TRANSCAT INC - Quarter Report: 2002 September (Form 10-Q)

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the transition period from                to                

Commission File Number: 0-3905

35 Vantage Point Drive, Rochester, New York 14624
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

585-352-7777
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Transmation, Inc.
10 Vantage Point Drive, Rochester, New York, 14624
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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      X        No            

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes                No     X     

The number of shares of Common Stock of the registrant outstanding as of November 12, 2002 was 6,171,332.

TRANSCAT, INC.
FORM 10-Q

QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2002

INDEX

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

TRANSCAT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

See the notes to these financial statements.

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See the notes to these financial statements.

4

TRANSCAT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In Thousands, Except Share And Per Share Amounts)

See the notes to these financial statements.

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TRANSCAT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In Thousands)

See the notes to these financial statements.

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TRANSCAT, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Share And Per Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Transcat, Inc., formerly known as Transmation, Inc,. (the “Company” or “Transcat”) primarily distributes, sells and services instrumentation that is used to calibrate, measure and test physical parameters (such as: temperature, pressure and current, dimensional and radio frequency) in industry and science.

The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, the Consolidated Financial Statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) have been included. The results for the interim periods are not indicative of the results to be expected for the year. The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company as of and for the year ended March 31, 2002 as reported in the Company’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Certain reclassifications of prior year and prior quarter financial information have been made to conform with current quarter and six month presentation.

NOTE 2 – EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share of Common Stock are computed based on the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share of Common Stock reflect the assumed conversion of dilutive stock options and warrants. In computing the per share effect of assumed conversion, funds which would have been received from the exercise of options and warrants are considered to have been used to purchase shares of Common Stock at the average market prices during the period, and the resulting net additional shares of Common Stock are included in the calculation of average shares of Common Stock outstanding. For the three months and six months ended September 30, 2002, the net additional shares of Common Stock from options and warrants had no effect on the calculation of dilutive earnings per share. For the three months and six months ended September 30, 2001, there were no dilutive stock options and warrants. The total number of shares outstanding from stock options and warrants are summarized as follows, for the three months and six months ended (shares in thousands, except per share amounts):

NOTE 3 – DEFERRED CATALOG COSTS

Transcat amortizes the cost of each major catalog mailed over such catalog’s estimated productive life. The Company reviews response results from catalog mailings on a continuous basis; and if warranted, the Company may modify the period over which costs are recognized. Deferred catalog costs were $0.3 million and $0.7 million at September 30, 2002 and March 31, 2002, respectively.

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NOTE 4 – BUSINESS SEGMENTS

Transcat has two operating segments and evaluates performance and allocates resources to such operating segments based on gross profit. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those identified in Note 2 of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements reported in the Company’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There are no intersegment sales. The following table provides segment and unallocated amounts (in thousands):

NOTE 5 – DIVESTITURES

During fiscal year 2002, Transcat divested the Transmation Products Group (“TPG”) and the Measurement and Control (“MAC”) unit (the “Divestitures”). The Divestitures are disclosed in detail in Note 13 of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements reported in the Company’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10K/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In conjunction with the sale of TPG on December 26, 2001, the Company entered into a distribution agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) with Fluke to be the exclusive worldwide distributor of TPG products until December 25, 2006. Under the Distribution Agreement, the Company also agreed to purchase a pre-determined amount of inventory from Fluke.

On October 31, 2002, the Company entered into a new distribution agreement (the “New Agreement”) with Fluke with an effective date of September 1, 2002, extending through December 31, 2006. Under the terms of the New Agreement, among other items, the Company agreed to purchase a larger, pre-determined amount of inventory across a broader array of products and brands. The Company believes that this commitment to future purchases is consistent with the Company’s business needs and plans. The New Agreement further allows the Company to earn rebates upon achieving specified growth parameters in the Company’s product purchases from Fluke.

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NOTE 6 – LONG-TERM DEBT

On November 13, 2002, Transcat entered into a new Revolving Credit and Loan Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with GMAC Business Credit, LLC (“GMAC”). The Credit Agreement expires on November 13, 2005 and replaces the Company’s Revolving Credit and Loan Agreement (the “Prior Credit Agreement”) with Key Bank, N.A. and Citizens Bank (“the Banks”) originally dated August 3, 1998 and most recently amended on July 12, 2002. The Credit Agreement consists of a term loan and a revolving line of credit (the “Loan”), the terms of which are as set forth below:

Under the Credit Agreement, the Company has made a term note in the amount of $1.5 million in favor of GMAC. This term note is payable in equal monthly payments of $41,667 plus interest, commencing on December 1, 2002. Interest on the term note is payable at the Company’s option, at prime plus 0.5% or up to 80% of the Loan at the 30-day LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) plus 3.25%. The prime rate and LIBOR as of November 13, 2002 were 4.25% and 1.38%, respectively. In addition, under the Credit Agreement, the Company is required to further reduce the term loan, on an annual basis, by 20% of excess cash flow not to exceed $200,000 per year.

The maximum amount available under the revolving line of credit portion of the Credit Agreement is $10 million. Availability under the line of credit is determined by a formula based on eligible accounts receivable (85%) and inventory (48%). The Credit Agreement has certain covenants with which the Company must comply, including a minimum EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) covenant, as well as, restrictions on capital expenditures and catalog spending. Interest on borrowings under the revolving line of credit is payable monthly, at the Company’s option, at prime rate, 4.25% as of November 13, 2002, or up to 80% of the Loan at the 30-day LIBOR, 1.38% as of November 13, 2002, plus 2.75%. Additional terms of the Credit Agreement require an increase in the Company’s borrowing rate of two percentage points should an event of default occur and a termination premium of 3% of the maximum available borrowing under the revolving line of credit plus the then outstanding balance owed under the term note if the Credit Agreement is terminated in its first year and 1% if terminated thereafter, prior to November 13, 2005.

Additionally, the Company has pledged certain property and fixtures in favor of GMAC, including inventory, equipment, and accounts receivable as collateral security for the loans made under the Credit Agreement. The Company has also agreed to pay GMAC, on a monthly basis, an unused line fee amounting to 0.5% per annum on the unused portion of the revolving line as well as an annual collateral servicing fee of $72,000, which fees are to be paid on a monthly basis.

The Credit Agreement affects the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2002 by the following (in thousands):

The Credit Agreement also requires the Company to make the following principal payments, excluding any reductions attributable to excess cash flow, as discussed above (in thousands):

In completing the refinancing with GMAC, Transcat’s lenders under the Prior Credit Agreement, the Banks, and the Company executed a Termination Agreement under which the Banks accepted a $2.2 million reduction in the Company’s outstanding debt as of November 13, 2002, in consideration of the issuance to the Banks of warrants to purchase 500,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The shares of Common Stock underlying such warrants have an exercise price of $1.50 and expire according to the following schedule: 100,000 shares on November 13, 2004, 100,000 shares on November 13, 2005, and 300,000 shares on November 13, 2007. The refinancing transaction, which will be recorded in the Company’s fiscal third quarter, will result in a one-time gain to the Company, net of transaction costs, of approximately $1.7 million and an increase in stockholders’ equity attributed to the valuation of the warrants of approximately $0.5 million.

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Further, under the Termination Agreement, should the Company incur a change of control, as defined in the Termination Agreement, prior to November 13, 2004, the Banks will be entitled to recover the lesser of the net assets of the Company or $2.2 million. To the extent the net market value of the warrants issued in conjunction with the termination of the Prior Credit Agreement is less than the amount due, additional warrants would be issued at the market price in such quantity to equal the difference between the amount due and the net market value of the warrants issued in connection with the Termination Agreement. The Company currently has no plans to effect a change in control, nor is it currently soliciting or entertaining any transactions that would constitute a change in control.

NOTE 7 – GOODWILL

In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Tangible Assets”. SFAS No. 142 requires that goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have an indefinite life not be amortized. Instead of amortizing goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have an indefinite life, SFAS No. 142 requires Transcat to test for impairment of the Company’s goodwill or intangible goods on an annual basis, or immediately if conditions indicate that such impairment could exist. The Company adopted SFAS No. 142 effective April 1, 2002. As a result of adopting SFAS No. 142, the Company no longer records goodwill amortization of approximately $0.7 million per year after taking into account the fiscal year 2002 $4.5 million write off of goodwill recorded in conjunction with the Divestitures. Using the fair market value measurement requirement, rather than the undiscounted cash flows approach, the Company recorded an impairment from the implementation of SFAS No. 142 as a change in accounting principle in the first quarter of fiscal year 2003. The evaluation of reporting units on a fair value basis, adjusted for what the balance of goodwill would have been if purchase accounting were applied at the date of impairment, as required from the implementation of SFAS No. 142, indicated that an impairment existed. Based upon the evaluation, impairment was $6.5 million or approximately 71.9% of goodwill recorded as of March 31, 2002.

The following table provides the comparative effects of adopting SFAS No. 142 for the three and six months ended, September 30, 2002 and 2001 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

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

The following discussion is based primarily on the Consolidated Financial Statements of Transcat as of September 30, 2002 and 2001 for the three months and six months then ended. This information should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto.

RESTRUCTURING

In March 2002, Transcat implemented a cost saving initiative to increase long-term profitability through a workforce reduction program (the “Restructuring”). The Restructuring program reduced the number of employees by 22. A charge to pre-tax earnings of $0.3 million was taken in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2002. The annualized benefit of lower costs to the Company as a result of the Restructuring is expected to be $1.3 million during fiscal year 2003. Charges against the reserve for the three months and six months ended September 30, 2002 were $0.2 million. The Company’s headcount at March 31, 2002, prior to the Restructuring, was 269 persons, including one part-time employee, and was 242 at September 30, 2002, including one part-time employee.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The following table summarizes the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands):

Net cash from operations totaled $1.0 million for the six months ended September 30, 2002. Depreciation, a reduction in accounts receivable from March 31, 2002, which ends Transcat’s historically strongest quarter, and a concerted effort by the Company to reduce its inventories offset reductions in trade payables and accrued liabilities, including severance payments. The $1.2 million decrease in depreciation and amortization for the six months ended September 30, 2002 is primarily attributed to the Divestitures and the SFAS No. 142 adoption.

The Company’s operating cash flow provided the capital to reduce outstanding debt by $1.1 million, or 11.4% over the six months ended September 30, 2002. As a result of the available funds from the Company’s refinancing of debt on November 13, 2002, under the Credit Agreement described in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the operating cash flows from the business, the Company believes it has sufficient cash flows to fund its operations.

As further detailed in Note 6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company refinanced its senior debt on November 13, 2002. In addition to obtaining a new term loan and revolving line of credit, the Company’s previous lenders accepted a $2.2 million reduction in debt in consideration of the issuance of warrants to purchase 500,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock over the next five years.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended September 30, 2002 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2001:

Net sales decreased $1.9 million, or 11.5% in the quarter ended September 30, 2002 compared to $16.3 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2001. Excluding the effect of the Divestitures in the prior year, net sales increased $0.2 million, or 1.3%, to $14.4 million. Product sales decreased $2.1 million, or 17.3%, to $9.9 million, with the decrease attributable to sales from the Divestitures. Not including sales from the Divestitures, product sales were flat, which stemmed six consecutive quarters of declining product sales. Calibration service sales increased $0.2 million, or 4.7%, from the prior year to $4.5 million, primarily due to growth in two new laboratories that opened in fiscal year 2002.

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Gross profit decreased $1.3 million, or 28.4% in the quarter ended September 30, 2002, from $4.6 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year. After eliminating the effect of the Divestitures, gross profit decreased $0.2 million, or 5.3%, to $3.3 million. This decrease is attributable to the Company’s product mix this quarter and the Company’s inability, as yet, to optimize the leverage of increased calibration sales. Product gross profit decreased to 24.9% in the second quarter of fiscal year 2003 from 31.8% in the second quarter of fiscal year 2002 primarily due to the Divestitures. Product gross profit decreased from a first quarter level of 25.9% to 24.9% largely attributable to a less favorable product mix. Calibration services gross profit decreased from 18.5% in the second quarter of fiscal year 2002 to 18.4% in the second quarter of fiscal year 2003 as the increased cost of the Company’s two new laboratories exceeded the benefit of increased calibration sales. Calibration services gross profit in the second quarter increased by 3.3 margin points over the first quarter rate of 15.1%. Although achieving a higher level of calibration profitability over the first quarter, the Company continues to focus on optimizing the leverage of increased calibration sales in established calibration laboratories, and accelerate the increasing, although slower than anticipated, growth in the two new laboratories opened in fiscal year 2002.

Selling, marketing, warehouse and administrative expenses of $2.9 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2002 were 26.9% less than the same period in the prior fiscal year. After the exclusion of direct expenses of divested businesses and the payroll cost incurred in the prior year of employees restructured in March 2002 (see Restructuring above), these expenses decreased $0.5 million, or 15.3%, from $3.4 million in the prior year. Continued cost controls on an on-going basis in the areas of payroll, selling, marketing and management information systems have generated this overall reduction.

With the sale of TPG in fiscal year 2002, the Company no longer incurs research and development expenses.

Goodwill amortization expense was eliminated with the implementation of SFAS No.142. See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Other expenses (income) decreased by $0.1 million, or 40.8%. Interest expense was reduced significantly as a result of lower debt levels driven by proceeds of the Company’s divestitures and operating cash flow. The Company received other income in the prior year of $0.2 million from a one-time receipt of life insurance proceeds.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2002, the Company recognized an income tax benefit of $0.2 million arising from the recovery of taxes previously paid and expensed.

Six Months Ended September 30, 2002 Compared to Six Months Ended September 30, 2001:

Net sales decreased $4.8 million, or 14.3% in the six months ended September 30, 2002 from $33.5 million in the six months ended September 30, 2001. Excluding the effect of the Divestitures in the prior year, net sales decreased $0.5 million, or 1.7% to $28.7 million. Product sales decreased $5.1 million, or 20.8%, to $19.6 million; and after excluding the Divestitures, product sales decreased $0.8 million, or 4.1%, to $19.6 million. The primary reason for the decrease, which occurred in the first quarter, was continued economic softness, and in particular, a disproportional decrease in sales outside the U.S. were the primary factors. Calibration service sales increased $0.3 million, or 3.9% from the prior year same period of $8.8 million, primarily due to growth in two new laboratories that opened in fiscal year 2002.

Gross profit decreased $3.2 million, or 32.8% in the six months ended September 30, 2002, from $9.6 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year. After eliminating the effect of the Divestitures, gross profit decreased $0.7 million, or 10.4% to $6.5 million. This decrease is attributable to higher costs for purchased products and product mix within the current period when compared to the same period in fiscal year 2002. Product gross profit decreased from 33.0% for the six months ended September 30, 2001 to 24.5% for the same period in fiscal year 2003, primarily due to the Divestitures. Calibration gross profit increased to 18.3% for the six months ended September 30, 2002 from 16.9% in the same period in fiscal year 2002. Although achieving a higher level of profitability, the Company continues to focus on optimizing the leverage of increased calibration sales in established calibration laboratories, and accelerate the increasing, although slower than anticipated, growth in the two new laboratories opened in fiscal year 2002.

Selling, marketing, warehouse and administrative expenses of $6.1 million during the six months ended September 30, 2002 were 27.5% less than the prior year same period. After the exclusion of direct expenses of the divested businesses, and the payroll cost incurred in the prior year of employees restructured in March 2002 (see Restructuring above), these expenses decreased $1.1 million, or 15.4%, from the prior year. Continued cost controls on an on-going basis in the areas of payroll, selling, marketing and management information systems have generated this overall reduction.

With the sale of TPG in fiscal year 2002, the Company no longer incurs research and development expenses.

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Goodwill amortization expense was eliminated with the implementation of SFAS No.142. See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Other expenses (income) decreased by $0.4 million, or 58.9%. Interest expense was reduced significantly through the business divestitures and operating cash flow when compared to the prior year. The Company received other income in the prior year of $0.2 million from a one-time benefit of life insurance proceeds.

During the six months ended on September 30, 2002, the Company recognized an income tax benefit of $0.2 million arising from the recovery of taxes previously paid and expensed.

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ONGOING OPERATIONS

As a result of the Divestitures, the Restructuring and other unusual items described below, Transcat’s ongoing business differs significantly in nature from that in prior fiscal years, including the majority of fiscal year 2002. The primary differences in the nature of the Company’s ongoing operations are the elimination of: (i) MAC sales and direct costs and (ii) the Company’s manufacturing capability and profit earned there on, due to the sale of TPG. Reported prior year financial results include the sales and operating results of the Divestitures, which cannot be reported as discontinued operations under APB (Accounting Practice Bulletin) 30, one-time costs, goodwill amortization and one-time other income. These items are disclosed in detail, following the reconciliation schedule from GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) to pro forma fiscal year 2001.

The following schedule provides a reconciliation of the reported operating results for the quarter and six months ended September 30, 2001 with those of the ongoing operations of the Company on an adjusted basis, and, compares those adjusted results to the operating results of the Company for the quarter and six months ended September 30, 2002 (in thousands):