "Customer deposits" (i.e. contract liabilities).
 
Any uncollected billed amounts for our performance obligations recognized over time, including contract retentions, are recorded within accounts receivable trade - billed. At December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, accounts receivable included contract retentions (in thousands) of approximately $1,704 and $1,065, respectively, which are considered contract assets.
 
Our billed and unbilled revenue may be exposed to potential credit risk if our customers should encounter financial difficulties, and we maintain reserves for specifically-identified potential uncollectible receivables. At December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, our allowances for doubtful accounts (in thousands) were $214 and $208, respectively.
 
Effect of Adopting ASC Topic 606
 
No adjustment to beginning 2018 retained earnings was recorded as a result of our adoption of Topic 606 due to no changes in the timing of our revenue recognition for our uncompleted contracts. Further, the difference in our results for 2018 between application of the new standard on our contracts and what results would have been if such contracts had been reported using the accounting standards previously in effect, for such contracts, did not change.
 
Sale to Customer with a Buy-Back Guarantee
 
The Company entered into a buy-back agreement with one specific customer. Under this agreement, the Company guaranteed to buy-back product at a predetermined price at the end of the long-term project, subject to the condition of the product. Although the Company receives payment in full as the product is produced, we are required to account for these transactions as operating leases. The amount of sale proceeds equal to the buy-back obligation, included in "Deferred buy-back lease obligation" in the liabilities section of the consolidated balance sheet, is deferred until the buy-back is exercised or expired. The remaining sale proceeds are deferred in the same account and recognized on a straight-line basis over the usage period, such usage period commencing on delivery to the job-site and ending at the time the buy-back is exercised or expired. The Company capitalizes the cost of the product on the consolidated balance sheet shown in "Deferred buy-back lease asset, net", and depreciates the value, less residual value, to cost of leasing revenue in "Cost of goods sold" over the estimated useful life of the asset.
 
In the case the customer does not exercise the buy-back option and retains ownership of the product at the end of the usage period, the guarantee buy-back liability and any deferred revenue balances related to the product are settled to revenue, and the net book value of the asset is expensed to cost of leasing revenue. If the customer exercises the buy-back guarantee option, the Company purchases the product back in the amount equal to the buy-back guarantee, we settle any remaining deferred balances, in excess of the buy-back payment, to leasing revenue, and we reclassify the net book value of the product on the consolidated balance sheet to "Inventories" or "Property and equipment, net" depending on the intended use at the time. The revenue is being recognized in accordance with Topic 840, Leases.
 
Barrier Rentals - Leasing Fees
 
Leasing fees are paid by customers at the beginning of the lease agreement and are recorded as deferred revenue. The deferred revenue is then recognized each month as lease income for the duration of the lease, in accordance with Topic 840, Leases.
 
Royalty Income
 
The Company licenses certain products to other precast companies to produce the Company's products to engineering specifications under the licensing agreements. The agreements are typically for five year terms and require royalty payments from 4% to 6% of total sales of licensed products, which are paid on a monthly basis. The revenues from licensing agreements are recognized in the month earned, in accordance with Topic 606-10-55-65.
 
 
F-12
 
 
Shipping and Installation
 
Shipping and installation revenues are recognized as a distinct performance obligation in the period the shipping and installation services are provided to the customer, in accordance with Topic 606.
 
Disaggregation of Revenue
In the following table, revenue is disaggregated by primary sources of revenue (in thousands):
 
Revenue by Type
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
Change
 
 
% of
Change
 
Product Sales:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Soundwall Sales
 $9,867
 
 $7,571 
 $2,296 
  30.3%
Architectural Sales
  876
 
  829 
  47
 
  5.7%
Slenderwall Sales
  5,572
 
  2,048
 
  3,524
 
  172.1%
Miscellaneous Sales
  1,760
 
  2,793
 
  (1,033)
  (37.0)%
Barrier Sales
  7,264
 
  11,276
 
  (4,012)
  (35.6)%
Easi-Set and Easi-Span Building Sales
  2,114 
  2,484
 
  (370)
  (14.9)%
Utility and Farm Product Sales
  1,232
 
  1,492
 
  (260)
  (17.4)%
Miscellaneous Product Sales
  474
 
  562
 
  (88)
  (15.7)%
Total Product Sales
  29,159
 
  29,055
 
  104
 
  0.4%
Barrier Rentals 
  1,729
  4,267
 
  (2,538)
  (59.5)%
Royalty Revenue
  1,675
 
  1,885
 
  (210)
  (11.1)%
Shipping and Installation
  7,657
 
  6,510
 
  1,147
  17.6%
Total Service Revenue
  11,061
 
  12,662
 
  (1,601)
  (12.6)%
Total Revenue
 $40,220
 
 $41,717
 
 $(1,497)
  (3.6)%

Warranties 
 
Smith-Midland products are typically sold pursuant to an implicit warranty as to merchantability only. Warranty claims are reviewed and resolved on a case by case method. Although the Company does incur costs for these types of expense, historically the amount of expense is minimal.

Sales and Use Taxes

Use taxes on construction materials are reported gross in cost of goods sold.

Segment Reporting

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available and evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company currently operates in one operating and reportable business segment for financial reporting purposes.

Reclassifications of Certain Items Included within Comparable Prior Year Periods
 
Certain minor reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to current year presentation. Use tax was reclassified to Cost of goods sold from General and administrative expenses on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ending December 31, 2017 of $117. There was no impact to net income for the period.

 
F-13
 
 
Risks and Uncertainties

The Company sells products to highway contractors operating under government funded highway programs and other customers and extends credit based on an evaluation of the customer’s financial condition, generally without requiring collateral. Exposure to losses on receivables is principally dependent on each customer’s financial condition. The Company monitors its exposure to credit losses and maintains allowances for anticipated losses. Management reviews accounts receivable on a weekly basis to determine the probability of collection. In performing this evaluation, the Company analyzes the payment history and its significant past due accounts, subsequent cash collections on these accounts and comparative accounts receivable aging statistics. Based on this information, along with other related factors, the Company develops what it considers to be a reasonable estimate of the uncollectible amounts included in accounts receivable. Management believes the allowance for doubtful accounts at December 31, 2018 is adequate. However, actual write-offs may exceed the recorded allowance. Due to inclement weather, the Company may experience reduced revenue from December through February and may realize the substantial part of its revenue during the other months of the year.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying value for each of the Company’s financial instruments (consisting of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and short-term line of credit) approximates fair value because of the short-term nature of those instruments. The estimated fair value of the long-term debt approximates carrying value based on current rates offered to the Company for debt of the similar maturities.

Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting (U.S. GAAP) principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expense (in thousands) was approximately $384 and $404 in 2018 and 2017, respectively.
 
Earnings Per Share

Earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock and dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution of securities that could share in earnings of the Company.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews the carrying values of its long-lived and identifiable intangible assets for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable based on undiscounted estimated future operating cash flows. When any such impairment exists, the related assets will be written down to fair value. No impairment losses have been recorded through December 31, 2018.

Recent Accounting Pronouncement

Leases. In 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).” Topic 842 establishes a new lease accounting model for leases. The most significant changes include the clarification of the definition of a lease, the requirement for lessees to recognize for all leases a right-of-use asset and a lease liability in the consolidated balance sheet, and additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures which are designed to give financial statement users information on the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. Expenses are recognized in the consolidated statement of income in a manner similar to current accounting guidance. Lessor accounting under the new standard is substantially unchanged. We adopted this standard, and all related amendments thereto, effective January 1, 2019, using the transition approach, which applies the provisions of the new guidance at the effective date without adjusting the comparative periods presented. We have elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which among other things, allows us to carry forward the historical accounting relating to lease identification and classification for existing leases upon adoption. We have made an accounting policy election to keep leases with an initial tmer of 12 months or less off the consolidated balance sheet. We are finalizing our evaluation of the impacts that the adoption of this accounting guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements and estimate approximately $400 of right-of-use assets and liabilities will be recognized in our consolidated balance sheet upon adoption.
 

F-14

 
SMITH-MIDLAND CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. - PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment consists of the following (in thousands):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Land and land improvements
 $2,452
 
 $1,538
 
Buildings
  6,949
 
  5,394
 
Machinery and equipment
  12,709
 
  10,913
Rental equipment
  3,659
 
  2,763
 
 
    
    
 
  25,769
 
  20,608
 
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
  (11,667)
  (10,741)
 
    
    
 
 $14,102
 
 $9,867
 

Depreciation expense and amortization (in thousands) was approximately $1,247 and $926 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

NOTE 2. - NOTES PAYABLE

Notes payable consist of the following (in thousands):
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Note payable to a Bank, maturing September 2021; with monthly payments of approximately $26 of principal and interest fixed at 3.99%; collateralized by principally all assets of the Company.
 $799
 
 $1,071
 
 
    
    
Note payable to a Bank, maturing July 2031; with monthly payments of approximately $11 of principal and interest fixed at 5.29%; collateralized by principally all assets of Smith-Columbia Corporation and guaranteed by Smith-Midland Corporation.
  1,169
 
  1,234
 
 
    
    
Note payable to a Bank, maturing April 2021; with monthly payments of approximately $6.2 of principal and interest at prime at variable rate (5.29% at December 31, 2018 and 2017); collateralized by certain property of the Company.
  163
 
  227
 
 
    
    
Construction loan draw on-line-of-credit for the North Carolina Expansion, which is part of the $4,000 line-of-credit listed below
  1,000
 
   
 
    
    
Installment notes, collateralized by certain machinery and equipment maturing at various dates, primarily through 2021; with monthly payments varying from $0.3 to $4.1 with weighted average interest at 4.7% and 4.2% at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
  1,372
 
  1,001
 
 
    
    
A revolving line-of-credit evidenced by a note payable to a Bank, with the maximum amount of $4,000, maturing October 1, 2019, with interest only payments and an initial rate of 5.00% adjustable monthly (5.50% at December 31, 2018). The line-of-credit is collateralized by a first lien position on the Company's accounts receivable and inventory and a second lien position on all other business assets.
   
   
 
    
    
 
  4,503
 
  3,533
 
Less current maturities
 1,711
 
  637
 
 
    
    
 
 $2,792
 
 $2,896 
 

F-15

Smith-Midland Corporation
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(continued)
 
The Company’s note payable, which matures in September 2021, with a balance (in thousands) of $799 at December 31, 2018, is secured by all of the assets of the Company. The commitment letter provided by the bank dated September 18, 2018 includes certain restrictive covenants, which require the Company to maintain minimum levels of tangible net worth, places limits on annual capital expenditures and the payment of cash dividends. At December 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all covenants pursuant to the loan agreement, with the increase in the annual capital expenditures limit from $1,500 to $3,500, excluding acquisitions and plant expansions, during the year ended December 31, 2017 and for subsequent years.

The aggregate amounts of notes payable maturing in each of the next five years and thereafter are as follows (in thousands):

Year Ending December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2019
 $1,711
 
2020
 737
 
2021
 577
 
2022
 271
 
2023
 216
Thereafter
 991
 
 
    
 
 $4,503 

The construction loan draw on the line-of-credit is expected to be refinanced to long-term debt. Financing is expected to be secured in the second quarter of 2019, and at that time the $1,000 will be converted to a long-term note payable.
 
NOTE 3. - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company currently leases a portion of its Midland, Virginia property from its Chairman of the Board, on a month-to-month basis, as additional storage space for the Company's finished work product. The lease agreement calls for an annual rent of $24,000. 

The Company has an employment agreement with its former CEO and current Chairman of the Board, Rodney I. Smith. The agreement provides for an annual base salary of $99,000 and an annual royalty fee of $99,000 payable as consideration for his assignment to the Company of all of his rights, title and interest in certain patents. Payment of the royalty continues for as long as the Company is using the inventions underlying the patents.

In the event the employment by the Company ceases as a result of the (i) death, his estate shall be entitled to a lump sum payment of one times the combined Base Salary and bonus, and certain other accrued and unpaid amounts, or (ii) disability, he shall be entitled to Base Salary and bonus for a period of one year commencing with the date of termination, and all other unpaid accrued amounts.
 
Mr. Smith is currently being compensated in accordance with the employment agreement.

F-16

Smith-Midland Corporation
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(continued)
 
NOTE 4. - INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense is comprised of the following (in thousands):

 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Federal:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
 $334
 
 $455
 
Deferred
 119
 
  421
 
 
  453
 
  876
 
State:
    
    
Current
 85
 
  76
 
Deferred
 34
 
  105
 
 
  119
  181 
 
    
    
 
 $572
 
 $1,057
 


The provision for income taxes differs from the amount determined by applying the federal statutory tax rate to pre-tax income as a result of the following (in thousands):
    
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Income taxes at statutory rate
 $474
 
  21.0%
 $1,269
 
  34.0%
Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:
    
    
    
    
State income taxes, net of federal benefit
 89
 
  4.0%
  136
 
  3.6%
Deferred true-ups
  58
 
  2.6%
  161
 
  4.3%
Provision-to-return
  (19)
  (0.8)%
  152
 
  4.1%
Rate reduction
   
  %
  (664)
  (17.8)%
Other
  (30)
  (1.5)%
  3 
  0.1%
 
    
    
    
    
 
 $572
  25.3%
 $1,057
 
  28.3%


F-17

Smith-Midland Corporation
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(continued)
 
Deferred tax assets (liabilities) are as follows (in thousands):
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Depreciation
 $(1,667)
 $(1,185)
Unrealized losses on investments available for sale
  (9)
  5 
Retainage
  (425)
  (264)
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  53
 
  52
 
Prepaid expenses
  (78)
  (98)
Vacation accrued
  78
 
  67
 
Deferred buy-back
  321
 
  
 
State NOL carryforward
  26
 
  48
 
Deferred income
  198 
   
Other
  76
 
  85
 
 
    
    
Net deferred tax liability
 $(1,427)
 $(1,290)


NOTE 5. - EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The Company has a savings plan that qualifies under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC"). Participating employees may elect to contribute a percentage of their salary, subject to certain limitations. The Company contributes 50% of the participant's contribution, up to 4% of the participant's compensation, as a matching contribution. Total match contributions (in thousands) by the Company for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were approximately $148 and $140, respectively.

NOTE 6. - STOCK COMPENSATION

On September 19, 2008, the Board of Directors and Stockholders of the Company adopted the 2008 Stock Option Plan (the "2008 Plan") in addition to the 2004 Stock Option Plan, which allowed the Company to grant up to 500,000 options to employees, officers, directors and consultants to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock. Options granted under the 2008 Plan could have been either Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options. There have not been any grants under the 2008 Stock Option Plan since its inception. The Board of Directors replaced the 2008 Stock Option Plan with the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan described below.

Options granted under granted under the 2004 Stock Option Plan, generally vested over a three year period. The Company recognizes stock option expense over the vesting period. The Company did not record any stock option expense for the years 2018 and 2017 as all of the options were fully vested.

There were 10,333 options exercised for the year ending December 31, 2018 and there were 56,800 options exercised in 2017. There were no options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2018.


F-18

Smith-Midland Corporation
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(continued)
 
The following tables summarize activity under the 2004 Stock Option Plan of the Company and the stock options outstanding at December 31, 2018:

 
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
 
Options
Outstanding
 
 
Vested and
Exercisable
 
Balance, December 31, 2016
 $1.96 
  68,133 
  68,133 
Granted
   
   
   
Forfeited
  (2.21)
  (1,000)
  (1,000)
Exercised
  (1.89)
  (56,800)
  (56,800)
 
    
    
    
Balance, December 31, 2017
  1.21
 
  10,333 
  10,333 
Granted
   
   
   
Forfeited
   
   
   
Exercised
  (1.21)
  (10,333)
  (10,333)
 
    
    
    
Balance, December 31, 2018
 $
 
  
 
  
 
 
    
    
    

On October 13, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, which allows the Company to grant up to 400,000 shares of restricted common stock of the Company to employees, officers, directors and consultants. The grants may be in the form of restricted or performance shares of common stock of the Company. There were 2,500 and 72,000 shares of restricted stock issued during the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The shares have a three year vesting period which vests ratably, on an annual basis, over a three year period. The total intrinsic value (in thousands) of the outstanding shares of restricted stock is $361.

The fair value of restricted stock awards is estimated to be the market price of the Company's common stock at the close of date of grant. Restricted stock activity during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 is as follows:

 
 
Number of Shares
 
 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share
 
Non-vested, December 31, 2016
  103,000 
 $4.95
 
Granted
  72,000 
  5.45
 
Vested
  49,667
 
  5.10
 
Forfeited
   
   
 
    
    
Non-vested, December 31, 2017
  125,333
 
  5.19
 
Granted
  2,500 
  7.00
 
Vested
  54,333
  5.27
 
Forfeited
  4,000
 
  4.95
 
 
    
    
Non-vested, December 31, 2018
 69,500
 
 $5.19 


F-19

Smith-Midland Corporation
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(continued)
 
Awards are being amortized to expense ratably, on an annual basis, over a three year vesting term, except one grant that vested immediately. Stock compensation (in thousands) for the year ended December 31, 2018 was approximately $242, based upon the value at the date of grant. Stock compensation for the year ended December 31, 2017 was approximately $411, based upon the value at the date of grant. The total unrecognized compensation cost related to the non-vested restricted stock is approximately $361 as of December 31, 2018.
 
NOTE 7. Fair Value Measurements

The Company applies the guidance that is codified under ASC 820-10 related to assets and liabilities recognized or disclosed in the financial statements at fair value on a recurring basis. ASC 820-10 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The provisions of ASC 820-10 only apply to the Company’s investment securities, which are carried at fair value.

ASC 820-10 clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants based on the highest and best use of the asset or liability. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. ASC 820-10 requires valuation techniques to measure fair value that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. These inputs are prioritized as follows:

Fair Value Hierarchy
Inputs to Fair Value Methodology
Level 1
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
Level 2
Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the financial instrument; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; or inputs that are derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market information
Level 3
Pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies or similar techniques and at least one significant model assumption is unobservable or when the estimation of fair value requires significant management judgment

The Company categorizes a financial instrument in the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to its fair value measurement.
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
 
 
Quoted Market Prices in Active Markets
(Level 1)
 
 
Internal Models with Significant Observable
Market Parameters
(Level 2)
 
 
Internal Models
with Significant Unobservable
Market Parameters
(Level 3)
 
 
Total Fair Value
Reported in
Financial Statements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mutual Funds
 $1,107
 
 $
 
 $
 
 $1,107
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2017
 

 
Quoted Market Prices in Active Markets
(Level 1)
 
 
Internal Models with Significant Observable
Market Parameters
(Level 2)
 
 
Internal Models
with Significant Unobservable
Market Parameters
(Level 3)
 
 
Total Fair Value
Reported in
Financial Statements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Mutual Funds
 $1,098
 
 $
 
 $
 
 $1,098
 

F-20

Smith-Midland Corporation
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(continued)
 
NOTE 8. - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company has an employment agreement with its former CEO and current Chairman of the Board, Rodney I. Smith. The agreement provides for an annual base salary of $99,000 and an annual royalty fee of $99,000 payable as consideration for his assignment to the Company of all of his rights, title and interest in certain patents. Payment of the royalty continues only for as long as the Company is using the inventions underlying the patents.
 
In the event the employment by the Company ceases as a result of the (i) death, his estate shall be entitled to a lump sum payment of one times the combined Base Salary and bonus, and certain other accrued and unpaid amounts, or (ii) disability, he shall be entitled to Base Salary and bonus for a period of one year commencing with the date of termination, and all other unpaid accrued amounts.
 
Mr. Smith is currently being compensated in accordance with the employment agreement.

The Company is party to legal proceedings and disputes which may arise in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of the Company, it is unlikely that liabilities, if any, arising from legal disputes will have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position of the Company.
 

F-21

 
NOTE 9. - EARNINGS PER SHARE

Earnings per share are calculated as follows (in thousands, except earnings per share):
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Basic earnings per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income available to common shareholder
 $1,687
 
 $2,684
 
 
    
    
Weighted average shares outstanding
  5,080
 
  5,042
 
 
    
    
Basic earnings per share
 $0.33
 
 $0.53
 
 
    
    
Diluted earnings per share
    
    
 
    
    
Income available to common shareholder
 $1,687
 
 $2,684
 
 
    
    
Weighted average shares outstanding
  5,080
 
  5,042
 
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock
  16
 
  37
 
 
    
    
Total weighted average shares outstanding
  5,096
 
  5,079
 
 
    
    
Diluted earnings per share
 $0.33
 
 $0.53
 

There were no options or restricted stock excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation for the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
 
 
 F-22