UFP TECHNOLOGIES INC - Annual Report: 2020 (Form 10-K)

PART I

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements contained in this Report are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). Management and representatives of UFP Technologies, Inc. (the “Company”) also may from time to time make forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which may cause our or our industry’s actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company’s prospects; statements about the potential further impact the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic may have on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations, including with respect to the different markets in which the Company participates, the demand for its products, the well-being and availability of the Company’s employees, the continuing operation of the Company’s locations, delayed payments by the Company’s customers and the potential for reduced or canceled orders, the Company’s efforts to address the pandemic, including regarding the safety of its employees, the maintenance of its facilities and the sufficiency of the Company’s supply chain, inventory, liquidity and capital resources, including increased costs in connection with such efforts, the impact of the pandemic on the businesses of the Company’s suppliers and customers, and the overall impact the pandemic may have on the Company’s financial results in 2021; statements about the Company’s acquisition strategies and opportunities and the Company’s growth potential and strategies for growth; expectations regarding customer demand; expectations regarding the Company’s liquidity and capital resources, including the sufficiency of its cash reserves and the availability of borrowing capacity to fund operations and/or potential future acquisitions; anticipated revenues and the timing of such revenues; expectations regarding the potential impact of the proposed phase out of LIBOR by the end of 2021; expectations about shifting the Company’s book of business to higher-margin, longer-run opportunities; anticipated trends and potential advantages in the different markets in which the Company competes, including the medical, aerospace and defense, automotive, consumer, electronics, and industrial markets, and the Company’s plans to expand in certain of its markets; statements regarding anticipated advantages the Company expects to realize from its investments and capital expenditures; statements regarding anticipated advantages to improvements and alterations at the Company’s existing plants; expectations regarding the Company’s manufacturing capacity, operating efficiencies, and new production equipment; statements about new product offerings and program launches; statements about the Company’s participation and growth in multiple markets; statements about the Company’s business opportunities; and any indication that the Company may be able to sustain or increase its sales, earnings or earnings per share, or its sales, earnings or earnings per share growth rates.

Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect the Company’s business and prospects, and otherwise cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by such forward-looking statements, or otherwise, including without limitation: the severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the markets in which the Company participates, including its impact on the Company’s customers, suppliers and employees, as well as the U.S. and worldwide economies; the timing, scope and effect of further governmental, regulatory, fiscal, monetary and public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic; risks and uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations, including risks relating to decreased, including substantially decreased, demand for the Company’s products; risks relating to the potential closure of any of the Company’s facilities or the unavailability of key personnel or other employees; risks that the Company’s inventory, cash reserves, liquidity or capital resources may be insufficient; risks relating to delayed payments by our customers and the potential for reduced or canceled orders; risks relating to the increased costs associated with the Company’s efforts to respond to the pandemic; risks associated with the identification of suitable acquisition candidates and the successful, efficient execution of acquisition transactions, the integration of any such acquisition candidates, the value of those acquisitions to our customers and shareholders, and the financing of such acquisitions; risks related to our indebtedness and compliance with covenants contained in our financing arrangements, and whether any available financing may be sufficient to address our needs; risks related to the proposed phase out of LIBOR by the end of 2021; risks associated with efforts to shift the Company’s book of business to higher-margin, longer-run opportunities; risks associated with the Company’s entry into and growth in certain markets; risks and uncertainties associated with seeking and implementing manufacturing efficiencies and implementing new production equipment; risks and uncertainties associated with growth of the Company’s business and increases to sales, earnings and earnings per share; and risks associated with new product and program launches. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially.

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “potential,” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Our actual results could be different from the results described in or anticipated by our forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of estimates, forecasts, and projections, and may be materially better or worse than anticipated. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements represent our current beliefs, estimates and assumptions and are only as of the date of this Report. We expressly disclaim any duty to provide updates to forward-looking statements, and the estimates and assumptions associated with them, after the date of this Report, in order to reflect changes in circumstances or expectations, or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed above and under “Risk Factors” set forth in Part I Item 1A of this Report, as well as the risks and uncertainties discussed elsewhere in this Report. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. We caution you that these risks are not exhaustive. We operate in a continually changing business environment and new risks emerge from time to time.

Unless the context requires otherwise, the terms “we”, “us”, “our”, or “the Company” refer to UFP Technologies, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

The Company is an innovative designer and custom manufacturer of components, subassemblies, products and packaging utilizing highly specialized foams, films, and plastics primarily for the medical market. The Company manufactures its products by converting raw materials using laminating, molding, radio frequency and impulse welding and fabricating manufacturing techniques. The Company is an important link in the medical device supply chain and a valued outsource partner to many of the top medical device manufacturers in the world. The Company’s single-use and single-patient devices and components are used in a wide range of medical devices, disposable wound care products, infection prevention, minimally invasive surgery, wearables, orthopedic soft goods, and orthopedic implant packaging.

The Company is diversified by also providing highly engineered products and components to customers in the automotive, aerospace and defense, consumer, electronics, and industrial markets. Typical applications of its products include military uniform and gear components, automotive interior trim, athletic padding, environmen‐tally friendly protective packaging, air filtration, abrasive nail files, and protective cases and inserts.

The Company was incorporated in the State of Delaware in 1993.

The consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts and results of operations of UFP Technologies, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Dielectrics, Inc. (“Dielectrics”), Moulded Fibre Technology, Inc., Simco Industries, Inc., and UFP Realty LLC (“UFP Realty”), and UFP Realty’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, UFP MA, LLC, UFP CO, LLC, UFP FL, LLC, UFP TX, LLC, UFP MI, LLC, and UFP IA, LLC. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The vast majority of the Company’s assets are located within the United States. FlexShield®, FirmaLite®, Winepacks®, BioShell®, T-Tubes®, Tri-Covers®, Erasables®, Design Nail®, Pro-Sticks®, Cryoshell® Case Fit®, Alloshell®, ControlClean®, Flash Shiner® and Mambo® are our U.S. registered trademarks. Each trademark, trade name, or service mark of any other company appearing in this Report belongs to its respective holder.

Available Information

The Company’s Internet website address is http://www.ufpt.com. Through its website, the Company makes available, free of charge, its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These SEC reports can be accessed through the investor relations section of the Company’s website. The information found on the Company’s website is not part of this or any other report filed with or furnished to the SEC. You may read and copy any materials filed with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding the Company and other issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The SEC’s Internet website address is http://www.sec.gov.

Market Overview

The applications for the Company’s products are numerous and diverse. The Company sells its products into distinct markets with its primary focus on the Medical market:

Products

The Company’s custom products are targeted at macro market trends and create specific opportunities in niche segments where the Company’s access to specialty materials, engineering know-how, and processing expertise can be leveraged to create value for its customers. Examples of its custom products targeted to specific markets include:

Regulatory Climate and Environmental Considerations

The Company’s medical customers typically require FDA approval for their products and therefore sometimes require their suppliers to manufacture in facilities that are FDA approved and comply with the ISO 13485 quality standard for medical devices. The Company has seven manufacturing locations that are ISO 13485 certified and four that are FDA approved. The Company’s automotive customers sometimes require their suppliers to certify their manufacturing locations to the IATF 16949 automotive quality standard. The Company’s Grand Rapids, MI facility meets this requirement. The Company’s molded fiber packaging operation manufactures environmentally friendly and sustainable products made primarily from post-consumer newsprint and water. As a further commitment to protecting the environment, the Clinton, IA and El Paso, TX operations are certified to ISO 14001, an international environmental standard. The packaging industry has been subject to user, industry, and legislative pressure to develop environmentally responsible packaging alternatives that reduce, reuse, and recycle packaging materials. Government authorities have enacted legislation relating to source reduction, specific product bans, recycled content, recyclability requirements, and “green marketing” restrictions. In order to provide packaging that complies with all regulations regardless of a product’s destination, manufacturers seek packaging materials that meet both environmentally-related demands and performance specifications. Some packaging manufacturers have responded by reducing product volume and ultimate waste product disposal through reengineering traditional packaging solutions; adopting new manufacturing processes; participating in recovery and reuse systems for resilient materials that are inherently reusable; creating programs to recycle packaging following its useful life; and developing materials that use a high percentage of recycled content in their manufacture. Wherever feasible, the Company aims to employ one or more of these techniques to create environmentally-responsible packaging solutions. In addition to offering molded fiber packaging products made from recycled paper derived primarily from post-consumer newspaper waste, the Company actively promotes its philosophy of reducing product volume and resulting post-user product waste. The Company designs products to provide optimum performance with minimum material. In addition, the Company bales and disposes of certain of its urethane foam scrap for use in the carpeting industry. The Company’s Newburyport, MA facility utilizes solar power to provide approximately 11% of its electricity, with plans to increase capacity in the future. The Company is aware of public support for environmentally-responsible packaging and products. Future government action may impose restrictions affecting the industry in which the Company operates. There can be no assurance that any such action will not adversely impact the Company’s products and business.

Marketing and Sales

The Company markets to the target industries it serves by promoting specific solutions, materials, and manufacturing capabilities and services. The Company is marketed through websites, trade shows and expositions, social media, online advertising, and press releases. Its relationships with key material suppliers are also an important part of its marketing and sales efforts. The Company markets and sells its products in the United States principally through a direct sales force. The Company also uses independent manufacturer representatives to sell its products. The Company’s sales people, in conjunction with Company engineers, collaborate with customers and in-house design and manufacturing experts to develop custom-engineered solutions on a cost-effective basis. For the year ended December 31, 2020, no one customer’s sales exceeded 10% of total sales. Seasonality is not a major factor in the Company’s sales. See the Company’s consolidated financial statements contained in Part IV, Item 15, of this Report for net sales by market.

Manufacturing

The Company’s manufacturing operations consist primarily of cutting, routing, molding, vacuum-forming, laminating, radio frequency and impulse welding and assembling. For medical custom-molded foam products and thermoplastic welded devices, the Company’s skilled engineering personnel analyze specific customer requirements to design and build prototype products to determine product functionality. Upon customer approval, prototypes are converted to final designs for commercial production runs. Molded cross-linked foam products are produced in a thermoforming process using heat, pressure, and precision metal tooling. Plastics and other materials are sealed using radio frequency and impulse welding. Reticulated polyurethane foam is also used for many high-performance medical products requiring precision fluid or air management. These products are typically fabricated using high speed die-cutting or waterjet cutting. Laminated products for medical, military, and personal comfort and protection are produced through a process whereby the foam medium is heated to the melting point. The heated foam is then typically bonded to a non-foam material through the application of mechanical pressure.

The Company also engineers components for automotive use as interior trim and structural applications. These components are produced using a compression molding process to create highly functional composites consisting of various materials such as polypropylene/fiberglass panels, nonwovens, and fabrics. Highly specialized polypropylene based nonwoven material is used for automotive interior noise reduction and is fabricated using a die cut process. Foam for packaging, filtration, acoustical, and thermal insulation products that do not utilize cross-linked foam are fabricated by cutting shapes from blocks of foam, using specialized cutting tools, routers, water jets, and hot wire equipment, and assembling these shapes into the final product using a variety of foam welding or gluing techniques. Products can be used on a stand-alone basis or bonded to another foam product or other material such as a corrugated medium.

Molded fiber products are manufactured by vacuum-forming a pulp of recycled or virgin paper materials onto custom-engineered molds. With the application of vacuum and air, the molded parts are pressed and transferred to an in-line dryer, from which they exit ready for packing or subsequent value-added operations. The Company does not manufacture any of the raw materials used in its products. With the exception of certain grades of cross-linked foam and technical polyurethane foams, these raw materials are available from multiple supply sources. Although the Company relies upon a limited number of suppliers for cross-linked and technical polyurethane foams, the Company’s relationships with its suppliers are good, and the Company expects that these suppliers will be able to meet its requirements for these foams. Any delay or interruption in the supply of raw materials could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.

Research and Development

The Company’s engineering personnel continuously explore design and manufacturing techniques, as well as new and innovative materials to meet the unique demands and specifications of its customers. Because the Company’s products tend to have relatively short life cycles, research and development is an integral part of the Company’s ongoing cost structure.

Competition

The medical contract manufacturing industry is highly competitive as is the foam and plastics converting industry as a whole. While there are several national companies that convert foam and plastics, the Company’s primary competition is from smaller independent regional manufacturing companies. These companies generally market their products in specific geographic areas from neighboring facilities. In addition, the Company’s foam and fiber packaging products compete against products made from alternative materials, including expanded polystyrene foams, die-cut corrugated, plastic peanuts, plastic bubbles, and foam-in-place urethane. The Company’s custom engineered products face competition primarily from smaller companies that typically concentrate on production of products for specific industries. The Company expects to compete effectively in the engineered products market due to its ability to address its customers' primary vendor selection criteria, including price, product performance, product reliability, and customer service, as well as its access to a wide variety of materials, its engineering expertise, its ability to combine foams with other materials such as plastics and laminates, and its ability to manufacture products in a clean room environment.

Patents and Other Proprietary Rights

The Company relies upon trade secrets, patents, and trademarks to protect its technology and proprietary rights. The Company believes the improvement of existing products, reliance upon trade secrets and unpatented proprietary know-how, and the development of new products are generally as important as patent protection in establishing and maintaining a competitive advantage. Nevertheless, the Company has obtained patents and may continue to make efforts to obtain patents, when available, although there can be no assurance that any patent obtained will provide substantial protection or be of commercial benefit to the Company, or that its validity will be upheld if challenged. The Company has a total of 17 active patents relating to technologies including foam, packaging, tool control technologies, radio frequency welding, automotive superforming processes and to certain nail file technologies. The Company also has patent applications in process. There can be no assurance that any patent or patent application will provide significant protection for the Company’s products and technology or will not be challenged or circumvented by others. The expiration dates for the Company’s patents range from 2021 through 2038.

Human Capital Management

As of January 23, 2021, the Company had a total of 860 full-time employees (compared to 986 full-time employees as of January 25, 2020) and 150 temporary employees (compared to 168 temporary employees at January 25, 2020). The Company is not a party to any collective bargaining agreements. The Company considers its employee relations to be good.

The Company strives to promote a workplace that is professional, provides opportunity for career growth and treats all workers with dignity and respect. This policy covers the conduct of the Company's employees in their work-related dealings with each other, as well as interactions with our customers, vendors and other business partners. The Company will not tolerate unlawful discrimination and harassment in the workplace; it expressly prohibits any form of unlawful discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or any other legally protected status under applicable federal, state or local law.

The Company’s employees are tasked with upholding our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, which we view as an important component of our operating strategy. Our compliance hotline is maintained for the confidential reporting of any suspected policy violations or unethical business conduct.

The Company’s commitment to its employees starts at the top with an executive level officer – Senior Vice President of Human Resources – reporting to the CEO, attending all board meetings, and having significant involvement with the board’s compensation committee. This commitment is reflected in our efforts to attract, engage and retain the best people possible.

Compensation and Benefits

The Company’s compensation and benefits offerings are supported by regular third-party benchmarking surveys. In addition to competitive compensation practices, the Company offers annual stock award bonus programs to reward and retain executives and key employees. Access to company subsidized health, life and disability insurance; a matching 401(k) plan; and paid time off for vacation, illness and personal reasons, are the highlights of the Company’s benefits available to all employees. For those employees struggling with life’s challenges, we offer employee assistance programs.

Growth and Development

The Company supports every employee’s opportunity for career growth. We offer tuition reimbursement for employees to further their industry-related formal education; access to virtual training and education platforms; reimbursement to attend work-related seminars; and on-the-job training and cross-training to improve job skills. Our talent management program provides feedback on performance, identifies employees with potential for advancement, and allows for personalized career development plans.

The Company’s commitment to its employees has resulted in several national, regional and local “Best in Class” awards.

Safety and COVID-19

As an essential manufacturing company, we take our responsibility to our essential employees’ health and safety seriously. Our corporate safety officer reports directly to the SVP of HR. He works with dedicated safety officers at each of our plants to implement safety programs and training, and to ensure compliance, he conducts regular safety audits.

In February of 2020, the Company formed a Coronavirus task force including executive management, HR, safety and operations leaders. Safety measures include:

In addition to safety efforts, the Company paid spot bonuses over the course of the year to essential employees required to perform their work in our plants. Through these efforts, we have kept our employees safe, maintained morale, and kept the supply lines open to our medical, defense and industrial customers.

ITEM 1A.         RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the risks described below and the other information in this Report before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock. These are the risks and uncertainties we believe are most important for you to consider. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, which we currently deem immaterial or which are similar to those faced by other companies in our industry or business in general, may also impair our business operations. If any of the following risks or uncertainties occurs, our business, financial condition and operating results would likely suffer. In that event, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to our Business

The COVID-19 pandemic could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and/or financial condition.

COVID-19 was identified in late 2019 and has spread globally. The rapid spread has resulted in weaker demand and constrained supply and the implementation of numerous measures to try to contain the virus, such as travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, shelter in place orders and shutdowns. These factors have impacted and may continue to impact all or portions of our workforce and operations.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a global recession and it is uncertain when a sustained economic recovery may occur. While all of our operations are located in the United States, we participate in a global supply chain, and the existence of a worldwide pandemic, the fear associated with COVID-19, or any, pandemic, and the reactions of governments around the world in response to COVID-19, or any, pandemic, to regulate the flow of labor and products and impede the travel of personnel, may impact our ability to conduct normal business operations, which could adversely affect our results of operations and liquidity.

Uncertainties related to the magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, including new strains, may significantly adversely affect our business. These uncertainties include: the duration and impact of the resurgence in COVID-19 cases in any geographic regions in which we or our supply chain suppliers operate; prolonged reduction or closure of the Company’s operations, disruptions in the supply chain; and the impact of the pandemic on our customers’ business operations and their resulting demand for our products. It is unclear when a sustained economic recovery could occur and what a recovery may look like. All of these factors could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and/or financial condition.

The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s financial and operational results will be determined by the length of time that the pandemic continues, its effect on the demand for the Company’s products and the supply chain, as well as the effect of governmental regulations imposed in response to the pandemic. The overall magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued fluidity of the situation could materially and adversely impact our business, results of operations and/or financial condition.

We depend on a small number of customers for a large percentage of our revenues. The loss of any such customer, a reduction in sales to any such customer, or the decline in the financial condition of any such customer could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

A limited number of customers typically represent a significant percentage of our revenues in any given year. Our top ten customers represented approximately 38.3%, 34.7% and 29.3% of our total revenues in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. No one customer’s sales exceeded 10% of total sales for the year ended December 31, 2020. The loss of a significant portion of our expected future sales to any of our large customers would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Likewise, a material adverse change in the financial condition of any of these customers could have a material adverse effect on our ability to collect accounts receivable from any such customer. At December 31, 2020 and  2019, one customer represented approximately 13.3% and 13.9% of gross accounts receivable, respectively.

Our business could be harmed if our products contain undetected errors or defects or do not meet applicable specifications.

Based on customer specifications, we are continuously developing new products and improving existing products. Our existing and newly introduced products can contain undetected errors or defects. In addition, these products may not meet their performance specifications under all conditions or for all applications. If, despite internal testing and testing by customers, any of our products contain errors or defects or fail to meet applicable specifications, then we may be required to enhance or improve those products or technologies. We may not be able to do so on a timely basis, if at all, and may only be able to do so at considerable expense. If a particular error or defect is repeated throughout our production process, the cost of repairing such defect may be highly disproportionate to the original cost of the product or component. In addition, any significant errors, defects, or other performance failures could render our existing and/or future products unreliable or ineffective and could lead to decreased confidence in our products, adverse customer reaction, negative publicity, mandatory or voluntary recalls, or legal claims, the occurrence of any of which could have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Further, if our products are defectively designed, manufactured or labeled, contain defective components or are misused, we may become subject to costly litigation by our customers. Product liability claims could divert management's attention from our core business, be expensive to defend and result in sizable damage awards against us.

New technologies could result in the development of new products by our competitors and a decrease in demand for our products, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our failure to develop new technologies, or anticipate or react to changes in existing technologies, could result in a decrease in our sales and a loss of market share to our competitors. Our financial performance depends on our ability to design, develop and manufacture new products and product enhancements on a timely and cost-effective basis. We may not be able to successfully identify new product opportunities or develop and bring new products to market in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Products or technologies developed by other companies may render our products or technologies obsolete or noncompetitive. Our failure to identify or capitalize on any fundamental shifts in technologies, relative to our competitors, could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position within our industry and harm our relationships with our customers.

If we fail to comply with specific provisions in our customer contracts or with government contracting or Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, our business could be materially adversely affected.

Our customer contracts, particularly with respect to contracts for which the government is a direct or indirect customer, may include unique and specialized requirements. This may also include contracts with customers that derive goods subject to FDA regulations. Failure to comply with the specific provisions in our customer contracts, or any violation of government or FDA contracting regulations, could result in termination of the contracts, increased costs to us, suspension of payments, imposition of fines, and suspension from future government contracting. Further, any negative publicity related to our failure to comply with the provisions in our customer contracts could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

We may pursue acquisitions or other strategic relationships that involve inherent risks, any of which may cause us to not realize anticipated benefits.

Our business strategy includes the potential acquisition of businesses and other business combinations that we expect will complement and expand our business. In addition, we may also pursue other strategic relationships or opportunities. We may not be able to success‐fully identify suitable acquisition or other strategic opportunities or complete any particular acquisition, combination, or other transaction on acceptable terms. Our identification of suitable acquisition candidates and strategic opportunities involves risks inherent in assessing the values, strengths, weaknesses, risks and profitability of these opportunities including their effects on our business, diversion of our management’s attention and risks associated with unanticipated problems or unforeseen liabilities. Our failure to identify suitable acquisition or other strategic opportunities may restrict our ability to grow our business. If we are successful in pursuing future acquisitions or strategic opportunities, we may be required to expend significant funds, incur additional debt, or issue additional securities, which may materially and adversely affect our results of operations and be dilutive to our stockholders. If we spend significant funds or incur additional debt, our ability to obtain financing for working capital or other purposes could decline and we may be more vulnerable to economic downturns and competitive pressures. In addition, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to finance additional acquisitions or that we will realize any anticipated benefits from acquisitions or other strategic opportunities that we complete. When we successfully acquire another business, the process of successfully integrating the acquired operations into our existing operations may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and may require significant financial re‐sources that would otherwise be available for the ongoing development or expansion of our existing business. Decreases in customer loyalty or product orders, failure to retain and develop the acquired workforce, failure to integrate financial reporting systems, failure to establish and maintain appropriate controls or unknown or contingent liabilities could adversely affect our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of an acquisition. The integration of an acquired business whether or not successful, requires significant efforts which may result in additional expenses and divert the attention of our management and technical personnel from other projects. These transactions are inherently risky, and there can be no assurance that any past or future transaction will be successful.

Failure to retain key personnel could impair our ability to execute our business strategy.

The continuing service of our executive officers and essential sales, engineering, technical and management personnel, together with our ability to attract and retain such personnel, is an important factor in our continuing ability to execute our strategy. There is substantial competition to attract such employees, and the loss of any such key employees could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results. The same could be true if we were to experience a high turnover rate among sales, engineering and technical personnel and we were unable to replace them.

We operate in highly competitive industries and we may be unable to compete successfully, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We face intense competition in all markets and in each area of our business, in some cases from our own customers bringing programs in-house. Our primary competition for our products is from smaller, independent, regional manufacturing companies. Our current competitors may increase their participation in, or new competitors may enter into, the markets in which we compete. In addition, our suppliers may acquire or develop the capability and desire to compete with us. If our suppliers choose to expand their own operations, through acquisitions or otherwise, and begin manufacturing and selling products directly to our customers, it could reduce our pricing or sales volume and overall profitability. If we are unable to compete successfully with new or existing competitors, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Further, technological innovation by any of our existing competitors, or new competitors entering any of the markets in which we do business, could put us at a competitive disadvantage and could cause us to lose market share. Increased competition for the sales of our products could result in price reductions, reduced margins and loss of market share, which could materially adversely affect our prospects, business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our markets are cyclical, which may result in fluctuations in our results of operations.

Demand for our products, especially in the automotive and aerospace and defense markets, is cyclical. Downturns in economic conditions or reductions in government spending typically have an adverse effect on these markets due to decreased demand for products. We seek to reduce our exposure to industry downturns and cyclicality by marketing our products to diversified and varied markets. However, we may experience substantial period-to-period fluctuations in our results of operations due to the cyclical nature of demand for our products in the markets in which we compete.

The cost of the raw materials we use to manufacture our products, particularly petroleum and petroleum-based raw materials, are subject to escalation and could increase, which may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The cost of raw materials, including petroleum and petroleum-based raw materials such as resins, used in the production of our products, represents a significant portion of our direct manufacturing costs. Any fluctuations in the price of petroleum, or any other material used in the production of our products, may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Such price increases could reduce demand for our products. If we are not able to buy raw materials at fixed prices, or pass on price increases to our customers, we may lose orders or enter into orders with less favorable terms, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Security breaches, including cybersecurity incidents and other disruptions could compromise our information, expose us to liability and harm our reputation and business.

In the ordinary course of our business we collect and store sensitive data, including intellectual property, personal information, our proprietary business information and that of our customers, suppliers and business partners, and personally identifiable information of our customers and employees in our data centers and on our networks. The secure maintenance and transmission of this information is critical to our operations and business strategy. We rely on commercially available systems, software, tools and monitoring to provide security for processing, transmission and storage of confidential information. Computer hackers may attempt to penetrate our computer systems and, if successful, misappropriate personal or confidential business information. In addition, an associate, contractor, or other third-party with whom we do business may attempt to circumvent our security measures in order to obtain such information and may purposefully or inadvertently cause a breach involving such information. Despite the security measures we have in place and any additional measures we may implement in the future to safeguard our systems and to mitigate potential security risks, our facilities and systems, and those of our third-party service providers, could be vulnerable to security breaches. Any such compromise of our data security and access, public disclosure, or loss of personal or confidential business information could result in legal claims or proceedings, liability under laws that protect the privacy of personal information, regulatory penalties, disruption of our operations, damage to our reputation, loss of our customers’ willingness to transact business with us, and subject us to additional costs and liabilities which could materially adversely affect our business.

We may be unable to protect our proprietary technology from infringement.

We rely on a combination of patents, trademarks, and unpatented proprietary know-how and trade secrets to establish and protect our intellectual property rights. We enter into confidentiality agreements with suppliers, customers, employees, consultants and potential acquisition candidates as necessary to protect our know-how, trade secrets and other proprietary information. However, these measures and our patents and trademarks may not afford complete protection of our intellectual property, and it is possible that third parties may copy or otherwise obtain and use our proprietary information and technology without authorization or otherwise infringe on our intellectual property rights. We cannot assure that our competitors will not independently develop equivalent or superior know-how, trade secrets or production methods. Significant impairment of our intellectual property rights could harm our business or our ability to compete. For example, if we are unable to maintain the proprietary nature of our technologies, our profit margins could be reduced as competitors could more easily imitate our products, possibly resulting in lower prices or lost sales for certain products. In such a case, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

Fluctuations in the supply of components and raw materials we use in manufacturing our products could cause production delays or reductions in the number of products we manufacture, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our business is subject to the risk of periodic shortages of raw materials. We purchase raw materials pursuant to purchase orders placed from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Failure or delay by such suppliers in supplying us necessary raw materials could adversely affect our ability to manufacture and deliver products on a timely and competitive basis.

While we believe that we may, in certain circumstances, secure alternative sources of these materials, we may incur substantial delays and significant expense in doing so, the quality and reliability of alternative sources may not be the same and our operating results may be materially adversely affected. Alternative suppliers might charge significantly higher prices for materials than we currently pay. Under such circumstances, the disruption to our business could have a material adverse impact on our customer relationships, business, financial condition, and results of operations.

In addition, we are dependent on a relatively small number of suppliers for cross-linked foam and technical polyurethane foams. While we believe that we have developed strong relationships with these suppliers, any failure or delay by such suppliers in supplying us these necessary products could adversely affect our ability to manufacture and deliver products on a timely and competitive basis.

Our products could infringe the intellectual property rights of others, which may lead to litigation that could itself be costly, result in the payment of substantial damages or royalties, and prevent us from using technology that is essential to our products.

We cannot guarantee that our products, manufacturing processes or other methods do not infringe the patents or other intellectual property rights of third parties. Infringement and other intellectual property claims and proceedings brought against us, whether successful or not, could result in substantial costs and harm our reputation. Such claims and proceedings can also distract and divert our management and key personnel from other tasks important to the success of our business. In addition, intellectual property litigation or claims could force us to do one or more of the following:

In the event of an adverse determination in an intellectual property suit or proceeding, or our failure to license essential technology, our sales could be harmed, and our costs could increase, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We use electricity and natural gas at our manufacturing facilities to operate our equipment. Over the past several years, prices for electricity and natural gas have fluctuated significantly. An outbreak or escalation of hostilities between the United States and any foreign power, or a natural disaster, could result in a real or perceived shortage of petroleum and/or natural gas, which could result in an increase in the cost of electricity or energy generally as well as an increase in the cost of our raw materials, of which many are petroleum-based. In addition, increased energy costs negatively impact our freight costs due to higher fuel prices. Future limitations on the availability or consumption of petroleum products and/or an increase in energy costs, particularly electricity for plant operations, could have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition and results of operations. 

Risks Related to our Share Ownership and our Capital Structure

As a public company, we need to comply with the reporting obligations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010, among other laws and regulations. If we fail to comply with the reporting obligations of these laws or if we fail to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting, our business, financial condition, and results of operations and investors’ confidence in us, could be materially and adversely affected.

As a public company, we are required to comply with the periodic reporting obligations of the Exchange Act, including preparing annual reports, quarterly reports and current reports. We are also subject to certain of the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank Acts which, among other things, require enhanced disclosure of business, financial, compensation and governance information. Our failure to prepare and disclose this information in a timely manner could subject us to penalties under federal securities laws, expose us to lawsuits, and restrict our ability to access financing. We may identify areas requiring improvement with respect to our internal control over financial reporting, and we may be required to design enhanced processes and controls to address issues identified. This could result in significant delays and cost to us and require us to divert substantial resources, including management time, from other activities. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting. Moreover, effective internal controls are necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and are important to help prevent fraud.

Restrictions in our credit facilities may limit our business and financial activities, including our ability to obtain additional capital in the future.

In February 2018, we entered into a Credit Agreement with Bank of America, N.A., which provided for a $50 million revolving credit facility and a $20 million term loan facility. In December 2020, we amended the credit facility to among other things, extend its life through December 31, 2025. This Credit Agreement contains covenants imposing various restrictions on our business and financial activities. These restrictions may affect our ability to operate our business and undertake certain financial activities and may limit our ability to take advantage of potential business or financial opportunities as they arise. The restrictions these covenants place on us include limitations on our ability to incur liens, incur indebtedness, make investments, dissolve or merge or consolidate with or into another entity, dispose of certain property, and make restricted payments. The Credit Agreement also requires us to meet certain financial ratios, including a minimum fixed-charge coverage ratio and a maximum total funded debt to EBITDA ratio. The breach of any of these covenants or restrictions could result in a default under the Credit Agreement, which could have a material adverse impact to our business, financial condition and results of operation.

We are also exposed to the risk of increasing interest rates as our revolving credit facility is at a variable interest rate. Any material changes in interest rates could result in higher interest expense and related payments for us. We have entered into an interest rate swap agreement that modifies our variable interest rate exposure with regards to the term loan by converting the term loan from a variable rate to a fixed rate in order to hedge against the possibility of rising interest rates during the term of the loan.

Provisions of our corporate charter documents and Delaware law, may dissuade potential acquirers, prevent the replacement or removal of our current management and may thereby affect the price of our common stock.

The board of directors has the authority to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock and to determine the price, rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions, including voting rights of those shares without any further vote or action by the stockholders. The rights of the holders of common stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any preferred stock that may be issued in the future. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible financings, acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire a majority of our outstanding voting stock. We have no present plans to issue shares of preferred stock.

Further, certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation, bylaws, and Delaware law could delay or make more difficult a merger, tender offer or proxy contest involving us or, for a third party to acquire a majority of our outstanding voting common stock. These include provisions that classify our board of directors, limit the ability of stockholders to take action by written consent, call special meetings, remove a director for cause, amend the bylaws, or approve a merger with another company. In addition, our bylaws set forth advance notice procedures for stockholders to nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring matters before an annual meeting of stockholders.

We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law which prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stock‐holder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. For purposes of Section 203, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder, and an “interested stockholder” is a person who, either alone or together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within the past three years did own) 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock.

General Risk Factors

We are subject to a variety of federal, state and local laws and regulations, including health and safety laws and regulations, and the cost of complying, or our failure to comply, with such requirements could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to a variety of federal, state and local laws and regulations, including health and safety laws and regulations. The risks of substantial costs and liabilities related to compliance with these laws and regulations are an inherent part of our business. Despite our intention to comply with these laws and regulations, we cannot guarantee that we will at all times comply with all such requirements. Compliance with health and safety legislation and other regulatory requirements may prove to be more limiting and costly than we anticipate and may also increase substantially in future years. If we violate, or fail to comply with these requirements, we could be fined or otherwise sanctioned by regulators. In addition, these requirements are complex, change frequently and may become more stringent over time, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our operations could be disrupted by natural or human causes beyond our control.

Our operations are subject to the risk of disruption by hurricanes, severe storms, floods and other forms of severe weather, earthquakes and other natural disasters, accidents, fire, power shortages, geopolitical unrest, war and other military action, terrorist attacks and other hostile acts, public health issues, epidemics or pandemics, and other events, such as raw material or supply scarcity, that are beyond our control and the control of the third parties on which we depend. Any of these catastrophic events, whether in the United States or abroad, may have a strong negative impact on the global economy, our employees, facilities, suppliers, or customers, and could decrease demand for our products or our customers’ products, create delays and inefficiencies in our supply chain and make it difficult or impossible for us to deliver products to our customers in a timely manner. If there is a natural disaster or other serious disruption at any of our facilities, we may experience plant shutdowns or periods of reduced production as a result of equipment failures, loss of power, delays in delivery of raw materials or supplies, personnel absences, or extensive damage to any of our facilities, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, our insurance coverage may not adequately compensate us for losses incurred as a direct or indirect result of natural or other disasters.

ITEM 1B.         UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

None.

ITEM 2.         PROPERTIES

The following table presents certain information relating to each of the Company’s design and manufacturing properties:

ITEM 3.         LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time, the Company may be a party to various suits, claims and complaints arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management of the Company, these suits, claims and complaints should not result in final judgments or settlements that, in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

ITEM 4.         MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

PART II

ITEM 5.         MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Price

The Company’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “UFPT”. The following table sets forth the range of high and low quotations for the common stock as reported by NASDAQ for the quarterly periods from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020:

Number of Stockholders

As of March 4, 2021, there were 74 holders of record of the Company’s common stock.

Since many of the shares are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, the Company is unable to estimate the total number of beneficial stockholders represented by these holders of record.

Dividends

The Company did not pay any dividends in 2020 or 2019. The Company presently intends to retain all its earnings to provide funds for the operation of its business and strategic acquisitions, although it would consider paying cash dividends in the future. Any decision to pay dividends will be at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors and will depend upon the Company’s operating results, strategic plans, capital requirements, financial condition, provisions of the Company’s borrowing arrangements, applicable law and other factors the Company’s board of directors considers relevant.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On June 16, 2015, the Company issued a press release announcing that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $10.0 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock. There was no share repurchase activity for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company repurchased 29,559 shares of common stock at a cost of approximately $587 thousand.  At December 31, 2020, approximately $9.4 million was available for future repurchases of the Company's common stock under this authorization.

ITEM 6.         SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table summarizes the Company’s consolidated financial data for the periods presented. You should read the following financial information together with the information under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the notes to those financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Report. The selected statements of income data for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 and the selected balance sheet data as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 , are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this Report. The selected statements of income data for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 and the selected balance sheet data at December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements not included in this Report.

Selected Consolidated Financial Data:

ITEM 7.         MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

The Company is an innovative designer and custom manufacturer of components, subassemblies, products and packaging utilizing highly specialized foams, films, and plastics primarily for the medical market. The Company manufactures its products by converting raw materials using laminating, molding, radio frequency and impulse welding and fabricating manufacturing techniques. The Company is diversified by also providing highly engineered products and components to customers in the aerospace and defense, automotive, consumer, electronics, and industrial markets. The Company consists of a single operating and reportable segment.

The Company’s current strategy includes further organic growth and growth through strategic acquisitions.

As further summarized below, the COVID-19 pandemic has had, and we believe it will continue to have, negative effects on our business and financial results. In particular, sales for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2020 decreased 9.6% to $179.4 million from $198.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily due to the impact on demand for product as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gross margin decreased to 25.0% for the year ended December 31, 2020, from 27.2% in 2019. Operating income and net income for the year ended December 31, 2020 both decreased by 31.7%, respectively.

IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON OUR BUSINESS

Through much of 2020, COVID-19 spread across the country to areas in which our products are designed, manufactured, distributed or sold. The spread of COVID-19 and the response to it negatively impacted operating conditions for our business in 2020. Although we expect COVID-19 will continue to have negative impacts on our operating results in future periods, the magnitude and duration of the continuing impact is uncertain.

To stall the spread of COVID-19, authorities in states in which we do business implemented numerous measures, including social distancing guidelines, travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, curfews, stay-at-home orders, and business shutdowns. These measures have impacted and will likely further impact us, our customers, consumers, employees, suppliers and other third parties with whom we do business. It is uncertain how these and any future measures in response to the pandemic will impact our business, including whether and to what extent they will result in further changes in demand for our products or further increases in operating costs. The timing of distribution and the effectiveness of recently introduced vaccines is also uncertain. Our top priorities continue to be ensuring the health and safety of our workforce and serving our various constituencies with as little disruption as possible.

Our operations expose us to risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the cost of manufacturing our goods, including higher labor costs, maintenance costs and manufacturing inefficiencies due to employee absenteeism and significantly enhanced cleaning and sterilization. Elective medical procedures and exams have been delayed or canceled, there has been a significant reduction in physician office visits, and hospitals have postponed or canceled capital purchases. We believe that these responses negatively impacted demand for the Company’s components for medical devices. Additionally, many of our customers in the automotive markets experienced closures of their businesses in connection with the pandemic. Such closures negatively impacted the demand for our automobile component products particularly in the second quarter. Any continued reduced demand for our products, including reduced need for components for medical devices as well as continued economic uncertainty, could adversely and materially affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as those of our customers.

To ensure the health and safety of our employees and to comply with governmental orders, since March 2020 we have required or enabled certain employees to work from home or remotely where practicable, and expanded IT and communication support to enhance their productivity; adjusted work spaces and shifted schedules to facilitate social distancing and sterilization for those who continue to work in our facilities; enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures at our facilities; required face coverings and worked to procure and distributed personal protective equipment; implemented health checks and visitor protocols and restricted travel.

In response to the economic uncertainties resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, we initiated and at present are continuing certain cost-cutting measures, including restrictions on travel and labor cost reduction measures (including employee terminations).

Although the impact of the pandemic on our business and financial results will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, and which may vary by market, we have a strong liquidity position, solid balance sheet, and access to capital which we expect will enable us to effectively manage through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”)

The CARES Act was enacted on March 27, 2020 in the United States. The CARES Act and related notices include several significant provisions, including delaying certain payroll tax payments and estimated income tax payments that we expect to defer to future periods. Accordingly, the Company has deferred social security payments of approximately $1.6 million as of December 31, 2020. We do not currently expect the CARES Act to have a material impact on our financial results, including on our annual estimated effective tax rate, or on our liquidity. We will continue to monitor and assess the impact the CARES Act may have on our business and financial results.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth, for the years indicated, the percentage of revenues represented by the items as shown in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income:

2020 Compared to 2019

Sales

Net sales decreased 9.6% to $179.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 from net sales of $198.4 million in 2019. The decrease in sales was primarily due to the impact on demand for product as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe that the cancellation or delay of elective medical procedures in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the demand for the Company’s components for medical devices. We refer you to “Recent Developments—COVID-19” above for additional discussion of product demand.

Gross Profit

Gross profit as a percentage of sales (“Gross Margin”) decreased to 24.9% for the year ended December 31, 2020, from 27.2% in 2019. As a percentage of sales, material and direct labor costs collectively decreased approximately 2.2%, while overhead increased approximately 4.4%. The decrease in collective material and labor costs as a percentage of sales was primarily due to gains in manufacturing efficiencies resulting from continuous improvement initiatives and an improvement in the overall book of business. The increase in overhead as a percentage of sales was primarily due to fixed overhead costs measured against decreased sales.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses (“SG&A”) decreased approximately 6.0% to $27.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $29.3 million in 2019. As a percentage of sales, SG&A increased to 15.3%, from 14.7% in 2019. The decrease in SG&A was primarily due to decreases in compensation programs and company-wide travel and entertainment. The increase in SG&A as a percentage of sales was primarily due to relatively fixed SG&A expenses measured against lower sales.

Interest Income and Expense

Net interest expense was approximately $83 thousand and $674 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The decrease in net interest expense was primarily due to lower debt levels.

Other Expense

Other expense was approximately $366 thousand and $388 thousand for years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Other expense was primarily generated by changes in the fair value of the swap liability, which is driven by anticipated future interest rate changes as well as a declining notional amount.

Income Taxes

The Company recorded income tax expense, as a percentage of income before income tax expense, of 17.9% for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to 16.5% for the same period in 2019. The increase in the effective tax rate for the current period as compared to the prior period was largely due to a lower anticipated effective tax rate in 2019 due to credits available for increased research activities. The Company notes the potential for volatility in its effective tax rate, as any windfall or shortfall tax benefits related to its share-based compensation plans will be recorded directly into income tax expense.

2019 Compared to 2018

Sales

Net sales increased 4.2% to $198.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 from net sales of $190.5 million in 2018. The increase in sales was primarily due to increased sales to customers in the medical, and aerospace and defense markets of 16.9%, and 5.0%, respectively. These increases were partially offset by a collective decline in sales to the consumer, electronics, and industrial markets of 24.1%. The increase in sales to customers in the medical market was primarily due to strong sales at Dielectrics (including one additional month of sales of $3.1 million) as well as increased demand from legacy UFP medical customers. The increased demand for sales to customers in the aerospace & defense market is due to increased government spending. The collective decline in sales to customers in the consumer, electronics and industrial markets was primarily due to decreased demand for molded fiber packaging.

Gross Profit

Gross profit as a percentage of sales (“Gross Margin”) increased to 27.2% for the year ended December 31, 2019, from 25.4% in 2018. As a percentage of sales, material and direct labor costs collectively decreased approximately 0.5%, while overhead decreased approximately 1.3%. The decrease in collective material and labor costs as a percentage of sales is primarily due to gains in manufacturing efficiencies resulting from continuous improvement initiatives and an improvement in the overall book of business. The decline in overhead as a percentage of sales was primarily due to leveraging fixed overhead costs against increased sales as well as targeted cost cuts.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses (“SG&A”) increased approximately 5.8% to $29.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, from $27.7 million in 2018. As a percentage of sales, SG&A increased to 14.7% in 2019, from 14.5% in 2018. The increase in SG&A is primarily due to one extra month of operations at Dielectrics as well as compensation increases and new strategic management hires at the Company’s plants.

Interest Income and Expense

The Company had net interest expense of approximately $0.7 million and $1.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The decrease in net interest expense was primarily due to lower debt levels.

Income Taxes

The Company recorded income tax expense, as a percentage of income before income tax expense, of 16.5% for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to 22.2% for the same period in 2018. The decline in the Company’s effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2019, was largely due to a significant increase in the amount of business tax credits earned in its federal and state 2018 tax returns due, in part, to qualifying research expenses at Dielectrics.

The Company notes the potential for volatility in its effective tax rate, as any windfall or shortfall tax benefits related to its share-based compensation plans will be recorded directly into income tax expense.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company generally funds its operating expenses, capital requirements, and growth plan through internally generated cash and bank credit facilities.

Cash Flows

Net cash provided by operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 was approximately $25.0 million and was primarily a result of net income generated of approximately $13.4 million, depreciation and amortization of approximately $8.3 million, loss on sale of fixed assets of approximately $0.5 million, share-based compensation of approximately $1.8 million, an increase in deferred taxes of approximately $0.1 million, a decrease in accounts receivable of approximately $2.2 million primarily due to lower sales in the last two months of 2020 as compared to 2019, a decrease in refundable income taxes of approximately $0.3 million, and an increase in other long-term liabilities of approximately $1.1 million due primarily to the deferral of employer social security tax payments in connection with the CARES Act. These cash inflows and adjustments to income were partially offset by an increase in inventory of approximately $0.4 million, an increase in prepaid expenses of approximately $0.3 million, and increase in other assets of approximately $0.1 million, a decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses of approximately $1.2 million due to the timing of vendor payments in the ordinary course of business and reductions in accrued compensation, and a decrease in deferred revenue of approximately $0.7 million.

Net cash used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2020 was approximately $4.3 million and was primarily the result of additions of manufacturing machinery and equipment and various building improvements across the Company.

Net cash used for financing activities was approximately $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, resulting from payments of statutory withholding for stock options exercised and restricted stock units vested of approximately $0.8 million, partially offset by net proceeds received upon stock options exercises of approximately $0.5 million.

Outstanding and Available Debt

As of December 31, 2020, under the Company’s Restated Credit Agreement (as described below), the Company had (i) outstanding $0.7 million in standby letters of credit, drawable as a financial guarantee on worker’s compensation insurance policies and (ii) no other amounts outstanding.

On February 1, 2018, the Company, as the borrower, entered into an unsecured $70 million Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”) with certain of the Company’s subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”) and Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as the initial lender, Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender and L/C Issuer, and certain other lenders from time to time party thereto. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement amended and restated the Company’s prior credit agreement.

On December 31, 2020, the Company, as the borrower, and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and sole lender, entered into a First Amendment (the “First Amendment”) to the Company’s Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated February 1, 2018 (as amended, the “Restated Credit Agreement”).

The First Amendment amended the Restated Credit Agreement by (i) extending the scheduled maturity date from February 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025, and (ii) creating procedures and guidelines for establishing a successor benchmark rate if LIBOR ceases to be available during the term of the revolving credit facility. The Restated Credit Agreement called for interest of LIBOR plus a margin that ranges from 1.0% to 1.5% or, at the discretion of the Company, the bank’s prime rate less a margin that ranges from 0.25% to zero. The First Amendment calls for interest of LIBOR plus a margin that ranges from 1.25% to 1.75% or, at the discretion of the Company, the bank’s prime rate plus a margin that ranges from zero to 0.25%. In both cases the applicable margin remains dependent upon Company performance. The First Amendment also added certain representations and covenants concerning compliance by the Company with legal requirements.

The credit facilities under the Restated Credit Agreement consist of a $20 million unsecured term loan to the Company and an unsecured revolving credit facility, under which the Company may borrow up to $50 million. The proceeds of the Restated Credit Agreement may be used for general corporate purposes, as well as permitted acquisitions. The Company’s obligations under the Restated Credit Agreement are guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Under the Restated Credit Agreement, the Company is subject to a minimum fixed-charge coverage financial covenant as well as a maximum total funded debt to EBITDA financial covenant. The Restated Credit Agreement contains other covenants customary for transactions of this type, including restrictions on certain payments, permitted indebtedness and permitted investments. As of December 31, 2020, the applicable interest rate was approximately 1.15% and the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Restated Credit Agreement.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company used interest-rate-related derivative instruments to manage its exposure related to changes in interest rates on certain of its variable-rate debt instruments. The Company does not enter into derivative instruments for any purpose other than cash flow hedging. Derivative financial instruments expose the Company to credit risk and market risk. Credit risk is the failure of the counterparty to perform under the terms of the derivative contract. When the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, the counterparty owes the Company, creating credit risk for the Company. When the fair value of a derivative contract is negative, the Company owes the counterparty and, therefore, in these circumstances the Company is not exposed to the counterparty’s credit risk. The Company minimizes counterparty credit risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with carefully selected major financial institutions based upon their credit profile. Market risk is the adverse effect on the value of a derivative instrument that results from a change in interest rates.

The Company assesses interest rate risk by continually identifying and monitoring changes in interest rate exposures that may adversely impact expected future cash flows and by evaluating hedging opportunities. The Company’s debt obligations exposed the Company to variability in interest payments due to changes in interest rates. The Company believed that it was prudent to limit the variability of a portion of its interest payments. To meet this objective, in connection with the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, the Company entered into a $20 million, 5-year interest rate swap agreement under which the Company receives three-month LIBOR plus the applicable margin and pays a 2.7% fixed rate plus the applicable margin. The swap modified the Company’s interest rate exposure by converting the term loan from a variable rate to a fixed rate in order to hedge against the possibility of rising interest rates during the term of the loan. The notional amount was $11,428,568 at December 31, 2020. The fair value of the swap as of December 31, 2020 was approximately $(465) thousand and is included in other liabilities. Changes in the fair value and net cash settlement amounts related to the swap are recorded in other expense and resulted in expense of approximately $366 thousand and $388 thousand during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

As the Company has paid the remaining balance of the term loan in its entirety, there is no longer underlying debt to hedge against with the swap. The changes in the fair value of the swap will continue to be accounted for as a financial instrument until the sooner of the time that the Company elects to cancel it or until its maturity.

Future Liquidity

The Company requires cash to pay its operating expenses, purchase capital equipment, and to service its contractual obligations. The Company’s principal sources of funds are its operations and its amended and restated credit facility. The Company generated cash of approximately $25.0 million in operations during the year ended December 31, 2020; however, the Company cannot guarantee that its operations will generate cash in future periods. The Company’s longer-term liquidity is contingent upon future operating performance and draws on the revolving credit facility are possible. Further, the continued economic uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic could affect the Company’s long-term ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue operations.

Throughout fiscal 2021, the Company plans to continue to add capacity to enhance operating efficiencies in its manufacturing plants. The Company may consider additional acquisitions of companies, technologies, or products that are complementary to its business. The Company believes that its existing resources, including its revolving credit facility, together with cash expected to be generated from operations, will be sufficient to fund its cash flow requirements, including capital asset acquisitions, through the next twelve months.

The Company may also require additional capital in the future to fund capital expenditures, acquisitions or other investments. These capital requirements could be substantial. The Company anticipates that any future expansion of its business will be financed through existing resources, cash flow from operations, the Company's revolving credit facility, or other new financing. The Company cannot guarantee that it will be able to meet existing financial covenants or obtain other new financing on favorable terms, if at all. The Company's liquidity will be impacted to the extent additional stock repurchases are made under the Company's stock repurchase program.

Stock Repurchase Program

The Company accounts for treasury stock under the cost method, using the first-in, first-out flow assumption, and includes treasury stock as a component of stockholders’ equity. On June 16, 2015, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $10.0 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Under the program, the Company is authorized to repurchase shares through Rule 10b5-1 plans, open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, block purchases or otherwise in accordance with applicable federal securities laws, including Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The stock repurchase program will end upon the earlier of the date on which the plan is terminated by the Board or when all authorized repurchases are completed. The timing and amount of stock repurchases, if any, will be determined based upon our evaluation of market conditions and other factors. The stock repurchase program may be suspended, modified or discontinued at any time, and the Company has no obligation to repurchase any amount of its common stock under the program. There were no share repurchases during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018. At December 31, 2020, approximately $9.4 million was available for future repurchases of the Company’s common stock under this authorization.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The Company evaluates its estimates, including those listed below, on an ongoing basis. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, including current and anticipated worldwide economic conditions, both in general and specifically in relation to the packaging and component product industries, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report. The Company believes the following critical accounting policies necessitated that significant judgments and estimates be used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.

The Company has reviewed these policies with its Audit Committee.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when a customer obtains control of a promised good or service. The amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration that the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for promised goods or services. The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with the core principles of ASC 606 which include (1) identifying the contract with a customer, (2) identifying separate performance obligations within the contract, (3) determining the transaction price, (4) allocating the transaction price to the performance obligations, and (5) recognizing revenue. The Company recognizes all but an immaterial portion of its product sales upon shipment. The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of tooling and machinery primarily upon customer acceptance, with the exception of certain tooling where control does not transfer to the customer, resulting in revenue being recognized over the estimated time for which parts are produced with the use of each respective tool. The Company recognizes revenue from engineering services, which are primarily product development services, as the services are performed or as otherwise determined based on the substance of the agreement. The Company recognizes revenue from bill and hold transactions at the time the specified goods are complete and available to the customer. In the ordinary course of business, the Company accepts sales returns from customers for defective goods, such amounts being immaterial. Although only applicable to an insignificant number of transactions, the Company has elected to exclude sales taxes from the transaction price. The Company has elected to account for shipping and handling activities for which the Company is responsible under the terms and conditions of the sale not as performance obligations but rather as fulfillment costs. These activities are required to fulfill the Company’s promise to transfer the good and are expensed when revenue is recognized.

Goodwill

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually and will be tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate that the carrying amount may be impaired. Impairment testing for goodwill is done at a reporting unit level. Reporting units are one level below the business segment level but can be combined when reporting units within the same segment have similar economic characteristics. An impairment loss generally would be recognized when the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s net assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. The Company consists of a single reporting unit. The Company last performed “step 1” of the goodwill impairment test as of December 31, 2018. In testing goodwill for impairment at December 31, 2018, the Company primarily utilized the guideline public company (“GPC”) method under the market approach and the discounted cash flows method (“DCF”) under the income approach to determine the fair value of the reporting unit for purposes of testing the reporting unit’s carrying value of goodwill for impairment. The GPC method derives a value by generating a multiple of EBITDA through the comparison of the Company to similar publicly traded companies. The DCF approach derives a value based on the present value of a series of estimated future cash flows at the valuation date by the application of a discount rate, one that a prudent investor would require before making an investment in our equity securities. The key assumptions used in our approach included:

As of December 31, 2018, based on our calculations under the above noted approach, the fair value of the reporting unit significantly exceeded the carrying value of the reporting unit. In performing these calculations, management used its most reasonable estimates of the key assumptions discussed above. If our actual operating results and/or the key assumptions utilized in management’s calculations differ from our expectations, it is possible that a future impairment charge may be necessary.

The Company’s annual impairment testing date is December 31. The Company performed a qualitative assessment (“step 0”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and determined that it was more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting unit exceeded its’ carrying amount. As a result, the Company is not required to proceed to a “step 1” impairment assessment. Factors considered included the 2018 step 1 analysis and the calculated excess fair value over carrying amount, financial performance, forecasts and trends, market cap, regulatory and environmental issues, macro-economic conditions, industry and market considerations, raw material costs and management stability.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Refer to Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.

ITEM 7A.      QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The following discussion of the Company’s market risk includes “forward-looking statements” that involve risk and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

Market risk represents the risk of changes in value of a financial instrument caused by fluctuations in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and equity prices. At December 31, 2020, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents consisted of bank accounts in U.S. dollars, and their valuation would not be affected by market risk. Interest under the Company’s credit facility with Bank of America, N.A. calls for interest of LIBOR plus a margin that ranges from 1.25% to 1.75% or, at the discretion of the Company, the bank’s prime rate less a margin that ranges from 0.25% to zero. Therefore, future operations could be affected by interest rate changes. As of December 31, 2020, the applicable interest rate was approximately 1.15%. The Company uses interest-rate-related derivative instruments to manage its exposure related to changes in interest rates. In connection with this credit facility, the Company entered into a $20 million, 5-year interest rate swap agreement under which the Company receives three-month LIBOR plus the applicable margin and pays a 2.7% fixed rate plus the applicable margin. The swap modified the Company’s interest rate exposure by converting the term loan from a variable rate to a fixed rate in order to hedge against the possibility of rising interest rates during the term of the loan.

ITEM 8.         FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The consolidated financial statements and supplementary data of the company are listed under Part IV, Item 15, in this Report.

ITEM 9.         CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A.      CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this Report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining an adequate system of internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance, as opposed to absolute assurance, of achieving their internal control objectives.

Management conducted an assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on the assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2020, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective.

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, has been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, who also audited the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Grant Thornton’s attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is included herein.

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B.        OTHER INFORMATION

None.

PART III

ITEM 10.         DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information required by this Item 10 is hereby incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed by the Company within 120 days after the close of its fiscal year.

ITEM 11.         EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this Item 11 is hereby incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed by the Company within 120 days after the close of its fiscal year.

ITEM 12.         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information required by this Item 12 is hereby incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed by the Company within 120 days after the close of its fiscal year.

ITEM 13.         CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information required by this Item 13 is hereby incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed by the Company within 120 days after the close of its fiscal year.

ITEM 14.         PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The information required by this Item 14 is hereby incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed by the Company within 120 days after the close of its fiscal year.

PART IV

ITEM 15.         EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

Exhibit Index

ITEM 16.         Form 10-K Summary

None.

SIGNATURES

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

UFP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

UFP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Consolidated Financial Statements

and Financial Statement Schedule

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019

And for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018

With Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

UFP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Shareholders

UFP Technologies, Inc.

Opinion on the financial statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of UFP Technologies, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, included the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and financial statement schedule under Item 15(a) (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 December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”), and our report dated March 12, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion.

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 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. Our audits 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 supporting 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.

Critical audit maters

Critical audit matters 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 our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. We determined that there are no critical audit matters.

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2005.

Boston, Massachusetts

March 12, 2021

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Shareholders

UFP Technologies, Inc.

Opinion on internal control over financial reporting

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of UFP Technologies (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by COSO.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020, and our report dated March 12, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

Basis for opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting (“Management’s Report”). Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the 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 effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and limitations of internal control over financial reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

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 risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

March 12, 2021

UFP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

UFP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Income

(In thousands, except per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

UFP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018

(In thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

UFP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

UFP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements