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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 10-Q
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|X| QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 27, 2004
OR
|_| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Commission file number 0-18914
R&B, INC.
Incorporated pursuant to the Laws
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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IRS - Employer Identification No. 23-2078856
3400 East Walnut Street, Colmar, Pennsylvania 18915
(215) 997-1800
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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 is an accelerated filer (as
defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes |_| No|X|
As of May 7, 2004 the Registrant had 8,819,714 common shares, $.01 par
value, outstanding.
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Page 1 of 14
R & B, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
March 27, 2004
Page
Part I -- FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
Statements of Operations:
Thirteen Weeks Ended March 27, 2004 and
March 29, 2003 .................................... 3
Balance Sheets......................................... 4
Statements of Cash Flows............................. 5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements........... 6
Item 2.Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Results of Operations and
Financial Condition.............................. 9
Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure
about Market Risk ............................... 12
Item 4.Controls and Procedures.............................. 12
Part II -- OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.Legal Proceedings.................................... 13
Item 6.Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K..................... 13
Signature . . . . . . . .................................... 14
Page 2 of 14
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
R&B, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
For the Thirteen Weeks Ended
------------------------------
March 27, March 29,
(in thousands, except per share data) 2004 2003
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Net Sales $ 56,005 $ 50,272
Cost of goods sold 35,390 31,674
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Gross profit 20,615 18,598
Selling, general and administrative expenses 14,658 14,260
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Income from operations 5,957 4,338
Interest expense, net of interest income of $54 and $57 761 891
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Income before taxes 5,196 3,447
Provision for taxes 1,878 1,222
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Net Income $ 3,318 $ 2,225
============================================================================================
Earnings Per Share:
Basic $0.38 $0.26
Diluted 0.36 0.25
============================================================================================
Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic 8,781 8,521
Diluted 9,156 8,981
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Page 3 of 14
R&B, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
March 27, December 27,
(in thousands, except share data) 2004 2003
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------- -----------------
Assets (unaudited)
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 10,250 $ 15,177
Short-term investments 9,460 9,905
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful
accounts and customer credits of $18,895 and $17,721 51,312 44,127
Inventories 50,601 51,170
Deferred income taxes 7,512 7,493
Prepaids and other current assets 1,315 1,356
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------- -----------------
Total current assets 130,450 129,228
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Property, Plant and Equipment, net 18,264 17,590
Goodwill 28,982 29,125
Other Assets 610 663
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Total $178,306 $176,606
=================================================== ================= =================
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current Liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt $ 9,038 $ 8,571
Accounts payable 10,132 10,029
Accrued compensation 4,559 7,379
Other accrued liabilities 6,138 4,797
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Total current liabilities 29,867 30,776
Long-Term Debt 34,759 35,213
Deferred Income Taxes 4,934 4,632
Commitments and Contingencies
Shareholders' Equity:
Common stock, par value $.01; authorized
25,000,000 shares; issued 8,811,190 and 8,762,994 shares 88 88
Additional paid-in capital 34,065 33,950
Cumulative translation adjustments 1,476 2,148
Retained earnings 73,117 69,799
Total shareholders' equity 108,746 105,985
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Total $178,306 $176,606
=================================================== ================= =================
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Page 4 of 14
R&B, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
For the Thirteen Weeks Ended
-----------------------------------
March 27, March 29,
(in thousands) 2004 2003
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Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income $ 3,318 $ 2,225
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash used in
operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 1,080 1,192
Provision for doubtful accounts 143 134
Provision for deferred income tax 283 564
Provision for non-cash stock compensation - 14
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (7,530) 287
Inventories 242 (4,414)
Prepaids and other 53 (292)
Accounts payable 180 1,288
Other accrued liabilities (1,421) (2,169)
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Cash used in operating activities (3,652) (1,171)
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Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Property, plant and equipment additions (1,762) (885)
Purchases of short-term investments (4,805) (3,817)
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments 5,250 7,050
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Cash (used in) provided by investing activities (1,317) 2,348
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Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Repayment of term loans and capitalized lease obligations - (285)
Proceeds from common stock issuances 42 180
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Cash provided by (used in) financing activities 42 (105)
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Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents (4,927) 1,072
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period 15,177 5,169
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Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period $ 10,250 $ 6,241
================================================================ =============== ===================
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Cash paid for interest expense $ 790 $ 919
Cash paid for income taxes $ 207 $ 329
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Page 5 of 14
R&B, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED MARCH 27, 2004 AND MARCH 29, 2003 (UNAUDITED)
1. Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim
financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of
Regulation S-X. However, they do not include all of the information and
footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete
financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting
of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation
have been included. Operating results for the thirteen week period ended March
27, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for
the fiscal year ending December 25, 2004. For further information, refer to the
consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in R&B, Inc.'s
(the "Company") Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2003.
2. Sales of Accounts Receivable
During 2003, the Company entered into a customer-sponsored program
administered by an unrelated financial institution that permits the Company to
sell, without recourse, certain accounts receivable at discounted rates to the
financial institution. The Company does not retain any servicing requirements
for these accounts receivable. Transactions under this agreement are accounted
for as sales of accounts receivable following the provisions of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 140, "Account for Transfers and
Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities - a Replacement
of FASB Statement 125." The Company had sold accounts receivable under this
agreement of $3.4 million and $2.0 million at March 27, 2004 and December 27,
2003, respectively.
3. Inventories
Inventories include the cost of material, freight, direct labor and
overhead utilized in the processing of the Company's products. Inventories were
as follows:
March 27, December 27,
(in thousands) 2004 2003
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Bulk product $20,986 $22,365
Finished product 26,814 25,906
Packaging materials 2,801 2,899
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Total $50,601 $51,170
=================== =============== ===============
4. Earnings Per Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic earnings per share
and diluted earnings per share for the thirteen week periods ended March 27,
2004 and March 29, 2003.
Thirteen Weeks Ended
---------------------------------
March 27, March 29,
(in thousands, except per share data) 2004 2003
- --------------------------------------------- ------------- --- ------------- -
Numerator:
Net income ............................. $ 3,318 $ 2,225
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding
used in basic earnings per
share calculation 8,781 8,521
Effect of dilutive stock options....... 375 460
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Page 6 of 14
Thirteen Weeks Ended
------------------------------- -
March 27, March 29,
(in thousands, except per share data 2004 2003
- -------------------------------------------- -------------- ---------------
Adjusted weighted average shares outstanding
diluted earnings per share......... 9,156 8,981
============= === ============= =
Basic earnings per share..................... $ 0.38 $ 0.26
============= === ============= =
Diluted earnings per share................... $ 0.36 $ 0.25
============= === ============= =
5. Stock-Based Compensation
Effective May 18, 2000 the Company amended and restated its incentive Stock
Option Plan (the "Plan"). Under the terms of the Plan, the Board of Directors of
the Company may grant incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options or
combinations thereof to purchase up to 1,172,500 shares of common stock to
officers, directors and employees. Grants under the Plan must be made within 10
years of the plan amendment date and are exercisable at the discretion of the
Board of Directors but in no event more than 10 years from the date of grant. At
March 27, 2004, options to acquire 214,177 shares were available for grant under
the Plan.
The Company accounts for the Plan under the recognition and measurement
principles of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 (APB No. 25),
"Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees", and related interpretations. Under
APB No. 25, compensation expense is based on the difference, if any, on the date
of the grant between the fair value of our stock and the exercise price of the
option. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings
per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, ("SFAS") No. 123, "Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation", to stock-based employee compensation.
Thirteen Weeks Ended
- ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
(in thousands, except per share data) March 27, March 29,
2004 2003
- ------------------------------------------------ ----------------- -----------------
Net income:
Net income, as reported $ 3,318 $ 2,225
Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense,
net of related tax effects, included in the
determination of net income, as reported - 9
Less: Stock-based employee compensation expense,
net of related tax effects, determined under fair value
based method for all awards (35) (11)
- ------------------------------------------------ ---------------- ------------------
Net income, pro forma $ 3,283 $ 2,223
- ------------------------------------------------ ----------------- -----------------
Earnings per share:
Basic - as reported $ 0.38 $ 0.26
Basic - pro forma $ 0.37 $ 0.26
Diluted - as reported $ 0.36 $ 0.25
Diluted - pro forma $ 0.36 $ 0.25
Page 7 of 14
The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using
the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average
assumptions:
2004 2003
---- ----
Expected dividend yield 0% 0%
Expected stock price volatility 51% 53%
Risk-free interest rate 3.7% 3.3%
Expected life of option 7.5 years 7.5 years
6. Related-Party Transactions
The Company has entered into a noncancelable operating lease for its
primary operating facility from a partnership in which the Company's Chief
Executive Officer and Executive Vice President are partners.
Prior to April 2003, the Company had leased its Carrollton, Georgia
facility from another partnership in which the Company's Chief Executive Officer
and Executive Vice President are partners. During 2003, the Company entered into
an agreement to terminate the lease for this facility. In connection with this
agreement, the Company paid $200,000, which was accrued in 2002, to terminate
this lease subject to the closing of the sale of the building by the partnership
to an unrelated entity.
7. New Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2003, the FASB issued Revised Interpretation FIN No. 46,
"Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities - an interpretation of Accounting
Research Bulletin No. 51." FIN No. 46 addresses the consolidation by business
enterprises of variable interest entities, as defined in the interpretation. FIN
No. 46 expands existing accounting guidance regarding when a company should
include in its financial statements the assets, liabilities and activities of
another entity. Since the Company does not have any interests in variable
interest entities, the adoption of FIN No. 46 did not have any effect on the
Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
Page 8 of 14
R&B, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Executive Summary
The Company is a leading supplier of original equipment dealer "Exclusive"
automotive replacement parts, fasteners and service line products to the
automotive aftermarket and household hardware to the general merchandise
markets. The Company's products are marketed under more than seventy proprietary
brand names, through its Motormite, Dorman, Allparts, Scan-Tech, MPI and
Pik-A-Nut businesses.
New product development is a critical success factor for the Company. The
Company has invested heavily in resources necessary for it to increase its new
product development efforts and to strengthen its relationships with its
customers. These investments are primarily in the form of increased product
development and awareness programs, customer service improvements and increased
customer credits and allowances. This has enabled the Company to provide an
expanding array of new product offerings and grow its revenues.
The automotive aftermarket has been consolidating over the past several
years. As a result, many of the Company's customers have grown larger and
therefore have more leverage in negotiations with the Company. Recently,
customers have pressed for extended payment terms and returns of slow moving
product when negotiating with the Company. While the Company does its best to
avoid such concessions, in some cases payment terms to customers have been
extended and returns of product have exceeded historical levels. The product
returns primarily affect the Company's profit levels while terms extensions
generally reduce operating cash flow and require additional capital to finance
the business. Management expects both of these trends to continue for the
foreseeable future.
The Company may experience significant fluctuations from quarter to quarter
in its results of operations due to the timing of orders placed by the Company's
customers. Generally, the second and third quarters have the highest level of
customer orders, but the introduction of new products and product lines to
customers may cause significant fluctuations from quarter to quarter.
The Company operates on a fifty-two, fifty-three week period ending on the
last Saturday of the calendar year.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage of
net sales represented by certain items in the Company's Consolidated Statements
of Operations:
Percentage of Net Sales
---------------------------------
For the Thirteen Weeks Ended
---------------------------------
March 27, March 29,
2004 2003
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Net Sales 100.0% 100.0%
Cost of goods sold 63.2% 63.0%
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Gross profit 36.8% 37.0%
Selling, general and administrative expenses 26.2% 28.4%
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Income from operations 10.6% 8.6%
Interest expense, net 1.3% 1.7%
- ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ----------------
Income before taxes 9.3% 6.9%
Provision for taxes 3.4% 2.5%
- ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ----------------
Net Income 5.9% 4.4%
======================================== ================ ================
Page 9 of 14
Thirteen Weeks Ended March 27, 2004 Compared to
Thirteen Weeks Ended March 29, 2003
Net sales increased 11% to $56.0 million for the thirteen weeks ended
March 27, 2004 from $50.3 million for the same period in 2003. Sales volume in
2004 increased as a result of continued sales growth from products introduced
within the last twelve months, shipments to a new customer for the Company's
Pik-A-Nut home hardware business and a lower sales level in the first quarter of
2003 due to inventory reduction initiatives by certain customers. The favorable
effects of foreign currency exchange resulted in a 2% year over year increase in
sales.
Cost of goods sold, as a percentage of sales, increased slightly to
63.2% for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2004 from 63.0% in the same period
last year. The increase in cost of goods sold is primarily the result of higher
sales credits from customer returns.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the thirteen weeks
ended March 27, 2004 increased $0.4 million, or 3%, to $14.7 million from $14.3
million for the same period in 2003. This increase as a percentage of sales is
less than the 11% sales increase in the first quarter as the benefits of several
cost savings initiatives offset the additional costs incurred as a result of
inflationary cost increases and the higher sales levels.
Interest expense, net, decreased to $0.8 million for the thirteen weeks
ended March 27, 2004 from $0.9 million in the prior year due to lowering
borrowing levels. In August 2003 the Company made the second of seven annual
installment payments of $8.6 million due under the terms of its Senior Note
Agreements.
The Company's effective tax rate increased to 36.1% for the thirteen
weeks ended March 27, 2004 from 35.5% for the thirteen weeks ended March 29,
2003 due to the impact of higher graduated tax rates associated with the
Company's higher earnings levels.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Historically, the Company has financed its growth through a combination
of cash flow from operations and through the issuance of senior indebtedness
through its bank credit facility and senior note agreements. At March 27, 2004,
working capital was $100.6 million, total long-term debt (including the current
portion) was $43.8 million and shareholders' equity was $108.7 million. Cash and
short-term investments as of March 27, 2004 totaled $19.7 million.
Over the past two years the Company has extended payment terms to certain
customers as a result of customer requests and market demands. These extended
terms have resulted in increased accounts receivable levels and significant uses
of cash flow. The Company participates in a customer-sponsored program
administered by an unrelated financial institution that permits the Company to
sell, without recourse, certain accounts receivable at discounted rates to the
financial institution to offset the negative cash flow impact of the payment
terms extensions. The Company had sold accounts receivable under this agreement
of $3.4 million and $2.0 million at March 27, 2004 and December 27, 2003,
respectively. The Company expects continued pressure to extend its payment terms
for the foreseeable future. Further extensions of customer payment terms will
result in additional uses of cash flow or increased interest costs.
In December 2003, the Company announced its intention to add 77,200
square feet in warehouse space to its central distribution center in Warsaw,
Kentucky by July, 2004. The total estimated cost of the addition and fit out of
the warehouse space is expected to be approximately $2.8 million, of which $0.3
had been spent and is included in Property, Plant and Equipment as of March 27,
2004.
Long-term debt consists primarily of $42.9 million in Senior Notes that
were originally issued in August 1998, in a private placement on an unsecured
basis ("Notes"). The Notes bear a 6.81% fixed interest rate, payable quarterly.
Annual principal payments of $8.6 million are due each August through 2008. The
Notes require, among other things, that the Company maintain certain financial
covenants relating to debt to capital ratios and minimum net worth.
In March 2004, the Company amended its Revolving Credit Facility. The
amended facility expires in June 2005. The March 2004 amendment reduced the
total credit facility from $10.0 million to $5.0 million. The size of the
facility was reduced to decrease overall borrowing costs. Borrowings under the
amended facility are on an unsecured basis with interest at LIBOR plus 150 basis
points. The loan agreement also contains covenants, the most restrictive of
which pertain to net worth and the ratio of debt to EBITDA. In addition, the
Company's Swedish subsidiary maintains a short-term $0.7 million credit
facility. There were no borrowings under either facility as of March 27, 2004.
The Company amended certain agreements related to its 1998 acquisition of
Scan-Tech USA/Sweden A.B. and related entities ("Scan-Tech") during 2001. As a
result of this transaction, the Company purchased and canceled 250,000
Page 10 of 14
shares of its common stock issued in connection with the acquisition and
canceled the earn out provisions of the acquisition agreement in exchange for
consideration of $3.2 million to be paid by the Company in installments through
December 2005. The aggregate amount outstanding under this obligation was $0.9
million at March 27, 2004.
The Company reported a net use of cash flow from its operating activities
of $3.7 million in the three months ended March 27, 2004. The primary use of
cash flow was accounts receivable, which increased $7.5 million during the
quarter. Accounts receivable grew as a result of higher sales and the impact of
the continuing trend towards longer payment terms to certain customers. Cash
flow was also used to reduce other accrued liabilities by $1.4 million as a
result of the Company's funding of employee profit sharing and incentive
payments earned in the prior year, but paid in the first quarter of 2004. Net
income and depreciation were the primary sources of operating cash flow in the
quarter.
Investing activities used $1.3 million of cash in the three months ended
March 27, 2004. The Company purchases highly liquid corporate and government
bonds with maturities from three months to one year to take advantage of higher
earnings rates on these investments. These investments have been classified as
short-term investments as required by generally accepted accounting principles.
As a result of this decision, the Company reported a net source of cash of $0.4
million during the period. Additions to property, plant and equipment required
$1.8 million of cash in the first quarter of 2004. The capital additions are the
result of the addition of 77,200 square feet in warehouse space to the Company's
central distribution center in Warsaw, Kentucky as well as upgrades to
information systems, purchases of equipment designed to improve operational
efficiencies and scheduled equipment replacements.
Financing activities generated $0.1 million in cash in the three months
ended March 27, 2004 as a result of common stock issued upon the exercise of
stock options.
The Company believes that cash and short-term investments on hand and
cash generated from operations together with its available sources of capital
are sufficient to meet its ongoing cash needs for the foreseeable future.
Outlook
The Company's strategic plan provides for a continued intense focus on
new product development and further expansion of its existing core businesses.
Management anticipates that these efforts will result in compounded annual sales
growth of between 3% and 8% over the next two year period. The Company may
experience significant fluctuations in its results of operations from quarter to
quarter due to the timing of new product introductions and orders placed by its
customers.
Foreign Currency Fluctuations
In 2003, approximately 60% of the Company's products were purchased from
a variety of foreign countries. The products generally are purchased through
purchase orders with the purchase price specified in U.S. dollars. Accordingly,
the Company does not have exposure to fluctuations in the relationship between
the dollar and various foreign currencies between the time of execution of the
purchase order and payment for the product. However, the recent weakness in the
dollar has resulted in pressure from several foreign suppliers to increase
prices. To the extent that the dollar decreases in value to foreign currencies
in the future or the present weakness in the dollar continues for a sustained
period of time, the price of the product in dollars for new purchase orders may
increase.
The Company makes significant purchases of product from Chinese vendors.
The Chinese Yuan exchange rate has been fixed against the U.S. Dollar since
1998. Recently, the Chinese government has been under increasing pressure to
revalue its currency, or to make its exchange rate more flexible. Most experts
believe that the value of the Yuan would increase relative to the U.S. Dollar if
it was revalued or allowed to float. Such a move would most likely result in an
increase in the cost of products that are purchased from China.
Impact of Inflation
The Company has not generally been adversely affected by inflation,
although recently raw materials pricing pressures have become more evident. The
Company believes that material cost increases could potentially be mitigated by
passing along price increases to customers or through the use of alternative
suppliers or resourcing purchases to other countries.
Page 11 of 14
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements periodically made by or on behalf of the Company and
certain statements contained herein including statements in Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation, such as
statements regarding litigation; and certain other statements contained herein
regarding matters that are not historical fact are forward looking statements
(as such term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933), and because such
statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially
from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Factors that
cause actual results to differ materially include but are not limited to those
factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K under "Business -
Risk Factors."
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
The Company's market risk is the potential loss arising from adverse
changes in interest rates. With the exception of the Company's revolving credit
facility, long-term debt obligations are at fixed interest rates and denominated
in U.S. dollars. The Company manages its interest rate risk by monitoring trends
in interest rates as a basis for determining whether to enter into fixed rate or
variable rate agreements. Under the terms of the Company's revolving credit
facility, a change in either the lender's base rate or LIBOR would affect the
rate at which the Company could borrow funds thereunder. The Company believes
that the effect of any such change would be minimal. Short-term fixed income
investments are subject to interest rate and credit risk. The Company believes
that the negative effect of interest rate risk would be minimal as all
investments have maturities of one year or less. The Company's investment
portfolio consists solely of investment grade corporate and government
securities to minimize credit risk.
The Company may occasionally use derivative financial instruments,
consisting of foreign currency forward purchase and sales contracts with terms
of less than one year, to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency
exchange. Its primary exposure to changes in foreign currency rates results from
changes in exchange rates on certain third- party trade receivables and payables
of the Company's Swedish subsidiary. There were no forward purchase or sales
contracts outstanding as of March 27, 2004.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Quarterly evaluation of the Company's Disclosure Controls and Internal Controls
Within the 90 days prior to the date of this quarterly report, the
Company evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its
"disclosure controls and procedures" ("Disclosure Controls"). This evaluation
("Controls Evaluation") was done under the supervision and with the
participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and
Chief Financial Officer ("CFO").
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls
The Company's management, including the CEO and CFO, does not expect that
its Disclosure Controls or its "internal controls and procedures for financial
reporting" ("Internal Controls") will prevent all error and all fraud. A control
system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable,
not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.
Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are
resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative
to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no
evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues
and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These
inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision- making
can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake.
Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some
persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the
control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain
assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance
that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential
future conditions; over time, control may become inadequate because of changes
in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may
deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control
system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
Conclusions
Based upon the Controls Evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that,
subject to the limitations noted above, the Disclosure Controls are effective to
timely alert management to material information relating to the Company during
the period when its periodic reports are being prepared.
In accordance with SEC requirements, the CEO and CFO note that, since the
date of the Controls Evaluation to the date of this quarterly report, there have
been no significant changes in Internal Controls or in other factors that could
Page 12 of 14
significantly affect Internal Controls, including any corrective actions with
regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
PART II: OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
In addition to commitments and obligation which arise in the ordinary
course of business, the Company is subject to various claims and legal actions
from time to time involving contracts, competitive practices, trademark rights,
product liability claims and other matters arising out of the conduct of the
Company's business.
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
(a) Exhibits
31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer as required by S
ection 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).
31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer as required by
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).
32 Certification of Chief Executive and Chief Financial
Officer as required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002).
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
The Company furnished a report on Form 8-K on April 30, 2004 that
included the Company's press release dated April 30, 2004 reporting first
quarter results of fiscal year 2004.
Page 13 of 14
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
R & B, INC.
Date May 10, 2004 \s\ Richard Berman
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Richard Berman
President and Chief Executive Officer
Date May 10, 2004 \s\ Mathias Barton
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Mathias Barton
Chief Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer
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