10-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

 

(Mark One)

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number 1-4987

 

 

SL INDUSTRIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   21-0682685

(State of other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

520 Fellowship Road, Suite A114, Mt. Laurel, NJ   08054
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 856-727-1500

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Common Stock, $.20 par value   NYSE MKT

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    YES  ¨    NO  x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    YES  ¨    NO  x

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

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

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

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

 

Large accelerated filer  ¨      Accelerated filer  ¨      Non-accelerated filer  ¨      Smaller reporting company  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES  ¨    NO  x

As of the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was $64,099,000 based on the closing price of the Registrant’s common stock on the NYSE MKT on that date. Shares of the Registrant’s common stock beneficially owned by each executive officer and director of the Registrant and by each person known by the Registrant to beneficially own 10% or more of its outstanding common stock have been excluded, in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of February 27, 2015 was 4,086,000.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Certain information required by Part III of this report (Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14) is incorporated by reference from the Company’s proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A with respect to the registrant’s 2014 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

Part I

    

Item 1

 

Business

     1   

Item 1A

 

Risk Factors

     7   

Item 1B

 

Unresolved Staff Comments

     7   

Item 2

 

Properties

     8   

Item 3

 

Legal Proceedings

     9   

Item 4

 

Mine Safety Disclosures

     10   

Part II

    

Item 5

 

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

     10   

Item 6

 

Selected Financial Data

     13   

Item 7

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     14   

Item 7A

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

     42   

Item 8

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

     42   

Item 9

 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

     42   

Item 9A

 

Controls and Procedures

     42   

Item 9B

 

Other Information

     44   

Part III

    

Item 10

 

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

     44   

Item 11

 

Executive Compensation

     44   

Item 12

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

     44   

Item 13

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence

     45   

Item 14

 

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

     45   

Part IV

    

Item 15

 

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

     45   

Signatures

     46   

Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule

     F-1   


Table of Contents

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

(a) General Development Of Business

SL Industries, Inc., through its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures and markets power electronics, motion control, power protection, and power quality electromagnetic equipment that are used in a variety of medical, commercial and military aerospace, computer, datacom, industrial, and telecom applications. Its products are generally incorporated into larger systems to improve operating performance, safety, reliability and efficiency. The Company’s products are largely sold to Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEMs”) and, to a lesser extent, to commercial distributors. The Company was incorporated as G-L Electronics Company in the state of New Jersey on March 29, 1956. The Company’s name was changed to G-L Industries, Inc. in November 1963; SGL Industries, Inc. in November 1970; and then to the present name of SL Industries, Inc. in September 1984. Unless the context requires otherwise, the terms the “Company,” “SL Industries,” “we,” “us” and “our” mean SL Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries after Reincorporation (defined and described below) and SL Industries, Inc., a New Jersey corporation prior to Reincorporation. In the context of describing the Reincorporation, “SL-NJ” means SL Industries, Inc., a New Jersey corporation, and “SL-DE” means SL Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of SL-NJ.

On May 9, 2013, the Company’s shareholders voted to approve a proposal to change the state of incorporation of SL Industries from the State of New Jersey to the State of Delaware by merging SL-NJ with and into SL-DE (the “Reincorporation”). On June 20, 2013 (the “Effective Date”), the Reincorporation was effected by merging SL-NJ with and into SL-DE pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 3, 2013, between SL-NJ and SL-DE. SL-DE survived the merger and SL-NJ ceased to exist. The principal reason for the Reincorporation was to give the Company a greater measure of flexibility and simplicity in corporate governance and provide greater clarity and predictability with respect to the Company’s corporate legal affairs. The Reincorporation did not result in any change in the name, business, management, fiscal year, accounting, location of the principal executive officers, assets or liabilities or net worth (other than the costs of reincorporation which were immaterial) of the Company.

On November 17, 2014, SL Delaware Holdings, Inc. (“SL Delaware Holdings”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a definitive Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Hubbell Power Systems, Inc. (“Hubbell”), a subsidiary of Hubbell Incorporated, pursuant to which SL Delaware Holdings sold all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of RFL Electronics Inc. (“RFL”) to Hubbell for aggregate cash consideration of $20,000,000, subject to a post-closing working capital adjustment which amounted to $299,000 and was received in February 2015. A portion of the cash consideration ($2,000,000, subject to adjustment after nine months), is being held in escrow to secure the indemnification obligations of SL Delaware Holdings. As a result, the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of $6,650,000 ($4,322,000 net of tax).

 

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(b) Financial Information About Segments

Financial information about the Company’s business segments is incorporated herein by reference to Note 23 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(c) Narrative Description Of Business

Segments

The Company currently operates under three business segments: SL Power Electronics Corp. (“SLPE”), the High Power Group, and SL Montevideo Technology, Inc. (“SL-MTI”). TEAL Electronics Corp. (“TEAL”) and MTE Corporation (“MTE”) are combined into one business segment, which is reported as the High Power Group. The Company aggregates operating business subsidiaries into a single segment for financial reporting purposes if aggregation is consistent with the objectives of ASC 280 “Segment Reporting.”

SLPE – SL Power Electronics Corp. designs, manufactures and markets high-reliability power conversion products in internal and external footprints. The Company’s power supplies provide a reliable and safe power source for the customer’s specific equipment needs. SLPE, which sells products under three brand names (SL Power Electronics, Condor and Ault), is a major supplier to the OEMs of medical, industrial/instrumentation, LED, and information technology equipment. For the years ended December 31, 2014, December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, net sales of SLPE, as a percentage of consolidated net sales from continuing operations, were 36%, 42% and 44%, respectively.

HIGH POWER GROUP – The High Power Group sells products under two brand names: TEAL and MTE. TEAL designs and manufactures power quality products that include noise suppression isolation transformers, power conditioned distribution systems, voltage regulators, and high level integrated cabinets with preinstalled prewired power quality and distribution components. TEAL primarily sells to OEMs of medical imaging, medical treatment, military aerospace, semiconductor, solar, and advanced simulation systems. MTE designs and manufactures power quality solutions used to protect electrical equipment, bring harmonics into compliance, and improve the efficiency of variable speed motor drive systems. MTE’s standard product lines include: harmonic filters, three-phase AC reactors, DC link chokes, and motor protection filters. TEAL and MTE also design and build customer specific and custom products for special applications. These products are typically used in industrial plants, renewable energy facilities, and commercial buildings. For the years ended December 31, 2014, December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, net sales of the High Power Group, as a percentage of consolidated net sales from continuing operations, were 42%, 37% and 36%, respectively.

SL-MTI – SL-MTI designs and manufactures high power density precision motors that are used in numerous mission critical applications, including military and commercial aerospace, oil and gas, medical, and industrial products. For the years ended December 31, 2014, December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, net sales of SL-MTI, as a percentage of consolidated net sales from continuing operations, were 22%, 21% and 20%, respectively.

 

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Discontinued Operations

RFL – RFL designs and manufactures communication and power protection products/systems that are used to protect electric utility transmission lines and apparatus by isolating faulty transmission lines from a transmission grid. On November 17, 2014, SL Delaware Holdings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, sold all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of RFL. As a result, the results of operations and cash flows of RFL are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

SURFTECH – SL Surface Technologies, Inc. (“SurfTech”) produced industrial coatings and platings for equipment in the corrugated paper and telecommunications industries. On November 24, 2003, the Company sold substantially all of the assets of SurfTech. As a result, SurfTech is reported as a discontinued operation for all periods presented. A significant portion of the Company’s environmental costs, which have been incurred and are expected to be incurred, are related to the former SurfTech operations.

Raw Materials

Raw material components are supplied by various domestic and international vendors. In general, availability of materials is not a problem for the Company; however, at times the Company has had to locate alternate suppliers for certain key components. Raw materials are purchased directly from the manufacturer whenever possible to avoid distributor mark-ups. Average lead times generally run from immediate availability to 22 weeks. Lead times can be substantially higher for strategic components subject to industry shortages. In most cases, viable multiple sources are maintained for flexibility and competitive leverage.

Copper is used primarily by the High Power Group in its transformers, filters and reactors. In an attempt to limit the volatility of copper costs, the High Power Group entered into forward purchase agreements during 2014 in the aggregate amount of approximately $2,600,000. As of December 31, 2014, forward purchase agreements in the aggregate amount of approximately $914,000 were entered into for 2015. As of December 31, 2014, no copper purchase commitments were greater than nine months.

Patents, Trademarks, Licenses, Franchises And Concessions

The Company has proprietary information that it has developed and uses in its business. This proprietary information is protected by contractual agreements as well as through patents and patents pending, to the extent appropriate. The patents are protected by federal law. To protect its proprietary information, the Company also enters into non-disclosure agreements with its employees, vendors and customers. Where appropriate, the Company will take and has taken all steps necessary to defend its intellectual property.

Seasonality

Generally, seasonality is not a significant factor in any of the Company’s segments.

Significant Customers

The Company has no customer that accounts for 10% or more of its consolidated net sales from continuing operations. SLPE, the High Power Group, and SL-MTI each have certain major customers, the loss of any of which could have a material adverse effect on such segment.

 

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Backlog

At February 27, 2015, March 2, 2014, and March 1, 2013, backlog was $78,358,000, $68,951,000, and $62,747,000, respectively. The backlog at February 27, 2015 increased by $9,407,000, or 14%, compared to March 2, 2014. SL-MTI and SLPE recorded increases in backlog while the High Power Group was relatively flat.

Competitive Conditions

The Company’s businesses are in active competition with domestic and foreign companies with national and international name recognition that offer similar products or services and with companies producing alternative products appropriate for the same uses. Each of the Company’s businesses seeks to gain an advantage from its competition by concentrating on differentiating or customizing products based on customer needs. The Company’s businesses also seek a competitive advantage based on quality, service, innovation, delivery and price.

Environmental

The Company (together with the industries in which it operates or has operated) is subject to the environmental laws and regulations of the United States, People’s Republic of China (“China”), Republic of Mexico (“Mexico”) and United Kingdom concerning emissions to the air, discharges to surface and subsurface waters and generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste materials. The Company and the subject industries are also subject to other federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, including those that require the Company to remediate or mitigate the effects of the disposal or release of certain chemical substances at various sites, mostly at sites where the Company has ceased operations. It is impossible to predict precisely what effect these laws and regulations will have on the Company in the future.

It is the Company’s policy to comply with all environmental, health and safety regulations, as well as industry standards for maintenance. The Company’s domestic and international competitors are subject to the same environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, and the Company believes in each of its markets that the subject compliance issues and potential related expenditures of its operating subsidiaries are comparable to those faced by its major competitors.

Loss contingencies include potential obligations to investigate and eliminate or mitigate the effects on the environment of the disposal or release of certain chemical substances at various sites, such as Superfund sites and other facilities, whether or not they are currently in operation. The Company is currently participating in environmental assessments and cleanups at a number of sites and in the future may be involved in additional environmental assessments and cleanups. Based upon investigations completed to date by the Company and its independent engineering-consulting firms, management has provided an estimated accrual for all known costs believed to be probable and costs that can be reasonably estimated in the amount of $16,859,000, of which $7,384,000 is included as other long-term liabilities, with the remainder recorded as other short-term accrued liabilities, as of December 31, 2014. However, it is the nature of environmental contingencies that other circumstances might arise, the costs of which are indeterminable at this time due to such factors as changing government regulations and stricter standards, the unknown magnitude of cleanup costs, and the unknown timing and extent of the remedial actions that may be required. These other circumstances could result in additional expenses or judgments, or offsets thereto. The adverse resolution of any one or more of these other circumstances could have a material adverse effect on the business, operating results, financial condition or cash flows of the Company. The Company’s environmental costs primarily relate to discontinued operations and such costs have been recorded in discontinued operations, net of tax.

 

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There are three sites on which the Company may incur material environmental costs in the future as a result of past activities of its former subsidiary, SurfTech. There are two Company owned sites related to its former subsidiary, SurfTech. These sites are located in Pennsauken, New Jersey (the “Pennsauken Site”) and in Camden, New Jersey (the “Camden Site”). There is also a third site, which is not owned by the Company, referred to as the “Puchack Well Field Site.” The Puchack Well Field Site and the Pennsauken Site are part of the Puchack Well Field Superfund Site. The Company’s environmental contingencies with respect to the Pennsauken Site are fully discussed in “Item 3. Legal Proceedings” included in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

With respect to the Camden Site, the Company has reported soil contamination and a groundwater contamination plume emanating from the site. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“NJDEP”) approved, and the Company implemented in 2010, an interim remedial action pilot study to inject neutralizing chemicals into the unsaturated soil. Based on an assessment of post-injection data, our consultants believe the pilot study can be implemented as a full scale soil remedy to treat unsaturated contaminated soil. A Remedial Action Workplan (“RAWP”) for soils is being developed. The RAWP will select the injection remedy as the site wide remedy for unsaturated soils, along with demolition and proper disposal of the former concrete building slab and targeted excavation and disposal of impacted soil immediately underlying the slab. Additionally, the RAWP will address a small area of impacted soil off the property. The RAWP for soils is expected to be submitted to the NJDEP in the first quarter of 2015, by the Licensed Site Remediation Professional (“LSRP”) for the site. The RAWP for treatment of unsaturated soils is scheduled to be implemented in the third quarter of 2015. The Company’s environmental consultants also implemented an interim remedial action pilot study to treat on-site contaminated groundwater, which consisted of injecting food-grade product, into the groundwater at the down gradient property boundary, to create a “bio-barrier.” Post-injection groundwater monitoring to assess the bio-barrier’s effectiveness was completed. Consistent decreases in target contaminants concentrations in groundwater were observed. In December 2014, a report was submitted to the NJDEP stating sufficient information was obtained from the pilot study to complete the full scale groundwater remedy design. A Remedial Action Report/Remedial Action Workplan for full scale implementation will be provided to the NJDEP in 2015.

As previously reported, the Company is currently participating in environmental assessments and cleanups at a number of sites. One of these sites is a commercial facility, located in Wayne, New Jersey. Contaminated soil and groundwater has undergone remediation with NJDEP and LSRP oversight, but contaminants of concern (“COCs”) in groundwater and surface water, which extend off-site, still remain above applicable NJDEP remediation standards. A soil remedial action plan has been developed to remove the new soil source contamination that continues to impact groundwater. Our LSRP completed a supplemental groundwater remedial action, pursuant to a RAWP filed with, and permit approved by, the NJDEP. The remedial action consisted of additional in-situ injections of food grade product into on-site groundwater and post-performance groundwater monitoring. The in-situ injections are completed, and remedial action performance monitoring for groundwater is scheduled to occur through 2015. Enhancements to the existing vapor intrusion system were completed in the fourth quarter 2014. The Company’s consultants have developed cost estimates for supplemental remedial injections, soil excavation and additional tests and remedial activities. Costs related to this site are recorded as part of discontinued operations, net of tax. The “Remedial Investigation” deadline for this site has been extended to May 7, 2016.

 

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The Company’s sale of RFL triggered certain requirements of the Industrial Site Recovery Act or (“ISRA”), which applies to New Jersey statutorily defined transactions involving industrial establishments. Under the stock purchase agreement pursuant to which RFL was sold (the “RFL-SPA”), the Company agreed to undertake, or cause to undertake, all actions necessary to comply with ISRA arising from the RFL-SPA. The Company hired an LSRP to complete a Preliminary Assessment. Based on the Preliminary Assessment, the LSRP recommended the completion of a site investigation (the “Site Investigation”) for certain areas of concern. The LSRP completed most of the Site Investigation in January 2015, and the remainder of the investigation is scheduled to be completed by April 2015. A Preliminary Assessment Report and Site Investigation Report are scheduled to be filed with the NJDEP by no later than November 17, 2015. The Company may then be obligated to perform additional investigation or remediation, depending on the outcome of the Site Investigation.

The Company has reported soil and groundwater contamination at the facility of SL-MTI located on its property in Montevideo, Minnesota. An analysis of the contamination has been completed and a remediation plan has been implemented at the site pursuant to the remedial action plan approved by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (“MCPA”). A soil vapor extraction system has been operating at the site since October 2008. In 2013 the regulatory and screening levels for soil vapor and groundwater were lowered for some of the contaminants at the site. In response to this regulatory change, SL-MTI’s consultants are conducting additional testing to delineate site impacts and update the site conceptual model. A work plan was submitted to MPCA and approved on September 22, 2014. Pending the results of work performed during 2015, additional investigations or remedial actions may be required in the future. Costs related to this site are recorded as a component of continuing operations.

Employees

As of December 31, 2014, the Company had approximately 1,400 employees. Of these employees, 177, or approximately 13%, were subject to collective bargaining agreements in Mexico.

Foreign Operations

In addition to manufacturing operations in California, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, the Company manufactures substantial quantities of products in premises leased in Mexicali, Mexico, Matamoros, Mexico, Tecate, Mexico, and Xianghe, China. SLPE manufactures most of its products in Mexico and China. TEAL, which is part of the High Power Group, has transferred the majority of its manufacturing to a wholly-owned subsidiary located in Mexico. SL-MTI manufactures a significant portion of its products in Mexico. These external and foreign sources of supply present risks of interruption for reasons beyond the Company’s control, including political or economic instability and other uncertainties.

Generally, the Company’s sales are priced and invoiced in U.S. dollars (USD) and its costs and expenses are priced in U.S. dollars, Mexican pesos (MXN) and Chinese yuan (CNH). The Mexican subsidiaries of SLPE, the High Power Group and SL-MTI maintain their books and records in Mexican pesos. SLPE’s subsidiaries in China maintain their books and records in Chinese yuan; however, most of their sales are invoiced in U.S. dollars. Business operations conducted in Mexico or China incur their respective labor costs and supply expenses in Mexican pesos and Chinese yuan, as the case may be.

 

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The competitiveness of the Company’s products relative to locally produced products may be affected by the performance of the U.S. dollar compared with that of its foreign customers’ and competitors’ currencies. Foreign net sales comprised 30%, 22% and 20% of net sales from continuing operations for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Additionally, the Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, which may result from fluctuations in the value of the Mexican peso and Chinese yuan versus the U.S. dollar.

Since 2012, the Company has entered into a series of foreign currency forward contracts to hedge its exposure to foreign exchange rate movements in its forecasted expenses in China and Mexico. The foreign currency forwards are not speculative and are being used to manage the Company’s exposure to foreign exchange rate movements. Foreign currency forward agreements involve fixing the USD-MXN and USD-CNH exchange rates for delivery of a specified amount of foreign currency on a specified date. The Company has elected not to apply hedge accounting to these derivatives and they are marked to market through earnings. Therefore, gains and losses resulting from changes in the fair value of these contracts are recognized at the end of each reporting period directly in earnings in other gain, net on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

For additional information related to financial information about foreign operations, see Notes 17 and 23 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Additional Information

Additional information regarding the development of the Company’s businesses during 2014 and 2013 is contained in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in Part II and Notes 1 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K are electronically filed with or furnished to Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and all such reports and amendments to such reports filed have been and will be made available, free of charge, through the Company’s website (http://www.slindustries.com) as soon as reasonably practicable after such filing. Such reports will remain available on the Company’s website for at least 12 months. The contents of the Company’s website are not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Not applicable.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

 

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

Set forth below are the properties where the Company conducted business as of December 31, 2014.

 

Location

  

General Character

  

Approx.
Square
Footage

    

Owned or Leased
And

Expiration Date

Ventura, CA    Administration, design and sales of power supply products (SLPE)      31,200       Leased – 1/13/2016
Canton, MA    Design of power supply products (SLPE)      2,560       Leased – 8/31/2016
Mexicali, Mexico    Manufacture and distribution of power supply products (SLPE)      82,400       Leased – 12/15/2020
Shanghai, China    Design of power supply products (SLPE)      8,800       Leased – 7/31/2016
Shanghai, China    Design of power supply products (SLPE)      600       Leased – 6/30/2015
Xianghe, China    Manufacture and distribution of power supply products (SLPE)      52,400       Leased – 12/31/2017
San Diego, CA    Administration, sales, design and manufacture of power distribution and conditioning units (High Power Group)      35,500       Leased – 12/31/2017
Tecate, Mexico    Manufacture of power distribution and conditioning units (High Power Group)      20,800       Leased – 3/31/2015
Tecate, Mexico    Manufacture of power distribution and conditioning units (High Power Group)      8,900       Leased – 11/30/2015
Menomonee Falls, WI    Design, sales, manufacture and distribution of power quality products (High Power Group)      43,200       Leased – 12/31/2017
Montevideo, MN    Administration, design, sales and manufacture of precision motors and motion control systems (SL-MTI)      30,000       Owned
Matamoros, Mexico    Manufacture of precision motors (SL-MTI)      30,000       Leased – 12/31/2015
Eden Prairie, MN    Administration and design of precision motors and motion control systems (SL-MTI)      3,700       Leased – 3/31/2018
Pennsauken, NJ    Land (Unallocated Corporate Assets) (1)      6,000       Owned
Mt. Laurel, NJ    Corporate office (Unallocated Corporate Assets)      4,200       Leased – 11/30/2015

 

(1)  Formerly a document warehouse, which was demolished during December 2013. The property was originally used for industrial surface finishing operations.

The Company believes that most of its manufacturing facilities are adequate for current production requirements. The Company believes that its remaining facilities are sufficient for current operations, maintained in good operating condition and adequately insured. Of the owned properties, none are subject to a major encumbrance material to the operations of the Company.

 

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Environmental Matters

The Company has been and is the subject of administrative actions that arise from its ownership of SL Surface Technologies, Inc. (“SurfTech”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, the assets of which were sold in November 2003. SurfTech formerly operated chrome-plating facilities in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey (the “Pennsauken Site”) and Camden, New Jersey (the “Camden Site”).

In 2006 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) named the Company as a potential responsible party (a “PRP”) in connection with the remediation of the Puchack Well Field, which has been designated as a Superfund Site. The EPA is remediating the Puchack Well Field Superfund Site in two separate operable units. The first operable unit (“OU-1”) consists of an area of chromium groundwater contamination in three aquifers that exceeds the selected cleanup standard. The second operable unit (“OU-2”) pertains to sites that are allegedly the sources of contamination for the first operable unit.

The Company has reached an agreement with both the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and EPA effective April 30, 2013 related to its liability for both OU-1 and OU-2 pursuant to the terms of a Consent Decree which governs the agreement. Specifically, the Company has agreed to perform the remediation for OU-2 and pay a fixed sum for the EPA’s past cost for OU-2 and a portion of the EPA’s past cost for OU-1. The payments are to be made in five equal payments of $2,141,000, for a total $10,705,000, plus interest. The Company has also agreed to pay the EPA’s costs for oversight of the OU-2 remediation. The United States District Court judge signed the Consent Decree effective April 30, 2013, thereby triggering the Company’s obligation under the Consent Decree. On May 10, 2013, the Company made the first payment related to its obligation under the Consent Decree in the amount of $2,185,000, which included interest. On May 20, 2014, the Company made the second payment related to its obligation under the Consent Decree in the amount of $2,211,000, which included interest. The next three payments will be made on the anniversary of the prior year’s payment plus ten days in the same amount of $2,141,000, plus interest. In 2013, the Company had obtained financial assurances for the OU-2 remediation and the fixed payments as required by the terms of the Consent Decree. The financial assurance is reduced annually as the fixed payments are made. Also, the financial instruments did not affect the Company’s availability under its Credit facility (see Note 12 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K).

The Company has completed the final stages of the design phase of the remediation activities for OU-2. The “100% Remediation Design” (the “Final Design”) was finalized in November 2014. The Final Design, was approved by the EPA in January 2015. The Final Design essentially sets the scope of work for the Company’s remediation responsibility related to OU-2 under the terms of the Consent Decree. The Company’s consultants performed a significant amount of work during 2014, which included demolition of the Company’s former facility and a building on an adjacent property, shoring, equipment mobilization and set in-place the main components of the on-site soil processing batch plant. The Company’s consultants have been providing the EPA with progress reports during the year, prior to submission of the Final Design. The Company expects to incur significant remediation costs in 2015, which have been accrued.

 

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Other

On March 10, 2015, Compass Directional Guidance, Inc. (“Compass”) filed a complaint (the “Complaint”) against SL-MTI in the District Court in Harris County, Texas. The Complaint seeks damages in excess of $18 million arising from the SL-MTI’s sale of certain brushless motors to Compass. Compass asserts that SL-MTI breached express and implied warranties, violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and negligently misrepresented the quality, specification and uses of its motors to Compass. SL-MTI intends to vigorously defend the claims asserted in the Complaint which it believes are limited by the contractual terms between the parties as well as the applicable statute of limitations, and are substantially without merit. The Company has notified its insurance carriers regarding this claim.

In the ordinary course of its business the Company is and may be subject to other loss contingencies pursuant to foreign and domestic federal, state and local governmental laws and regulations and may be party to certain legal actions, frequently involving complaints by terminated employees and disputes with customers, suppliers and others. In the opinion of management, any such other loss contingencies are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The Company’s common stock is currently listed on the NYSE MKT under the ticker symbol “SLI”. The following table sets forth the high and low closing sales price per share of the Company’s common stock for the periods indicated:

 

     Year
Ended December 31,
2014
     Year
Ended December 31,
2013
 
     HIGH      LOW      HIGH      LOW  

Stock Prices

           

1st Quarter

   $ 27.99       $ 24.01       $ 19.65       $ 16.60   

2nd Quarter

   $ 32.05       $ 24.84       $ 26.04       $ 18.35   

3rd Quarter

   $ 49.59       $ 29.86       $ 31.00       $ 22.14   

4th Quarter

   $ 50.15       $ 35.74       $ 30.50       $ 24.58   

Holders of Record

As of February 27, 2015, there were approximately 473 holders of record of the Company’s common stock.

Dividends

The Company has not paid a cash dividend on its common stock since 2012. The declaration and payment of dividends in the future, if any, and their amounts, will be determined by the Board of Directors in light of conditions then existing, including the Company’s earnings, financial condition and business requirements (including working capital needs), and other factors. On August 9, 2012, the Company entered into the 2012 Credit Facility with PNC Bank to replace its 2008 Credit Facility. The 2012 Credit Facility imposes restrictions on our ability to pay dividends, and thus the Company’s ability to pay dividends on our common stock will depend upon, among other things, the Company’s level of indebtedness at the time of the proposed dividend and whether the Company is in default under any of our debt obligations. The Company’s ability to pay dividends will also depend on the requirements of any future financing agreements to which we may be a party.

 

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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On November 16, 2010, the Board of Directors authorized a plan that allows for the repurchase up to an aggregate of 470,000 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock (the “2010 Repurchase Plan”). Any repurchases pursuant to the 2010 Repurchase Plan would be made in the open market or in negotiated transactions. During 2014, the Company purchased approximately 4,000 shares of Company stock at an average price of $24.68 a share under the 2010 Repurchase Plan.

On December 24, 2014, the Board of Directors authorized a plan that allows for the repurchase up to an aggregate of 420,000 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock (the “2014 Repurchase Plan”). The 2014 Repurchase Plan supersedes the 2010 Repurchase Plan. Any repurchases pursuant to the 2014 Repurchase Plan would be made in the open market or in negotiated transactions. No purchases were made under the 2014 Repurchase Plan during 2014. As of December 31, 2014, 420,000 shares remained available for purchase under the 2014 Repurchase Plan. Currently, the 2014 Repurchase Plan has no expiration date.

The following table presents information related to the repurchase of common stock that the Company made during the twelve months ended December 31, 2014:

 

Period

   Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased (1)
     Average
Price Paid
per Share
     Total Number
of Shares
Purchased as Part
of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
     Maximum Number
of Shares That May
Yet Be Purchased
under Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
 

February 2014

     2,000         24.52         2,000         241,000   

March 2014

     —           —           —           241,000   

April 2014

     2,000         24.80         2,000         239,000   

May 2014

     —           —           —           239,000   

June 2014

     —           —           —           239,000   

July 2014

     —           —           —           239,000   

August 2014

     —           —           —           239,000   

September 2014

     —           —           —           239,000   

October 2014

     —           —           —           239,000   

November 2014

     —           —           —           239,000   

December 2014

     —           —           —           420,000 (2) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

  4,000    $ 24.68      4,000      420,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)  The number of shares purchased pursuant to the 2010 Repurchase Plan.
(2)  The number of shares available for purchase pursuant to the 2014 Repurchase Plan.

 

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Equity Compensation Plan Information

Information relating to securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2014, is as follows:

 

     Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warranty and rights
    Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warranty and rights
    Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plans
(excluding shares
reflected in column
(a)
 
     (a)     (b)     (c)  

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

     228,000 (1)    $ 19.71 (2)      116,000 (3) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

  none   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  228,000    $ 19.71      116,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)  This amount includes the following:

 

    184,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options under the 2008 Incentive Stock Plan (the “2008 Plan”) with a weighted-average price of $19.71.

 

    6,000 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) earned under the Company’s 2012 Long-term Incentive Plan (the “2012 LTIP”) pursuant to the 2008 Plan.

 

    18,000 RSUs issuable under the Company’s 2013 Long-term Incentive Plan (the “2013 LTIP”) pursuant to the 2008 Plan. Assumes that outstanding performance-based RSUs will vest at target.

 

    20,000 RSUs issuable under the Company’s 2014 Long-term Incentive Plan (the “2014 LTIP”) pursuant to the 2008 Plan. Assumes that outstanding performance-based RSUs will vest at target.

 

(2)  The 2014 LTIP, 2013 LTIP, and 2012 LTIP RSUs have been excluded from the computation of the weighted-average exercise price since these awards have no exercise price.
(3)  This amount represents the number of shares available for issuance pursuant to stock options and awards that could be granted in the future under the Company’s active shareholder approved stock plan, the 2008 Plan. The 2008 Plan allows for the issuance of up to 500,000 shares.

 

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Selected consolidated financial data with respect to the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010, are presented below.

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011     2010  
     (amounts in thousands except per share data)  

Net sales (1)

   $ 204,417       $ 184,658       $ 179,375       $ 189,506      $ 167,370   

Income from continuing operations (1)(2)

   $ 14,180       $ 7,478       $ 7,539       $ 10,792      $ 7,859   

Income (loss) from discontinued operations (1)(3)

   $ 4,715       $ 762       $ 238       $ (2,594   $ (5,303

Net income (1)(4)

   $ 18,895       $ 8,240       $ 7,777       $ 8,198      $ 2,556   

Diluted net income per common share (1)

   $ 4.51       $ 1.97       $ 1.80       $ 1.79      $ 0.44   

Shares used in computing diluted net income per common shares (1)(5)

     4,187         4,184         4,330         4,573        5,811   

Year-end financial position

             

Working capital

   $ 56,120       $ 37,051       $ 26,309       $ 34,404      $ 21,029   

Current ratio

     2.27         2.10         1.76         2.09        1.52   

Total assets

   $ 131,776       $ 113,334       $ 107,137       $ 111,226      $ 104,899   

Long-term debt, less current maturities

   $ —         $ 187       $ —         $ —        $ —     

Shareholders’ equity

   $ 77,321       $ 59,175       $ 50,432       $ 56,857      $ 47,249   

Book value per share

   $ 18.66       $ 14.34       $ 12.18       $ 12.45      $ 10.53   

Other

             

Capital expenditures (6)

   $ 2,850       $ 2,434       $ 1,553       $ 2,450      $ 1,190   

Depreciation and amortization (7)

   $ 2,220       $ 2,010       $ 2,296       $ 2,397      $ 2,561   

 

(1) On November 17, 2014, SL Delaware Holdings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into the Purchase Agreement with Hubbell pursuant to which SL Delaware Holdings sold all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of RFL to Hubbell for aggregate cash consideration of $20,000,000, subject to a post-closing working capital adjustment which amounted to $299,000 and was received in February 2015. The Company concluded that the accounting requirements for reporting the results of operations of the divested business as discontinued operations were met at November 17, 2014. As a result, the results of operations for the periods presented have been recast to reflect the formerly owned RFL businesses as discontinued operations.
(2)  Fiscal 2013 includes a $5,055,000 ($3,172,000 net of tax) goodwill impairment related to the TEAL reporting unit, which is part of the High Power Group segment.
(3)  Discontinued operations include the results of operations of the Company’s RFL business and environmental remediation activities associated with the Company’s five environmental sites. Prior to fiscal 2012, discontinued operations for the periods indicated largely relate to expenses for environmental remediation activities, legal expenses, and potential settlement costs associated with SurfTech, which were partially offset by the results of operations of the Company’s RFL business.
(4)  During the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company recorded a $5,151,000, net of tax, charge related to estimated environmental remediation liabilities associated with the Pennsauken Site, which was partially offset by a $787,000 favorable settlement with a foreign tax authority during the second quarter of 2011. Fiscal 2010 includes a provision for environmental remediation of $5,132,000, net of tax, related to the Pennsauken Site and $784,000, net of tax, related to the Camden Site.
(5)  Fiscal 2014 and 2013 represents the effect of the purchase of Company stock pursuant to the Company’s 2010 Repurchase Plan. During 2014 and 2014, the Company purchased approximately 4,000 shares and 87,000 shares of its common stock in connection with the 2010 Repurchase Plan.

Fiscal 2012 represents the effect of the Company’s “Dutch Auction” tender offer that expired on June 27, 2012 (the “2012 Tender Offer”) and the purchase of Company stock pursuant to the Company’s 2010 Repurchase Plan. The Company purchased and retired approximately 307,000 shares of its common stock in connection with the 2012 Tender Offer, and purchased approximately 140,000 shares in connection with the 2010 Repurchase Plan.

Fiscal 2011 represents the full year effect of the Company’s tender offer that expired on October 13, 2010 (the “2010 Tender Offer”) and the purchase of Company stock held by the Company’s defined contribution plan during the fourth quarter of 2010. During 2010, the Company purchased and retired approximately 1,335,000 shares of its common stock in connection with the 2010 Tender Offer, and purchased approximately 252,000 shares of its common stock held by its defined contribution plan.

 

(6)  Excludes capital expenditures of the formerly owned RFL business.
(7)  Excludes amortization of deferred financing costs. Also excludes depreciation and amortization of the formerly owned RFL business.

 

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following section highlights significant factors impacting the consolidated operations and financial condition of the Company and its subsidiaries. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with Item 6. “Selected Financial Data,” Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” and the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations and the current economic environment. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. They involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, including, but not limited to, the Company’s ability to implement its business plan, retain key management, anticipate industry and competitive conditions, realize operating efficiencies, secure necessary capital facilities and obtain favorable determinations in various legal and regulatory matters. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Some important assumptions and other critical factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are specified in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Overview

SL Industries, Inc., through its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures and markets power electronics, motion control, power protection, and power quality electromagnetic equipment that is used in a variety of medical, commercial and military aerospace, computer, datacom, industrial, and telecom applications. Its products are generally incorporated into larger systems to improve operating performance, safety, reliability and efficiency. The Company’s products are largely sold to OEMs and, to a lesser extent, to commercial distributors. The Company is comprised of three domestic business segments, all of which have significant manufacturing operations in Mexico. SLPE has manufacturing, engineering and sales capability in China. Most of the Company’s sales are made to customers who are based in the United States. The Company places an emphasis on highly engineered, well-built, high quality, dependable products and is dedicated to continued product enhancement and innovation.

The Company’s business strategy has been to enhance the growth and profitability of each of its businesses through the penetration of attractive new market niches, further improvement of operations through the implementation of lean manufacturing principles, expansion of lean principles into the transactional side of the business, and expansion of global capabilities. The Company intends to focus on improving efficiencies that better leverage the Company’s resources. Lean initiatives, both on the factory floor and throughout the organization, are ongoing. The Company expects to pursue its goals during the next twelve months principally through organic growth. The Company also continues to pursue strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value. Some of these alternatives have included, and could continue to include, selective acquisitions, divestitures and the sale of certain assets. The Company has provided, and may from time to time in the future provide, information to interested parties.

 

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In the sections that follow, statements with respect to 2014 or fiscal 2014 refer to the twelve month period ending December 31, 2014. Statements with respect to 2013 or fiscal 2013 refer to the twelve month period ending December 31, 2013.

Significant Transactions and Financial Trends

On November 17, 2014, SL Delaware Holdings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into the Purchase Agreement with Hubbell pursuant to which SL Delaware Holdings sold all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of RFL to Hubbell for aggregate cash consideration of $20,000,000, subject to a post-closing working capital adjustment which amounted to $299,000 and was received in February 2015. A portion of the cash consideration ($2,000,000, subject to adjustment after nine months), is being held in escrow to secure the indemnification obligations of SL Delaware Holdings. As a result, the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of $6,650,000 ($4,322,000 net of tax).

On July 25, 2014, the Company acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of Dynetic Systems, Inc. (“Dynetic”), pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement for an initial purchase price of $4,000,000 less a working capital adjustment of $27,000 (the “Dynetic Acquisition”). The Asset Purchase Agreement also includes a possible earn-out, initially estimated at $310,000, which is comprised of annual payments based on sales of Dynetic products and sales to Dynetic customers over the period immediately following the date of the Dynetic Acquisition through December 31, 2017. Dynetic designed, developed and manufactured precision quality, instrument grade motion control products, and provided custom motor and motion control solutions to the aerospace, defense, medical, commercial and industrial markets. In connection with the Dynetic Acquisition, SL Montevideo Technology, Inc. (“SL-MTI”) recorded $266,000 of non-cash inventory step-up amortization due to purchase accounting and direct acquisition costs of approximately $146,000 during 2014. The non-cash inventory step-up amortization was recorded within cost of products sold and direct acquisition costs were recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income. SLMTI DS LLC (“SLMTI DS”), a new formed subsidiary of SL-MTI, holds the assets acquired in the Dynetic Acquisition.

During 2013, the Company reached an agreement with both the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and EPA related to its liability for both OU-1 and OU-2 pursuant to the terms of a Consent Decree which governs the agreement. On May 20, 2014, the Company made the second payment related to its obligation under the Consent Decree in the amount of $2,211,000, which included interest. The next three payments will be made on the anniversary of the prior year’s payment plus ten days in the same amount of $2,141,000, plus interest (see Note 16 for additional information).

During 2013, the Company purchased publicly traded equity securities which were classified as available-for-sale securities. During 2014, the Company sold all of its available-for-sale securities for total proceeds of $4,054,000. The gross realized gains on these sales totaled $1,691,000 ($1,063,000 net of tax), for the year ended December 31, 2014 (see Note 10 for additional information).

 

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Business Trends

Demand for the Company’s products and services increased during 2014 compared to 2013. During 2014, net sales increased by $19,759,000, or 11%, while income from operations increased by $9,327,000, or 91%. The largest increases in net sales during the year occurred at the High Power Group and SL-MTI. Excluding a $5,055,000 non-cash goodwill impairment charge recognized in 2013 by TEAL, which is part of the High Power Group, income from operations increased by $4,272,000, or 28%, during 2014. The largest increase in income from operations occurred at the High Power Group.

During 2014, bookings increased by $18,498,000, or 10%, compared to 2013. All operating segments experienced increases in bookings in 2014 with the most significant increases occurring at SL-MTI and the High Power Group. Backlog at December 31, 2014, was $72,292,000, compared to $65,641,000 at December 31, 2013, for an increase of $6,651,000, or 10%. The most significant increase occurred at SL-MTI, which was partially offset by a large decrease at the High Power Group.

The Company’s management is taking numerous actions to improve sales through the deployment of growth tools aimed at identifying attractive market segments and penetrating those markets through aggressive new product introduction. The Company is also identifying and penetrating selected geographic opportunities. The Company is continuing to emphasize lean initiatives at all of its facilities in manufacturing as well as in finance and administration.

While these items are important in understanding and evaluating financial results and trends, other transactions or events, which are disclosed in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis, may have a material impact on continuing operations. A complete understanding of these transactions is necessary in order to estimate the likelihood that these trends will continue.

Critical Accounting Policies

The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (“GAAP”). GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of reported and contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the amounts of reported net sales and expenses during the reporting period.

The SEC has issued disclosure guidance for “critical accounting policies.” The SEC defines “critical accounting policies” as those that are most important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results, and that require application of management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and may change in subsequent periods.

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Not all of these significant accounting policies require management to make difficult, subjective or complex judgments or estimates. However, the following policies are deemed to be critical within the SEC definition. The Company’s senior management has reviewed these critical accounting policies and estimates and the related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

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Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the purchase price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Revenue is recorded in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 104. The major portion of the Company’s revenue is derived from equipment sales. The Company recognizes equipment revenue upon shipment or delivery, depending upon the terms of the order, and transfer of title. Generally, the revenue recognition criteria are met at the time the product is shipped. The Company does not currently have any multiple-element arrangements.

Provisions are established for product warranties, principally based on historical experience. At times the Company establishes reserves for specific warranty issues known by management. Customer service and installation revenue is recognized when completed.

SLPE has two sales programs with distributors, pursuant to which credits are issued to distributors: (1) a re-stocking program and (2) a competitive discount program. The distributor re-stocking program allows distributors to rotate up to a pre-determined percentage of their purchases over the previous six month period. SLPE provides for this allowance as a decrease to revenue based upon the amount of sales to each distributor and other historical factors. The competitive discount program allows a distributor to sell a product out of its inventory at a negotiated price in order to meet certain competitive situations. SLPE records this discount as a reduction to revenue based on the distributor’s eligible inventory. The eligible distributor inventory is reviewed at least quarterly. No cash is paid under either distributor program. These programs affected consolidated gross revenue for 2014, 2013 and 2012 by approximately 0.3%, 0.5% and 0.7%, respectively.

Certain judgments affect the application of the Company’s revenue policy, as mentioned above. Revenue recognition is significant because net revenue is a key component of results of operations. In addition, revenue recognition determines the timing of certain expenses, such as commissions, royalties and certain incentive programs. Revenue results are difficult to predict. Any shortfall in revenue or delay in recognizing revenue could cause operating results to vary significantly from year to year and quarter to quarter.

Allowance For Doubtful Accounts

The Company’s estimate for the allowance for doubtful accounts related to trade receivables is based on two methods. The amounts calculated from each of these methods are combined to determine the total amount reserved. First, the Company evaluates specific accounts where it has information that the customer may have an inability to meet its financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy or insolvency). In these cases, the Company uses its judgment, based on the best available facts and circumstances, and records a specific reserve for that customer against amounts due to reduce the receivable to the amount that is expected to be collected. These specific reserves are reevaluated and adjusted as additional information is received that impacts the amount reserved. Second, a general reserve is established for all customers based on several factors, including historical write-offs as a percentage of sales. If circumstances change (e.g., higher than expected defaults or an unexpected material adverse change in a major customer’s ability to meet its financial obligation), the Company’s estimates of the recoverability of amounts due could be reduced by a material amount. Receivables are charged off against the reserve when they are deemed uncollectible. The Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts represented 0.8% and 1.9% of gross trade receivables at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

 

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Inventories

The Company values inventory at the lower of cost or market, and continually reviews the book value of discontinued product lines to determine if these items are properly valued. The Company identifies these items and assesses the ability to dispose of them at a price greater than cost. If it is determined that cost is less than market value, then cost is used for inventory valuation. If market value is less than cost, then related inventory is adjusted to market value.

If a write down to the current market value is necessary, the market value cannot be greater than the net realizable value, which is defined as selling price less costs to complete and dispose, and cannot be lower than the net realizable value less a normal profit margin. The Company also continually evaluates the composition of its inventory and identifies obsolete, slow-moving and excess inventories. Inventory items identified as obsolete, slow-moving or excess are evaluated to determine if reserves are required. If the Company were not able to achieve its expectations of the net realizable value of the inventory at current market value, it would have to adjust its reserves accordingly. The Company attempts to accurately estimate future product demand to properly adjust inventory levels. However, significant unanticipated changes in demand could have a significant impact on the value of inventory and of operating results.

Investments

The Company determines the appropriate classification of its investments in equity securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such determinations at each balance sheet date. Marketable securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term are classified as trading securities and are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recognized in earnings. Marketable equity securities not classified as trading are classified as available for sale, and are carried at fair market value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, included in the determination of comprehensive income and reported in shareholders’ equity. The fair value of all securities held by the Company is determined by quoted market prices.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

FASB ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”), provides the disclosure requirements for derivatives and hedging activities with the intent to provide users of financial statements with an enhanced understanding of: (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how the entity accounts for derivative instruments and related hedged items, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Further, qualitative disclosures are required that explain the Company’s objectives and strategies for using derivatives, as well as quantitative disclosures about the fair value of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative instruments.

The Company is exposed to certain risks arising from both its business operations and economic conditions. The Company principally manages its exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through management of its core business activities. Certain of the Company’s foreign operations expose the Company to fluctuations of foreign interest rates and exchange rates. These fluctuations may impact the value of the Company’s revenues, expenses, cash receipts and payments in terms of the Company’s functional currency. The Company enters into derivative financial instruments to protect the value or fix the amount of certain cash flows in terms of the functional currency of the business unit with that exposure.

 

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As required by ASC 815, the Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether the Company has elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. The Company enters into derivative contracts that are intended to economically hedge certain of its risk, even though hedge accounting does not apply or the Company elects not to apply hedge accounting. Currently, the Company does not apply hedge accounting to any of its foreign currency derivatives.

Accounting For Income Taxes

Significant management judgment is required in determining the provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets. Net deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were $11,601,000 and $13,043,000, respectively, net of valuation allowances of $1,720,000 for 2014 and $2,003,000 for 2013. The 2014 and 2013 valuation allowances were primarily related to discontinued operations. The carrying value of the Company’s net deferred tax assets assumes that the Company will be able to generate sufficient future taxable income in certain tax jurisdictions. Valuation allowances are attributable to uncertainties related to the Company’s ability to utilize certain deferred tax assets prior to expiration. These deferred tax assets primarily consist of the state tax expense on certain expenses and loss carryforwards. The valuation allowance is based on estimates of taxable income, expenses and credits by the jurisdictions in which the Company operates and the period over which deferred tax assets will be recoverable. In the event that actual results differ from these estimates or these estimates are adjusted in future periods, the Company may need to establish an additional valuation allowance that could materially impact its consolidated financial position and results of operations. Each quarter, management evaluates the ability to realize the deferred tax assets and assesses the need for additional valuation allowances.

The Company applies the provisions of ASC 740-10-55 to all tax positions for which the statute of limitations remain open. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2014 was $865,000, excluding interest and penalties. This amount represents unrecognized tax benefits, which, if ultimately recognized, will reduce the Company’s effective tax rate. As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company reported accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits of $81,000 and $100,000, respectively. For additional disclosures related to accounting for income taxes, see Note 11 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Legal Contingencies

The Company is currently involved in certain legal proceedings. As discussed in Note 16 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company has accrued an estimate of the probable costs for the resolution of these claims. This estimate has been developed based on the current stage of negotiations and data from the Company’s environmental engineering consultants and legal counsel. Management does not believe these proceedings will have a further material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, except as discussed in Note 16. As with litigation, generally the outcome is inherently uncertain. It is possible, however, that future results of operations for any particular quarterly or annual period could be materially affected by changes in these assumptions, or the effectiveness of these strategies, related to these proceedings.

 

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Goodwill

The Company has allocated its adjusted goodwill balance to its reporting units. The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually at fiscal year-end and in interim periods if certain events occur indicating that the carrying value of goodwill may be impaired, such as a significant adverse change in business climate, an adverse action or assessment by a regulator or the decision to sell a business, that would make it more likely than not that an impairment may have occurred. The goodwill impairment test is a two-step process. The first step of the impairment analysis compares the fair value to the net book value. In determining fair value, the accounting guidance allows for the use of several valuation methodologies, although it indicates that quoted market prices are the best evidence of fair value. The Company uses a combination of expected present values of future cash flows and comparative market multiples. It has also performed a review of market capitalization with estimated control premiums at December 31, 2014. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its net book value, the Company would perform a second step in its analysis, which compares the implied fair value of goodwill to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, the Company recognizes an impairment loss equal to that excess amount. Application of the goodwill impairment test requires judgment, including the identification of reporting units, assigning assets and liabilities to reporting units, assigning goodwill to reporting units and determining the fair value of each reporting unit. Significant judgments required to estimate the fair value of reporting units include estimating future cash flows, determining appropriate discount and growth rates, operating margins and working capital requirements, selecting comparable companies within each reporting unit and market and determining control premiums. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could materially affect the determination of fair value for each reporting unit.

The assumptions about future cash flows and growth rates are based on the budget and long-term business plans of each reporting unit. Such assumptions take into account numerous factors including but not limited to historical experience, anticipated economic conditions, new product introductions, product cost and cost structure of each reporting unit. The growth rates assumptions were generally consistent with those utilized in prior year forecasted periods, except in certain circumstances where operational strategies support otherwise.

For 2014, there were three reporting units identified for impairment testing. Those units were SLPE, MTE and SL-MTI. For 2013 and 2012, there were four reporting units identified for impairment testing. Those units were SLPE, TEAL, MTE and RFL. There were no impairment charges related to goodwill recorded during 2014 and 2012. Based upon the assumptions described above, the Company’s 2013 annual impairment test resulted in our assessment that the carrying value of the TEAL reporting unit exceeded its fair value. As a result of the annual impairment test, a $5,055,000 non-cash goodwill impairment charge was assessed and recorded in goodwill impairment expense on the Consolidated Statements of Income in the fourth quarter of 2013 in the Company’s High Power Group segment. The goodwill impairment was primarily due to a decline in medical imaging equipment market sales during the year coupled with the cancellation of a large solar contract during the fourth quarter of 2013. This resulted in the TEAL reporting unit having lower sales and cash flows for the year than previously projected and lower forecasts of future sales and cash flows for the reporting unit.

 

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As of December 31, 2014, the total fair values for each of the remaining reporting units in all of the Company’s segments exceeded their total carrying values by 168% or greater. Although our analysis regarding the fair values of the goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets indicates that they exceed their respective carrying values, materially different assumptions regarding the future performance of the Company’s businesses or significant declines in the Company’s stock price could result in additional goodwill impairment losses.

The Company has performed sensitivity analysis to illustrate the impact of changes in assumptions underlying the first step of the impairment test for all reporting units that have goodwill. Based upon the Company’s annual assessment:

 

    a one percentage point decrease in the perpetual growth rate would reduce the indicated fair value of each reporting unit by a range of approximately 2% to 3% and would not result in an impairment of any reporting unit;

 

    a three percentage point decrease in the operating margin (operating income before tax) would reduce the indicated fair value of each reporting unit by a range of approximately 8% to 16% and would not result in an impairment of any reporting unit; or

 

    a one percentage point increase in the discount rate would reduce the indicated fair value of each reporting unit by a range of approximately 4% to 5% and would not result in an impairment of any reporting unit.

Goodwill totaled $13,072,000 and $17,666,000 as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (representing 10% and 16% of total assets), respectively.

Impairment Of Long-Lived And Intangible Assets

The Company’s long-lived and intangible assets primarily consist of fixed assets, goodwill and other intangible assets. The Company periodically reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets held and used, other than goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives, and assets to be disposed of whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company assesses the recoverability of the asset by estimated cash flows and at times by independent appraisals. It compares estimated cash flows expected to be generated from the related assets, or the appraised value of the asset, to the carrying amounts to determine whether impairment has occurred. If the estimate of cash flows expected to be generated changes in the future, the Company may be required to record impairment charges that were not previously recorded for these assets. If the carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired, an impairment charge is recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds its fair value. Asset impairment evaluations are by nature highly subjective. There were no impairment charges related to long-lived and intangible assets recorded during 2014, 2013 and 2012.

 

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Environmental Expenditures

Expenditures that relate to current operations are charged to expense or capitalized, as appropriate. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by formerly owned operations are expensed and recorded as part of discontinued operations, net of tax. Expenditures include costs of remediation, consulting, legal fees to defend against claims for environmental liability and certain costs to assist the Company with compliance matters and administrative tasks. Liabilities are recorded when remedial efforts are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. The liability for remediation expenditures includes, as appropriate, elements of costs such as site investigations, consultants’ fees, feasibility studies, outside contractor expenses and monitoring expenses. Estimates are not discounted and they are not reduced by potential claims for recovery from insurance carriers. The Company does not currently have any outstanding claims against insurance carriers related to remediation expenditures. The liability is periodically reviewed and adjusted to reflect current remediation progress, prospective estimates of required activity and other relevant factors, including changes in technology or regulations. For additional information related to environmental matters, see Note 16 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The above listing is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all of the Company’s accounting policies. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by GAAP with no need for management’s judgment in its application. There are also areas in which management’s judgment in selecting any available alternatives would not produce a materially different result. For a discussion of accounting policies and other disclosures required by GAAP, see the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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Liquidity And Capital Resources

 

     December 31,
2014
     December 31,
2013
     $ Variance      % Variance  
     (in thousands)  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 31,950       $ 7,163       $ 24,787         346

Bank debt

   $ —         $ 1,000       $ (1,000      (100 %) 

Capital leases

   $ —         $ 235       $ (235      (100 %) 

Working capital

   $ 56,120       $ 37,051       $ 19,069         51

Shareholders’ equity

   $ 77,321       $ 59,175       $ 18,146         31

The Company’s liquidity needs have related to, and are expected to continue to relate to, capital investments, product development costs, acquisitions, working capital requirements, and certain environmental and legal remediation costs. The Company has met its liquidity needs primarily through cash generated from operations and, to a lesser extent, through bank borrowings. The Company believes that cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations and funding available under the 2012 Credit Facility will be adequate to service debt and meet working capital needs, capital investment, and product development requirements for the next twelve months.

At December 31, 2014, the Company reported $31,950,000 of cash and cash equivalents, compared to $7,163,000 of cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2013. Cash and cash equivalents increased in 2014 primarily due to $17,207,000 of net cash provided by continuing operations and $7,628,000 of net cash provided by discontinued operations. Net cash provided by continuing operations consisted of $19,849,000 of net cash provided by operating activities, which was partially offset by $1,491,000 of net cash used in investing activities and $1,151,000 of net cash used in financing activities. Net cash provided by discontinued operations consisted of $17,783,000 of net cash provided by investing activities, which was partially offset by $9,920,000 of net cash used in operating activities and $235,000 of net cash used in financing activities.

During 2014, net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $19,849,000 as compared to net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations of $13,658,000 during 2013. The primary sources of cash from operating activities during 2014 were income from continuing operations of $14,180,000, an increase in accrued income taxes of $4,152,000, an increase in accounts payable of $2,130,000, a decrease in deferred income tax assets of $1,615,000, and an increase in other accrued liabilities of $1,321,000. In addition, depreciation and amortization expense of $2,220,000 was added to income from continuing operations. The increase in accrued income taxes was primarily due to the timing of tax payments related to the gain from the sale of the company’s RFL subsidiary during the fourth quarter of 2014. All of the Company’s operating segments recorded increases in accounts payable during 2014, which was primarily the result of increased purchases during the fourth quarter of 2014 to meet customer demand. The decrease in deferred income tax assets was primarily due to environmental payments in 2014 for environmental claims, remediation, and other services which were accrued for in prior years. The increase in other accrued liabilities was primarily due to the reclassification of the fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts from other current assets in 2013 to other current liabilities in 2014 due to an unrealized loss which was recognized during 2014. The sources of cash from operating activities were partially offset by an increase in accounts receivable of $5,129,000, a gain from the sale of common stock classified as available-for-sale securities of $1,691,000, and a gain from the sale of property, plant and equipment of $1,127,000. All of the Company’s operating segments recorded increases in accounts receivable, which was primarily the result of increased sales during the fourth quarter of 2014 as compared to 2013. The gain from the sale of property, plant and equipment was primarily due to the sale of the Company’s former manufacturing facility located in Xianghe, China. The Company relocated to a new manufacturing facility in Xianghe, China during the fourth quarter of 2014.

 

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During 2013, net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $13,658,000. The primary sources of cash from operating activities during 2013 were income from continuing operations of $7,478,000 and an increase in other accrued liabilities of $3,368,000. In addition, a non-cash goodwill impairment expense of $5,055,000 related to the Company’s TEAL reporting unit, which is part of the High Power Group segment, and depreciation and amortization expense of $2,010,000 were added to income from continuing operations. The increase in other accrued liabilities was primarily due to an increase in accrued bonus and other compensation costs as the result of the Company’s improved financial performance during 2013 as compared to 2012. The sources of cash from operating activities were partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable of $1,860,000, an increase in other assets of $1,729,000, and an increase in accounts receivable of $1,028,000. The largest decrease in accounts payable occurred at SLPE, which was partially offset by a large increase at MTE, which is part of the High Power Group. The decrease at SLPE was due to less inventory purchases during the fourth quarter of 2013 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2012 primarily due to lean initiatives to reduce inventory levels. The increase at MTE was due to an increase in inventory purchases during the fourth quarter of 2013 in order to fulfill a large customer order which was delivered during the beginning of 2014. The increase in other assets was primarily due to the increase in fair value of certain publicly traded equity securities which the Company has classified as available-for-sale securities coupled with an increase in prepaid taxes at SLPE. The largest increase in accounts receivable occurred at SL-MTI, which was partially offset by a large decrease at SLPE. The increase at SL-MTI was primarily due to an increase in sales during the fourth quarter of 2013 as compared to 2012. The increase at SL-MTI was also due to decreased collections in December 2013 as compared to December 2012. The decrease in accounts receivable at SLPE was primarily related to a large VAT receivable in 2012 with no comparable receivable in 2013.

During 2014, net cash used in operating activities from discontinued operations was $9,920,000 as compared to $3,959,000 during 2013. The primary uses of cash from operating activities from discontinued operations during 2014 were an after-tax gain of $4,322,000 from the sale of the company’s RFL subsidiary (proceeds of $18,000,000 are recorded as part of investing activities), and $5,902,000 of environmental payments. The primary uses of cash from operating activities from discontinued operations during 2013 were $4,333,000 of environmental payments.

On November 17, 2014, SL Delaware Holdings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, sold all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of RFL to Hubbell for aggregate cash consideration of $20,000,000, subject to a post-closing working capital adjustment which amounted to $299,000 and was received in February 2015. A portion of the cash consideration ($2,000,000, subject to adjustment after nine months), is being held in escrow to secure the indemnification obligations of SL Delaware Holdings. As a result, the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of $6,650,000 ($4,322,000 net of tax).

 

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During the second quarter of 2013, the Company reached an agreement with both the DOJ and EPA related to its liability for both OU-1 and OU-2 pursuant to the terms of a Consent Decree which governs the agreement. During 2014 and 2013, the Company paid $2,211,000 and $2,185,000, which included interest, related to its obligation under the Consent Decree. The remaining environmental payments in 2014 and 2013 were related to environmental remediation costs, consulting fees, and legal expenses associated with the past operations of the Company’s five environmental sites.

During 2014, net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations was $1,491,000 as compared to net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations of $5,116,000 during 2013. Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations during 2014 was primarily related to the acquisition of certain assets of Dynetic of $3,973,000 and purchases of property, plant and equipment of $2,850,000, which were partially offset by the proceeds from the sale of common stock classified as available-for-sale securities of $4,054,000 and proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment of $1,657,000. Purchases of property, plant and equipment were primarily used to upgrade production capabilities and technology, and for leasehold improvements related to the relocation to a new manufacturing facility in Xianghe, China. Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment was primarily related to the sale of Company’s Xianghe, China manufacturing facility previously mentioned. During 2013, net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations was primarily for the purchases of property, plant and equipment of $2,434,000 and the purchases of common stock classified as available-for-sale securities of $2,362,000. Purchases of property, plant and equipment were primarily used to upgrade production capabilities and technology, and to acquire new production equipment in Mexico.

On July 25, 2014, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement pursuant to which it purchased certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of Dynetic, for an initial purchase price of $4,000,000 less a working capital adjustment of $27,000. The Asset Purchase Agreement also includes a possible earn-out, currently estimated at $288,000, which is comprised of annual payments based on sales of Dynetic products and sales to Dynetic customers over the period immediately following the date of the Dynetic Acquisition through December 31, 2017. The Dynetic Acquisition was paid for in cash.

During 2014, net cash provided by investing activities from discontinued operations was $17,783,000 as compared to net cash used in investing activities from discontinued operations of $416,000 during 2013. Net cash provided by investing activities from discontinued operations during 2014 was primarily related to the $18,000,000 of cash proceeds received from the sale of the company’s RFL subsidiary, which was partially offset by purchases of property, plant and equipment of $217,000 by RFL prior to the divestiture. Net cash used in investing activities from discontinued operations during 2013 was related to RFL’s purchases of property, plant and equipment of $316,000 and other assets of $100,000.

During 2014, net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations was $1,151,000 as compared to net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations of $246,000 during 2013. Net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations during 2014 was primarily related to $1,000,000 of payments made under the 2012 Credit Facility and $106,000 of payments made for the purchase of Company stock pursuant to the Company’s 2010 Repurchase Plan (described in Part II, Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities). Cash used in financing activities from continuing operations during 2013 was primarily related to the to the purchase of Company stock pursuant to the Company’s 2010 Repurchase Plan in the amount of $2,079,000, which was partially offset by $1,000,000 of net borrowings under the 2012 Credit Facility and $743,000 of proceeds from the stock option exercises.

 

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On August 9, 2012, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement with PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and lender (“PNC Bank”), and the lenders from time to time party thereto, as amended (the “2012 Credit Facility”), to replace its 2008 Credit Facility. The 2012 Credit Facility provides for borrowings up to $40,000,000 and under certain conditions maximum borrowings up to $70,000,000. The 2012 Credit Facility included a $5,000,000 sublimit for letters of credit (subsequently amended on March 11, 2013, as described below) and provides for a separate $10,700,000 letter of credit which expires one year from the date of closing, with annual extensions. The 2012 Credit Facility expires on August 9, 2016.

Borrowings under the 2012 Credit Facility bear interest, at the Company’s option, at the London interbank offering rate (“LIBOR”) plus a margin rate ranging from 1.25% to 2.0%, or the higher of a Base Rate plus a margin rate ranging from 0.25% to 1.0%. The Base Rate is equal to the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Open Rate plus 0.5% and (ii) the Prime Rate and (iii) the Daily Libor Rate plus 1%. The margin rates are based on certain leverage ratios, as defined. The Company is subject to compliance with certain financial covenants set forth in the 2012 Credit Facility, including, but not limited to, indebtedness to EBITDA, as defined, minimum levels of fixed charges and limitations on capital expenditures, as defined. Availability under the 2012 Credit Facility is based upon the Company’s trailing twelve month EBITDA, as defined.

The Company’s obligations under the 2012 Credit Facility are secured by the grant of security interests in substantially all of its assets.

On March 11, 2013, the Company entered into a First Amendment (the “First Amendment”) to the 2012 Credit Facility. The First Amendment, among other things, (a) amends the Letter of Credit (“LC”) sublimit amount to the lesser of (i) an amount equal to $5,000,000 plus the aggregate amount of Designated Usage LC issued and outstanding under the Designated Usage LC sublimit or (ii) $25,000,000 and (b) allows the Company to enter into foreign currency exchange services with Loan Parties on an unsecured basis and that such obligations shall not exceed at any time an aggregate amount equal to $3,500,000.

On May 28, 2013, a letter of credit in the amount of $8,564,000 was issued in favor of the EPA to provide financial assurance related to the Company’s environmental payments in accordance with the terms of the Consent Decree reached with the DOJ and EPA related to its liability under the terms of the Consent Decree. The letter of credit requires an annual commitment fee of 0.125% and standby commission of 1%, and does not reduce amounts available under the 2012 Credit Facility.

On May 20, 2014, the Company made the second payment related to its obligation under the Consent Decree in the amount of $2,141,000, excluding interest. As of December 31, 2014, the total liability under the letter of credit equaled $6,423,000. The letter of credit expires on May 28, 2015, and is renewed annually.

 

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On June 20, 2013, the Company entered into a Second Amendment and Joinder to Credit Agreement and to Security Agreement (the “Second Amendment”), which amends the 2012 Credit Facility in order to reflect the Reincorporation of the Company. The Second Amendment, among other things, joins the Company as a “Borrower” under the Credit Agreement and a “Debtor” under the Security Agreement entered into by SL-NJ in connection with the 2012 Credit Facility.

On September 15, 2014, the Company entered into a Third Amendment and Joinder to Credit Agreement and to Security Agreement (the “Third Amendment”) that amended the terms of the 2012 Credit Facility. The Third Amendment, among other things, joined SLMTI DS as a borrower and debtor under the 2012 Credit Facility following consummation of the Dynetic Acquisition, and increases the permitted amount of foreign currency exchange services to the borrowers and guarantors under the 2012 Credit Facility, which are to be provided on an unsecured basis, to a notional contract amount of such obligations not to exceed at any time an aggregate amount equal to $15,500,000. Also, the Third Amendment allows the Company, in certain circumstances, to make investments not to exceed $1,000,000 at any one time during the term of the 2012 Credit Facility.

As of December 31, 2014, the Company had no outstanding debt. As of December 31, 2013, the Company’s total debt equaled $1,235,000, which was comprised of $1,000,000 under the 2012 Credit Facility and $235,000 related to capital leases. At December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had total availability under the 2012 Credit Facility of $39,527,000 and $38,526,000, respectively. The Company’s percentage of total debt to total shareholders’ equity was 2.1% as of December 31, 2013. The Company’s current ratio was 2.27 to 1 at December 31, 2014 and 2.10 to 1 at December 31, 2013.

Capital expenditures from continuing operations were $2,850,000 in 2014, which represented an increase of $416,000 from the capital expenditure levels of 2013. The Company anticipates spending approximately $3,800,000 on property, plant and equipment, used primarily to upgrade production capabilities and upgrade technology during 2015. The 2015 capital additions are expected to be funded primarily through cash from operating activities.

With the exception of the segment reported as “Unallocated Corporate Expenses” (which consists primarily of corporate office expenses, financing activities, certain treasury, risk management, legal, litigation, public reporting costs, certain strategic costs, legacy costs and costs not specifically allocated to the reportable business segments), all of the Company’s operating segments recorded income from operations during 2014 and 2013.

 

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Contractual Obligations

The following is a summary of the Company’s contractual obligations at December 31, 2014 for the periods indicated:

 

     Less Than
1 Year
     1 to 3
Years
     3 to 5
Years
     After
5 Years
     Total  
     (in thousands)  

Operating leases

   $ 1,831       $ 2,464       $ 840       $ 428       $ 5,563   

Payments to EPA(1)

     2,193         4,334         —           —           6,527   

Letters of credit (2)

     473         —           —           —           473   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
$ 4,497    $ 6,798    $ 840    $ 428    $ 12,563   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)  On May 28, 2013 a letter of credit was issued in favor of the EPA to provide financial assurance related to the Company’s environmental payments in accordance with the terms of the Consent Decree reached with the DOJ and EPA related to its liability for both OU-1 and OU-2. In accordance with the Consent Decree, the Company has agreed to pay a fixed sum for the EPA’s past cost for OU-2 and a portion of the EPA’s past cost for OU-1. The payments are to be made in five equal payments of $2,141,000, for a total $10,705,000, plus interest. On May 10, 2013, the Company made the first payment related to its obligation under the Consent Decree in the amount of $2,185,000, which included interest. On May 20, 2014, the Company made the second payment related to its obligation under the Consent Decree in the amount of $2,211,000, which included interest. The next three payments will be made on the anniversary of the prior year’s payment plus ten days in the same amount of $2,141,000, plus interest (See Note 16 – Commitments and Contingencies for the terms and conditions of the Consent Decree).
(2)  As of December 31, 2014, the Company was contingently liable for an outstanding letter of credit issued for casualty insurance requirements. The letter of credit has a maximum maturity of twelve months from the date of issuance.

The table above excludes the Company’s gross liability for uncertain tax positions of $946,000, including accrued interest and penalties, which totaled $81,000 as of December 31, 2014, since the Company cannot predict with reasonable reliability the timing or certainty of cash settlements to the respective taxing authorities.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

It is not the Company’s usual business practice to enter into off-balance sheet arrangements such as guarantees on loans and financial commitments, indemnification arrangements and retained interests in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity for securitization purposes. Consequently, the Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements which have, or are reasonably likely to have, a material current or future effect on its financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources, except for operating lease commitments and letters of credit disclosed in the table above and inventory purchase commitments.

In an attempt to limit the volatility of copper costs, the Company has in the past, and may in the future, enter into purchase agreements for copper. As of December 31, 2014, inventory purchase commitments for copper totaled $914,000. As of December 31, 2014, no purchase commitments for copper were greater than nine months.

 

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Restructuring Costs

Restructuring activity for the period ended December 31, 2014 was as follows:

 

     Accrual at
Beginning of the
Year
     Charged to
Earnings
     Cash Payments      Accrual at December 31,
2014
 
     (in thousands)  

2014 Plan

           

Severance and other employee-related charges

   $ —         $ 463       $ 463       $ —     

No restructuring activity was recognized during the period ended December 31, 2013.

2014 Restructuring Plan

During the first quarter of 2014, the Company announced to its employees a restructuring plan (“2014 Plan”) to align its costs with current and projected sales activity. The costs reductions were primarily production, engineering, selling and administration employees at TEAL, which is part of the High Power Group. As of December 31, 2014, there was a consolidated charge to earnings of $463,000, which was composed of severance and other employee related charges. The total number of employees affected by the restructuring plan was 11, all of which had been terminated during the first quarter of 2014.

2012 Restructuring Plan

During the third quarter of 2012, the Company announced to its employees a restructuring plan (“2012 Plan”) to align its costs with current and projected sales activity. The costs reductions were primarily direct labor employees and engineering, selling and administration employees at SLPE and TEAL, which is part of the High Power Group. During the year ended December 31, 2012, there was a consolidated charge to earnings of $790,000, which was comprised of a $732,000 charge at SLPE and a $58,000 charge at TEAL. The charges are composed of severance and other employee related charges. The total number of employees affected by the restructuring plan was 55, all of which had been terminated as of December 31, 2012.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Year Ended December 31, 2014 Compared With Year Ended December 31, 2013

 

     Net Sales  
     Years Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      $ Variance      % Variance  
     (in thousands)  

SLPE

   $ 74,593       $ 78,177       $ (3,584      (5 %) 

High Power Group

     85,332         68,752         16,580         24   

SL-MTI

     44,492         37,729         6,763         18   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Sales

$ 204,417    $ 184,658    $ 19,759      11
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Income from Operations  
     Years Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      $ Variance      % Variance  
     (in thousands)  

SLPE

   $ 7,217       $ 6,558       $ 659         10

High Power Group (1)

     12,175         2,206         9,969         452   

SL-MTI

     7,170         7,202         (32      N/M   

Unallocated Corporate Expenses

     (7,000      (5,731      (1,269      (22
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from Operations

$ 19,562    $ 10,235    $ 9,327      91
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

N/M – Not material.

 

(1)  Fiscal 2013 includes a $5,055,000 goodwill impairment charge related to the TEAL reporting unit.

During 2014, consolidated net sales increased by $19,759,000 or 11%, compared to net sales during 2013. When compared to 2013, net sales of SLPE decreased by $3,584,000, or 5%; net sales of the High Power Group increased by $16,580,000, or 24%; and net sales of SL-MTI increased by $6,763,000, or 18%. During 2014, SL-MTI benefited from $1,861,000 of sales related to the Dynetic Acquisition, which was completed on July 25, 2014.

In 2014, the Company’s income from operations increased by $9,327,000, or 91%, when compared to 2013. Income from operations was 10% of net sales in 2014 compared to 6% in 2013. All of the Company’s operating entities recorded income from operations in 2014 and 2013. Unallocated Corporate Expenses increased by $1,269,000, or 22%, in 2014 compared to 2013. In addition, income from operations for SL-MTI was negatively impacted by $598,000 primarily due to the recognition of a non-cash inventory purchase accounting adjustment, acquisition costs, and integration costs that were recognized during 2014 associated with the Dynetic Acquisition. During 2013, the Company’s income from operations was negatively impacted by a $5,055,000 non-cash goodwill impairment charge related to the Company’s TEAL reporting unit, which is part of the High Power Group segment.

 

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Income from continuing operations in 2014 was $14,180,000 or $3.39 per diluted share, compared to income from continuing operations in 2013 of $7,478,000, or $1.79 per diluted share. Income from continuing operations was approximately 7% of net sales in 2014, compared to income from continuing operations of 4% of net sales in 2013. During 2013, a $5,055,000 ($3,172,000, net of tax) non-cash goodwill impairment charge had a negative impact of approximately $0.76 per diluted share.

The Company’s effective tax rate increased from 25% in 2013 to 33% in 2014. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to federal research and development credits recorded in 2013 that were not available in 2014. In 2013, income from continuing operations benefited from research and development tax credits by approximately $1,051,000, or $0.25 per diluted share.

The Company’s business segments and the components of operating expenses are discussed in the following sections.

SLPE

SLPE recorded net sales of $74,593,000 or 36% of consolidated net sales in 2014, compared to $78,177,000, or 42% of consolidated net sales in 2013. The decrease in net sales at SLPE was primarily due to a decrease in sales in the industrial and medical product lines, which were partially offset by an increase in sales in the data communications product line primarily due to an increase in sales to a large domestic distributor. The decrease in the industrial product line was primarily due to a decrease in sales to several large international customers and a decrease in domestic distributor sales. The decrease in the medical product line was primarily due to a weakening of the domestic medical market, which resulted in a decline in domestic distributor sales. The decrease in sales in the medical product line was also due to the Company’s current year strategy to exit certain low margin business. The decreases in the medical market were partially offset by an increase in sales to the Asian medical market. Domestic sales decreased by 11% while international sales increased by 12% during 2014. Returns and distributor credits, which represented approximately 1% of SLPE gross sales in 2014 and 2013, also negatively affected net sales.

SLPE reported income from operations of $7,217,000 in 2014, compared to $6,558,000 in 2013. Income from operations increased in 2014 primarily due to a 2% decrease in cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales, and a 2% decrease in operating costs, which were partially offset by a 5% decrease in sales. Operating costs decreased during 2014 primarily due to a decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses of $462,000, or 4%, which was partially offset by an increase in engineering and product development costs of $253,000, or 6%.

High Power Group

The High Power Group reported net sales of $85,332,000, or 42% of consolidated net sales in 2014, compared to $68,752,000, or 37% of consolidated net sales in 2013. The increase in net sales during 2014 was due to an increase in net sales at MTE of $9,038,000, or 24%, and an increase at TEAL of $7,542,000, or 24%.

 

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MTE recognized record sales during 2014. MTE’s sales increase during 2014 was primarily attributable to an increase in new product sales for harmonic filters and motor protection filters. In particular, MTE recognized a large order during 2014 for new product harmonic filter sales from a new customer in the electronic equipment industry. The increase in sales was partially offset by a decrease in domestic harmonic filter sales to a large customer in the oil and gas industry. Domestic sales increased by 18% and international sales increased by 48%.

TEAL also recognized record sales during 2014. TEAL recorded an increase in net sales in all product lines during 2014 except in the solar market. TEAL recognized the largest increase in sales in the medical imaging equipment market primarily due to an increase in new product sales to a large international customer, which was partially offset by decreased sales in the solar market primarily due to a decrease in sales to a large domestic customer. Domestic sales decreased by 15% while international sales increased by 227% during 2014.

The High Power Group reported income from operations of $12,175,000 in 2014, compared to $2,206,000 in 2013. The increase in income from operations during 2014 was due to an increase at TEAL of $6,155,000 and an increase at MTE of $3,814,000. Income from operations increased in 2014 primarily due to a 24% increase in sales, a 1% decrease in cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales, and a 23% decrease in operating costs. Operating costs decreased by $4,325,000 during 2014 primarily due to a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $5,055,000 recorded at TEAL during 2013. Operating costs also decreased due to a decrease in engineering and product development costs of $721,000, or 18%, which was offset by an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses of $913,000, or 10%, and $463,000 of restructuring charges incurred during 2014 at TEAL.

SL-MTI

SL-MTI recorded net sales of $44,492,000, or 22% of consolidated net sales in 2014, compared to $37,729,000, or 21% of consolidated net sales in 2013. SL-MTI recorded $1,861,000 of sales related to the Dynetic Acquisition during 2014. As a result, comparable sales, net of the acquisition, increased by $4,902,000, or 13%, during 2014 as compared to 2013. Excluding the Dynetic Acquisition, SL-MTI experienced an increase in net sales in all product lines during 2014. The largest increases in net sales, excluding the Dynetic Acquisition, were in the commercial aerospace and medical industries. The increase in the commercial aerospace industry was primarily due to increased component parts sales related to Airbus and Boeing 787 programs. The increase in the medical industry was primarily due to an increase in sales to a large international customer located in the United Kingdom. Excluding the Dynetic Acquisition, domestic sales increased by 8% and international sales increased by 55% during 2014.

SL-MTI reported income from operations of $7,170,000 in 2014, compared to $7,202,000 in 2013. Income from operations was negatively impacted by $598,000 due to the Dynetic Acquisition, which recognized additional expenses during 2014 as previously mentioned. Excluding the Dynetic Acquisition, income from operations increased by $566,000 in 2014 primarily due to a 13% increase in net sales, which was partially offset by a 2% increase in cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales and an increase in operating costs of $469,000, or 7% during 2014. Operating costs increased during 2014 primarily due to an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses of $214,000, or 6%, and an increase in engineering and product development costs of $169,000, or 6%.

 

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Cost of Products Sold

Cost of products sold was approximately 68% of net sales in 2014 and 2013. Cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales was flat while net sales increased 11% during 2014.

During 2014, SLPE and the High Power Group each recorded an improvement in cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales, while SL-MTI recorded an increase in cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales. SLPE’s cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales improved by approximately 2% during 2014 primarily due to an improved product mix and current year strategy to exit certain low margin business, which was partially offset by an increase in the inventory reserve. The decrease in SLPE’s cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales was also due to $568,000 of additional costs incurred in 2013 due to a work stoppage in China during March 2013. Cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales at the High Power Group improved by approximately 1% during 2014 due to a decrease of 3% at MTE, which was partially offset by an increase of 2% at TEAL. The decrease in cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales at MTE was primarily due to increased sales volumes, which improved overhead absorption, an improved product mix, and a shift in manufacturing costs to a lower cost region. The increase in cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales at TEAL was primarily due to an unfavorable product mix during 2014, which was partially offset by increased sales volumes. SL-MTI recorded a 3% increase in its cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales during 2014. Excluding the Dynetic Acquisition, SL-MTI recorded a 2% increase in cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales primarily due to an unfavorable sales mix, which was partially offset by an increase in sales volumes, which improved overhead absorption. All operating entities are at various stages of emphasizing lean initiatives throughout the factory floor to reduce costs of products sold.

Engineering and Product Development Expenses

Engineering and product development expenses were approximately 5% of net sales in 2014, compared to 6% in 2013. Engineering and product development expenses decreased by $299,000, or 3% during 2014 due to an decrease of $721,000 at the High Power Group, which was partially offset by an increase of $253,000 at SLPE and an increase of $169,000 at SL-MTI. The decrease in engineering and product development costs at the High Power Group was primarily due to a decrease at TEAL. The decrease at TEAL was due to decreased consulting fees for new product development and decreased employee compensation costs due to a reduction in staffing levels associated with the implementation of a current year restructuring plan. The decrease at TEAL was partially offset by an increase at MTE due to the addition of engineering staff which increased employee salary and other compensation costs, and an increase in new product development costs. The increase in engineering and product development costs at SLPE was primarily due to an increase in consulting fees and other compensation costs. The increase in engineering and product development costs at SL-MTI was primarily due to an increase in prototype expenses during 2014.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses were approximately 16% of net sales in 2014 and 2013. During 2014, selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $2,751,000, or 9%, while sales increased by 11%.

 

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During 2014, SL-MTI and the High Power Group each recorded an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, while SLPE recorded a decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses at SL-MTI increased by $1,026,000 primarily due to $812,000 of costs related to the Dynetics. The remainder of the increase at SL-MTI was primarily due to an increase in environmental remediation costs and increased salaries due to higher staffing levels. The High Power Group recorded an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses of $913,000 primarily due to an increase at MTE. The increase at MTE was primarily due to increased salaries due to higher staffing levels and increased commissions and other compensation costs on higher sales volumes. Selling, general and administrative expenses at TEAL were relatively flat during 2014. Selling, general and administrative expenses at SLPE decreased by $462,000 in 2014 primarily due to a decrease in employee compensation costs. The decrease at SLPE was also due to $107,000 of additional costs incurred in 2013 due to a work stoppage in China during March 2013. Unallocated Corporate Expenses increased by $1,269,000 primarily due to increased non-cash stock compensation costs and certain strategic costs that were not allocated to the operating entities. The increase was also due to the Delaware state franchise tax incurred in 2014 resulting from the Company’s reincorporation in Delaware in June 2013.

Depreciation and Amortization Expenses

Depreciation and amortization expenses in 2014 were $2,220,000, an increase of $210,000, or 10%, compared to depreciation and amortization expenses in 2013. Depreciation and amortization expenses were approximately 1% of net sales in 2014 and 2013.

Restructuring Costs

Restructuring costs were $463,000 in 2014 and consisted of severance costs and other employee related charges. During the first quarter of 2014, the Company announced to its employees a restructuring plan to align its costs with current and projected sales activity. The costs reductions were primarily production, engineering, selling and administration employees at TEAL, which is part of the High Power Group. No restructuring costs were incurred during 2013.

Goodwill Impairment

Goodwill impairment expense in 2013 was $5,055,000, or 2.7% of net sales, without a comparable charge in 2014. The 2013 expense is detailed in the “Goodwill” section of Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and in Note 9 – Goodwill and Intangibles in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Amortization of Deferred Financing Costs

In connection with entering into the 2012 Credit Facility and related amendments, the Company incurred deferred financing costs which are amortized over the term of the 2012 Credit Facility. During 2014 and 2013, the amortization of deferred financing costs equaled $94,000 and $83,000, respectively.

Interest Income and Interest Expense

In 2014, interest income was $13,000 compared to $12,000 in 2013. Interest expense in 2014 was $27,000 compared to $61,000 in 2013. The Company had no outstanding balance as of December 31, 2014, and an outstanding balance of $1,000,000 as of December 31, 2013 under the 2012 Credit Facility.

 

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Other Gain (Loss), net

Other gain (loss), net in 2014 was a net gain of $1,769,000 compared to net loss of $78,000 in 2013. Other gain (loss), net in 2014 included a $1,691,000 gain recognized from the sale of available-for-sale securities, a $892,000 gain on the sale of the Company’s former manufacturing facility located in Xianghe, China, and $11,000 of dividend income received from investments in available-for-sale securities, which were partially offset by a $825,000 unrealized loss on foreign currency forward contracts. Other gain (loss), net in 2013 included a $90,000 unrealized loss on foreign currency forward contracts, which was partially offset by $12,000 of dividend income received from investments in available-for-sale securities.

During 2013 and 2014, the Company entered into a series of foreign currency forward contracts to hedge its exposure to foreign exchange rate movements in its forecasted expenses in China and Mexico. The loss recognized in 2014 and 2013 represents the change in fair value of foreign currency forward contracts that are marked to market at year end.

Taxes (Continuing Operations)

The effective tax rate from continuing operations during 2014 was approximately 33% as compared to 25% during 2013. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to the amount of federal research and development tax credits available in 2014 as compared to 2013 as well as a change in estimate related to the federal and state research and development tax credits which was recognized during the third quarter 2014. In 2013, the Company recorded a research and development tax benefit of $1,051,000, of which $431,000 was related to the retroactive reinstatement of the federal research and development tax credits from the enactment of the American Tax Relief Act of 2012.

Discontinued Operations

During 2014, the Company recorded income from discontinued operations, net of tax, of $4,715,000 compared to income from discontinued operations of $762,000, net of tax, in 2013. Income from discontinued operations during 2014 relates to a pre-tax gain of $6,650,000 ($4,322,000 net of tax) from the sale of RFL on November 17, 2014 (see Note 4 – Discontinued Operations for further information). Income from the discontinued operations also relates to the net earnings of RFL prior to the divestiture. These gains and earnings associated with RFL were partially offset by environmental remediation costs, consulting fees, and legal expenses associated with the past operations of the Company’s five environmental sites (see Note 16 – Commitments and Contingencies for further information concerning the environmental sites).

Income from discontinued operations during 2013 relates to the net earnings of the Company’s RFL business, which is classified as discontinued operations. The earnings associated with RFL were partially offset by environmental remediation costs, consulting fees, and legal expenses associated with the past operations of the Company’s five environmental sites.

Net Income

Net income was $18,895,000, or $4.51 per diluted share, for 2014 compared to $8,240,000, or $1.97 per diluted share, for 2013. The weighted average number of shares used in the diluted earnings per share computation was 4,187,000 and 4,184,000 for 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

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Year Ended December 31, 2013 Compared With Year Ended December 31, 2012

 

                                                           
     Net Sales  
     Years Ended December 31,  
     2013      2012      $ Variance      % Variance  
     (in thousands)  

SLPE

   $ 78,177       $ 77,869       $ 308         N/M   

High Power Group

     68,752         65,283         3,469         5

SL-MTI

     37,729         36,223         1,506         4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Sales

$ 184,658    $ 179,375    $   5,283      3
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

                                                           
     Income from Operations  
     Years Ended December 31,  
     2013      2012      $ Variance      % Variance  
     (in thousands)  

SLPE

   $ 6,558       $ 2,487       $ 4,071         164

High Power Group (1)

     2,206         6,822         (4,616      (68

SL-MTI

     7,202         6,292         910         14   

Unallocated Corporate Expenses

     (5,731      (5,463      (268      (5
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from Operations

$ 10,235    $ 10,138    $ 97      1
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

N/M – Not material.

 

(1)  Fiscal 2013 includes a $5,055,000 goodwill impairment charge related to the TEAL reporting unit.

During 2013, consolidated net sales increased by $5,283,000, or 3%, compared to net sales during 2012. When compared to 2012, net sales at SLPE increased by $308,000, or less than 1%; net sales of the High Power Group increased by $3,469,000, or 5%; and net sales at SL-MTI increased by $1,506,000, or 4%.

In 2013, the Company’s income from operations was $10,235,000 compared to $10,138,000 in 2012, representing an increase of $97,000, or 1%. Income from operations was approximately 6% of net sales in 2013 and 2012. During 2013, the Company’s income from operations was negatively impacted by a $5,055,000 non-cash goodwill impairment charge related to the Company’s TEAL reporting unit, which is part of the High Power Group segment. Without this charge, income from operations would have increased by $5,152,000, or 51%. During 2012, the Company’s income from operations was negatively impacted by $790,000 of restructuring costs. All of the Company’s operating segments recorded income from operations in 2013 and 2012.

Income from continuing operations in 2013 was $7,478,000, or $1.79 per diluted share, compared to income from continuing operations in 2012 of $7,539,000, or $1.74 per diluted share. Income from continuing operations was approximately 4% of net sales in 2013 and 2012. During 2013, a $5,055,000 ($3,172,000, net of tax) non-cash goodwill impairment charge had a negative impact of approximately $0.76 per diluted share. During 2012, restructuring costs of $790,000 ($589,000, net of tax) had a negative impact of approximately $0.14 per diluted share. In 2013 and 2012, income from continuing operations benefited from research and development tax credits by approximately $1,051,000 and $512,000, or $0.25 and $0.12 per diluted share, respectively.

The Company’s business segments and the components of operating expenses are discussed in the following sections.

 

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SLPE

SLPE recorded net sales of $78,177,000 or 42% of consolidated net sales in 2013, compared to $77,869,000, or 44% of consolidated net sales in 2012. At SLPE, net sales of the industrial product line increased by $1,284,000 or 11%, and sales of other products increased by $361,000, or 15%, which was partially offset by a decrease in sales of the data communications product line of $816,000, or 7%, and a decrease in sales of the medical equipment product line of $520,000, or 1%. The increase in sales in the industrial product line was primarily due to increased sales volumes to a large international customer. The decrease in sales of the data communications line was primarily due to no sales in 2013 to a former large domestic customer, coupled with a general decline in domestic distributor and customer sales during 2013. The decrease in sales of the medical equipment product line was primarily due to decreased sales to a large domestic distributor. The decrease in medical equipment sales was partially offset by increased sales to several large domestic and international customers. Returns and distributor credits also negatively affected net sales, which represented approximately 1% and 2% of gross sales in 2013 and 2012, respectively. Domestic sales decreased by 5% and international sales increased by 18% during 2013.

SLPE reported income from operations of $6,558,000 in 2013, compared to income from operations of $2,487,000 in 2012. Income from operations increased in 2013 primarily due to an improvement in cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales and a decrease in operating expenses. Cost of products sold improved by approximately 3% as a percentage of net sales during 2013. Operating costs decreased by approximately $1,692,000, or 9%, during 2013 primarily due to a decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses of $727,000, a decrease in depreciation and amortization expense of $183,000, and a decrease in engineering and product development costs of $50,000. Also, on a comparative basis, operating costs decreased due to $732,000 of restructuring charges which were incurred in 2012 while no restructuring charges were incurred in 2013.

Included in cost of products sold and operating costs during 2013 are $675,000 ($568,000 recorded in cost of products sold and $107,000 recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses) of incremental costs related to a work stoppage in China. Also, SLPE incurred $844,000 in legal and accounting fees related to the FCPA investigation in China in 2012 that were not repeated in 2013.

High Power Group

The High Power Group reported net sales of $68,752,000 or 37% of consolidated net sales in 2013, compared to $65,283,000, or 36% of consolidated net sales in 2012. The increase in net sales during 2013 was due to an increase in sales at MTE of $5,013,000, or 15%, which was offset by a decrease in sales at TEAL of $1,544,000, or 5%.

MTE’s sales increase during 2013 was primarily attributable to an increase in filter sales to the oil industry and the introduction of new matrix filter products. MTE’s sales increase was also due to an increase in reactor sales to the industrial automation market. Domestic sales increased by 23% while international sales decreased by 7%. The increase in domestic sales was primarily due to a general increase in demand as a result of the introduction of new filter products, increased filter sales to a large customer in the oil industry, and increased reactor sales to a large industrial automation OEM. The decrease in international sales was primarily due to decreased sales to a large customer and a large distributor in the oil industry located in South America.

 

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TEAL’s sales decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in sales to the medical imaging equipment market of $2,990,000, or 12%, which was partially offset by an increase in sales to the semi-conductor market of $1,227,000, or 74%, an increase in sales to the military and aerospace markets of $191,000, or $7%, and an increase in sales to customers in the solar market of $91,000, or 3%. The decrease in sales to the medical imaging equipment market was primarily due to a general decline in demand in this market. The increase in the semi-conductor market was primarily driven by sales of new products to two large international customers. Sales to military and aerospace customers increased during 2013 primarily due to an increased focus on the military and aerospace business, which was evident by an increase in sales volumes to two large domestic customers. Sales to customers in the solar market increased due to a new large domestic customer in 2013, which was partially offset by sales to a large domestic customer in 2012. Domestic sales decreased by 11%, and international sales increased by 52% during 2013.

The High Power Group reported income from operations of $2,206,000 in 2013, which represented a decrease of 68% from 2012. The decrease in income from operations during 2013 was due to a decrease of $6,581,000 at TEAL, which was partially offset by an increase at MTE of $1,965,000. The decrease in the High Power Group’s income from operations was due to an increase in operating costs, which was partially offset by an increase in sales of 5%. Cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales was relatively flat during 2013. Operating costs increased by $5,613,000, or 43%, during 2013 primarily due to a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $5,055,000 recorded at TEAL. Without this charge, operating costs increased by $558,000, or 4%. This increase in operating expenses was due to an increase in engineering and product development costs of $585,000 and an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses of $196,000. The increase in operating expenses was partially offset by a decrease in depreciation and amortization expenses of $165,000 and $58,000 of restructuring charges incurred during 2012 at TEAL.

SL-MTI

SL-MTI recorded net sales of $37,729,000 or 21% of consolidated net sales in 2013, compared to $36,223,000, or 20% of consolidated net sales in 2012. Sales of industrial products increased by $1,863,000, or 81%, and sales to customers in the medical industry increased by $239,000, or 24%, which were partially offset by a decrease in sales to the defense industry of $619,000, or 3%. Sales to customers in the commercial aerospace industry were relatively flat during 2013. Domestic sales increased by 6% while international sales decreased by 8% during 2013. The increase in domestic sales was primarily due to increased downhole exploration sales in the oil and gas market and increased sales volumes to a large customer in the industrial market. The increase in domestic sales was partially offset by a decrease in sales volumes to two large military customers. The decrease in international sales was primarily related to decreased military sales to a large customer located in Australia.

SL-MTI reported income from operations of $7,202,000 in 2013, which represented an increase of 14% from 2012. The increase was primarily due to a 4% increase in sales and a 3% improvement in cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales, which were partially offset by an 11% increase in operating costs. Operating costs increased by $630,000 due to an increase of $788,000 in engineering and product development costs and an increase of $63,000 in depreciation and amortization expenses, which were partially offset by a decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses of $221,000. SL-MTI recorded $434,000 of direct costs related to the Astromec acquisition during 2012.

 

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Cost of Products Sold

Cost of products sold was approximately 68% and 70% of net sales in 2013 and 2012, respectively. Cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales decreased 2% while net sales increased by 3% during 2013.

SLPE and SL-MTI each recorded an improvement in cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales, while the cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales at the High Power Group was relatively flat during 2013. SLPE’s cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales decreased by approximately 3% during 2013 primarily due to a favorable sales mix, a favorable product mix partially due to the introduction of new products into the market, a decrease in labor costs associated with the implementation of a prior year restructuring plan, and a decrease in inventory reserve charges incurred during 2013 compared to 2012. SLPE’s cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales also decreased due to the recording of additional social taxes in China in 2012, while the recording of additional social taxes were not required in 2013. The decrease in SLPE’s cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales was partially offset by $568,000 of additional costs incurred due to a work stoppage in China during March 2013. Cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales at the High Power Group was relatively flat during 2013 due to a 2% decrease at MTE, which was offset by a 4% increase at TEAL. The decrease in cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales at MTE was primarily due to improved product mix and a decrease in commodity costs, primarily for copper and steel. The decrease at MTE was also due to a shift in labor to Mexico and increased sales levels, which improved overhead absorption. The increase in cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales at TEAL was primarily due to an unfavorable sales mix and higher labor costs due to additional support needed for new product programs. The increase in cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales at TEAL was partially offset by lower commodity costs, primarily for copper and steel. During 2013, SL-MTI recorded a 3% decrease in its cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales primarily due to a more favorable sales mix, lower commodity costs, and improved lean initiatives implemented at its manufacturing facilities in Matamoros, Mexico and Montevideo, Minnesota. The decrease at SL-MTI was also due to increased costs incurred during 2012 due to the Astromec integration, which was completed during that year. All operating entities are at various stages of emphasizing lean initiatives throughout the factory floor to reduce costs of products sold.

Engineering and Product Development Expenses

Engineering and product development expenses were approximately 6% of net sales in 2013 and 2012, respectively. Engineering and product development expenses increased by $1,322,000, or 13%, during 2013 primarily due to an increase of $788,000 at SL-MTI, and an increase of $584,000 at the High Power Group, which were partially offset by a decrease of $50,000 at SLPE. The increase in engineering and product development costs at SL-MTI was primarily due to a decrease in customer funding received for prototype projects during 2013. The increase in engineering and product development costs at the High Power Group was due to increases at MTE and TEAL. The increase at MTE was primarily due to an increase in engineering staff and an increase in new product development costs. The increase in engineering and product development costs at TEAL was due to increased new product development costs, which was partially offset by a decrease in consulting fees. The decrease in engineering and product development costs at SLPE was primarily due to a decrease in consulting fees and product development costs, which were partially offset by an increase in compensation costs as a result of an increase in engineering staff during 2013.

 

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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses were approximately 16% of net sales for 2013 and 17% of net sales for 2012. During 2013, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $484,000, or 2%, while sales increased by 3%.

Selling, general and administrative expenses at SLPE decreased by $727,000 in 2013 primarily due to costs incurred for consulting and legal fees in 2012 in connection with the China Investigation, which were partially offset by $107,000 of additional costs incurred due to a work stoppage in China during March 2013. Selling, general and administrative expenses at SL-MTI decreased by $221,000 primarily due to direct acquisition costs incurred in 2012 related to the Astromec acquisition, which were partially offset by increased consulting fees and an increase of approximately $100,000 related to an environmental accrual due to a regulatory change. The High Power Group recorded an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses of $196,000 primarily due to a $448,000 increase at MTE, which was partially offset by a $252,000 decrease at TEAL. The increase at MTE was due to an increase in salaries as the result of an increase in staffing in 2013, and increased other employee compensation costs related to commissions on higher sales volumes. The increase was partially offset by the absence of litigation costs at MTE, which were incurred in 2012. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses at TEAL was due to a decrease in compensation costs. Unallocated Corporate Expenses increased by $268,000, or 5%, primarily due to the cost of the Delaware state franchise tax, expenses related to executive recruiting, and a management service fee (see Note 25 – Related Party Transactions in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for details on the management service fee). The increase was partially offset by a decrease in stock compensation expense.

Depreciation and Amortization Expenses

Depreciation and amortization expenses in 2013 were $2,010,000, a decrease of $286,000, or 12%, compared to depreciation and amortization expenses in 2012. Depreciation and amortization expenses were approximately 1% of net sales in 2013 and 2012.

Restructuring Costs

Restructuring costs were $790,000 in 2012 and consisted of severance costs and other employee related charges. During 2012, the Company announced to its employees a restructuring plan to align its costs with current and projected sales activity. The costs reductions were primarily direct labor employees and engineering, selling and administration employees at SLPE and TEAL, which is part of the High Power Group. No restructuring costs were incurred during 2013.

Goodwill Impairment

Goodwill impairment expense in 2013 was $5,055,000, or 3% of net sales, without a comparable charge in 2012. The 2013 expense is detailed in the “Goodwill” section of Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and in Note 9 – Goodwill and Intangibles in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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Amortization of Deferred Financing Costs

In connection with entering into the 2012 Credit Facility and related amendments, the Company incurred deferred financing costs which are amortized over the term of the 2012 Credit Facility. Costs related to the 2008 Credit Facility and related waivers and amendments, which expired on August 9, 2012, were amortized over the term of the 2008 Credit Facility. During 2013 and 2012, the amortization of deferred financing costs equaled $83,000 and $138,000, respectively.

Interest Income and Interest Expense

In 2013, interest income was $12,000 compared to $5,000 in 2012. Interest expense in 2013 was $61,000 compared to $23,000 in 2012. The increase in interest expense in 2013 was primarily due to increased borrowings under the 2012 Credit Facility during 2013 compared to borrowings under the 2012 Credit Facility and 2008 Credit Facility during 2012. The Company had an outstanding balance of $1,000,000 as of December 31, 2013, under the 2012 Credit Facility. The Company had no outstanding balance as of December 31, 2012, under the 2012 Credit Facility.

Other gain, net

Other gain, net in 2013 was a net loss of $78,000 compared to a net gain of $243,000 in 2012. Other gain, net in 2013 includes a $90,000 loss on foreign currency forward contracts, which was partially offset by $12,000 of dividend income received from investments in available-for-sale securities. Other gain, net in 2012 includes a $243,000 gain on foreign currency forward contracts.

During 2012 and 2013, the Company entered into a series of foreign currency forward contracts to hedge its exposure to foreign exchange rate movements in its forecasted expenses in China and Mexico. The loss recognized in 2013 and the gain recognized in 2012 represents the change in fair value of foreign currency forward contracts that are marked to market at year end.

Taxes (Continuing Operations)

The effective tax rate was approximately 25% in 2013 compared to 26% in 2012, respectively. During 2013, the effective tax rate was positively impacted by the recording of a research and development tax benefit of $1,051,000, of which $431,000 was related to the retroactive reinstatement of the federal research and development tax credits from the enactment of the American Tax Relief Act of 2012. These credits were not available to the Company in 2012.

Discontinued Operations

Income from discontinued operations was $762,000, net of tax, in 2013 as compared to $238,000, net of tax, in 2012. Income from discontinued operations during 2013 and 2012 relates to the net earnings of the Company’s RFL business, which is classified as discontinued operations (see Note 4 – Discontinued Operations for further information). The earnings associated with RFL during 2013 and 2012 were partially offset by environmental remediation costs, consulting fees, and legal expenses associated with the past operations of the Company’s five environmental sites (see Note 16 – Commitments and Contingencies for further information concerning the environmental sites).

Net Income

Net income was $8,240,000, or $1.97 per diluted share, for 2013 compared to $7,777,000, or $1.80 per diluted share, for 2012. The weighted-average number of shares used in the diluted earnings per share computation was 4,184,000 and 4,330,000 for 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

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New Accounting Pronouncements To Be Adopted

For a discussion on the impact of recently issued accounting pronouncements, see “New Accounting Standards” in the Consolidated Financial Statements incorporated by reference in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Environmental

See “Item 3. Legal Proceedings” in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Not applicable.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Consolidated Financial Statements and supplementary data, together with the report of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, are included in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation Of Disclosure Controls And Procedures

The Company, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15e and 15d-15e promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Such controls and procedures are designed to ensure that all material information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and that all such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as specified in the rules and forms of the SEC.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act). The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company’s management and Board of Directors regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Table of Contents

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

 

    pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the Company’s transactions and dispositions of the Company’s assets;

 

    provide reasonable assurance that the Company’s transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that the Company’s receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of the Company’s management and the Company’s directors; and

 

    provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting cannot prevent or detect every potential misstatement. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurances with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may decline.

The Company’s management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, based on the framework and criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (1992), issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO 1992 Framework”). On May 14, 2013, COSO issued an updated version of its Internal Control - Integrated Framework (“COSO 2013 Framework”). Both frameworks provide principles-based guidance for designing and implementing effective internal controls. As of December 31, 2014, the Company continues to utilize the COSO 1992 Framework. The Company has started the process to implement the COSO 2013 Framework and plans to complete implementation of the COSO 2013 Framework in 2015. Based on this evaluation under the COSO 1992 Framework, the Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2014 and concluded that such internal control over financial reporting was effective.

This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s auditors pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2014, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, such internal control over financial reporting.

 

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Apart from certain information concerning the Company’s executive officers, which is set forth in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the Code of Ethics, as set forth below, the information required under this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the applicable information in the Proxy Statement for the Company’s 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Code of Ethics

The Company has adopted a Code of Conduct and Ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) that applies to all of its directors, officers and employees. The Code of Ethics is reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote (i) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships, (ii) full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents filed with, or submitted to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Company, (iii) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations, (iv) the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code of Ethics to appropriate persons identified in the Code of Ethics, and (v) accountability for adherence to the Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics is available on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website (www.slindustries.com) under the tab “Corporate Governance”. The Code of Ethics may also be requested in print, without charge, by writing to: Louis J. Belardi, Secretary, SL Industries, Inc., 520 Fellowship Road, Suite A-114, Mount Laurel, New Jersey 08054. Amendments to the Code of Ethics and any grant of a waiver from a provision of the Code of Ethics requiring disclosure under applicable SEC rules will be disclosed on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website (www.slindustries.com) under the tab “Corporate Governance”.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required under this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the applicable information in the Proxy Statement for the Company’s 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Except for the Equity Compensation Plan Information set forth below, the information required under this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the applicable information in the Proxy Statement for the Company’s 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

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Equity Compensation Plan Information

The Equity Compensation Plan Information included in Part II, Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities, is incorporated by reference.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information required under this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the applicable information in the Proxy Statement for the Company’s 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The information required under this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the applicable information in the Proxy Statement for the Company’s 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a) (1) Financial Statements

The information required by this Item is included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Consolidated financial statements and supplementary data, together with the report of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, are filed as part of this Report. See Index at page F-1 to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(a) (2) Financial Statement Schedules

The following financial statement schedule for the years ended December 31, 2014, December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 are submitted herewith:

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

All other schedules are omitted because (a) the required information is shown elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, or (b) they are inapplicable, or (c) they are not required.

See Index at page F-1 to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(a) (3) Exhibits

The information required by this Item is listed in the Exhibit Index of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

SL INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Company)
By

/s/ William T. Fejes

Date: March 17, 2015
William T. Fejes

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints jointly and severally, Glen M. Kassan and William T. Fejes, or either of them as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Company and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

By

/s/ Glen M. Kassan

Date: March 17, 2015
Glen M. Kassan – Chairman of the Board
By

/s/ William T. Fejes

Date: March 17, 2015
William T. Fejes – President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
By

/s/ Louis J. Belardi

Date: March 17, 2015
Louis J. Belardi – Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
By

/s/ Warren G. Lichtenstein

Date: March 17, 2015
Warren G. Lichtenstein – Director
By

/s/ Avrum Gray

Date: March 17, 2015
Avrum Gray - Director
By

/s/ James A. Risher

Date: March 17, 2015
James A. Risher - Director
By

/s/ Mark E. Schwarz

Date: March 17, 2015
Mark E. Schwarz - Director

 

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Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

The exhibit number, description and sequential page number in the original copy of this document where exhibits can be found as follows:

 

Exhibit #

  

Description

    2.1

   Securities Purchase Agreement by and among SL Industries, Inc., SL Industries Vertrieb GmbH, and DCX-Chol Holding GmbH, DCX-Chol Enterprises, Inc. and Chol Enterprises, Inc. dated as of January 3, 2003. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 17, 2003.

    2.2

   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated December 16, 2005, by and among SL Industries, Inc., Lakers Acquisition Corp. and Ault Incorporated. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 16, 2005.

    2.3

   Stock Purchase Agreement, dated October 31, 2006 by and among SL Industries, Inc., Norbert D. Miller, Revocable Living Trust of Fred A. Lewis and Margaret Lange-Lewis U/A dated January 28, 1993, as Amended and Restated as of October 31, 2001 and the Einhorn Family Foundation. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s report on Form 8-K/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 21, 2006.

    2.4

   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 3, 2013, by and between SL Industries, Inc., a New Jersey corporation, and SL Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 20, 2013.

    2.5

   Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 17, 2014, by and among SL Delaware Holdings, Inc., SL Industries, Inc., and Hubbell Power Systems. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 21, 2014.

    3.1

   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of SL Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 20, 2013.

    3.2

   By-Laws of SL Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 20, 2013.

    4.1

   Form of Common Stock Certificate Incorporation of SL Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 20, 2013.

  10.1+

   Supplemental Compensation Agreement for the Benefit of Byrne Litschgi. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s report on Form 8-K dated November 9, 1990.

  10.2+

   1991 Long Term Incentive Plan of SL Industries, Inc., as amended, is incorporated by reference to Appendix to the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 1995 Annual Meeting held November 17, 1995, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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Table of Contents

  10.3

Amended And Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of October 23, 2008, among Bank of America, N.A., as Agent, various financial institutions party hereto from time to time, as Lenders, SL Industries, Inc., as the parent borrower and, SL Delaware, Inc., SL Delaware Holdings, Inc., MTE Corporation, RFL Electronics Inc., SL Montevideo Technology, Inc., Cedar Corporation, TEAL Electronics Corporation, MEX Holdings LLC, SL Power Electronics Corporation, SLGC Holdings, Inc., SLW Holdings, Inc., SL Auburn, Inc., and SL Surface Technologies, Inc. as subsidiary borrowers. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2008.

  10.4

First Amendment and Waiver Under Credit Agreement dated as of October 23, 2008, among Bank of America, N.A., as Agent, various financial institutions party hereto from time to time, as Lenders, SL Industries, Inc., as the parent borrower and, SL Delaware, Inc., SL Delaware Holdings, Inc., MTE Corporation, RFL Electronics Inc., SL Montevideo Technology, Inc., Cedar Corporation, TEAL Electronics Corporation, MEX Holdings LLC, SL Power Electronics Corporation, SLGC Holdings, Inc., SLS Holdings, Inc., SL Auburn, Inc., and SL Surface Technologies, Inc. as subsidiary borrowers. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2009.

  10.5+

Employment Agreement, dated June 29, 2010, between the SL Industries, Inc. and William Fejes, Jr. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2010.

  10.6+

Stock Option Agreement, dated June 29, 2010, between the SL Industries, Inc. and William Fejes, Jr. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2010.

  10.7+

Separation Agreement and Mutual Release of a former officer, dated as of October 20, 2010. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2010.

  10.8+

Separation Agreement and Mutual Release of a former officer, dated as of October 14, 2010. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2010.

  10.9+

Change of Control Agreement, dated August 31, 2010, between the SL Industries, Inc. and Louis J. Belardi. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2010.

  10.10+

Stock Option Agreement, dated September 2, 2010, between the SL Industries, Inc. and Louis J. Belardi. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2010.

 

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Table of Contents

  10.11

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement with Bank of America, N.A., dated November 19, 2010, as administrative agent and lender, and a syndicate of other lenders party thereto, further amending that certain Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement entered into as of October 23, 2008 among the Company, subsidiaries of the Company party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and lender, and a syndicate of other lenders party thereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

  10.12

Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated March 28, 2011, by and among the Company, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and lender, and a syndicate of other lenders party thereto, further amending that certain Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement entered into as of October 23, 2008 among the Company, subsidiaries of the Company party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and lender, and a syndicate of other lenders party thereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2011.

  10.13

Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated July 20, 2011, by and among the Company, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and lender, and a syndicate of other lenders party thereto, further amending that certain Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement entered into as of October 23, 2008 among the Company, subsidiaries of the Company party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and lender, and a syndicate of other lenders party thereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 22, 2011.

  10.14+

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Letter and Agreement between the Company and each of William Fejes, Jr. and Louis J. Belardi, entered into during the second fiscal quarter of 2011. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 29, 2011.

  10.15+

Form of 2011 Restricted Shares Agreement between the Company and directors of the Company, entered into during the third fiscal quarter of 2011. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2011.

  10.16+

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Letter and Agreement between the Company and each of William Fejes, Jr. and Louis J. Belardi, dated February 17, 2012. Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Letter and Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 29, 2011.

  10.17+

Form of 2012 Restricted Shares Agreement between the Company and each director of the Company, dated April 2, 2012. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2012.

 

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Table of Contents

  10.18

Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated May 29, 2012, by and among the Company, Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent and lender, and a syndicate of other lenders party thereto, further amending the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement entered into as of October 23, 2008 among the Company, subsidiaries of the Company party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and lender, and a syndicate of other lenders party thereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 30, 2012.

  10.19

Credit Agreement, dated August 9, 2012, by and among the Company, the Company’s subsidiaries, PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2012.

  10.20

Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated March 11, 2013, by and among the Company, the Company’s subsidiaries, PNC Bank National Association, as administrative agent and lender, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, amending the Credit Agreement entered into as of August 9, 2012, by and among the Company, the Company’s subsidiaries, PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 12, 2013.

  10.21+

Restricted Stock Unit Grant Letter and Agreement between the Company and each of William Fejes, Jr. and Louis J. Belardi, dated March 5, 2013. Incorporated by reference to form of Grant Letter and Agreement filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 29, 2011.

  10.22+

Form of 2013 Restricted Shares Agreement, dated May 9, 2013, between the Company and each director of the Company. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2013.

  10.23

Second Amendment and Joinder to Credit Agreement and to Security Agreement, dated June 20, 2013, by and among the Company, subsidiaries of the Company, PNC Bank National Association, as administrative agent and lender, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, amending the Credit Agreement entered into as of August 9, 2012, by and among the Company, subsidiaries of the Company, PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 20, 2013.

  10.24+

Restricted Stock Unit Grant Letter and Agreement between the Company and each of William Fejes, Jr. and Louis J. Belardi, dated March 27, 2014. Incorporated by reference to form of Grant Letter and Agreement filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 29, 2011.

  10.25+

Stock Option Agreement, dated March 27, 2014, between SL Industries, Inc. and William Fejes, Jr. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2014.

 

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Table of Contents

  10.26+

Stock Option Agreement, dated March 27, 2014, between SL Industries, Inc. and Louis J. Belardi. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2014.

  10.27+

Form of 2014 Restricted Shares Agreement, dated May 12, 2014, between the Company and each director of the Company. Form of Restricted Shares Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-196403), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 30, 2014.

  10.28+

2008 Incentive Stock Plan, as amended. Incorporate by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-196403), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 30, 2014.

  10.29

Third Amendment and Joinder to Credit Agreement and to Security Agreement, dated September 15, 2014, by and among the Company, the Company’s subsidiaries, PNC Bank National Association, as administrative agent and lender, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, further amending the Credit Agreement and the Security Agreement entered into as of August 9, 2012, by and among the Company, the subsidiaries of the Company, PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2014.

  10.30+

Form of Indemnification Agreement for directors and officers of SL Industries, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 21, 2014.

  21**

Subsidiaries of the Company.

  23**

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

  24**

Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page to this Annual Report on Form 10-K).

  31.1**

Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  31.2**

Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  32***

Certification by Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS**

XBRL Instance Document.

101.SCH**

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

101.CAL**

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

101.DEF**

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

101.LAB**

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

101.PRE**

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

 

+ Management contract, or compensatory plan or arrangement.
** Filed herewith.
*** Furnished herewith.

 

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SL Industries, Inc.

Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule

 

     Page number
in this report

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets

   F-3

Consolidated Statements of Income

   F-4

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

   F-4

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

   F-5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   F-6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-7 to F-46

Financial Statement Schedule:

  

II. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

   F-47

 

F-1


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

SL Industries, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of SL Industries, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014. Our audits of the basic consolidated financial statements included the financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Schedule II, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of SL Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

 

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 17, 2015

 

F-2


Table of Contents

Item 1. Financial Statements

SL INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

     December 31,
2014
    December 31,
2013
 

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 31,950,000      $ 7,163,000   

Receivables, net

     33,966,000        30,765,000   

Inventories, net

     23,597,000        22,963,000   

Other current assets

     4,751,000        7,168,000   

Deferred income taxes, net

     6,105,000        2,804,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

  100,369,000     70,863,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

  8,070,000      10,790,000   

Deferred income taxes, net

  5,496,000      10,239,000   

Goodwill

  13,072,000      17,666,000   

Other intangible assets, net

  3,788,000      2,346,000   

Other assets and deferred charges, net

  981,000      1,430,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

$ 131,776,000   $ 113,334,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

Current liabilities:

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt

$ —      $ 1,048,000   

Accounts payable

  19,285,000      17,112,000   

Accrued income taxes

  3,618,000      20,000   

Accrued liabilities:

Payroll and related costs

  4,880,000      5,373,000   

Other

  16,466,000      10,259,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

  44,249,000     33,812,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term debt, less current maturities

  —        187,000   

Deferred compensation and supplemental retirement benefits

  1,427,000      1,695,000   

Other long-term liabilities

  8,779,000      18,465,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

  54,455,000     54,159,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Preferred stock, no par value; authorized, 6,000,000 shares; none issued

  —        —     

Common stock, $.20 par value; authorized, 25,000,000 shares; issued, 6,656,000 and 6,656,000 shares, respectively

  1,331,000      1,331,000   

Capital in excess of par value

  22,747,000      22,153,000   

Retained earnings

  79,415,000      60,520,000   

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) gain, net of tax

  (638,000   822,000   

Treasury stock at cost, 2,512,000 and 2,530,000 shares, respectively

  (25,534,000   (25,651,000
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

  77,321,000     59,175,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$ 131,776,000   $ 113,334,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

SL INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,

 

     2014     2013     2012  

Net sales

   $ 204,417,000      $ 184,658,000      $ 179,375,000   

Cost and expenses:

      

Cost of products sold

     138,794,000        126,432,000        126,063,000   

Engineering and product development

     11,041,000        11,340,000        10,018,000   

Selling, general and administrative

     32,337,000        29,586,000        30,070,000   

Depreciation and amortization

     2,220,000        2,010,000        2,296,000   

Restructuring charges

     463,000        —          790,000   

Goodwill impairment

     —          5,055,000        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total cost and expenses

  184,855,000     174,423,000     169,237,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

  19,562,000      10,235,000      10,138,000   

Other income (expense):

Amortization of deferred financing costs

  (94,000   (83,000   (138,000

Interest income

  13,000      12,000      5,000   

Interest expense

  (27,000   (61,000   (23,000

Other gain (loss), net

  1,769,000     (78,000 )   243,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

  21,223,000      10,025,000      10,225,000   

Income tax provision

  7,043,000     2,547,000     2,686,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

  14,180,000      7,478,000      7,539,000   

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

  4,715,000     762,000     238,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

$ 18,895,000   $ 8,240,000   $ 7,777,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic net income per common share

Income from continuing operations

$ 3.43    $ 1.81    $ 1.74   

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

  1.14      0.18      0.06   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

$ 4.57   $ 1.99   $ 1.80   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted net income per common share

Income from continuing operations

$ 3.39    $ 1.79    $ 1.74   

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

  1.12      0.18      0.06   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

$ 4.51   $ 1.97   $ 1.80   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares used in computing basic net income per common share

  4,139,000      4,138,000      4,313,000   

Shares used in computing diluted net income per common share

  4,187,000      4,184,000      4,330,000   

SL INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,

 

     2014     2013      2012  

Net income

   $ 18,895,000      $ 8,240,000       $ 7,777,000   

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

       

Foreign currency translation

     (366,000     180,000         (103,000

Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities

     —          1,094,000         —     

Net unrealized gain reclassified into income on sale of available-for-sale securities

     (1,094,000     —           —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

$ 17,435,000   $ 9,514,000   $ 7,674,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

SL INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012

 

    Common Stock     Capital in
Excess of
Par Value
    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity
 
    Issued     Held In Treasury          
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount          

Balance December 31, 2011

    6,963,000      $ 1,393,000        (2,395,000   $ (22,014,000   $ 25,002,000      $ 52,825,000      $ (349,000   $ 56,857,000   

Net income

              7,777,000          7,777,000   

Foreign currency translation

                (103,000     (103,000

Other, including exercise of employee stock options, awards released and related income tax benefits

        18,000        177,000        (64,000         113,000   

Stock-based compensation

            842,000            842,000   

Repurchase and retirement of common stock

    (307,000     (62,000         (4,202,000         (4,264,000

Treasury stock purchased

        (140,000     (2,468,000           (2,468,000

Dividends declared

              (8,322,000       (8,322,000
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance December 31, 2012

    6,656,000      $ 1,331,000        (2,517,000   $ (24,305,000   $ 21,578,000      $ 52,280,000      $ (452,000   $ 50,432,000   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

              8,240,000          8,240,000   

Foreign currency translation

                180,000        180,000   

Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of tax

                1,094,000        1,094,000   

Other, including exercise of employee stock options, awards released and related income tax benefits

        74,000        733,000        30,000            763,000   

Stock-based compensation

            545,000            545,000   

Treasury stock purchased

        (87,000     (2,079,000           (2,079,000
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance December 31, 2013

    6,656,000      $ 1,331,000        (2,530,000   $ (25,651,000   $ 22,153,000      $ 60,520,000      $ 822,000      $ 59,175,000   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

              18,895,000          18,895,000   

Foreign currency translation

                (366,000     (366,000

Net unrealized gain reclassified into income on sale of available-for-sale securities, net of tax

                (1,094,000     (1,094,000

Other, including exercise of employee stock options, awards released and related income tax benefits

        22,000        223,000        (174,000         49,000   

Stock-based compensation

            768,000            768,000   

Treasury stock purchased

        (4,000     (106,000           (106,000
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance December 31, 2014

    6,656,000      $ 1,331,000        (2,512,000   $ (25,534,000   $ 22,747,000      $ 79,415,000      $ (638,000   $ 77,321,000   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

SL INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,

 

     2014     2013     2012  

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

      

Net income

   $ 18,895,000      $ 8,240,000      $ 7,777,000   

Adjustment for income from discontinued operations

     (4,715,000     (762,000     (238,000
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

  14,180,000      7,478,000      7,539,000   

Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation

  1,549,000      1,462,000      1,431,000   

Amortization

  671,000      548,000      865,000   

Amortization of deferred financing costs

  94,000      83,000      138,000   

Stock-based compensation

  768,000      545,000      842,000   

Excess tax benefit on stock compensation

  —        (132,000   (33,000

Loss (gain) on foreign exchange contracts

  825,000      90,000      (243,000

Provisions for losses on accounts receivable

  29,000      46,000      20,000   

Deferred compensation and supplemental retirement benefits

  327,000      313,000      399,000   

Deferred compensation and supplemental retirement benefit payments

  (440,000   (503,000   (480,000

Deferred income taxes

  1,615,000      153,000      191,000   

(Gain) on sale of available-for-sale securities

  (1,691,000   —        —     

(Gain) loss on sales of property, plant and equipment

  (1,127,000   —        24,000   

Goodwill impairment

  —        5,055,000      —     

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

  (5,129,000   (1,028,000   1,091,000   

Inventories

  (388,000   (725,000   847,000   

Other assets

  963,000      (1,729,000   112,000   

Accounts payable

  2,130,000      (1,860,000   1,882,000   

Other accrued liabilities

  1,321,000      3,368,000      1,400,000   

Accrued income taxes

  4,152,000      494,000      165,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations

  19,849,000      13,658,000      16,190,000   

Net cash (used in) operating activities from discontinued operations

  (9,920,000   (3,959,000   (662,000
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

  9,929,000      9,699,000      15,528,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

  (2,850,000   (2,434,000   (1,553,000

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

  1,657,000      —        —     

Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired

  (3,973,000   —        (756,000

Purchases of available-for-sale securities

  —        (2,362,000   —     

Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities

  4,054,000      —        —     

Purchases of other assets

  (379,000   (320,000   (215,000
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) investing activities from continuing operations

  (1,491,000   (5,116,000   (2,524,000

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities from discontinued operations

  17,783,000      (416,000   (170,000
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES

  16,292,000      (5,532,000   (2,694,000
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

Proceeds from Senior Revolving Credit Facility

  —        25,490,000      2,850,000   

Payments of Senior Revolving Credit Facility

  (1,000,000   (24,490,000   (2,850,000

Proceeds from Revolving Credit Facility

  —        —        4,100,000   

Payments of Revolving Credit Facility

  —        —        (4,100,000

Payments of deferred financing costs

  (45,000   (42,000   (340,000

Repurchase and retirement of common stock

  —        —        (4,264,000

Treasury stock purchases

  (106,000   (2,079,000   (2,468,000

Proceeds from stock options exercised

  —        743,000      80,000   

Excess tax benefit on stock compensation

  —        132,000      33,000   

Dividends paid

  —        —        (8,322,000
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) financing activities from continuing operations

  (1,151,000   (246,000   (15,281,000

Net cash (used in) financing activities from discontinued operations

  (235,000   —        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET CASH (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES

  (1,386,000   (246,000   (15,281,000

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

  (48,000   46,000     11,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

  24,787,000      3,967,000     (2,436,000
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD

  7,163,000      3,196,000     5,632,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

$ 31,950,000    $ 7,163,000   $ 3,196,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1. Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies

Background: SL Industries, Inc. (the “Company”), through its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures and markets power electronics, motion control, power protection, and power quality electromagnetic equipment that is used in a variety of medical, commercial and military aerospace, computer, datacom, industrial, and telecom applications. Its products are generally incorporated into larger systems to improve operating performance, safety, reliability and efficiency. The Company’s products are largely sold to Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEMs”) and, to a lesser extent, to commercial distributors. The Company’s customer base is primarily located in the United States. The Company’s operating subsidiaries are described and defined in Note 23. The Company’s discontinued operations are described and defined in Note 4.

Unless the context requires otherwise, the terms the “Company,” “SL Industries,” “we,” “us” and “our” mean SL Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries after Reincorporation (defined and described below) and SL Industries, Inc., a New Jersey corporation prior to Reincorporation. In the context of describing the Reincorporation, “SL-NJ” means SL Industries, Inc., a New Jersey corporation, and “SL-DE” means SL Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of SL-NJ.

On May 9, 2013, the Company’s shareholders voted to approve a proposal to change the state of incorporation of SL Industries from the State of New Jersey to the State of Delaware by merging SL-NJ with and into SL-DE (the “Reincorporation”). On June 20, 2013 (the “Effective Date”), the Reincorporation was effected by merging SL-NJ with and into SL-DE pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 3, 2013, between SL-NJ and SL-DE. SL-DE survived the merger and SL-NJ ceased to exist. The principal reason for the Reincorporation was to give the Company a greater measure of flexibility and simplicity in corporate governance and provide greater clarity and predictability with respect to the Company’s corporate legal affairs. The Reincorporation did not result in any change in the name, business, management, fiscal year, accounting, location of the principal executive officers, assets or liabilities or net worth (other than the costs of reincorporation which were immaterial) of the Company.

On November 17, 2014, SL Delaware Holdings, Inc. (“SL Delaware Holdings”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a definitive Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Hubbell Power Systems, Inc. (“Hubbell”), a subsidiary of Hubbell Incorporated, pursuant to which SL Delaware Holdings sold all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of RFL Electronics Inc. (“RFL”). The Company concluded that the accounting requirements for reporting the results of operations and cash flows of the divested business as discontinued operations were met at November 17, 2014. As a result, the accompanying consolidated statements of income for 2013 and 2012, the consolidated statements of cash flows for 2013 and 2012, and the amounts in these notes to the consolidated financial statements related to 2013 and 2012 have been recast to reflect the presentation of the results of operations and cash flows of the formerly owned RFL businesses as discontinued operations. Refer to Note 4, “Discontinued Operations”, for additional information regarding this transaction.

Basis Of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

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Table of Contents

Use Of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant areas that require the use of management estimates relate to product warranty costs, accrued liabilities related to litigation, allowance for doubtful accounts, allowance for inventory obsolescence and environmental costs, the valuation of acquisitions and long-lived assets, and income taxes, including estimates for certain tax liabilities and the determination of recoverability of certain of the deferred tax assets.

Cash Equivalents: The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with an original maturity date of three months or less and investments in money market accounts to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, cash and cash equivalents held in the United States are held principally at one financial institution.

Accounts Receivable: The Company’s accounts receivable primarily consist of trade receivables and are reported net of allowances for doubtful accounts of approximately $281,000 and $581,000 as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The Company’s estimate for the allowance for doubtful accounts related to trade receivables is based on two methods. The amounts calculated from each of these methods are combined to determine the total amount reserved. First, the Company evaluates specific accounts where it has information that the customer may have an inability to meet its financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy or insolvency). In these cases, the Company uses its judgment, based on the best available facts and circumstances, and records a specific reserve for that customer against amounts due to reduce the receivable to the amount that is expected to be collected. These specific reserves are reevaluated and adjusted as additional information is received that impacts the amount reserved. Second, a general reserve is established for all customers based on several factors, including historical write-offs as a percentage of sales. If circumstances change (e.g., higher than expected defaults or an unexpected material adverse change in a major customer’s ability to meet its financial obligation), the Company’s estimates of the recoverability of amounts due could be reduced by a material amount. Receivables are charged off against the reserve when they are deemed uncollectible.

Inventories: Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is primarily determined using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method. Cost for certain inventories is determined using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method. The Company’s carrying cost of inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market as the Company continually reviews the book value of discontinued product lines to determine if these items are properly valued. The Company identifies these items and assesses the ability to dispose of them at a price greater than cost. If it is determined that cost is less than market value, then cost is used for inventory valuation. If market value is less than cost, then related inventory is adjusted to market value. If a write down to the current market value is necessary, the market value cannot be greater than the net realizable value, which is defined as selling price less costs to complete and dispose, and cannot be lower than the net realizable value less a normal profit margin. The Company also continually evaluates the composition of its inventory and identifies obsolete, slow-moving, and excess inventories. Inventory items identified as obsolete, slow-moving, or excess are evaluated to determine if reserves are required. If the Company were not able to achieve its expectations of the net realizable value of the inventory at current market value, it would have to adjust its reserves accordingly. The Company attempts to accurately estimate future product demand to properly adjust inventory levels. However, significant unanticipated changes in demand could have a significant impact on the value of inventory and of operating results.

 

F-8


Table of Contents

Investments: The Company determines the appropriate classification of its investments in equity securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such determinations at each balance sheet date. Marketable securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term are classified as trading securities and are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recognized in earnings. Marketable equity securities not classified as trading are classified as available for sale, and are carried at fair market value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, included in the determination of comprehensive income and reported in shareholders’ equity. The fair value of all securities held by the Company is determined by quoted market prices.

Property, Plant And Equipment: Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost and include expenditures for new facilities and major renewals and betterments. Maintenance, repairs and minor renewals are charged to expense as incurred. When assets are sold or otherwise disposed of, any gain or loss is recognized currently. Depreciation is provided primarily using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 25 to 40 years for buildings, 3 to 15 years for equipment and other property, and the lesser of the lease term or life of the asset for leasehold improvements. Assets subject to capital leases are depreciated over the lesser of the estimated useful life of the asset or length of the contract.

Goodwill And Other Intangibles: The Company follows Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350 “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other,” which requires that goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets will no longer be amortized to earnings, but instead be subject to periodic testing for impairment. Intangible assets determined to have definitive lives will continue to be amortized over their estimated useful lives.

The Company’s impairment testing is undertaken annually, or more frequently upon the occurrence of some indication that an impairment may take place. The Company conducted its annual impairment test as of December 31, 2014.

A two-step process is utilized to determine if goodwill has been impaired. In the first step, the fair value of each reporting unit is compared to the net asset value recorded for such unit. If the fair value exceeds the net asset value, the goodwill of the reporting unit is not adjusted. However, if the recorded net asset value exceeds the fair value, the Company would perform a second step to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. In the second step, the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is compared with the goodwill recorded for such unit. If the recorded amount of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in the amount of the excess. The nonrecurring fair value measurement of goodwill is developed using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) (see Note 18 for additional information).

Long-Lived Assets: The Company evaluates the recoverability of its long-lived assets in accordance with ASC 360 “Property, Plant, and Equipment.” The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of long-lived assets are measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset, undiscounted and without interest or independent appraisals. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the assets.

 

F-9


Table of Contents

Revenue Recognition: Revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the purchase price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. The major portion of the Company’s revenue is derived from equipment sales. The Company recognizes equipment revenue upon shipment or delivery, depending upon the terms of the order, and transfer of title. Generally, the revenue recognition criteria are met at the time the product is shipped. Provisions are made at the time the related revenue is recognized for product returns, product warranties, rebates, certain re-stocking programs with distributors and other sales incentives offered by the Company to its customers. Freight revenues billed to customers are included in net sales and expenses for shipping products are included in cost of sales.

Environmental Expenditures: Environmental expenditures that relate to current operations are charged to expense or capitalized, as appropriate. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by formerly owned operations are expensed and recorded as part of discontinued operations, net of tax. Expenditures include costs of remediation and legal fees to defend against claims for environmental liability. Liabilities are recorded when remedial efforts are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. The liability for remediation expenditures includes, as appropriate, elements of costs such as site investigations, consultants’ fees, feasibility studies, outside contractor expenses and monitoring expenses. Estimates are not discounted and they are not reduced by potential claims for recovery from insurance carriers. The liability is periodically reviewed and adjusted to reflect current remediation progress, prospective estimates of required activity and other relevant factors, including changes in technology or regulations.

Deferred Financing Costs: Costs incurred in securing long-term debt are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the related debt. In the case of loan modifications, the Company follows the guidance provided by ASC 470-50 “Debt – Modification and Extinguishments.” The net unamortized deferred financing costs at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were $177,000 and $227,000, respectively. The financing cost amortization expense was $94,000, $83,000, and $138,000, for 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.

Product Warranty Costs: The Company offers various warranties on its products. These warranties vary in length depending on the product. The Company provides for its estimated future warranty obligations in the period in which the related sale is recognized primarily based on historical experience. For 2014, 2013 and 2012, product warranty costs from continuing operations were $818,000, $757,000 and $524,000, respectively.

Advertising Costs: Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. For 2014, 2013 and 2012, advertising costs from continuing operations were $349,000, $258,000 and $271,000, respectively.

Research And Development Costs: Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. For 2014, 2013 and 2012, research and development costs from continuing operations were $4,054,000, $4,215,000 and $2,992,000, respectively.

 

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Other Gain (Loss), net: Other gain (loss), net in 2014 was a net gain of $1,769,000 compared to net loss of $78,000 in 2013 and a net gain of $243,000 in 2012. Other gain (loss), net in 2014 included a $1,691,000 gain recognized from the sale of available-for-sale securities, a $892,000 gain on the sale of the Company’s former manufacturing facility located in Xianghe, China, and $11,000 of dividend income received from investments in available-for-sale securities, which were partially offset by a $825,000 unrealized loss on foreign currency forward contracts. Other gain (loss), net in 2013 included a $90,000 unrealized loss on foreign currency forward contracts, which was partially offset by $12,000 of dividend income received from investments in available-for-sale securities. Other gain (loss), net in 2012 included a $243,000 unrealized gain on foreign currency forward contracts.

Since 2012, the Company has entered into a series of foreign currency forward contracts to hedge its exposure to foreign exchange rate movements in its forecasted expenses in China and Mexico. The loss recognized in 2014 and 2013 and the gain recognized in 2012 represents the change in fair value of foreign currency forward contracts that are marked to market (see Note 19 for additional information).

Income Taxes: The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company establishes valuation allowances if the Company believes that it is more likely than not that some of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company does not recognize a tax benefit unless it is more likely than not that the benefit will be sustained on audit by the taxing authority based on the merits of the associated tax position. If the recognition threshold is met, the Company recognizes a tax benefit measured at the largest amount of the tax benefit that, based on the Company’s judgment, is greater than fifty percent likely to be realized. The Company records interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense.

Foreign Currency Conversion: Assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated from local currency to U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the end of the fiscal period. Gains and losses from the translation of foreign operations are included in accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss) on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Revenue and expenses are translated at the year-to-date average rate of exchange. Transaction gains and losses arising from currency exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the local currency are included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income.

Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities: FASB ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”), provides the disclosure requirements for derivatives and hedging activities with the intent to provide users of financial statements with an enhanced understanding of: (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how the entity accounts for derivative instruments and related hedged items, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Further, qualitative disclosures are required that explain the Company’s objectives and strategies for using derivatives, as well as quantitative disclosures about the fair value of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative instruments.

 

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The Company is exposed to certain risks arising from both its business operations and economic conditions. The Company principally manages its exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through management of its core business activities. Certain of the Company’s foreign operations expose the Company to fluctuations of foreign interest rates and exchange rates. These fluctuations may impact the value of the Company’s revenues, expenses, cash receipts and payments in terms of the Company’s functional currency. The Company enters into derivative financial instruments to protect the value or fix the amount of certain cash flows in terms of the functional currency of the business unit with that exposure.

As required by ASC 815, the Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether the Company has elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. The Company enters into derivative contracts that are intended to economically hedge certain of its risk, even though hedge accounting does not apply or the Company elects not to apply hedge accounting. Currently, the Company does not apply hedge accounting to any of its foreign currency derivatives.

Note 2. Income Per Share

The Company has presented net income per common share pursuant to ASC 260 “Earnings Per Share.” Basic net income per common share is computed by dividing reported net income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the period.

Diluted net income per common share is computed by dividing reported net income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average shares outstanding for the period, adjusted for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents, which consist of stock options, using the treasury stock method.

There were no anti-dilutive options for the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. For the year ended December 31, 2012, 6,000 stock options were excluded from the dilutive computation as the assumed shares repurchased under the treasury method would have been anti-dilutive.

 

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The table below sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per share:

 

    December 31,
2014
    December 31,
2013
    December 31,
2012
 
    (in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Net income available to common shareholders:

     

Basic net income available to common shareholders from continuing operations

  $ 14,180      $ 7,478      $ 7,539   

Basic net income available to common shareholders from discontinued operations

  $ 4,715      $ 762      $ 238   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted net income available to common shareholders from continuing operations

$ 14,180    $ 7,478    $ 7,539   

Diluted net income available to common shareholders from discontinued operations

$ 4,715    $ 762    $ 238   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares:

Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding

  4,139      4,138      4,313   

Common shares assumed upon exercise of stock options

  48      46      17   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding

  4,187      4,184      4,330   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic net income per common share:

Income from continuing operations

$ 3.43    $ 1.81    $ 1.74   

Income from discontinued operations (net of tax)

  1.14      0.18      0.06   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

$ 4.57    $ 1.99    $ 1.80   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted net income per common share:

Income from continuing operations

$ 3.39    $ 1.79    $ 1.74   

Income from discontinued operations (net of tax)

  1.12      0.18      0.06   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

$ 4.51    $ 1.97    $ 1.80   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Note 3. Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards And Other Standards

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force),” which provides guidance on financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. ASU 2013-11 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The implementation of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

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Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements And Other Standards

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08, “Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of an Entity,” which amends the guidance for reporting discontinued operations and disposals of components of an entity. The amended guidance requires that a disposal representing a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s financial results or a business activity classified as sale should be reported as discontinued operations. The amendments also expand the disclosure requirements for discontinued operations and add new disclosures for individually significant dispositions that do not qualify as discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 is effective prospectively for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2014 (early adoption is permitted only for disposals that have not been previously reported). The implementation of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” which provides guidance that revenue should be recognized to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and may be applied either (i) retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented with an election for certain specified practical expedients, or (ii) retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the ASU recognized at the date of initial application, with additional disclosure requirements. Early application is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the implementation of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company’s management has not yet determined the method by which it will adopt the standard in 2017.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, “Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force),” which requires a reporting entity to treat a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period as a performance condition. ASU 2014-12 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Earlier application is permitted. The implementation of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-16, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share Is More Akin to Debt or to Equity (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force),” which clarifies how current guidance should be interpreted in evaluating the economic characteristics and risks of a host contract in a hybrid financial instrument that is issued in the form of a share. The amendments require that an entity should consider all relevant terms and features, including the embedded derivative feature being evaluated for bifurcation, in evaluating the nature of a host contract. ASU 2014-16 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Earlier adoption is permitted. The implementation of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

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In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-17, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Pushdown Accounting (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force),” which gives acquired companies the option to apply pushdown accounting to its separate financial statements upon a change-in-control event. ASU 2014-15 is effective on November 18, 2014. The implementation of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Note 4. Discontinued Operations

The results of total income from discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2014, December 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  
     (in thousands)  

Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes:

        

Divested operations - RFL

   $ 8,215       $ 2,852       $ 2,797   

Environmental costs

     (896      (1,620      (2,151
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total income from discontinued operations before income taxes

$ 7,319    $ 1,232   $ 646   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax:

Divested operations - RFL

$ 5,338    $ 1,854    $ 1,818   

Environmental costs

  (623   (1,092   (1,580
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total income from discontinued operations, net of tax

$ 4,715    $ 762   $ 238   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The loss from discontinued operations due to environmental costs in 2014, 2013, and 2012 is related to remediation costs, consulting fees, and legal expenses associated with the past operations of the Company’s five environmental sites (See Note 16 – Commitments and Contingencies for further information concerning the environmental sites).

On November 17, 2014, SL Delaware Holdings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into the Purchase Agreement with Hubbell pursuant to which SL Delaware Holdings sold all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of RFL to Hubbell for aggregate cash consideration of $20,000,000, subject to a post-closing working capital adjustment which amounted to $299,000 and was received in February 2015. A portion of the cash consideration ($2,000,000, subject to adjustment after nine months), is being held in escrow to secure the indemnification obligations of SL Delaware Holdings. As a result, the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of $6,650,000 ($4,322,000 net of tax).

The Company concluded that the accounting requirements for reporting the results of operations and cash flows of the divested business as discontinued operations were met at November 17, 2014. As a result, the consolidated statements of income for 2013 and 2012 and the consolidated statements of cash flows for 2013 and 2012 have been recast to reflect the formerly owned RFL businesses as discontinued operations.

 

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The results of the discontinued operations for RFL for the years ended December 31, 2014, December 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  
     (in thousands)  

Net sales

   $ 17,093       $ 20,030      $ 21,202   

Costs and expenses

        

Cost of products sold

     8,287         9,405         10,479   

Engineering and product development

     1,829         1,714         1,728   

Selling, general and administrative

     5,027         5,839         5,750   

Depreciation and amortization

     352         396         415   

Restructuring charges

        —           67   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cost and expenses

  15,495      17,354     18,439   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from operations

  1,598      2,676      2,763   

Other income (expense):

Interest expense

  (33   (26   (25

Other gain (loss), net

  —        202      59   

Gain on disposal

  6,650      —        —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations before income taxes

  8,215      2,852      2,797   

Income tax provision

  2,877      998      979   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

$ 5,338    $ 1,854   $ 1,818   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

In the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, environmental costs and the financial results of the RFL segment were included in net cash (used in) operating activities from discontinued operations, net cash provided by (used in) investing activities from discontinued operations, and net cash (used in) financing activities from discontinued operations.

Note 5. Receivables

Receivables consist of the following:

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013  
     (in thousands)  

Trade receivables

   $ 34,025       $ 30,766   

Less: allowance for doubtful accounts

     (281 )      (581
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Trade receivables, net

  33,744      30,185   

Recoverable income taxes

  81      344   

Other

  141      236   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Receivables, net

$ 33,966   $ 30,765   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Note 6. Concentrations Of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of temporary cash investments and trade receivables. The Company places its temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are limited due to the large number of customers comprising the Company’s customer base, and their dispersion across many industries and geographic regions. The Company seeks to limit its exposure to credit risks in any single country or region. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and generally requires no collateral from its customers. The Company provides an allowance for potential credit losses based upon collectability of such receivables. Losses have not been significant for any of the periods presented. All financial investments inherently expose holders to market risks, including changes in currency and interest rates. The Company manages its exposure to these market risks through its regular operating and financing activities.

Note 7. Inventories

Inventories consist of the following:

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013  
     (in thousands)  

Raw materials

   $ 16,865       $ 16,198   

Work in process

     4,584         4,842   

Finished goods

     4,232        4,124   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross inventory

  25,681      25,164   

Less: allowances

  (2,084   (2,201
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Inventories, net

$ 23,597   $ 22,963   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The above includes certain inventories that are valued using the LIFO method, which aggregated $8,722,000 and $5,789,000 as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The excess of FIFO cost over LIFO cost as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was approximately $160,000 and $495,000, respectively.

Note 8. Property, Plant And Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013  
     (in thousands)  

Land

   $ 216       $ 1,146   

Buildings and leasehold improvements

     6,604         9,448   

Equipment and other property

     25,148        28,022   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
  31,968      38,616   

Less: accumulated depreciation

  (23,898   (27,826
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

$ 8,070   $ 10,790   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Depreciation expense on property, plant and equipment was $1,549,000, $1,462,000, and $1,431,000 for 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Property, plant, and equipment under capital leases had a gross value of $239,000 as of December 31, 2013. The capital lease was acquired in December 2013 by RFL and is included in equipment and other property. During 2014, the leased equipment was purchased prior to the divestiture of RFL.

Note 9. Goodwill And Intangible Assets

Acquisitions in Fiscal 2014

On July 25, 2014, the Company acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of Dynetic Systems, Inc. (“Dynetic”), pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement for an initial purchase price of $4,000,000 less a working capital adjustment of $27,000 (the “Dynetic Acquisition”). The Asset Purchase Agreement also includes a possible earn-out, initially estimated at $310,000, which is comprised of annual payments based on sales of Dynetic products and sales to Dynetic customers over the period immediately following the date of the Dynetic Acquisition through December 31, 2017. Dynetic designed, developed and manufactured precision quality, instrument grade motion control products, and provided custom motor and motion control solutions to the aerospace, defense, medical, commercial and industrial markets. In connection with the Dynetic Acquisition, SL Montevideo Technology, Inc. (“SL-MTI”) recorded $266,000 of non-cash inventory step-up amortization due to purchase accounting and direct acquisition costs of approximately $146,000 during 2014. The non-cash inventory step-up amortization was recorded within cost of products sold and direct acquisition costs were recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income. SLMTI DS LLC (“SLMTI DS”), a new formed subsidiary of SL-MTI, holds the assets acquired in the Dynetic Acquisition.

At December 31, 2014, the financial statements reflect the final purchase price based on estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The acquisition resulted in intangible assets of $1,861,000 and goodwill of $653,000, which are deductible for tax purposes. Included in intangibles is a customer list valued at $1,510,000 with an estimated useful life of 10 years, developed technology valued at $280,000 with an estimated useful life of 6 years, a trademark valued at $60,000 with an estimated useful life of 2 years, and a non-competition agreement valued at $11,000 with an estimated useful life of 5 years. The total weighted-average amortization period of Dynetic intangible assets, excluding goodwill, is approximately 9 years.

As of December 31, 2014, the total liability for the estimated earn-out was $288,000. During 2014, there were no payments related to the earn-out. The Dynetic results from the date of acquisition through December 31, 2014 are included in the SL-MTI segment.

Acquisitions in Fiscal 2012

On February 27, 2012, the Company purchased certain assets of Pro-Dex Astromec, Inc. (“Astromec”), a subsidiary of Pro-Dex Inc. (“Pro-Dex”), for approximately $1,050,000, which includes the assumption of liabilities for an estimated earn-out of $294,000. The total liability for the earn-out as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was $32,000 and $116,000, respectively. During 2014 and 2013, $112,000 and $148,000 were paid related to the earn-out, respectively. The results from the date of acquisition through December 31, 2014 are included in the SL-MTI segment.

 

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Goodwill And Intangible Assets

Intangible assets consist of the following:

 

          December 31, 2014      December 31, 2013  
     Amortizable
Life (years)
   Gross Value      Accumulated
Amortization
     Net Value      Gross Value      Accumulated
Amortization
     Net Value  
     (in thousands)  

Finite-lived intangible assets:

                    

Customer relationships (1)

   5 to 10    $ 5,378       $ 3,858       $ 1,520       $ 3,868       $ 3,436       $ 432   

Patents (2)

   5 to 20      1,501         1,223         278         1,302         1,212         90   

Developed technology (1)

   5 to 6      1,980         1,719         261         1,700         1,700         —     

Licensing fees (3)

   5 to 10      —           —           —           550         398         152   

Trademarks (1)

   2      60         13         47         —           —           —     

Non-compete agreements (1)

   5      11         1         10         —           —           —     
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total amortized finite-lived intangible assets

  8,930      6,814      2,116      7,420      6,746      674   

Indefinite-lived intangible assets:

Trademarks

  1,672      —        1,672      1,672      —        1,672   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other intangible assets, net

$ 10,602    $ 6,814    $ 3,788    $ 9,092    $ 6,746    $ 2,346   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) On July 25, 2014, the Company purchased certain assets of Dynetic. Included in the purchase price allocation is a customer list valued at $1,510,000 with an estimated useful life of 10 years, developed technology valued at $280,000 with an estimated useful life of 6 years, a trademark valued at $60,000 with an estimated useful life of 2 years, and a non-competition agreement valued at $11,000 with an estimated useful life of 5 years.
(2)  During 2014, MTE Corporation (“MTE”), which is part of the High Power Group segment, purchased a patent from a third party. The value of the asset is $160,000 and the estimated useful life of the asset is 14 years. During 2014, MTE also capitalized $39,000 of legal fees related to a new patent application. The estimated useful life of the asset is 20 years.
(3) On November 17, 2014, the Company sold all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of RFL, which included a licensing fee.

Goodwill is tested at the reporting unit levels annually, and if necessary, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The fair values of the reporting units were estimated using a combination of the expected present values of future cash flows, an assessment of comparable market multiples and a review of market capitalization with estimated control premiums.

There were no impairment charges related to goodwill recorded during 2014 and 2012. There were no impairment charges related to indefinite-lived intangible assets recorded during 2014, 2013, and 2012. In 2013, the Company’s annual impairment test resulted in our assessment that the carrying value of the TEAL Electronics Corp (“TEAL”) reporting unit exceeded its fair value. As a result of the Company’s annual impairment test, a $5,055,000 non-cash goodwill impairment charge was assessed and recorded in goodwill impairment expense on the Consolidated Statements of Income in the fourth quarter of 2013 in our High Power Group segment. The goodwill impairment was primarily due to a decline in medical imaging equipment market sales during the year coupled with the cancellation of a large solar contract during the fourth quarter of 2013. This resulted in the TEAL reporting unit having lower sales and cash flows for the year than previously projected and lower forecasts of future sales and cash flows for the reporting unit.

 

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Table of Contents

Application of the goodwill impairment test requires judgment, including the identification of reporting units, assigning assets and liabilities to reporting units, assigning goodwill to reporting units and determining the fair value of each reporting unit. Significant judgments required to estimate the fair value of reporting units include estimating future cash flows, determining appropriate discount and growth rates, operating margins and working capital requirements, selecting comparable companies within each reporting unit and market and determining control premiums. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could materially affect the determination of fair value for each reporting unit.

As of December 31, 2013, the total fair values for each of the remaining reporting units in all of the Company’s segments exceeded their total carrying values by 168% or greater. Although our analysis regarding the fair values of the goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets indicates that they exceed their respective carrying values, materially different assumptions regarding the future performance of the Company’s businesses or significant declines in the Company’s stock price could result in additional goodwill impairment losses.

Estimated future amortization expense for intangible assets subject to amortization in each of the next five fiscal years is as follows:

 

     Amortization
Expense
(in thousands)
 

2015

   $ 282   

2016

   $ 266   

2017

   $ 223   

2018

   $ 218   

2019

   $ 217   

Total amortization expense, excluding the amortization of deferred financing costs, for 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $671,000, $548,000 and $865,000, respectively. Amortization expense related to intangible assets for 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $466,000, $384,000 and $706,000, respectively. Amortization expense related to software for 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $205,000, $164,000 and $159,000, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

Changes in goodwill balances by segment (which are defined below) are as follows:

 

     Balance
December 31,
2013
     Acquisitions      Discontinued
Operations
    Foreign
Exchange
     Balance
December 31,
2014
 
     (in thousands)  

SL Power Electronics Corp.

   $ 4,228       $ —         $ —        $ 2       $ 4,230   

High Power Group:

             

MTE Corporation

     8,189         —           —          —           8,189   

TEAL Electronics Corp.

     —           —           —          —           —     

SL-MTI

     —           653         —          —           653   

RFL Electronics Inc. (1)

     5,249         —           (5,249     —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Goodwill

$ 17,666    $ 653    $ (5,249 $ 2    $ 13,072   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table reflects the components of goodwill as of December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013:

 

     December 31, 2014      December 31, 2013  
     Gross
Amount
     Accumulated
Impairment
Losses
     Goodwill,
Net
     Gross
Amount
     Accumulated
Impairment
Losses
     Goodwill,
Net
 
     (in thousands)  

SL Power Electronics Corp.

   $ 4,230       $ —         $ 4,230       $ 4,228       $ —         $ 4,228   

High Power Group:

                 

MTE Corporation

     8,189         —           8,189         8,189         —           8,189   

TEAL Electronics Corp.

     5,055         5,055         —           5,055         5,055         —     

SL-MTI

     653         —           653         —           —           —     

RFL Electronics Inc. (1)

     —           —           —           5,249         —           5,249   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Goodwill

$ 18,127    $ 5,055    $ 13,072    $ 22,721    $ 5,055    $ 17,666   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)  On November 17, 2014, SL Delaware Holdings., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into the Purchase Agreement with Hubbell pursuant to which SL Delaware Holdings sold all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of RFL to Hubbell for aggregate cash consideration of $20,000,000, subject to a post-closing working capital adjustment which amounted to $299,000 and was received in February 2015. The Company concluded that the accounting requirements for reporting the results of operations of the divested business as discontinued operations were met at November 17, 2014. As a result, the results of operations for the periods presented have been recast to reflect the formerly owned RFL businesses as discontinued operations.

Note 10. Investments

Investments in publicly traded equity securities (which include equity interests of less than 20%) are classified as available-for-sale securities. These investments are carried at fair value using quoted market prices and are included in other current assets in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, are included in the determination of comprehensive income and reported in shareholders’ equity.

 

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As of December 31, 2014, the Company had no available-for-sale securities. Available-for-sale securities consist of the following as of December 31, 2013:

 

     December 31, 2013  
     (in thousands)  
     Cost      Gains in
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
     Estimated
Fair Value
 

Common stock

   $ 2,362       $ 1,739       $ 4,101   

During the first six months of 2014, the Company sold all of its available-for-sale securities for total proceeds of $4,054,000. The gross realized gains on these sales totaled $1,691,000 ($1,063,000 net of tax), for the year ended December 31, 2014. For the purpose of determining gross realized gains, the cost of securities sold was based on the first in, first out (FIFO) method.

No available-for-sale securities were sold during the year ended December 31, 2013. Gross unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale securities for the year ended December 31, 2013 of $1,739,000 ($1,094,000 net of tax), have been included in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Note 11. Income Taxes

Income tax provision (benefit) for the fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012 is as follows:

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  
     (in thousands)  

Income tax provision from continuing operations

   $ 7,043       $ 2,547       $ 2,686   

Income tax provision from discontinued operations

     2,604         470         408   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total income tax provision

$ 9,647    $ 3,017   $ 3,094   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes consists of the following:

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  
     (in thousands)  

Domestic

   $ 17,788       $ 8,980       $ 8,023   

Foreign

     3,435         1,045         2,202   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

$ 21,223    $ 10,025   $ 10,225   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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The provision for income taxes from continuing operations consists of the following:

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  
     (in thousands)  

Current:

        

Federal

   $ 5,613       $ 3,543       $ 1,685   

Foreign

     1,105         313         719   

State

     418         271         (191

Deferred:

        

Federal

     (104      (1,510      554   

Foreign

     (113      (20      89   

State

     124         (50      (170
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income tax provision from continuing operations

$ 7,043    $ 2,547   $ 2,686   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 are as follows:

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013  
     (in thousands)  

Deferred tax assets related to continuing operations:

     

Deferred compensation

   $ 695       $ 746   

Inventory valuation

     693         384   

Tax loss carryforward

     1,072         1,293   

R&D tax credit carryforward

     817         1,146   

Accrued expenses

     538         520   

Warranty

     437         349   

Vacation and bonus expense

     985         1,347   

Other

     1,065         336   

Less valuation allowances

     (602      (588
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets related to continuing operations

  5,700     5,533   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities related to continuing operations:

Accelerated depreciation and amortization

  479      794   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets related to continuing operations

  5,221     4,739   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets related to discontinued operations

  6,380     8,304   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

$ 11,601   $ 13,043   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company has not made a provision for U.S. income taxes and foreign withholding taxes for the anticipated repatriation of certain earnings of foreign subsidiaries of the Company. The Company considers the undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries above the amount already provided to be permanently reinvested. As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, $10,942,000 and $8,772,000 of the undistributed earnings are expected to be permanently reinvested.

As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 the Company has no foreign tax credit carryforwards.

 

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As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company’s gross research and development tax credit carryforwards totaled approximately $1,655,000 and $1,762,000, respectively. The decrease in research and development tax credits during 2014 was due to the utilization of the credits and a change in estimate. Of the December 31, 2014 credits, approximately $417,000 can be carried forward for 15 years and expire between 2015 and 2029, while $658,000 will carry over indefinitely.

As of December 31, 2014, the Company has gross federal and state net operating loss carryforward tax benefits of $2,383,000 and $1,320,000, respectively, which expire at various dates from 2015 to 2019. In addition, the Company has a gross foreign net operating loss carryforward tax benefit of $615,000, which does not expire.

The Company has assessed its past earnings history and trends, sales backlog, budgeted sales, and expiration dates of tax carryforwards and has determined that it is more likely than not that $11,601,000 of the net deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2014 will be realized. The Company has an allowance of $1,720,000 (mostly related to discontinued operations) provided against the gross deferred tax assets, which relates to the inability of the Company to realize the state tax benefit of the environmental expenses and the state net operating loss carryforwards.

The following is a reconciliation of income tax expense related to continuing operations at the applicable federal statutory rate and the effective rates from continuing operations:

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012  

Statutory rate

     35     35     35

Tax rate differential on domestic manufacturing deduction benefit

     (1     (3     (3

State income taxes, net of federal income tax

     2        4        3   

Foreign operations

     (2     (1     (2

Research and development credits

     (1     (10     (5

Other

     —          —          (2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effective tax rate from continuing operations

  33   25 %   26
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the estimated income tax rate from continuing operations was 33% and 25%, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to the amount of federal research and development tax credits available in 2014 as compared to 2013 as well as a change in estimate related to the federal and state research and development tax credits which was recognized during the third quarter of 2014. In the first quarter of 2013, the Company recorded a research and development tax benefit for the quarter, plus the retroactive reinstatement of the federal research and development tax credits from the enactment of the American Tax Relief Act of 2012.

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, included in the research and development credits is the recognition of previously unrecognized tax benefits (including interest) in accordance with the guidance provided in ASC 740-10-25 “Income Taxes, Overall, Recognition.”

 

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The final regulations regarding the deduction and capitalization of expenditures related to tangible property were issued during the third quarter of 2013 by the IRS. The Company has reviewed these regulations and does not intend to early adopt or amend any previously filed returns. The implementation of these regulations did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2014.

Unrecognized Tax Positions

The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the United States and in various state, local and foreign jurisdictions. The Company and its subsidiaries are occasionally examined by tax authorities in these jurisdictions. The Company has been audited by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) through 2010. State income tax statutes are generally open for periods back to and including the calendar year 2010.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the total amounts of gross unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, is as follows:

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  
     (in thousands)  

Gross unrecognized tax benefits, beginning of year

   $ 834       $ 595       $ 722   

Increases in tax positions taken in the current year

     310         144         65   

Increases in tax positions taken in prior years

     —           172         60   

Decreases in tax positions taken in prior years

     (8      —           —     

Decreases in tax positions related to settlement with tax authorities

     —           (34      (96

Statute of limitations expired

     (271      (43      (156
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross unrecognized tax benefits, end of year

$ 865    $ 834   $ 595   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

If recognized, all of the net unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2014 would impact the effective tax rate. The Company accrues interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. At December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits of $81,000 and $100,000, respectively.

It is reasonably possible that the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits balance may change within the next twelve months due to the expiration of the statutes of limitation of the federal government and various state governments by a range of zero to $244,000. The Company records such unrecognized tax benefits upon the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations or the settlement with tax authorities. As of December 31, 2014, the Company has a liability for unrecognized benefits of $265,000 for federal taxes and $397,000 for state taxes and $203,000 for international taxes.

 

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Note 12. Debt

The Company had no debt as of December 31, 2014. Debt as of December 31, 2013 consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,
2013
 
     (in thousands)  

2012 Credit Facility:

  

$40 million variable interest rate senior revolving credit facility maturing in 2016

   $ 1,000   

Other capital leases with maturities through 2018

     235   
  

 

 

 

Total debt

  1,235   

Less current portion

  (1,048
  

 

 

 

Total long-term portion

$ 187   
  

 

 

 

On August 9, 2012, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement with PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and lender (“PNC Bank”), and the lenders from time to time party thereto, as amended (the “2012 Credit Facility). The 2012 Credit Facility was amended on March 11, 2013, June 20, 2013, and September 15, 2014.

The 2012 Credit Facility provides for borrowings up to $40,000,000 and under certain conditions maximum borrowings up to $70,000,000. The 2012 Credit Facility includes a sublimit for letters of credit and provides for a separate $10,700,000 letter of credit which expires one year from the date of closing, with annual extensions. The sublimit for letters of credit equals the lesser of (i) an amount equal to $5,000,000 plus the aggregate amount of Designated Usage LC issued and outstanding under the Designated Usage LC sublimit or (ii) $25,000,000. The 2012 Credit Facility expires on August 9, 2016.

Borrowings under the 2012 Credit Facility bear interest, at the Company’s option, at the London interbank offering rate (“LIBOR”) plus a margin rate ranging from 1.25% to 2.0%, or the higher of a Base Rate plus a margin rate ranging from 0.25% to 1.0%. The Base Rate is equal to the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Open Rate plus 0.5% and (ii) the Prime Rate and (iii) the Daily Libor Rate plus 1%. The margin rates are based on certain leverage ratios, as defined. The Company is subject to compliance with certain financial covenants set forth in the 2012 Credit Facility, including, but not limited to, indebtedness to EBITDA, as defined, minimum levels of fixed charges and limitations on capital expenditures, as defined. Availability under the 2012 Credit Facility is based upon the Company’s trailing twelve month EBITDA, as defined.

The Company’s obligations under the 2012 Credit Facility are secured by the grant of security interests in substantially all of its assets.

On March 11, 2013, the Company entered into a First Amendment (the “First Amendment”) to the 2012 Credit Facility. The First Amendment, among other things, (a) amends the Letter of Credit (“LC”) sublimit amount to the lesser of (i) an amount equal to $5,000,000 plus the aggregate amount of Designated Usage LC issued and outstanding under the Designated Usage LC sublimit or (ii) $25,000,000 and (b) allows the Company to enter into foreign currency exchange services with Loan Parties on an unsecured basis and that such obligations shall not exceed at any time an aggregate amount equal to $3,500,000.

 

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On May 28, 2013 a letter of credit in the amount of $8,564,000 was issued in favor of the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) to provide financial assurance related to the Company’s environmental payments in accordance with the terms of the Consent Decree reached with the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and EPA related to its liability for both OU-1 and OU-2 (see Note 16 for additional information). The letter of credit requires an annual commitment fee of 0.125% and standby commission of 1%, and does not reduce amounts available under the 2012 Credit Facility.

On June 20, 2013, the Company entered into a Second Amendment and Joinder to Credit Agreement and to Security Agreement (the “Second Amendment”), which amends the 2012 Credit Facility in order to reflect the Reincorporation of the Company. The Second Amendment, among other things, joins the Company as a “Borrower” under the Credit Agreement and a “Debtor” under the Security Agreement entered into by SL-NJ in connection with the 2012 Credit Facility.

On May 20, 2014, the Company made the second payment related to its obligation under the Consent Decree in the amount of $2,141,000, excluding interest. As a result, the total liability under the letter of credit equaled $6,423,000 as of December 31, 2014. The letter of credit expires on May 28, 2015, and is renewed annually.

On September 15, 2014, the Company entered into a Third Amendment and Joinder to Credit Agreement and to Security Agreement (the “Third Amendment”) that amended the terms of the 2012 Credit Facility. The Third Amendment, among other things, joined SLMTI DS as a borrower and debtor under the 2012 Credit Facility following consummation of the Dynetic Acquisition, and increases the permitted amount of foreign currency exchange services to the borrowers and guarantors under the 2012 Credit Facility, which are to be provided on an unsecured basis, to a notional contract amount of such obligations not to exceed at any time an aggregate amount equal to $15,500,000. Also, the Third Amendment allows the Company, in certain circumstances, to make investments not to exceed $1,000,000 at any one time during the term of the 2012 Credit Facility.

As of December 31, 2014, the Company had no outstanding balance under the 2012 Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had an outstanding balance of $1,000,000 under the 2012 Credit Facility. At December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013, the Company had total availability under the 2012 Credit Facility of $39,527,000 and $38,526,000, respectively.

 

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Note 13. Accrued Liabilities – Other

Accrued liabilities – other consist of the following:

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013  
     (in thousands)  

Taxes (other than income) and insurance

   $ 879       $ 769   

Commissions

     551         645   

Litigation and legal fees

     91         121   

Other professional fees

     496         624   

Environmental

     9,475         4,589   

Warranty

     1,176         1,145   

Deferred revenue

     44         54   

Acquisition earn-out, current

     32         107   

Other

     3,722         2,205   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accrued liabilities - other

$ 16,466   $ 10,259   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Included in the environmental accrual are estimates for all known costs believed to be probable and reasonably estimable for sites that the Company currently operates or operated at one time (see Note 16 for additional information).

A liability is established for estimated future warranty and service claims that relate to current and prior period sales. The Company estimates warranty costs based on historical claim experience and other factors including evaluating specific product warranty issues.

The following is a summary of activity in accrued warranty and service liabilities:

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013  
     (in thousands)  

Liability, beginning of year

   $ 1,145       $ 1,102   

Expense for new warranties issued

     818         757   

Adjustments for discontinued operations (1)

     (205      (5

Warranty claims paid

     (582      (709
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liability, end of period

$ 1,176   $ 1,145   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) On November 17, 2014, SL Delaware Holdings., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into the Purchase Agreement with Hubbell pursuant to which SL Delaware Holdings sold all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of RFL to Hubbell for aggregate cash consideration of $20,000,000, subject to a post-closing working capital adjustment which amounted to $299,000 and was received in February 2015. The Company concluded that the accounting requirements for reporting the results of operations of the divested business as discontinued operations were met at November 17, 2014. As a result, the results of operations for the periods presented have been recast to reflect the formerly owned RFL businesses as discontinued operations.

 

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Note 14. Other Long-Term Liabilities

Other long-term liabilities consist of the following:

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013  
     (in thousands)  

Environmental

   $ 7,384       $ 17,200   

Unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties

     549         934   

Long-term incentive plan

     558         322   

Acquisition earn-out, long-term

     288         9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other long-term liabilities

$ 8,779   $ 18,465   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Note 15. Retirement Plans And Deferred Compensation

During the years ended December 31, 2014, December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company maintained a defined contribution pension plan covering all full-time, U.S. employees of SL Power Electronics Corp. (“SLPE”), the High Power Group, including TEAL and MTE Corporation (“MTE”), SL-MTI, and the corporate office. The Company’s contributions to this plan are based on a percentage of employee contributions and/or plan year gross wages, as defined. Costs incurred under these plans during 2014, 2013 and 2012 amounted to approximately $551,000, $406,000, and $510,000, respectively. The reduction in costs incurred in 2013 compared to 2012 was primarily due to the Company utilizing funds from forfeitures to reduce the Company’s contribution.

The Company has agreements with certain retired directors, officers and key employees providing for supplemental retirement benefits. The liability for supplemental retirement benefits is based on the most recent mortality tables available and discount rates ranging from 6% to 12%. The amount charged to expense in connection with these agreements amounted to $327,000, $313,000 and $399,000 for 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Note 16. Commitments And Contingencies

Leases: The Company is a party to certain operating leases for facilities, equipment and vehicles from third parties, which expire through 2020. During 2013, the Company’s RFL segment was party to a capital lease with a third party for production equipment which was scheduled to expire in 2018. During 2014, the leased equipment was purchased prior to the divestiture of RFL.

 

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The minimum rental commitments for capital leases and operating leases as of December 31, 2014 are as follows:

 

     Operating
Leases
 
     (in thousands)  

2015

   $ 1,831   

2016

     1,266   

2017

     1,198   

2018

     422   

2019

     418   

Thereafter

     428   
  

 

 

 

Total minimum lease payments

$ 5,563   
  

 

 

 

For 2014, 2013 and 2012, rental expense from continuing operations equaled $1,934,000, $1,955,000 and $2,061,000, respectively.

Letters Of Credit: As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company was contingently liable for $473,000 and $474,000, respectively, under an outstanding letter of credit issued for casualty insurance requirements.

As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company was contingently liable for $6,423,000 and $8,564,000, respectively, under an outstanding letter of credit issued to provide financial assurance related to the Company’s environmental payments in accordance with the terms of the Consent Decree reached with the DOJ and EPA related to its liability for both OU-1 and OU-2.

Litigation: The Company has been and is the subject of administrative actions that arise from its ownership of SL Surface Technologies, Inc. (“SurfTech”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, the assets of which were sold in November 2003. SurfTech formerly operated chrome-plating facilities in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey (the “Pennsauken Site”) and Camden, New Jersey (the “Camden Site”).

In 2006 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) named the Company as a potential responsible party (a “PRP”) in connection with the remediation of the Puchack Well Field, which has been designated as a Superfund Site. The EPA is remediating the Puchack Well Field Superfund Site in two separate operable units. The first operable unit (“OU-1”) consists of an area of chromium groundwater contamination in three aquifers that exceeds the selected cleanup standard. The second operable unit (“OU-2”) pertains to sites that are allegedly the sources of contamination for the first operable unit.

The Company has reached an agreement with both the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and EPA effective April 30, 2013 related to its liability for both OU-1 and OU-2 pursuant to the terms of a Consent Decree which governs the agreement. Specifically, the Company has agreed to perform the remediation for OU-2 and pay a fixed sum for the EPA’s past cost for OU-2 and a portion of the EPA’s past cost for OU-1. The payments are to be made in five equal payments of $2,141,000, for a total $10,705,000, plus interest. The Company has also agreed to pay the EPA’s costs for oversight of the OU-2 remediation. The United States District Court judge signed the Consent Decree effective April 30, 2013, thereby triggering the Company’s obligation under the Consent Decree. On May 10, 2013, the Company made the first payment related to its obligation under the Consent Decree in the amount of $2,185,000,

 

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which included interest. On May 20, 2014, the Company made the second payment related to its obligation under the Consent Decree in the amount of $2,211,000, which included interest. The next three payments will be made on the anniversary of the prior year’s payment plus ten days in the same amount of $2,141,000, plus interest. In 2013, the Company had obtained financial assurances for the OU-2 remediation and the fixed payments as required by the terms of the Consent Decree. The financial assurance is reduced annually as the fixed payments are made. Also, the financial instruments did not affect the Company’s availability under its Credit facility (see Note 12 Debt).

The Company has completed the final stages of the design phase of the remediation activities for OU-2. The “100% Remediation Design” (the “Final Design”) was finalized in November 2014. The Final Design, was approved by the EPA in January 2015. The Final Design essentially sets the scope of work for the Company’s remediation responsibility related to OU-2 under the terms of the Consent Decree. The Company’s consultants performed a significant amount of work during 2014, which included demolition of the Company’s former facility and a building on an adjacent property, shoring, equipment mobilization and set in-place the main components of the on-site soil processing batch plant. The Company’s consultants have been providing the EPA with progress reports during the year, prior to submission of the Final Design. The Company expects to incur significant remediation costs in 2015, which have been accrued.

Other

In the ordinary course of its business the Company is and may be subject to other loss contingencies pursuant to foreign and domestic federal, state and local governmental laws and regulations and may be party to certain legal actions, frequently involving complaints by terminated employees and disputes with customers, suppliers and others. In the opinion of management, any such other loss contingencies are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.

Environmental Matters: Loss contingencies include potential obligations to investigate and eliminate or mitigate the effects on the environment of the disposal or release of certain chemical substances at various sites, such as Superfund sites and other facilities, whether or not they are currently in operation. The Company is currently participating in environmental assessments and cleanups at a number of sites and in the future may be involved in additional environmental assessments and cleanups. Based upon investigations completed to date by the Company and its independent engineering-consulting firms, management has provided an estimated accrual for all known costs believed to be probable and costs that can be reasonably estimated in the amount of $16,859,000, of which $7,384,000 is included as other long-term liabilities, with the remainder recorded as other short-term accrued liabilities, as of December 31, 2014. However, it is the nature of environmental contingencies that other circumstances might arise, the costs of which are indeterminable at this time due to such factors as changing government regulations and stricter standards, the unknown magnitude of cleanup costs, and the unknown timing and extent of the remedial actions that may be required. These other circumstances could result in additional expenses or judgments, or offsets thereto. The adverse resolution of any one or more of these other circumstances could have a material adverse effect on the business, operating results, financial condition or cash flows of the Company. The Company’s environmental costs primarily relate to discontinued operations and such costs have been recorded in discontinued operations, net of tax.

 

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There are three sites on which the Company may incur material environmental costs in the future as a result of past activities of its former subsidiary, SurfTech. There are two Company owned sites related to its former subsidiary, SurfTech. These sites are located in Pennsauken, New Jersey (the “Pennsauken Site”) and in Camden, New Jersey (the “Camden Site”). There is also a third site, which is not owned by the Company, referred to as the “Puchack Well Field Site.” The Puchack Well Field Site and the Pennsauken Site are part of the Puchack Well Field Superfund Site.

With respect to the Camden Site, the Company has reported soil contamination and a groundwater contamination plume emanating from the site. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“NJDEP”) approved, and the Company implemented in 2010, an interim remedial action pilot study to inject neutralizing chemicals into the unsaturated soil. Based on an assessment of post-injection data, our consultants believe the pilot study can be implemented as a full scale soil remedy to treat unsaturated contaminated soil. A Remedial Action Workplan (“RAWP”) for soils is being developed. The RAWP will select the injection remedy as the site wide remedy for unsaturated soils, along with demolition and proper disposal of the former concrete building slab and targeted excavation and disposal of impacted soil immediately underlying the slab. Additionally, the RAWP will address a small area of impacted soil off the property. The RAWP for soils is expected to be submitted to the NJDEP in the first quarter of 2015, by the Licensed Site Remediation Professional (“LSRP”) for the site. The RAWP for treatment of unsaturated soils is scheduled to be implemented in the third quarter of 2015. The Company’s environmental consultants also implemented an interim remedial action pilot study to treat on-site contaminated groundwater, which consisted of injecting food-grade product, into the groundwater at the down gradient property boundary, to create a “bio-barrier.” Post-injection groundwater monitoring to assess the bio-barrier’s effectiveness was completed. Consistent decreases in target contaminants concentrations in groundwater were observed. In December 2014, a report was submitted to the NJDEP stating sufficient information was obtained from the pilot study to complete the full scale groundwater remedy design. A Remedial Action Report/Remedial Action Workplan for full scale implementation will be provided to the NJDEP in 2015.

As previously reported, the Company is currently participating in environmental assessments and cleanups at a number of sites. One of these sites is a commercial facility, located in Wayne, New Jersey. Contaminated soil and groundwater has undergone remediation with NJDEP and LSRP oversight, but contaminants of concern (“COCs”) in groundwater and surface water, which extend off-site, still remain above applicable NJDEP remediation standards. A soil remedial action plan has been developed to remove the new soil source contamination that continues to impact groundwater. Our LSRP completed a supplemental groundwater remedial action, pursuant to a RAWP filed with, and permit approved by, the NJDEP. The remedial action consisted of additional in-situ injections of food grade product into on-site groundwater and post-performance groundwater monitoring. The in-situ injections are completed, and remedial action performance monitoring for groundwater is scheduled to occur through 2015. Enhancements to the existing vapor intrusion system were completed in the fourth quarter 2014. The Company’s consultants have developed cost estimates for supplemental remedial injections, soil excavation and additional tests and remedial activities. Costs related to this site are recorded as part of discontinued operations, net of tax. The “Remedial Investigation” deadline for this site has been extended to May 7, 2016.

 

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The Company’s sale of RFL triggered certain requirements of the Industrial Site Recovery Act or (“ISRA”), which applies to New Jersey statutorily defined transactions involving industrial establishments. Under the stock purchase agreement pursuant to which RFL was sold (the “RFL-SPA”), the Company agreed to undertake, or cause to undertake, all actions necessary to comply with ISRA arising from the RFL-SPA. The Company hired an LSRP to complete a Preliminary Assessment. Based on the Preliminary Assessment, the LSRP recommended the completion of a site investigation (the “Site Investigation”) for certain areas of concern. The LSRP completed most of the Site Investigation in January 2015, and the remainder of the investigation is scheduled to be completed by April 2015. A Preliminary Assessment Report and Site Investigation Report are scheduled to be filed with the NJDEP by no later than November 17, 2015. The Company may then be obligated to perform additional investigation or remediation, depending on the outcome of the Site Investigation.

The Company has reported soil and groundwater contamination at the facility of SL-MTI located on its property in Montevideo, Minnesota. An analysis of the contamination has been completed and a remediation plan has been implemented at the site pursuant to the remedial action plan approved by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (“MCPA”). A soil vapor extraction system has been operating at the site since October 2008. In 2013 the regulatory and screening levels for soil vapor and groundwater were lowered for some of the contaminants at the site. In response to this regulatory change, SL-MTI’s consultants are conducting additional testing to delineate site impacts and update the site conceptual model. A work plan was submitted to MPCA and approved on September 22, 2014. Pending the results of work performed during 2015, additional investigations or remedial actions may be required in the future. Costs related to this site are recorded as a component of continuing operations.

As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, environmental accruals of $16,859,000 and $21,789,000, respectively, have been recorded by the Company in accrued liabilities – other and in other long-term liabilities, as appropriate (see Notes 13 and 14 for additional information).

Employment Agreements: During 2010, the Company entered into severance agreements with certain key employees that provide for one-time payments in the event the employee is terminated within twelve months of a change-of-control, as defined. These payments equal twelve months of the employee’s base salary as of the termination date, as defined. If a triggering event had taken place in 2014 and if these employees had been terminated during the year, the payments would have aggregated approximately $717,000 under such change-of-control agreements.

Note 17. Foreign Operations

In addition to manufacturing operations in California, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, the Company manufactures substantial quantities of products in premises leased in Mexicali, Mexico, Matamoros, Mexico, Tecate, Mexico, and Xianghe, China. SLPE manufactures most of its products in Mexico and China. TEAL, which is part of the High Power Group, has transferred the majority of its manufacturing to a wholly-owned subsidiary located in Mexico. SL-MTI manufactures a significant portion of its products in Mexico. These external and foreign sources of supply present risks of interruption for reasons beyond the Company’s control, including political or economic instability and other uncertainties.

 

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Generally, the Company’s sales are priced and invoiced in U.S. dollars and its costs and expenses are priced in U.S. dollars, Mexican pesos and Chinese yuan. The Mexican subsidiaries of SLPE, the High Power Group and SL-MTI maintain their books and records in Mexican pesos. SLPE’s subsidiaries in China maintain their books and records in Chinese yuan; however, most of their sales are invoiced in U.S. dollars. Business operations conducted in Mexico or China incur their respective labor costs and supply expenses in Mexican pesos and Chinese yuan, as the case may be.

The competitiveness of the Company’s products relative to locally produced products may be affected by the performance of the U.S. dollar compared with that of its foreign customers’ and competitors’ currencies. Foreign net sales comprised 30%, 22% and 20% of net sales from continuing operations for 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Additionally, the Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, which may result from fluctuations in the value of the Mexican peso and Chinese yuan versus the U.S. dollar (see Note 19 for additional information).

As a result of a work stoppage at the Company’s Xianghe manufacturing facilities from March 7, 2013 through March 20, 2013, revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 were adversely impacted by approximately $900,000. The Company realized those sales during the second quarter of 2013. Additionally, certain incremental costs were incurred during 2013 related to the work stoppage, including employee, travel, consulting and legal costs of $675,000. No incremental costs were incurred during 2014.

Note 18. Fair Value Measurement And Financial Instruments

ASC 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. ASC 820 applies to reported balances that are required or permitted to be measured at fair value under existing accounting pronouncements; accordingly, the standard does not require any new fair value measurements of reported balances.

ASC 820 emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Therefore, a fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy).

Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability (other than quoted prices), such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which is typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

 

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Currently, the Company uses foreign currency forward contracts to hedge its foreign currency risk. The valuation of these instruments is determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including spot rates and market forward points. The fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts is based on interest differentials between the currencies being traded, spot rates and market forward points.

To comply with the provisions of ASC 820, the Company incorporates credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance risk in the fair value measurements. In adjusting the fair value of its derivative contracts for the effect of nonperformance risk, the Company has considered the impact of netting and any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings, thresholds, mutual puts, and guarantees, where applicable.

Although the Company has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments associated with its derivatives utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by itself and its counterparties. However, as of December 31, 2014, the Company has assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions and has determined that the credit valuation adjustments are not significant to the overall valuation of its derivatives. As a result, the Company has determined that its derivative valuations in their entirety are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

In conjunction with its implementation of updates to the fair value measurements guidance, the Company made an accounting policy election to measure derivative financial instruments subject to master netting agreements on a net basis.

During the third quarter of 2013, the Company purchased publicly traded equity securities which had been classified as available-for-sale securities. Fair values for these investments were based on closing stock prices from active markets for identical assets and therefore were classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of available-for-sale securities was included in other current assets in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2013 (see Note 10 for additional information). During 2014, the Company sold all of its available-for-sale securities.

 

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The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, aggregated by the level in the fair value hierarchy within which those measurements fall:

 

     Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical Assets
and Liabilities (Level 1)
     Significant Other
Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
     Balance at
December 31, 2014
 
     (in thousands)  

Liabilities

           

Derivative financial instruments

   $ —         $ 673       $ —         $ 673   
     Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical Assets
and Liabilities (Level 1)
     Significant Other
Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
     Balance at
December 31, 2013
 
     (in thousands)  

Assets

           

Available-for-sale securities

   $ 4,101       $ —         $ —         $ 4,101   

Derivative financial instruments

     —           152         —           152   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

$ 4,101    $ 152    $ —      $ 4,253   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company believes that the fair values of its current assets and current liabilities (cash and cash equivalents, receivables, net, short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities) and the fair value of its long-term debt, less current maturities, approximate their reported carrying amounts.

During 2014, the Company did not have any fair value measurements that used significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). During 2013, in connection with the Company’s annual impairment test, goodwill with a carrying amount of $5,055,000 was written down to its implied fair value of zero. This resulted in a $5,055,000 goodwill impairment charge that was recorded in goodwill impairment expense in the High Power Group segment on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The nonrecurring fair value measurement was developed using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). The fair value was computed using a combination of a discounted cash flow valuation methodology and comparative market multiples methodology (see Note 9 of the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Credit Risk Contingent Features

The Company has agreements with its derivative counterparties that contain a provision where if the Company defaults or is capable of being declared in default on any of its indebtedness, then the Company could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations.

Note 19. Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities

ASC Topic 815, as amended and interpreted, establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities. As required by ASC Topic 815, the Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative and the resulting designation. Derivatives used to hedge the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows related to forecasted foreign exchange-based risk are considered economic hedges of the Company’s forecasted cash flows.

 

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Risk Management Objective of Using Derivatives

The Company is a USD functional currency entity that manufactures products in the USA, Mexico and China. The Company’s sales are priced in U.S. dollars and its costs and expenses are priced in U.S. dollars, Mexican peso (MXN) and Chinese yuan (CNH). As a result, the Company has exposure to changes in exchange rates between the time when expenses in the non-functional currencies are initially incurred and the time when the expenses are ultimately paid. The Company’s objective in using derivatives is to add stability and to manage its exposure to foreign exchange risks. To accomplish this objective, the Company uses foreign currency forward contracts to manage its exposure to fluctuations in the exchange rates. Foreign currency forward contracts involve fixing the USD-MXN and USD-CNH exchange rates for delivery of a specified amount of foreign currency on a specified date.

Since 2012, the Company has entered into a series of foreign currency forward contracts to hedge its exposure to foreign exchange rate movements in its forecasted expenses in China and Mexico. The foreign currency forwards are not speculative and are being used to manage the Company’s exposure to foreign exchange rate movements. Foreign currency forward contracts involve fixing the USD-MXN and USD-CNH exchange rates for delivery of a specified amount of foreign currency on a specified date. The Company has elected not to apply hedge accounting to these derivatives and they are marked to market through earnings. Therefore, gains and losses resulting from changes in the fair value of these contracts are recognized at the end of each reporting period directly in earnings. The gains and losses associated with the foreign currency forward contracts are included in other gain (loss), net on the Consolidated Statements of Income. As of December 31, 2014, the fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts was recorded as a $673,000 liability in other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2013, the fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts was recorded as a $152,000 asset in other current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Non-designated Hedges of Foreign Exchange Risk

The notional amounts are used to measure the volume of foreign currency forward contracts and do not represent exposure to foreign currency losses. The following table summarizes the notional values of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Product

   Number of Instruments      Notional  
            (in thousands)  

Mexican Peso (MXN) Forward Contracts

     18       MXN  124,703   

Chinese Yuan (CNH) Forward Contracts

     18       CNH 80,950   

The following table details the location in the financial statements of the gain or loss recognized on foreign currency forward contracts that are marked to market for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 , December 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012:

 

         Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative  

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging
Instruments

   Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized
in Income on Derivative
  Year Ended
December 31,
2014
     Year Ended
December 31,
2013
     Year Ended
December 31,
2012
 
         (in thousands)  

Foreign Exchange Contracts

   Other gain (loss), net   $ (825    $ (90    $ 243   

 

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Note 20. Shareholders’ Equity

On November 16, 2010, the Board of Directors authorized a plan that allows for the repurchase up to an aggregate of 470,000 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock (the “2010 Repurchase Plan”). Any repurchases pursuant to the 2010 Repurchase Plan would be made in the open market or in negotiated transactions. During 2014, the Company purchased approximately 4,000 shares of Company stock at an average price of $24.68 a share under the 2010 Repurchase Plan. During 2013, the Company purchased approximately 87,000 shares of Company stock at an average price of $23.99 a share under the 2010 Repurchase Plan.

On December 24, 2014, the Board of Directors authorized a plan that allows for the repurchase up to an aggregate of 420,000 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock (the “2014 Repurchase Plan”). The 2014 Repurchase Plan supersedes the 2010 Repurchase Plan. Any repurchases pursuant to the 2014 Repurchase Plan would be made in the open market or in negotiated transactions. No purchases were made under the 2014 Repurchase Plan during 2014. As of December 31, 2014, 420,000 shares remained available for purchase under the 2014 Repurchase Plan. Currently, the 2014 Repurchase Plan has no expiration date (see Note 27 for additional information).

Note 21. Stock-Based Compensation

At December 31, 2014, the Company had stock-based employee compensation plans as described below. For the years ended December 31, 2014, December 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012, the total compensation expense (included in selling, general and administrative expense) related to these plans was $768,000, $545,000, and $842,000 ($513,000, $395,000, and $605,000, net of tax), respectively.

During 2011, the shareholders of the Company approved amendments to the previously approved 2008 Incentive Stock Plan (the “2008 Plan”) to: (a) increase the number of shares of the Company’s common stock subject to the 2008 Plan from 315,000 shares to 450,000 shares, and (b) require shareholder approval prior to the reduction of the exercise price of any outstanding options or stock appreciation rights, any repricing through cancellations and re-grants of new options or stock appreciation rights, or any cancellation of outstanding options or stock appreciation rights with an exercise price above the current stock price in exchange for cash or other securities. On May 12, 2014, the shareholders of the Company approved an amendment to the 2008 Plan to increase number of shares of Common Stock subject to the 2008 Plan from 450,000 shares to 500,000 shares. As of December 31, 2014, there were 184,000 options outstanding under the 2008 Plan. As of December 31, 2014, there were 116,000 shares available for grant under the 2008 Plan.

During the first quarter of 2012, the Company implemented a Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2012 LTIP”) pursuant to the 2008 Plan which awarded restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to eligible executives. Under the terms of the 2012 LTIP, the number of RSUs that may vest, if any, will be based on, among other things, the Company achieving certain sales and return on invested capital (“ROIC”), as defined, targets during the January 2012 to December 2014 performance period. Earned RSUs, if any, cliff vest at the end of fiscal 2014 (100% of earned RSUs vest at December 31, 2014). The final value of these RSUs will be determined by the number of shares earned. The value of these RSUs is charged to compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the three year vesting period with periodic adjustments to account for changes in anticipated award amounts. The weighted-average price for these RSUs was $18.00 per share based on the grant date of February 17, 2012. During 2014, $10,000 was charged to compensation expense. At December 31, 2014, 6,000 RSUs were earned under the 2012 LTIP.

 

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During the first quarter of 2013, the Company implemented a Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2013 LTIP”) pursuant to the 2008 Plan which had similar conditions and vesting terms as the 2012 LTIP. The weighted-average price for these RSUs was $19.17 per share based on the grant date of March 5, 2013. During the year ended December 31, 2014, $62,000 was charged to compensation expense. As of December 31, 2014, total unamortized compensation expense for this grant was $77,000. As of December 31, 2014, the maximum number of achievable RSUs under the 2013 LTIP was 18,000 RSUs.

During the first quarter of 2014, the Company implemented a Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2014 LTIP”) pursuant to the 2008 Plan which had similar conditions and vesting terms as the 2012 LTIP. The weighted-average price for these RSUs was $26.24 per share based on the grant date of March 3, 2014. During the year ended December 31, 2014, $112,000 was charged to compensation expense. As of December 31, 2014, total unamortized compensation expense for this grant was $295,000. As of December 31, 2014, the maximum number of achievable RSUs under the 2014 LTIP was 20,000 RSUs.

On May 9, 2013, the Company granted each Director 3,000 restricted shares pursuant to the 2008 Plan. The weighted-average price of these restricted stock grants was $20.60 per share based on the grant date of May 9, 2013. All shares vested and were granted under this award on May 9, 2014.

During the first quarter of 2014, the Company granted 91,000 stock options to two officers of the Company under the 2008 Incentive Stock Plan (the “2008 Plan”). The options issued vest in two equal installments each on the second and third anniversary of the grant date. The options granted are exercisable no later than 5 years after the grant date. Compensation expense is recognized straight-line over the vesting period of the options.

During the first quarter of 2014, the Company granted 10,000 stock options to a key executive under the 2008 Plan. The options issued vest in three equal installments each on the first, second and third anniversary of the grant date. The options granted are exercisable no later than 10 years after the grant date. Compensation expense is recognized straight-line over the vesting period of the options.

On May 12, 2014, the Company granted each Director 3,000 restricted shares pursuant to the 2008 Plan. The shares vest upon the first anniversary of the grant date. Based on the terms of the awards the value of these restricted shares is charged to compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the one year vesting period. As a result, the Company recognized $257,000 of stock compensation expense during the year ended December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2014, total unamortized compensation expense for this grant was $145,000. The weighted-average price of these restricted stock grants was $26.79 per share based on the grant date of May 12, 2014. As of December 31, 2014, no shares were granted under this award.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to value all stock options. Volatility is determined using changes in historical stock prices. The weighted average expected life computation is based on historical exercise patterns and post-vesting termination behavior. The interest rate for periods within the expected life of the award is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

 

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The fair value of all option grants was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions and weighted average fair values as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 

Weighted average fair value of grants

   $ 9.00   

Valuation assumptions:

  

Expected dividend yield

     0.0

Expected volatility

     47.62

Expected life (in years)

     3.35   

Risk-free interest rate

     0.83

No stock options were granted during fiscal 2013 and 2012.

Stock Options

Option activity under the principal option plans as of December 31, 2014 and changes during the year then ended were as follows:

 

     Shares
(in thousands)
     Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
     Weighted-Average
Remaining
Contractual Term
(in years)
     Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(in thousands)
 

Outstanding as of December 31, 2012

     135       $ 12.79         4.33       $ 670   

Granted

     —           —           

Exercised

     (52      14.03         

Forfeited

     —           —           

Expired

     —           —           
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Outstanding as of December 31, 2013

  83    $ 11.99      3.28    $ 1,247   

Granted

  101      26.02   

Exercised

  —        —     

Forfeited

  —        —     

Expired

  —        —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Outstanding as of December 31, 2014

  184    $ 19.71      3.59    $ 3,540   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Exercisable as of December 31, 2014

  83    $ 11.99      2.28    $ 2,228   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pretax intrinsic value (the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of fiscal 2014 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on December 31, 2014. This amount changes based on the fair market value of the Company’s stock. No options were exercised during the year ended December 31, 2014. The total intrinsic value of options exercised for the years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, were $642,000 and $161,000, respectively.

As of December 31, 2014, $656,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.2 years.

 

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Tax benefits resulting from tax deductions in excess of the compensation cost recognized for those options are classified as financing cash flows. No options were exercised during the year ended December 31, 2014. Cash received from option exercises for the year ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $743,000 and $80,000, respectively. The actual tax benefit realized for the tax deduction from option exercises of the share-based payment units totaled $230,000 and $33,000 for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012. The Company has applied the “Short-cut” method in calculating the historical windfall tax benefits. All tax shortfalls will be applied against this windfall before being charged to earnings.

Note 22. Cash Flow Information

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  
     (in thousands)  

Interest paid

   $ 61       $ 87       $ 46   

Income taxes paid

   $ 4,734       $ 3,579       $ 2,997   

For the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, net cash used in operating activities from discontinued operations was $9,920,000, $3,959,000, and $662,000, respectively. In 2014, net cash used in operating activities from discontinued operations was primarily related to a pre-tax gain of $6,650,000 ($4,322,000 net of tax) related to the sale of the Company’s formerly owned RFL segment (see Note 4 for additional information) and $5,902,000 of environmental payments (see Note 16 for additional information). In 2013 and 2012, net cash used in operating activities from discontinued operations was primarily related environmental payments.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, net cash provided by investing activities from discontinued operations was $17,783,000. For the years ended December 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012, net cash used in investing activities from discontinued operations was $416,000 and $170,000, respectively. In 2014, net cash provided by investing activities from discontinued operations was primarily related to $18,000,000 of cash proceeds from the sale of the Company’s formerly owned RFL subsidiary. In 2013 and 2012, net cash used in investing activities from discontinued operations was primarily related to purchases of property, plant and equipment by the Company’s formerly owned RFL segment.

Note 23. Industry Segments

The Company has historically operated under four business segments: SLPE, the High Power Group, SL-MTI and RFL. On November 17, 2014, the Company completed the sale of all the issued and outstanding capital stock of RFL and classified the results of operations of its RFL segment as discontinued operations. As a result, the Company currently operates under three business segments from continuing operations: SLPE, the High Power Group, and SL-MTI. TEAL and MTE are combined into one business segment, which is reported as the High Power Group.

 

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The Company aggregates operating business subsidiaries into a single segment for financial reporting purposes if aggregation is consistent with the objectives of ASC 280 “Segment Reporting.” Business units are also combined if they have similar characteristics in each of the following areas:

 

    nature of products and services

 

    nature of production process

 

    type or class of customer

 

    methods of distribution

SLPE designs, manufactures and markets high-reliability power conversion products in internal and external footprints. The Company’s power supplies provide a reliable and safe power source for the customer’s specific equipment needs. SLPE, which sells products under three brand names (SL Power Electronics, Condor and Ault), is a major supplier to the original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) of medical, industrial/instrumentation, military and information technology equipment. The High Power Group sells products under two brand names (TEAL and MTE). TEAL designs and manufactures custom power conditioning and distribution units for OEMs of medical imaging, medical treatment, military aerospace, semiconductor, solar and advanced simulation systems. MTE designs and manufactures power quality products used to protect equipment from power surges, bring harmonics into compliance and improve the efficiency of variable speed motor drive systems. SL-MTI designs and manufactures high power density precision motors that are used in numerous applications, including military and commercial aerospace, oil and gas, and medical and industrial products. The Unallocated Corporate Expenses segment includes corporate related items, financing activities and other costs not allocated to reportable segments, which includes but is not limited to certain treasury, risk management, legal, litigation, public reporting costs, certain strategic costs, legacy costs and costs not specifically allocated to the reportable business segments. The accounting policies for the business units are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies (see Note 1 for additional information).

Business segment operations are conducted through domestic subsidiaries. For all periods presented, sales between business segments were not material. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of consolidated net sales during 2014, 2013 or 2012. Each of the segments has certain major customers, the loss of any of which would have a material adverse effect on such segment.

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  
     (in thousands)  

Net sales

        

SLPE

   $ 74,593       $ 78,177       $ 77,869   

High Power Group

     85,332         68,752         65,283   

SL-MTI

     44,492         37,729         36,223   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net sales

$ 204,417    $ 184,658   $ 179,375   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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     Years Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  
     (in thousands)  

Income from operations

        

SLPE

   $ 7,217       $ 6,558       $ 2,487   

High Power Group (1)

     12,175         2,206         6,822   

SL-MTI

     7,170         7,202         6,292   

Unallocated Corporate Expenses (2)

     (7,000      (5,731      (5,463
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from operations

  19,562      10,235     10,138   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

  (94   (83   (138

Interest income

  13      12      5   

Interest expense

  (27   (61   (23

Other gain (loss), net

  1,769      (78   243   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

$ 21,223    $ 10,025   $ 10,225   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)  Fiscal 2013 includes a $5,055,000 goodwill impairment charge related to the TEAL reporting unit.
(2)  Unallocated Corporate Expenses includes corporate related items, financing activities and other costs not allocated to reportable segments, which includes but is not limited to certain treasury, risk management, legal, litigation, public reporting costs, certain strategic costs, legacy costs and costs not specifically allocated to the reportable business segments.

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013  
     (in thousands)  

Total assets

     

SLPE

   $ 34,989       $ 36,835   

High Power Group

     33,306         29,506   

SL-MTI

     22,752         14,601   

RFL

     —           13,503   

Unallocated Corporate Assets

     40,729         18,889   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

$ 131,776    $ 113,334   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     December 31,  
     2014      2013  
     (in thousands)  

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net

     

SLPE

   $ 4,530       $ 4,528   

High Power Group

     9,839         9,976   

SL-MTI

     2,491         106   

RFL

     —           5,402   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net

$ 16,860   $ 20,012   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  
     (in thousands)  

Capital expenditures (1)

        

SLPE

   $ 1,287       $ 1,076       $ 386   

High Power Group

     700         841         613   

SL-MTI

     855         513         549   

Unallocated Corporate Expenses

     8         4         5   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

$ 2,850    $ 2,434   $ 1,553   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)  Excludes capital expenditures of the formerly owned RFL business.

 

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     Years Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  
     (in thousands)  

Depreciation and amortization (1)

        

SLPE

   $ 702       $ 743       $ 926   

High Power Group

     835         761         926   

SL-MTI

     675         494         431   

Unallocated Corporate Expenses

     8         12         13   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

$ 2,220    $ 2,010   $ 2,296   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)  Excludes amortization of deferred financing costs. Also excludes depreciation and amortization of the formerly owned RFL business.

Financial information relating to the Company’s segments by geographic area is as follows:

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  
     (in thousands)  

Net sales (1)

        

United States

   $ 143,784       $ 144,739       $ 143,733   

Foreign

     60,633         39,919         35,642   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated net sales

$ 204,417    $ 184,658   $ 179,375   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-lived assets (2)

United States

$ 4,214    $ 7,530    $ 6,318   

Foreign

  3,856      3,260      3,275   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated long-lived assets

$ 8,070    $ 10,790   $ 9,593   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)  Net sales are attributed to countries based on location of customer.
(2)  Includes net tangible assets excluding goodwill and intangibles.

Note 24. Restructuring Costs

Restructuring activity for the period ended December 31, 2014 was as follows:

 

     Accrual at
Beginning of the
Year
     Charged to
Earnings
     Cash Payments      Accrual at
December 31, 2014
 
     (in thousands)  

2014 Plan

           

Severance and other employee-related charges

   $ —         $ 463       $ 463       $ —     

No restructuring activity was recognized during the period ended December 31, 2013.

 

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2014 Restructuring Plan

During the first quarter of 2014, the Company announced to its employees a restructuring plan (“2014 Plan”) to align its costs with current and projected sales activity. The costs reductions were primarily production, engineering, selling and administration employees at TEAL, which is part of the High Power Group. As of December 31, 2014, there was a consolidated charge to earnings of $463,000, which was composed of severance and other employee related charges. The total number of employees affected by the restructuring plan was 11, all of which had been terminated during the first quarter of 2014.

2012 Restructuring Plan

During the third quarter of 2012, the Company announced to its employees a restructuring plan (“2012 Plan”) to align its costs with current and projected sales activity. The costs reductions were primarily direct labor employees and engineering, selling and administration employees at SLPE and TEAL, which is part of the High Power Group. During the year ended December 31, 2012, there was a consolidated charge to earnings of $790,000, which was comprised of a $732,000 charge at SLPE and a $58,000 charge at TEAL. The charges are composed of severance and other employee related charges. The total number of employees affected by the restructuring plan was 55, all of which had been terminated as of December 31, 2012.

Note 25. Related Party Transactions

On May 1, 2014, the Company renewed the Management Services Agreement (“Management Services Agreement”) with SP Corporate Services LLC (“SP Corporate”). SP Corporate is an affiliate of SPH Group Holdings LLC (“SPHG”). A member of the Company’s Board of Directors, Warren G. Lichtenstein, is affiliated with SPHG. Also, the Company’s Chairman of the Board, Glen M. Kassan is affiliated with SPHG. Pursuant to the Management Services Agreement, SP Corporate agreed to provide, at the direction of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, non-exclusive services to support the Company’s growth strategy, business development, planning, execution assistance and related support services. The monthly fee for these services is $10,400 paid in advance. The Management Services Agreement has a term of one year and has been approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and a majority of the disinterested directors of the Company.

 

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Note 26. Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

 

     Three Months
Ended
March 31, 2014 (1)
    Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2014 (1)
     Three Months
Ended
September 30, 2014 (1)
     Three Months
Ended
December 31, 2014
     Twelve Months
Ended
December 31, 2014
 
     (in thousands, except per share data)  

Net sales

   $ 48,746      $ 51,669       $ 50,725       $ 53,277       $ 204,417   

Cost of products sold

   $ 33,214      $ 34,156       $ 34,326       $ 37,098       $ 138,794   

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

   $ 4,171      $ 7,998       $ 4,211       $ 4,843       $ 21,223   

(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax

   $ (181   $ 183       $ 400       $ 4,313       $ 4,715   

Net income

   $ 2,527      $ 5,528       $ 2,895       $ 7,945       $ 18,895   

Basic net income per common share

   $ 0.61      $ 1.34       $ 0.70       $ 1.92       $ 4.57   

Diluted net income per common share

   $ 0.61      $ 1.33       $ 0.69       $ 1.89       $ 4.51   
     Three Months
Ended
March 31, 2013 (1)
    Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2013 (1)
     Three Months
Ended
September 30, 2013 (1)
     Three Months
Ended
December 31, 2013 (1)
     Twelve Months
Ended
December 31, 2013 (1)
 
     (in thousands, except per share data)  

Net sales

   $ 43,781      $ 45,053       $ 48,180       $ 47,644       $ 184,658   

Cost of products sold

   $ 29,783      $ 30,505       $ 33,540       $ 32,604       $ 126,432   

Income from continuing operations before income taxes (2)

   $ 2,996      $ 2,904       $ 3,880       $ 245       $ 10,025   

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

   $ 374      $ 18       $ 218       $ 152       $ 762   

Net income

   $ 2,766      $ 2,015       $ 3,152       $ 307       $ 8,240   

Basic net income per common share

   $ 0.67      $ 0.48       $ 0.76       $ 0.07       $ 1.99   

Diluted net income per common share

   $ 0.66      $ 0.48       $ 0.75       $ 0.07       $ 1.97   

 

(1)  On November 17, 2014, SL Delaware Holdings., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into the Purchase Agreement with Hubbell pursuant to which SL Delaware Holdings sold all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of RFL to Hubbell for aggregate cash consideration of $20,000,000, subject to a post-closing working capital adjustment which amounted to $299,000 and was received in February 2015. The Company concluded that the accounting requirements for reporting the results of operations of the divested business as discontinued operations were met at November 17, 2014. As a result, the results of operations for the periods presented have been recast to reflect the formerly owned RFL businesses as discontinued operations.
(2)  Includes a $5,055,000 goodwill impairment charge related to the TEAL reporting unit, which is part of the High Power Group segment.

Note 27. Subsequent Events

On December 24, 2014, the Board of Directors authorized the 2014 Repurchase Plan, which allows for the repurchase up to an aggregate of 420,000 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock. The 2014 Repurchase Plan supersedes the 2010 Repurchase Plan. Any repurchases pursuant to the 2014 Repurchase Plan would be made in the open market or in negotiated transactions. No purchases were made under the 2014 Repurchase Plan during 2014. As of February 27, 2015, the Company purchased approximately 62,000 shares of Company stock at an average price of $38.98 a share under the 2014 Repurchase Plan. As of February 27, 2015, approximately 358,000 shares remained available for purchase under the 2014 Repurchase Plan. Currently, the 2014 Repurchase Plan has no expiration date.

On March 10, 2015, Compass Directional Guidance, Inc. (“Compass”) filed a complaint (the “Complaint”) against SL-MTI in the District Court in Harris County, Texas. The Complaint seeks damages in excess of $18 million arising from the SL-MTI’s sale of certain brushless motors to Compass. Compass asserts that SL-MTI breached express and implied warranties, violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and negligently misrepresented the quality, specification and uses of its motors to Compass. SL-MTI intends to vigorously defend the claims asserted in the Complaint which it believes are limited by the contractual terms between the parties as well as the applicable statute of limitations, and are substantially without merit. The Company has notified its insurance carriers regarding this claim.

 

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SCHEDULE II

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

 

            Additions                     

Description

   Balance at
Beginning of
Period
     Charged to Costs
and Expenses
     Deductions     Adjustments for
Discontinued
Operations
    Balance at End of
Period
 
     (in thousands)  

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014

            

Allowance for:

            

Doubtful accounts

   $ 581       $ 29       $ (274   $ (55   $ 281   

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013

            

Allowance for:

            

Doubtful accounts

   $ 591       $ 46       $ (56   $ —        $ 581   

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012

            

Allowance for:

            

Doubtful accounts

   $ 603       $ 20       $ (32   $ —        $ 591   

Description

   Balance at
Beginning of
Period
     Allowance
Recorded on
Current Year
Losses
     Release of
Allowance on
Losses Expired or
Revalued
    Adjustments for
Discontinued
Operations
    Balance at End of
Period
 
     (in thousands)  

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014

            

Allowance for:

            

Deferred tax valuation

   $ 2,003       $ —         $ (283   $ —        $ 1,720   

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013

            

Allowance for:

            

Deferred tax valuation

   $ 1,987       $ 22       $ (6   $ —        $ 2,003   

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012

            

Allowance for:

            

Deferred tax valuation

   $ 1,926       $ 64       $ (3   $ —        $ 1,987   

 

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