Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
ITEM 2 – MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion is intended to highlight significant changes in the financial position and results of operations of The Eastern Company (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) for the quarter ended October 3, 2020. The interim financial statements and this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019 and the related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, both of which are contained in the Company’s 2019 Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on March 5, 2020 (the “2019 Form 10-K”).
The Company’s fiscal year is a 52-53-week fiscal year ending on the Saturday nearest to December 31. References to 2019 or the 2019 fiscal year mean the 52-week period ended on December 28, 2019 and references to 2020 or the 2020 fiscal year mean the 53-week period ending on January 2, 2021. In a 52-week fiscal year, each quarter is 13 weeks long. In a 53-week fiscal year, each of the first two fiscal quarters and the fourth quarter are 13 weeks long, and the third fiscal quarter is 14 weeks long. References to the third quarter of 2019, the third fiscal quarter of 2019 or the three months ended September 28, 2019 mean the period from June 30, 2019 to September 28, 2019. References to the third quarter of fiscal 2020, the third fiscal quarter of 2020 or the three months ended October 3, 2020 mean the 14-week period from June 28, 2020 to October 3, 2020. References to the nine months ended September 28, 2019, or the first nine months of fiscal 2019 mean the 39-week period from December 30, 2018 to September 28, 2019. References to the nine months ended October 3, 2020, or the first nine months of fiscal 2020 mean the 40-week period from December 29, 2019 to October 3, 2020.
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not based on historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “should,” “could,” “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “continue,” or similar terms or variations of those terms or the negative of those terms. There are many factors that affect the Company’s business and the results of its operations and that may cause the actual results of operations in future periods to differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. These factors include, but are not limited to: effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures being taken to limit the spread and resurgence of COVID-19, including supply chain disruptions, delays in delivery of our products to our customers, impact on demand for our products, reductions in production levels, increased costs, including costs of raw materials, the impact on global economic conditions, the availability, terms and cost of financing, including borrowings under the Credit Agreement, and risks associated with employees working remotely or operating with reduced workforce; the scope and duration of the COVID-pandemic, including the extent of any resurgences and how quickly and to what extent normal economic activity can resume; the timing of the development and distribution of effective vaccine or treatment of COVID-19; risks associated with doing business overseas, including fluctuations in exchange rates and the inability to repatriate foreign cash, the impact on cost structure and on economic conditions as a result of actual and threatened increases in trade tariffs and the impact of political, economic and social instability; restrictions on operating flexibility imposed by the agreement governing our credit facility; the inability to achieve the savings expected from global sourcing of materials; the impact of higher raw material and component costs, particularly steel, plastics, scrap iron, zinc, copper and electronic components; lower-cost competition; our ability to design, introduce and sell new products and related components; market acceptance of our products; the inability to attain expected benefits from acquisitions or the inability to effectively integrate such acquisitions and achieve expected synergies; domestic and international economic conditions, including the impact, length and degree of economic downturns on the customers and markets we serve and more specifically conditions in the automotive, construction, aerospace, energy, oil and gas, transportation, electronic, commercial laundry, mining and general industrial markets; costs and liabilities associated with environmental compliance; the impact of climate change or terrorist threats and the possible responses by the U.S. and foreign governments; failure to protect our intellectual property; cyberattacks; and materially adverse or unanticipated legal judgments, fines, penalties or settlements. Although the Company believes it has an appropriate business strategy and the resources necessary for its operations, future revenue and margin trends cannot be reliably predicted and the Company may alter its business strategies to address changing conditions. Also, the Company makes estimates and assumptions that may materially affect reported amounts and disclosures. These relate to valuation allowances for accounts receivable and excess and obsolete inventories, accruals for pensions and other postretirement benefits (including forecasted future cost increases and returns on plan assets), provisions for depreciation (estimating useful lives), uncertain tax positions, and, on occasion, accruals for contingent losses. The Company undertakes no obligation to update, alter, or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
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Overview
COVID-19 Update
As of October 2020, there have been significant impacts to the Company’s operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and actions that have been taken to slow the spread and resurgence of COVID-19, and we expect those impacts to continue for some time.
Across the Company, we have implemented a broad range of policies and procedures to ensure that employees at all of our locations remain healthy. We listened to and learned a great deal from our colleagues in China, who began feeling the impact of COVID-19 in late 2019, and took early-on decisive action across our North American operations, accordingly. Steps that we have taken to reduce COVID-19 risk to our employees include, among others: implementing social distancing measures, staggering staff and shifts, enabling work from home for as many employees as possible, and implementing an enhanced cleaning program across all sites. We are advising our employees on the importance of wearing facemasks to reduce the spread COVID-19. As government authorities implement restrictions on commercial operations, we continue to ensure compliance with these directives in order to maintain business continuity for our essential operations. We continue to seek and implement additional methods to further reduce COVID-19 risk to our employees.
The Company has operations in Shanghai and Dongguan China that were affected by COVID-19 in the first six months of the year. The virus led to a chain of events that interfered with our ability, and the ability of certain suppliers of ours, to conduct business. We source approximately 10% of our products and components from China. As a result of government mandated shutdowns at our facilities, and those of certain suppliers, in China, many of the products that we have ordered were delayed by approximately four to six weeks, which resulted in delays in our product shipments to our customers through May 2020. By mid-March 2020, COVID-19 spread across the United States, which precipitated the closure by government authorities of non-essential businesses. The majority of our businesses were deemed essential and accordingly remained open, but at reduced levels. Many of our customers operating in both automotive/transportation and non-automotive/transportation markets experienced varying degrees of shutdowns beginning in the last week of March, and, on a case-by-case basis, began to reopen at various dates beginning in May 4, 2020. We estimate the adverse financial impact of COVID-19 on our third quarter operating sales and profit to be an approximate $6.1 million and $1.1 million reduction net of tax, respectively. The broader economic fallout caused by COVID-19 may result in unfavorable operating earnings and cash flow generation in the months to follow.
Although we sustained delays and disruptions in our supply chain and operations in China, in the first quarter of 2020, the majority of our facilities returned to normal operation but at reduced levels during the second fiscal quarter of 2020 and through the third quarter of 2020. We do not anticipate further disruption in our operations unless resurgence of COVID-19 were to appear, which could cause further disruptions in our business and could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. In addition, the broader economic fallout caused by COVID-19 may result in unfavorable operating earnings and cash flow generation in the months to follow, as a result of decreased consumer demand for our and our customers’ products. The future extent of the effect of COVID-19 on our operational and financial performance will depend in large part on developments, that cannot be predicted with confidence at this time. Future developments include the ultimate duration, scope and severity of the pandemic and any resurgences, actions that may continue to be taken to contain or mitigate the impact of the pandemic, such as the extent of restrictions on gatherings and travel, the impact on governmental programs and budgets, the development of treatments or vaccines, and the resumption of widespread economic activity. Although the inherent uncertainty of the unprecedented and rapidly evolving crisis makes it difficult to predict with any confidence the likely impact of COVID-19 on our future operations, COVID-19 could have a material adverse impact on our consolidated business, results of operations and financial condition. For a discussion of certain COVID-19-related risks, see Item 1A, Risk Factors, of Part II of this Form 10-Q.
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General Overview
On August 7, 2020, the Company acquired certain assets of Hallink RSB Inc. (“Hallink”) including accounts receivable, inventories, furniture, fixtures and equipment, intellectual property rights, and assumed certain liabilities and rights existing under all sales and purchase agreements. The transaction price was $7.2 million and was internally financed. Hallink is a leading supplier of blow molds and change parts to the food, beverage, healthcare and chemical industry. Hallink specializes in the design, development and manufacture of 2-step stretch blow molds, and related components for the stretch blow molding industry offering integrated turnkey solutions to its customers worldwide.
During the third quarter of 2020 the Company announced a change in its organization resulting from the combination of our Illinois Lock Division and Eberhard Manufacturing Division. As a result of this organizational change, the Company evaluated its segment reporting. Based on this evaluation, the Company determined that organizational change did not impact our internal reporting and reportable segments for the third quarter of 2020, but will impact our internal reporting and reportable segments for the fourth quarter of 2020. For the third quarter of 2020, as reflected in prior periods, we had three reportable segments: Industrial Products Segment, Security Product Segment and Metal Product Segment. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2020, we will report in two segments: Engineered Solutions Segment and Diversified Products Segment. The Engineered Solutions Segment will consist of our combined Illinois Lock and Eberhard Manufacturing Division; Big 3 Precision including Big 3 Products, Big 3 Mold, Associated Toolmakers Ltd, and the newly named Hallink Moulds, Inc.; Eastern Industrial Ltd.; Velvac Holdings and Dongguan Reeworld Security Products Ltd. The Diversified Products Segment will consist of Frazer and Jones Division; Greenwald Industries Division; Argo EMS and Sesamee Mexicana, S.A. de C.V.
Net sales in the third quarter of 2020 increased 8% to $65.8 million from $60.7 million, and net sales in the first nine months of 2020 decreased 2% to $180.0 million from $183.0 million, compared to the corresponding periods in 2019. Excluding Big 3 Precision, sales in the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 declined $5.0 million or 9%, to $51.0 million from sales of $56.0 million and $38.4 million or 22%, to $140.0 million from sales of $178.4 million from the corresponding periods in 2019, respectively. The sales decline is primarily due to the divestiture of a subsidiary, Canadian Commercial Vehicle, in the second quarter of 2020. Sales in 2019 included Canadian Commercial Vehicles Corporation of $2.7 million in the third quarter and $7.6 million in the first nine months of 2019 whereas in 2020 there were no sales in the third quarter of 2020 and $2.6 million in the first nine months of 2020. In addition, the decline in sales in the first nine months of 2020 can be attributed to the fact that many of our industrial and consumer goods customers closed their operations in the second quarter of 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Net sales in the third quarter of 2020 increased in the Industrial Hardware segment by 20% to $47.1 million from $39.4 million in the third fiscal quarter of 2019 and increased by 11% to $128.2 million for the first nine months of 2020 from $115.3 million in the corresponding period of 2019. Excluding Big 3 Precision, sales in the third quarter of 2020 decreased 7% in the Industrial Hardware segment to $32.3 million from sales of $34.7 million in the third quarter of 2019, and sales in the first nine months of 2020 decreased 20% to $88.3 million from sales of $110.6 million in the first nine months of 2019. Lower sales in the third quarter of 2020 were due to the sale of Canadian Commercial Vehicles Corporation in the second quarter of 2020 and continued softness in the majority of the markets into which we sell. For the first nine months of 2020, sales decreases were attributable to (i) the sale of Canadian Commercial Vehicles Corporation in the second quarter of 2020, (ii) the temporary customer closures in April and May of 2020 and (iii) the continued softness in the majority of our markets we serve through the first nine months of 2020. These declines were partially offset by third quarter sales in military products which were up by 14%, off-highway products which were up by 18%, and truck and recreational vehicle mirror sales, which were up by 18% and 14%, respectively.
Net sales in the Security Products segment in the third quarter of 2020 were comparable to the sales in the third quarter of 2019. Increases in storage, distribution vehicular accessories and medical markets were more than offset by decreases in sales to our point of sales, network technology equipment and commercial laundry markets. Sales for the first nine months of 2020 were down 17% compared to the same periods of 2019. The impact of COVID-19 in the first half of the year can be attributed to lower demand across all of our markets as businesses we serve dramatically curtailed purchasing. In addition, sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 were down due to the loss of several supply contracts that generated sales in the first half of 2019 that did not reoccur in 2020.
Sales in the Metal Products segment decreased 37% in the third quarter and for the first nine months of 2020 compared to sales in the corresponding periods of 2019. Mining products decreased 40%, and sales of industrial casting products decreased 36% in both the third quarter and first nine months of 2020. Mining product sales in the third quarter and first nine months were impacted by a combination of growing renewable energy capacity and extremely low natural gas prices, which led utilities to cut back on coal usage in addition to COVID-19 which forced many mine closures and resulted in further loss of sales. Mines began to open up in the third quarter and sales of mining product improved by 24% from the second quarter of 2020. Sales of industrial castings in the first nine months were negatively impacted by the loss of a customer that had temporarily sourced products from us in 2019 due to a fire at its facility in 2018.
Net sales of existing products increased 3% in the third quarter and decreased 6% in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods in 2019. Price increases and new products increased net sales in the third quarter by 5% and 4% in the first nine months of 2020. New products included numerous mirror assemblies, compression latches, a handle and finger pull assembly, mount plate latch, canopy lock assembly, handle assembly and crossbar lock assembly and hospital bed frames for use in the field hospitals established due to COVID-19.
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Cost of products sold increased $5.3 million, or 12%, in the third quarter of 2020. The primary reason for the increase in cost of products sold in the third quarter is due to an increase in sales from the Big 3 Precision acquisition in 2019. Excluding Big 3 Precision cost of products sold in the third quarter of 2020, decreased $2.4 million or 6% to $40.4 million from costs of products sold of $42.8 million in the third quarter of 2019. Material costs decreased $3.0 million in the third quarter as we reduced inventory and curtailed replenishing stock in order to improve our cash flow generation. For the first nine months of 2020 cost of products sold was comparable to the same periods in 2019. Excluding Big 3 Precision cost of products sold decreased $29.5 million or 21% to $110.7 million from cost of products sold of $140.2 in the first nine months of 2019 on lower sales volume and lower material costs. In addition, raw material costs have decreased year-over-year, hot-rolled steel decreased 3%, cold-rolled steel decreased 8%, nickel decreased 9%, scrap iron decreased 4% while copper and zinc increased 11% and 5% respectively. However raw material prices are starting to show signs of price increases in the third quarter of 2020. Also favorably impacting the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 were lower freight costs of $0.5 million, or a 27% decrease, and $1.9 million, or a 36% decrease, over the comparable periods in 2019, respectively. Lower production levels resulted in the under-absorption of operating costs in the amount of $1.4 million during the third quarter and $1.6 million in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods in 2019. Further, foreign currency exchange losses increased $0.6 million and $0.4 million for the third quarter and first nine months as compared to the same periods of 2019 respectively.
Finally, the Company paid tariff costs on China-sourced products of approximately $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to $0.9 million incurred in the third quarter of 2019, and $2.4 million for the first nine months of 2020 compared to $1.5 million in the first nine months of 2019, all of which have been recovered through price increases.
Gross margin as a percent of sales was 22% in the third quarter and 23% in the first nine months of 2020 compared to 25% in the third quarter and 24% in the first nine months of 2019.
Product development expense in the third quarter of 2020 was comparable to that of the third quarter of 2019 at $0.9 million and decreased $2.6 million or 52% in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods of 2019. The reduction in this expense relates to the closure of the Velvac Road-iQ development operation in Bellingham, Washington, in the second quarter of 2019, to adopt a leaner approach to the development of new vision products.
Selling and administrative expense increased $1.2 million or 14% in the third quarter and increased $2.4 million or 10% in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods of 2019, primarily as a result of the inclusion of Big 3 Precision in the 2020 period. For the first nine months of 2020 the most significant factor contributing to the overall increase was payroll and payroll related expenses of $1.1 million and amortization expense related to the acquisition of Big 3 Precision in the amount of $1.7 million. Excluding Big 3 Precision, selling and administrative expenses in the third quarter of 2020 increased 5% to $7.0 million from selling and administrative expenses of $6.7 million in the third quarter of 2019, and selling and administrative expenses in the first nine months of 2020 decreased 10% to $21.1 million from selling and administrative expenses of $23.3 million in the first nine months of 2019. The most significant factor contributing to the increase in the third quarter of 2020 was the reclassification of acquisition related cost for the Big 3 acquisition in 2019. For the first nine months of 2020, the decrease in selling and administrative expenses was due to payroll and payroll related expenses of $1.6 million, and travel expenses of $0.5 million respectively, as compared to the same periods of 2019.
Restructuring costs of $0.3 million incurred in the first nine months of 2020 related to the divestiture of Canadian Commercial Vehicles Corporation in the second quarter of fiscal 2020, compared to restructuring costs of $2.7 million during for the first nine months of 2019, which were related to the discontinuance of our Road iQ development operations based in Bellingham, Washington and the relocation costs of our Composite Panels Technologies division in Salisbury, North Carolina to the Canadian Commercial Vehicles Corporation located in Kelowna, British Columbia.
Goodwill impairment loss of $4.0 million was incurred in the second quarter of 2020. The Company determined that it was more likely than not that the estimated fair value of one of its 12 reporting units (Greenwald Industries) was below its carrying amount. The factors that led to this determination included additional competition, industry movement away from legacy products and intense competition in new mobile payment apps. This fundamental shift in lower cost payment systems away from the higher cost electronic smart card payment systems resulted in the carrying value of Greenwald exceeding its fair value. As a result, an independent valuation was conducted which estimated that the carrying value exceeded the fair value by approximately $4.0 million. Management has recognized this non-cash impairment charge in the second fiscal quarter of 2020. There were no goodwill impairment charges in the third quarter of 2020.
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Interest expense increased $0.3 million in the third quarter and $1.1 million for the first nine months of 2020 compared to the same periods in 2019 as a result of increased debt related to our acquisition of Big 3 Precision in August 2019.
Other income increased $0.2 million in the third and the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods in 2019 due to a favorable return on our pension plan assets and a onetime sale-leaseback transaction gain in the first quarter of fiscal 2020.
Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2020 was $3.0 million, or $0.48 per diluted share compared to income of $4.2 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, for the comparable period in 2019. In the first nine months of 2020 net income was $4.0 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, compared to $8.3 million, or $1.33 per diluted share, for the comparable period in 2019. During the second quarter of 2020, the Company had a significant non-recurring goodwill impairment loss of $4.0 million. There were no goodwill impairment charges in the third quarter of 2020.
A more detailed analysis of the Company’s results of operations and financial condition follows:
Results of Operations
The following table shows, for the periods indicated, selected line items from the condensed consolidated statements of operations as a percentage of net sales, by segment for the period indicated:
Three Months Ended October 3, 2020
Industrial
Security
Metal
Hardware
Products
Products
Total
Net sales
100.0 %
100.0 %
100.0 %
100.0 %
Cost of products sold
77.6 %
68.9 %
105.7 %
77.6 %
Gross margin
22.4 %
31.1 %
-5.7 %
22.4 %
Product development expense
0.4 %
4.9 %
—
1.4 %
Selling and administrative expense
14.9 %
15.1 %
9.6 %
14.6 %
Operating profit (loss)
7.1 %
11.1 %
-15.3 %
6.4 %
Three Months Ended September 28, 2019
Industrial
Security
Metal
Hardware
Products
Products
Total
Net sales
100.0 %
100.0 %
100.0 %
100.0 %
Cost of products sold
76.1 %
67.8 %
86.6 %
75.4 %
Gross margin
23.9 %
32.2 %
13.4 %
24.6 %
Product development expense
0.4 %
4.7 %
—
1.4 %
Selling and administrative expense
14.8 %
15.2 %
5.8 %
13.8 %
Operating profit
8.7 %
12.3 %
7.6 %
9.4 %
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The following table shows the change in sales and operating profit by segment for the third quarter of fiscal 2020 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2019 (dollars in thousands):
Industrial
Security
Metal
Hardware
Products
Products
Total
Net sales
$ 7,714
$ 20
$ (2,621 )
$ 5,113
Volume
12.7 %
-3.1 %
-38.2 %
3.1 %
Prices
0.6 %
0.9 %
0.6 %
0.6 %
New products
6.3 %
2.3 %
0.7 %
4.7 %
19.6 %
0.1 %
-36.9 %
8.4 %
Operating profit (loss)
$ (69 )
$ (194 )
$ (1,222 )
$ (1,485 )
-1.6 %
-1.4 %
-22.9 %
-3.0 %
The following table displays selected line items from the condensed consolidated statements of operations as a percentage of net sales, by segment, for the periods indicated:
Nine Months Ended October 3, 2020
Industrial
Security
Metal
Hardware
Products
Products
Total
Net sales
100.0 %
100.0 %
100.0 %
100.0 %
Cost of products sold
77.0 %
69.0 %
104.2 %
77.4 %
Gross margin
23.0 %
31.0 %
-4.2 %
22.6 %
Product development expense
0.3 %
5.4 %
—
1.4 %
Selling and administrative expense
15.3 %
16.9 %
10.3 %
15.3 %
Goodwill impairment loss
—
10.6 %
2.2 %
Restructuring costs
0.3 %
—
—
0.1 %
Operating profit (loss)
7.1 %
-1.9 %
-14.5 %
3.6 %
Nine Months Ended September 28, 2019
Industrial
Security
Metal
Hardware
Products
Products
Total
Net sales
100.0 %
100.0 %
100.0 %
100.0 %
Cost of products sold
76.4 %
69.0 %
88.7 %
76.1 %
Gross margin
23.6 %
31.0 %
11.3 %
23.9 %
Product development expense
2.9 %
4.2 %
—
2.9 %
Selling and administrative expense
13.7 %
16.6 %
7.1 %
13.6 %
Restructuring costs
1.5 %
2.0 %
1.4 %
Operating profit
5.5 %
8.2 %
4.2 %
6.0 %
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The following table displays the change in net sales and operating profit by segment for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2019 (dollars in thousands):
Industrial
Security
Metal
Hardware
Products
Products
Total
Net sales
$ 12,928
$ (7,667 )
$ (8,312 )
$ (3,051 )
Volume
6.3 %
-18.8 %
-39.0 %
-5.5 %
Prices
1.0 %
0.8 %
0.6 %
0.9 %
New products
3.9 %
1.1 %
1.2 %
2.8 %
11.2 %
-16.9 %
-37.2 %
-1.7 %
Operating profit (loss)
$ 3,734
$ (5,362 )
$ (2,972 )
$ (4,600 )
2.4 %
-12.1 %
-18.7 %
-2.5 %
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Industrial Hardware Segment
Net sales in the Industrial Hardware segment increased $7.7 million or 20% in the third quarter and increased $12.9 million or 11% in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods of 2019. Excluding Big 3 Precision, sales decreased 7% in the third quarter from $34.7 million to $32.3 million and decreased 20% for the first nine months of 2020 from $110.6 million to $88.4 million compared to the same periods in 2019.
The sales decline is primarily due to the divestiture of a subsidiary, Canadian Commercial Vehicles Corporation, in the second quarter of 2020. Sales in 2019 included of Canadian Commercial Vehicles Corporation of $2.7 million in the third quarter and $7.6 million in the first nine months of 2019 whereas in 2020 there were no sales in the third quarter of 2020 and $2.6 million in the first nine months of 2020. Sales increased in the third quarter of 2020 in heavy truck by 12% recreational vehicle by 17%, government by 14% and off-highway by 18%, offset by declines in sales in other markets we serve. Sales decreased in the second quarter when certain of our customers closed operations due to actions taken to help stop the spread of COVID-19, which negatively affected our overall year to date sales results. Sales increases in military off-highway markets were not sufficient to offset a sales reduction in distribution, Class 8 truck, and aftermarket truck parts markets in the first nine months of 2020. Sales of new products contributed 6.3% in the third quarter and 3.9% in the first nine months of fiscal 2020. New products include numerous mirror assemblies, compression latches, a handle and finger pull assembly, rotary lock assembly, a mount plate latch and hospital beds frames for use in field hospitals established due to COVID-19.
Cost of products sold increased $6.5 million or 22% in the third quarter and increased $10.6 million or 12% in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods of 2019. Excluding Big 3 Precision, cost of products sold decreased by 5% in the third quarter of 2020 from $26.5 million to $25.2 million and decreased 20% in the first nine months of 2020 from $84.6 million to $68.1 million compared to the same periods of 2019. Excluding Big 3 Precision, material costs in the third quarter of 2020 decreased 16% or $2.7 million to $14.2 million from $16.9 million and decreased 31% or $17.0 million in the first nine months of 2020 to $38.4 million from $55.4 million, compared to the same periods of 2019, due to lower sales volume and lower material costs. Also impacting the third quarter were lower freight costs, which were down 25% or $0.4 million in the third quarter and down 35% or $1.8 million in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods of 2019 due to non-recurring expedited shipping costs.
Finally, we paid tariffs on China-sourced products of approximately $0.3 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2019 and for the first nine months of 2020 we experienced $1.4 million in tariff costs compared to $1.0 million in the first nine months of 2019 all of which have been recovered through price increases.
Restructuring costs for the first nine months of 2020 were $0.3 million related to severance pay in the sale of Canadian Commercial Vehicles Corporation in the second quarter of 2020 compared to restructuring costs of $2.6 million for the first nine months of 2019 related to the discontinuance of our Road iQ development operations based in Bellingham, Washington and the relocation cost of our Composite Panels Technologies division in Salisbury, North Carolina to the Canadian Commercial Vehicles Corporation division located in Kelowna, British Columbia.
Gross margin as a percentage of net sales in the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 was 22% and 23% respectively as compared to the corresponding periods of 2019 of 24%.
Product development expense increased by $46 thousand in the third quarter and decreased by $2.8 million for the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods of 2019 due primarily to the closure of the Velvac Road-iQ development operation in Bellingham, Washington in the second quarter of 2019, as we adopted a leaner approach to the development of new vision products.
Selling and administrative expense increased $1.2 million or 21% in the third quarter and increased $3.7 million or 23% for the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods of fiscal 2019 due primarily to the inclusion of Big 3 Precision. Excluding Big 3 Precision, selling and administrative expense decreased 24% in the third quarter of 2020 from $5.8 million to $4.5 million and decreased 17% for the first nine months of 2020 from $15.9 million to $13.3 million compared to the corresponding periods of fiscal 2019. Excluding Big 3 Precision, payroll and payroll-related expense in the third quarter of 2020, decreased by $0.3 million, or 13%, to $2.3 million from $2.6 million, and decreased $1.2 million, or 15%, in the first nine months of 2020 to $6.7 million from $7.9 million, compared to the corresponding periods of 2019.
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Security Products Segment
Net sales in the Security Products segment were comparable in the third quarter and decreased $7.7 million or 17% in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods in 2019. The sales decline was due to lower demand across the majority of the markets we serve including distribution, industrial, vehicular accessories and commercial laundry, as well as continued business closures in the second quarter of 2020 resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Net sales of existing products decreased 3.1%, while price increases and sales of new products contributed 3.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 period. New product sales included a canopy lock assembly, a handle assembly, a crossbar lock assembly, a push button lock assembly and a power lock assembly.
Cost of products sold increased $0.2 million or 2% in the third quarter of 2020 and decreased $5.3 million or 17% in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods of 2019, primarily as a result of lower sales volume and the mix of products sold. Raw materials increased $0.2 million or 3% in the third quarter and decreased $4.1 million or 20% in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods of 2019. Payroll and payroll related expenses decreased $0.2 million or 3% in the third quarter and decreased $0.7 million or 10% in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 compared to the corresponding periods of fiscal 2019.
We paid tariffs on China-sourced products of approximately $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to $0.4 million in the third quarter of 2019 and for the first nine months of 2020 we experienced $1.0 million in tariff costs compared to $0.5 million in the first nine months of 2019 all of which have been recovered through price increases.
Gross margin as a percentage of net sales was 31% in the third quarter and for the first nine months of 2020 compared to 32% in the third quarter and 31% in the first nine months of fiscal 2019.
Product development expense as a percentage of net sales was 5% in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2020 compared to 4% in the corresponding periods of fiscal 2019. This increase reflects a continuation in the development of a Bluetooth locking system, a new cable lock system, continued development of GPay, a multi-pay reader and an electronic drop.
Selling and administrative expenses was comparable in the third quarter and decreased $1.1 million or 15% in the first nine months of 2020, compared to the corresponding periods of 2019. For the first nine months, the most significant driver of this reduction was decreased payroll and payroll related expenses of $0.3 million or 8%, travel expenses of $0.3 million or 65% which were offset by an increase in our bad debt reserve in the amount of $93 thousand related to a customer that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy during the first quarter of fiscal 2020.
Goodwill impairment loss of $4.0 million was incurred in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. The Company determined that it was more likely than not that the estimated fair value of one of its 12 reporting units (Greenwald Industries) was below its carrying amount. The factors that led to this determination included additional competition, industry movement away from legacy products and intense competition in new mobile payment apps. This fundamental shift in lower cost payment systems away from the higher cost electronic smart card payment systems resulted in our belief that the carrying value of Greenwald exceeded its fair value. As a result, an independent valuation was conducted. The valuation estimated that the carrying value exceeded the fair value by approximately $4.0 million. Management has recognized this non-cash impairment charge in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. There were no goodwill impairment charges in the third quarter of 2020.
Metal Products Segment
Net sales in the Metal Products segment decreased $2.6 million or 37% in the third quarter and decreased $8.3 million or 37% in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods of 2019. Sales of our mining products decreased by 40%, while sales of industrial casting products decreased by 36%, in the third quarter of 2020, and mining products declined 39% and industrial castings declined 36% for the first nine months of 2020, compared to the corresponding periods of 2019. Mining sales in the third quarter improved by 24% from the second quarter of 2020 as mines began opening after closing due to COVID-19 and sales of mining products in the first nine months of 2020 were impacted by a combination of growing renewable energy capacity and extremely low natural gas prices which led utilities to cut back on coal usage in addition to COVID-19, which forced many mine closures resulting in further loss of sales. Sales of industrial castings in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 were negatively impacted by the loss of a customer who had temporarily sourced products from us during 2019 due to a fire at its facility in 2018 that temporarily shut down production of product that would otherwise have been sourced internally and continued softness in the oil, water, gas, rail and construction markets.
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Cost of products sold decreased $1.4 million or 23% in the third quarter and decreased $5.2 million or 26% for the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods of 2019, as a result of lower sales volume. Raw materials decreased $0.5 million or 20% in the third quarter and decreased $1.9 million or 22% in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods of 2019. Payroll and payroll related expenses decreased $0.6 million or 28% in the third quarter and decreased $1.9 million or 26% in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods of 2019.
Gross margin as a percentage of net sales was a negative 6% in the third quarter and a negative 4% for the first nine months of 2020 compared to 13% and 11% in the corresponding periods of 2019. Due to the high fixed operating cost structure of operating a foundry and the severe reduction in sales productive capacity could not be consumed resulting in the negative gross margin.
Selling and administrative expenses increased 4% in the third quarter and decreased $0.1 million or 9% for the first nine months of 2020 compared to the corresponding periods of 2019. The third quarter increase relates to pension costs. For the first nine months of 2020 the decrease was from reduced payroll and payroll-related expenses of $0.1 million or 12% compared to the corresponding periods of 2019.
Liquidity and Sources of Capital
The Company generated approximately $16.7 million of cash from operations during the first nine months of fiscal 2020 compared to approximately $12.2 million during the first nine months of fiscal 2019. The Company allocated approximately $7.2 million of its cash for the acquisition of Hallink. Cash flow from operations coupled with cash at the beginning of the 2020 fiscal year was sufficient to fund capital expenditures, debt service, and dividend payments.
Additions to property, plant and equipment were approximately $2.0 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 and $1.9 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2019. As of October 3, 2020, there were approximately $0.1 million of outstanding commitments for capital expenditures.
The following table shows key financial ratios at the end of each specified period:
Third
Quarter
2020
Third
Quarter
2019
Year
End
2019
Current ratio
3.2
3.2
3.3
Average days’ sales in accounts receivable
53
54
51
Inventory turnover
3.8
4.3
4.2
Total debt to shareholders’ equity
89.5 %
96.6 %
93.7 %
The following table shows important liquidity measures as of the balance sheet date for each specified period (in millions):
Third
Third
Year
Quarter
Quarter
End
2020
2019
2019
Cash and cash equivalents
- Held in the United States
$ 13.8
$ 4.5
$ 9.0
- Held by a foreign subsidiary
5.8
7.5
9.0
19.6
12.0
18.0
Working capital
74.5
78.8
80.0
Net cash provided by operating activities
16.7
12.5
23.0
Change in working capital impact on net cash (used) in operating activities
3.2
(2.0 )
(0.3 )
Net cash provided (used) in investing activities
7.3
(83.1 )
(85.8 )
Net cash (used) in financing activities
(7.5 )
68.9
(67.0 )
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Inventories of $49.4 million represent a decrease of 9.5% as of October 3, 2020 as compared to $54.6 million at the end of fiscal year 2019. Inventories decreased 6% in the first nine months of fiscal 2020, as compared to $52.8 million at the end of the first nine months of fiscal 2019. This was primarily due to the acquisition of Big 3 Precision. Accounts receivable, less allowances, were $34.2 million as of October 3, 2020, as compared to $37.9 million at 2019 fiscal year end and $43.5 million at the end of the first nine months of fiscal 2019.
Cash, cash flow from operating activities and funds available under the revolving credit portion of the Credit Agreement are expected to be sufficient to cover future foreseeable working capital requirements. However, based on current macroeconomic conditions resulting from the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, the Company cannot provide any assurances of the availability of future financing or the terms on which it might be available. In addition, the interest rate on borrowings under the Credit Agreement varies based on our senior net leverage ratio, and the Credit Agreement requires us to maintain a senior net leverage ratio not to exceed 4.25 to 1 and a fixed charge coverage ratio to be not less than 1.25 to 1. A decrease in earnings due to responses to contain the spread of COVID-19 or the resulting harm to the financial condition of our customers or economic conditions generally, or an increase in indebtedness incurred to offset such a decrease in earnings, would have a negative impact on our senior net leverage ratio and our fixed charge coverage ratio, which in turn would increase the cost of borrowing under the Credit Agreement and could cause us to fail to comply with the covenants under our Credit Agreement.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of the end of the fiscal quarter ended October 3, 2020, the Company does not have any transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons, as described by Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K, that have or are reasonably likely to have a material current or future impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources or significant components of revenues or expenses.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The non-GAAP financial measures we provide in this report should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, results prepared in accordance U.S. GAAP.
To supplement the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we have presented Adjusted EPS and Adjusted EBITDA, which are considered non-GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measures presented may differ from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures presented by other companies, and other companies may not define these non-GAAP financial measures in the same way. These measures are not substitutes for their comparable GAAP financial measures, such as net sales, net income, diluted earnings per common share, or other measures prescribed by U.S. GAAP, and there are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures. We also present certain results “excluding Big 3 Precision” because we believe this allows for more effective comparability to the corresponding prior year period.
Adjusted EPS is defined as diluted earnings per share excluding, when they occur, the impacts of impairment losses and restructuring expenses. We believe that Adjusted EPS provides important comparability of underlying operational results, allowing investors and management to access operating performance on a consistent basis.
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income from continuing operations before interest expense, provision for income taxes, and depreciation and amortization. In addition to these adjustments, we exclude, when they occur, the impacts of impairment losses and restructuring expenses. Adjusted EBITDA is a tool that can assist management and investors in comparing our performance on a consistent basis by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect our underlying operations.
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Reconciliation of expenses from GAAP to Non-GAAP EPS calculation
For the Three and Nine Months ended October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
October 3, 2020
September 28, 2019
October 3, 2020
September 28, 2019
Net Income as reported per generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
$ 2,984,675
$ 4,193,082
$ 3,991,709
$ 8,293,815
Earnings Per Share as reported under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP):
Basic
$ 0.48
$ 0.67
$ 0.64
$ 1.33
Diluted
$ 0.48
$ 0.67
$ 0.64
$ 1.33
Adjustments for one-time expenses
Goodwill impairment loss, net of tax
$ -
$ -
$ -2,993,906 A
$ -
Transaction expenses
-183,616 E
-765,543 G
-203,682 E
-1,183,943 G
Factory relocation, net of tax
-187,688 C
-
-187,688 C
-
Restructuring costs, net of tax
$ -6,446 B
$ -
$ -214,851 B
$ -2,036,642 D,F
$ -377,750
$ -765,543
$ -3,600,127
$ -3,220,585
Adjustment to Net Income (related to one time expenses); (Non-GAAP)
$ 3,362,425
$ 4,958,625
$ 7,591,836
$ 11,514,400
Adjustment to Earnings per share (related to one time expenses); (Non-GAAP)
Basic
$ 0.54
$ 0.80
$ 1.22
$ 1.85
Diluted
$ 0.54
$ 0.79
$ 1.22
$ 1.84
A) Goodwill impairment
B) Cost incurred on disposition of Canadian Commercial Vehicles
C) Cost incurred on relocation of factory in Reynosa, Mexico
D) Cost incurred on the relocation of Composite Panels Technology
E) Cost incurred in the acquisition of Hallink RSB, Inc.
F) Costs incurred in the closure of Road IQ in Bellingham, WA
G) Costs incurred on the acquisition of Big 3 Precision
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement our consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), we disclose certain non-GAAP financial measures including adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share. Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share exclude one time related expenses. These measures are not in accordance with GAAP.
Management uses such measures to evaluate performance period over period, to analyze the underlying trends in our business including our business segments, to assess our performance relative to our competitors, and to establish operational goals and forecasts that are used in allocating resources. These financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a replacement for, GAAP financial measures.
We believe that presenting non-GAAP financial measures in addition to GAAP financial measures provides investors greater transparency to the information used by our management for its financial and operational decision-making. We further believe that providing this information better enables our investors to understand our operating performance and to evaluate the methodology used by management to evaluate and measure such performance.
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Reconciliation of expenses from GAAP to Non-GAAP EBITDA calculation
For the Three and Nine Months ended October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
October 3, 2020
September 28, 2019
October 3, 2020
September 28, 2019
Net Income/(loss) as reported per generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
$ 2,984,675
$ 4,193,082
$ 3,991,709
$ 8,293,815
Interest expense
647,066
420,377
2,081,283
974,536
Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes
969,774
1,295,575
1,309,295
2,535,033
Depreciation and amortization
2,093,976
1,416,165
6,144,226
3,807,479
Goodwill impairment loss
-
-
4,002,548 A
-
Factory relocation
250,920 C
-
250,920 C
-
Restructuring costs
8,618 B
-
287,234 B
2,651,877 D,F
Transaction costs
183,616 E
765,543 G
203,682 E
1,183,943 G
Adjusted EBITDA
$ 7,138,645
$ 8,090,742
$ 18,270,897
$ 19,446,683
A) Goodwill impairment
B) Cost incurred on disposition of Canadian Commercial Vehicles
C) Cost incurred on relocation of factory in Reynosa, Mexico
D) Cost incurred on the relocation of Composite Panels Technology
E) Cost incurred in the acquisition of Hallink RSB, Inc.
F) Costs incurred in the closure of Road IQ in Bellingham, WA
G) Costs incurred in the acquisition of Big 3 Precision
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement our consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), we disclose certain non-GAAP financial measures including adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share. Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share exclude one time related expenses. These measures are not in accordance with GAAP.
Management uses such measures to evaluate performance period over period, to analyze the underlying trends in our business including our business segments, to assess our performance relative to our competitors, and to establish operational goals and forecasts that are used in allocating resources. These financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a replacement for, GAAP financial measures.
We believe that presenting non-GAAP financial measures in addition to GAAP financial measures provides investors greater transparency to the information used by our management for its financial and operational decision-making. We further believe that providing this information better enables our investors to understand our operating performance and to evaluate the methodology used by management to evaluate and measure such performance.
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ITEM 3 – QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
As a result of the Company’s status as a smaller reporting company pursuant to Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Company is not required to provide the information under this Item 3 of Form 10-Q pursuant to Item 305 of Regulation S-K.
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.