Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item
2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Forward
Looking Statements
This
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes both historical and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections
about future results. Words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,”
“plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,”
“continue,” or similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements
contain these words. Although we believe that our opinions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable,
we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements, and our actual results may differ substantially
from the views and expectations set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking
statements after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to conform such statements to actual results or to changes in our opinions
or expectations. These forward-looking statements are affected by factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions that we make, including,
without limitation, those discussed in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2021 under the heading “Risk Factors.”
Overview
We
produce film products for novelty, packaging and container applications. These products include foil balloons, latex balloons and related
products, films for packaging and custom product applications, and flexible containers for packaging and consumer storage applications.
We produce all of our film products for packaging, container applications and most of our foil balloons at our plant in Lake Barrington,
Illinois. We used to produce our latex balloons and latex products at a majority-owned facility in Guadalajara, Mexico (Flexo Universal,
or Flexo). This facility was sold during October 2021. Now the Company purchases latex balloons from an unrelated vendor and distributes
in the United States, particularly to those customers that prefer a combined solution for foil and latex balloons.. Substantially all
of our film products for packaging and custom product applications are sold to customers in the United States. We market and sell our
novelty items, Candy Blossoms (balloons and candy arranged to look like a flower bouquet for gifting) and flexible containers for consumer
use primarily in the United States.
On
April 23, 2021, the Company entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (“PSA”) with an unaffiliated purchaser (the “Purchaser”)
pursuant to which the Company sold its facility in Lake Barrington, Illinois (the “Lake Barrington Facility”), in which our
headquarters office, production and warehouse space are located, to the Purchaser. The sale price for the Lake Barrington Facility was
$3,500,000, consisting of $2,000,000 in cash and a promissory note with a principal amount of $1,500,000, due and payable on May 3, 2021
(the “Purchaser Promissory Note”). Concurrently with the closing under the PSA, the Company and the Purchaser entered into
a lease agreement pursuant to which the Company agreed to lease the Lake Barrington Facility from the Purchaser for a period of ten years.
The annual base rent commences at $500,000 for the first year of the term and escalates annually to $652,386 during the last year of
the term of the lease. Concurrently with the entry into the PSA and the Lease, the Company entered into a Consent, Forbearance and Amendment
No. 6 to Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement (the “Amendment Agreement”) with its then-lender PNC for itself
and for the other participant lenders thereunder (collectively, the “Prior Lender”). Prior to entering into the Amendment
Agreement, PNC had notified the Company that various events of default had occurred under the Loan Agreement (the “Existing Defaults”)
and were continuing. Pursuant to the Amendment Agreement, the Prior Lender consented to the transactions contemplated by the PSA and
the Lease, as required under the Loan Agreement. As a condition to the Amendment Agreement, the Company agreed that the full $2,000,000
in cash proceeds from the sale of the Lake Barrington Facility would be applied to repay the $2,000,000 term loan owed to the Prior Lender
pursuant to the Loan Agreement. The Company further agreed that $1,500,000 in proceeds from the Purchaser Promissory Note will be applied
to amounts due and owing to the Prior Lender under revolving credit advances made pursuant to the Loan Agreement (the “Revolving
Loans”). Pursuant to the Amendment Agreement, the Prior Lender agreed to forbear from exercising its rights and remedies with respect
to the Existing Event of Defaults under the Loan Agreement for a period ending on the earlier of September 30, 2021, the occurrence of
a new event of default under the Loan Agreement, or the occurrence of a Termination Event (as defined therein). Additionally, certain
additions and amendments to the Loan Agreement were set forth in the Amendment Agreement, including:
●
The
Maximum Revolving Advance Amount was reduced from $18,000,0000 to $9,000,000;
●
The
Termination Date of the Loan Agreement was revised from December 14, 2022 to December 31, 2021;
●
On
or before June 30, 2021, or such later date as the Prior Lender agreed in its sole discretion, the Company shall receive an equity
investment of at least $1,500,000 and apply 100% of the proceeds to a reduction of the Revolving Credit Advance under the Loan Agreement
(the “Equity Investment”);
●
On
or before August 15, 2021, or such later date as the Prior Lender agrees in its sole discretion, the Company shall deliver to Lender
(i) a binding term sheet, in form and substance acceptable to Prior Lender, from a financing source that provides for the refinance
and payment in full, in cash, of the obligations owing under the Loan Agreement on or before September 30, 2021, or (ii) evidence,
in form and substance satisfactory to the Prior Lender, that certain equity holders of the Company have available and identifiable
funds that are on deposit with a depository institution that are sufficient to pay in full, in cash, all of the Company obligations
under the Loan Agreement on or before September 30, 2021;
●
On
or before September 30, 2021, the Company will cause all of the amounts owing under the Loan Agreement to be paid in full in cash;
●
The
Forbearance Reserve (as defined in Amendment No. 5 to the Loan Agreement) was increased from $1,025,000 to $2,525,000;
●
Effective
August 1, 2021, accounts receivable from Wal-Mart Stores and its affiliates was no longer considered eligible receivables;
●
Modifications
will be made to the budget, testing and variance provisions of the Loan Agreement.
In
consideration for entering into the Loan Amendment, the Company agreed to pay the Prior Lender a Forbearance Fee of $1,000,000. Provided,
however, that, so long as no Event of Default under the Loan Agreement has occurred (including as a result of a failure of the Company
to pay down the Revolving Loans by $1,500,000 with the proceeds of the Purchaser Promissory Note, (i) if the Company consummates the
Equity Investment by June 30, 2021, the Forbearance Fee shall be reduced by $250,000, to $750,000, and (ii) if the Company causes all
of the obligations under the Loan Agreement to be paid in full, in cash, on or before September 30, 2021, the Forbearance Fee shall be
reduced by an additional $500,000, to $250,000. All commitments were accomplished by the required dates, resulting in a final Forbearance
Fee of $250,000 paid during 2021.
September
30, 2021 financing
On
September 30, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), the Company entered into a loan and security agreement (the “Agreement”)
with Line Financial (the “Lender”), which provides for a senior secured financing consisting of a revolving credit facility
(the “Revolving Credit Facility) in an aggregate principal amount of up to $6 million (the “Maximum Revolver Amount”)
and term loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of $731,250 (“Term Loan Amount”
and, together with the Revolving Credit Facility, the “Senior Facilities”). Proceeds of loans borrowed under the Senior Facilities
were used to repay all amounts outstanding under the Company’s PNC Agreements and for the Company’s working capital. The
Senior Facilities are secured by substantially all assets of the Company.
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Interest
on the Senior Facilities shall be the prime rate published from time to time published in the Wall Street Journal (4.75% as of July 12,
2022), plus 1.95% per annum, accruing daily and payable monthly. Interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the
actual number of days elapsed. The Term Loan Facility shall be repaid by the Company to Lender in 48 equal monthly installments of principal
and interest, each in the amount of $15,234, commencing on November 1, 2021, and continuing on the first day of each month thereafter
until the Term Loan Maturity Date (as defined in the Agreement). Also, the Company will pay the Lender collateral monitoring fees of
4.62% of the eligible accounts receivable, inventory, and equipment supporting the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan. In addition,
the Company paid the Lender a loan fee of 1.25% of the Maximum Revolver Amount and the Term Loan Amount upon the execution of the Agreement.
The
Senior Facilities mature on September 30, 2023 and shall automatically be extended for successive periods of one year each, unless the
Company or the Lender gives the other party written notice of termination not less than 90 days prior to the end of such term or renewal
term, as applicable. If the Senior Facilities are renewed, the Company shall pay the Lender a renewal fee of 1.25% of the Maximum Revolver
Amount and the Term Loan Amount upon each renewal on the anniversary of the Closing Date. The Company has the option to prepay the Term
Loan Facility (together with all accrued but unpaid interest and a Term Loan Prepayment Fee (as defined the Agreement) in whole, but
not in part, upon not less than 60 days prior written notice to the Lender.
The
Senior Facilities require that the Company shall, commencing December 31, 2021, maintain Tangible Net Worth of at least $4,000,000 or
greater (“Minimum Tangible Net Worth”). Minimum Tangible Net Worth may be adjusted downward by the Lender, from time to time,
in its sole and absolute discretion, based on the effect of non-cash charges and other factors on the calculation of Tangible Net Worth.
Other debt subordinated to Lender is not considered as a reduction of this calculation. The Company believes it was in compliance with
this covenant during each relevant month, including as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.
The
Senior Facilities contain certain affirmative and negative covenants that limit the ability of the Company, among other things and subject
to certain significant exceptions, to incur debt or liens, make investments, enter into certain mergers, consolidations, and acquisitions,
pay dividends and make other restricted payments, or make capital expenditures exceeding $1 million in the aggregate in any fiscal year.
As
of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the term loan balance amounted to $0.5 million and $0.6 million, respectively, which consisted
of the principal and interest payable balance of $0.6 million and $0.7 million and deferred financing costs of $0.1 million. The balance
of the Revolving Line of Credit as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 amounted to $4.8 and $5.0 million, respectively.
Comparability
In
July 2019, management and the Board engaged in a review of CTI Balloons and CTI Europe and determined that they are not accretive to
the Company overall, add complexity to the Company’s structure and utilize resources. Therefore, as of July 19, 2019, the Board
authorized management to divest these international subsidiaries. These actions were taken to focus our resources and efforts on our
core business activities, particularly foil balloons and ancillary products based in North America. The Company determined that these
entities met the held-for-sale and discontinued operations accounting criteria. Accordingly, the Company has reported the results of
these International operations as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and presented the related
assets and liabilities as held-for-sale in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These changes have been applied for all periods presented.
The Company divested its CTI Balloons (United Kingdom) subsidiary in the fourth quarter 2019, its Ziploc product line in the first quarter
2020, and its CTI Europe (Germany) subsidiary in 2021. Additionally, the Company sold its latex balloon manufacturer in Mexico (Flexo
Universal) during October 2021.
Results
of Operations
Net
Sales . For the three month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, net sales were $4,418,000 and $5,712,000, respectively.
For
the three-month period ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, net sales by product category were as follows:
Three Months Ended
June 30, 2022
June 30, 2021
$
% of
$
% of
Product Category
(000)
Omitted
Net Sales
(000)
Omitted
Net Sales
Variance
%
change
Foil Balloons
2,674
61 %
4,563
80 %
(1,889 )
(41 )%
Film Products
535
12 %
505
9 %
30
6 %
Other
1,209
27 %
644
11 %
565
88 %
Total
4,418
100 %
5,712
100 %
(1,294 )
(23 )%
For
the six month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, net sales were $10,215,000 and $12,311,000, respectively.
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For
the six month period ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, net sales by product category were as follows:
June 30, 2022
June 30, 2021
$
% of
$
% of
Product Category
(000)
Omitted
Net Sales
(000)
Omitted
Net Sales
Variance
%
change
Foil Balloons
6,506
64 %
9,498
77 %
(2,992 )
(32 )%
Film Products
1,363
13 %
811
7 %
552
68 %
Other
2,346
23 %
2,002
16 %
344
15 %
Total
10,215
100 %
12,311
100 %
(2,096 )
(17 )%
Foil
Balloons . Revenues from the sale of foil balloons decreased during the three months period from $4,563,000 ending June 30, 2021 compared
to $2,674,000 during the three month period of 2022. Revenues from the sale of foil balloons decreased during the six month period from
$9,498,000 ending June 30, 2021 compared to $6,506,000 during the six month period of 2022. An increase in the price of helium during
2022 negatively impacted customers of most types of foil balloons. This price increase was the result of both the broad inflationary
pressures and restrictions on trade with Russia, as we believe the latter supplies approximately 5% of the helium used in the marketplace.
This combined with temporary individual supply issues created increased pricing in the market. We also discontinued certain products
for which we were not able to secure adequate inflationary price increases.
Films .
Revenues from the sale of commercial films were $535,000 and $1,363,000 during the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2022, compared
to $505,000 and $811,000 during the same periods of 2021.
Other
Revenues . Revenues from the sale of other products were $1,209,000 and $2,346,000 during the three and six month periods ended June
30, 2022, compared to $644,000 and $2,002,000 during the same periods of 2021. The revenues from the sale of other products during these
periods include (i) sales of a line of “Candy Blossoms” and similar products consisting of candy and small inflated balloons
sold in small containers, (ii) latex balloons, and (iii) the sale of accessories and supply items related to balloon products. The largest
shipments of candy blossoms during 2021 occurred during March, while the same shipments during 2022 occurred during April.
Sales
to a limited number of customers continue to represent a large percentage of our net sales. The table below illustrates the impact on
sales of our top three and ten customers for the three month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021.
Three Months Ended June 30,
% of Sales
2022
2021
Top 3 Customers
83 %
79 %
Top 10 Customers
91 %
91 %
Six Months Ended June 30,
% of Sales
2022
2021
Top 3 Customers
82 %
82 %
Top 10 Customers
90 %
91 %
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During
the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, there were two customer whose purchases represented more than 10% of the Company’s
consolidated net sales. Sales to these customers for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 are as follows:
Three Months Ended
Three Months Ended
June 30, 2022
June 30, 2021
Customer
Net Sales
% of Net
Sales
Net Sales
% of Net
Sales
Customer A
$ 1,829,000
41 %
$ 3,421,000
60 %
Customer B
$ 1,323,000
30 %
$ 812,000
14 %
Six Months Ended
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
June 30, 2021
Customer
Net Sales
% of Net
Sales
Net Sales
% of Net
Sales
Customer A
$ 4,331,000
42 %
$ 7,344,000
60 %
Customer B
$ 2,670,000
26 %
$ 2,106,000
17 %
As
of June 30, 2022, the total amounts owed to the Company by these customers were approximately $2,008,000 or 73% of the Company’s
consolidated net accounts receivable. The amounts owed at June 30, 2021 by these customers were approximately $2,202,000 or 64% of the
Company’s consolidated net accounts receivable.
Cost
of Sales . During the three and six month period ended June 30, 2022, the cost of sales was $3,615,000 and $8,373,000, compared to
$4,718,000 and $10,031,000 respectively for the same period of 2021 due to lower sales volume. As a percentage of sales, cost of sales
was 81.8% and 82.0% during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to 82.6% and 81.5% during the three and six months
ended June 30, 2021.
General
and Administrative . During the three and six month period ended June 30, 2022, general and administrative expenses were $998,000
and $1,835,000 compared to $1,048,000 and $1,897,000 respectively for the same period in 2021.
Selling,
Advertising and Marketing . During the three and six month period ended June 30, 2022, selling, advertising and marketing expenses
were $111,000 and $332,000 as compared to $107,000 and $246,000 respectively for the same period in 2021. The Company is expanding its
customer outreach and engagement activities during 2022
Gain
on Sale of Assets . On April 23, 2021, the Company sold its facility in Lake Barrington, Illinois and as a result of the sale recognized
a gain amounting to $3,357,000.
Other
Income (Expense) . During the three and six month period ended June 30, 2022, the Company incurred interest expense of $109,000 and
$205,000 compared to interest expense of $148,000 and $348,000 respectively during the same period of 2021. Interest expense decreased
due to the reduction of the Company’s senior debt facility, as well as the manner of charges from the Company’s lender during
the relevant period. The lender during 2021 charged more interest, while the lender during 2022 charges lower interest and a monitoring
fee that is recorded in General and Administrative expenses.
Financial
Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash
Flow Items.
Operating
Activities . During the six months ended June 30, 2022, net cash provided by operations was $303,000, compared to net cash used by
operations during the six months ended June 30, 2021 of $617,000.
Significant
changes in working capital items during the three months ended June 30, 2022 included:
●
A
decrease in accounts receivable of $707,000 compared to a decrease in accounts receivable of $162,000 in the same period of 2021.
●
An
increase in inventory of $405,000 compared to an increase in inventory of $457,000 in 2021.
●
A
decrease in trade payables of $112,000 compared to an increase in trade payables of $43,000 in 2021.
●
A
gain on sale of assets of $3,357,000 in 2021
●
A
decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets of $333,000 compared to a decrease of $219,000 in 2021.
●
An
increase in accrued liabilities of $88,000 compared to an increase in accrued liabilities of $314,000 in 2021.
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Investing
Activity . During the six months ended June 30, 2022, cash used in investing activity was $94,000, compared to cash provided by investing
activity for the same period of 2021 in the amount of $3,454,000. Investing activity consisted principally of the cash flows from the
sale and leaseback of our Lake Barrington, Illinois facility, as further described below under the heading “Liquidity and Capital
Resources”.
Financing
Activities . During the six months ended June 30, 2022, cash used in financing activities was $221,000 compared to cash used in financing
activities for the same period of 2021 in the amount of $2,695,000. Financing activity consisted principally of changes in the balances
of revolving and long-term debt, as well as additional investment during 2021.
Discontinued
Operations . During the six months ended June 30, 2021, cash provided by discontinued operations was $538,000 with related exchange
rate impact of a cash use of $481,000.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources .
At
June 30, 2022, the Company had cash balances of $54,000 compared to cash balances of $265,000 for the same period of 2021.
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The
ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent on the Company executing its business plan and, if unable to do so,
in obtaining adequate capital on acceptable terms to fund any operating losses. Management’s plans to continue as a going concern
include executing its business plan, continuing to focus our Company on the most profitable elements, and exploring alternative funding
sources on an as needed basis. However, management cannot provide any assurances that the Company will be successful in accomplishing
any of its plans. The COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain constraints and inflationary pressures have impacted the Company’s business
operations to some extent and is expected to continue to do so and, these impacts may include reduced access to capital. The ability
of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to successfully generate or otherwise secure other sources
of financing and attain profitable operations. There is substantial doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern
for one year from the issuance of the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The accompanying consolidated financial statements
do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.
The
Company’s primary sources of liquidity have traditionally been comprised of cash and cash equivalents as well as availability under
the Credit Agreement with prior lender PNC (see Note 4) until September 30, 2021, at which time we refinanced with a new facility from
Line Capital. Through September 2021, we entered into a series of forbearance agreements with PNC related to compliance failures with
covenants. We believe that we have been in compliance with covenants since refinancing with Line Financial.
On
April 23, 2021, the Company entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (“PSA”) with an unaffiliated purchaser (the “Purchaser”)
pursuant to which the Company sold its facility in Lake Barrington, Illinois (the “Lake Barrington Facility”), in which our
headquarters office, production and warehouse space are located, to the Purchaser. The sale price for the Lake Barrington Facility was
$3,500,000, consisting of $2,000,000 in cash and a promissory note with a principal amount of $1,500,000, due and payable on May 3, 2021
(the “Purchaser Promissory Note”). Concurrently with the closing under the PSA, the Company and the Purchaser entered into
a lease agreement pursuant to which the Company agreed to lease the Lake Barrington Facility from the Purchaser for a period of ten years.
The annual base rent commenced at $500,000 for the first year of the term and escalates annually to $652,386 during the last year of
the term of the lease. Concurrently with the entry into the PSA and the Lease, the Company entered into a Consent, Forbearance and Amendment
No. 6 to Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement (the “Amendment Agreement”) with PNC for itself and for the other
participant lenders thereunder (collectively, the “Prior Lender”). Prior to entering into the Amendment Agreement, PNC had
notified the Company that various events of default had occurred under the Loan Agreement (the “Existing Defaults”) and were
continuing. Pursuant to the Amendment Agreement, the Prior Lender consented to the transactions contemplated by the PSA and the Lease,
as required under the Loan Agreement. As a condition to the Amendment Agreement, the Company agreed that the full $2,000,000 in cash
proceeds from the sale of the Lake Barrington Facility would be applied to repay the $2,000,000 term loan owed to the Prior Lender pursuant
to the Loan Agreement. The Company further agreed that $1,500,000 in proceeds from the Purchaser Promissory Note would be applied to
amounts due and owing to the Prior Lender under revolving credit advances made pursuant to the Loan Agreement (the “Revolving Loans”).
Pursuant to the Amendment Agreement, the Prior Lender agreed to forbear from exercising its rights and remedies with respect to the Existing
Event of Defaults under the Loan Agreement for a period ending on the earlier of September 30, 2021, the occurrence of a new event of
default under the Loan Agreement, or the occurrence of a Termination Event (as defined therein).
In
consideration for entering into the Loan Amendment, the Company agreed to pay the Lender a Forbearance Fee of $1,000,000. Provided, however,
that, so long as no Event of Default under the Loan Agreement has occurred (including as a result of a failure of the Company to pay
down the Revolving Loans by $1,500,000 with the proceeds of the Purchaser Promissory Note, (i) if the Company consummates the Equity
Investment by June 30, 2021, the Forbearance Fee shall be reduced by $250,000, to $750,000, and (ii) if the Company caused all of the
obligations under the Loan Agreement to be paid in full, in cash, on or before September 30, 2021, the Forbearance Fee shall be reduced
by an additional $500,000, to $250,000. As these requirements were met, the final Forbearance Fee was $250,000.
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Seasonality
In
the foil balloon product line, sales have historically been seasonal with approximately 40% occurring in the period from December through
March of the succeeding year and 24% being generated in the period July through October in recent years.
Please
see pages 12-20 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 for a description of policies that are critical
to our business operations and the understanding of our results of operations. The impact and any associated risks related to these policies
on our business operations is discussed throughout Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
where such policies affect our reported and expected financial results. No material changes to such information have occurred during
the three and six months ended June 30, 2022.
Item
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Market Risk
Not
applicable.
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