ULTRALIFE CORP - Quarter Report: 2017 April (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the Quarter Ended April 2, 2017

OR

For the transition period from                             to

Commission File Number 0-27460

		ULTRALIFE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (315) 332-7100

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [ X ]  No [    ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data file required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes [ X ]  No [    ]

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

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [    ] No [ X ]

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock was 15,490,305, net of 4,015,752 treasury shares, as of May 1, 2017. 

ULTRALIFE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                                                                                          

ITEM 1.   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ULTRALIFE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in Thousands)

(Unaudited)

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

ULTRALIFE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In Thousands except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

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

ULTRALIFE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands)

(Unaudited)

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

ULTRALIFE CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands – except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements of Ultralife Corporation (the “Company”) and subsidiaries have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Rule 8-03 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals and adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Consolidated Financial Statements have been included. Results for interim periods should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for a full year. Reference should be made to the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto contained in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

The December 31, 2016 consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.

Our monthly closing schedule is a 4/4/5 weekly-based cycle for each fiscal quarter, as opposed to a calendar month-based cycle for each fiscal quarter. While the actual dates for the quarter-ends will change slightly each year, we believe that there are not any material differences when making quarterly comparisons.

On January 13, 2016, Ultralife UK Limited (the “Merger Subsidiary”), a U.K. corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ultralife Corporation (the “Company”), completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Accutronics Limited (“Accutronics”), a U.K. corporation based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, U.K., from Intrinsic Equity Limited, Catapult Growth Fund Limited Partnership, MJF Pension Trustees Limited, Robert Andrew Phillips and Michael Allen (collectively, the “Sellers”). There are no material relationships between the Company or Merger Subsidiary and any of the Sellers, other than pertaining to this acquisition. Accutronics is a leading independent designer and manufacturer of smart batteries and charger systems for high-performance, feature-laden portable and handheld electronic devices and is classified in the Battery & Energy Products segment. The acquisition of Accutronics advances our strategy of commercial revenue diversification and expands our geographic reach within European OEM’s.  With industry experts predicting mid-to-high single digit growth in the global medical batteries market, this strategic investment positions Ultralife well for further penetration of and growing revenue streams from an attractive commercial market.

The acquisition was completed pursuant to the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement dated January 13, 2016 by and among the Merger Subsidiary and the Sellers. The Merger Subsidiary paid at the time of closing an aggregate purchase price of £7,575 ($10,976) in cash, and in exchange the Merger Subsidiary received all of the outstanding shares of Accutronics ordinary stock. Monies to fund the purchase price were advanced to the Merger Subsidiary from the Company’s general corporate funds.

The purchase price was subject to adjustment based on the difference between actual and estimated amounts of working capital of Accutronics as well as the amount of net cash of Accutronics. The adjustment resulted in a final payment to the Sellers in the amount of £133 on February 24, 2016, bringing the total aggregate purchase price to £7,708 ($11,161).

The purchase price allocation was determined in accordance with the accounting treatment of a business combination in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations. Under the guidance, the fair value of the consideration was determined and the assets acquired and liabilities assumed have been recorded at their fair values at the date of the acquisition. The excess of the consideration paid over the estimated fair values has been recorded as goodwill.

The final allocation of purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is presented in the table below (in thousands). Management is responsible for determining the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of acquisition. Management considered a number of factors, including reference to an analysis performed under FASB ASC Topic 805 solely for the purpose of allocating the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The Company’s estimates are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. These valuations require the use of management’s assumptions, which would not reflect unanticipated events and circumstances that occur.

The goodwill included in the Company’s purchase price allocation presented above represents the value of Accutronics assembled and trained workforce, the incremental value that Accutronics engineering and technology will bring to the Company and the revenue growth expected to occur over time attributable to increased market penetration from future new products and customers. The goodwill acquired in connection with the acquisition is not deductible for income tax purposes.

The identifiable intangible assets included in the Company’s purchase price allocation represent customer contracts and relationships of $2,821, intellectual property of $1,132 and trade name of $421 that are amortized straight-line over a period ranging from 10 to 15 years.

During the three month period ended March 27, 2016, direct acquisition costs of $251 and increased cost of sales related to purchase accounting adjustments of $91 for inventory acquired were recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income. Accutronics contributed revenue of $2,486 and an operating loss of $275 during the three month period ended March 27, 2016 reflecting the purchase accounting adjustments and non-recurring costs directly related to the acquisition.

Set forth below is the unaudited pro forma results of the Company for the three-month period ended March 27, 2016, as if the acquisition occurred as of January 1, 2015. The unaudited pro forma results for the three months ended March 27, 2016 exclude direct acquisition costs of $251 and cost of sales of $91 related to the purchase accounting adjustments for inventory acquired. The operating results of Accutronics were not material for the period from January 1, 2016 to the acquisition date.

The unaudited pro forma results do not reflect the realization of any expected cost savings or other synergies from the acquisition of Accutronics as a result of restructuring activities, other cost savings initiatives or sales synergies following the completion of the business combination. Accordingly, these unaudited pro forma results are presented for informational purposes only and not necessarily indicative of what the actual results of operations of the combined Company would have been if the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of the 2015 period presented, nor are they indicative of future results of operations.

On April 28, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program (the “Share Repurchase Program”) which became effective on May 1, 2014 and under which the Company was authorized to repurchase up to 1.8 million shares of its outstanding common stock over a period not to exceed twelve months. The Share Repurchase Program was extended through June 2, 2016, and the maximum number of shares authorized to be repurchased under the program was increased to 3.4 million shares.  Share repurchases under this program were made in accordance with SEC Rule 10b-18 using a variety of methods, which included open market purchases and block trades in compliance with applicable insider trading and other securities laws and regulations. With the exception of repurchases made during stock trading black-out periods under 10b5-1 Plans, the timing, manner, price and amount of any repurchases were determined at the Company’s discretion. The Share Repurchase Program expired on June 2, 2016 and did not obligate the Company to repurchase any specific number of shares.  From the inception of the Share Repurchase Program on May 1, 2014 through its expiration on June 2, 2016, the Company repurchased 2,592,095 shares for an aggregate cost (excluding fees and commissions) of $10,480.  There were no shares repurchased during the three-month period ended March 27, 2016.

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market with cost determined under the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The composition of inventories, net of reserves, was:

Major classes of property, equipment and improvements consisted of the following:

Depreciation expense for property, equipment and improvements was $503 and $589 for the three-month periods ended April 2, 2017 and March 27, 2016, respectively.

Goodwill

The following table summarizes the goodwill activity by segment for the three-month periods ended April 2, 2017 and March 27, 2016:

Intangible Assets

The composition of intangible assets was:

Amortization expense for intangible assets was $105 and $137 for the three-month periods ended April 2, 2017 and March 27, 2016, respectively. Amortization included in research and development expenses was $40 and $51 for the three-month periods ended April 2, 2017 and March 27, 2016, respectively. Amortization included in selling, general and administrative expenses was $65 and $86 for the three-month periods ended April 2, 2017 and March 27, 2016, respectively.

The change in the cost value of intangible assets from December 31, 2016 to April 2, 2017 is a result of the effect of foreign currency translations.

We have financing through a Revolving Credit, Guaranty and Security Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) and related security agreements with PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC Bank”), which provides a $20,000 secured asset-based revolving credit facility that includes a $1,000 letter of credit sub-facility (the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Agreement provides that the Credit Facility may be increased with PNC Bank’s concurrence to an amount not to exceed $35,000 prior to the last six months of the term and expires on May 24, 2017.

Our available borrowing limit under the Credit Facility is based on a borrowing base formula equal to a percentage of accounts receivable, inventory and eligible foreign in-transit inventory. Interest is payable quarterly and accrues on outstanding indebtedness under the Credit Agreement at either a LIBOR-based rate or an alternate base rate, as defined in the Credit Agreement. We pay a quarterly fee on the Credit Facility’s unused availability at 0.375% per annum.

As of April 2, 2017, we had approximately $10,789 of borrowing capacity under our $20,000 Credit Facility and no borrowings or letters of credit outstanding. As of March 27, 2016, we had borrowings of $1,156 under the Credit Facility.

We recorded non-cash stock compensation expense in each period as follows:

Stock Options

We have stock options outstanding from various stock-based employee compensation plans for which we record compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions in our financial statements. As of April 2, 2017, there was $307 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding stock options, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.32 years. The following table summarizes stock option activity for the first quarter of 2017:

FASB’s guidance for share-based payments requires cash flows from excess tax benefits to be classified as a part of cash flows from financing activities. Excess tax benefits are realized tax benefits from tax deductions for exercised stock options in excess of the deferred tax asset attributable to stock compensation costs for such stock options. We did not record any excess tax benefits in the first three months of 2017 or 2016. Cash received from stock option exercises under our stock-based compensation plans for the three-month periods ended April 2, 2017 and March 27, 2016 was $741 and $14, respectively.

Restricted Stock Awards

In September 2014, 49,200 shares of restricted stock were awarded to certain of our employees. These units vest over three years and we estimated their weighted average grant date fair value to be $3.24 per share. There is $7 of unrecognized compensation cost related to these restricted shares at April 2, 2017.

We use the asset and liability method in accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse.

For the three-month periods ended April 2, 2017 and March 27, 2016, we recorded $87 and $88, respectively, in income tax expense, detailed as follows:

The deferred income tax provision is primarily due to the recognition of deferred tax liabilities relating to goodwill and certain intangible assets that cannot be predicted to reverse for book purposes during our loss carryforward periods offset by the deferred tax benefit of the amortization of certain intangible assets of Accutronics (U.K.). The current income tax provision is primarily due to the income generated by our foreign operations and estimated U.S. federal alternative minimum taxes.

Our effective consolidated tax rates for the three-month periods ended April 2, 2017 and March 27, 2016 were:

The overall effective tax rate is the result of the combination of income and losses in each of our tax jurisdictions, which is particularly influenced by the fact that we have recorded a full reserve against our deferred tax assets pertaining to cumulative historical losses for our U.S. operations and certain foreign subsidiaries, as management does not believe, at this time, that it is more likely than not that we will realize the benefit of these losses.

As of December 31, 2016, we have domestic and foreign net operating losses (“NOL”) totaling approximately $70,976 and $12,760, respectively, and domestic tax credits of approximately $1,704, available to reduce future taxable income. Included in our NOL carryforwards are foreign loss carryforwards of approximately $12,760, nearly all of which can be carried forward indefinitely. The domestic NOL carryforward of $70,976 expires from 2019 through 2034.

As a result of our operations, we file income tax returns in various jurisdictions including U.S. federal, U.S. state and foreign jurisdictions. We are routinely subject to examination by taxing authorities in these various jurisdictions. Our U.S. tax matters for the years 2002 through 2016 remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and various state and local tax jurisdictions due to our NOL carryforwards. Our tax matters for the years 2009 through 2016 remain subject to examination by the respective foreign tax jurisdiction authorities.

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing earnings attributable to the Company’s common shareholders by the weighted-average shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS includes the dilutive effect of securities, if any, and is calculated using the treasury stock method. For the three-month period ended April 2, 2017, 1,180,031 stock options and 15,900 restricted stock awards were included in the calculation of Diluted EPS as such securities are dilutive. Inclusion of these securities resulted in 244,591 additional shares in the calculation of fully diluted earnings per share. For the comparable period ended March 27, 2016, 1,242,230 stock options and 32,800 restricted stock awards were included in the calculation of Diluted EPS resulting in 342,809 additional shares in the calculation of fully diluted earnings per share. There were 1,015,050 and 1,051,750 outstanding stock options for the three-month periods ended April 2, 2017 and March 27, 2016, respectively, which were not included in EPS as the effect would be anti-dilutive.

Purchase Commitments

As of April 2, 2017, we have made commitments to purchase approximately $329 of production machinery and equipment.

Product Warranties

We estimate future costs associated with expected product failure rates, material usage and service costs in the development of our warranty obligations. Warranty reserves are based on historical experience of warranty claims and generally will be estimated as a percentage of sales over the warranty period. In the event the actual results of these items differ from the estimates, an adjustment to the warranty obligation would be recorded. Changes in our product warranty liability during the first three months of 2017 and 2016 were as follows:

Contingencies and Legal Matters

We are subject to legal proceedings and claims that arise from time to time in the normal course of business. We believe that the final disposition of such matters, other than the matters described below, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Dreamliner Litigation

In July 2013, an unoccupied Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft operated by Ethiopian Airlines was damaged by a fire while parked at London Heathrow Airport. We participated in and provided technical assistance in support of an investigation of this incident conducted by U.K. and U.S. regulatory authorities as well as by the manufacturer of the aircraft, as we are one of many downstream suppliers to that manufacturer. A final report was issued by the Air Accidents Investigative Branch - - UK Civil Aviation regulatory authority, with findings indicating that the fire was primarily caused by circumstances related to the plane’s emergency locator transmitter (“ELT”) manufactured and installed by another company.

A component of the ELT is a battery pack which incorporates Ultralife’s industry-standard lithium manganese dioxide non-rechargeable D-cell. Ultralife has had this cell in production since 2001, with millions of units produced and this cell is widely-used for global defense and commercial applications. This battery product has gone through rigorous safety and qualification testing, including United Nations Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria, and is authorized for use in aerospace applications under Technical Standard Order C142.

On May 4, 2015, we were notified of a lawsuit in which we were named, along with other suppliers to the aircraft manufacturer, concerning that 2013 fire. The suit was filed by Ethiopian Airlines Enterprise in the Commercial Court, Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, London. The suit seeks as damages $42,000 plus other unspecified amounts, including those for loss of use and diminution in value of the aircraft. We maintain liability and products liability insurance through reputable providers, and in accordance with our corporate practices, immediately advised and referred this matter to our insurers. We are working with those insurers and their counsel to respond to and actively defend against this action, which is ongoing.

At this time, we believe that there is not a reasonable possibility that this incident will result in a material financial exposure to the Company.

Arista Power Litigation

Since September 2011, we have been pursuing legal action against Arista Power, Inc. (“Arista”) and our former employee, David Modeen, for, among other things, alleged breach of certain agreements, duties and obligations, including misappropriation of our confidential information and trade secrets, tortious interference, and breach of contract. On January 12, 2016, Arista filed for liquidation under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy laws of the United States, without accurately identifying our ongoing lawsuit against them. Although we have not withdrawn our lawsuit, nor has it been dismissed, the Company does not intend to submit a Proof of Claim in connection with Arista’s bankruptcy filing, nor is it actively pursuing its claims against Arista at this time.

We report our results in two operating segments: Battery & Energy Products and Communications Systems. The Battery & Energy Products segment includes: lithium 9-volt, cylindrical and other non-rechargeable batteries, in addition to rechargeable batteries, uninterruptable power supplies, charging systems and accessories. The Communications Systems segment includes: RF amplifiers, power supplies, cable and connector assemblies, amplified speakers, equipment mounts, case equipment, man-portable systems, integrated communication systems for fixed or vehicle applications and communications and electronics systems design. We believe that reporting performance at the gross profit level is the best indicator of segment performance. As such, we report segment performance at the gross profit level and operating expenses as corporate charges.

The components of segment performance were as follows:

Three-Month Period Ended April 2, 2017:

Three-Month Period Ended March 27, 2016:

There have been no developments to recently issued accounting standards, including the expected dates of adoption and estimated effects on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures, from those disclosed in the Company’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, except for the following.

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

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. This report contains certain forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. The statements contained in this report relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, our reliance on certain key customers; potential costs because of the warranties we supply with our products and services; our efforts to develop new commercial applications for our products; possible future declines in demand for the products that use our batteries or communications systems; the unique risks associated with our China operations; reduced U.S. and foreign military spending including the uncertainty associated with government budget approvals; our ability to comply with changes to the regulations for the shipment of our products; variability in our quarterly and annual results and the price of our common stock; possible impairments of our goodwill and other intangible assets; possible breaches in security and other disruptions; safety risks, including the risk of fire; negative publicity of lithium-ion batteries; our resources being overwhelmed by our growth prospects; our ability to retain top management and key personnel; potential disruptions in our supply of raw materials and components; our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations; our customers’ demand falling short of volume expectations in our supply agreements; the risk that we are unable to protect our proprietary and intellectual property; rules and procedures regarding contracting with the U.S. and foreign governments; exposure to possible violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act or other anti-corruption laws; our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards; our ability to comply with government regulations regarding the use of “conflict minerals” possible audits of our contracts by the U.S. and foreign governments and their respective defense agencies; known and unknown environmental matters; technological innovations in the non-rechargeable and rechargeable battery industries; and other risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond our control. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those forward-looking statements described herein. When used in this report, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate” or “expect” or words of similar import are intended to identify forward-looking statements. For further discussion of certain of the matters described above and other risks and uncertainties, see Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Undue reliance should not be placed on our forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation to update any risk factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 to reflect new information or risks, future events or other developments.

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and the Risk Factors and our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto contained in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

The financial information in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is presented in thousands of dollars, except for share and per share amounts. All figures presented below represent results from continuing operations, unless otherwise specified.

General

We offer products and services ranging from power solutions to communications and electronics systems to customers across the globe in the government, defense and commercial sectors. With an emphasis on strong engineering and a collaborative approach to problem solving, we design, manufacture, install and maintain power and communications systems including rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries, communications and electronics systems and accessories and custom engineered systems. We sell our products worldwide through a variety of trade channels, including original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), industrial and defense supply distributors and directly to U.S. and international defense departments.

We report our results in two operating segments: Battery & Energy Products and Communications Systems. The Battery & Energy Products segment includes Lithium 9-volt, cylindrical, thin cell and various other non-rechargeable batteries, in addition to rechargeable batteries, uninterruptable power supplies, charging systems and accessories, such as cables. The Communications Systems segment includes RF amplifiers, power supplies, cable and connector assemblies, amplified speakers, equipment mounts, case equipment, integrated communication system kits and communications and electronics systems design. We believe that reporting performance at the gross profit level is the best indicator of segment performance. As such, we report segment performance at the gross profit level and operating expenses as Corporate charges.

Overview

Consolidated revenues of $22,035 for the three-month period ended April 2, 2017, increased by $1,202 or 5.8%, from $20,833 during the three-month period ended March 27, 2016, due to higher revenues from our Battery & Energy Products business reflecting increased government/defense and commercial sales and from our Communications Systems business driven by shipments of power supplies to a large global defense prime contractor.

Gross profit for the three-month period ended April 2, 2017 was $6,890 or 31.3% of revenues, compared to $6,405 or 30.7% of revenues, for the same quarter a year ago. The 60 basis point improvement in gross margin resulted from the favorable product mix of our Communications System business.

Operating expenses decreased to $5,049 during the three-month period ended April 2, 2017, compared to $5,923 during the three-month period ended March 27, 2016. The decrease of $874 or 14.8% was attributable to discretionary spending reductions actions, acquisition cost synergies and one-time costs of $203 incurred in January 2016 pertaining to the acquisition of Accutronics Ltd.

Operating income for the three-month period ended April 2, 2017 was $1,841 or 8.4% of revenues, compared to $482 or 2.3% for the year-earlier period. The increase in operating income resulted from revenue growth, improvement in gross margin and reduction in operating expenses.

Net income attributable to Ultralife was $1,655 or $0.11 per share, for the three-month period ended April 2, 2017, compared to $299 or $0.02 per share for the three-month period ended March 27, 2016. Net income for the first quarter of 2016 includes total one-time costs of $342 pertaining to the acquisition of Accutronics, equivalent to $0.02 per share.

Adjusted EBITDA, defined as net income (loss) attributable to Ultralife before net interest expense, provision (benefit) for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and stock-based compensation expense, plus/minus expenses/income that we do not consider reflective of our ongoing operations, amounted to $2,477 in the first quarter of 2017 compared to $1,506 for the first quarter of 2016. See the section “Adjusted EBITDA” beginning on page 18 for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income attributable to Ultralife.

Primarily as a result of our operating performance and a $727 or 3.1% reduction in inventory, we generated $2,966 of cash for the three month period ended April 2, 2017. Accordingly, cash increased from $10,629 at December 31, 2016 to $13,595 at April 2, 2017.

Our first quarter performance, strong cash generation and opportunities created by continued investments in market and sales reach expansion and new product development are encouraging indicators for another year of profitable growth in 2017.

Results of Operations

Three-month periods ended April 2, 2017 and March 27, 2016

Revenues. Consolidated revenues for the three-month period ended April 2, 2017 amounted to $22,035, an increase of $1,202, or 5.8%, from the $20,833 reported for the three-month period ended March 27, 2016.

Battery & Energy Products revenues increased $1,039, or 6.3%, from $16,440 for the three-month period ended March 27, 2016 to $17,479 for the three-month period ended April 2, 2017. The increase was attributable to higher government/defense, medical and 9-Volt sales. Government and defense sales increased 11.2% from the 2016 period due primarily to higher demand from a large global defense prime contractor and the U.S. Department of Defense. Commercial revenues for the first quarter of 2017 comprised 54% of total revenues for the segment and increased 2.4% over the prior year period. This increase primarily resulted from 11.8% revenue growth attributable to our medical customers and a 10.0% increase in sales of our 9-Volt batteries, partially offset in large part by the timing of other commercial shipments.

Communications Systems revenues increased $163, or 3.7%, from $4,393 during the three-month period ended March 27, 2016 to $4,556 for the three-month period ended April 2, 2017. This increase is attributable to shipments of power supplies to a large global defense prime contractor which more than offset the year-earlier shipments under the Vehicle Installed Power Enhanced Riflemen Appliqué (“VIPER”) Program.

Cost of Products Sold. Cost of products sold totaled $15,145 for the quarter ended April 2, 2017, an increase of $717, or 5.0%, from the $14,428 reported for the same three-month period a year ago. Consolidated cost of products sold as a percentage of total revenue decreased from 69.3% for the three-month period ended March 27, 2016 to 68.7% for the three-month period ended April 2, 2017. Correspondingly, consolidated gross margin was 31.3% for the three-month period ended April 2, 2017, compared with 30.7% for the three-month period ended March 27, 2016, primarily reflecting sales mix and a one-time adjustment to increase the opening inventory of Accutronics to fair market value in accordance with purchase accounting which resulted in a 44 basis point reduction in reported gross margin upon sell through of the product during the first quarter of 2016.

For our Battery & Energy Products segment, gross profit for the first quarter of 2017 was $4,930 or 28.2% of revenues, a decrease of $287 or 5.5% from gross profit of $5,217, or 31.7% of revenues, for the first quarter of 2016. Battery & Energy Products’ gross margin as a percentage of revenues decreased for the three-month period ended April 2, 2017 by 350 basis points, reflecting product mix.

For our Communications Systems segment, gross profit for the first quarter of 2017 was $1,960 or 43.0% of revenues, an increase of $772 or 65.0%, from gross profit of $1,188, or 27.0% of revenues, for the first quarter of 2016. The 1,600 basis point increase in gross margin as a percentage of revenue during 2017 is driven by the more favorable product mix in 2017.

Operating Expenses. Total operating expenses for the three-month period ended April 2, 2017 totaled $5,049, a decrease of $874 or 14.8% from the $5,923 recorded during the three-month period ended March 27, 2016. The decrease resulted from discretionary spending reductions completed in 2016, acquisition cost synergies and $203 of non-recurring expenses related to the last year’s acquisition of Accutronics Ltd.

Overall, operating expenses as a percentage of revenues were 22.9% for the quarter ended April 2, 2017 compared to 28.4% for the quarter ended March 27, 2016. Amortization expense associated with intangible assets related to our acquisitions was $105 for the first quarter of 2017 ($65 in selling, general and administrative expenses and $40 in research and development costs), compared with $137 for the first quarter of 2016 ($86 in selling, general, and administrative expenses and $51 in research and development costs). Research and development costs were $1,138 for the three-month period ended April 2, 2017, a decrease of $518 or 31.3%, from $1,656 for the three-months ended March 27, 2016. The decrease primarily reflects the timing of development and testing costs associated with the shipment of VIPER units in 2016 and discretionary cost reduction actions completed subsequent to the first quarter in 2016. Selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased $356 or 8.3%, to $3,911 during the first quarter of 2017 from $4,267 during the first quarter of 2016. The decrease is attributable to one-time cost incurred to complete the acquisition of Accutronics in January 2016 and discretionary cost reduction actions completed subsequent to the first quarter in 2016.

Other Expense. Other expense totaled $93 for the three-month period ended April 2, 2017 compared to $113 for the three-month period ended March 27, 2016. Interest and financing expense, net of interest income, decreased $34, from $102 for the first quarter of 2016 to $68 for the comparable period in 2017, primarily as a result of one-time costs associated with the acquisition of Accutronics in 2016. Miscellaneous expense amounted to $25 for the first quarter of 2017 compared with $11 for the first quarter of 2016, primarily due to fluctuations between the U.S. dollar relative to the Euro and Pound Sterling.

Income Taxes. The tax provision for the 2017 first quarter was $87 compared to $88 for the first quarter of 2016. See Note 9 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our income taxes.

Net Income Attributable to Ultralife. Net income attributable to Ultralife and net income attributable to Ultralife common shareholders per diluted share was $1,655 and $0.11, respectively, for the three months ended April 7, 2017, compared to $299 and $0.02, respectively, for the three months ended March 27, 2016. The 2016 period was impacted by the purchase accounting adjustments and non-recurring costs totaling $342 related to the acquisition of Accutronics, equivalent to $0.02 per share. Average common shares outstanding used to compute diluted earnings per share decreased from 15,666,115 in the first quarter of 2016 to 15,656,288 in the first quarter of 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA

In evaluating our business, we consider and use Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, as a supplemental measure of our operating performance. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) attributable to Ultralife before net interest expense, provision (benefit) for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and stock-based compensation expense, plus/minus expenses/income that we do not consider reflective of our ongoing continuing operations. We use Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure to review and assess our operating performance and to enhance comparability between periods. We also believe the use of Adjusted EBITDA facilitates investors’ use of operating performance comparisons from period to period and company to company by backing out potential differences caused by variations in such items as capital structures (affecting relative interest expense and stock-based compensation expense), the book amortization of intangible assets (affecting relative amortization expense), the age and book value of facilities and equipment (affecting relative depreciation expense) and other significant non-operating expenses or income. We also present Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations because we believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties as a measure of financial performance. We reconcile Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) attributable to Ultralife, the most comparable financial measure under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”).

We use Adjusted EBITDA in our decision-making processes relating to the operation of our business together with U.S. GAAP financial measures such as income (loss) from operations. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA permits a comparative assessment of our operating performance, relative to our performance based on our U.S. GAAP results, while isolating the effects of depreciation and amortization, which may vary from period to period without any correlation to underlying operating performance, of non-cash stock-based compensation, which is a non-cash expense that varies widely among companies, and non-recurring income and expenses such as those related to the Accutronics purchase accounting. We believe that by limiting Adjusted EBITDA, we assist investors in gaining a better understanding of our business on a going forward basis. We provide information relating to our Adjusted EBITDA so that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties have the same data that we employ in assessing our overall operations. We believe that trends in our Adjusted EBITDA are a valuable indicator of our operating performance on a consolidated basis and of our ability to produce operating cash flows to fund working capital needs, to service debt obligations and to fund capital expenditures.

The term Adjusted EBITDA is not defined under U.S. GAAP, and is not a measure of operating income, operating performance or liquidity presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and when assessing our operating performance, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss) attributable to Ultralife or other consolidated statement of operations data prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Some of these limitations include, but are not limited to, the following:

We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our U.S. GAAP results and using Adjusted EBITDA only supplementally. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as follows for the periods presented:

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of April 2, 2017, cash totaled $13,595, an increase of $2,966 from the beginning of the year primarily attributable to the Company’s operating performance and inventory reduction. During the three-month period ended April 2, 2017, we generated $2,739 of cash from our operating activities as compared to utilizing cash of $2,875 for the three-month period ended March 27, 2016, an increase of $5,614. Cash generated by operations in 2017 resulted from cash provided from net income attributable to Ultralife of $1,661 and non-cash expenses (depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation) totaling $666 and a decrease in inventory of $771 resulting from the usage of inventory to service the 2017 backlog, partially offset by a $537 increase in accounts receivables due primarily to the timing of sales during the first quarter of 2017, and a net increase in accounts payable and other working capital items of $178 due in large part to procuring inventory associated with servicing backlog.

We used $588 in cash for investing activities during the first three months of 2017. Cash paid for capital expenditures totaled $581 and $69 in the first three months of 2017 and 2016, respectively.

As of April 2, 2016, we had made commitments to purchase approximately $329 of production machinery and equipment, which we expect to fund through operating cash flows.

Debt Commitments

We have financing through our Credit Facility with PNC Bank, which provides a $20,000 secured asset-based revolving credit facility that includes a $1,000 letter of credit sub-facility. As of April 2, 2017, we had approximately $10,789 of borrowing capacity under our $20,000 Credit Facility with PNC Bank, and no borrowings under the Credit Facility.

Our available borrowing limit under the Credit Facility is based on a borrowing base formula equal to a percentage of accounts receivable, inventory and eligible foreign in-transit inventory. Interest is payable quarterly and accrues on outstanding indebtedness under the Credit Agreement at either a LIBOR-based rate or an alternate base rate, as defined in the Credit Agreement. We pay a quarterly fee on the Credit Facility’s unused availability at 0.375% per annum.

The Company currently believes that the cash flow generated from operations and when necessary, available borrowing from our Credit Facility, will be sufficient to meet its current and long-term funding requirements for the foreseeable future.

Critical Accounting Policies

Management exercises judgment in making important decisions pertaining to choosing and applying accounting policies and methodologies in many areas. Not only are these decisions necessary to comply with U.S. GAAP, but they also reflect management’s view of the most appropriate manner in which to record and report our overall financial performance. All accounting policies are important, and all policies described in Note 1 (“Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies”) to our Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K should be reviewed for a greater understanding of how our financial performance is recorded and reported.

During the first three months of 2017, there were no significant changes in the manner in which our significant accounting policies were applied or in which related assumptions and estimates were developed.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation Of Disclosure Controls And Procedures

Our President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) have evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report. Based on this evaluation, our President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date.

Changes In Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) that occurred during the fiscal quarter covered by this quarterly report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

Dreamliner Litigation

In July 2013, an unoccupied Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft operated by Ethiopian Airlines was damaged by a fire while parked at London Heathrow Airport. We participated in and provided technical assistance in support of an investigation of this incident conducted by U.K. and U.S. regulatory authorities as well as by the manufacturer of the aircraft, as we are one of many downstream suppliers to that manufacturer. A final report was issued by the Air Accidents Investigative Branch - - UK Civil Aviation regulatory authority, with findings indicating that the fire was primarily caused by circumstances related to the plane’s emergency locator transmitter (“ELT”) manufactured and installed by another company.

A component of the ELT is a battery pack which incorporates Ultralife’s industry-standard lithium manganese dioxide non-rechargeable D-cell. Ultralife has had this cell in production since 2001, with millions of units produced and this cell is widely-used for global defense and commercial applications. This battery product has gone through rigorous safety and qualification testing, including United Nations Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria, and is authorized for use in aerospace applications under Technical Standard Order C142.

On May 4, 2015, we were notified of a lawsuit in which we were named, along with other suppliers to the aircraft manufacturer, concerning that 2013 fire. The suit was filed by Ethiopian Airlines Enterprise in the Commercial Court, Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, London. The suit seeks as damages $42,000 plus other unspecified amounts, including those for loss of use and diminution in value of the aircraft. We maintain liability and products liability insurance through reputable providers, and in accordance with our corporate practices, immediately advised and referred this matter to our insurers. We are working with those insurers and their counsel to respond to and actively defend against this action, which is ongoing.

At this time, we believe that there is not a reasonable possibility that this incident will result in a material financial exposure to the Company.

Arista Power Litigation

Since September 2011, we have been pursuing legal action against Arista Power, Inc. (“Arista”) and our former employee, David Modeen, for, among other things, alleged breach of certain agreements, duties and obligations, including misappropriation of our confidential information and trade secrets, tortious interference, and breach of contract. On January 12, 2016, Arista filed for liquidation under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy laws of the United States, without accurately identifying our ongoing lawsuit against them. Although we have not withdrawn our lawsuit, nor has it been dismissed, the Company does not intend to submit a Proof of Claim in connection with Arista’s bankruptcy filing, nor is it actively pursuing its claims against Arista at this time.

2(c) Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers  

On April 28, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program (the “Share Repurchase Program”) which became effective on May 1, 2014 and under which the Company was authorized to repurchase up to 1.8 million shares of its outstanding common stock over a period not to exceed twelve months. The Share Repurchase Program was extended through June 2, 2016, and the maximum number of shares authorized to be repurchased under the program was increased to 3.4 million shares.  Share repurchases under this program were made in accordance with SEC Rule 10b-18 using a variety of methods, which included open market purchases and block trades in compliance with applicable insider trading and other securities laws and regulations. With the exception of repurchases made during stock trading black-out periods under 10b5-1 Plans, the timing, manner, price and amount of any repurchases were determined at the Company’s discretion. The Share Repurchase Program expired on June 2, 2016 and did not obligate the Company to repurchase any specific number of shares.  From the inception of the Share Repurchase Program on May 1, 2014 through its expiration on June 2, 2016, the Company repurchased 2,592,095 shares for an aggregate cost (excluding fees and commissions) of $10,480.  There were no shares repurchased during the three-month period ended March 27, 2016.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

Index to Exhibits

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