WIRELESS TELECOM GROUP INC - Annual Report: 2020 (Form 10-K)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
[X] | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020
OR
[ ] | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from ________ to________
Commission file number 1-11916
WIRELESS TELECOM GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New Jersey | 22-2582295 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer | |
incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) | |
25 Eastmans Road, | ||
Parsippany, New Jersey | 07054 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code) 973-386-9696 |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: |
Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share | WTT | NYSE American |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
none
(Title of Class)
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes [ ] No [X]
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]
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. (check one):
Large accelerated filer [ ] | Accelerated filer [ ] | |
Non-accelerated filer [ ] | Smaller reporting company [X] | Emerging growth company [ ] |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standard provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes [ ] No [X]
The aggregate market value of the registrants’ Common Stock, $.01 par value, held by non-affiliates and computed by reference to the closing price as reported by NYSE American on June 30, 2020: $16,642,027. As of March 6, 2021, there were 21,660,318 shares of the Company’s common stock ($.01 par value) outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement relating to the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2020 Proxy Statement”) are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Overview
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc., a New Jersey corporation, together with its subsidiaries (“we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”), specializes in the design and manufacture of advanced radio frequency and microwave devices which enable the development, testing and deployment of wireless technology. The Company provides unique, highly customized and configured solutions which drive innovation across a wide range of traditional and emerging wireless technologies.
Wireless Telecom Group is comprised of five brands – Microlab, Boonton, Noisecom, CommAgility and Holzworth. The Company is organized as one reporting segment as of result of certain internal reorganizations occurring in the six to nine months prior to June 2020. Prior to June 2020, the Company was organized in three reporting segments. In June 2020 we determined that the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) as defined in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 280 Segment Reporting evaluates operating results and makes decisions on how to allocate resources at the consolidated level. Although the CODM reviews key performance indicators including bookings, shipments and gross profit at a product group level, this information by itself is not sufficient enough to make operating decisions. Rather, operating decisions are made based on review of consolidated profitability metrics rather than the individual results of each product group. The Company continues to report gross profit at the product group level. Our product groups are organized as follows: Radio Frequency Components (“RFC”) is comprised of our Microlab brand; Radio, Baseband, Software (“RBS”) is comprised of our CommAgility brand; and Test and Measurement (“T&M”) is comprised of our Boonton, Noisecom and Holzworth brands.
Our customers include wireless carriers, aerospace and defense companies, military and government agencies, satellite communication companies, network equipment manufacturers, tower companies, semiconductor companies, system integrators, neutral host providers, medical device manufacturers and other global technology companies.
Our products include components, modules, instruments, systems and software used across the lifecycle of wireless connectivity and communication development, deployment and testing. Our services include software customization, calibration, repair and maintenance. Our customers use these products in the development and deployment of long-term evolution (“LTE”) and 5G private networks, small cell solution development and deployment, 5G test environments, automated test environments, research labs, network densification and deployment, expansion and upgrade of distributed antenna systems, and medical device manufacturing In addition, the Company’s products are used in the development and testing of satellite communication systems, radar systems, semiconductor manufacturing, automotive electronics and avionics.
The consolidated financial statements for the 2020 fiscal year include the accounts of Wireless Telecom Group, Inc., doing business as, and operating under the trade name Noise Com, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiaries including Boonton Electronics Corporation, Microlab/FXR, Wireless Telecommunications Ltd., CommAgility Limited and Holzworth Instrumentation, Inc. The corporate website address is www.wirelesstelecomgroup.com. Noise Com, Inc., Boonton Electronics Corporation, Microlab/FXR, CommAgility Limited Ltd., and Holzworth Instrumentation, Inc. are hereinafter referred to as “Noisecom”, “Boonton”, “Microlab”, “CommAgility” and “Holzworth”, respectively.
Market
Since the Company’s incorporation in the State of New Jersey in 1985, it has been primarily engaged in supplying noise source components and instruments, electronic testing and measurement instruments, and radio frequency (“RF”) passive components to customers. With the CommAgility acquisition in February 2017, the Company expanded to include the delivery of digital signal processing hardware cards and the delivery, implementation and configuration of LTE and 5G physical layer and stack software. In February 2020, we acquired Holzworth which specializes in supplying signal generators and phase noise analyzers to global aerospace and defense companies, the semiconductor industry and government labs. Approximately 82% and 93% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively, were derived from commercial customers. The remaining consolidated revenues (approximately 18% and 7% in 2020 and 2019, respectively) were comprised of revenues from the United States government (particularly the armed forces) and prime defense contractors.
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Brands and Products
Microlab
Microlab designs and manufactures a wide selection of RF components and integrated subsystems for signal conditioning and distribution in the wireless infrastructure markets as well as for use in medical devices. Microlab products are used in small cell deployments, distributed antenna systems, in-building wireless solutions and cellular base-stations. In 2020, Microlab expanded its portfolio of RF components for ultra-wide band frequency ranges enabling the deployment of commercial wireless networks utilizing new licensed and unlicensed mid-band spectrum allocations. Management believes mid-band spectrum is especially well suited for 5G mobile broadband due to its wide coverage, low latency and high reliability.
Microlab components possess unique capabilities in the area of broadband frequency coverage, minimal loss and low passive intermodulation (“PIM”). High performance components – such as power combiners, directional couplers, attenuators, terminators and filters – are developed for broadband applications to support commercial in-building wireless networks, public safety networks, rail and transportation deployments, corrosive salt/fog environment build-outs and global positioning system (“GPS”) signal distribution.
Along with components and integrated subsystems, the Microlab portfolio also includes system performance monitoring and timing synchronization solutions. These products include a portfolio of GPS digital repeaters and splitters for cellular timing synchronization as well as a passive systems monitor for real-time diagnostics of an in-building distributed antenna system.
Boonton
Boonton is a leader in high performance RF and microwave test equipment for radar, avionics, electronic warfare, electromagnetic interference compatibility, and satellite and wireless communications applications due to our product quality and measurement speed and accuracy. Used across the semiconductor, military, aerospace, medical and commercial communications industries, Boonton products enable a wide range of power measurements and signal analysis for RF product design, production, maintenance and testing.
Boonton designs and produces electronic test and measurement equipment including power meters, power sensors, voltmeters, and audio and modulation analyzers. These products measure and analyze the performance of RF and microwave systems used by the military and commercial sectors. Boonton products are also used to test terrestrial and satellite communications, radar and telemetry. Certain power meter products are designed for measuring signals based on wideband modulation formats, allowing a variety of measurements to be made, including maximum power, peak power, average power and minimum power.
Noisecom
Noisecom is a leader in RF and microwave noise sources for signal jamming, system impairment, reference level comparison and calibration, receiver robustness testing, and jitter injection due to our product quality and product design flexibility. Noisecom designs and produces noise generation instruments, calibrated noise sources, noise modules and diodes. Noisecom noise products are used to provide wide band interference and test signals for sophisticated commercial communication and defense applications, and as a stable reference standard for advanced systems found in radar applications and satellite communications. Noise source products:
● | simulate challenging signaling conditions in data and radio frequency transmission systems, such as jitter testing for high speed data lines used in modern computer architecture; | |
● | send signals for noise measurement to allow wireless receivers and transmitters to be optimized; | |
● | are used for jamming radio frequency signals, blocking or disturbing enemy radar and other communications and insulating and protecting friendly communications; and | |
● | comprise components in radar systems as part of built-in test equipment to continuously monitor the radar receiver and in-satellite communications where the use of back-up receivers is becoming more common. |
Electronic noise generation devices from Noisecom come in a variety of product types including noise diodes, built-in-test modules (“BITE”), calibrated noise sources, jitter sources, cryogenic noise standards and programmable instruments. Calibrated noise sources are available from audio to millimeter wavelengths in coaxial or waveguide modules. Programmable instruments are highly configurable and able to generate precise carrier-to-noise, signal-to-noise and broadband white noise levels. Noisecom products are customizable to meet the unique needs of challenging applications and can be designed for high power, high crest factor, and specific filtering.
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Holzworth
Holzworth designs and manufactures specialty phase noise analyzers and signal generators used by aerospace and defense companies, government labs, the semiconductor industry, and network equipment providers. Holzworth products are used in, among other things, research and automated test environments and for quantum computing. Holzworth signal generators are optimized for ultra-low phase noise performance, spectral purity and fast switching speeds and their phase noise analyzers are of the same innovative design philosophy, optimized for measurement speed, z540 traceable accuracy and high reliability while measuring to noise floors at the theoretical limit.
CommAgility
CommAgility develops the software which enables specialized LTE and 5G deployments, applications and private network solutions including the LTE physical layer and stack software, for mobile network and related applications. CommAgility also develops embedded signal processing hardware and RF modules which enable 5G and LTE mobile network and application solutions. Combining the latest digital processing platforms and RF technologies with advanced, industry-leading software, CommAgility provides compact, powerful and reliable products for integration into high performance test equipment, specialized radio and intelligence systems, satellite systems and research and development demonstrators.
CommAgility engineers work closely with customers to provide hardware and software solutions for the most demanding real-time signal processing, test and control challenges in wireless baseband, private and specialized networks, satellite communications, radar and electronic warfare. Additionally, CommAgility licenses, implements and customizes 5G and LTE physical layer and stack software for private networks supporting satellite communications, the military and aerospace industries, offering our customers unique implementation capabilities built on 3rd Generation Partnership Project (“3GPP”) standards.
In January 2020, CommAgility announced a collaboration agreement with NXP Semiconductors in connection with the NXP Layerscape Access Programmable Baseband Processors for 5G New Radio Platforms. The collaboration enables CommAgility to accelerate 5G hardware and software development and enhance the performance of its 5G platform, providing advantages to customers developing 5G solutions and reducing their time of development. The collaboration will help CommAgility address needs for private and specialized network solutions.
Marketing and Sales
The Company’s products are sold globally through our in-house sales force, industry-specific manufacturers’ representatives and through a network of authorized distributors. The Company promotes the sale of its products through its website, product literature, published articles, technical conference presentations, direct mailings, trade advertisements and trade show exhibitions.
The Company’s relationships with its manufacturers’ representatives and distributors are governed by written contracts that either run for one-year renewable periods terminable by either party on 30 to 60 days prior notice or have indefinite lives terminable by either party on 30 to 60 days prior notice. The contracts generally provide for territorial and product representation.
Customers
The Company currently sells the majority of its products to aerospace and defense companies, distributors, telecommunications service providers, systems integrators, neutral host operators, global technology and services companies, U.S. and foreign governments, and medical device manufacturers. For the year ended December 31, 2020, no one customer accounted for more than 10% of total consolidated revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2019 one customer, Viavi Solutions, accounted for 24.8% of total consolidated revenues.
Competition
We compete against many companies which utilize similar technology, some of which are larger and have substantially greater resources and expertise in financial, technical and marketing areas than us. Some of these companies include Keysight Technologies, Inc., Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG, Anritsu Corporation, Kathrein, Commscope, Qualcomm, Mavenir, Altiostar and Azcom. We also compete against smaller offshore vendors with significantly lower costs and expenses than us, such as Sym Technology, Inc., Innowave RF and Wireless Supply.
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The Company believes its competitive strengths include:
● | long-standing relationships with a core group of diverse customers in the wireless, telecommunication, satellite, military, aerospace, semiconductor and medical industries | |
● | agility in providing highly customized and configured solutions to the customer’s technical specifications | |
● | a long tradition of developing highly engineered wireless solutions through our strong design capabilities and technology know-how | |
● | long-standing, well-established sales channels and relationships which allow us to bring new solutions to market quickly | |
● | diversification across multiple customer segments, providing solutions to enable development, testing and deployment | |
● | being an approved vendor at all three of the major U.S. carriers with hundreds of approved Microlab products | |
● | an embedded base of products and instruments which leads to recurring purchases of our Boonton, Noisecom and Holzworth products | |
● | extensive knowhow and IP related to 3GPP, LTE and 5G wireless standards which enable us to address complex and customized requirements for specialized networks |
Backlog
The Company’s consolidated backlog of firm orders to be shipped in the next twelve months was approximately $8.3 million at December 31, 2020, compared to approximately $3.8 million at December 31, 2019. The increase in backlog from the prior year is due to the addition of Holzworth, as well as an increase in CommAgility backlog. It is anticipated that the majority of the backlog orders at December 31, 2020 will be filled during the current year. The stated backlog is not necessarily indicative of Company revenues for any future period nor is a backlog any assurance that the Company will realize a profit from the orders.
Inventory, Supplies and Manufacturing
The Company purchases components, devices and subassemblies from a wide variety of sources. The Company’s procurement policy requires maintaining adequate levels of raw materials inventory to minimize the Company’s production lead times with third-party suppliers and to improve the Company’s capacity to expedite fulfillment of customer orders. Although the procurement team focuses its efforts to work closely with its suppliers to avoid adverse effects of shortages or delays in delivery of inventories, delays in the future may have an adverse impact on the Company’s operations. For the year ended December 31, 2020, two suppliers accounted for 14% of total consolidated inventory purchases, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2019, three suppliers accounted for 18%, 14%, and 10%, respectively, of total consolidated inventory purchases.
The Company is not party to any long term contracts regarding the deliveries of its supplies and components. It generally purchases such items pursuant to written purchase orders of both the individual and blanket variety. Blanket purchase orders usually cover the purchase of a larger amount of items at fixed prices for delivery and payment on specific dates.
For Boonton and Noisecom products, the Company develops, designs, manufactures, assembles, calibrates and tests the products at our facility in Parsippany, New Jersey. Testing of Boonton and Noisecom products is generally accomplished at the end of the manufacturing process and is performed in-house, as are all quality control processes.
Approximately 46% of Microlab’s revenues are traced to products that are sourced from offshore vendors. The majority of Microlab products that come from offshore suppliers are subject to tariffs. The impact of tariffs has decreased our consolidated gross profit margin by approximately 1%. The remainder of Microlab products are designed and manufactured by the Company in Parsippany, New Jersey. All Microlab products are tested by the Company in Parsippany, New Jersey.
CommAgility hardware products are built by contract manufacturers to CommAgility designs and tested either by the contract manufacturer or by CommAgility. Software products are licensed to customers through a system that allows the customer to download the software once access has been granted.
Holzworth products are designed, developed, assembled and tested in our facility in Boulder, Colorado.
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Warranty and Service
The Company typically provides one to three year warranties on all of its products covering both parts and labor. The Company, at its option, repairs or replaces products that are defective during the warranty period if the proper preventive maintenance procedures have been followed by its customers.
In cases of defective products the customer typically returns them to the Company’s facility. The Company’s service personnel typically repair the defective items and ship them back to the customer. Generally, all servicing is done at the Company’s facility, and the Company charges its customers a fee for those service items that are not covered by warranty. If the defective product cannot be repaired, the Company typically replaces the product free of charge but unrepairable products are an infrequent occurrence.
Product Liability Coverage
The testing of electronic communications equipment and the accurate transmission of information entail a risk of product liability to the Company. Product liability claims could be asserted against the Company by end-users of any of the Company’s products. The Company maintains product liability insurance coverage. No claims have been asserted for product liability due to a defective or malfunctioning device in the past five years.
Intellectual Property
We believe that our intellectual property, including its methodologies, is critical to our success and competitive position. We rely on a combination of U.S. and foreign patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets, as well as confidentiality agreements to establish and protect our proprietary rights. All employees are subject to the Company’s policies to ensure that all of the Company’s intellectual property and business information are maintained in confidence. Key employees have signed non-disclosure and non-competition agreements.
Regulation
Environmental
The Company’s operations are subject to various federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations that limit discharges into the environment, establish standards for the handling, generation, use, emission, release, discharge, treatment, storage and disposal of, or exposure to, hazardous materials, substances and waste, and require cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater.
At this time, the Company believes that it is in material compliance with all environmental laws, does not anticipate any material expenditure to meet current or pending environmental requirements, and generally believes that its processes and products do not present any unusual environmental concerns. The Company is unaware of any existing, pending or threatened contingent environmental liability that may have a material adverse effect on its ongoing business operations.
Workplace Safety
The Company’s operations are also governed by laws and regulations relating to workplace safety and worker health. The Company believes it is in material compliance with these laws and regulations and does not believe that future compliance with such laws and regulations will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or financial condition. As described in the Recent Developments section of Item 7 the Company has implemented additional safety measures for staff working in our facilities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic (also see Pandemic Risks risk factor).
ITAR and Export Controls
Certain of the Company’s products may be subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulation, or ITAR. ITAR requires export licenses from the U.S. Department of State for products shipped outside the U.S. that have military or strategic applications. Because some of the Company’s products could have military or strategic applications, it must ensure its compliance with ITAR.
In addition, the Company is subject to the Export Administration Regulations, or EAR, which regulates the export of certain “dual use” items and technologies and, in some instances, requires a license from the U.S. Department of Commerce in connection with sales of the Company’s products.
The Company believes it is in material compliance with all such export regulations.
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FAR and DFARS
Certain of the Company’s contracts with the U.S. Government are subject to Federal Acquisition Regulations (“FAR”) regarding government procurement. Further, certain of the Company’s contracts are subject to the IT security requirements of Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (“DFARS”) for controlled unclassified information.
The Company believes it is in material compliance with applicable requirements of FAR and DFARS.
Employees
As of March 1, 2021, the Company has 150 full time employees. The Company is not subject to collective bargaining agreements in the United States or internationally and considers its relationship with its employees to be good.
Investor Information
The Company is subject to the disclosure requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). Therefore, the Company files periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The SEC maintains an Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically.
You can access financial and other information, including copies of our recent SEC filings, at the Company’s Investor Relations page on its website. The address of the website is www.wirelesstelecomgroup.com. The Company makes available, free of charge, copies of its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such material electronically or otherwise furnishing it to the SEC.
Pandemic-Related Risks
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused and is expected to continue to cause significant uncertainty in the U.S. and global economies as well as the markets we serve. It has affected, and is expected to continue to adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread throughout the U.S. and in various parts of the world and has resulted in and is expected to continue to result in authorities implementing numerous measures to contain the virus, including travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, shelter-in-place orders, and business limitations and shutdowns. We have been and continue to be unable to accurately predict the full impact that COVID-19 will have on our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows due to numerous uncertainties, including the duration and severity of the pandemic and containment measures, the nature and length of actions taken by governments, businesses and individuals to contain or mitigate its impact, the severity and duration of the economic impact caused by the pandemic, the uncertainty surrounding possible treatments and rollout of vaccines, along with the effectiveness of our response. Our compliance with containment and mitigation measures has impacted our day-to-day operations and is expected to continue to disrupt our business and operations, as well as that of our key customers, suppliers (including contract manufacturers) and other counterparties, at least through the third quarter of 2021.
To support the health and well-being of our employees, customers, partners and communities, since approximately March 16, 2020, all of our non-essential employees have been working remotely. This represents approximately two thirds of our workforce. The increase in certain of our employees working remotely has amplified certain risks to our business, including increased demand on our information technology resources and systems, increased phishing, business email compromise and other cybersecurity attacks, including increased introduction of malware, as cybercriminals try to exploit the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, an increase in the number of points of potential attack, such as laptops and mobile devices (both of which are now being used in increased numbers), also has increased our risks of cybersecurity attacks or incidents, and any failure to effectively manage these risks, including to timely identify and appropriately respond to any cyberattacks or other disruption to our technology infrastructure, may adversely affect our business.
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In addition, we understand that the employees of many of our customers are working remotely, which may delay the timing of some orders as well as shipments and cash collections. The disruptions to our operations caused by COVID-19 have resulted in inefficiencies, delays and additional costs in our product development, sales, marketing, and customer service efforts that we cannot fully mitigate through remote or other alternative work arrangements. Significant uncertainties remain around sales, cash collections, costs related to our COVID-19 mediation efforts and costs and timing related to anticipated easing of shelter-in-place and shut-down orders going forward into the remainder of the fiscal year 2021.
More generally, the pandemic has resulted in and is expected to continue to result in an extended global economic downturn, causing volatility in financial markets, which has affected and is expected to continue to affect demand for our products and services and impact our results and financial condition even after the pandemic is contained and the shelter-in-place orders are lifted. For example, we may be unable to collect receivables from those customers significantly impacted by COVID-19. Decreases or delays in orders in a given period have and are expected to continue to negatively affect our revenues in future periods, particularly if experienced on a sustained basis.
Strategic Risks
Our business is dependent on capital spending on data and communication networks by customers or end users of our products, and reductions in such capital spending could adversely affect our business.
Our performance is dependent on customers’ or end users’ capital spending for constructing, rebuilding, maintaining or upgrading data and communication networks, which can be volatile or hard to forecast. Capital spending in the communications industry is cyclical and can be curtailed or deferred on short notice. A variety of factors affect the amount of capital spending, and therefore, our revenues and profits, including:
● | competing technologies; | |
● | timing and adoption of global rollout of new technologies, including LTE/5G; | |
● | customer specific financial or market conditions; | |
● | governmental budget levels and regulation; | |
● | demand for network services; and | |
● | acceptance of new services offered by our customers. |
Our customers or the end users of our products may not purchase new equipment at levels we have seen in the past or expect in the future. Accordingly, we may not be able to maintain or increase our revenue in the future, and our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
We depend on the deployment of 4G LTE and 5G NR private networks and related services to grow our business, and our business may be harmed if our customers are unsuccessful in the deployment of 4G LTE and 5G NR private networks or if they deploy technologies that are not supported by our solutions.
We depend on the deployment of 4G LTE and 5G NR wireless private networks which are supported by our CommAgility software licenses and services. Deployment of private networks in support of industrial internet of things (“IOT”) networks, satellite communications, transportation networks and air to ground networks requires significant capital expenditure by customers. If new deployments of 4G LTE or 5G NR private networks are delayed because of a lack of capital or other issues, or if we are unsuccessful in winning new projects for deployment of 4G LTE and 5G NR private networks, our financial results could be adversely affected.
The cyclicality of our end-user markets could harm our financial results.
Many of the end markets we serve, including but not limited to the commercial wireless market, have historically been cyclical and have experienced periodic downturns. The factors leading to and the severity and length of a downturn are very difficult to predict and there can be no assurance that we will appropriately anticipate changes in the underlying end markets we serve or that any increased levels of business activity will continue as a trend into the future. If we fail to anticipate changes in the end markets we serve, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
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Our industry is highly competitive and if we are not able to successfully compete, we could lose market share and our revenues could decline.
We operate in industries characterized by aggressive competition, rapid technological change, evolving technology standards and short product life cycles. Current and prospective customers for our products evaluate our capabilities against the merits of our direct competitors. We compete primarily on the basis of technology and performance.
We also compete on price. That competition comes from smaller offshore vendors with significantly lower costs and expenses as well as larger companies which have substantially greater resources and expertise in financial, technical and marketing areas than we have. The emergence of smaller offshore vendors has created a highly competitive pricing environment specifically for Microlab. Our competitors may introduce products that are competitively priced, have increased performance or functionality or incorporate technological advances that we have not yet developed or implemented.
To remain competitive, we must continue to develop, market and sell new and enhanced products at competitive prices, which will require significant research and development expenditures. If we do not develop new and enhanced products or if we are not able to invest adequately in our research and development activities, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be negatively impacted.
Many of our competitors are substantially larger than we are, and have greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we have. Many of these large enterprises are in a better position to withstand any significant reduction in capital spending by customers in our markets. They often have broader product lines and market focus and may not be as susceptible to downturns in a single market. These competitors may also be able to bundle their products together to meet the needs of a particular customer and may be capable of delivering more complete solutions than we are able to provide. To the extent large enterprises that currently do not compete directly with us choose to enter our markets by acquisition or otherwise, competition would likely intensify.
We are exposed to risks associated with acquisitions and investments which could cause us to incur unanticipated costs and liabilities and harm our business and results of operations.
On February 7, 2020 we acquired Holzworth Instrumentation, Inc., a company based in Denver, Colorado. Additionally, in the future we may make acquisitions of, or significant investments in, businesses with complementary products, services and/or technologies. The Holzworth acquisition and future acquisitions and investments involve numerous risks, including, but not limited to:
● | difficulties and increased costs in connection with integration of the personnel, operations, technologies and products of acquired businesses; | |
● | diversion of management’s attention from other operational matters; | |
● | the potential loss of key employees of acquired businesses; | |
● | lack of synergy, or the inability to realize expected synergies, resulting from the acquisition; | |
● | implementation or remediation of controls, procedures and policies of the acquired company; | |
● | failure to commercialize purchased technology; | |
● | liability for activities of the acquired company prior to the acquisition, including violations of law, commercial disputes, escheat and tax and other known and unknown liabilities; and | |
● | the impairment of acquired intangible assets and goodwill that could result in significant charges to operating results in future periods. |
If we are unable to address these difficulties and challenges or other problems encountered in connection with any future acquisition or investment, we might not realize the anticipated benefits of that acquisition or investment and we could incur unanticipated costs, liabilities or otherwise suffer harm to our business generally. The difficulties and challenges of successful integration of any acquired company are increased when the integration involves companies with operations or material vendors outside the United States.
To the extent that we pay the consideration for any future acquisitions or investments in cash or any potential cash earn outs, it has reduced and may in the future reduce the amount of cash available to us for other purposes. Such payments also may increase our cash flow and liquidity risk and could result in increased borrowings under our Credit Facility. See the Risk Factor titled “Our degree of leverage could prevent us from meeting obligations on our indebtedness, adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry, and expose us to interest rate risk on our variable rate debt.” Future acquisitions or investments could also result in dilutive issuances of our equity securities or the incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities, amortization expenses or impairment charges against goodwill or intangible assets on our balance sheet, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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Our future success depends on our ability to anticipate and to adapt to technological changes and to develop, implement and market product innovations.
Many of our markets are characterized by advances in information processing and communications capabilities that require increased transmission speeds and greater bandwidth. These advances require ongoing improvements in the capabilities of our products. However, we may not be successful in our ongoing improvement efforts if, among other things, our products:
● | are not cost effective; | |
● | are not brought to market in a timely manner; | |
● | are not in accordance with evolving industry standards; or | |
● | fail to achieve market acceptance or meet customer requirements. |
There are various competitive wireless technologies that could be a substitute for the products we sell. The failure to successfully introduce new or enhanced products on a timely and cost-competitive basis or the inability to continue to market existing products on a cost-competitive basis could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, revenues from new products may replace revenues from some of our existing products, mitigating the benefits of new product introductions and possibly resulting in excess levels of inventory.
Furthermore, we must make long-term investments and commit significant resources before knowing whether our investments will eventually result in products that the market will accept. We must accurately forecast volumes, mix of products and configurations that meet customer requirements, and we may not succeed. If we do not succeed, we may be left with inventories of obsolete products or we may not have enough of some products available to meet customer demand, which could lead to reduced revenues and higher expenses.
Our revenues are dependent in part on commercial upgrades of 4G and 5G wireless communications equipment, products and services. Our business may be harmed, and our investments in our technologies may not provide us an adequate return if:
● | wireless operators delay moving customers to 4G or 5G devices; | |
● | wireless operators delay 4G or 5G deployments, expansions or upgrades; | |
● | government regulators delay the reallocation of spectrum to allow wireless operators to upgrade to 4G or 5G, which will restrict the expansion of 4G or 5G wireless connectivity; | |
● | wireless operators are unable to drive improvements in 4G or 5G network performance and/or capacity; | |
● | wireless operators and other industries using these technologies deploy other technologies; or | |
● | wireless operators choose to spend their capital on their core network or limit their expenditures on radio access network (RAN). |
Our business is dependent on our ability to increase our share of components sold and to continue to drive the adoption of our products and services into LTE, 4G and 5G wireless networks. If commercial deployment of our technologies, and upgrade of subscribers to 4G or 5G wireless communications equipment, products and services using our technologies do not continue or are delayed, our revenues could be negatively impacted, and our business could suffer.
Further, if we do not have competitively priced, market accepted products available to meet the wireless operators planned roll-out of 5G wireless communications systems, we may miss a significant opportunity and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely impacted.
Operational Risks
Our future research and development projects might not be successful.
The successful development of telecommunications products can be affected by many factors. Products that appear to be promising at their early phases of research and development may fail to be commercialized for various reasons, including the failure to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals. There is no assurance that any of our future research and development projects will be successful or completed within the anticipated time frame or budget or that we will receive the necessary approvals from relevant authorities, customers, or prospective customers, for the production of these newly developed products, or that these newly developed products will achieve commercial success. Even if such products can be successfully commercialized, they may not achieve the level of market acceptance that we expect.
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Dependence on contract manufacturing and outsourcing other portions of our supply chain might adversely affect our ability to bring products to market and could damage our reputation.
As part of our efforts to streamline operations and to minimize costs, we outsource aspects of our manufacturing processes and other functions and continue to evaluate additional outsourcing. If our contract manufacturers or other outsourcers fail to perform their obligations in a timely manner or at satisfactory quality levels, our ability to bring products to market and our reputation could suffer. For example, during a market upturn, our contract manufacturers might be unable to meet our demand requirements, which could preclude us from fulfilling our customers’ orders on a timely basis. The ability of these manufacturers to perform is largely outside of our control. Additionally, changing or replacing our contract manufacturers or other outsourcers could cause disruptions or delays.
If our products do not perform as promised, we could experience increased costs, lower margins and harm to our reputation.
The failure of our products to perform as promised could result in increased costs, lower margins and harm to our reputation. We may not be able to anticipate all of the possible performance or reliability problems that could arise with our existing or new products, which could result in significant product liability or warranty claims. In addition, any defects found in our products could result in a loss of revenues or market share, failure to achieve market acceptance, injury to our reputation, indemnification claims, litigation, increased insurance costs and increased service costs, any of which could discourage customers from purchasing our products and materially harm our business.
Shortages or delays of supplies for component parts could adversely affect our operating results until alternate sources can be developed.
Our operations are dependent on the ability of suppliers to deliver quality components, devices and subassemblies in time to meet critical manufacturing and distribution schedules. If we experience any constrained supply of component parts, such constraints, if persistent, could adversely affect operating results until alternate sourcing can be developed. There could be an increased risk of supplier constraints in periods where we are increasing production volume to meet customer demands. Volatility in the prices of these component parts, an inability to secure enough components at reasonable prices to build new products in a timely manner in the quantities and configurations demanded or, conversely, a temporary oversupply of these parts, could adversely affect our future operating results.
Our business and operations could suffer in the event of security breaches.
Attempts by others to gain unauthorized access to information technology systems are becoming more sophisticated and are sometimes successful. These attempts, which might be related to industrial or other espionage, include covertly introducing malware to our computers and networks and impersonating authorized users, among others. We seek to detect and investigate all security incidents and to prevent their recurrence, but in some cases, we might be unaware of an incident or its magnitude and effects. The theft, unauthorized use or publication of our intellectual property and/or confidential business information could harm our competitive position, reduce the value of our investment in research and development and other strategic initiatives or otherwise adversely affect our business. To the extent that any security breach results in inappropriate disclosure of our customers’ or licensees’ confidential information, we may incur liability as a result. In addition, we might be required to devote significant additional resources to the security of our information technology systems.
We rely on our information technology systems to manage numerous aspects of our business and a disruption of these systems could adversely affect our business.
Our information technology, or IT, systems are an integral part of our business. We depend on our IT systems for scheduling, sales order entry, purchasing, materials management, accounting, and production functions. Our IT systems also allow us to ship products to our customers on a timely basis, maintain cost-effective operations and provide a high level of customer service. Some of our systems are not fully redundant, and our disaster recovery planning does not account for all eventualities. A serious disruption to our IT systems could significantly limit our ability to manage and operate our business efficiently, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The loss of key personnel could adversely affect our ability to remain competitive; our development of new and upgraded products could be adversely impacted by our inability to hire or retain personnel with appropriate technical abilities.
We believe that the continued service of our executive officers will be important to our future growth and competitiveness. However, other than the employment agreement we entered into with Mr. Whelan, Chief Executive Officer, we currently do not have any other employment agreements with our executive officers. We cannot provide assurance that any named executive officer will remain employed by us. The Muzinich term loan facility includes a key executive retention provision. Specifically, the cessation of service of any two of Tim Whelan, Michael Kandell or Daniel Monopoli as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Technology Officer, respectively, as long as the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio is greater than 1.0 to 1.0 would constitute an event of default if those persons were not replaced with persons acceptable to Muzinich within 60 days.
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Additionally, the design and manufacture of our products require substantial technical capabilities in many disparate disciplines, from engineering, mechanics and computer science to electronics and mathematics. We believe that the continued employment of key members of our technical and sales staffs will be important to us but, as with our executive officers, we cannot assure you that they will remain employed by us.
Furthermore, our ability to research and develop new technologies and products, or upgraded versions of existing products, will depend, in part, on our ability to hire personnel with knowledge and skills that our current personnel do not have. If we are unable to hire or retain such qualified personnel, our revenues could be negatively impacted, and our business could suffer.
We rely on manufacturers’ representatives to sell our products to key large accounts and the loss of a key manufacturer’s representative could have a material impact on our revenues
Our products are sold through a small in-house direct sales force as well as a network of industry specific manufacturers’ representatives that have established relationships with our largest customers. Our arrangements with our manufacturers’ representatives generally can be canceled by either party with advance written notice. The loss of a manufacturer’s representative could result in a material decline in revenues.
Financial Risks
Our degree of leverage could prevent us from meeting obligations on our indebtedness, adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry, and expose us to interest rate risk on our variable rate debt.
We currently have a credit facility with Bank of America providing an asset-based revolver and a term loan facility with Muzinich BDC in the amount of $8.3 million.
Our degree of leverage could have consequences, including:
● | making it more difficult for us to make payment on our indebtedness; | |
● | increasing our vulnerability to general economic and industry conditions; | |
● | requiring a substantial portion of cash flow from operations to be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness, thereby reducing our ability to use our cash flow to fund our operations, capital expenditures, research and development and future business opportunities; | |
● | exposing us to the risk of increased interest rates; | |
● | limiting our ability to make strategic acquisitions and investments; | |
● | limiting our ability to refinance our indebtedness as it becomes due; and | |
● | limiting our ability to adjust quickly or at all to changing market conditions and placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors who are less highly leveraged. |
Our ability to continue to fund our obligations and to reduce debt may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and other general economic, financial market, competitive, legislative and regulatory factors, among other things. An inability to fund our debt requirements or reduce debt could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, cash flows and financial condition.
The ongoing uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have had an impact on and could have significant adverse consequences for our credit facility and term loan facility.
The agreements governing our Muzinich term loan and Bank of America credit facility limit our ability, among other things, to incur additional secured indebtedness, incur liens, pay dividends, enter into transactions with our affiliates, and sell assets. In addition, our credit facility contains restrictive covenants that limit our ability to engage in activities that might be in our long term best interest, such as, subject to permitted exceptions, making capital expenditures in excess of certain thresholds, making investments and acquisitions, and extending loans and other advances to affiliates, unless approved in writing by Muzinich and Bank of America. Furthermore, the term loan facility contains specific financial covenants including a quarterly leverage test, fixed charge coverage test and a liquidity requirement for our CommAgility business. The credit facility with Bank of America contains one financial covenant which is a fixed charge coverage test. A default of a covenant in our Muzinich term loan facility would trigger a cross default in our Bank of America credit facility and vice versa.
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As described above, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to significant uncertainties with respect to the U.S. and global economies as well as the markets we serve. The impact of those uncertainties resulted in a significant downturn in certain aspects of our business, which caused us to fall out of compliance with the quarterly leverage test and fixed charge test for our term loan facility with Muzinich. On February 25, 2021, the Company, its subsidiaries and Muzinich agreed to amend their credit agreement (the “Second Amendment”) to, among other things, obtain a waiver from Muzinich for the Company’s obligation to comply with the consolidated leverage ratio and fixed charge coverage ratio financial covenants in the Muzinich term loan facility for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2020. We were not in compliance with such covenants primarily as a result of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on our consolidated financial results. The Second Amendment, among other things, amended the definition of consolidated EBITDA, increased the interest margin rate and provided Muzinich consent to the changes in deferred purchase price payments to the Holzworth sellers, as described in “Holzworth Deferred Purchase Price and Earn-out” below. In addition, on February 25, 2021, the Company, its subsidiaries and Bank of America agreed to amend their credit facility to accommodate the changes to the deferred purchase price payments to the Holzworth sellers and provide Bank of America’s consent to the Company entering into the aforementioned Muzinich amendment.
Our failure to comply with financial and other restrictive covenants could result in an event of default and cross default, which if not cured or waived, could result in the lenders requiring immediate payment of all outstanding borrowings or foreclosing on collateral pledged to them to secure the indebtedness.
Risks related to our receipt of Paycheck Protection Program funding.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting impact on our current and future operations we applied for funds under the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”). In May 2020 we were approved for the amount of $2.0 million. The PPP loan application required us to certify, among other things, that the current economic uncertainty made the PPP loan request necessary to support our ongoing operations. While we made this certification in good faith, the certification does not contain any objective criteria and is subject to interpretation. In early 2020, the Small Business Administration provided guidance that it would be unlikely that a public company with substantial market value and access to capital markets would be able to make the required certification in good faith, and such company should be prepared to demonstrate to the Small Business Administration, upon request, the basis for its certification. Further, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Small Business Administration Administrator announced that the government will conduct a full audit of all PPP loans of more than $2 million for which the borrower applies for forgiveness. While we believe we have satisfied all eligibility requirements for the PPP loan, there is a risk that we may be deemed ineligible to have received the PPP loan or in violation of any of the laws or governmental regulations that apply to us in connection with the PPP loan. In such event, we may be required to repay the PPP loan in its entirety, plus interest, and we could be subject to additional penalties.
Our results of operations could be affected by changes in tax-related matters.
A number of factors could cause our tax rate to increase, including a change in the jurisdictions in which our profits are earned and taxed; a change in the mix of profits from those jurisdictions; changes in available tax credits; changes in applicable tax rates; changes in accounting principles. We have deferred tax assets on our balance sheet. Changes in applicable tax laws and regulations or in our business performance could affect our ability to realize those deferred tax assets, which could also affect our results of operations.
Our stock price is volatile and the trading volume in our common stock is less than that of other larger companies in the wireless and advanced communications industries.
The market price of our common stock has experienced significant volatility and may continue to be subject to rapid swings in the future. From January 1, 2015 to February 3, 2021, the trading prices of our stock have ranged from $0.71 to $3.21 per share. There are several factors which could affect the price of our common stock unrelated to our financial performance, including announcements of technological innovations for new commercial products by us or our competitors, developments concerning propriety rights, new or revised governmental regulation or general conditions in the market or for our products, and the entrance of additional competitors into our markets.
Although our common stock is listed for trading on the NYSE American, the trading volume in our common stock is less than that of other, larger companies in the wireless and advanced communications industries. Traditionally, the trading volume of our common stock has been limited. For example, for the 90 trading days ending on February 3, 2021, the average daily trading volume was approximately 85,000 shares per day and ranged from between 1,200 shares per day and approximately 1.6 million shares per day. Furthermore, we only have 21,660,318 shares of common stock outstanding as of the date of this report. A public trading market having the desired characteristics of depth, liquidity and orderliness depends on the presence in the marketplace of willing buyers and sellers of our common stock at any given time. Because of our limited trading volume, holders of our common stock may not be able to sell quickly any significant number of shares, and any attempted sales of a large number of our shares will likely have a material adverse impact on the price of our common stock.
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We incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management devotes substantial time to compliance initiatives.
We have incurred and will continue to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses as a public company, including costs resulting from public company reporting obligations under the Exchange Act and regulations regarding corporate governance practices. The listing requirements of the NYSE American require that we satisfy certain corporate governance requirements relating to director independence, distributing annual and interim reports, stockholder meetings, stockholder approvals and voting, and soliciting proxies. Our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time to ensuring compliance with all of these requirements.
We may be adversely affected by changes in LIBOR reporting practices, the method in which LIBOR is determined or the use of alternative reference rates.
Our credit facility with Bank of America and term loan facility with Muzinich BDC are indexed to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). In 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to phase out LIBOR. On November 30, 2020, ICE Benchmark Administration (“IBA”), the administrator of LIBOR, with the support of the United States Federal Reserve and the FCA, announced plans to consult on ceasing publication of LIBOR on December 31, 2021 for only the one week and two month LIBOR tenors, and on June 30, 2023 for all other LIBOR tenors. Our credit facility with Bank of America and term loan facility with Muzinich BDC are indexed to the one month and three-month LIBOR, respectively. While this announcement extends the transition period to June 2023, the United States Federal Reserve concurrently issued a statement advising banks to stop new LIBOR issuances by the end of 2021. While there is no consensus on what rate or rates may become accepted alternatives to LIBOR, the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of U.S. financial market participants, selected the Secured Overnight Finance Rate (“SOFR”) as an alternative to LIBOR. SOFR is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash in the overnight U.S. treasury repo market, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York started to publish the SOFR in May 2018. At this time, it is impossible to predict whether the SOFR or another reference rate will become an accepted alternative to LIBOR. The discontinuation, reform or replacement of LIBOR or any other benchmark rates may have an unpredictable impact on contractual mechanics in the credit markets or cause disruption to the broader financial markets, and could have an adverse effect on LIBOR-based interest rates on our current or future debt obligations.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business or if they issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding our stock, our stock price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our common stock might be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. If any analysts issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding us, our business model, products or stock performance, our stock price could decline.
Legal and Regulatory Risks
The testing and use of electronic communications equipment and the accurate transmission of information entail a risk of product liability claims being asserted by customers and third parties.
Claims may be asserted against us by end-users of any of our products for liability due to a defective or malfunctioning device made by us, and we could be subject to corresponding litigation should one or more of our products fail to perform or meet certain minimum requirements. Such a claim and corresponding litigation could result in substantial costs, diversion of resources and management attention, termination of customer contracts and harm to our reputation.
We are subject to laws and regulations governing government contracts, and failure to address and comply with these laws and regulations could harm our business by leading to a reduction in revenue associated with these customers and subjecting us to civil and criminal penalties.
We have agreements relating to the sale of our products to U.S. government entities and, as a result, we are subject to various statutes and regulations that apply to companies doing business with the U.S. government. The laws governing government contracts differ from the laws governing private contracts. For example, many government contracts contain pricing terms and conditions that are not applicable to private contracts. We are also subject to investigation for compliance with the regulations governing government contracts. A failure to comply with these regulations might result in suspension of these contracts, or civil and criminal penalties.
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We could be subject to significant costs related to environmental contamination from past operations, and environmental contamination caused by ongoing operations could subject us to substantial liabilities in the future.
The Company’s operations are subject to various federal, state, local, and foreign environmental laws, ordinances and regulations that limit discharges into the environment, establish standards for the handling, generation, use, emission, release, discharge, treatment, storage and disposal of, or exposure to, hazardous materials, substances and waste, and require cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater.
Certain of our products and our business are subject to ITAR, Export Administration Regulations, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other U.S. and foreign government laws, regulations, policies and practices, and our failure to comply with such regulations could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our international revenues, for which we also use foreign representatives and consultants, are subject to U.S. laws, regulations and policies, including the ITAR and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the FCPA, and other export laws and regulations, as well as foreign government laws, regulations and procurement policies and practices which may differ from the U.S. government regulations in this regard.
Compliance with the directives of the U.S. Department of State may result in substantial legal and other expenses and the diversion of management time. In the event that a determination is made that we or any entity we have acquired has violated the ITAR with respect to any matters, we may be subject to substantial monetary penalties that we are unable to quantify at this time, and/or suspension or revocation of our export privileges and criminal sanctions, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We can give no assurance that under either the ITAR or the EAR we will continue to be successful in obtaining the necessary licenses and authorizations or that certain revenues will not be prevented or delayed due to compliance issues related to the ITAR or the EAR.
We are also subject to, and must comply with, the FCPA and similar world-wide anti-corruption laws, including the U.K. Bribery Act of 2010. These acts generally prohibit both us and our third party intermediaries from making improper payments to foreign officials for the purpose of acquiring or retaining business or otherwise obtaining favorable treatment. We are required as well to maintain adequate record-keeping and internal accounting practices to fully and accurately reflect our transactions. We operate in many parts of the world that have experienced government corruption. In certain circumstances, the FCPA and our programs and policies may conflict with local customs and practices. If we or any of our local intermediaries have failed to comply with the requirements of the FCPA, governmental authorities in the United States could seek to impose severe criminal and civil penalties. The assertion of violations of the FCPA or other anti-corruption laws could disrupt our business and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
We are subject to various other governmental regulations, compliance with which could cause us to incur significant expenses, and if we fail to maintain satisfactory compliance with certain regulations, we could be forced to recall products and cease their distribution, and we could be subject to civil or criminal penalties.
Our business is subject to various other significant international, federal, state and local regulations, including but not limited to health and safety, packaging, product content and labor regulations. These regulations are complex, change frequently and have tended to become more stringent over time. We may be required to incur significant expenses to comply with these regulations or to remedy violations of these regulations. Any failure by us to comply with applicable government regulations could also result in cessation of our operations or portions of our operations, product recalls or impositions of fines and restrictions on our ability to carry on or expand our operations.
Third parties could claim that we are infringing on their intellectual property rights which could result in substantial costs, diversion of significant managerial resources and significant harm to our reputation.
The industries in which our company operates are characterized by the existence of a large number of patents and frequent litigation based on allegations of patent infringement. From time to time, third parties may assert patent, copyright, trademark and other intellectual property rights to technologies in various jurisdictions that are important to our business. Defending claims, including claims without merit, requires allocation of resources, including personnel and capital, which could adversely impact our results of operations. A successful claim of infringement against us could result in our being required to pay significant damages, enter into costly license agreements, or stop the sale of certain products, which could adversely affect our net revenues, gross margins and expenses and harm our future prospects.
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We use specialized technologies and know-how to design, develop and manufacture our products. Our inability to protect our intellectual property could hurt our competitive position, harm our reputation and adversely affect our results of operations.
We believe that our intellectual property, including its methodologies, is critical to our success and competitive position. We rely on a combination of U.S. and foreign patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, as well as confidentiality agreements to establish and protect our proprietary rights. If we are unable to protect our intellectual property against unauthorized use by third parties, our reputation among existing and potential customers could be damaged and our competitive position adversely affected.
Attempts may be made to copy aspects of our products or to obtain and use information that we regard as proprietary. Accordingly, we may not be able to prevent misappropriation of our technology or deter others from developing similar technology. Our strategies to deter misappropriation could be undermined if:
● | the proprietary nature or protection of our methodologies is not recognized in the United States or foreign countries; | |
● | third parties misappropriate our proprietary methodologies and such misappropriation is not detected; and | |
● | competitors create applications similar to ours but which do not technically infringe on our legally protected rights. |
If these risks materialize, we could be required to spend significant amounts to defend our rights and to divert critical managerial resources. In addition, our proprietary methodologies could decline in value or our rights to them could become unenforceable. If any of the foregoing were to occur, our business could be materially adversely affected.
Environmental and other disasters, such as flooding, large earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions or nuclear or other disasters, or a combination thereof, may negatively impact our business.
Although we manufacture our products in New Jersey and Colorado, we both source and ship our products globally. Environmental and other disasters could cause disruption to our supply chain or impede our ability to ship product to certain regions of the world. There can be no assurance that environmental and/or other such natural disasters will not have an adverse impact on our business in the future.
New Jersey corporate law may delay or prevent a transaction that stockholders would view as favorable.
We are subject to the New Jersey Shareholders’ Protection Act (the “Act”), which could delay or prevent a change of control of us. In general, the Act prevents a shareholder owning 10% or more of a New Jersey public corporation’s outstanding voting stock from engaging in business combinations with that corporation for five years following the date the shareholder acquired 10% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock, unless board approval is obtained prior to the time that the shareholder reaches the 10% threshold.
Failure to maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Sarbanes-Oxley could have a material adverse effect on our business and common stock price.
As a public company with SEC reporting obligations, we are required to document and test our internal control procedures to satisfy the requirements of Section 404(a) of Sarbanes-Oxley, which require annual assessments by management of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. As a smaller reporting company, we are exempt from the auditor attestation requirement of Section 404(b) of Sarbanes-Oxley.
During the course of our assessment, we may identify deficiencies that we are unable to remediate in a timely manner. Testing and maintaining our internal control over financial reporting may also divert management’s attention from other matters that are important to the operation of our business. We may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404(a) of Sarbanes-Oxley. If we conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective, we cannot be certain as to the timing of completion of our evaluation, testing and remediation actions or its effect on our operations. Moreover, any material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting may impede our ability to file timely and accurate reports with the SEC. Any of the above could cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information or our common stock listing on the NYSE American exchange to be suspended or terminated, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our common stock.
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The Company is subject to compliance with the policies and procedures of the NYSE American Exchange with respect to continued listing on the stock exchange and our failure to maintain our listing would make trades in our securities difficult for shareholders.
In considering whether a security warrants continued trading and/or listing on the NYSE American Exchange, many factors are taken into account, such as the degree of investor interest in the company, its prospects for growth, the reputation of its management, the degree of commercial acceptance of its products, and whether its securities have suitable characteristics for auction market trading. Thus, any developments which substantially reduce the size of a company, the nature and scope of its operations, the value or amount of its securities available for the market, or the number of holders of its securities, might occasion a review of continued listing by the Exchange. Moreover, events such as the sale, destruction, loss or abandonment of a substantial portion of a company’s business, the inability to continue its business, steps towards liquidation, or repurchase or redemption of its securities, may also give rise to such a review. The loss of our listing on the Exchange could have a material adverse effect on our shareholders’ ability to sell our shares or for others to purchase our shares. This could have an adverse effect on the market price of our stock.
International Risks
Our operating results may suffer because of our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.
Substantially all of our sales contracts with our U.S. and international based customers provide for payment in U.S. dollars. A strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to other foreign currencies could increase the effective cost of our products to our international customers as their functional currency is typically not the U.S. dollar. This could have a potential adverse effect on our ability to increase or maintain average selling prices of our products to our foreign-based customers.
Our future revenue and expenses may be subject to volatility due to exchange rate fluctuations that could result in foreign exchange gains and losses associated with foreign currency transactions and the translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies.
The success of our ability to grow revenues and develop relationships in Europe and Asia may be limited by risks related to conducting business in European and Asian markets.
Part of our strategy is to increase revenues and build our relationships in European and Asian markets. Risks inherent in marketing, selling and developing relationships in European and Asian markets include those associated with:
● | economic conditions in European and Asian markets, including the impact of recessions in European and Asian economies and fluctuations in the relative values of the U.S. dollar, the Euro and Asian currencies; | |
● | taxes and fees imposed by European and Asian governments that may increase the cost of products and services; | |
● | greater difficulty in accounts receivable collection and longer collection periods; | |
● | seasonal reductions in business activities in some parts of the world; | |
● | laws and regulations imposed by individual countries and by the European Union, particularly with respect to intellectual property, license requirements and environmental requirements; and | |
● | political and economic instability, terrorism and war. |
In addition, European and Asian intellectual property laws are different than and might not protect our proprietary rights to the same extent as do U.S. intellectual property laws, and we will have to ensure that our intellectual property is adequately protected in foreign jurisdictions and in the United States. If we do not adequately protect our intellectual property rights, competitors could use our proprietary technologies in non-protected jurisdictions and put us at a competitive disadvantage.
The uncertainty surrounding the implementation and effect of Brexit may cause increased economic volatility, affecting our operations and business.
In June 2016, a majority of voters in the United Kingdom (“U.K.”) elected to withdraw from the European Union (E.U.) in a national referendum (also referred to as “Brexit”). CommAgility is located in the U.K. Although the U.K. and E.U. have recently entered into a trade and cooperation agreement, the long-term nature of the U.K.’s relationship with the E.U. remains unclear and there is considerable uncertainty as to their future political and economic relations. The political and economic instability created by Brexit has caused and may continue to cause significant volatility in global financial markets. The outcome of these negotiations is uncertain and we do not know to what extent Brexit will ultimately impact the business and regulatory environment in the U.K., the rest of the E.U. or other countries.
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The volatility in financial markets due to Brexit could potentially disrupt the markets we serve and may cause us to lose customers, suppliers and employees. Additionally, disruptions and uncertainty caused by Brexit may cause our customers to closely monitor their costs and reduce their spending budget on our products and services. Brexit may also lead to legal uncertainty and potentially divergent national laws and regulations as the U.K. determines which E.U. laws to replace or replicate. Any of these effects of Brexit, among others, could adversely affect our business, financial condition or future results.
Forward-Looking Statements
The statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that are not historical facts, including, without limitation, the statements under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by, among other things, the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipates” or “continues” or the negative thereof of other variations thereon or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy that involves risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on the Company’s current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
The Company leases a 45,700 square foot facility located in Hanover Township, Parsippany, New Jersey, which is currently being used as our principal corporate headquarters and manufacturing plant for our Noisecom, Boonton and Microlab brands. In May 2015, the Company and its landlord entered into a lease agreement to extend the lease term for its principal corporate headquarters in New Jersey through March 31, 2023.
The Company leases office space in Leicestershire, England consisting of 928 square feet and Duisburg, Germany consisting of 7,446 square feet for the CommAgility operations. The Leicestershire lease expires in November 2025 and the Duisburg lease is renewable every 3 months.
In connection with the Holzworth acquisition we acquired a lease for 6,647 square feet of office and manufacturing space in Boulder, Colorado that expires in May of 2026. The Boulder location is the manufacturing and sales headquarters for our Holzworth brand.
The Company believes its properties are suitable and adequate for its current purposes.
As previously disclosed, on June 5, 2019, L3Harris Corporation (“Harris”) filed a request for arbitration before the American Arbitration Association in accordance with the terms of an executed purchase order, statement of work and software license agreement (collectively referred to as “Agreements”) with CommAgility entered into in 2014. Harris claimed that CommAgility breached the Agreements by offering for sale, marketing, and promoting techniques, capabilities, products and services that incorporate Work Product, as defined in the Agreements, owned by Harris. In its arbitration demand, Harris claimed that CommAgility caused Harris significant monetary damages, the sum of which could not be determined until such time as discovery has been conducted but was estimated by Harris to be less than $250,000. Harris did not include a request for monetary damages in its Statement of Claim, which was filed with the arbitration panel on May 22, 2020. On December 10, 2020, Harris released CommAgility from any and all claims that Harris may have had against CommAgility related to the Agreements before arbitration proceedings began. In 2020, the Company incurred approximately $50,000 in legal expense related to this matter. The remainder of legal expenses incurred in 2019 and 2020 related to this matter were covered under our professional indemnity insurance policy.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The common stock of the Company is traded on the NYSE American under the name Wireless Telecom Group, Inc. (Symbol: WTT). On March 6, 2021, the Company had 351 stockholders of record. These stockholders of record do not include beneficial owners whose shares are held in “nominee” or “street name”.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
See Item 3.02 of Form 8-K filed on February 7, 2020 regarding issuance of common stock to Holzworth founders in connection with the Holzworth acquisition and issuance of stock warrant to Muzinich in connection with our Muzinich term loan facility. No other unregistered securities were issued in 2020.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Company did not repurchase any securities during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Set forth below is certain aggregated information with respect to the Company’s equity compensation plans.
Plan category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plan (excluding securities reflected in the previous columns) | |||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | 3,396,167 | $ | 1.64 | 226,568 | ||||||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | - | - | - | |||||||||
Total | 3,396,167 | $ | 1.64 | 226,568 |
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
Not applicable.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
The Company is a global designer and manufacturer of advanced RF, microwave and millimeter wave components, modules, systems and instruments. Serving the wireless, telecommunication, satellite, military, aerospace, semiconductor and medical industries, Wireless Telecom Group products enable innovation across a wide range of traditional and emerging wireless technologies. With a unique set of high-performance products including peak power meters, signal analyzers, signal generators, phase noise analyzers, signal processing modules, LTE and 5G physical layer and stack software, power splitters and combiners, GPS repeaters, public safety monitors, noise sources, and programmable noise generators, Wireless Telecom Group supports the development, testing and deployment of wireless technologies around the globe.
Key 2020 Developments and Financial Results
Fiscal 2020 was one of the most challenging years in the Company’s recent history. We began 2020 with an expectation of significantly reduced demand from our formerly largest customer for our CommAgility signal processing hardware cards. Accordingly, we adjusted our costs and expenses to help offset the impact of the reduced revenues. These adjustments included headcount reductions at our Parsippany N.J. headquarters and various discretionary cost and expense reductions. We also carefully managed our capital expenditures throughout 2020 in order to preserve liquidity. Despite the expected reduction of the top line for our CommAgility hardware cards, the Company successfully completed the acquisition of Holzworth on February 7, 2020, which was financed through our new term loan facility with Muzinich BDC. In 2020, Holzworth exceeded our revenue and profitability expectations.
In March 2020, one month after the close of the Holzworth acquisition, the unforeseen impact of the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the Company’s operations and outlook. Throughout 2020 all of our locations and brands were challenged with travel bans, quarantines, and shelter-in-place orders as authorities implemented measures to contain the COVID-19 virus. We implemented new cleaning, monitoring and distancing measures to ensure additional procedures and preventative actions were taken in accordance with CDC and local government guidelines to help protect the health and well-being of our employees, customers, partners and communities. The Company was able to continue operations at our manufacturing facilities in Parsippany, N.J. and Boulder, Colorado locations as an “essential business” due to the industries and customers we serve including critical telecommunications infrastructure, the U.S. government and numerous global aerospace and defense subcontractors that supply the U.S. government.
All employees that do not have critical in-person functions have been working remotely since March 16, 2020. For those employees working in our facilities we instituted measures during 2020 including flexible work arrangements, increased distancing of workstations, enhanced cleaning protocols, required completion of daily health screening forms for all employees and visitors entering our facilities and other safety precautions. In March 2020 we formed a COVID-19 task force made up of various members of the management team including operations, finance and sales. The task force meets regularly to monitor COVID-19 developments and ensure the Company reacts quickly to help protect the well-being of its employees. The task force is also planning our return to normal strategy that will be based on data, facts and advice of federal, state and local government leaders in the jurisdictions in which we operate as well as medical professionals. Under our current plans, the Company expects to continue to have the majority of our workforce working remotely until May 1, 2021, at which time we will begin a phased re-entry plan, meaning that employees will begin working in the office on a limited basis. However, this timeline may be adjusted based on the facts and circumstances of each jurisdiction in which we operate.
We believe our 2020 financial results were adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic because we experienced a decrease in orders related to our Boonton and Noisecom brands as customers closed facilities, slowed orders and instituted capital expenditure freezes due to the pandemic. We also saw a significant decline in Microlab orders throughout our second, third and fourth quarters due primarily to large venue project delays and cancellations. We believe this was caused by the uncertainty of reopening guidelines from states, as well as the uncertainty of conventions, college and professional sports, and college and university return to campus schedules for students. Further, we believe certain project timelines and decisions on large private network projects on which our CommAgility brand has bids were delayed given the economic uncertainty driven by the pandemic.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic our research and development efforts continued throughout 2020 most notably CommAgility’s progression on the 5G roadmap and our collaboration with NXP Semiconductors. Additionally, among other product releases, we announced Ultra-Wide Band Microlab products for 5G network deployment and densification and launched our new PMX 40 Boonton Power Meter.
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On May 4, 2020, the Company received $2.0 million pursuant to a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) administered by the Small Business Association (see description in Liquidity and Capital Resources below). The Company’s covered period as defined by the terms of the PPP loan ended on October 19, 2020. The Company used the funds for those purposes as defined under the terms of the PPP loan, most notably payroll expenses for our U.S. based employees. The Company filed for forgiveness in the fourth quarter of 2020 and is awaiting a decision from the Small Business Association. The Company can provide no assurance that the loan will be forgiven in whole or in part.
The financial information presented herein includes: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income/(Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019; (iii) Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019; and (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Critical Accounting Policies
Management’s discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations are based upon the consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses for each period. The following represents a summary of the Company’s critical accounting policies, defined as those policies that the Company believes are: (a) the most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations, and (b) that require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain. Estimates and assumptions are made by management to assess the overall likelihood that an accounting estimate or assumption may require adjustment. It is reasonably possible that these estimates may ultimately differ materially from actual results. See Note 1 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K for a description of all of our significant accounting policies.
Revenue Recognition
Effective January 1, 2018 the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), (“Topic 606”) using the “modified retrospective” method, meaning the standard is applied only to the most current period presented in the financial statements. Topic 606 requires the Company to identify the performance obligations in our revenue arrangements – that is, those promised goods and services (or bundles of promised goods or services) that are distinct – and allocate the transaction price of the revenue arrangement to those performance obligations on the basis of estimated standalone selling prices (“SSP’s”).
Sales of hardware which include sales of radio frequency solutions, digital signal processing hardware, power meters, analyzers, noise/signal generators, phase noise analyzers and other components generally consist of one performance obligation which is satisfied upon shipment to the customer. When contract terms require transfer of control upon delivery at a customer’s location, revenue is recognized on the date of delivery. Sales of hardware to distributors that include a limited right of return are recorded net of expected returns.
Sale of software licenses in the CommAgility brand may involve multiple performance obligations including multiple software releases and consultancy services. In these cases transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation on the basis of SSP and revenue is recognized when the distinct performance obligation is satisfied. The company determines performance obligations and SSP’s in arrangements with multiple performance obligations in accordance with Topic 606 which requires significant judgement.
Services arrangements involving repairs and calibrations of the Company’s products are generally considered a single performance obligation and revenue is recognized as the services are rendered.
Certain software arrangements in the CommAgility brand may involve the transfer of software along with significant customization services. In these cases the customization services and software licenses are combined as one distinct performance obligation and revenue is recognized over time as the project is completed. The duration of these performance obligations are typically one year or less.
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Leases
We lease office space and certain equipment under non-cancelable lease agreements. Prior to January 1, 2019, we applied the accounting guidance in ASC 840, Leases, to our lease agreements. The leases were reviewed for classification as operating or capital leases. For operating leases, rent was recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease period. For capital leases, we recorded the leased asset with a corresponding liability and amortized the asset over the lease term. Payments were recorded as reductions to the liability with an appropriate interest charge recorded based on the then-outstanding remaining liability.
Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) using the modified retrospective transition method and established our lease accounting policy pursuant to this new standard. We initially applied the transition provisions at January 1, 2019, which allowed us to continue to apply the legacy guidance in ASC 840 for periods prior to 2019. Based on the new guidance, we assess all arrangements, that convey the right to control the use of property, plant and equipment, at inception, to determine if it is, or contains, a lease based on the unique facts and circumstances present in that arrangement. For those leases identified, we determine the lease classification, recognition, and measurement at the lease commencement date. For arrangements that contain a lease we: (i) identify lease and non-lease components; (ii) determine the consideration in the contract; (iii) determine whether the lease is an operating or financing lease; and (iv) recognize lease Right of Use (“ROU”) assets and corresponding lease liabilities. Lease liabilities are recorded based on the present value of lease payments over the expected lease term. The corresponding ROU asset is measured from the initial lease liability, adjusted by (i) accrued or prepaid rents; (ii) remaining unamortized initial direct costs and lease incentives; and (iii) any impairments of the ROU asset. The interest rate implicit in our lease contracts is typically not readily determinable and as such, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date, which represents an internally developed rate that would be incurred to borrow, on a collateralized basis, over a similar term, an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment.
Business Combinations
The Company uses the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations which requires the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed to be recorded at their respective fair market value as of the acquisition date. Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the net assets acquired. The fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are determined based upon the Company’s valuation and involves making significant estimates and assumptions based on facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date. The Company uses a measurement period following the acquisition date to gather information that existed as of the acquisition date that is needed to determine the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The measurement period ends once all information is obtained, but no later than one year from the acquisition date.
Valuation of Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the aggregate purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired in a purchase business combination. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment annually, or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that would indicate that goodwill might be impaired, by first performing a qualitative evaluation of events and circumstances impacting the reporting unit to determine the likelihood of goodwill impairment. Based on that qualitative evaluation, if we determine it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, no further evaluation is necessary. Otherwise we perform a quantitative impairment test.
The Company has three reporting units with goodwill – Holzworth, Microlab and CommAgility. The Company performed a qualitative assessment in the fourth quarter of 2020 of each reporting unit. The qualitative assessment of Holzworth and Microlab did not indicate any impairment of goodwill. As a result of declining demand of CommAgility’s signal processing hardware cards from a single customer and the particularly high uncertainty associated with the ultimate trajectory of the pandemic, including the degree to which governments would continue to restrict business and personal activities, and the impact that uncertainty has on the growth of new software license and services revenue to offset the signal processing hardware sales decline, the Company performed a quantitative impairment test of the goodwill of the CommAgility reporting unit.
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For goodwill impairment testing using the quantitative approach, the Company estimates the fair value of the selected reporting unit using the income approach and the market approach. Fair value under the income approach is derived primarily through the use of a discounted cash flow model based on our best estimate of amounts and timing of future revenues and cash flows and our most recent business and strategic plans. Fair value under the market approach is derived by applying a multiple to our best estimate of future revenue. The Company applies equal weighting to the income approach and the market approach to arrive at an estimated fair value. The estimated fair value is compared to the carrying value of the reporting unit, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value, no impairment charge is recorded. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds the fair value an impairment charge is recorded to goodwill in the amount by which carrying value exceeds fair value. Both the income approach and market approach require judgmental assumptions about projected revenue growth, future operating margins, discount rates and terminal values over a multi-year period. There are inherent uncertainties related to these assumptions and management’s judgment in applying them to the analysis of goodwill impairment. While the Company believes it has made reasonable estimates and assumptions to calculate the fair value of its reporting units, it is possible a material change could occur.
In the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $4.7 million related to the CommAgility reporting unit. The non-cash impairment charge was due to a number of factors that arose as part of our quantitative assessment, including an assessment of our historical results and the significant decline in hardware sales in 2020, the difficulty of predicting future customer demand, the uncertainty of future sales of 4G hardware cards, the uncertainty of the growth of 5G software and services revenues due to the early stages of 5G adoption for new technology and expectations for 5G deployments, the uncertainty of the continued future impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic on customer spending, and the potential for a more prolonged recovery for enterprise spending and longer-term investment. Despite the asset impairment charge, the Company believes the markets in which CommAgility operates, specifically LTE and 5G private networks, have long-term growth potential and the Company is committed to growing the revenue and profitability of the reporting unit.
Due to the many variables inherent in the estimation of a reporting unit’s fair value and the relative size of our recorded goodwill, differences in assumptions may have a material effect on the results of our impairment analysis. After recording the 2020 goodwill impairment charge, the Company’s consolidated goodwill balance as of December 31, 2020 was comprised of $1.4 million related to the Microlab reporting unit, $6.0 million related to the Holzworth reporting unit and $4.1 million related to the CommAgility reporting unit.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s consolidated goodwill balance of $10.1 million was comprised of $1.4 million related to the Microlab reporting unit and $8.7 million related to the CommAgility reporting unit. Management’s qualitative assessment performed in the fourth quarter of 2019 did not indicate any impairment of goodwill.
Intangible and Long-lived Assets
Intangible assets include acquired technology, patents, non-competition agreements, customer relationships and tradenames. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated economic lives of the assets, which range from three to twelve years. Long-lived assets, including intangible assets with finite lives, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Determination of recoverability is based on an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. Measurement of an impairment loss for long-lived assets that management expects to hold and use is based on the estimated fair value of the asset. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount or estimated fair value less costs to sell. The estimated useful lives of intangible and long-lived assets are based on many factors including assumptions regarding the effects of obsolescence, demand, competition and other economic factors, expectations regarding the future use of the asset, and our historical experience with similar assets. The assumptions used to determine the estimated useful lives could change due to numerous factors including product demand, market conditions, technological developments, economic conditions and competition. Intangible assets determined to have indefinite useful lives are not amortized but are tested for impairment annually and more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that indicate an asset may be impaired.
Income taxes
The Company records deferred taxes in accordance with ASC 740, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” ASC 740 requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences between tax basis of assets and liabilities and the amounts at which they are carried in the financial statements, based upon the enacted rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company establishes a valuation allowance when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The Company periodically assesses the value of its deferred tax assets and determines the necessity for a valuation allowance.
Realization of the Company’s deferred tax assets is dependent upon the Company generating sufficient taxable income in the appropriate tax jurisdictions in future years to obtain benefit from the reversal of net deductible temporary differences and from utilization of net operating losses. The amount of deferred tax assets considered realizable is subject to adjustment in future periods if estimates of future taxable income are changed.
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Uncertain tax positions
Under ASC 740, the Company must recognize and disclose uncertain tax positions only if it is more-likely-than-not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authority, based on the technical merits of the position. The amounts recognized in the financial statements attributable to such position, if any, are recorded if there is a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon the ultimate resolution of the position.
The Company has analyzed its filing positions in all of the jurisdictions where it is required to file income tax returns. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company has identified its federal tax return and its state tax return in New Jersey as “major” tax jurisdictions, as defined in ASC 740, in which it is required to file income tax returns. As a result of our acquisition of Holzworth on February 7, 2020, Colorado is a “major” tax jurisdiction for fiscal year 2020. Additionally, the Company has identified the United Kingdom as a “major” tax jurisdiction as of December 31, 2020 and 2019. Based on the evaluations noted above, the Company has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions requiring recognition or disclosure in its consolidated financial statements.
Based on a review of tax positions for all open years and contingencies as set out in the Company’s Notes to the consolidated financial statements, no reserves for uncertain income tax positions have been recorded pursuant to ASC 740 during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the Company does not anticipate that it is reasonably possible that any material increase or decrease in its unrecognized tax benefits will occur within the next twelve months.
Stock-based compensation
The Company follows the provisions of ASC 718, “Compensation - Stock Compensation” which requires that compensation expense be recognized based on the fair value of equity awards on the date of grant. The fair value of restricted share awards and restricted stock unit awards is determined using the market value of our common stock on the date of the grant. The fair value of stock options at the date of grant is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. When stock options are granted, the Company takes into consideration guidance under ASC 718 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (SAB 107) when determining assumptions. The expected option life is derived from assumed exercise rates based upon historical exercise patterns and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The expected volatility is based upon historical volatility of our shares using daily price observations over an observation period that approximates the expected life of the options. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve rate in effect at the time of grant for periods similar to the expected option life. The Company accounts for forfeitures for all equity awards when they occur.
Management estimates are necessary in determining compensation expense for stock options with performance-based vesting criteria. Compensation expense for this type of stock-based award is recognized over the period from the date the performance conditions are determined to be probable of occurring through the date the applicable conditions are expected to be met. If the performance conditions are not considered probable of being achieved, no expense is recognized until such time as the performance conditions are considered probable of being met, if ever. Management evaluates whether performance conditions are probable of occurring on a quarterly basis.
Inventories and Inventory Valuation
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (average cost) or net realizable value. The Company reviews inventory for excess and obsolescence based on best estimates of future demand, product lifecycle status and product development plans.
Allowances for doubtful accounts
The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. A key consideration in estimating the allowance for doubtful accounts has been, and will continue to be, our customer’s payment history and aging of our accounts receivable balance.
Impairment of long-lived assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Determination of recoverability is based on an estimate of undiscounted cash flows resulting from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. Measurement of an impairment loss for long-lived assets that management expects to hold for sale is based on the fair value of the assets. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.
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Warranties
The Company generally offers standard warranties against product defects. We estimate future warranty costs to be incurred based on historical warranty claims experience including estimates of material and service costs over the warranty period.
Comparison of the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 with the year ended December 31, 2019
Net Revenues (in thousands)
Twelve months ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue | % of Revenue | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | Amount | Pct. | |||||||||||||||||||
RF components | $ | 17,667 | $ | 21,830 | 42.3 | % | 44.6 | % | $ | (4,163 | ) | -19.1 | % | |||||||||||
Test and measurement | 20,551 | 13,566 | 49.2 | % | 27.7 | % | 6,985 | 51.5 | % | |||||||||||||||
Radio, baseband, software | 3,530 | 13,525 | 8.5 | % | 27.7 | % | (9,995 | ) | -73.9 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total net revenues | $ | 41,748 | $ | 48,921 | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | $ | (7,173 | ) | -14.7 | % |
Consolidated revenues declined $7.2 million or 14.7% due primarily to lower sales in our RBS product group of our digital signal processing hardware cards. Sales of the RBS hardware cards declined $10.7 million from the prior year. The loss was only partially offset by higher sales of our higher margin RBS software and services. Additionally, the acquisition of Holzworth on February 7, 2020 contributed $8.8 million in revenue to our T&M product group in 2020. This acquisition helped offset declines in our Boonton and Noisecom brands, which experienced lower sales from the prior year primarily due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on capital expenditure spending of our customers. Our RFC product group revenue declined $4.2 million or 19.1% due to lower sales of our passive components as wireless carriers delayed buildouts and upgrades of in-building wireless systems due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gross Profit (in thousands)
Twelve months ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross Profit | Gross Profit % | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | Amount | Pct. | |||||||||||||||||||
RF components | $ | 7,695 | $ | 9,216 | 43.6 | % | 42.2 | % | $ | (1,521 | ) | -15.9 | % | |||||||||||
Test and measurement | 11,347 | 7,320 | 55.2 | % | 54.0 | % | 4,027 | 55.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
Radio, baseband, software | 1,925 | 5,753 | 54.5 | % | 42.5 | % | (3,828 | ) | -66.5 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total gross profit | $ | 20,967 | $ | 22,289 | 50.2 | % | 45.6 | % | $ | (1,322 | ) | -5.9 | % |
Consolidated gross profit declined $1.3 million or 5.9% from the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to lower volumes at our RBS and RFC product groups which were only partially offset by the revenue and gross margin contribution of Holzworth. Our gross margin as a percentage of sales increased from 45.6% to 50.2% due to the higher margin software and services sales at our RBS product group, the contribution of higher margin product sales from Holzworth and cost savings initiatives at our RFC product group.
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Operating Expenses (in thousands)
Twelve months ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating Expenses | % of Revenue | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | Amount | Pct. | |||||||||||||||||||
Research and development | $ | 6,389 | $ | 5,917 | 15.3 | % | 12.1 | % | $ | 472 | 8.0 | % | ||||||||||||
Sales and marketing | 6,955 | 7,677 | 16.7 | % | 15.7 | % | (722 | ) | -9.4 | % | ||||||||||||||
General and administrative | 9,907 | 10,174 | 23.7 | % | 20.8 | % | (267 | ) | -2.6 | % | ||||||||||||||
Goodwill impairment | 4,742 | - | 11.4 | % | 0.0 | % | 4,742 | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
Loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration | 1,073 | - | 2.6 | % | 0.0 | % | 1,073 | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | $ | 29,066 | $ | 23,768 | 69.6 | % | 48.6 | % | 5,298 | 22.3 | % |
Research and development expenses increased $472,000 or 8% from the prior year period due to the acquisition of Holzworth which contributed $545,000 in expenses in 2020 and an increase in third party research and development expenses of $500,000 from the prior year primarily related to 5G roadmap development and product development in our Boonton brand. The increase was partially offset by declines in salaries and benefits and other discretionary expenses of approximately $600,000 due primarily to expense reductions including headcount reductions.
Sales and marketing expenses decreased $722,000 from the prior year period due to a decline in salaries and benefits due to expense reduction initiatives including headcount reductions, a decline in external and internal commissions due to lower order and sales volumes and declines in marketing expenses and travel expenses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These decreases from the prior year period totaled $1.9 million and were partially offset by the acquisition of Holzworth which contributed $1.2 million in sales and marketing expenses in 2020.
General and administrative expenses decreased $267,000 as increases from the addition of Holzworth of $795,000 and the recognition of $255,000 of deferred Form S-3 costs were offset by decreases in merger and acquisition expenses and other discretionary expenses that declined due to expense reduction initiatives.
The goodwill impairment charge of $4.7 million relates to our CommAgility reporting unit and is the result of our annual goodwill impairment analysis which indicated that the estimated fair value of the CommAgility reporting unit was lower than the carrying value as of the valuation date.
The loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration of $1.1 million relates primarily to the earn-out consideration to be paid in connection with the Holzworth acquisition for the 2020 calendar year. Our estimate of the earn-out payment was increased from our original estimate recorded at the time of the acquisition due to the improved financial results of Holzworth.
Other income/expense
Other income increased $189,000 due primarily to an increase in gains on sales of assets and foreign currency exchange gains.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased $680,000 due to the interest on our new term loan facility with Muzinich and the amortization of debt issuance costs related to securing the new term loan facility.
Tax
The Company’s consolidated tax benefit decreased $563,000 from the prior year due primarily to taxable income in the US jurisdiction driven primarily by the acquisition of Holzworth.
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Net Loss
Net loss increased from $414,000 to $8.1 million due primarily to lower gross profit on lower revenues, the goodwill impairment charge recorded at the CommAgility reporting unit, recognition of the loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration and the increase in interest expense due to our new term loan.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company has two credit facilities – an asset based revolving loan which is subject to a borrowing base calculation (as defined) with Bank of America, N.A. (the “Credit Facility” or the “Revolver”) and a term loan facility dated February 7, 2020 with Muzinich BDC Inc. (“Muzinich”) to finance the Holzworth Acquisition in the amount of $8.4 million (the “Term Loan Facility”). Additionally, on May 4, 2020 the Company received $2.0 million pursuant to a loan under the PPP of the 2020 CARES Act administered by the Small Business Association.
Revolver
On February 16, 2017 the Company entered into the Credit Facility which provided for a term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $760,000 (the “BOA Term Loan”) and the Revolver which has a maximum availability of up to $9.0 million subject to a borrowing base calculation applicable to the Company’s assets. The proceeds of the Term Loan and Revolver were used to finance the acquisition of CommAgility. On February 26, 2019 the Company entered into Amendment No. 3 to the Credit Facility which extended the term of the Revolver to March 31, 2020, and on November 8, 2019 the Company entered into Amendment No. 4 to the Credit Facility which extended the maturity date of the Term Loan to March 31, 2020 to coincide with that of the Revolver. On February 7, 2020, in connection with the Holzworth acquisition, the Company entered into Amendment No. 5 to the Credit Facility which, inter alia, extended the Revolver maturity date to March 31, 2023. Additionally, the Company prepaid the remaining principal balance of the BOA Term Loan in the amount of $340,000.
By entering into Amendment No. 5, Holzworth and CommAgility, became borrowers under the Credit Facility. The obligations of the borrowers under the Credit Facility are guaranteed by Wireless Telecom Group, Ltd. CommAgility Limited and Wireless Telecom Group, Ltd. are both wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company.
Amendment No. 5 (a) modified certain provisions of the Credit Facility to accommodate the Holzworth acquisition, the Company’s incurrence of the Term Loan Facility and the granting of the related liens and security interests, (b) subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, made available to CommAgility an asset based revolving loan, subject to a borrowing base calculation applicable to CommAgility’s assets, of up to a maximum availability of $5.0 million (the “UK Revolver Commitment”), (c) reduced the interest rate margin applicable to revolving loans made under the Credit Facility from a range of 2.75% to 3.25% to a range of 2.00% to 2.50%, based on the Borrowers’ Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Facility) of the most recently completed fiscal quarter, (d) extended the Revolver Termination Date to March 31, 2023 and (e) conditioned the Borrowers’ ability to make certain debt payments under the Term Loan Facility (described below) upon compliance with a liquidity test.
Effectiveness of Amendment No. 5 was conditioned upon, among other things, the prepayment of the remaining principal balance ($304,000) of the $760,000 term loan made available under the Credit Facility and the payment of a closing fee in the amount of $25,000. The borrowers satisfied all such conditions on February 7, 2020.
On May 4, 2020, the Company, its subsidiaries and Bank of America entered into Amendment No. 6 which, among other things, amended the definition of “Debt” to include the PPP loan as long as the proceeds are used for allowable purposes under the CARES Act and the Company promptly submits an application for forgiveness and substantially all of the loan is forgiven.
On February 25, 2021, the Company, its subsidiaries and Bank of America entered into Amendment No. 7 which revised the Credit Facility to accommodate the changes to the deferred purchase price payments to and notes with the Holzworth sellers as described below and provided Bank of America’s consent to the Company entering into the Muzinich Second Amendment, as described below. In all other material respects, the Credit Facility remains unchanged.
Any exercise of remedies by Bank of America, N.A. under the Credit Facility is subject to compliance with the intercreditor agreement entered into at the closing of Amendment No. 5 among the Company, Muzinich, as lender under the Term Loan Facility, and Bank of America, N.A.
28 |
Term Loan Facility
In connection with the Holzworth acquisition, on February 7, 2020, the Company, as borrower, and its subsidiaries, as guarantors, and Muzinich, entered into the Term Loan Facility, which provides for a term loan in the principal amount of $8.4 million (“Initial Term Loan”), all of which was used to fund the cash portion of the purchase price and related debt and closing fees for the Holzworth acquisition. Principal payments on the Initial Term Loan are $21,000 per quarter with a balloon payment at maturity on February 7, 2025. The Term Loan Facility includes an upfront fee of 2.50% of the aggregate principal amount. The Term Loan Facility provides for an additional $11.6 million term loan (the “Second Term Loan”) to be used for a second unannounced acquisition opportunity (the “Additional Acquisition”). There can be no assurance that the Additional Acquisition will be completed. In the event the Additional Acquisition is completed, the Second Term Loan will be made available to the Company on the same terms and conditions as the Initial Term Loan, including interest rate, amortization schedule and financial covenants, subject to the payment of an additional upfront fee and satisfaction of customary conditions to funding.
The Company may prepay the Initial Term Loan at any time. Prepayments made prior to (a) February 7, 2022 are subject to a prepayment premium in the amount of 2.0% of the prepaid principal amount and (b) February 7, 2023 are subject to a prepayment premium in the amount of 1.0% of the prepaid principal amount. The Company is required to make prepayments of the Initial Term Loan with the proceeds of certain asset dispositions, insurance recoveries and extraordinary receipts, subject to specified reinvestment rights. The Company is also required to make prepayments of the Initial Term Loan upon the issuance of certain indebtedness and to make an annual prepayment based upon the Company’s excess cash flow. Mandatory prepayments with asset sale, insurance or condemnation proceeds and excess cash flow may be made without penalty. Mandatory prepayments with the proceeds of indebtedness are subject to the same prepayment penalties as are applicable to voluntary prepayments.
The Term Loan Facility is secured by liens on substantially all of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ assets including a pledge of the equity interests in the Company’s subsidiaries. The Term Loan Facility contains customary affirmative and negative covenants for a transaction of this type, including, among others, the provision of annual, quarterly and monthly financial statements and compliance certificates, maintenance of property, insurance, compliance with laws and environmental matters, restrictions on incurrence of indebtedness, granting of liens, making investments and acquisitions, paying dividends, entering into affiliate transactions and asset sales. In addition, the Company must maintain certain financial covenants typical for this type of arrangement, including a consolidated leverage ratio, a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio and minimum liquidity of its foreign subsidiaries. The consolidated leverage ratio is defined as the ratio of total consolidated indebtedness, as defined, to consolidated EBITDA, as defined. Prior to Amendment 2 described below, the required leverage ratio started at 4.75 to 1.0 for the twelve month periods ended March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020, and decreased in various increments to 3.75 to 1.0 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, 2.75 to 1.0 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 and 2.0 to 1.0 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 and thereafter. The consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio is the ratio of consolidated EBITDA, as defined, less consolidated capital expenditures and cash income taxes paid to consolidated fixed charges, as defined, calculated on a twelve-month basis. The consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio for the twelve month periods ended March 31, 2020, June 30 2020 and September 30, 2020 must be 1.35 to 1 and increases in various increments on a quarterly basis to 1.5 to 1.0 for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, and to 1.75 to 1.0 for the 12 months ending December 31, 2022 and thereafter. Lastly, the Company must maintain minimum liquidity, defined as cash and availability under the UK borrowing base, as defined, of $1.0 million over any trailing four-week period until such time as the foreign subsidiary has positive EBITDA, as defined, for three consecutive quarters and the Holzworth deferred purchase price has been paid in full. The Term Loan Facility also provides for a number of events of default, including, among others, nonpayment, bankruptcy, inaccuracy of representations and warranties, breach of covenant, change in control, entry of final judgement or order, breach of material contracts, and as long as the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio is greater than 1.0 to 1.0 (as calculated in accordance with the terms of the Term Loan Facility), the cessation of service of any two of Tim Whelan, Michael Kandell or Daniel Monopoli as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Technology Officer, respectively, of the Company without acceptable replacements within 60 days. Any exercise of remedies by Muzinich is subject to compliance with the intercreditor agreement entered into at the closing of the Term Loan Facility among the Company, Muzinich and Bank of America, N.A., as lender under the Credit Facility referenced below.
On May 4, 2020, the Company entered into the First Amendment to the Term Loan Facility which, among other things, amended the definition of “Indebtedness” to include the PPP loan as long as the proceeds are used for allowable purposes under the CARES Act, the receipt of the loan does not violate the Credit Facility and the Company submits an application for forgiveness and substantially all of the loan is forgiven.
On February 25, 2021, the Company, its subsidiaries and Muzinich entered into the Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement and Limited Waiver (“Amendment 2”) in which Muzinich agreed to waive the Company’s obligation to comply with the consolidated leverage ratio and fixed charge coverage ratio financial covenants in the Term Loan Facility for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2020. We were not in compliance with such covenants primarily as a result of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on our consolidated financial results. Amendment 2, among other things, amended the definition of consolidated EBITDA to include certain cash tax benefits related to our UK tax jurisdiction and reduced our consolidated leverage ratio for the twelve month periods ended September 30, 2021 from 3.00 to 2.75, December 31, 2021 from 2.75 to 2.25, March 31, 2022 from 2.50 to 2.00 and June 30, 2022 from 2.25 to 2.00. Additionally, the interest rate margin was increased from 7.25% to 9.25% effective January 1, 2021 and will step down to 8.50% and 7.25% upon the Company achieving consolidated EBITDA on a trailing twelve-month basis of $4.0 million and $6.3 million, respectively. Muzinich and the Company also agreed on an excess cash flow payment of $428,000 and Muzinich provided consent for the Company to change the deferred purchase price payments to and enter into notes with the Holzworth sellers in the amount of $750,000, as described below.
29 |
PPP Loan
On May 4, 2020, the Company received $2.0 million pursuant to a loan from Bank of America N.A. under the PPP program of the 2020 CARES Act administered by the Small Business Association (“SBA”). The loan has an interest rate of 1% and a term of 24 months. A repayment schedule has not yet been provided by Bank of America. Accordingly, the full amount of the term loan has been shown as due in May 2022. Funds from the loan may only be used for certain purposes, including payroll, benefits, rent and utilities. The CARES Act and the PPP provide a mechanism for forgiveness of up to the full amount of the loan upon application to the SBA for forgiveness by the Company. The loan is evidenced by a promissory note, which contains customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults and breaches of representations and warranties. The Company may prepay the loan at any time prior to maturity with no prepayment penalties. The Company applied for forgiveness of the loan in the fourth quarter of 2020 and has elected to account for the loan in accordance with ASC 470 Debt unless and until such time that forgiveness is approved by the SBA. The Company can provide no assurance that the loan will be forgiven in whole or in part.
Sources and Uses of Cash
As of December 31, 2020, the Company’s consolidated cash balance was $4.9 million as compared to $4.2 million as of the prior year. No funds were drawn on our Revolver and we had availability under our borrowing base of $7.2 million as of December 31, 2020. The outstanding balances of our Term Loan Facility and PPP Loan were $8.3 million and $2.0 million, respectively.
Our primary sources of cash were the receipt of the Term Loan Facility in the amount of $8.4 million which was used to pay the cash portion of the Holzworth purchase price and related debt and transaction fees, receipt of the PPP loan in the amount of $2.0 million which was used to fund operating payroll during the covered period and cash generated from operations of $3.0 million which was primarily the result of a decrease in net working capital from the prior year (net of the impact of the Holzworth acquired working capital).
Operating Activities
Cash from operations increased from $80,000 in the prior year to $3.0 million in 2020. The increase was due to cash generated from a decrease in working capital from the prior year, net of the acquired working capital of Holzworth. The working capital decrease was primarily due to receipt of the UK tax refund and increased accrued expenses.
Investing Activities
Cash used by investing activities increased from $818,000 in the prior year to $8.6 million in 2020 which includes $8.2 million of cash paid related to the Holzworth acquisition in February 2020 representing $7.2 million in cash paid at close, $750,000 related to the first deferred purchase price payment, and $600,000 in indemnification holdback payments offset by a $292,000 working capital adjustment in the Company’s favor. Capital expenditures were flat at $364,000 in 2020 as compared to $392,000 in the prior year.
Financing Activities
Cash from financing activities increased from a use of cash of $212,000 in the prior year to cash generated of $6.3 million due primarily to the receipt of the Term Loan Facility, net of debt issuance costs and the receipt of the PPP loan.
30 |
Holzworth Deferred Purchase Price and Earnout
On February 19, 2021, the Company entered into the Second Amendment with Holzworth and Sellers. The Second Amendment, among other things, converts the second deferred purchase price of $750,000 into unsecured seller notes with interest at an annual rate of 6.5% starting from April 1, 2021 until final payment. The payment date has been changed from March 31, 2021 to three equal installments of $250,000, plus accrued interest, due on July 1, 2021, October 1, 2021 and January 1, 2022.
Additionally, the parties amended the payment dates of the earnout consideration. The payment date of the first earnout payment based on the financial results of the calendar year ended 2020 (“Year 1 Earnout”) has been amended from March 31, 2021 to (i) six (6) equal quarterly installments of 10% of the Year 1 Earnout payable on the last business day of each calendar quarter between June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2022 and (ii) one (1) installment payment equal to 40% of the Year 1 Earnout on December 31, 2022. The Year 1 Earnout is payable in cash or shares of the Company’s common stock based on the 90 trading day volume weighted average price immediately preceding final determination of the Year 1 Earnout or $2.19 per share. The estimated payment for the Year 1 Earnout is $3.4 million. The payment date for the second earnout payment which is based on the financial results of the calendar year ended 2021 (“Year 2 Earnout”) has been amended from March 31, 2022 to four equal quarterly installments payable on the last business day of each calendar quarter between March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2022. The Year 2 Earnout is also payable in cash or stock at the Company’s discretion. The aggregate earnout payments of the Year 1 Earnout and the Year 2 Earnout cannot exceed $7.0 million.
The parties also amended the provisions with respect to restrictions on transfer to adjust for the change in timing of earnout payments, as described above. Finally, the parties added a requirement that any earned but unpaid earnout consideration will be accelerated in the event the Company desires to enter into a material asset or equity acquisition in the future.
We expect borrowings available to us under our Credit Facility, our existing cash balance and cash generated by operations will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs for the next twelve months. Our ability to meet our cash requirements will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future, which is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the significantly decreased demand from our formerly largest customer for our digital signal processing cards and ongoing low sales to that customer due to reduced demand, as well as delayed decisions on large private network projects that we believe are caused by economic uncertainty driven by the pandemic. We expect these uncertainties to extend to our business in the first two quarters of 2021, as sales, deliveries, cash collections, our supply chain and our business partners could be adversely affected.
The Company expects to realize tax benefits in future periods due to the available net operating loss carryforwards resulting from the disposition of a former wholly owned subsidiary in 2010. Accordingly, future taxable income is expected to be offset by the utilization of operating loss carryforwards and as a result will increase the Company’s liquidity as cash needed to pay federal and state income taxes will be substantially reduced. Additionally, CommAgility benefits from a research and development deduction which significantly reduces the cash needed to pay taxes in the UK.
On August 27, 2018 the Company filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 which was declared effective on September 17, 2018. The Form S-3 will permit the Company to issue and sell, from time to time, up to $40 million in aggregate value of shares of its common stock through one or more methods of distribution, subject to applicable SEC limits on the value of securities that the Company, as a smaller reporting company, may sell during an applicable period, market conditions, and the Company’s capital desires and needs.
The terms of any offering of the Company’s common stock, and the intended use of the net proceeds resulting therefrom, will be established at the times of the offerings and will be described in prospectus supplements filed with the SEC at the times of the offerings. The shelf registration statement is intended to provide financial flexibility to access capital in a competitive and expeditious manner when market conditions are appropriate. The shelf registration statement expires on September 17, 2021. The Company intends to update the registration statement prior to expiration.
Purchase obligations consist of inventory that arises in the normal course of business operations. Future obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2020 consisted of the following:
31 |
Table of Contractual Obligations Payments by year (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Thereafter | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Facility leases | $ | 2,210 | $ | 700 | $ | 688 | $ | 328 | $ | 210 | $ | 215 | $ | 69 | ||||||||||||||
Operating and equipment leases | 157 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase obligations | 4,278 | 4,278 | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||
Muzinch term loan | 8,316 | 512 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 7,552 | - | |||||||||||||||||||||
PPP loan | 2,045 | - | 2,045 | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||
Holzworth deferred purchase price | 950 | 700 | 250 | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||
Holzworth earn out | 3,423 | 1,027 | 2,396 | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 21,379 | $ | 7,248 | $ | 5,492 | $ | 441 | $ | 323 | $ | 7,796 | $ | 79 |
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Other than contractual obligations incurred in the normal course of business, the Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Effects of Inflation and Changing Prices
The Company does not anticipate that inflation or other expected changes in prices will significantly impact its business.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Affecting the Company
A discussion of recent accounting pronouncements is included in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Not applicable.
32 |
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
33 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
Parsippany, NJ
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Wireless Telecom Group, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income/(loss), changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Goodwill Impairment Assessment
As described in Notes 1 and 6 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s consolidated goodwill balance was $11.5 million as of December 31, 2020. Management evaluates goodwill, at the reporting unit level, for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or more frequently, if events occur or circumstances change which would indicate that goodwill might be impaired. As a result of declining demand of signal processing hardware from a single customer in one of the Company’s reporting units, CommAgility, as well as the high uncertainty associated with the ultimate trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic, management performed a quantitative analysis of the fair value of the CommAgility reporting unit and determined its fair value was below its carrying value. Fair value of the reporting unit was estimated using a combination of the income approach and the market approach. The Company used a discounted cash flow model for the income approach valuation method and the guideline public company and guideline transaction methods for the market approach valuation method. The determination of the fair value of the reporting unit required management to make significant estimates and assumptions related to projected revenue growth, future operating margins, discount rates and terminal values. As disclosed by management, changes in these estimates and assumptions could have a significant impact on the fair value of the reporting unit, the amount of the goodwill impairment, or both. As a result of the quantitative impairment analysis discussed above, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment of $4.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2020.
34 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the goodwill impairment assessment of the CommAgility reporting unit is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when developing the fair value measurement of the reporting unit; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s significant estimates and assumptions in determining the fair value of the reporting unit; and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.
Our audit procedures related to management’s evaluation of goodwill impairment included (i) evaluating the appropriateness of the income approach and market approach methods; (ii) testing the underlying data used by the Company in its analysis; and (iii) evaluating the reasonableness of significant estimates and assumptions used by management. Evaluating management’s estimates and assumptions involved evaluating whether the estimates and assumptions used by management were reasonable considering (i) the current and past performance of the reporting unit and (ii) whether these assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit. We utilized our valuation specialist to assist in evaluating the reasonableness of the Company’s valuation methodology. Furthermore, we assessed the appropriateness of the disclosures in the consolidated financial statements.
Business Combination – Acquisition of Holzworth Instrumentation, Inc. (“Holzworth”)
In February 2020, the Company completed the acquisition of Holzworth for a purchase price of approximately $12 million, which includes $2.4 million of contingent consideration, estimated at the acquisition date. The Company accounted for the acquisition under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. Accordingly, the purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their respective fair values, including total intangible assets of $4.3 million. Management, with the assistance of an independent valuation expert, estimated the fair value of the intangible assets using the multi-period excess earnings method and the relief from royalty methodology, which are both variations of the income approach. Additionally, management, with the assistance of an independent valuation expert, estimated the fair value of the contingent consideration using the Monte Carlo Simulation model.
Given the fair value determination of the intangible assets and contingent consideration requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions related to the forecasts of future cash flows and the selection of the discount rate, performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of these estimates and assumptions required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our valuation specialists.
Our auditing procedures related to the forecasts of future cash flows and the selection of the discount rate included (i) obtaining an understanding of management’s key assumptions in developing the forecast; (ii) assessing the reasonableness of management’s forecasts of future cash flows by comparing the projections to historical results; (iii) evaluating whether the estimated future cash flows were consistent with projections used by the Company, as well as evidence obtained in other areas of the audit; (iv) evaluating the reasonableness of the discount rate and (v) testing the mathematical accuracy of the calculations. Furthermore, we assessed the appropriateness of the disclosures in the consolidated financial statements.
/s/ PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP
New York, New York
March 19, 2021
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2006.
* * * * *
35 |
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
(In thousands, except number of shares and par value)
December 31 | December 31 | |||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
CURRENT ASSETS | ||||||||
Cash & cash equivalents | $ | 4,910 | $ | 4,245 | ||||
Accounts receivable - net of reserves of $38 and $69, respectively | 5,520 | 6,152 | ||||||
Inventories - net of reserves of $1,129 and $969, respectively | 8,796 | 7,325 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 2,172 | 1,871 | ||||||
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS | 21,398 | 19,593 | ||||||
PROPERTY PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - NET | 1,824 | 2,147 | ||||||
OTHER ASSETS | ||||||||
Goodwill | 11,512 | 10,069 | ||||||
Acquired intangible assets, net | 5,242 | 2,219 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes, net | 5,701 | 6,013 | ||||||
Right of use assets | 1,680 | 1,436 | ||||||
Other assets | 561 | 874 | ||||||
TOTAL OTHER ASSETS | 24,696 | 20,611 | ||||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 47,918 | $ | 42,351 | ||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES | ||||||||
Short term debt | $ | 512 | $ | 2,696 | ||||
Accounts payable | 1,546 | 2,227 | ||||||
Short term leases | 534 | 440 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 7,997 | 2,657 | ||||||
Deferred revenue | 924 | 42 | ||||||
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES | 11,513 | 8,062 | ||||||
LONG TERM LIABILITIES | ||||||||
Long term debt | 8,895 | - | ||||||
Long term leases | 1,200 | 1,018 | ||||||
Other long term liabilities | 82 | 77 | ||||||
Deferred tax liability | 377 | 503 | ||||||
TOTAL LONG TERM LIABILITIES | 10,554 | 1,598 | ||||||
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | ||||||||
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized, none issued | - | - | ||||||
Common stock, $.01 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized, 34,888,904 and 34,488,252 shares issued, 21,669,361 and 21,300,252 shares outstanding | 349 | 345 | ||||||
Additional paid in capital | 50,163 | 49,062 | ||||||
Retained earnings/(deficit) | (946 | ) | 7,142 | |||||
Treasury stock at cost, 13,219,543 and 13,188,000 shares | (24,556 | ) | (24,509 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 841 | 651 | ||||||
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | 25,851 | 32,691 | ||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | $ | 47,918 | $ | 42,351 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
36 |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Twelve Months Ended | ||||||||
December 31 | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Net revenues | $ | 41,748 | $ | 48,921 | ||||
Cost of revenues | 20,781 | 26,632 | ||||||
Gross profit | 20,967 | 22,289 | ||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||
Research and development | 6,389 | 5,917 | ||||||
Sales and marketing | 6,955 | 7,677 | ||||||
General and administrative | 9,907 | 10,174 | ||||||
Goodwill impairment charge | 4,742 | - | ||||||
Loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration | 1,073 | - | ||||||
Total operating expenses | 29,066 | 23,768 | ||||||
Operating loss | (8,099 | ) | (1,479 | ) | ||||
Other income/(expense) | 187 | (2 | ) | |||||
Interest expense | (985 | ) | (305 | ) | ||||
Loss before taxes | (8,897 | ) | (1,786 | ) | ||||
Tax benefit | (809 | ) | (1,372 | ) | ||||
Net loss | $ | (8,088 | ) | $ | (414 | ) | ||
Other comprehensive income/(loss): | ||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | 190 | 539 | ||||||
Comprehensive income/(loss) | $ | (7,898 | ) | $ | 125 | |||
Loss per share: | ||||||||
Basic | $ | (0.37 | ) | $ | (0.02 | ) | ||
Diluted | $ | (0.37 | ) | $ | (0.02 | ) | ||
Weighted average shares outstanding: | ||||||||
Basic | 21,657 | 21,111 | ||||||
Diluted | 21,657 | 21,111 |
In periods with a net loss, the basic loss per share equals the diluted loss per share as all common stock equivalents are excluded from the per share calculation because they are anti-dilutive.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
37 |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
(In thousands, except share amounts)
Common Stock Issued | Common Stock Amount | Additional Paid In Capital | Retained Earnings/ (Deficit) | Treasury Stock | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Total Shareholders’ Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances at January 1, 2019 | 34,393,252 | $ | 344 | $ | 48,479 | $ | 7,556 | $ | (24,509 | ) | $ | 112 | $ | 31,982 | ||||||||||||||
Net loss | - | - | - | (414 | ) | - | - | (414 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of restricted stock | 95,000 | 1 | (1 | ) | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation expense | - | - | 584 | - | - | - | 584 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative translation adjustment | - | - | - | - | - | 539 | 539 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balances at December 31, 2019 | 34,488,252 | $ | 345 | $ | 49,062 | $ | 7,142 | $ | (24,509 | ) | $ | 651 | $ | 32,691 | ||||||||||||||
Net loss | - | - | - | (8,088 | ) | - | - | (8,088 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of shares in connection with stock options exercised | 20,000 | - | 15 | - | - | - | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of restricted stock | 50,000 | 1 | (1 | ) | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Forfeiture of restricted stock | (16,667 | ) | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of shares in connection with Holzworth acquisition | 347,319 | 3 | 462 | - | - | - | 465 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of warrants | - | - | 151 | - | - | - | 151 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Shares withheld for employee taxes | - | - | - | - | (47 | ) | - | (47 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation expense | - | - | 474 | - | - | - | 474 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative translation adjustment | - | - | - | - | - | 190 | 190 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balances at December 31, 2020 | 34,888,904 | $ | 349 | $ | 50,163 | $ | (946 | ) | $ | (24,556 | ) | $ | 841 | $ | 25,851 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
38 |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
(In thousands)
For the Twelve Months | ||||||||
Ended December 31 | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | (8,088 | ) | $ | (414 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 2,238 | 2,151 | ||||||
Goodwill impairment | 4,742 | - | ||||||
Amortization of debt issuance fees | 297 | 63 | ||||||
Share-based compensation expense | 474 | 584 | ||||||
Deferred rent | (29 | ) | (24 | ) | ||||
Deferred income taxes | 178 | (551 | ) | |||||
Provision for doubtful accounts | (31 | ) | 25 | |||||
Inventory reserves | 157 | 103 | ||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisition: | ||||||||
Accounts receivable | 1,209 | 2,465 | ||||||
Inventories | (186 | ) | (502 | ) | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 923 | 42 | ||||||
Accounts payable | (842 | ) | (1,055 | ) | ||||
Payment of contingent consideration | - | (772 | ) | |||||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 1,938 | (2,035 | ) | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 2,980 | 80 | ||||||
CASH FLOWS USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
Capital expenditures | (364 | ) | (392 | ) | ||||
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired | (8,246 | ) | (426 | ) | ||||
Net cash used by investing activities | (8,610 | ) | (818 | ) | ||||
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED/(USED) BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
Revolver borrowings | 39,935 | 36,544 | ||||||
Revolver repayments | (42,289 | ) | (35,712 | ) | ||||
Term loan borrowings | 8,400 | - | ||||||
Term loan repayments | (426 | ) | (152 | ) | ||||
Debt issuance fees | (1,327 | ) | (110 | ) | ||||
Paycheck Protection Program loan | 2,045 | - | ||||||
Payment of contingent consideration | - | (782 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 16 | - | ||||||
Tax withholding payments for vested equity awards | (46 | ) | - | |||||
Net cash provided/(used) by financing activities | 6,308 | (212 | ) | |||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (13 | ) | 180 | |||||
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | 665 | (770 | ) | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of period | 4,245 | 5,015 | ||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, AT END OF PERIOD | $ | 4,910 | $ | 4,245 | ||||
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: | ||||||||
Cash paid during the period for interest | $ | 703 | $ | 185 | ||||
Cash paid during the period for income taxes | $ | 65 | $ | 108 | ||||
Non cash issuance of common stock in connection with acquisition – see Note 2 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
39 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
NOTE 1 - DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
Organization and Basis of Presentation
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc., a New Jersey corporation, together with its subsidiaries (“we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”), specializes in the design and manufacture of advanced radio frequency (“RF”) and microwave devices which enable the development, testing and deployment of wireless technology. The Company provides unique, highly customized and configured solutions which drive innovation across a wide range of traditional and emerging wireless technologies.
Our customers include wireless carriers, aerospace companies, defense contractors, military and government agencies, satellite communication companies, network equipment manufacturers, tower companies, semiconductor device manufacturers, system integrators, neutral host providers and medical device manufacturers.
Our products include components, modules, instruments, systems and software used across the lifecycle of wireless connectivity and communication development, deployment and testing. Our customers use these products in relation to commercial infrastructure development, the expansion and upgrade of distributed antenna systems, deployment of small cell technology, use of medical devices and private long-term evolution (“LTE”) and 5G networks. In addition, the Company’s products are used in the development and testing of satellite communication systems, radar systems, semiconductor devices, automotive electronics and avionics.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Wireless Telecom Group, Inc., doing business as and operating under the trade name, Noisecom, and its wholly owned subsidiaries including Boonton Electronics Corporation (“Boonton”), Microlab/FXR LLC (“Microlab”), Holzworth Instrumentation, Inc. (“Holzworth”), Wireless Telecommunications Ltd. and CommAgility Limited (“CommAgility”). They have been prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
In June 2020 the Company completed an internal reorganization and now presents its operations as one reportable segment. Prior to June 2020 the Company presented its operations in three reportable segments. The Company identifies segments in accordance with ASC 280 Segment Reporting (“ASC 280”). As a result of internal reorganizations that occurred over the six to nine months prior to June 30, 2020 the Company evaluated its segment reporting. We determined that the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) as defined in ASC 280 evaluates operating results and makes decisions on how to allocate resources at the consolidated level. Although the CODM reviews key performance indicators including bookings, shipments and gross profit at a product group level, this information by itself is not sufficient enough to make operating decisions. Rather, operating decisions are made based on review of consolidated profitability metrics rather than the individual results of each product group.
Use of Estimates
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates and assumptions include management’s analysis in support of inventory valuation, accounts receivable valuation, valuation of deferred tax assets, returns reserves, warranty accruals, goodwill and intangible assets, estimated fair values of stock options and vesting periods of performance-based stock options and restricted stock.
Concentrations of Credit Risk, Purchases and Fair Value
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and trade accounts receivable.
Credit evaluations are performed on customers requiring credit over a certain amount. Credit risk is mitigated to a lesser extent through collateral such as letters of credit, bank guarantees or payment terms like cash in advance.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, no one customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total consolidated revenues. For the twelve months ended December 31, 201,9 one CommAgility customer accounted for 24.8% of the Company’s total consolidated revenues. At December 31, 2020, one customer exceeded 10% of consolidated gross accounts receivable at 12.7%. At December 31, 2019 one customer exceeded 10% of consolidated gross accounts receivable at 12.9%.
40 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, two suppliers exceeded 10% of consolidated inventory purchases at 14% each. For the year ended December 31, 2019, three suppliers comprised or exceeded 10% of consolidated inventory purchases at 18% and 14% and 10%, respectively.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents represent deposits in banks and highly liquid investments purchased with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Trade accounts receivable and contract assets for unbilled receivables are stated at the amount owed by the customer, net of allowances for doubtful accounts, returns and rebates. Estimated allowances for doubtful accounts are reviewed periodically taking into account the customer’s recent payment history, the customer’s current financial statements and other information regarding the customer’s credit worthiness. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when it is determined the receivable will not be recovered.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Inventory cost is determined on an average cost basis. Net realizable value is based upon an estimated average selling price reduced by estimated costs of completion, disposal and transportation. Reductions in inventory valuation are included in cost of revenues in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income/Loss. Finished goods and work-in-process include material, labor and overhead expenses.
The Company reviews inventory for excess and obsolescence based on best estimates of future demand, product lifecycle status and product development plans. The Company uses historical information along with these future estimates to reduce the inventory cost basis. Subsequent changes in facts and circumstances do not result in the restoration or increase in that newly established cost basis.
Inventory carrying value is net of inventory reserves of approximately $1.1 million as of December 31, 2020 and $1.0 million as of December 31, 2019.
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
Inventories consist of (in thousands): | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||
Raw materials | $ | 4,644 | $ | 4,023 | ||||
Work-in-process | 618 | 406 | ||||||
Finished goods | 3,534 | 2,896 | ||||||
$ | 8,796 | $ | 7,325 |
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets generally consist of income tax receivables, contract assets for unbilled receivables, prepaid insurance, prepaid maintenance agreements and the short term portion of debt issuance costs. The income tax receivable balance included in prepaid and other current assets was $1.2 million and $1.1 million as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
41 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are reflected at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Upon application of acquisition accounting, property, plant and equipment are measured at estimated fair value as of the acquisition date to establish a new historical cost basis.
Depreciation and amortization are provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives for the property, plant and equipment are:
Machinery and computer equipment/software | 3-8 years |
Furniture and fixtures | 5-7 years |
Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the remaining term of the lease or the estimated economic life of the improvement. Repairs and maintenance are charged to operations as incurred; renewals and betterments are capitalized.
Business Combinations
The Company uses the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations which requires the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed to be recorded at their respective fair market value as of the acquisition date. Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the net assets acquired. The fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are determined based upon the Company’s valuation and involves making significant estimates and assumptions based on facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date. The Company uses a measurement period following the acquisition date to gather information that existed as of the acquisition date that is needed to determine the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The measurement period ends once all information is obtained, but no later than one year from the acquisition date.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the aggregate purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired in a purchase business combination. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment annually, or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that would indicate that goodwill might be impaired, by first performing a qualitative evaluation of events and circumstances impacting the reporting unit to determine the likelihood of goodwill impairment. Based on that qualitative evaluation, if the Company determines it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, no further evaluation is necessary. Otherwise we perform a quantitative impairment test.
The Company has three reporting units with goodwill – Holzworth, Microlab and CommAgility. The Company performed a qualitative assessment in the fourth quarter of 2020 of each reporting unit. The qualitative assessment of Holzworth and Microlab did not indicate any impairment of goodwill. As a result of declining demand of CommAgility’s signal processing hardware cards from a single customer and the particularly high uncertainty associated with the ultimate trajectory of the pandemic, including the degree to which governments continue to restrict business and personal activities, and the impact that uncertainty has on the growth of new software license and services revenue to offset the signal processing hardware sales decline, the Company performed a quantitative impairment test of the goodwill of the CommAgility reporting unit.
For goodwill impairment testing using the quantitative approach, the Company estimates the fair value of the selected reporting unit using the income approach and the market approach. Fair value under the income approach is derived primarily through the use of a discounted cash flow model based on our best estimate of amounts and timing of future revenues and cash flows and our most recent business and strategic plans. Fair value under the market approach is derived by applying a multiple to our best estimate of future revenue. The Company applies equal weighting to the income approach and the market approach to arrive at an estimated fair value. The estimated fair value is compared to the carrying value of the reporting unit, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value, no impairment charge is recorded. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds the fair value an impairment charge is recorded to goodwill in the amount by which carrying value exceeds fair value. Both the income approach and market approach require judgmental assumptions about projected revenue growth, future operating margins, discount rates and terminal values over a multi-year period. There are inherent uncertainties related to these assumptions and management’s judgment in applying them to the analysis of goodwill impairment. While the Company believes it has made reasonable estimates and assumptions to calculate the fair value of its reporting units, it is possible a material change could occur.
42 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
In the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $4.7 million related to the CommAgility reporting unit. The non-cash impairment charge was due to a number of factors that arose as part of our quantitative assessment, including an assessment of our historical results and the significant decline in hardware sales in 2020, the difficulty of predicting future customer demand, the uncertainty of future sales of 4G hardware cards, the uncertainty of the growth of 5G software and services revenues due to the early stages of 5G adoption for new technology and expectations for 5G deployments, the uncertainty of the continued future impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic on customer spending, and the potential for a more prolonged recovery for enterprise spending and longer-term investment. Despite the asset impairment charge the Company believes the markets in which CommAgility operates, specifically LTE and 5G private networks, have long term growth potential and the Company is committed to growing the revenue and profitability of the reporting unit.
Due to the many variables inherent in the estimation of a reporting unit’s fair value and the relative size of our recorded goodwill, differences in assumptions may have a material effect on the results of our impairment analysis. After recording the 2020 goodwill impairment charge, the Company’s consolidated goodwill balance as of December 31, 2020 was comprised of $1.4 million related to the Microlab reporting unit, $6.0 million related to the Holzworth reporting unit and $4.1 million related to the CommAgility reporting unit.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s consolidated goodwill balance of $10.1 million was comprised of $1.4 million related to the Microlab reporting unit and $8.7 million related to the CommAgility reporting unit. Management’s qualitative assessment performed in the fourth quarter of 2019 did not indicate any impairment of goodwill.
Intangible and Long-lived Assets
Intangible assets include acquired technology, patents, non-competition agreements, customer relationships and tradenames. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated economic lives of the assets, which range from three to twelve years. Long-lived assets, including intangible assets with finite lives, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Determination of recoverability is based on an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. Measurement of an impairment loss for long-lived assets that management expects to hold and use is based on the estimated fair value of the asset. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount or estimated fair value less costs to sell. The estimated useful lives of intangible and long-lived assets are based on many factors including assumptions regarding the effects of obsolescence, demand, competition and other economic factors, expectations regarding the future use of the asset, and our historical experience with similar assets. The assumptions used to determine the estimated useful lives could change due to numerous factors including product demand, market conditions, technological developments, economic conditions and competition. Intangible assets determined to have indefinite useful lives are not amortized but are tested for impairment annually and more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that indicate an asset may be impaired.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the reporting date. The accounting guidance establishes a three-tiered hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring fair value:
Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 - Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
43 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
The categorization of a financial instrument within the valuation hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, approximate fair value due to their relatively short maturities. The Company’s term loan and revolving credit facility bear interest at a variable interest rate plus an applicable margin and, therefore, carrying amount approximates fair value. We believe the carrying value of the loan obtained under the Paycheck Protection Program approximates fair value due to the expected short term nature of the loan.
During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $4.7 million related to the CommAgility reporting unit. The determination of the impairment charge was based on the income and market approaches which are based on the present value of future cash flows and an estimated multiple of future revenues, respectively. The determination of the impairment charge was based on Level 3 valuation inputs.
Contingent Consideration
Under the terms of the Holzworth Share Purchase Agreement (as defined in Note 2) the Company is required to pay additional purchase price in the form of deferred purchase price payments and an earnout if certain financial targets are achieved for the years ending December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021 (see Note 2). As of the acquisition date, the Company estimated the fair value of the deferred purchase price and earnout remaining to be paid related to the 2020 and 2021 financial targets to be $660,000 and $2.4 million, respectively. The earnout may be paid in cash or common stock at the Company’s option. The Company is required to reassess the fair value of the contingent consideration at each reporting period.
The significant inputs used in this fair value estimate include estimated gross revenues and Adjusted EBITDA, as defined in the Holzworth Share Purchase Agreement, and scenarios for the earnout periods for which probabilities are assigned to each scenario to arrive at a single estimated outcome. The estimated outcome is then discounted based on the individual risk analysis of the liability. The contingent consideration liabilities are considered a Level 3 fair value measurement.
Due to the better than expected financial performance of the Holzworth reporting unit during fiscal 2020, the Company recorded an increase to the contingent consideration liabilities in the amount of $1.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. The adjustment was recorded as a loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income/(Loss).
Foreign Currency Translation
Assets and liabilities of non-U.S. subsidiaries that operate in a local currency environment, where the local currency is the functional currency, are translated from foreign currencies into U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates while income and expenses are translated at the weighted average spot rate for the periods presented. Translation gains or losses related to net assets located outside the U.S. are shown as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity.
Aggregate foreign currency gains and losses, such as those resulting from the settlement of receivables or payables in a currency other than the subsidiary’s functional currency, are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income/(Loss) (included in other income/expense). Foreign currency transaction gains were $64,000 in fiscal 2020. Foreign currency transaction losses in in fiscal 2019 were not material.
Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) is recorded directly to a separate section of shareholders’ equity in accumulated other comprehensive income and includes unrealized gains and losses excluded from net income/(loss). These unrealized gains and losses consist of changes in foreign currency translation.
44 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
Research and Development Costs
Research and development (R&D) costs are charged to operations when incurred. R&D costs include salaries and benefits, depreciation expense on equipment used for R&D purposes and third-party material and consulting costs, if clearly related to an R&D activity. Salaries and benefits of engineers working on customer contracts for which the Company is earning services or consulting revenues are allocated to costs of revenues. The amounts charged to operations for R&D costs for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were $6.4 million and $5.9 million, respectively.
Advertising Costs
Advertising expenses are charged to operations during the year in which they are incurred and aggregated to $235,000 and $91,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company follows the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation” which requires that compensation expense be recognized, based on the fair value of the equity awards on the date of grant. The fair value of restricted share awards and restricted stock unit awards is determined using the market value of our common stock on the date of the grant. The fair value of stock options at the date of grant are estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. When performance-based stock options are granted, the Company takes into consideration guidance under ASC 718 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (SAB 107) when determining assumptions. The expected option life is derived from assumed exercise rates based upon historical exercise patterns and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The expected volatility is based upon historical volatility of our shares using daily price observations over an observation period that approximates the expected life of the options. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve rate in effect at the time of grant for periods similar to the expected option life. The Company accounts for forfeitures for all equity awards when they occur.
Management estimates are necessary in determining compensation expense for stock options with performance-based vesting criteria. Compensation expense for this type of stock-based award is recognized over the period from the date the performance conditions are determined to be probable of occurring through the implicit service period, which is the date the applicable conditions are expected to be met. If the performance conditions are not considered probable of being achieved, no expense is recognized until such time as the performance conditions are considered probable of being met, if ever. If the award is forfeited because the performance condition is not satisfied, previously recognized compensation cost is reversed. Management evaluates performance conditions on a quarterly basis.
Income Taxes
The Company records deferred taxes in accordance with ASC 740, “Accounting for Income Taxes”. This ASC requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences between tax basis of assets and liabilities and the amounts at which they are carried in the financial statements, based upon the enacted rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company establishes a valuation allowance when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
The Company periodically assesses the value of its deferred tax asset, a majority of which has been generated by a history of net operating losses and determines the necessity for a valuation allowance. The Company evaluates which portion, if any, will more likely than not be realized by offsetting future taxable income, taking into consideration any limitations that may exist on its use of its net operating loss carry-forwards.
Under ASC 740, the Company must recognize and disclose uncertain tax positions only if it is more-likely-than-not the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authority, based on the technical merits of the position. The amounts recognized in the financial statements attributable to such position, if any, are recorded if there is a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon the ultimate resolution of the position. Based on the evaluations noted above, the Company has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions requiring recognition or disclosure in its consolidated financial statements.
45 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
Earnings/(Loss) Per Common Share
Basic earnings/(loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income/(loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings/(loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income/(loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period and, when dilutive, potential shares from stock options using the treasury stock method, the weighted average number of unvested restricted shares, the weighted-average number of restricted stock units and the weighted average number of warrants to purchase common stock outstanding for the period. Shares from stock options and warrants are included in the diluted earnings per share calculation only when options exercise prices are lower than the average market value of the common shares for the period presented. In periods with a net loss, the basic loss per share equals the diluted loss per share as all common stock equivalents are excluded from the per share calculation because they are anti-dilutive. In accordance with ASC 260, “Earnings Per Share”, the following table reconciles basic shares outstanding to fully diluted shares outstanding.
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding | 21,656,906 | 21,110,632 | ||||||
Potentially dilutive equity awards | 313,341 | 522,996 | ||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, assuming dilution | 21,970,247 | 21,633,628 |
The weighted average number of options and warrants to purchase common stock not included in diluted loss per share because the effects are anti-dilutive, or the performance condition was not met in 2020 was 3,114,792. The estimated number of shares issuable under the terms of the Holzworth earnout, if the entire earnout was paid in shares of common stock, (see Note 2) at December 31, 2020 was 1,559,807.
The weighted average number of options to purchase common stock not included in diluted loss per share in 2019, because the effects are anti-dilutive or the performance condition was not met, was 1,324,548.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in 2020
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software, Customers Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract. ASU 2018-15 aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs in cloud computing arrangements with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. This pronouncement is effective for the Company’s 2020 calendar year, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326). ASU 2016-13 changes the impairment model for most financial assets and will require the use of an “expected loss” model for instruments measured as amortized cost. This pronouncement is effective for small reporting companies for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company plans to adopt the standard effective January 1, 2023. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740) Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The amendments simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles of Topic 740 and improve consistent application by clarifying and amending existing guidance. The new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted, with the amendments to be applied on a retrospective, modified retrospective or prospective basis, depending on the specific amendment. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
46 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The amendments provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments are intended to ease the potential burden in accounting for, or recognizing the effects of, reference rate reform on financial reporting. The new standard is effective March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022, with the adoption date being dependent upon the Company’s election. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 2 – Acquisition of Holzworth
On November 13, 2019 the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with Holzworth Instrumentation Inc. (“Holzworth”), its founders and shareholders (collectively, the “Sellers”), as amended by a First Amendment to Share Purchase Agreement, dated January 31, 2020 and a Second Amendment to Share Purchase Agreement dated February 19, 2021 (collectively, the “Share Purchase Agreement”). On February 7, 2020, the Company completed the acquisition (the “Acquisition”) of all of the outstanding shares of Holzworth, from the Sellers. Holzworth instruments which include signal generators and phase noise analyzers are used by government labs, aerospace and defense companies, the semiconductor industry, and network equipment providers, among others, in research and automated test environments. Holzworth is a complimentary business for our Boonton and Noisecom brands with a common customer base and channel partners. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, net revenues of $8.8 million, and operating income of $1.4 million, respectively, was included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income/(Loss) related to the Holzworth business, representing the results from the date of acquisition. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, the Company recorded $243,000 of transaction expenses related to the Acquisition and these expenses were recognized in general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income/(Loss).
The aggregate purchase price for the Acquisition is a maximum of $17.0 million, consisting of payments in cash and stock, a working capital adjustment, and contingent consideration in the form of deferred purchase price payments and an earnout. Additionally, the parties made a 338(h)(10) election to treat the Acquisition as a purchase and sale of assets, and the Company has agreed to pay any incremental taxes of Sellers resulting from that election.
At closing, a portion of the purchase price was paid to the Sellers through the issuance of 347,319 shares of the Company’s common stock, valued at approximately $500,000 based upon a 90-day volume weighted average price for shares of stock of the Company. The shares issued to the Sellers are subject to Lock-up and Voting Agreements.
During 2020, the Company paid $8.3 million in net cash to the Sellers consisting of $7.2 million in cash at close, $600,000 in indemnification holdback payments and $750,000 in deferred purchase price reduced by $292,000 of a working capital adjustment that was owed to the Company by the Sellers. The final indemnification holdback payment of $200,000 is due on March 31, 2021.
The Sellers earned a second deferred purchase price payment of $750,000 by way of exceeding $1.25 million in EBITDA (as defined in the Share Purchase Agreement) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020. Additionally, the Sellers earned $3.4 million in additional purchase price in the form of an earnout (“Year 1 Earnout”) which was also based on Holzworth’s EBITDA for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.
On February 19, 2021, the Company entered into the Second Amendment to Share Purchase Agreement (the “Second Amendment”) with Holzworth. The Second Amendment, among other things, converted the second deferred purchase price of $750,000 into unsecured seller notes with interest at an annual rate of 6.5% starting from April 1, 2021 until final payment. The payment date has been changed from March 31, 2021 to three equal installments of $250,000, plus accrued interest, due on July 1, 2021, October 1, 2021 and January 1, 2022.
Additionally, the parties amended the payment dates of the earnout consideration. The payment date of the first earnout payment based on the financial results of the calendar year ended 2020 (“Year 1 Earnout”) has been amended from March 31, 2021 to (i) six (6) equal quarterly installments of 10% of the Year 1 Earnout payable on the last business day of each calendar quarter between June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2022 and (ii) one (1) installment payment equal to 40% of the Year 1 Earnout on December 31, 2022. The Year 1 Earnout is payable in cash or shares of the Company’s common stock based on the 90 trading day volume weighted average price immediately preceding final determination of the Year 1 Earnout or $2.19 per share. The estimated payment for the Year 1 Earnout is $3.4 million which is recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2020.
47 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
The Company may also be required to pay additional amounts in cash and stock as earnout consideration based on Holzworth’s EBITDA for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 (“Year 2 Earnout”). The Year 2 Earnout will be equal to two times the amount, if any, by which Holzworth’s EBITDA for fiscal year December 31, 2021 exceeds Holzworth’s EBITDA for fiscal year 2020. Pursuant to the Second Amendment to the Share Purchase Agreement the Year 2 Earnout is payable in 4 equal quarterly installments payable on the last business day of each calendar quarter between March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2022. The aggregate earnout payments cannot exceed $7.0 million.
Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement the Company entered into a lock-up and voting agreement (the “Lock-up and Voting Agreement”) with each of the Sellers. Pursuant to the Lock-up and Voting Agreement, each Seller agrees to restrict the sale, assignment, transfer, encumbrance or other disposition of its portion of the Stock Consideration (the “Lock-up Shares”). For a period commencing on the closing date of the Acquisition (the “Effective Date”) and ending on the date which is 36 calendar months following the Effective Date, each Seller agreed that, without the prior written consent by the Company, such Seller would not sell, assign, transfer, encumber or otherwise dispose of the Lock-up Shares or enter into any swap, option or short sale, among other transactions. Upon the prior written consent of the Company, a Seller may transfer Lock-up Shares as a bona fide gift, by will or intestacy or to a family member or trust for the benefit of the Seller or a family member; provided that any recipient of the Lock-up Shares sign and deliver to the Company a lock-up and voting agreement substantially in the form of the Lock-up and Voting Agreement. The Lock-up Shares cease to be locked up in the event of a Change of Control of the Company (as defined in the Lock-up and Voting Agreement). In the Second Amendment, the parties also amended the provisions with respect to restrictions on transfer to adjust for the change in timing of earnout payments, as described above.
In addition, each Seller, subject to certain limitations, agreed, among other things, to appear at each meeting of the shareholders of the Company and vote all of such Seller’s Lock-up Shares (a) in favor or against any proposal presented to the shareholders in the same manner that the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) recommends shareholders vote on such proposal and (b) in favor of any proposal presented to the shareholders with respect to an action of the Company which the Board has approved, but as to which the Board has not made any recommendation, including in favor of any proposal to adjourn or postpone any meeting of the Company’s shareholders if such adjournment or postponement is conducted in accordance with the terms of the Lock-up and Voting Agreement.
To the extent any shares of Company common stock are issued in payment of any Earnout Consideration (as defined in the Share Purchase Agreement) in accordance with the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement, such shares shall be subject to all applicable transfer restrictions, voting and other provisions set forth in the Lock-up and Voting Agreement, with the Effective Date with respect to such shares being the date such shares are issued; provided that, to the extent the portion of the first $1.5 million of Earnout Consideration that is paid in cash represents less than 30% of such Earnout Consideration, the portion of shares of Company common stock issued as Earnout Consideration constituting the difference between the cash percentage paid and 30% of the first $1.5 million of Earnout Consideration shall not be considered Lock-Up Shares. In addition, in the Second Amendment, the parties added a requirement that any earned but unpaid earnout consideration will be accelerated in the event the Company desires to enter into a material asset or equity acquisition in the future.
The acquisition has been accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. Accounting for acquisitions requires us to recognize separately from goodwill the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at their acquisition date fair values. Goodwill as of the acquisition date is measured as the excess of consideration transferred over the net of the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. While we use our best estimates and assumptions to accurately value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date our estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. Various valuation techniques were used to estimate the fair value of assets acquired and the liabilities assumed which use significant unobservable inputs, or Level 3 inputs as defined by the fair value hierarchy. Using these valuation approaches requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions.
48 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
As of September 30, 2020, the valuation studies necessary to determine the fair market value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed were completed, including the validation of the underlying cash flows used to determine the fair value of the identified intangible assets and contingent consideration. The following amounts represent the determination of the fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the Acquisition along with measurement period adjustments recorded from the preliminary purchase price allocation to September 30, 2020 (in thousands):
Amounts Recognized as of Acquisition Date | Measurement Period Adjustments | Amounts Recognized as of Acquisition Date (as adjusted) | ||||||||||
Cash at close | $ | 7,219 | $ | - | $ | 7,219 | ||||||
Equity issued at close | 465 | - | 465 | |||||||||
Purchase price holdback | 800 | - | 800 | |||||||||
Working capital adjustment | (295 | ) | 3 | (292 | ) | |||||||
Deferred purchase price | 1,300 | 110 | 1,410 | |||||||||
Contingent consideration | 555 | 1,885 | 2,440 | |||||||||
Total purchase price | 10,044 | 1,998 | 12,042 | |||||||||
Cash | 30 | - | 30 | |||||||||
Accounts receivable | 485 | 29 | 514 | |||||||||
Inventory | 1,218 | 220 | 1,438 | |||||||||
Intangible assets | 4,500 | (240 | ) | 4,260 | ||||||||
Other assets | 960 | 7 | 967 | |||||||||
Fixed assets | 144 | - | 144 | |||||||||
Accounts payable | (129 | ) | - | (129 | ) | |||||||
Accrued expenses | (425 | ) | (4 | ) | (429 | ) | ||||||
Deferred revenue | (13 | ) | - | (13 | ) | |||||||
Other long term liabilities | (740 | ) | - | (740 | ) | |||||||
Net assets acquired | 6,030 | 12 | 6,042 | |||||||||
Goodwill | $ | 4,014 | $ | 1,986 | $ | 6,000 |
Goodwill is calculated as the excess of consideration paid over the net assets acquired and represents synergies, assembled workforce, organic growth and other benefits that are expected to arise from integrating Holzworth into our operations. The goodwill recorded in this transaction is expected to be tax deductible.
The following unaudited pro forma information presents the Company’s operations as if the Holzworth acquisition and related financing activities had occurred on January 1, 2019. The pro forma information includes the following adjustments (i) amortization of acquired intangible assets; (ii) interest expense incurred in connection with the Term Loan Facility (described in further detail in Note 3) used to finance the acquisition of Holzworth; and (iii) inclusion of acquisition-related expenses in the earliest period presented. The amounts related to Holzworth included in the following unaudited pro forma information are based on their historical results and, therefore, may not be indicative of the actual results when operated as part of the Company. The pro forma adjustments represent management’s best estimates based on information available at the time the pro forma information was prepared and may differ from the adjustments that may actually have been required. Accordingly, the unaudited pro forma financial information should not be relied upon as being indicative of the results that would have been realized had the Holzworth acquisition occurred as of the date indicated or that may be achieved in the future.
49 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
The following table presents the unaudited pro forma consolidated results of operations for the Company for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 as though the Acquisition had been completed as of January 1, 2019 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
2020 Pro-forma | 2019 Pro-forma | |||||||
Net revenues | $ | 41,845 | $ | 54,761 | ||||
Net income/(loss) | $ | (8,212 | ) | $ | (1,754 | ) | ||
Earnings per diluted share | $ | (0.38 | ) | $ | (0.08 | ) |
NOTE 3 – Debt
Debt consists of the following (in thousands):
December 31, 2020 | ||||
Revolver at LIBOR plus margin | $ | - | ||
Term loan at LIBOR plus margin | 8,316 | |||
Less: Debt issuance costs, net of amortization | (831 | ) | ||
Less: Fair value of warrants, net of amortization | (123 | ) | ||
Paycheck Protection Program loan | 2,045 | |||
Total Debt | 9,407 | |||
Less: Debt maturing within one year | (512 | ) | ||
Non-current portion of long term debt | $ | 8,895 |
Term loan payments by period (in thousands):
2021 | $ | 512 | ||
2022 | 2,129 | |||
2023 | 84 | |||
2024 | 84 | |||
2025 | 7,552 | |||
Total | $ | 10,361 |
In connection with the Holzworth acquisition, on February 7, 2020, the Company, as borrower, and its subsidiaries, as guarantors, and Muzinich BDC, Inc., as lender (“Muzinich”), entered into a Term Loan Facility, which provides for a term loan in the principal amount of $8.4 million (the “Initial Term Loan”). All proceeds of the Initial Term Loan were used to fund the cash portion of the purchase price for the Holzworth acquisition. Principal payments on the Initial Term Loan are $21,000 per quarter with a balloon payment at maturity which is February 7, 2025. The Term Loan Facility includes an upfront fee of 2.50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Initial Term Loan. In connection with the Term Loan Facility, the Company incurred costs of $1.0 million, including the aforementioned 2.5% upfront fee to Muzinich, which were recorded as a reduction of the carrying amount of the debt and are being amortized over the term of the loan.
On May 4, 2020, the Company entered into the First Amendment to the Term Loan Facility which, among other things, amended the definition of “Indebtedness” to include the PPP loan as long as the proceeds are used for allowable purposes under the CARES Act, the receipt of the loan does not violate the Credit Facility and the Company submits an application for forgiveness and substantially all of the loan is forgiven.
50 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
On February 25, 2021, the Company and its subsidiaries entered into the Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement and Limited Waiver (“Amendment 2”) with Muzinich, in which Muzinich agreed to waive the Company’s obligation to comply with the consolidated leverage ratio and fixed charge coverage ratio financial covenants in the Term Loan Facility for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2020. We were not in compliance with such covenants primarily as a result of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on our consolidated financial results. Amendment 2, among other things, amends the definition of consolidated EBITDA to include certain cash tax benefits related to our UK tax jurisdiction and reduced our consolidated leverage ratio for the twelve month periods ended September 30, 2021 from 3.00 to 2.75, December 31, 2021 from 2.75 to 2.25, March 31, 2022 from 2.50 to 2.00 and June 30, 2022 from 2.25 to 2.00. Additionally, the interest rate margin was increased from 7.25% to 9.25% effective January 1, 2021 and will step down to 8.50% and 7.25% upon the Company achieving consolidated EBITDA on a trailing twelve-month basis of $4.0 million and $6.3 million, respectively. Muzinich and the Company also agreed on an excess cash flow payment of $428,000 and Muzinich provided consent for the Company to change the deferred purchase price payments to and enter into notes with the Holzworth sellers in the amount of $750,000, as described below.
The Company may prepay the Initial Term Loan at any time. Prepayments made prior to (a) February 7, 2022 are subject to a prepayment premium in the amount of 2.0% of the prepaid principal amount and (b) February 7, 2023 are subject to a prepayment premium in the amount of 1.0% of the prepaid principal amount. The Company is required to make prepayments of the Initial Term Loan with the proceeds of certain asset dispositions, insurance recoveries and extraordinary receipts, subject to specified reinvestment rights. The Company is also required to make prepayments of the Initial Term Loan upon the issuance of certain indebtedness and to make an annual prepayment based upon the Company’s excess cash flow. Mandatory prepayments with asset sale, insurance or condemnation proceeds and excess cash flow may be made without penalty. Mandatory prepayments with the proceeds of indebtedness are subject to the same prepayment penalties as are applicable to voluntary prepayments.
The Term Loan Facility provides for an additional $11.6 million term loan (the “Second Term Loan”) to be used for a second unannounced acquisition opportunity (the “Additional Acquisition”). There can be no assurance that the Additional Acquisition will be completed. In the event the Additional Acquisition is completed, the Second Term Loan will be made available to the Company on the same terms and conditions as the Initial Term Loan, including interest rate, amortization schedule and financial covenants, subject to the payment of an additional upfront fee and satisfaction of customary conditions to funding.
The Term Loan Facility is secured by liens on substantially all of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ assets including a pledge of the equity interests in the Company’s subsidiaries. The Term Loan Facility contains customary affirmative and negative covenants for a transaction of this type, including, among others, the provision of annual, quarterly and monthly financial statements and compliance certificates, maintenance of property, insurance, compliance with laws and environmental matters, restrictions on incurrence of indebtedness, granting of liens, making investments and acquisitions, paying dividends, entering into affiliate transactions and asset sales. In addition, the Company must maintain certain financial covenants typical for this type of arrangement, including a consolidated leverage ratio, a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio and minimum liquidity of its foreign subsidiaries. The consolidated leverage ratio, as described above, is defined as the ratio of total consolidated indebtedness, as defined, to consolidated EBITDA, as defined. Prior to Amendment 2, the required leverage ratio started at 4.75 to 1.0 for the twelve month periods ended March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020, and decreased in various increments to 4.0 to 1.0 for the twelve months ended September 30, 2020, 3.75 to 1.0 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, 2.75 to 1.0 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 and 2.0 to 1.0 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 and thereafter. The consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio is the ratio of consolidated EBITDA, as defined, less consolidated capital expenditures and cash income taxes paid to consolidated fixed charges, as defined, calculated on a twelve-month basis. The consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio for the twelve month periods ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020 must be 1.35 to 1 and increases in various increments on a quarterly basis to 1.5 to 1.0 for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, and to 1.75 to 1.0 for the 12 months ending December 31, 2022 and thereafter. Lastly, the Company must maintain minimum liquidity, defined as cash and availability under the UK borrowing base, as defined, of $1.0 million over any trailing four-week period until such time as the foreign subsidiary has positive EBITDA, as defined, for three consecutive quarters and the Holzworth deferred purchase price has been paid in full. The Term Loan Facility also provides for a number of events of default, including, among others, nonpayment, bankruptcy, inaccuracy of representations and warranties, breach of covenant, change in control, entry of final judgement or order, breach of material contracts, and as long as the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio is greater than 1.0 to 1.0 (as calculated in accordance with the terms of the Term Loan Facility), the cessation of service of any two of Tim Whelan, Michael Kandell or Daniel Monopoli as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Technology Officer, respectively, of the Borrower without a satisfactory replacement within 60 days. Any exercise of remedies by Muzinich is subject to compliance with the intercreditor agreement entered into at the closing of the Term Loan Facility among the Company, Muzinich and Bank of America, N.A., as lender under the Credit Facility referenced below.
51 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
The Company entered into a Credit Facility with Bank of America, N.A. (the “Lender”) on February 16, 2017 (the “Credit Facility”), which provided for a term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $760,000 (the “Term Loan”) and an asset based revolving loan (the “Revolver”), which is subject to a Borrowing Base Calculation (as defined in the Credit Facility) of up to a maximum availability of $9.0 million (“Revolver Commitment Amount”). The borrowing base is calculated as a percentage of eligible accounts receivable and inventory, as defined, subject to certain caps and limits. The borrowing base is calculated on a monthly basis and interest is calculated at LIBOR plus a margin. The proceeds of the Term Loan and Revolver were used to finance the acquisition of CommAgility in 2017.
In connection with the Holzworth acquisition, on February 7, 2020, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries (the “Borrowers”), and Bank of America, N.A. entered into Amendment No. 5 (“Amendment 5”) to the Credit Facility. By entering into Amendment 5, Holzworth, together with CommAgility Limited, became borrowers under the Credit Facility. The obligations of the Borrowers under the Credit Facility are guaranteed by Wireless Telecom Group, Ltd. CommAgility Limited and Wireless Telecom Group, Ltd. are both wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company.
Amendment 5 (a) effected certain modifications to the Credit Facility to accommodate the Holzworth acquisition, the Company’s incurrence of the Initial Term Loan and the granting of the related liens and security interests, (b) subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, made available to CommAgility an asset based revolving loan, subject to a borrowing base calculation applicable to CommAgility’s assets, of up to a maximum availability of $5.0 million (the “UK Revolver Commitment”), (c) reduced the interest rate margin applicable to revolving loans made under the Credit Facility from a range of 2.75% to 3.25% to a range of 2.00% to 2.50%, based on the Borrowers’ Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Facility) of the most recently completed fiscal quarter, (d) extended the Revolver Termination Date to March 31, 2023 and (e) conditioned the Borrowers’ ability to make certain debt payments under the Term Loan Facility (described above) upon compliance with a liquidity test. In all other material respects, the Credit Facility remains unchanged.
Effectiveness of Amendment 5 was conditioned upon, among other things, the prepayment of the remaining principal balance ($304,000) of the $760,000 term loan made available under the Credit Facility and the payment of a closing fee in the amount of $25,000. The Borrowers satisfied all such conditions on February 7, 2020. In connection with the Amendment the Company incurred costs of $270,000 which are capitalized as other current and non-current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are being amortized over the term of the revolver.
On May 4, 2020, the Company, its subsidiaries and Bank of America entered into Amendment No. 6 which, among other things, amended the definition of “Debt” to include the PPP loan as long as the proceeds are used for allowable purposes under the CARES Act and the Company promptly submits an application for forgiveness and substantially all of the loan is forgiven.
On February 25, 2021, the Company, its subsidiaries and Bank of America entered into Amendment No. 7 which revised the Credit Facility to accommodate the changes to the deferred purchase price payments to and notes with the Holzworth sellers as described above and provided Bank of America’s consent to the Company entering into the Muzinich Second Amendment, as described above.
As of December 31, 2020, the interest rate on the Term Loan Facility was 8.25% and the interest rate on the Revolver was 2.15%. The Company had zero drawn on the asset based revolver as of December 31, 2020.
On May 4, 2020, the Company received $2.0 million pursuant to a loan from Bank of America N.A. under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) administered by the Small Business Association (“SBA”). The loan has an interest rate of 1% and a term of 24 months. A repayment schedule has not yet been provided by Bank of America. Accordingly, the full amount of the term loan has been shown as due in May 2022. Funds from the loan may only be used for certain purposes, including payroll, benefits, rent and utilities. The CARES Act and the PPP provide a mechanism for forgiveness of up to the full amount of the loan upon application to the SBA for forgiveness by the Company. The loan is evidenced by a promissory note, which contains customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults and breaches of representations and warranties. The Company may prepay the loan at any time prior to maturity with no prepayment penalties. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has applied for forgiveness of the loan, however, has elected to account for the loan in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification 470 Debt until such time that forgiveness is approved by the SBA. The Company can provide no assurance that the loan will be forgiven in whole or in part.
52 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
Issuance of Stock Warrants
Pursuant to the Term Loan Facility, the Company issued a Warrant, dated February 7, 2020 (the “Warrant”), to Muzinich. Under the Warrant, Muzinich has the right to purchase 266,167 shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price of $1.3923 per share (an aggregate value of approximately $370,588), based on a 90-day volume weighted average price for shares of stock of the Company (the “Warrant Stock”). The Warrant is exercisable for an indefinite period from the date of the Warrant and may be exercised on a cashless basis. The number of shares of common stock deliverable upon exercise of the Warrant is subject to adjustment for subdivision or consolidation of shares and other standard dilutive events. Additionally, the exercise price may be adjusted based on a formula in the event of a common stock offering by the Company at an offering price below fair market value, as defined, and below exercise price. In connection with the issuance of the Warrant, the Company granted Muzinich one demand registration right and piggyback registration rights with respect to the Warrant Stock, subject to certain exceptions.
If the Additional Acquisition (as defined in Term Loan Facility above) is consummated, the Company has agreed to issue to Muzinich at the closing of the Additional Acquisition an additional Warrant for the right to purchase 367,564 shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price of $1.3923 per share (an aggregate value of approximately $511,765), based upon a 90-day volume weighted average price for shares of stock of the Company as of February 7, 2020 (the “Additional Warrant”). The Additional Warrant will contain the same terms and conditions as the Warrant, except that Muzinich will have only one demand registration right, subject to certain exceptions, with respect to shares of common stock of the Company issued under the Warrant and the Additional Warrant.
The stock warrants issued to Muzinich are classified as equity. The fair value of the warrants, as calculated using the Black Scholes model as of the issuance date, was approximately $150,000 and was recorded as a reduction to the carrying value of the debt. The significant inputs included in the Black Scholes calculation were a risk free rate of 1.41%, volatility of 48.7% and the stock price on date of grant of $1.34.
NOTE 4 - LEASES
The Company’s lease agreements consist of building leases for its operating locations and office equipment leases for printers and copiers with lease terms that range from less than 12 months to 8 years. At inception, the Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease and whether that lease meets the classification criteria of a finance or operating lease. The Company’s leases for office equipment such as printers and copiers contain lease and non-lease components (i.e. maintenance). The Company accounts for lease and non-lease components of office equipment as a single lease component.
All of the Company’s leases are operating leases and are presented as right of use lease asset, short term lease liability and long term lease liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019. These assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of remaining lease payments over the lease term using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. Short-term leases, which have an initial term of 12 months or less, are not recorded on the balance sheet.
Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is included in cost of revenues and general and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income/(Loss).
An initial right-of-use asset of $1.9 million was recognized as a non-cash asset addition with the adoption of the new lease accounting standard on January 1, 2019. With our acquisition of Holzworth on February 7, 2020, we acquired a right-of-use asset of $789,000. There have been no other right-of-use assets recognized since the date of adoption of the new lease standard. Cash paid for amounts included in the present value of operating lease liabilities was $648,000 and $508,000 during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and is included in operating cash flows.
Operating lease costs were $1.0 million and $892,000 during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
53 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
The following table presents information about the amount and timing of cash flows arising from the Company’s operating leases as of December 31, 2020.
(in thousands) | December 31, 2020 | |||
Maturity of Lease Liabilities | ||||
2021 | $ | 619 | ||
2022 | 637 | |||
2023 | 276 | |||
2024 | 158 | |||
2025 | 163 | |||
Thereafter | 69 | |||
Total undiscounted operating lease payments | 1,922 | |||
Less: imputed interest | (188 | ) | ||
Present Value of operating lease liabilities | $ | 1,734 | ||
Balance sheet classification | ||||
Current lease liabilities | $ | 534 | ||
Long-term lease liabilities | 1,200 | |||
Total operating lease liabilities | $ | 1,734 | ||
Other information | ||||
Weighted-average remaining lease term (months) | 44 | |||
Weighted-average discount rate for operating leases | 5.88 | % |
NOTE 5 – REVENUE
Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of promised products or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for promised goods or services. The Company’s performance obligations are satisfied either over time or at a point in time. Revenue from performance obligations that transferred at a point in time accounted for approximately 99% of the Company’s total revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Nature of Products and Services
Hardware
The Company generally has one performance obligation in its arrangements involving the sales of radio frequency solutions, digital signal processing hardware, power meters, analyzers, noise/signal generators, phase noise analyzers and other components. When the terms of a contract include the transfer of multiple products, each distinct product is identified as a separate performance obligation. Generally, satisfaction occurs when control of the promised goods is transferred to the customer in exchange for consideration in an amount for which we expect to be entitled. Generally, control is transferred when legal title of the asset moves from the Company to the customer. We sell our products to a customer based on a purchase order, and the shipping terms per each individual order are primarily used to satisfy the single performance obligation. However, in order to determine control has transferred to the customer, the Company also considers:
● | when the Company has a present right to payment for the asset | |
● | when the Company has transferred physical possession of the asset to the customer | |
● | when the customer has the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the asset | |
● | when the customer has accepted the asset |
54 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
Software
Arrangements involving licenses of software in the CommAgility brand may involve multiple performance obligations, most notably subsequent releases of the software. The Company has concluded that each software release in a multiple deliverable arrangement involving CommAgility software licenses is a distinct performance obligation and, accordingly, transaction price is allocated to each release when the customer obtains control of the software.
Performance obligations that are not distinct at contract inception are combined. Specifically, with the Company’s sales of software, contracts that include customization may result in the combination of the customization services with the license as one distinct performance obligation and recognized over time. The duration of these performance obligations are typically one year or less.
Services
Arrangements involving calibration and repair services of the Company’s products are generally considered a single performance obligation and are recognized as the services are rendered.
Shipping and Handling
Shipping and handling activities performed after the customer obtains control are accounted for as fulfillment activities and recognized as cost of revenues.
Significant Judgments
For the Company’s more complex software and services arrangements significant judgment is required in determining whether licenses and services are distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately, or, are not distinct and thus accounted for together. Further, in cases where we determine that performance obligations should be accounted for separately, judgment is required to determine the standalone selling price for each distinct performance obligation.
Certain of the Company shipments include a limited return right. In accordance with Topic 606 the Company recognizes revenue net of expected returns.
Contract Balances
The timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers and these timing differences result in contract assets (unbilled revenue) or contract liabilities (deferred revenue) on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company records a contract asset when revenue is recognized prior to invoicing, or deferred revenue when revenue is recognized subsequent to invoicing. Unbilled revenue is $260,000 and $147,000 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets. Deferred revenue is $924,000 and $42,000 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase in deferred revenue from the prior year is primarily due to billings in advance of revenue recognition for certain CommAgility projects involving multiple performance obligations.
Disaggregated Revenue
We disaggregate our revenue from contracts with customers by product family and geographic location as we believe it best depicts how the nature, timing and uncertainty of our revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors. See details in the tables below (in thousands).
55 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2020 | Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2019 | |||||||
Total net revenues by revenue type | ||||||||
Passive and active RF solutions | $ | 17,633 | $ | 21,830 | ||||
Noise generators and components | 13,356 | 6,198 | ||||||
Power meters and analyzers | 5,737 | 6,109 | ||||||
Signal processing hardware | 1,672 | 13,013 | ||||||
Software licenses | 1,284 | 14 | ||||||
Services | 2,066 | 1,757 | ||||||
Total net revenue | $ | 41,748 | $ | 48,921 | ||||
Total net revenues by geographic areas | ||||||||
Americas | $ | 31,329 | $ | 30,161 | ||||
EMEA | 6,329 | 16,500 | ||||||
APAC | 4,090 | 2,260 | ||||||
Total net revenue | $ | 41,748 | $ | 48,921 |
Net revenues are attributable to a geographic area based on the destination of the product shipment.
The majority of shipments in the Americas are to customers located within the United States. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, sales in the United States amounted to $30.6 million and $30.0 million, respectively.
For the year ended December 31, 2020 shipments to the EMEA region were largely concentrated in the UK, Russia and France. Shipments to the UK, Russia and France in 2020 amounted to $1.7 million, $897,000 and $859,000, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2019 shipments to the EMEA region were largely concentrated in the UK, Germany and Italy. Shipments to the UK, Germany and Italy in 2019 amounted $12.7 million, $737,000 and $506,000, respectively.
The largest concentration of shipments in the APAC region is to China. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, shipments to China amounted to $2.0 million and $1.3 million, of all shipments to the APAC region, respectively. There were no other shipments significantly concentrated in one country in the APAC region.
NOTE 6 - GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill consists of the following (in thousands):
Holzworth | Microlab | CommAgility | Total | |||||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2019 | $ | - | $ | 1,351 | $ | 8,427 | $ | 9,778 | ||||||||
Foreign currency translation | - | - | 291 | 291 | ||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2019 | - | 1,351 | 8,718 | 10,069 | ||||||||||||
Holzworth acquisition | 6,000 | - | - | 6,000 | ||||||||||||
Goodwill impairment | - | - | (4,742 | ) | (4,742 | ) | ||||||||||
Foreign currency translation | - | - | 185 | 185 | ||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2020 | $ | 6,000 | $ | 1,351 | $ | 4,161 | $ | 11,512 |
56 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
Intangible assets consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
Gross Carrying Amount | Accumulated Amortization | Foreign Exchange Translation | Net Carrying Amount | |||||||||||||
Customer relationships | $ | 5,075 | $ | (2,564 | ) | $ | 121 | $ | 2,632 | |||||||
Patents | 615 | (491 | ) | 26 | 150 | |||||||||||
Proprietary technology | 1,550 | (142 | ) | - | 1,408 | |||||||||||
Non-compete agreements | 1,107 | (1,150 | ) | 43 | - | |||||||||||
Holzworth tradename | 400 | (31 | ) | - | 369 | |||||||||||
CommAgility tradename | 629 | - | 54 | 683 | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 9,376 | $ | (4,378 | ) | $ | 244 | $ | 5,242 |
December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
Gross Carrying Amount | Accumulated Amortization | Foreign Exchange Translation | Net Carrying Amount | |||||||||||||
Customer relationships | $ | 2,766 | $ | (1,644 | ) | $ | 113 | $ | 1,235 | |||||||
Patents | 615 | (365 | ) | 25 | 275 | |||||||||||
Non-compete agreements | 1,107 | (1,101 | ) | 43 | 49 | |||||||||||
CommAgility tradename | 629 | - | 31 | 660 | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 5,117 | $ | (3,110 | ) | $ | 212 | $ | 2,219 |
Amortization of acquired intangible assets was $1.3 million and $1.1 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Amortization of proprietary technology is included in costs of revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income/(Loss). Amortization of all other acquired intangible assets is included in general and administrative expenses.
The estimated future amortization expense related to intangible assets is as follows as of December 31, 2020 (in thousands):
2021 | $ | 1,307 | ||
2022 | 665 | |||
2023 | 573 | |||
2024 | 573 | |||
2025 | 573 | |||
Thereafter | 868 | |||
Total | $ | 4,559 |
57 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
NOTE 7 - PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment, consist of the following as of December 31 (in thousands):
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Machinery & computer equipment/software | $ | 9,085 | $ | 8,662 | ||||
Furniture & fixtures | 483 | 461 | ||||||
Leasehold improvements | 1,358 | 1,331 | ||||||
Gross property, plant and equipment | 10,926 | 10,454 | ||||||
Less: Accumulated depreciation | 9,102 | 8,307 | ||||||
Net property, plant and equipment | $ | 1,824 | $ | 2,147 |
Depreciation expense of $1.1 million and $841,000 was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
NOTE 8 - OTHER ASSETS
Other assets consist of the following as of December 31 (in thousands):
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Product demo assets | $ | 187 | $ | 128 | ||||
Debt issuance costs - Revolver | 127 | 91 | ||||||
Deferred costs | 82 | 82 | ||||||
Income tax receivable | 65 | 230 | ||||||
Security deposit | 63 | 50 | ||||||
Deferred S3 costs | - | 255 | ||||||
Other | 37 | 38 | ||||||
Total | $ | 561 | $ | 874 |
Product demo assets are net of accumulated amortization expense of $397,000 and $317,000 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Amortization expense related to demo assets was $84,000 and $249,000 in 2020 and 2019, respectively.
58 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
NOTE 9 - ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following as of December 31 (in thousands):
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Holzworth earnout | $ | 3,423 | $ | - | ||||
Holzworth deferred purchase price | 950 | - | ||||||
Payroll and related benefits | 864 | 308 | ||||||
Commissions | 605 | 430 | ||||||
Goods received not invoiced | 458 | 346 | ||||||
Professional fees | 331 | 464 | ||||||
Sales and use and VAT tax | 315 | 355 | ||||||
Return reserve | 212 | 199 | ||||||
Warranty reserve | 140 | 160 | ||||||
Bonus | 123 | 126 | ||||||
Harris arbitration liability | 116 | 49 | ||||||
Severance | - | 102 | ||||||
Other | 460 | 118 | ||||||
Total | $ | 7,997 | $ | 2,657 |
NOTE 10 - ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
The Company follows the provisions of ASC 718. The Company’s results for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 include stock based compensation expense totaling $474,000 and $584,000, respectively. Such amounts have been included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income/(Loss) within operating expenses.
Incentive Compensation Plan
In 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors and shareholders approved the 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Initial 2012 Plan”), which provides for the grant of equity, including restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, non-qualified stock options and incentive stock options in compliance with the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors of the Company who are expected to contribute to the Company’s future growth and success. When originally approved, the Initial 2012 Plan provided for the grant of awards relating to 2 million shares of common stock, plus those shares subject to awards previously issued under the Company’s 2000 Stock Option Plan that expire, are canceled or are terminated after adoption of the Initial 2012 Plan without having been exercised in full and would have been available for subsequent grants under the 2000 Stock Option Plan. In June 2014, the Company’s shareholders approved the Amended and Restated 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2012 Plan”) allowing for an additional 1.6 million shares of the Company’s common stock to be available for future grants under the 2012 Plan. The 2012 Plan provides that if awards are forfeited, expire or otherwise terminate without issuance of the shares underlying the awards, or if the award does not result in issuance of all or part of the shares underlying the award, the unissued shares are again available for awards under the 2012 Plan. As a result of certain award forfeitures and cancellations, as of December 31, 2020, there are approximately 227,000 shares available for issuance under the 2012 Plan.
All service-based (time vesting) options granted have ten-year terms from the date of grant and typically vest annually and become fully exercisable after a maximum of five years. However, vesting conditions are determined on a grant by grant basis. Performance-based options granted have ten-year terms and vest and become fully exercisable when determinable performance targets are achieved. Performance targets are approved by the Company’s compensation committee of the Board of Directors. Under the 2012 Plan, options may be granted to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock exercisable only at prices equal to or above the fair market value on the date of the grant.
59 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
The following summarizes the components of stock-based compensation expense for the years ending December 31 (in thousands):
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Service based restricted stock awards | $ | 117 | $ | 278 | ||||
Service based restricted stock units | 205 | 245 | ||||||
Performance based stock options | 99 | (90 | ) | |||||
Service based stock options | 53 | 151 | ||||||
$ | 474 | $ | 584 |
As of December 31, 2020, $423,000 of unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested stock options is expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted average period of 4.9 years, $93,000 of unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested restricted shares is expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted average period of 2.3 years and $81,000 of unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested restricted stock units is expected to be recognized over 6 months.
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 the Company reversed $6,000 and $16,000 in share based compensation expense related to 6,250 unvested stock options and 16,667 unvested restricted shares, respectively, which were forfeited as a result of an employee exiting the company.
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 the Company reversed $121,000 in share based compensation expense related to 240,000 unvested stock options that were forfeited as a result of employees exiting the company.
Restricted Common Stock Awards
A summary of the status of the Company’s non-vested restricted common stock, as granted under the Company’s approved equity compensation plans, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and changes during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, are presented below:
2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
Non-vested Restricted Shares | Number of Shares | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | Number of Shares | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | ||||||||||||
Non-vested as of January 1 | 262,540 | $ | 1.63 | 232,123 | $ | 1.68 | ||||||||||
Granted | 50,000 | $ | 1.20 | 95,000 | $ | 1.56 | ||||||||||
Vested and issued | (95,203 | ) | $ | 1.66 | (64,583 | ) | $ | 1.70 | ||||||||
Forfeited | (16,667 | ) | $ | 1.56 | - | - | ||||||||||
Non-vested as of December 31 | 200,670 | $ | 1.52 | 262,540 | $ | 1.63 |
60 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
On August 4, 2020 the Company granted 50,000 restricted share awards to our Chief Revenue Officer under the 2012 plan. The fair market value of the award is $1.20 per granted share and the award vests in four equal installments of 12,500 shares on August 1 of 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively.
The following table summarizes the restricted common stock awards granted during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 under the 2012 Plan:
Number of Shares | Fair Market Value per Granted Share | Vesting | ||||||||
2020 | ||||||||||
8/4/20 – Service grant - Employee | 50,000 | $ | 1.20 | Annual vesting through August 2024 | ||||||
2019 | ||||||||||
1/11/19 - Service grant - Employees | 95,000 | $ | 1.56 | Annual vesting through January 2022 |
Restricted Stock Units:
In fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 the Company granted Restricted Stock Units (“RSU”) to each of our board members. Each RSU represents the Company’s obligation to issue one share of the Company’s common stock subject to the RSU award agreement and 2012 Plan. The RSUs vest on the day before the first anniversary of the grant date or, if earlier, the effective date of a separation of service due to death or disability, provided the board member has rendered continuous service to the Company as a member of the board of directors from grant date to vesting date. Once vested, the RSU will be settled by delivery of shares to the board member no later than 30 days following: 1) the third anniversary of the grant date, 2) separation from service following, or coincident with, a vesting date, or 3) a change in control.
A summary of the status of the Company’s non-vested restricted stock units, as granted under the Company’s approved equity compensation plans, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and changes during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, are presented below:
2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
Non-vested Restricted Stock Units | Number of Shares | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | Number of Shares | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | ||||||||||||
Non-vested as of January 1 | 147,917 | $ | 1.56 | 125,000 | $ | 2.25 | ||||||||||
Granted | 161,507 | $ | 1.21 | 147,917 | $ | 1.56 | ||||||||||
Vested and issued | (147,917 | ) | $ | 1.56 | (125,000 | ) | $ | 2.25 | ||||||||
Forfeited | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Non-vested as of December 31 | 161,507 | $ | 1.21 | 147,917 | $ | 1.56 |
61 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
Number of Shares | Fair Market Value per Granted Share | Vesting | ||||||||
2020 | ||||||||||
6/4/2020 - Service grant – Board of Directors | 150,000 | $ | 1.18 | Annual board meeting – June 2021 | ||||||
12/28/2020 – Service grant – Board of Directors | 11,507 | $ | 1.66 | Annual board meeting – June 2021 | ||||||
2019 | ||||||||||
5/30/2019 - Service grant – Board of Directors | 125,000 | $ | 1.55 | Annual board meeting – June 2020 | ||||||
7/8/2019 – Service grant – Board of Directors | 22,917 | $ | 1.58 | Annual board meeting – June 2020 |
Performance-Based Stock Option Awards
On August 4, 2020 the Company granted 150,000 performance-based stock options to our Chief Revenue Officer under the 2012 Plan.
On April 7, 2020 the Company granted 970,000 performance-based stock options to various employees under the 2012 Plan.
The performance options granted on both August 4 and April 7, 2020 vest when the Company achieves consolidated revenue targets as outlined in the schedule below:
Consolidated annualized gross revenues $55.0 million – 25% vesting
Consolidated annualized gross revenues $61.5 million – 50% vesting
Consolidated annualized gross revenues $69.0 million – 75% vesting
Consolidated annualized gross revenues $77.5 million – 100% vesting
Consolidated annualized gross revenues include revenue from Holzworth from acquisition date (February 7, 2020) forward, but do not include any additional acquisitions from February 7, 2020 forward. Consolidated annualized gross revenues is calculated on a calendar year basis (i.e. twelve months ended December 31).
In accordance with ASC 718, compensation expense is recognized over the period from the date the performance conditions are determined to be probable of occurring through the implicit service period, which is the date the applicable conditions are expected to be met. If the performance conditions are not considered probable of being achieved, no expense is recognized until such time as the performance conditions are considered probable of being met, if ever. If the award is forfeited because the performance condition is not satisfied, previously recognized compensation cost is reversed. Management evaluates performance conditions on a quarterly basis. The estimated implicit service period is April 2020 thru December 2025 for the April performance-based options and August 2020 thru December 2025 for the August performance-based options.
62 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
A summary of performance-based stock option activity, and related information for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 follows:
2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
Options | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Options | Weighted Average Exercise Price | |||||||||||||
Outstanding as of January 1 | 105,000 | $ | 1.61 | 305,000 | $ | 1.45 | ||||||||||
Granted | 1,120,000 | $ | 1.50 | - | - | |||||||||||
Exercised | (20,000 | ) | $ | 0.78 | - | - | ||||||||||
Forfeited | - | - | (200,000 | ) | $ | 1.36 | ||||||||||
Expired | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Outstanding as of December 31 | 1,205,000 | $ | 1.52 | 105,000 | $ | 1.61 | ||||||||||
Exercisable at December 31 | - | - | 20,000 | $ | 0.78 |
As of December 31, 2020, none of the performance-based stock options outstanding were exercisable as the performance metrics were not met. The aggregate intrinsic value of performance-based stock options outstanding that were “in the money” (exercise price was lower than market price) as of December 31, 2020 was $325,000 and the weighted average remaining life was 7.7 years.
The aggregate intrinsic value of performance-based stock options outstanding that were “in the money” (exercise price was lower than the market price) as of December 31, 2019 was $13,000 and the weighted average remaining contractual life was 1.0 years. As of December 31, 2019, 20,000 performance-based stock options were exercisable.
The range of exercise prices of outstanding performance-based options at December 31, 2020 is $1.20 to $1.83 with a weighted average exercise price of $1.52 per share.
Service-Based Stock Option Awards
A summary of service-based stock option activity and related information for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 follows:
2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
Options | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Options | Weighted Average Exercise Price | |||||||||||||
Outstanding as of January 1 | 1,950,000 | $ | 1.52 | 1,975,000 | $ | 1.52 | ||||||||||
Granted | - | - | 15,000 | $ | 1.56 | |||||||||||
Exercised | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Forfeited | (6,250 | ) | $ | 1.66 | (40,000 | ) | $ | 1.52 | ||||||||
Expired | (18,750 | ) | $ | 1.66 | - | - | ||||||||||
Outstanding as of December 31 | 1,925,000 | $ | 1.52 | 1,950,000 | $ | 1.52 | ||||||||||
Exercisable at December 31 | 1,736,250 | $ | 1.51 | 1,515,000 | $ | 1.50 |
The aggregate intrinsic value of service-based stock options outstanding that were “in the money” (exercise price was lower than the market price) as of December 31, 2020 was $455,000 and the weighted average remaining contractual life was 6 years. The aggregate intrinsic value of exercisable “in the money” service-based stock options as of December 31, 2020 was $415,000 and the weighted average remaining contractual life was 6 years.
63 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
The aggregate intrinsic value of service-based stock options outstanding that were “in the money” (exercise price was lower than the market price) as of December 31, 2019 was $77,600 and the weighted average remaining contractual life was 2.6 years. The aggregate intrinsic value of exercisable “in the money” service-based stock options as of December 31, 2019 was $72,225 and the weighted average remaining contractual life was 3.0 years.
The range of exercise prices of outstanding service-based options at December 31, 2020 is $1.30 to $1.92 with a weighted average exercise price of $1.52 per share.
The following table presents the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock option awards granted during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
Number of Options | Option Term (in years) | Exercise Price | Risk Free Interest Rate | Expected Volatility | Fair Value at Grant Date | Expected Dividend Yield | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4/7/2020 – Performance grant - Employees | 970,000 | 10 | $ | 1.50 | 0.48 | % | 50.85 | % | $ | 0.86 | $ | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||
8/4/2020 – Performance grant - Employees | 150,000 | 10 | $ | 1.20 | 0.19 | % | 52.06 | % | $ | 1.20 | $ | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||
2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/11/2019 – Service Grant - Employees | 15,000 | 3 | $ | 1.56 | 2.52 | % | 49.80 | % | $ | 0.56 | $ | 0.00 |
NOTE 11 - SEGMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION
In June 2020, as a result of certain internal reorganizations completed over the prior six to nine months, the Company concluded it now operates as one reportable segment in accordance with ASC 280 Segment Reporting. Prior to June 2020 the Company operated as three reportable segments. In June 2020 we determined that the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) as defined in ASC 280 evaluates operating results and makes decisions on how to allocate resources at the consolidated level. Although the CODM reviews key performance indicators including bookings, shipments and gross profit at a product group level, this information by itself is not sufficient enough to make operating decisions. Rather, operating decisions are made based on review of consolidated profitability metrics rather than the individual results of each product group.
NOTE 12 - RETIREMENT PLAN
The Company has a 401(k) profit sharing plan covering all eligible U.S. employees. Company contributions to the plan for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 amounted to $44,000 and $286,000, respectively.
64 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
NOTE 13 - INCOME TAXES
The components of income tax (benefit)/expense related to net income/(loss) from operations are as follows (in thousands):
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Current: | ||||||||
Federal | $ | - | $ | (9 | ) | |||
State | 73 | 45 | ||||||
Foreign | (1,060 | ) | (859 | ) | ||||
Deferred: | ||||||||
Federal | 182 | (188 | ) | |||||
State | 129 | (233 | ) | |||||
Foreign | (133 | ) | (128 | ) | ||||
Total | $ | (809 | ) | $ | (1,372 | ) |
The following is a reconciliation of the maximum statutory federal tax rate to the Company’s effective tax relative to operations:
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
% of Pre Tax Earnings | % of Pre Tax Earnings | |||||||
Statutory federal income tax rate | (21.0 | )% | (21.0 | )% | ||||
State income tax net of federal tax benefit | (6.6 | ) | 0.1 | |||||
Foreign rate difference | 7.7 | 7.2 | ||||||
Change in valuation allowance | 9.4 | (10.6 | ) | |||||
Permanent differences | 8.5 | 0.9 | ||||||
Research and development incentive | (8.1 | ) | (53.1 | ) | ||||
Global intangible low-taxed income | - | 1.3 | ||||||
Other | 1.1 | (1.6 | ) | |||||
Total | (9.0 | )% | (76.8 | )% |
In 2020, the difference between the statutory and effective tax rate is due primarily to permanent differences between U.S. GAAP book income and taxable income including the goodwill impairment charge for the CommAgility reporting unit and the loss on contingent consideration related to the Holzworth earnout. Additionally, in 2020 the difference between the statutory and effective tax rate was due to an increase in the state net operating loss valuation allowance and research and development deductions in the United Kingdom. In 2019, the difference between the statutory and effective tax rate is due primarily to research and development deductions in the United Kingdom and a reduction in the state net operating loss valuation allowance.
65 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
The components of deferred income taxes are as follows (in thousands):
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Deferred tax assets: | ||||||||
Net operating loss carryforwards | $ | 11,888 | $ | 11,538 | ||||
Inventory | 509 | 397 | ||||||
Research and development credit | 648 | 648 | ||||||
Stock compensation | 335 | 285 | ||||||
Other | 280 | 326 | ||||||
Gross deferred tax asset | 13,660 | 13,194 | ||||||
Less valuation allowance | (7,668 | ) | (6,652 | ) | ||||
Total deferred tax asset | $ | 5,992 | $ | 6,542 | ||||
Deferred tax liabilities: | ||||||||
Goodwill and intangible assets | (368 | ) | (757 | ) | ||||
Fixed assets | (300 | ) | (275 | ) | ||||
Total deferred tax liability | $ | (668 | ) | $ | (1,032 | ) | ||
Net deferred tax asset | $ | 5,324 | $ | 5,510 |
The Company has domestic federal and state net operating loss carryforwards as of December 31, 2020 of approximately $16.3 million and $42.4 million, respectively, which begin to expire in 2029. $600,000 of the federal net operating loss carryforward and $1.6 million of state net operating loss carryforward has no expiration. The Company also has foreign net operating loss carryforwards at December 31, 2020 of approximately $15.7 million for German trade tax purposes, which has no expiration.
Realization of the Company’s deferred tax assets is dependent upon the Company generating sufficient taxable income in the appropriate tax jurisdictions in future years to obtain benefit from the reversal of net deductible temporary differences and from utilization of net operating losses. The Company’s valuation allowances of $7.7 million and $6.7 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are associated with the Company’s foreign net operating loss carryforward from an inactive foreign entity, state net operating loss carryforward and a state research and development credit. The amount of deferred tax assets considered realizable is subject to adjustment in future periods if estimates of future taxable income are changed. As of December 31, 2020, management believes that it is more likely than not that the Company will fully realize the benefits of its deferred tax assets associated with its domestic federal net operating loss carryforward.
The Company does not have any significant unrecognized tax positions and does not anticipate a significant increase or decrease in unrecognized tax positions within the next twelve months.
The Company has elected to record taxes related to the global intangible low-taxed income as a period cost.
66 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
NOTE 13 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Warranties
The Company typically provides one to three year warranties on all of its products covering both parts and labor. The Company, at its option, repairs or replaces products that are defective during the warranty period if the proper preventive maintenance procedures have been followed by its customers.
Legal Proceeding
As previously disclosed, on June 5, 2019, L3Harris Corporation (“Harris”) filed a request for arbitration before the American Arbitration Association in accordance with the terms of an executed purchase order, statement of work and software license agreement (collectively referred to as “Agreements”) with CommAgility entered into in 2014. Harris claimed that CommAgility breached the Agreements by offering for sale, marketing, and promoting techniques, capabilities, products and services that incorporate Work Product, as defined in the Agreements, owned by Harris. In its arbitration demand, Harris claimed that CommAgility caused Harris significant monetary damages, the sum of which could not be determined until such time as discovery has been conducted but was estimated by Harris to be less than $250,000. Harris did not include a request for monetary damages in its Statement of Claim, which was filed with the arbitration panel on May 22, 2020. On December 10, 2020, Harris released CommAgility from any and all claims that Harris may have had against CommAgility related to the Agreements before arbitration proceedings began. In 2020, the Company incurred approximately $50,000 in legal expense related to this matter. The remainder of legal expenses incurred in 2019 and 2020 related to this matter were covered under our professional indemnity insurance policy.
Risks and Uncertainties
The Company has been and continues to be unable to accurately predict the full impact that the COVID-19 Pandemic will have on our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows due to numerous uncertainties, including the duration and severity of the pandemic and containment measures, the nature and length of actions taken by governments, businesses and individuals to contain or mitigate its impact, the severity and duration of the economic impact caused by the pandemic, the uncertainty surrounding possible treatments and rollout of vaccines, along with the effectiveness of our response. Our compliance with containment and mitigation measures has impacted our day-to-day operations and is expected to continue to disrupt our business and operations, as well as that of our key customers, suppliers (including contract manufacturers) and other counterparties, at least through the third quarter of 2021.
Proprietary information and know-how are important to the Company’s commercial success. There can be no assurance that others will not either develop independently the same or similar information or obtain and use proprietary information of the Company. Certain key employees have signed confidentiality and non-compete agreements regarding the Company’s proprietary information.
The Company believes that its products do not infringe the proprietary rights of third parties. There can be no assurance, however, that third parties will not assert infringement claims in the future.
The Company’s deferred tax asset is recorded at tax rates expected to be in existence when those assets are utilized. Should the tax rates change materially in the future the amount of deferred tax asset could be materially impacted.
67 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
NOTE 15 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Second Amendment to Holzworth Share Purchase Agreement
On February 19, 2021, the Company entered into the Second Amendment with Holzworth and Sellers. The Second Amendment, among other things, converted the second deferred purchase price of $750,000 into unsecured seller notes with interest at an annual rate of 6.5% starting from April 1, 2021 until final payment. The payment date has been changed from March 31, 2021 to three equal installments of $250,000, plus accrued interest, due on July 1, 2021, October 1, 2021 and January 1, 2022.
Additionally, the parties amended the payment dates of the earnout consideration. The payment date of the first earnout payment based on the financial results of the calendar year ended 2020 (“Year 1 Earnout”) has been amended from March 31, 2021 to (i) six (6) equal quarterly installments of 10% of the Year 1 Earnout payable on the last business day of each calendar quarter between June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2022 and (ii) one (1) installment payment equal to 40% of the Year 1 Earnout on December 31, 2022. The Year 1 Earnout is payable in cash or shares of the Company’s common stock based on the 90 trading day volume weighted average price immediately preceding final determination of the Year 1 Earnout or $2.19 per share. The estimated payment for the Year 1 Earnout is $3.4 million which is recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2020.
The parties also amended the provisions with respect to restrictions on transfer to adjust for the change in timing of earnout payments, as described above. Finally, the parties added a requirement that any earned but unpaid earnout consideration will be accelerated in the event the Company desires to enter into a material asset or equity acquisition in the future.
Second Amendment to Muzinich Credit Agreement and Limited Waiver
On February 25, 2021, the Company, its subsidiaries and Muzinich entered into Amendment 2, in which Muzinich agreed to waive the Company’s obligation to comply with the consolidated leverage ratio and fixed charge coverage ratio financial covenants in the Term Loan Facility for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2020. We were not in compliance with such covenants primarily as a result of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on our consolidated financial results. Amendment 2, among other things, amended the definition of consolidated EBITDA to include certain cash tax benefits related to our UK tax jurisdiction and reduced our consolidated leverage ratio for the twelve month periods ended September 30, 2021 from 3.00 to 2.75, December 31, 2021 from 2.75 to 2.25, March 31, 2022 from 2.50 to 2.00 and June 30, 2022 from 2.25 to 2.00. Additionally, the interest rate margin was increased from 7.25% to 9.25% effective January 1, 2021 and will step down to 8.50% and 7.25% upon the Company achieving consolidated EBITDA on a trailing twelve-month basis of $4.0 million and $6.3 million, respectively. Muzinich and the Company also agreed on an excess cash flow payment of $428,000 and Muzinich provided consent for the Company to enter into the aforementioned notes with the Holzworth Sellers in the amount of $750,000, as described above.
Amendment No. 7 to the Loan and Security Agreement with Bank of America, N.A.
On February 25, 2021, the Company, its subsidiaries and Bank of America entered into Amendment No. 7 which revised the Credit Facility to accommodate the changes to the deferred purchase price payments to and notes with the Holzworth sellers as described above and provided Bank of America’s consent to the Company entering into the Muzinich Second Amendment, as described above.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
NOTE 16– SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
The following is a summary of selected quarterly financial data from operations (in thousands, except per share amounts).
2020 | Quarter | |||||||||||||||
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | |||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 9,429 | $ | 11,108 | $ | 10,868 | $ | 10,343 | ||||||||
Gross profit | 4,428 | 5,668 | 5,654 | 5,218 | ||||||||||||
Operating income/(loss) | (1,354 | ) | (59 | ) | (348 | ) | (6,336 | ) | ||||||||
Net income/(loss) | (1,147 | ) | (668 | ) | (775 | ) | (5,498 | ) | ||||||||
Diluted earnings/(loss) per share | $ | (0.05 | ) | $ | (0.03 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.25 | ) | ||||
2019 | Quarter | |||||||||||||||
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | |||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 13,032 | $ | 13,508 | $ | 10,812 | $ | 11,569 | ||||||||
Gross profit | 5,727 | 6,133 | 4,825 | 5,604 | ||||||||||||
Operating income/(loss) | (398 | ) | 146 | (677 | ) | (550 | ) | |||||||||
Net income/(loss) | (345 | ) | 157 | (460 | ) | 235 | ||||||||||
Diluted earnings/(loss) per share | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | 0.01 | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | 0.01 |
NOTE: The quarterly amounts above may not add to the full year Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income/(Loss) due to rounding
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Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as of the end of the period covered by this report, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Act of 1934. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be included in our SEC reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, relating to Wireless Telecom Group, Inc. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
(b) Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Company’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurances with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Additionally, 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.
As of December 31, 2020, management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting established in “Internal Control — Integrated Framework,” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework). Based on the assessment, management determined that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street and Consumer Protection Act, which exempts non-accelerated filers and smaller reporting companies from the auditor attestation requirement of Section 404 (b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
(c) Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
None.
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Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required under this item is set forth under “Director Nominees and Executive Officers of the Company”, “Code of Business Conduct and Ethics” and “Corporate Governance Guidelines and Committees of the Board of Directors” in the 2021 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required under this item is set forth under “Executive Compensation”, “Compensation for the Named Executive Officers in 2020 and 2019”, “Director Compensation for 2019” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in the 2021 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information about our equity compensation plans is set forth under “Equity Compensation Plan Information” in Item 5 of this annual report on Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information about security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is set forth under “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners” in the 2021 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required under this item is set forth under “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Corporate Governance Guidelines and Committees of the Board of Directors” in the 2021 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information required under this item is set forth under “Fees Paid to Principal Accountants” and “Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditors” in the 2021 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
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Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) | (1) | Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 | ||
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the Two Years ended December 31, 2020 | ||
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the Two Years ended December 31, 2020 | ||
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Two Years ended December 31, 2020 | ||
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | ||
(2) | All other schedules have been omitted because the required information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto or because they are not required. | |
(3) | Exhibits |
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* | Denotes a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. |
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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.
WIRELESS TELECOM GROUP, INC. | ||
Date: March 19, 2021 | By: | /s/ Timothy Whelan |
Timothy Whelan | ||
Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Alan L. Bazaar | Chairman of the Board | March 19, 2021 | ||
Alan L. Bazaar | ||||
/s/ Timothy Whelan | Chief Executive Officer | March 19, 2021 | ||
Timothy Whelan | ||||
/s/ Michael Kandell | Chief Financial Officer | March 19, 2021 | ||
Michael Kandell | ||||
/s/ Joseph Garrity | Director | March 19, 2021 | ||
Joseph Garrity | ||||
/s/ Mitchell Herbets | Director | March 19, 2021 | ||
Mitchell Herbets | ||||
/s/ Michael Millegan | Director | March 19, 2021 | ||
Michael Millegan | ||||
/s/ Allan D.L. Weinstein | Director | March 19, 2021 | ||
Allan D.L. Weinstein | ||||
/s/ Joseph Manko | Director | March 19, 2021 | ||
Joseph Manko | ||||
/s/ Jennifer Fritzsche | Director | March 19, 2021 | ||
Jennifer Fritzsche |
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