SONO TEK CORP - Annual Report: 2021 (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: February 28, 2021

Commission File Number: 000-16035

(Name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (845) 795-2020

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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 Section 15(d) of the Exchange 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 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.

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 has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

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

As of August 31, 2020 the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the Registrant's Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was approximately $55,312,174 computed by reference to the average of the bid and asked prices of the Common Stock on said date, which average was $3.81.

The Registrant had 15,502,558 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of May 18, 2021.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: None.

PART I

Sono-Tek Corporation (the “Company”, “Sono-Tek”, “We” or “Our”) is the world leader in the design and manufacture of ultrasonic coating systems for applying precise, thin film coatings to protect, strengthen, smooth or create surfaces on parts and components for the microelectronics/electronics, alternative energy, medical, industrial and emerging research & development/other markets. We design and manufacture custom-engineered ultrasonic coating system solutions and also provide smaller sub-systems containing our patented nozzles and generators for manufacturers to incorporate into their own equipment.

Our ultrasonic nozzle systems use high frequency ultrasonic vibrations that atomize liquids into minute drops that can be applied to surfaces at low velocity providing microscopic layers of protective and other useful materials over a wide variety of surfaces, including glass and metals. Our equipment solutions are environmentally-friendly, efficient and highly reliable. They enable dramatic reductions in overspray, savings in raw materials, water and energy usage and provide improved process repeatability, transfer efficiency, high uniformity and reduced emissions. We serve a variety of industries and applications and have a broad base of customers. Our largest customer accounted for 12% of revenue in fiscal 2021.

The applications that are employing our unique coating technology and expertise have been expanding as the advantages of ultrasonic coatings are more broadly recognized. The original application of our technology was to coat the inner surface of blood collection tubes used for medical diagnostic testing. Our products enable the application of a thin and uniform coating of material that prevents coagulation of blood. Following that initial breakthrough, our technology was then used for applying uniform flux coatings to printed circuit boards, a critical part of the fabrication process for all electronic devices. A later application for much larger surfaces was to address the many challenges that glass manufacturers faced. They needed a solution for specialized glass applications in the construction and automotive industries. Among other things, our ultrasonic nozzles are used to provide coatings that improve durability, create filters, increase clarity, reduce reflection, enable conductivity, and enhance safety. We have invested significant resources to enhance our market diversity by leveraging our core ultrasonic coating technology. As a result, we have increased our portfolio of products, the industries we serve, and the countries in which we sell our products.

We were founded by the inventor of the ultrasonic nozzle, Dr. Harvey Berger, and incorporated in New York on March 21, 1975. We became a public company in 1987 and our stock is traded on the OTCQX U.S. tier of the OTC exchange under the ticker symbol “SOTK”. Our corporate offices are located in Milton, New York where our production facilities are co-located. We also have a sales and service office in Singapore and an application process development laboratory in Guangzhou, China. We are ISO 9001 qualified since registering in September 1998 and have been recertified annually since then.

Our fiscal year ends on February 28. We refer to the fiscal year ended February 28, 2021 as “fiscal 2021” and use similar protocol for previous fiscal years.

Our Products, Markets and Customers

Our products are used in a wide range of applications. We provide our customers a broad offering of ultrasonic spray coating equipment solutions custom suited for their requirements and we continually expand our offerings to address new applications. Our products include fully-integrated Multi-Axis Coating Systems, Integrated Coating Systems, Fluxing Systems, OEM Systems and other related systems. We invest heavily in research and development to continually bring to market new solutions for our customers, to increase our market share and to solve high value problems in manufacturing.

Our Multi-Axis Coating Systems, Integrated Coating Systems and Fluxing Systems provide complete fully-integrated solutions for our customers, while we created the Universal Align to offer our customers subsystems that integrate our nozzles and generators that they can then incorporate into their original equipment.

We have built our brand and reputation on providing high quality, highly reliable products that provide consistent performance for critical applications in demanding operating environments. Our surface coating solutions are used in 24/7 work schedules, under harsh and challenging manufacturing environments, where they provide value in a continuous and dependable fashion.

We target the following markets where our product quality and consistency and application knowledge are valued by our customers:

Our principal customers include original equipment manufacturers, distributors and end users of our products in the industries that we serve.

Our products are sold primarily through our direct sales personnel, select independent distributors and through sales representatives around the world that are trained on our technologies and products. Our distributors are typically experts in their industries and recognize the significant value that our technology provides their customers. We provide extensive training and on-site support with our direct sales force and application engineers, who also respond to leads generated by our web site and the trade shows in which we participate. To grow sales, we continue to strengthen our laboratory and applications engineering personnel and support our worldwide process development labs with additional ultrasonic coating equipment, in conjunction with sponsoring various technical training seminars for our distribution network.

We also provide application consulting services enabling our customers to rely on our surface coating expertise and specific customer process optimization. We offer these services both in our application process development laboratory and at our customers’ sites where we can assist in the design and development of customized coating systems.

We are a global business and our geographical sales mix can vary from year to year depending on the timing of orders from customers. In fiscal 2021, 65% of our sales were from outside the U.S. and Canada.

Our Strengths

From our core strengths and capabilities we:

Our Strategy

Our strategy is to further advance the use of ultrasonic coating technologies for the microscopic coating of surfaces in a broader array of applications which enable better outcomes for our customers’ products and processes. We believe product superiority is imperative and that it is attained through the extensive experience that we have in the coatings industry, our proprietary manufacturing know-how and skills, and our unique work force that we have built over the years.

We intend to leverage our innovative technologies, proprietary know-how, unique talent and experience, and global reach to:

To accomplish these objectives, we believe that we must judiciously deploy our monetary and human capital in order to expand our presence in our targeted markets and create broader offerings for our customers.

Availability of Raw Materials and Working Capital Practices

Historically, we have not been adversely impacted by the availability of raw materials or components used in the manufacture of our products. All raw materials used in our products are readily available from many different domestic suppliers. We purchase circuit board assemblies and sheet metal components from a wide range of suppliers throughout the world.

We carefully manage our inventory using lean manufacturing processes. We provide a limited warranty on all of our products that covers parts and labor for a period of one year from the date of sale.

Research and Development

We believe that our long-term growth is dependent upon the development and commercialization of ultrasonic coating technologies to solve customers’ high value problems across a wide spectrum of applications in various industries, while also advancing the utility of our core technology. During fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020, we spent $1,645,000 and $1,428,000, respectively, on research and development activities related to new products and services and the ongoing improvement of existing products and services. As a percentage of sales, research and development expenses were 11.1% and 9.3% in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Intellectual Property

Our business is based in part on the technology covered by our U.S. patents. We also rely on unpatented know-how in the design and production of our nozzle systems, subsystems and complete solutions. We have executed non-disclosure and non-compete agreements with all of our employees to safeguard our intellectual property. We execute reciprocal non-disclosure agreements with our key customers to safeguard any jointly developed intellectual property.

Competition

We operate in competitive markets in many of our industry segments. We compete against alternative coating technologies, as well as global and regional manufacturers of nozzles and other products based on price, quality, product features, application engineering and follow up service. We maintain our competitive position by providing highly effective solutions that meet our customers’ requirements and needs. In several emerging markets, we encounter less competition compared to more established markets based on the uniqueness of our ultrasonic technology in these applications.

Information Regarding Sales Outside the United States and Canada

During fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020, sales to customers outside the U.S. and Canada accounted for approximately $9,678,000, or 65% of total revenue, and $10,849,000, or 71% of total revenue, respectively.

Employees

As of February 28, 2021, we employed 66 full-time and 3 part-time employees. We believe that relations with our employees are generally good.

Available Information

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Therefore, we file “reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains the reports, proxy statements and other information for registrants that file electronically, as we do. Additionally, these reports may be read and copied at the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Information regarding the SEC’s Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

We maintain a website at http://www.sono-tek.com. On our site, we provide copies of our Forms 8-K, 10-K, 10-Q, Proxy and Annual Report at no charge as soon as reasonably practicable after filing electronically such material with the SEC. Copies are also available, without charge, from Sono-Tek Corporation, 2012 Route 9W, Milton, NY 12547.

We own an industrial park located in Milton, New York. The industrial park consists of approximately 50,000 square feet of office and warehouse space. Our offices, product development, manufacturing and assembly facilities are located in the industrial park. We presently utilize 37,000 square feet or 74% of the park for our operations. We believe our facilities will be adequate for the foreseeable future and the ownership of the industrial park provides us opportunity to expand as we grow.

Approximately 13,000 square feet of the park is leased or available for lease to unrelated third parties at any given time.

PART II

Our common stock currently trades on the OTCQX U.S. tier of the OTC exchange under the ticker symbol “SOTK”. Quotations of our common stock price reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.

As of May 17, 2021, there were 111 record holders of our common stock and approximately 825 beneficial shareholders of our Common Stock.

We have not paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock since inception. We intend to retain earnings, if any, for use in our business and for other corporate purposes.

Forward-Looking Statements

We discuss expectations regarding our future performance, such as our business outlook, in our annual and quarterly reports, news releases, and other written and oral statements. These “forward-looking statements” are based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and our operating plans. They are inherently uncertain, and investors must recognize that events could turn out to be significantly different from our expectations and could cause actual results to differ materially. These factors include, among other considerations, general economic and business conditions; political, regulatory, tax, competitive and technological developments affecting our operations or the demand for our products; the duration and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic; the extent and duration of the pandemic’s adverse effect on economic and social activity, consumer confidence, discretionary spending and preferences, labor and healthcare costs, and unemployment rates, any of which may reduce demand for some of our products and impair the ability of those with whom we do business to satisfy their obligations to us; our ability to sell and provide our services and products, including as a result of continued pandemic related travel restrictions, mandatory business closures, and stay-at home or similar orders; any temporary reduction in our workforce, closures of our offices and facilities and our ability to adequately staff and maintain our operations resulting from the pandemic; the ability of our customers and suppliers to continue their operations as result of the pandemic, which could result in terminations of contracts, losses of revenue; the recovery of the Electronics/ Microelectronics and Medical markets following COVID-19 related slowdowns; and further adverse effects to our supply chain; maintenance of increased order backlog, including effects of any COVID-19 related cancellations; the imposition of tariffs; timely development and market acceptance of new products and continued customer validation of our coating technologies; adequacy of financing; capacity additions, the ability to enforce patents; maintenance of operating leverage; maintenance of increased order backlog; consummation of order proposals; completion of large orders on schedule and on budget; continued sales growth in the medical and alternative energy markets; successful transition from primarily selling ultrasonic nozzles and components to a more complex business providing complete machine solutions and higher value subsystems; and realization of quarterly and annual revenues within forecasted range.

We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

Overview

Founded in 1975, Sono-Tek Corporation designs and manufactures ultrasonic coating systems that apply precise, thin film coatings to a multitude of products for the microelectronics/electronics, alternative energy, medical and industrial markets, including specialized glass applications in construction and automotive. We also sell our products to emerging research and development and other markets. We have invested significant resources to enhance our market diversity by leveraging our core ultrasonic coating technology. As a result, we have increased our portfolio of products, the industries we serve and the countries in which we sell our products.

Our ultrasonic nozzle systems use high frequency, ultrasonic vibrations that atomize liquids into minute drops that can be applied to surfaces at low velocity providing thin layers of protective materials over a surface such as glass or metals. Our solutions are environmentally-friendly, efficient and highly reliable. They enable dramatic reductions in overspray, savings in raw material, water and energy usage and provide improved process repeatability, transfer efficiency, high uniformity and reduced emissions.

We believe product superiority is imperative and that it is attained through the extensive experience we have in the coatings industry, our proprietary manufacturing know-how and skills and our unique work force we have built over the years. Our growth strategy is to leverage our innovative technologies, proprietary know-how, unique talent and experience, and global reach to further advance the use of ultrasonic coating technologies for the microscopic coating of surfaces in a broader array of applications that enable better outcomes for our customers’ products and processes.

We are a global business with approximately 65% of our sales generated from outside the United States and Canada. Our direct sales team and our distributor and sales representative network is located in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Over the last few years, we have expanded our sales capabilities by increasing the size of our direct sales force, adding new distributors and sales representatives. In addition, we have established testing labs at our distribution partner sites in China, Taiwan, Germany, Turkey, Korea and Japan, while also recently expanding our first testing lab that is co-located with our manufacturing facilities in New York. These labs provide significant value for demonstrating to prospective customers the capabilities of our equipment and enabling us to develop custom solutions to meet their needs.

Over the last decade, we have shifted our business from primarily selling our ultrasonic nozzles and components to a more complex business providing complete machine solutions and higher value subsystems to original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”). This strategy has resulted in significant growth of our average unit selling price; with our larger machines often selling for over $300,000 and system prices sometimes reaching over $1,000,000. As a result of this transition, we have broadened our addressable market and we believe that we can grow sales on a larger scale. We expect that we will experience wide variations in both order flow and shipments from quarter to quarter.

Highlights

Highlights for fiscal 2021 include:

Market and Geographic Diversity

We have invested significant resources to enhance our market diversity. Leveraging our core ultrasonic coating technology, we expanded our portfolio of products, the industries we serve, and the countries in which we sell our products.

Today, we serve five industries: microelectronics/electronics, medical, alternative energy, emerging research and development and other, as well as the industrial markets.

We are a geographically diverse company with a presence directly and through distributors and trade representatives, in the United States and Canada, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), APAC (Asia Pacific) and Latin America (including Mexico). In fiscal 2021, approximately 65% of sales originated outside of the United States and Canada. We established an infrastructure to drive our geographic diversity including a newly equipped application process development laboratory in APAC, a strengthened sales organization of application engineers, expanded talent on our engineering team, the latest, most sophisticated design software tools, as well as an expanded, highly trained installation and service organization.

We believe that the new products we have introduced, the new markets we have penetrated, and the expanded regions in which we now sell our products, are a strong foundation for our future sales growth and enhanced profitability.

Results of Operations

Sales and Gross Profit:

The Covid-19 pandemic reached the US in full force only two weeks into our fiscal year, resulting in our application process development labs coming to a grinding halt, and all trade shows and customer visits being canceled. Fortunately, we had been creating strong digital connections with our customers before the pandemic, enabling Sono-Tek to quickly shift our customers from in person interactions to virtual experiences in our lab, remote virtual sales meetings, and virtual machine installations. Many of our customers canceled or delayed orders during the pandemic, but our growth initiatives offset most of these cancelations, and we only experienced a 3% dip in sales. Gross profit remained stable at 47.2%.

In fiscal 2021, our sales include approximately $4,100,000 for orders that were delivered to three customers.

Product Sales:

Integrated coating systems showed 17% growth due to a significant shipment of customized machinery to apply nano-coatings in the textile industry. A 12% sales dip occurred in fluxing systems in fiscal 2021 as many of these customers remained in lockdown for a significant amount of time due to Covid. Multi-Axis coating systems dropped 18% in fiscal 2021, which was impacted greatly by a $1.6 million multi-axis robot sold in fiscal 2020. Although we did receive an order for another multi-axis robot of similar value in fiscal 2021, this is not scheduled to ship until fiscal 2022.

Market Sales:

The Industrial market showed 402% growth, primarily a result of an order for large multi-nozzle coating systems sold to an overseas textile manufacturer. Alternative Energy customers had several Covid lockdowns throughout the year negatively affecting fuel cell system sales, however, an increase in sales to the carbon capture market offset this dip and resulted in a 12% overall increase for the Alternative energy market. The Electronics / Microelectronics market dipped 29% due to several of our PCB fluxing customers in this market halting operations during Covid lockdowns, and a large 6-axis robot system that sold in fiscal 2020, that did not repeat in fiscal 2021.

Geographic Sales:

In fiscal 2021, approximately 65% of sales originated outside of the United States and Canada. This compares with 71% in fiscal 2020. The increased sales to US and Canada are a result of many US companies shifting manufacturing operations back to the US, due to the operational challenges of manufacturing in foreign countries during the Covid-19 pandemic. Decreased sales to Latin America of 20% were driven by a drop in PCB fluxer sales during Covid lockdowns in Mexico and Brazil.

Operating Expenses:

Research and Product Development:

Research and product development costs increased $217,000 to $1,645,000 for fiscal 2021 due to increased salaries and related costs. In the prior fiscal year, some of our personnel were assigned to specific customer sales orders and the associated research and development costs were recorded in inventory, as incurred.

Marketing and Selling:

Marketing and selling costs decreased $613,000 to $2,790,000 for fiscal 2021 due to decreases in commissions, travel and trade show expenses.

During fiscal 2021, we expended approximately $621,000 for commissions as compared with $865,000 for the prior fiscal year, a decrease of $244,000. The decrease in commission expense is primarily the result of a decrease in international sales being generated by our external distributors, which are commissioned at a higher rate than our in-house sales team.

During fiscal 2021, we expended approximately $78,000 for advertising and trade show expense compared with $297,000 for the prior fiscal year, a decrease of $219,000.

During fiscal 2021, we expended approximately $9,000 for travel expense compared with $153,000 for the prior fiscal year, a decrease of $144,000.

General and Administrative:

General and Administrative costs decreased $145,000 to $1,222,000 for fiscal 2021 due to decreases in stock based compensation expense, bank fees, bad debt expense and accrued Covid-19 mandated sick time. These decreases were partially offset by increased health insurance premiums and annual meeting and proxy expenses related to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Operating Income:

Our operating income increased $225,000, to $1,340,000 in fiscal 2021 compared with $1,115,000 for the prior fiscal year. Decreased gross profit offset by a larger decrease in operating expenses were key factors in the improvement of operating income in fiscal 2021. Operating margin for fiscal 2021 increased to 9.0% compared with 7.3% in the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of net sales, operating expenses were down 200 basis points to 38% in fiscal 2021 compared with 40% in fiscal 2020. As Covid-19 conditions improve, many of these costs are expected to increase when sales and marketing related activities re-open for travel and trade shows.

Interest Expense:

Interest expense increased to $40,000 for fiscal 2021 as compared with $33,000 for the prior fiscal year. The current year’s interest expense of $40,000 includes a mortgage prepayment penalty of $14,000. In December 2020, the Company paid the entire outstanding principal balance due on its mortgage.

Interest and Dividend Income:

Interest and dividend income decreased $79,000 to $23,000 for fiscal 2021 as compared with $102,000 for the prior fiscal year. The decrease in interest and dividend income is due to the reallocation of our investments into US Treasury securities and certificates of deposit. Our present investment policy is to invest excess cash in highly liquid, low risk US Treasury securities and certificates of deposit. At February 28, 2021, the majority of our holdings are rated at or above investment grade.

Income Tax Expense:

We recorded income tax expense of $227,000 for fiscal 2021 compared with $106,000 for the prior fiscal year. The increase in income tax expense in fiscal 2021 is due to a decrease in available research and development credits.

Net Income:

Net income increased by $14,000 to $1,121,000 for fiscal 2021 compared with $1,107,000 for the prior fiscal year.

For fiscal 2021 and 2020, we do not believe that our sales revenue or net income has been affected by the impact of inflation or changing prices.

Impact of Covid 19

In December 2019, the Covid-19 outbreak occurred in China and has since spread to other parts of the world. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 to be a global pandemic and recommended containment and mitigation measures. On March 13, 2020, the United States declared a national emergency concerning the outbreak. Along with these declarations, extraordinary and wide-ranging actions have been taken by international, federal, state, and local public health and governmental authorities to contain and combat the outbreak and spread of Covid-19 in regions across the United States and the world. These actions include quarantines, social distancing and “stay-at-home” orders, travel restrictions, mandatory business closures and other mandates that have substantially restricted individuals’ daily activities and curtailed or ceased many businesses’ normal operations.

In response to the pandemic and these actions, we began implementing changes in our business in March 2020 to protect our employees and customers:

While all of these measures have been necessary and appropriate, they may result in additional costs and may adversely impact our business and financial performance. As our response to the pandemic evolves, we may incur additional costs and will potentially experience adverse impacts to our business, each of which may be significant. In addition, an extended period of remote work arrangements could impair our ability to effectively manage our business, and introduce additional operational risks, including, but not limited to, cybersecurity risks and increased vulnerability to security breaches, cyber-attacks, computer viruses, ransomware, or other similar events and intrusions. We may experience, decreases in demand and customer orders for our products in all sales channels, as well as temporary disruptions and closures of our facilities due to decreased demand and government mandates.

Covid-19 has also impacted various aspects of the supply chain as our suppliers experience similar business disruptions due to operating restrictions from government mandates. We continue to monitor procurement of raw materials and components used in the manufacturing, distribution and sale of our products, but continued disruptions in the supply chain due to Covid-19 may cause difficulty in sourcing materials or unexpected shortages or delays in delivery of raw materials and components, and may result in increased costs in our supply chain.

We have implemented plans to reduce spending in certain areas of our business, including reductions or delays in capital expenditures, reduced trade show participation costs, reduced travel expenditures and may need to take additional actions to reduce spending in the future.

We are closely monitoring and assessing the impact of the pandemic on our business. The extent of the impact on our results of operations, cash flow, liquidity, and financial performance, as well as our ability to execute near- and long-term business strategies and initiatives, will depend on numerous evolving factors and future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be reasonably predicted.

Given the inherent uncertainty surrounding Covid-19, we expect the pandemic may continue to have an adverse impact on our business in the near term. Should these conditions persist for a prolonged period, the Covid-19 pandemic, including any of the above factors and others that are currently unknown, may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flow, liquidity, and financial condition.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Working Capital – Our working capital increased $1,729,000 to $8,902,000 at February 28, 2021 from $7,173,000 at February 29, 2020. The increase in working capital was primarily the result of the current period’s net income and non-cash charges partially offset by purchases of equipment and repayment of long-term debt.

We aggregate cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities in managing our balance sheet and liquidity. For purposes of the following analysis, the total is referred to as “Cash.” At February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020, our working capital included:

The following table summarizes the accounts and the major reasons for the $769,000 increase in “Cash”:

Stockholders’ Equity - Stockholders' equity increased $1,169,000 from $9,782,000 at February 28, 2020 to $10,951,000 at February 28, 2021. The increase was a result of the current year’s net income of $1,121,000 and $48,000 in additional equity related to stock based compensation awards. The details of stock based compensation are explained in Note 4 in our financial statements.

Operating Activities – We generated $725,000 of cash in our operating activities in fiscal 2021 compared with generating $3,254,000 in fiscal 2020. The decrease in cash generated by operating activities was mostly the result of increased accounts receivable, inventories, and decreased customer deposits. These uses of cash were partially offset by increased accounts payable and accrued expenses.

Investing Activities – In fiscal 2021, cash used in investing activities was $595,000 compared with their using $2,576,000 of cash in fiscal 2020. Capital spending in fiscal 2021 was $344,000 for the purchase or manufacture of equipment, furnishings and leasehold improvements and patent costs. This compares with $722,000 for the purchase of equipment and furnishings in fiscal 2020.

In fiscal 2021 we used $344,000 for the purchase of marketable securities compared with $1,854,000 for the purchase of marketable securities in fiscal 2020.

In fiscal 2021 we received $100,000 in grant proceeds from the utility which provides our electricity as a result of our completion of certain energy efficiency related improvements.

Financing Activities – In fiscal years 2021 and 2020, we used $708,000 and $163,000 in cash, respectively, for the principal payments on our mortgage.

Bank Credit Facilities:

We currently have a revolving credit line of $1,500,000 and a $750,000 equipment purchase facility, both of which are with a bank. The revolving credit line is collateralized by the Company’s accounts receivable and inventory. The revolving line of credit is payable on demand and must be retired for a 30-day period, once annually. As of February 28, 2021, there were no outstanding borrowings under the line of credit.

As of February 28, 2021, $849,000 of the Company’s credit line was being utilized to collateralize letters of credit issued to customers that have remitted cash deposits to the Company on existing orders. The unused portion of the credit line was $651,000 as of February 28, 2021. The letters of credit expire at various times in the fiscal year ending February 28, 2022.

Paycheck Protection Program Loan

During fiscal 2021, we entered into a loan transaction pursuant to which we received proceeds of $1,001,640 (the “PPP Loan”) under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). The PPP, established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), provides for loans to qualifying companies and is administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (the “SBA”).

The PPP Loan was evidenced by a promissory note (the “Note”), between the Company and M&T Bank, (the “Bank”). The Note had a two-year term, accrued interest at the rate of 1.0% per annum, and was prepayable at any time without payment of any premium. No payments of principal or interest were due during the six-month period beginning on the date of the Note. Beginning on the seventh month following the date of the Note, we were required to make 18 monthly payments of principal and interest in the amount of $56,370.

Under the terms of the CARES Act, PPP loan recipients can apply for and be granted forgiveness for all or a portion of loan granted under the PPP, with such forgiveness to be determined, subject to limitations, based on the use of the loan proceeds for payment of payroll costs and any payments of mortgage interest, rent, and utilities. However, at least 75 percent of the PPP Loan proceeds must be used for eligible payroll costs. The terms of any forgiveness may also be subject to further requirements in any regulations and guidelines the SBA may adopt.

The Company applied for forgiveness of the PPP Loan in December 2020. On April 1, 2021, the Company received notice from the Bank that the Bank had received confirmation from the SBA that the application for forgiveness of the PPP Loan had been approved. The loan forgiveness request in the amount of $1,001,640 was applied to the Company’s entire outstanding PPP Loan balance with the Bank.

Off - Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any Off - Balance Sheet Arrangements as of February 28, 2021.

Critical Accounting Policies

The discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure on contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions.

Critical accounting policies are defined as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties, and may potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. As of February 28, 2021, management believes that there are no critical accounting policies applicable to the Company that are reflective of significant judgments and or uncertainties.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of "temporary differences" by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities. If it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized, a valuation allowance is recognized. The Company uses a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. As of February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020, there were no accruals for uncertain tax positions.

Stock-Based Compensation

The computation of the expense associated with stock-based compensation requires the use of a valuation model. ASC 718 is a complex accounting standard, the application of which requires significant judgment and the use of estimates, particularly surrounding Black-Scholes assumptions such as stock price volatility and expected option lives to value equity-based compensation. We currently use a Black-Scholes option pricing model to calculate the fair value of stock options. We primarily use historical data to determine the assumptions to be used in the Black-Scholes model and have no reason to believe that future data is likely to differ materially from historical data. However, changes in the assumptions to reflect future stock price volatility and future stock award exercise experience could result in a change in the assumptions used to value awards in the future and may result in a material change to the fair value calculation of stock-based awards. ASC 718 requires the recognition of the fair value of stock compensation in net income. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of our estimates and assumptions, significant unanticipated changes in those estimates, interpretations and assumptions may result in recording stock option expense that may materially impact our financial statements for each respective reporting period.

Revenue Recognition

 The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, the core principle of which is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for those goods or services.

Impact of New Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.” The guidance issued in this update simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions to the guidance in ASC 740 related to the approach for intra-period tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition for deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. ASU 2019-12 also simplifies aspects of the accounting for franchise taxes and enacted changes in tax laws or rates and clarifies the accounting for transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill. The ASU will be effective for the Company on March 1, 2021, with early adoption permitted, and is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 - Financial Instruments-Credit Losses-Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, have been released in November 2018 (2018-19), November 2019 (2019-10 and 2019-11) and a January 2020 Update (2020-02) that provided additional guidance on this Topic. This guidance replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. For SEC filers meeting certain criteria, the amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. For SEC filers that meet the criteria of a smaller reporting company (including this Company) and for non-SEC registrant public companies and other organizations, the amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022. Early adoption will be permitted for all organizations for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently in the process of its analysis of the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (ASC 820): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 removes certain disclosures, modifies certain disclosures and adds additional disclosures. The ASU is effective for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted the new standard on March 1, 2020, and the adoption did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Other than Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2019-12, ASU 2016-13 and ASU 2018-13 discussed above, all new accounting pronouncements issued but not yet effective have been deemed to be not applicable to the Company. Hence, the adoption of these new accounting pronouncements, once effective, is not expected to have an impact on the Company.

Our financial statements are presented on pages 30 to 49 of this Report.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report on Form 10-K.  Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date, at a reasonable level of assurance, in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Act is (i) accumulated and communicated to our management (including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer) in a timely manner, and (ii) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chairman & CEO (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (principal accounting officer), we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of February 28, 2021. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART III

Identification of Directors

* Member of the Audit Committee.

The Board of Directors is divided into two classes. The directors in each class serve for a term of two years. The terms of the classes are staggered so that only one class of directors is elected at each annual meeting of the Company. The terms of Drs. Coccio and Riemer and Messrs. Strasburg and Harshbarger run until the annual meeting to be held in 2021. The terms of Dr. Mowbray, Mr. Haskell and Ms. O’Donnell run until the annual meeting to be held in 2022, and in each case until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified.

Audit Committee

The Company has a separate designated standing Audit Committee established and administered in accordance with SEC rules. The three members of the Audit Committee are Philip A. Strasburg, CPA (who serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee), Carol O’Donnell and Eric Haskell, CPA. The Board of Directors has determined that each member if the Audit Committee meets the independence criteria prescribed by NASDAQ governing the qualifications for audit committee members and each Audit Committee member meets NASDAQ’s financial knowledge requirements. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Strasburg qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC.

The Audit Committee is responsible for (i) selecting an independent public accountant for ratification by the stockholders, (ii) reviewing material accounting items affecting the consolidated financial statements of the Company, and (iii) reporting its findings to the Board of Directors.

Compensation Committee

The Company’s executive compensation is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, which was established in 2020. The members of the Compensation Committee are Dr. Riemer, Ms. O’Donnell and Mr. Strasburg, all of whom have been determined by the Board to be independent in accordance with NASDAQ’s requirement for independent director oversight of executive officer compensation.

Nominating Committee

There have been no changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Board of Directors.

Identification of Executive Officers

The foregoing officers are appointed for terms of one year or until their successors are duly elected and qualified or until terminated by the action of the Board of Directors. There are no arrangements or understandings between any executive officer and any other persons(s) pursuant to which he was or is to be selected as an officer.

Business Experience

STEPHEN J. BAGLEY, CPA was appointed Chief Financial Officer in June 2005. From 1987 to 1991 he worked in public accounting in various capacities. From 1992 to 2005, he held various leadership positions as Controller, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance for companies with up to $45,000,000 in revenues. Mr. Bagley earned a Bachelor of Science degree from The State University of NY – College at Oneonta and an MBA from Marist College. He was licensed as a CPA in 1990. Mr. Bagley has been a member of the OTCQX Issuer Advisory Council since 2019. Mr. Bagley is a past President of the Board of Education for the New Paltz Central School District and a past Chairman of the Audit and Finance Committee for the District.

BENNETT D. BRUNTIL was appointed Vice President – Sales & Marketing in March 2018. Mr. Bruntil joined Sono-Tek in 2007 as a Regional Sales Manager and has served as Marketing Brand Manager and Director of the Electronics and Advanced Energy Division. Mr. Bruntil has experience in branding and product development and has successfully implemented sales strategies, launched new products and management of a diverse product line. Prior to joining Sono-Tek, Mr. Bruntil was a branch manager in the retail banking industry. He is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University with a major in psychology and a concentration in sociology.

CHRISTOPHER C. CICHETTI was appointed Vice President – Application Engineering in June 2019. Mr. Cichetti joined Sono-Tek in 2005 as an Electrical Engineer and has served as Application Engineer, Senior Application Engineer, and Manager of the Application Engineering Department. Mr. Cichetti has experience in lab testing, process development, project management, and has successfully implemented several successful OEM relationships with outside vendors. He is a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a major in Computer and Electrical Engineering and a minor in International Studies.

DR. CHRISTOPHER L. COCCIO was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Sono-Tek on April 30, 2001, has been a Director of the Company since June 1998, and was appointed Chairman in August 2007. From 1964 to 1996, he held various engineering, sales, marketing and management positions at General Electric Company, with P&L responsibilities for up to $100 million in sales and 500 people throughout the United States. He also won an ASME Congressional Fellowship and served with the Senate Energy Committee in 1976. His business experience includes both domestic and international markets and customers. He founded a management consulting business in 1996, and was appointed a legislative Fellow on the New York State Assembly’s Legislative Commission on Science and Technology from 1996 to 1998. From 1998 to 2001, he worked with Accumetrics Associates, Inc., a manufacturer of digital wireless telemetry systems, as Vice President of Business Development and member of the Board of Advisors. Dr. Coccio received a B.S.M.E. from Stevens Institute of Technology, an M.S.M.E. from the University of Colorado, and a Ph.D. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Chemical Engineering.

Key attributes, Experience and Skills: Dr. Coccio brings his strategic vision for our Company to the Board together with his leadership, business experience and investor relations skills. Dr. Coccio has an immense knowledge of our Company and its related applications which is beneficial to the Board. Dr. Coccio’s service as Chairman and CEO bridges a critical gap between the Company’s management and the Board, enabling the Board to benefit from management’s perspective on the Company’s business while the Board performs its oversight function.

ROBB W. ENGLE joined Sono-Tek in 2000 as a Field Service Technician, became Vice President of Engineering in January 2013 and was appointed Executive Vice President in September 2019. Mr. Engle created the Sono-Tek Service Department and led the development of key products in his leadership role of our engineering resources. As Vice President of Engineering, he directs the engineering department, service department, IT and Sono-Tek laboratory services. Mr. Engle was formally trained and certified by the U.S. Navy as a Nuclear Operator where he was recognized with an induction into the Navy League Memorial for meritorious service and the advancement of training techniques. He also served with honors on board a submarine and earned the prestigious Sub-Surface Warfare (E) Insignia.

R. STEPHEN HARSHBARGER joined Sono-Tek in 1993. He was appointed President of the Company in 2012 and became a Director in August 2013. As President, he directs the Company’s Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Service, and Manufacturing Operations. Prior to assuming his present position, Mr. Harshbarger served as Sales Engineer, World-Wide Sales and Marketing Manager, Vice President & Director of Electronics and Advanced Energy (E&AE) and Executive Vice President. In his years managing the sales organization, he established a worldwide distribution and representative network in more than 40 countries consisting of more than 300 persons, with revenue growth of greater than 300%. He has over 25 years of experience in ultrasonic coating equipment for the electronics, medical device and advanced energy industries. Prior to joining Sono-Tek, Mr. Harshbarger was the Sales and Marketing Manager for Plasmaco Inc., a world leader in the development of flat panel displays. In that position, he established their distribution network, participated in venture capital funding, and introduced the first flat panel technology to Wall Street trading floors.  He is a graduate of Bentley University, with a major in Finance and a minor in Marketing.

Key attributes, Experience and Skills: Mr. Harshbarger is among a small handful of ultrasonic coating experts in the world. He has a proven track record of identifying, developing and implementing the technology for new markets and applications. His expertise in establishing strong distribution networks and knowledge of ultrasonic coating for new product developments, targeted at specific advanced technology applications, bring insights to the Board. Mr. Harshbarger also brings leadership and oversight experience to the Board.

ERIC HASKELL, CPA has been a Director since August 2009. He has over 40 years of experience in senior financial positions at several public and private companies.  He has significant expertise in the areas of acquisitions and divestitures, strategic planning and investor relations.  From December 2005 through March 2008, Mr. Haskell served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of SunCom Wireless Holdings, Inc., a company providing digital wireless communications services which was publicly traded until its merger with a wholly-owned subsidiary of T-Mobile USA, Inc. in February 2008.  He also served as a member of SunCom’s Board of Directors from November 2003 through May 2007.  From 1989 until April 2004, Mr. Haskell served as the Chief Financial Officer of Systems & Computer Technology Corp., a NASDAQ listed software and services corporation.  Mr. Haskell received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Adelphi University in 1969.

Key attributes, Experience and Skills: Mr. Haskell’s training and extensive experience in financial management at both public and private companies provide the Board with valuable insights. Mr. Haskell’s significant experience in acquisitions and divestitures and investor relations bring strategic judgment and experience to the Board. Mr. Haskell’s strong operational and business background complement his accounting and finance experience and are valuable resources to the Board as it exercises its oversight duties and support of the Company’s growth strategies.

DR. DONALD F. MOWBRAY has been a Director since August 2003. He has been an independent consultant since August 1997. From September 1992 to August 1997, he was the Manager of the General Electric Company’s Corporate Research and Development Mechanical Engineering Laboratory. From 1962 to 1992 he worked for the General Electric Company in a variety of engineering and managerial positions. Dr. Mowbray received a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1960, a Master of Science in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Minnesota in 1962 and a Ph.D. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Engineering Mechanics in 1968.

Key attributes, Experience and Skills: Dr. Mowbray’s extensive research and managerial experience enables him to bring valuable insights to the Board. His knowledge of the Company’s products and the materials sciences technology underlying them has enabled him to contribute to the Company’s advanced products development and designs. Dr. Mowbray also brings leadership and oversight experience to the Board from his General Electric management background.

CAROL O’DONNELL has been a Director since November 2018. Ms. O’Donnell joined Protégé Partners, an industry leading firm investing in and seeding smaller and emerging hedge fund managers in 2016 and has served as Chief Executive Officer since 2018. She was a key member of the Protégé executive team that launched an affiliate business, MOV37, for which she also serves as Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining Protégé Partners, Ms. O’Donnell was the Director of Legal and Compliance with DARA Capital US, Inc., a Swiss-owned boutique registered investment advisory and wealth management firm from 2013 to 2016. She has also served as General Counsel to Boothbay Fund Management LLC, a registered investment adviser, since December 2019.  She also worked at Permal Group as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer and was COO and General Counsel of Framework Investment Group.  Ms. O’Donnell is admitted to practice law in the States of New York and Connecticut.

Key attributes, Experience and Skills: Ms. O’Donnell’s extensive experience as an attorney enables her to bring valuable strategic insights to the Board in the areas of corporate governance, finance and securities law. Ms. O’Donnell also brings leadership and oversight experience to the Board.

DR. JOSEPH RIEMER joined the Company in January 2007 as Vice President of Engineering and has been a Director since August 2007. Dr. Riemer served as President from September 2007 until August 2012 when he became Vice President of Food Business Development, which position he held until June 2016. Dr. Riemer holds a Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), focusing on food technology, food chemistry, biochemical analysis, and food microbiology. His experience includes seven years with Pfizer in its Adams Confectionary Division, where he was Director, Global Operations Development. Dr. Riemer has also held leading positions with several food, food ingredients, and personal care products companies. He has served in the capacities of research and development, operations, and general management. Prior to joining the Company, he was a management consultant serving clients in the food, biotech and pharmaceutical industries.

Key attributes, Experience and Skills: Dr. Riemer’s extensive research and management experience enables him to bring valuable insights to the Board. His considerable experience in the biotech, food and pharmaceutical industries bring specific product application insights to the Board. Dr. Riemer’s previous service as Vice President of Food Business Development helps to provide focus to the Board on this important marketing area. Dr. Riemer also brings leadership and oversight experience to the Board.

PHILIP STRASBURG, CPA, has been a Director since August 2004. He is a retired partner from the firm of Anchin Block and Anchin, LLP and has 40 years of experience in auditing. He has served as Audit Committee Chairman since 2005. He was the lead partner on the Sono-Tek account from fiscal 1994 to fiscal 1996. Mr. Strasburg is a certified public accountant in New York State. He has a Master of Science in economics from The London School of Economics and Political Science and a Bachelor of Science degree from Lehigh University, where he majored in business administration.

Key attributes, Experience and Skills: Mr. Strasburg’s training and extensive experience in auditing provide the Board with valuable insights and skills necessary to lead the Audit Committee. Mr. Strasburg’s strong operational and business background complement his accounting and finance experience, and are valuable resources to the Board as it exercises its oversight duties and support of the Company’s growth strategies.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's Directors, executive officers and persons who own more than ten percent of the Company's common stock to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission initial reports of beneficial ownership and reports of changes of beneficial ownership of common stock.  Such persons are also required by Securities and Exchange Commission regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all such reports.  Based solely on a review of such filings, during the year ended February 28, 2021, all of the Company's Directors and executive officers and holders of more than ten percent of the Company’s stock have made timely filings of such reports, with the exception of one late filing by each of Eric Haskell and Donald Mowbray.

Code of Ethics

The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all directors, officers, and employees. This code of ethics is designed to comply with the NASDAQ marketplace rules related to codes of conduct. A copy of the Company's Code of Ethics is posted on the "information for investors" web page located at http://www.sono-tek.com/code-of-ethics/ and is available in print to any shareholder who requests a copy. The Company intends to satisfy any disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding an amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our code of ethics by posting such information on the Company’s website.

The following table sets forth the aggregate remuneration paid or accrued by the Company for fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020 for each named officer of the Company.

Summary Compensation Table

All Other Compensation represents Company contributions to the Company’s 401K plan.

Option awards in the above table are calculated using the Black-Scholes options pricing model which is further discussed in Note 4 – Stock Based Compensation, in the Company’s financial statements.

Officer Compensation Arrangements

During fiscal 2021, Dr. Coccio was compensated at the rate of $150,000 per annum.

During fiscal 2021, Mr. Harshbarger was compensated at the rate of $220,000 per annum.

During fiscal 2021, Mr. Bagley was compensated at the rate of $155,000 per annum, until November 2020, at which time his annual compensation increased to $165,000.

In addition, each named officer earned bonus compensation based on the achievement of certain operating objectives.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End

¹ These options vested on March 15, 2021 and have been exercised.

Estimated Payments and Benefits Upon Termination or Change in Control

On September 1, 2007, the Company entered into identical Executive Agreements with Stephen J. Bagley, Chief Financial Officer and Christopher L. Coccio, Chief Executive Officer. The Company also entered into an Executive Agreement with R. Stephen Harshbarger, President, on March 5, 2008. The agreements, as subsequently amended, provide that in the event of a change of control of the Company followed by a termination of the executives’ employment under certain circumstances, the officers shall receive severance payments equal to two years of the executive’s annual base, commissions and bonus compensation paid by the Company for the previous calendar year.

Based on last year’s salary arrangements, if the rights of the foregoing officers were to be triggered following a change of control, they would be entitled to the following payments from the Company: Stephen J. Bagley $391,000, Christopher L. Coccio $386,000 and R. Stephen Harshbarger $544,000.

Severance Agreements

On October 20, 2017, the Company entered into identical Executive Agreements with Stephen J. Bagley, Chief Financial Officer, Christopher L. Coccio, Chief Executive Officer and R. Stephen Harshbarger, President. The agreements provide that in the event of termination of the executive’s employment, other than for the cause, the officers shall receive severance payments equal to two weeks of compensation for each full year employed by the Company.

Compensation of Directors

Each non-employee director receives $2,000 for each meeting attended. Directors who are employees of the Company receive no additional compensation for serving as directors. For the year ended February 28, 2021, director compensation was as follows:

2021 Director Compensation

Option awards in the above table are calculated using the Black-Scholes options pricing model which is further discussed in Note 4 – Stock Based Compensation, in the Company’s financial statements.

The following information is furnished as of May 13, 2021 to indicate beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock by each Director, by each named executive officer, by all Directors and executive officers as a group, and by each person known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company's outstanding Common Stock. Such information has been furnished to the Company by the indicated owners. Unless otherwise indicated, the named person has sole voting and investment power.

The above ownership percentages are based on 15,502,558 shares outstanding as of May 13, 2021.

*c/o Sono-Tek Corporation, 2012 Route 9W, Milton, NY 12547.

** Less than 1%

¹ Includes 2,000 shares held in the name of Dr. Coccio’s wife and 200,000 options currently exercisable issued under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plans.

² Represents 15,000 options currently exercisable issued under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plans.

³ Represents 16,000 options currently exercisable issued under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plans.

⁴ Includes 4,500 options currently exercisable issued under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plans.

⁵ Includes 10,000 shares in the name of Mr. Strasburg’s wife and 4,500 options currently exercisable issued under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plans.

⁶ The group total includes 240,000 options currently exercisable issued under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plans. The group total does not include 55,000 options that are currently unexercisable. The group total includes 85,529 shares held by Robb Engle, Executive Vice President and 7,493 shares held by Bennett Bruntil, a Vice President.

⁷Emancipation Management LLC, Charles Frumberg and Circle N Advisors share the power to dispose or to direct the disposition of these shares. The Company does not consider these holders to be “affiliates” of the Company.

⁸The address of this person is 299 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10171.

⁹ The address of this person is 1065 Main Street, Suite F, PO Box 336, Fishkill, NY 12524.

¹⁰The address of this person is 3697 Se Doubleton Drive, Stuart, FL 34997.

¹¹The address of this person is 877 Route 9W, Upper Grandview, NY 10960. Includes 20,000 options currently exercisable issued under the Company’s stock incentive plans.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans:

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

Description of Equity Compensation Plans:

2013 Stock Incentive Plan

Under the 2013 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the "2013 Plan"), options can be granted to officers, directors, consultants and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of the Company's common stock. Under the 2013 Plan options expire ten years after the date of grant. As of February 28, 2021, there were 460,959 options outstanding under the 2013 plan.

Under the 2013 Stock Incentive Plan, option prices must be at least 100% of the fair market value of the common stock at time of grant. For qualified employees, except under certain circumstances specified in the plan or unless otherwise specified at the discretion of the Board of Directors, no option may be exercised prior to one year after date of grant, with the balance becoming exercisable in cumulative installments over a three year period during the term of the option, and terminating at a stipulated period of time after an employee's termination of employment.

2003 Stock Incentive Plan

Under the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the "2003 Plan"), until May 2013, options were available to be granted to officers, directors, consultants and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to purchase up to 1,500,000 of the Company's common shares. As of February 28, 2021, there were 47,500 options outstanding under the 2003 Plan, under which no additional options may be granted.

Transactions with Related Persons – None

Independence of Directors

The Company’s Board of Directors is comprised of five “independent directors”, as that term is defined under NASDAQ rules, and two directors who are not “independent directors”. The Company’s “independent directors” are Donald Mowbray, Eric Haskell, Carol O’Donnell, Philip Strasburg and Joseph Riemer. Christopher L. Coccio and R. Stephen Harshbarger are current employees of the Company and therefore are not considered independent.

Audit Fees

For fiscal 2021, the Company paid or accrued fees of approximately $81,000 for services rendered by Friedman LLP, its independent auditors. These fees included audit and review services.

For fiscal 2020, the Company paid or accrued fees of approximately $46,500 for services rendered by Liggett & Webb, P.A., its former independent auditors. These fees included audit and review services.

Audit Related Fees - None

Tax Fees

For fiscal 2021, the Company paid or accrued tax preparation fees of approximately $7,500 for services rendered by RBSM, LLP.

For fiscal 2020, the Company paid or accrued tax preparation fees of approximately $5,500 for services rendered by Liggett & Webb, P.A..

All Other Fees – None

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The Audit Committee’s current policy is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services that are to be performed and fees to be charged by the Company’s independent auditor to assure that the provision of these services does not impair the independence of the auditor. The Audit Committee pre-approved all audit and non-audit services rendered by the Company’s principal accountants in fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020.

PART IV

None.

SONO-TEK CORPORATION

FORM 10-K

ITEM 8

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES

FOR THE YEARS ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2021 and FEBRUARY 29, 2020

REPORTS OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMS

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

Consolidated Balance Sheets at February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020

Consolidated Statements of Income

For the Years Ended February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity

For the Years Ended February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Years Ended February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Sono-Tek Corporation

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Sono-Tek Corporation (the “Company”) as of February 28, 2021, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of February 28, 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended February 28, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. 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 audit 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 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 audit, 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 audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the 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 financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Revenue Recognition

/s/ Friedman LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2020.

East Hanover, New Jersey

May 27, 2021

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Sono-Tek Corporation

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Sono-Tek Corporation (the "Company") as of February 29, 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of February 29, 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's 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 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 in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. 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 in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB.

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the 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 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 financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Liggett & Webb, P.A.

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2012.

New York, NY

May 29, 2020

SONO-TEK CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

SONO-TEK CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

SONO-TEK CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

YEARS ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2021 AND FEBRUARY 29, 2020

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

SONO-TEK CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

SONO-TEK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEARS ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2021 AND FEBRUARY 29, 2020

NOTE 1: BUSINESS DESCRIPTION

Sono-Tek Corporation (the “Company”, “Sono-Tek”, “We” or “Our”) was incorporated in New York on March 21, 1975. We are the world leader in the design and manufacture of ultrasonic coating systems for applying precise, thin film coatings to protect, strengthen or smooth surfaces on parts and components for the microelectronics/electronics, alternative energy, medical, industrial and emerging research & development/other markets. We design and manufacture custom-engineered ultrasonic coating systems and also provide patented nozzles and generators for manufacturers’ equipment.

NOTE 2: SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Advertising Expenses - The Company expenses the cost of advertising in the period in which the advertising takes place. Advertising expense for fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020 was $78,206 and $297,297, respectively.

Accounts Receivable, net- In the normal course of business, the Company extends credit to customers. Accounts receivable, less the allowance for doubtful accounts, reflect the net realizable value of receivables and approximate fair value. The Company records a bad debt expense/allowance based on management’s estimate of uncollectible accounts. All outstanding accounts receivable accounts are reviewed for collectability on an individual basis.

Cash and Cash Equivalents - Cash and cash equivalents consist of money market mutual funds, short term commercial paper and short-term certificates of deposit with original maturities of 90 days or less.

Consolidation - The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Sono-Tek Industrial Park, LLC (“SIP”) in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). SIP operates as a real estate holding company for the Company’s real estate operations. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Earnings Per Share - Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock under the treasury stock method.

Equipment, Furnishings and Leasehold Improvements – Equipment, furnishings and leasehold improvements are stated at cost. Depreciation of equipment and furnishings is computed by use of the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to five years.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - The Company applies Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”), which establishes a framework for measuring fair value and clarifies the definition of fair value within that framework. ASC 820 defines fair value as an exit price, which is the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the Company’s principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy established in ASC 820 generally requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the entity’s own assumptions based on market data and the entity’s judgments about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are to be developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

The carrying amounts of financial instruments reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for current assets and current liabilities approximate the fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturities of the financial instruments.

The valuation hierarchy is composed of three levels. The classification within the valuation hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The levels within the valuation hierarchy are described below:

Level 1 — Assets and liabilities with unadjusted, quoted prices listed on active market exchanges. Inputs to the fair value measurement are observable inputs, such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 — Inputs to the fair value measurement are determined using prices for recently traded assets and liabilities with similar underlying terms, as well as direct or indirect observable inputs, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.

Level 3 — Inputs to the fair value measurement are unobservable inputs, such as estimates, assumptions, and valuation techniques when little or no market data exists for the assets or liabilities.

The fair values of financial assets of the Company were determined using the following categories at February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020, respectively:

Marketable Securities include certificates of deposit and US Treasury securities, totaling $4,563,470 and $4,219,240 that are considered to be highly liquid and easily tradeable as of February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020, respectively. US Treasury securities are valued using inputs observable in active markets for identical securities and are therefore classified as Level 1 and certificates of deposit are classified as Level 2 within the Company’s fair value hierarchy. The Company’s marketable securities are considered to be trading securities as defined under ASC 320 “Investments – Debt and Equity Securities.”

Grant Proceeds – The Company was awarded a $100,000 Wired Innovations Center grant in June 2019 from the utility that provides its electricity service. Proceeds of the grant were conditioned upon the Company’s successful completion of certain energy efficiency related improvements. In addition, the grant was subject to certain other requirements and was provided on a reimbursement basis only. The Company expended approximately $580,000 related to these improvements during the fiscal year ended February 29, 2020. During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company received the $100,000 grant in its entirety.

The Company has concluded that this grant is not within the scope of ASC 606, as it does not meet the definition of a contract with a “customer”. The Company has further concluded that Subtopic 958-605, Not-for-Profit-Entities-Revenue Recognition also does not apply, as the Company is a business entity and the grant is from a public utility. Grants and related receivables are recognized when there is reasonable assurance that the grant will be received, and all attaching conditions will be complied with. The Company has applied the grant proceeds against the cost of the capitalized improvements applicable to the grant, reducing the carrying value and the related depreciation expense going forward.

Income Taxes - The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of "temporary differences" by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities. If it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized, a valuation allowance is recognized. The Company uses a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. As of February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020, there were no accruals for uncertain tax positions.

Intangible Assets -Include costs of patent applications which are deferred and charged to operations over seventeen years for domestic patents and twelve years for foreign patents. The accumulated amortization of patents is $181,922 and $171,210 at February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020, respectively. Annual amortization expense of such intangible assets is expected to be approximately $11,000 per year for the next five years.

Inventories - Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method for raw materials, subassemblies and work-in-progress and the specific identification method for finished goods. Management compares the cost of inventory with the net realizable value and, if applicable, an allowance is made for writing down the inventory to its net realizable value, if lower than cost. On an ongoing basis, inventory is reviewed for potential write-down for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory based upon forecasts for future demand and market conditions.

Land and Buildings – Land and buildings are stated at cost. Buildings are being depreciated by use of the straight-line method based on an estimated useful life of forty years.

Long-Lived Assets - The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets, including intangible assets, when events and circumstances warrant such a review. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the anticipated undiscounted cash flow from such asset is separately identifiable and is less than its carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair market value of the long-lived asset. Fair market value is determined primarily using the anticipated cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved. No impairment losses were identified or recorded in the twelve months ended February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020 on the Company’s long-lived assets.

Management Estimates - The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

New Accounting Pronouncements - In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.” The guidance issued in this update simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions to the guidance in ASC 740 related to the approach for intra-period tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition for deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. ASU 2019-12 also simplifies aspects of the accounting for franchise taxes and enacted changes in tax laws or rates and clarifies the accounting for transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill. The ASU became effective for the Company on March 1, 2021, with early adoption permitted, and is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 - Financial Instruments-Credit Losses-Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, have been released in November 2018 (2018-19), November 2019 (2019-10 and 2019-11) and a January 2020 Update (2020-02) that provided additional guidance on this Topic. This guidance replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. For SEC filers meeting certain criteria, the amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. For SEC filers that meet the criteria of a smaller reporting company (including this Company) and for non-SEC registrant public companies and other organizations, the amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022. Early adoption will be permitted for all organizations for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently in the process of its analysis of the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (ASC 820): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 removes certain disclosures, modifies certain disclosures and adds additional disclosures. The ASU is effective for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted the new standard on March 1, 2020, and the adoption did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Other than Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2019-12, ASU 2016-13 and ASU 2018-13 discussed above, all new accounting pronouncements issued but not yet effective have been deemed to be not applicable to the Company. Hence, the adoption of these new accounting pronouncements, once effective, is not expected to have an impact on the Company.

Product Warranty - Expected future product warranty expense is recorded when the product is sold.

Reclassifications – Where appropriate, prior year’s financial statements reflect reclassifications to conform to the current year’s presentation.

Research and Product Development Expenses - Research and product development expenses represent engineering and other expenditures incurred for developing new products, for refining the Company's existing products and for developing systems to meet unique customer specifications for potential orders or for new industry applications and are expensed as incurred.

Revenue Recognition -  The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, the core principle of which is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for those goods or services.

Shipping and Handling Costs – Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Stock-Based Compensation - The Company currently uses a Black-Scholes option pricing model to calculate the fair value of its stock options. The Company primarily uses historical data to determine the assumptions to be used in the Black-Scholes model and has no reason to believe that future data is likely to differ materially from historical data. However, changes in the assumptions to reflect future stock price volatility and future stock award exercise experience could result in a change in the assumptions used to value awards in the future and may result in a material change to the fair value calculation of stock-based awards. ASC 718 requires the recognition of the fair value of stock compensation expense on a straight line basis over the requite service period, based on the terms of the award in net income. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the Company’s estimates and assumptions, significant unanticipated changes in those estimates, interpretations and assumptions may result in recording stock option expense that may materially impact the Company’s financial statements for each respective reporting period.

Uncertainties - Since early 2020, when the World Health Organization established the transmissible and pathogenic coronavirus a global pandemic, there have been business slowdowns. The outbreak of such a communicable disease has resulted in a widespread health crisis which has adversely affected general commercial activity and the economies and financial markets of many countries, including the United States. As the outbreak of the disease has continued through fiscal 2021 and into fiscal 2022, the measures taken by the governments of countries affected has adversely affected the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. The pandemic had a slight adverse impact on sales and the demand for products in fiscal 2021, resulting in sales that were less than expected at the beginning of fiscal 2021. The Company expects the pandemic to continue to have an adverse impact during fiscal 2022.

NOTE 3: REVENUE RECOGNITION

A majority of the Company’s sales revenue is derived primarily from short term contracts with customers, which, on average, are in effect for less than twelve months. Sales revenue from manufactured equipment transferred at a single point in time accounts for a majority of the Company’s revenue.

Sales revenue is recognized when control of the Company’s manufactured equipment is transferred to its customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive based upon the agreed transaction price. The Company’s performance obligations are satisfied when its customers take control of the purchased equipment, which is based on the contract terms. Based on prior experience, the Company reasonably estimates its sales returns and warranty reserves. Sales are presented net of discounts and allowances. Discounts and allowances are determined when a sale is negotiated. The Company does not grant its customers or independent representatives the ability to return equipment nor does it grant price adjustments after a sale is complete.

The Company does not capitalize any sales commission costs related to the acquisition of a contract. All commissions related to a performance obligation that are satisfied at a point in time are expensed when the customer takes control of the purchased equipment.

The Company applies the practical expedient in paragraph ASC 606-10-50-14 and does not disclose information about remaining performance obligations that have original expected durations of one-year or less. They apply the transition practical expedient in paragraph ASC 606-10-65-1(f)(3) and does not disclose the amount of the transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations and an explanation of when we expect to recognize that amount as revenue.

At February 28, 2021, the Company had received $1,167,000 in cash deposits, and had issued Letters of Credit in the amount of $849,000 to secure these cash deposits. At February 28, 2021, the Company was utilizing $849,000 of its available credit line to collateralize these letters of credit.

At February 29, 2020, the Company had received $1,649,000 in cash deposits for customer orders. During the year ended February 28, 2021 the Company recognized $1,567,000 of these deposits as revenue.

At February 28, 2019, the Company had received $1,150,000 in cash deposits for customer orders. During the year ended February 29, 2020 the Company recognized $1,108,000 of these deposits as revenue.

The Company’s sales revenue, by product line is as follows:

NOTE 4: STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock Options – Under the 2013 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the "2013 Plan"), options can be granted to officers, directors, consultants and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of the Company's common stock. Under the 2013 Plan options expire ten years after the date of grant. As of February 28, 2021, there were 460,959 options outstanding under the 2013 plan.

Under the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the "2003 Plan"), until May 2013, options were available to be granted to officers, directors, consultants and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to purchase up to 1,500,000 of the Company's common shares. As of February 28, 2021, there were 47,500 options outstanding under the 2003 Plan, under which no additional options may be granted.

Under the 2013 Stock Incentive Plan, option prices must be at least 100% of the fair market value of the common stock at time of grant. For qualified employees, except under certain circumstances specified in the plan or unless otherwise specified at the discretion of the Board of Directors, no option may be exercised prior to one year after date of grant, with the balance becoming exercisable in cumulative installments over a three-year period during the term of the option, and terminating at a stipulated period of time after an employee's termination of employment.

During fiscal 2021, the Company granted options to acquire 60,500 shares to employees exercisable at prices ranging from $3.70 to $4.45 and options to acquire 20,000 shares to the non-employee members of the board of directors with an exercise price of $3.70. The options granted to employees and directors vest over three years and expire in ten years. The options granted by the Company during fiscal 2021 had a combined weighted average grant date fair value of $2.20 per share.

During fiscal 2020, the Company granted options to acquire 17,500 shares to employees exercisable at prices ranging from $2.10 to $2.65, options to acquire 20,000 shares to the non-employee members of the board of directors with an exercise price of $2.65 and options for 200,000 shares to an officer and director exercisable at prices of ranging from $2.45 to $2.65. The options granted to employees and directors vest over three years and expire in ten years. The options granted to the officer vested upon grant and expire in ten years. The options granted by the Company during fiscal 2020 had a combined weighted average grant date fair value of $0.34 per share.

A summary of the activity of both plans for fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020 is as follows:

The aggregate intrinsic value of the Company’s vested and exercisable options at February 28, 2021 was $692,490 .

For the years ended February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020, the Company recognized $47,633 and $90,305 in stock based compensation expense for the years then ended, respectively. Such amounts are included in general and administrative expenses on the statement of operations. Total compensation expense related to non-vested options not yet recognized as of February 28, 2021 was $185,000  and will be recognized on a straight-line basis through January 2024. The amount of future stock option compensation expense could be affected by any future option grants or by any forfeitures. During the year ended February 28, 2021, the Company had net settlement exercises of stock options, whereby, the optionee did not pay cash for the options but instead received the number of shares equal to the difference between the exercise price and the market price on the date of exercise. Net settlement exercises during the year ended February 28, 2021 resulted in 104,476 shares issued and 56,732 options cancelled in the settlement of shares issued.

Determining the appropriate fair value of the stock-based awards requires the input of subjective assumptions, including the fair value of the Company’s common stock, and for stock options, the expected life of the option, and the expected stock price volatility. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to value its stock option awards. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock-based awards represent management’s best estimates and involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. As a result, if factors change and management uses different assumptions, stock-based compensation expense could be materially different for future awards.

The expected term of the options is estimated based on the Company’s historical exercise rate. The expected life of awards that vest immediately use the contractual maturity since they are vested when issued. For stock price volatility, the Company uses its expected volatility of the price of the Company’s common stock based on historical activity. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury notes with a term approximating the expected life of the option at the grant-date.

The weighted-average fair value of options has been estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes options-pricing model. The weighted-average Black-Scholes assumptions are as follows:

For the years ended February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020, net income and earnings per share reflect the actual deduction for stock-based compensation expense. The impact of applying ASC 718 was $47,633 and $90,305 in additional compensation expense for the years then ended, respectively. Such amount is included in general and administrative expenses on the statement of operations. The expense for stock-based compensation is a non-cash expense item.

NOTE 5: INVENTORIES

Inventories consist of the following:

NOTE 6: BUILDINGS, EQUIPMENT, FURNISHINGS AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS

Equipment, furnishings and leasehold improvements consist of the following:

Depreciation expense for the years ended February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020 was $427,650 and $390,082, respectively.

NOTE 7: ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accrued expenses consist of the following:

NOTE 8: REVOLVING LINE OF CREDIT

The Company has a $1,500,000 revolving line of credit which accrues interest at the prime rate which was 3.25% at February 28, 2021 and 4.75% at February 29, 2020. The revolving credit line is collateralized by the Company’s accounts receivable and inventory. The revolving credit line is payable on demand and must be retired for a 30-day period, once annually. If the Company fails to perform the 30-day annual pay down or if the bank elects to terminate the credit line, the bank may, at its option, convert the outstanding balance to a 36-month term note with payments including interest in 36 equal installments.

As of February 28, 2021, $849,000 of the Company’s credit line was being utilized to collateralize letters of credit issued to customers that have remitted cash deposits to the Company on existing orders. The letters of credit expire at various times in the fiscal year ending February 28, 2022. As of February 28, 2021, there were no outstanding borrowings under the line of credit and the unused portion of the credit line was $651,000 as of February 28, 2021.

NOTE 9: LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt consists of the following:

NOTE 10: COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Other than the letters of credit discussed in Notes 3 and 8, the Company did not have any material commitments or contingencies as of February 28, 2021.

NOTE 11: INCOME TAXES

The annual provision (benefit) for income taxes differs from amounts computed by applying the maximum U.S. Federal income tax rate of 21% to pre-tax income as follows:

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and projections for future taxable income over periods in which the deferred tax assets are deductible. Management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of these deductible differences.

Management does not believe that there are significant uncertain tax positions in 2021. There are no interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in 2021.

The deferred tax asset and liability are comprised of the following:

NOTE 12: EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

NOTE 13: CUSTOMER CONCENTRATIONS AND FOREIGN SALES

Export sales to customers located outside the United States and Canada were approximately as follows:

During fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020, sales to foreign customers accounted for approximately $9,678,000 and $10,849,000, or 65% and 71% respectively, of total revenues.

The Company had three customers which accounted for 28% of sales during fiscal 2021. Two customers accounted for 64% of the outstanding accounts receivables at February 28, 2021.

The Company had three customers which accounted for 30% of sales during fiscal 2020. Three customers accounted for 67% of the outstanding accounts receivables at February 29, 2020.

NOTE 14: SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Paycheck Protection Program Loan

During fiscal 2021, the Company entered into a loan transaction pursuant to which the Company received proceeds of $1,001,640 (the “PPP Loan”) under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). The PPP, established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), provides for loans to qualifying companies and is administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (the “SBA”).

The PPP Loan was evidenced by a promissory note (the “Note”), between the Company and M&T Bank (the “Bank”). The Note had a two-year term, accrued interest at the rate of 1.0% per annum, and was prepayable at any time without payment of any premium. No payments of principal or interest were due during the six-month period beginning on the date of the Note (the “Deferral Period”). Beginning on the seventh month following the date of the Note, the Company was required to make 18 monthly payments of principal and interest in the amount of $56,370.

Under the terms of the CARES Act, PPP loan recipients can apply for and be granted forgiveness for all or a portion of loan granted under the PPP, with such forgiveness to be determined, subject to limitations, based on the use of the loan proceeds for payment of payroll costs and any payments of mortgage interest, rent, and utilities. However, at least 75 percent of the PPP Loan proceeds must be used for eligible payroll costs. The terms of any forgiveness may also be subject to further requirements in any regulations and guidelines the SBA may adopt.

The Company applied for forgiveness of the PPP Loan in December 2020. On April 1, 2021, the Company received notice from the Bank that the Bank had received confirmation from the SBA that the application for forgiveness of the PPP Loan had been approved. The loan forgiveness request in the amount of $1,001,640 was applied to the Company’s entire outstanding PPP Loan balance with the Bank.

SIGNATURES

In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: May 27, 2021

Sono-Tek Corporation

(Registrant)

By: /s/ Dr. Christopher L. Coccio

Dr. Christopher L. Coccio,

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

In accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.