Item 1A. Risk Factors
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
 
The Company ’ s business involves a number of risks, some of which are beyond its control. The risk and uncertainties described below are not the only ones the Company faces. Set forth below is a discussion of the risks and uncertainties that management believes to be material to the Company.
 
Economic Trends
 
Adverse global economic conditions, when they occur, may create conditions such as increases in inflation, higher interest rates, a general tightening in the credit markets, lower levels of liquidity, increases in the rates of default and bankruptcy, and volatility in credit, equity and fixed income markets. Any or all of these developments can negatively affect the Company’s business, operating results or financial condition in a number of ways. For example, current or potential customers may be unable to fund capital spending programs, new product launches of other similar endeavors whereby they might procure services from the Company, and therefore delay, decrease or cancel purchases of services or not pay or delay paying for previously purchased services. In addition, these conditions may cause the Company to incur increased expenses or make it more difficult either to utilize existing debt capacity or otherwise obtain financing for operations, investing activities (including the financing of any future acquisitions), or financing activities, all of which could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
Global Epidemics
 
The COVID-19 pandemic and endemic, and associated initiatives to reduce its spread, have at times adversely affected the Company’s business and financial position, and may continue to do so.  The impacts described in this risk factor as relating to COVID-19 could arise in the future with respect to any other global pandemics or endemics that may occur.
 
Our business has been, and may continue to be, adversely impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and endemic. As COVID-19 continues to present various health, business and other challenges globally, including significant impacts in the United States, we are taking a variety of measures to protect the health and safety of our employees and, especially in the healthcare segment, deploying our resources, including the talents of our employees, to help the communities we serve meet and overcome the current challenges.  However, public and private sector policies and initiatives to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, such as closures of schools, businesses and manufacturing facilities, the promotion of social distancing, the adoption of working from home by companies and institutions, and travel restrictions could adversely affect demand for our services and present challenges to us in delivering these services.  The extent to which COVID-19 impacts operations will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration of the outbreak, new information which may emerge concerning the severity of the pandemic and endemic, and the actions to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact, among others. These impacts on our business could have an adverse effect on our liquidity position and access to capital, including our ability to access our line of credit.  The Company can give no assurance that the line of credit will be available in the future.
 
These factors, in addition to delays in payment could continue result in significant bad debts in the near future. Additionally, our operating results would be adversely affected if unexpected increases in the costs of labor and labor related costs, materials, supplies and equipment used in performing services (including the impact of potential tariffs and COVID-19) could not be passed on to our clients.
 
In addition, we believe that to maintain or improve our financial performance we must continue to obtain service agreements with new clients, retain and provide new services to existing clients, achieve modest price increases on current service agreements with existing clients and/or maintain internal cost reduction strategies at our various operational levels. Furthermore, we believe that our ability to sustain the internal development of managerial personnel is an important factor impacting future operating results and the successful execution of our projected growth strategies.  Certainly, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and could make these objective more difficult to attain.
 
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (CONTINUED)
 
Government Regulations
 
Staffing firms and employment service providers are generally subject to one or more of the following types of government regulation: (1) regulation of the employer/employee relationship between a firm and its employees, including tax withholding or reporting, social security or retirement, benefits, workplace compliance, wage and hour, anti-discrimination, immigration and workers’ compensation; (2) registration, licensing, record keeping and reporting requirements; and (3) federal contractor compliance. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in the Company incurring penalties and other liabilities, monetary and otherwise.
 
Highly Competitive Business
 
The staffing services and outsourcing markets are highly competitive and have limited barriers to entry. RCM competes in global, national, regional, and local markets with numerous temporary staffing and permanent placement companies. Price competition in the staffing industry is significant and pricing pressures from competitors and customers are increasing. In addition, there is increasing pressure on companies to outsource certain areas of their business to low cost offshore outsourcing firms. RCM expects that the level of competition will remain high in the future, which could limit RCM’s ability to maintain or increase its market share or profitability. Our inability to compete successfully with our competitors could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
Seasonality of Business
 
As described in “Item 1. Business,” our operating results are subject to seasonal fluctuations, with reduced demand often occurring during the first quarter of the year when clients are finalizing their engineering and IT budgets, and also during periods in which there are a substantial amount of holidays and season vacations. In particular, one of the largest customers in our Specialty Health Care group, the New York City Department of Education, significantly reduces activity during the third quarter, when schools are closed for summer recess. Our operating results for any given period may fluctuate as a result of the timing of holidays, vacations and other events, and if we were to experience unfavorable performance during periods in which we would otherwise expect to have high seasonal demand, we may have limited ability to make up for such performance during periods of seasonally lower demand.
 
Events Affecting Significant Customers
 
As disclosed in “Item 1. Business,” during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, the Company had two customers exceed 10% of consolidated revenue, representing 13.2% and 12.7% of consolidated revenue. The Company’s five, ten and twenty largest customers accounted for approximately 43.0%, 53.7% and 67.0%, respectively, of the Company’s revenue for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. The Company’s customers may be affected by the current state of the economy or developments in the credit markets or may engage in mergers or similar transactions. In addition, customers may choose to reduce the business they do with RCM for other reasons or no reason. The Company could also be materially impacted by actions of prime contractors whereby the Company derives revenue through a subcontractor relationship. Should any significant customers experience a downturn in their business that weakens their financial condition or merge with another company or otherwise cease independent operation, or limit their relationship with us, it is possible that the business that the customer does with the Company would be reduced or eliminated, which could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (CONTINUED)
 
Subcontractors, Transit Accounts Receivable and Transit Accounts Payables Related to Construction Management Contracts
 
The Company’s Engineering segment has entered into arrangements to provide construction management and engineering services to customers under which arrangements the Company then engages subcontractors to provide the construction services. Ultimately, as a primary contractor, the Company is responsible for the nonperformance or negligence of its subcontractors, whom the Company requires to be adequately insured and to issue performance bonds for their assignment. Should a subcontractor not perform or act negligently and should there be inadequate insurance or performance bonds in place, the Company might not be able to mitigate its primary liability to the customer, and the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In addition, while payments to subcontractors typically are due from the Company only after the Company receives payment from the ultimate customer, the Company faces the risk that, should a customer not pay the Company, or should a subcontractor demand payment from the Company prior to the Company’s receipt of payment from its customer, the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
 
Dependence Upon Personnel
 
The Company’s operations depend on the continued efforts of its officers and other executive management. The loss of key officers and members of executive management may cause a significant disruption to the Company’s business.
 
RCM also depends on the performance and productivity of its local managers and field personnel. The Company’s ability to attract and retain new business is significantly affected by local relationships and the quality of service rendered. The loss of key managers and field personnel may also jeopardize existing client relationships with businesses that continue to use the Company’s services based upon past relationships with local managers and field personnel. In order to fulfill the requirements of the Company’s customers, the Company must be able to recruit and retain appropriate personnel for client assignments.
 
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (CONTINUED)
 
Revolving Credit Facility and Liquidity
 
If the Company were unable to borrow under its Revolving Credit Facility (see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources – Financing Activities”), it may adversely affect liquidity, results of operations and financial condition. The Company’s liquidity depends on its ability to generate sufficient cash flows from operations and, from time to time, borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility with the Company’s agent lender Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. The Company believes that Citizens Bank is liquid and is not aware of any current risk that they will become illiquid.  At December 31, 2022, the Company had $8.8 million in borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility outstanding and $1.9 million outstanding under letters of credit, with availability for additional borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility of $34.3 million.
 
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at one of two alternative rates, as selected by the Company at each incremental borrowing.  These alternatives are: (i) SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate) (which replaced LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) upon the phasing out of LIBOR), plus applicable margin, typically borrowed in fixed 30-day increments, plus applicable margin, typically borrowed in fixed 30-day increments or (ii) the agent bank’s prime rate generally borrowed over shorter durations.  The Company also pays unused line fees based on the amount of the Revolving Credit Facility that is not drawn.  Unused line fees are recorded as interest expense. 
 
All borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility are collateralized by all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries and a pledge of the stock of its subsidiaries. The Revolving Credit Facility also contains various financial and non-financial covenants, such as a covenant that restricts the Company’s ability to borrow in order to pay dividends. At December 31, 2022, the Company was in compliance with the covenants and other provisions of the Credit Facility. Any failure to be in compliance could have a material adverse effect on liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.
 
Foreign Currency Fluctuations and Changes in Exchange Rates
 
The Company is exposed to risks associated with foreign currency fluctuations and changes in exchange rates. RCM’s exposure to foreign currency fluctuations relates to operations in Canada and Serbia, principally conducted through its Canadian and Serbian subsidiaries. Exchange rate fluctuations affect the United States dollar value of reported earnings derived from the Canadian operations as well as the carrying value of the Company’s investment in the net assets related to these operations. The Company does not engage in hedging activities with respect to foreign operations.
 
Changes in Tax Laws
 
At any time, United States federal tax laws or the administrative interpretations of those laws may be changed. As a result, changes in United States federal tax laws could negatively impact our operating results, financial condition and business operations, and adversely impact the Company’s shareholders. At any time, tax laws in the Company’s other jurisdictions, Canada, Puerto Rico and Serbia, may also change. These tax law changes may have a material impact on the Company’s income tax expense.
 
Workers ’ Compensation and Employee Medical Insurance
 
The Company self-insures a portion of the exposure for losses related to workers’ compensation and employees’ medical insurance. The Company has established reserves for workers’ compensation and employee medical insurance claims based on historical loss statistics and periodic independent actuarial valuations. Significant differences in actual experience or significant changes in assumptions may materially affect the Company’s future financial results.
 
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (CONTINUED)
 
Improper Activities of Temporary Professionals Could Result in Damage to Business Reputation, Discontinuation of Client Relationships and Exposure to Liability
 
The Company may be subject to claims by clients related to errors and omissions, misuse of proprietary information, discrimination and harassment, theft and other criminal activity, malpractice, and other claims stemming from the improper activities or alleged activities of temporary professionals. There can be no assurance that current liability insurance coverage will be adequate or will continue to be available in sufficient amounts to cover damages or other costs associated with such claims.
 
Claims raised by clients stemming from the improper actions of temporary professionals, even if without merit, could cause the Company to incur significant expense associated with rework costs or other damages related to such claims. Furthermore, such claims by clients could damage the Company’s business reputation and result in the discontinuation of client relationships.
 
Acquisitions May Not Succeed
 
The Company reviews prospective acquisitions as an element of its growth strategy. The failure of any acquisition to meet the Company’s expectations, whether due to a failure to successfully integrate any future acquisition or otherwise, may result in damage to the Company’s financial performance and/or divert management’s attention from its core operations or could negatively affect the Company’s ability to meet the needs of its customers promptly.
 
International Operations
 
The Company operates its business in Canada and, to a less significant extent, in Puerto Rico and Serbia. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, approximately 4.4% of the Company’s revenue were generated outside the United States. There are certain risks inherent in conducting business internationally including: the imposition of trade barriers, foreign exchange restrictions, longer payment cycles, greater difficulties in accounts receivables collection, difficulties in complying with a variety of foreign laws (including without limitation the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act), changes in legal or regulatory requirements, difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations, complex and uncertain employment environments, political instability and potentially adverse tax consequences.  Our operations in Serbia could be adversely affected by the current conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with which Serbia has substantial ties.  Should sanctions against Russia affect Russia in a way that causes adverse economic consequences to Serbia, or if such sanctions were to be extended to countries that might be considered to be in alignment with Russia, this could have a negative impact on our employees or operations both within and outside Serbia. To the extent the Company experiences these risks, the business and results of operations could be adversely affected.
 
Trademarks
 
Management believes the RCM Technologies, Inc. name is extremely valuable and important to its business. The Company endeavors to protect its intellectual property rights and maintain certain trademarks, trade names, service marks and other intellectual property rights, including The Source of Smart Solutions®. The Company is not currently aware of any infringing uses or other conditions that would be reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect the Company’s use of its proprietary rights. The Company’s success depends on its ability to successfully obtain and maintain, and prevent misappropriation or infringement of, its intellectual property, maintain trade secret protection, and conduct operations without violating or infringing on the intellectual property rights of third parties. Intellectual property litigation is expensive and time-consuming, and it is often difficult, if not impossible, to predict the outcome of such litigation. If the Company is involved in an intellectual property litigation, its business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
 
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (CONTINUED)
 
Data Center Capacity and Telecommunication Links
 
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), card key access, fire suppression, and environmental control systems protect RCM’s datacenter.  All systems are monitored on a 24/7 basis with alerting capabilities via voice or email.  The telecommunications architecture at RCM utilizes managed private circuits from AT&T, which encompasses provisioning redundancy and diversity.
 
The Company’s ability to protect its data center against damage from fire, power loss, telecommunications failure and other disasters is critical to business operations.  In order to provide many of its services, RCM must be able to store, retrieve, process and manage large databases and periodically expand and upgrade its capabilities.  Any damage to the Company’s data centers or any failure of the Company’s telecommunication links that interrupts its operations or results in an inadvertent loss of data could adversely affect the Company’s ability to meet its customers’ needs and their confidence in utilizing the Company for future services.
 
RCM’s ability to protect its data, provide services and safeguard its installations, as it relates to the IT infrastructure, is in part dependent on several outside vendors with whom the Company maintains service level agreements.
 
Cyber Security
 
We are highly dependent on information technology systems to operate our business. A breakdown, invasion, corruption, destruction or interruption of critical information technology systems by employees, others with authorized access to our systems or unauthorized persons could negatively impact operations. In the ordinary course of business, we collect, store and transmit confidential information and it is critical that we do so in a secure manner to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of such information. Additionally, we outsource certain elements of our information technology systems to third parties. As a result of this outsourcing, our third party vendors may or could have access to our confidential information making such systems vulnerable. Data breaches of our information technology systems, or those of our third party vendors, may pose a risk that sensitive data may be exposed to unauthorized persons or to the public. While we believe that we have taken appropriate security measures to protect our data and information technology systems and have been informed by our third party vendors that they have as well, there can be no assurance that our efforts will prevent breakdowns or breaches in our systems, or those of our third party vendors, that could adversely affect our business.
 
Environmental Matters and Climate Change
 
The Company and many of its customers are subject to regulation by federal, state and international environmental laws, including those relating to climate change, that are subject to rapid change, which could result in regulatory uncertainty as well as potential significant increases in compliance costs. There can be no assurance that the steps we take to abide by applicable requirements will meet all current and future regulatory. Any failures to do so could result in governmental enforcement actions, fines, and other penalties, or other liabilities, that could adversely affect our business.
 
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (CONTINUED)
 
Data Privacy
 
We control, process, or have access to personal information regarding our own employees or employment candidates, as well as that of many of our customers or other third parties. Information concerning these individuals may also reside in systems controlled by third party vendors with whom we do business. The legal and regulatory environment concerning data privacy is becoming more complex and challenging, and the potential consequences of non-compliance have become more severe. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, the California Consumer Privacy Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and similar laws impose additional compliance requirements related to the collection, use, processing, transfer, disclosure, and retention of personal information, which can increase operating costs and resources to accomplish. Any failure to abide by these regulations or to protect such personal information from inappropriate access or disclosure, whether through social engineering or by accident or other cause, could have severe consequences including fines, litigation, regulatory sanctions, reputational damage, and loss of customers or employees. There can be no assurance that the steps we take to abide by applicable requirements and protect information will meet all current and future regulatory requirements, anticipate all potential methods of unauthorized access, or prevent all inappropriate disclosures. Any failures to do so could result in governmental enforcement actions, fines, and other penalties, or other liabilities, that could adversely affect our business.
 
 
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
 
Not applicable.