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FORM 10-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ___________________ to
____________________
Commission file number: 1-14120
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BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 52-1611421
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(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
One Jake Brown Road, Old Bridge, New Jersey 08857
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (732) 679-4000
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Name of Exchange on which registered
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Common Stock, Par Value $.001 American Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
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
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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 any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [X]
The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the
registrant (computed by using the closing stock price on March 16, 1998, as
reported by the American Stock Exchange): $40,193,367.
Number of shares of common stock, par value $.001, outstanding as of March 16,
1998: 8,245,494
Documents incorporated by reference:
Certain portions of the registrant's definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 7, 1998 (which is expected to be filed
with the Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the registrant's
last fiscal year) are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.
The Exhibit Index appears on page 22.
Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this Annual Report contains
forward-looking statements relating to such matters as anticipated financial
performance, business prospects, technological developments, new products,
research and development activities and similar matters. The Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking
statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, the Company
notes that a variety of factors could cause the Company's actual results and
experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other
expectations expressed in the Company's forward-looking statements. The risks
and uncertainties that may affect the operation, performance, development and
results of the Company's business include, but are not limited to, those matters
discussed herein in the sections entitled Item 1 - Business, Item 3 - Legal
Proceedings, and Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations. The words "believe", "expect",
"anticipate", "project" and similar expressions identify forward-looking
statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which reflect management's analysis only as of the
date hereof. Blonder Tongue undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after
the date hereof. Readers should carefully review the risk factors described in
other documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Introduction
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. (the "Company") is a designer,
manufacturer and supplier of a comprehensive line of electronics and systems
equipment for the non-franchised cable television industry, commonly referred to
as the private cable industry ("Private Cable") and the franchised cable
industry ("CATV") which now potentially includes the regional and long distance
telephone service providers. The Company's products are used in the acquisition,
conversion, distribution and protection of television signals transmitted via
satellite, coaxial cable, terrestrial broadcast, terrestrial multi-channel,
multi-point distribution systems and low power television. These products are
sold to customers which provide an array of communications services, including
television, to single family dwellings, multiple dwelling units ("MDU")
consisting mainly of apartment complexes and condominiums, the lodging industry
("Lodging") consisting mainly of hotels, motels and resorts, and other
facilities such as schools, hospitals, prisons and marinas. The Company's
products are also used in surveillance systems ranging in complexity from simple
in-home monitoring systems to advanced business security systems with hundreds
of cameras.
Blonder Tongue's product line can be separated, according to function,
into the following categories: (i) headend products used by a system operator
for signal acquisition, processing and manipulation for further transmission
("Headend Products"), (ii) distribution products used to permit signals to
travel to their ultimate destination in a home, apartment unit, hotel room,
office or other terminal location ("Distribution Products"), (iii) subscriber
products used to control access to programming at the subscriber's location and
to split and amplify incoming signals for transmission to multiple sites and for
multiple television sets within a site ("Subscriber Products"), and (iv)
microwave products used to transmit the output of Headend Products to multiple
locations using point-to-point communication links in the 13 GHz (for CATV) and
18 GHz (for Private Cable) range of frequencies ("Microwave Products").
The Company's principal customers are system integrators which design,
package, install and in most instances operate the cable system.
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On March 26, 1998, the Company acquired all of the assets and
technology rights of the interdiction business (the "Interdiction Business") of
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. ("Scientific") for a purchase price consisting of (i)
$19 million in cash, (ii) 67,889 shares of the Company's common stock, (iii) a
warrant to purchase 150,000 additional shares of the Company's common stock at
an exercise price of $14.25 per share and (iv) assumption by the Company of
certain obligations under executory contracts with vendors and customers and
certain warranty obligations and other current liabilities of the Interdiction
Business. The Interdiction Business generated approximately $16 million in
revenues for the prior twelve month period. The Company believes that
Scientific's interdiction products, which have been engineered primarily to
serve the franchised cable market, will supplement the Company's VideoMask(TM)
products, which are primarily focused on the Private Cable market. In addition,
the Company expects that the technology acquired as part of the Interdiction
Business will enhance its ability to design products that meet the specific
needs of all cable providers, while improving its position in the franchised
cable market. Scientific will provide certain manufacturing, consulting and
other transition services to the Company during a limited period following the
acquisition pursuant to agreements executed by the parties in order to permit
the Company to fulfill sales orders of the Interdiction Business for the
transition period following the closing.
In addition, under the terms of the purchase agreement with Scientific,
the Company is obligated to file a registration statement with the Securities
and Exchange Commission to register the shares of common stock issued to
Scientific and underlying the warrant held by Scientific as part of the purchase
price for the Interdiction Business within 90 days after the closing of the
acquisition.
Industry Overview
The television signal distribution industry is dominated by broadcast
television and CATV. Private Cable, wireless cable and direct broadcast
satellite, although smaller in market size, are becoming more significant
players and are growing more rapidly. The regional telephone companies and long
distance carriers are also emerging as television providers, through telephone
lines, coaxial cable, fiber optics and/or wireless transmission. Recently
enacted governmental deregulation of the communications industry has eliminated
many remaining barriers to entry by alternative service providers, fostering an
environment of greater competition and change.
CATV service is typically provided through a coaxial cable network or a
combination of optical fiber and coaxial cable that originates from a central
headend and is carried to the subscriber's television set on telephone poles or
underground along utility rights-of-way. Since the installation and maintenance
of this network requires substantial initial and ongoing investment, a local
governmental body typically awards a CATV operator rights to provide cable
service to a defined geographic area. These rights or franchises were awarded on
an exclusive basis prior to the adoption of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Presently, additional franchises within geographical areas are encouraged, in
order to increase competition. In contrast, Private Cable operates within the
boundaries of private property, does not require any governmental license or
franchise (other than the FCC license for transmission of television signals in
the 18 GHz frequency band), and does not need access to public or private
rights-of-way to deliver service. In Private Cable, television signals are
acquired and transmitted from property to property via wireless transmission or
using common carrier services (i.e. fiber networks operated by telephone service
providers) rather than coaxial cable.
The traditional CATV customer is a homeowner who is likely to remain in
the same home as a long-term subscriber. For a wide variety of reasons,
including the transient nature of apartment dwellers and the high cost of
replacing lost or damaged set-top converters in apartment units when the tenants
change, CATV has failed to adequately service the MDU market. This failure,
together with the ability of Private Cable operators to link multiple properties
to a central headend system, have greatly expanded the potential market for
Private Cable. Present franchise cable operators recognizing the competition of
private cable, anticipating direct
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competition by telephone service providers, and faced with employing even more
costly in-house converters (i.e. as digital service is added) realize the
vulnerability of the set top concept and the need to expand services to retain
subscribers.
CATV
Many CATV operators and telephone service providers are building fiber
optic networks with alternative combinations of fiber optic and coaxial cable to
deliver television signal programming data and phone services on one drop cable.
CATV's deployment of fiber optic trunk has been completed in only 10% to 20% of
existing systems. Deployment of the latest technology is in the test system
stage. The system architecture being employed to accomplish the combined
provision of television and telephone service is either hybrid fiber coax
("HFC") or fiber to the curb ("FTTC"). In HFC systems, fiber optic trunk lines
connect to nodes which feed 200 to 400 subscribers, using coaxial cable. In FTTC
systems fiber optic cable is used deeper into the network, with as few as four
to eight subscribers fed by coaxial cable from each node. In either case,
extensive rebuilding of a CATV system is required to provide the services
anticipated. Consequently, not only are the regional and long distance telephone
service providers faced with enormous capital expenditures to enter the video
signal delivery business, but CATV is faced with similar expenditures to compete
with them (or to discourage them from entering the race) to be the provider of
the information superhighway.
The Company believes that most major metropolitan areas will eventually
have complex networks of one or two independent operators interconnecting the
homes and private cable operators will have large networks interconnecting many
multi-dwelling complexes. All these networks are potential users of Blonder
Tongue Headend and interdiction products.
MDU
Until February, 1991, the ability of Private Cable operators to
penetrate the MDU market was substantially limited by FCC rules which
specifically prohibited the Private Cable operator from using coaxial cable
connections between properties. CATV operators had a significant competitive
advantage because they could connect properties within their franchised areas
with coaxial cable. In an effort to level the playing field, the FCC designated
special frequency bands enabling Private Cable operators to link multiple
properties to one central headend system via microwave signal transmission,
thereby spreading the cost of headend electronics over multiple MDUs and a wider
potential subscriber base. This new 18 GHz service is wide enough to support the
transmission of 72 channels of television programming, has been the catalyst
fueling the growth and product investment of MDU system operators, and has
caused a substantial increase in the demand for quality Headend Products. In
addition, provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 permit Private Cable
system operators to use coaxial cable connections between adjacent properties
where no access to public rights-of-way are required. Further, fiber optic
networks built by regional and long distance telephone service providers, which
are common carriers, could be used by Private Cable system integrators as
interconnects.
Through the use of Microwave Products and common carrier fiber optic
networks, Private Cable operators can target geographic areas with multiple
properties, many of which would not otherwise have been considered economically
feasible, for inclusion as part of an extensive Private Cable network. In the
past, properties with 100 to 200 subscribers, could not financially justify more
than 15 to 20 channels, but can now be linked to a central headend and justify a
high channel carrier service of 60 channels or more. This allows Private Cable
operators to supply a wide variety of programming at a price which is
competitive with CATV.
The economic feasibility of a Private Cable system depends on
controlling the headend cost and spreading that cost over as many subscribers as
possible using microwave links to multiple MDUs. Electronic equipment providing
the best possible performance-to-cost ratio is key to successfully providing for
the needs of
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Private Cable operators. The Company believes that its products are
cost-effective and competitive with the products of other companies supplying
the CATV industry, in terms of quality, number of channels and price.
Lodging
Until the early 1990's, one system integrator dominated the Lodging
market and manufactured much of its own equipment. During the last several
years, other Private Cable integrators have successfully entered and expanded
the Lodging market by offering systems with more channels, video-on-demand and
interactivity. These systems have been well received in the market, as property
owners have sought additional revenues and guests have demanded increased
in-room conveniences. The integrators leading this market evolution rely upon
outside suppliers for their system electronics and are Blonder Tongue customers.
These companies and others offer Lodging establishments VCR-based systems which
provide true video-on-demand movies with a large selection of titles. To meet
these demands, the typical Lodging system headend will include as many as 20 to
40 receivers and as many as 60 to 80 modulators, and will be capable of
providing the guest with more channels free-to-guest, video-on-demand for a
broad selection of movie titles and even interactive services such as remote
check-out and concierge services. This is in contrast to the systems which
preceded them which had typically 10 to 12 receivers and modulators and provided
six to ten channels free-to-guest and two to five channels of VCR-based movies
running at published scheduled times.
There is a trend to substitute video file servers for VCRs, which the
Company believes will eventually replace VCR's in video-on-demand systems. The
timing and speed of this transition is dependent on availability of lower cost
servers.
Most of the systems with video-on-demand service are in larger hotels,
where the economics of high channel capacity systems are more easily justified.
The conversion of hotel pay-per-view systems into video-on- demand is
increasing. Smaller hotels and motels have had limited video-on-demand
penetration to date, principally because of the headend cost associated with
each system and the limited revenues generated by the smaller number of rooms.
International
For much of the world, television service is in its infancy, but is
expected to rapidly expand as technological advancement reduces the cost to
consumers. In addition, economic development in Latin America and Asia has
allowed first time construction of integrated delivery systems which utilize a
variety of electronics and broadband hardware. The pace of growth is difficult
to predict, but as more alternatives become available and television service
becomes increasingly affordable, it is likely that more equipment will be placed
in the field.
In October, 1997, the Company executed a two-year distribution
agreement with American Technology Exporters, Inc. ("Amtech"), a privately held
company based in Miami, Florida. Under the terms of the contract, Amtech is
required to purchase at least $3,000,000 per year of the Company's products and
has been granted distribution rights in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central and
South America. Amtech will also provide repair services for the Company's
products in certain of these areas. It is anticipated that this agreement will
increase the Company's international market penetration.
Additional Considerations
The technological revolution taking place in the communications
industry, which includes direct broadcast satellite, is providing digital
television to an increasing number of homes. Wireless cable systems also utilize
digital compression to provide channel capacity which is competitive with CATV
and other television delivery systems. In addition, franchised cable companies
and telephone companies, as stated earlier, are
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building fiber optic networks to offer video data and telephony. There is also
the possibility of convergence of data and video communications, wherein
computer and television systems merge and the computer monitor replaces the
television screen. While it is not possible to predict with certainty which
technology will be dominant in the future, it is clear that digitized video and
advances in the ability to compress the digitized video signal make both digital
television and the convergence of computer, telephone and television systems
technically possible.
Since United States television sets are analog (not digital), direct
satellite television and other digitally compressed programming requires Headend
Products or expensive set-top decoding receivers to convert the digitally
transmitted satellite signals back to analog. The replacement of all television
sets with digital sets will be costly and take many years to evolve. The Company
believes that for many years to come, program providers will be required to
deliver an analog television signal on standard channels to subscribers'
television sets using Headend Products at some distribution point in their
networks or employ decoding receivers at each television set. Headend Products
are the heart of Blonder Tongue's business and except for systems deploying
digital decoders at each television set (which is very expensive), the Company
believes VideoMask(TM) is an ideal product for a system operator to use to
control access to the multitude of programming that will be available. In the
completely digital environment which may develop over the long term, all analog
Headend Products will need to be replaced with pure digital products. The
Company and all other suppliers to Private Cable, CATV and the television
industry generally will need to design and manufacture new products for that
environment.
Products
Blonder Tongue's products can be separated, according to function, into
the four broad categories described below:
o Headend Products used by a system operator for signal acquisition,
processing and manipulation for further transmission. Among the
products offered by the Company in this category are satellite
receivers (digital and analog), integrated receiver/decoders,
demodulators, modulators, antennas and antenna mounts, amplifiers,
equalizers, and processors. The headend of a television signal
distribution system is the "brain" of the system, the central location
where the multi-channel signal is initially received, converted and
allocated to specific channels for distribution. In some cases, where
the signal is transmitted in encrypted form or digitized and
compressed, the receiver will also be required to decode the signal.
Blonder Tongue is a licensee of General Instrument Corporation's
VideoCipher(R) and DigiCipher(R) encryption technologies, EchoStar
Communication Corp.'s digital technologies and Hughes Network Systems
digital technologies and integrates their decoders into integrated
receiver/decoder products, where required. The Company is negotiating
with additional companies which are delivering digital television
signal transmission to acquire licenses to incorporate their
proprietary digital decoders into the Company's receivers. The Company
estimates that Headend Products accounted for approximately 80% of the
Company's revenues in 1997, 84% in 1996 and 90% in 1995.
o Distribution Products used to permit signals to travel from the
headend to their ultimate destination in a home, apartment unit, hotel
room, office or other terminal location along a distribution network of
fiber optic or coaxial cable. Among the products offered by the Company
in this category are line extenders, broadband amplifiers, directional
taps, splitters and wall taps. In CATV systems, the distribution
products are either mounted on exterior telephone poles or encased in
pedestals, vaults or other security devices. In Private Cable systems
the distribution system is typically enclosed within the walls of the
building (if a single structure) or added to an existing structure
using various techniques to hide the coaxial cable and devices. The
non-passive devices within this category are designed to ensure that
the signal distributed from the headend is of sufficient strength when
it arrives at its final destination to provide high quality audio/video
images.
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o Subscriber Products used to control access to programming at the
subscriber's location and to split and amplify incoming signals for
transmission to multiple sites and multiple television sets within a
site. Among the products offered by the Company in this category are
addressable interdiction devices, splitters, couplers and multiplexers.
The Company believes that the most significant products within this
category are (i) its new VideoMask(TM) addressable signal jammer,
licensed from Philips Electronics North America Corporation and its
affiliate Philips Broadband Networks, Inc. in August 1995 under certain
non-exclusive technology and patent license agreements (the "Philips
License Agreements"), and (ii) the interdiction product line acquired
from Scientific as part of its Interdiction Business. Interdiction
products such as these limit, through jamming of particular channels,
the availability of programs to subscribers. Such products enable an
integrator to control subscriber access to premium channels and other
enhanced services through a computer located off-premises. They also
eliminate the necessity of an operator having to make a service call to
install or remove passive traps and eliminate the costs associated
with damage or loss of set-top converters in the subscribers'
locations. While it is not possible to predict the breadth of market
acceptance for these products, the Company believes the potential is
substantial in both the MDU market as well as in the CATV market as
alternatives to set-top converters and as a viable option for telephone
companies, electric utilities and other new entrants to television
signal distribution, who are planning to over-build existing cable
infrastructures and are seeking a cost effective way to compete with
CATV.
o Microwave Products used to transmit the output of a cable system
headend to multiple locations using point-to-point communication links
in the 13 GHz (for CATV) and 18 GHz (for Private Cable) range of
frequencies. Among the products offered by the Company in this category
are power amplifiers, repeaters, receivers, transmitters and compatible
accessories. These products convert the headend output up to the
microwave band and transmit this signal using parabolic antennas. At
each receiver site, a parabolic antenna-receiver combination converts
the signal back to normal VHF frequencies for distribution to
subscribers at the receiver site. The Company believes that this class
of products will be a major catalyst for growth in the Private Cable
MDU market and will be a strategic element in developing the Company's
CATV market penetration.
The Company will modify its products to meet specific customer
requirements. Typically, these modifications are minor and do not materially
alter the functionality of the products. Thus the inability of the customer to
accept such products does not generally result in the Company being otherwise
unable to sell such products to other customers.
Research and Product Development
The markets served by Blonder Tongue are characterized by technological
change, new product introductions, and evolving industry standards. To compete
effectively in this environment, the Company must engage in continuous research
and development in order to (i) create new products, (ii) expand the frequency
range of existing products in order to accommodate customer demand for greater
channel capacity, (iii) license new technology (such as digital satellite
receiver decoders), and (iv) acquire products incorporating technology which
could not otherwise be developed quickly enough using internal resources, to
suit the dynamics of the evolving marketplace. Research and development projects
are often initially undertaken at the request of and in an effort to address the
particular needs of its customers and customer prospects with the expectation or
promise of substantial future orders from such customers or customer prospects.
Additional research and development efforts are also continuously underway for
the purpose of enhancing product quality and engineering to lower production
costs. For the acquisition of new technologies, the Company may rely upon
technology licenses from third parties when the Company believes that it can
obtain such technology more quickly and/or cost-effectively from such third
parties than the Company could otherwise develop on its own, or when the desired
technology is proprietary to a third party. There were 21 employees in the
research and development department of the Company at December 31, 1997.
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Marketing and Sales
Blonder Tongue markets and sells its products worldwide to Private
Cable integrators, which accounted for approximately 80% of the Company's
revenues for fiscal years 1997, 1996 and 1995, to regional and long distance
telephone service providers, and to CATV integrators. Sales are made directly to
customers by the Company's internal sales force, as well as through numerous
domestic and international stocking distributors.
The Company historically maintained contractual relationships with
numerous independent sales representatives. In February, 1998, the Company
terminated its contractual relationships with its independent sales
representatives because management believes its internal sales force has the
capacity to maintain or increase sales formerly made through independent sales
representatives without the necessity of paying sales commissions. Should it be
deemed necessary, the Company may retain independent sales representatives in
particular geographic areas or targeted to specific customer prospects.
The Company's internal sales force consists of approximately 21
employees, which currently includes five salespersons (one salesperson in each
of Old Bridge, New Jersey, Cincinnati, Ohio, Plano, Texas, Covina, California
and Moreno Valley, California) and 16 sales-support personnel at the Company
headquarters in Old Bridge, New Jersey.
The Company's standard customer payment terms are 2%-10, net 30 days.
From time to time where the Company determines that circumstances warrant, such
as when a customer agrees to commit to a large blanket purchase order, the
Company extends payment terms beyond its standard payment terms.
The Company has several marketing programs to support the sale and
distribution of its products. Blonder Tongue participates in industry trade
shows and conferences. The Company also publishes technical articles in trade
and technical journals, distributes sales and product literature and has an
active public relations plan to ensure complete coverage of Blonder Tongue's
products and technology by editors of trade journals. The Company provides
system design engineering for its customers, maintains extensive ongoing
communications with many original equipment manufacturer customers and provides
one-on-one demonstrations and technical seminars to potential new customers.
Blonder Tongue supplies sales and applications support, product literature and
training to its sales representatives and distributors. The management of the
Company travels extensively, identifying customer needs and meeting potential
customers.
The Company had approximately $5,375,000 and $3,248,000 in purchase
orders as of December 31, 1997 and December 31, 1996, respectively. All of the
purchase orders outstanding as of December 31, 1997 are expected to be shipped
prior to December 31, 1998. The purchase orders are for the future delivery of
products and are subject to cancellation by the customer.
Customers
Blonder Tongue has a broad customer base, which in 1997 consisted of
more than 1,000 active accounts. Approximately 40%, 39% and 46% of the Company's
revenues in fiscal years 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively, were derived from
sales of products to the Company's five largest customers. In 1997, sales to
OpTel, Inc. accounted for approximately 16% of the Company's revenues. Sales to
the five largest customers consisted principally of Headend Products. There can
be no assurance that any sales to these entities, individually or as a group,
will reach or exceed historical levels in any future period. However, the
Company anticipates that these customers will continue to account for a
significant portion of the Company's revenues in future periods, although none
of them is obligated to purchase any specified amount of products (beyond
outstanding purchase orders) or to provide the Company with binding forecasts of
product purchases for any future period.
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The complement of leading customers may shift as the most efficient and
better financed integrators grow more rapidly than others. The Company believes
that many integrators will grow rapidly, and as such the Company's success will
depend in part on the viability of those customers and on the Company's ability
to maintain its position in the overall marketplace by shifting its emphasis to
those customers with the greatest growth and growth prospects. Any substantial
decrease or delay in sales to one or more of the Company's leading customers,
the financial failure of any of these entities, or the Company's inability to
develop and maintain solid relationships with the integrators which may replace
the present leading customers, would have a material adverse effect on the
Company's results of operations and financial condition.
The Company's revenues are derived primarily from customers in the
continental United States, however, the Company also derives revenues from
customers outside the continental United States, primarily in underdeveloped
countries. Television service is in its infancy in many international markets,
particularly Latin America and Asia, creating opportunity for those participants
who offer quality products at a competitive price. Sales to customers outside of
the United States represented approximately 3%, 5% and 9% of the Company's
revenues in fiscal years 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. All of the Company's
transactions with customers located outside of the continental United States are
denominated in U.S. dollars, therefore, the Company has no material foreign
currency transactions.
Manufacturing and Suppliers
Blonder Tongue's manufacturing operations are located at the Company's
headquarters in Old Bridge, New Jersey. The Company's manufacturing operations
are vertically integrated and consist principally of the assembly and testing of
electronic assemblies built from fabricated parts, printed circuit boards and
electronic devices and the fabrication from raw sheet metal of chassis and
cabinets for such assemblies. Management continues to implement a significant
number of changes to the manufacturing process to increase production volume and
reduce product cost, including logistics modifications on the factory floor, an
increased use of surface mount, axial lead and radial lead robotics to place
electronic components on printed circuit boards, a continuing program of circuit
board redesign to make more products compatible with robotic insertion equipment
and an increased integration in machining and fabrication. All of these efforts
are consistent with and part of the Company's strategy to provide its customers
with high performance-to-cost ratio products.
Outside contractors supply standard components and etch printed circuit
boards to the Company's specifications. While the Company generally purchases
electronic parts which do not have a unique source, certain electronic component
parts used within the Company's products are available from a limited number of
suppliers and can be subject to temporary shortages because of general economic
conditions and the demand and supply for such component parts. If the Company
were to experience a temporary shortage of any given electronic part, the
Company believes that alternative parts could be obtained or system design
changes implemented. However, in such situations the Company may experience
temporary reductions in its ability to ship products affected by the component
shortage. The Company purchases several products from sole suppliers for which
alternative sources are not available, such as the VideoCipher(R) and
DigiCipher(R) encryption systems manufactured by General Instrument Corporation,
which are standard encryption methodology employed on U.S. C-Band and Ku-Band
transponders, EchoStar digital satellite receiver decoders, which are
specifically designed to work with the DISH Network(TM), and Hughes Network
Systems digital satellite receivers for delivery of DIRECTV(R) programming. An
inability to timely obtain sufficient quantities of these components could have
a material adverse effect on the Company's operating results. The Company does
not have a supply agreement with General Instrument Corporation or any other
supplier. The Company submits purchase orders to its suppliers on an as-needed
basis.
Blonder Tongue maintains a quality assurance program which tests
samples of component parts purchased, as well as its finished products, on an
ongoing basis and also conducts tests throughout the manufacturing process using
commercially available and in-house built testing systems that incorporate
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proprietary procedures. Blonder Tongue performs final product tests on 100% of
its products prior to shipment to customers.
Competition
All aspects of the Company's business are highly competitive. The
Company competes with national, regional and local manufacturers and
distributors, including companies larger than Blonder Tongue which have
substantially greater resources. Various manufacturers who are suppliers to the
Company sell directly as well as through distributors into the CATV and Private
Cable marketplaces. Because of the convergence of the cable, telecommunications
and computer industries and rapid technological development, new competitors may
seek to enter the principal markets served by the Company. Many of these
potential competitors have significantly greater financial, technical,
manufacturing, marketing, sales and other resources than Blonder Tongue. The
Company expects that direct and indirect competition will increase in the
future. Additional competition could result in price reductions, loss of market
share and delays in the timing of customer orders. The principal methods of
competition are product differentiation, performance and quality, price and
terms, service, and technical and administrative support.
Intellectual Property
Excluding the patents obtained from Scientific in connection with the
acquisition of their Interdiction Business, the Company currently holds 11
United States patents and 4 foreign patents covering a wide range of electronic
systems and circuits. None of these patents, however, are considered material to
the Company's present operations because they do not relate to high volume
applications. Because of the rapidly evolving nature of the Private Cable and
CATV industries, the Company believes that its market position as a leading
supplier to Private Cable derives primarily from its ability to develop a
continuous stream of new products which are designed to meet its customers'
needs and which have a high performance-to-cost ratio.
The Company is a licensee of Philips Electronics North America
Corporation and its affiliate Philips Broadband Networks, Inc., General
Instrument Corporation ("GI"), Houston Tracker Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of
EchoStar Communications Corp. ("EchoStar"), Hughes Network Systems, a Hughes
Electronics Corporation ("Hughes") and several smaller software development
companies.
Under the Philips License Agreements, the Company is granted a
non-exclusive license for a term which expires in 2010, concurrently with the
last to expire of the relevant patents. The Philips License Agreements provide
for the payment by the Company of a one-time license fee and for the payment by
the Company of royalties based upon unit sales of licensed products.
The Company is a licensee of GI relating to GI's VideoCipher(R)
encryption technology and is also a party to a private label agreement with GI
relating to its DigiCipher(R) technology. Under the VideoCipher(R) license
agreement, the Company is granted a non-exclusive license under certain
proprietary know-how, to design and manufacture certain licensed products to be
compatible with the VideoCipher(R) commercial descrambler module for a term of
ten years, expiring in August, 2000. The VideoCipher(R) license agreement
provides for the payment by the Company of a one-time license fee for the
Company's first model of licensed product and additional one-time license fees
for each additional model of licensed product. The VideoCipher(R) license
agreement also provides for the payment by the Company of royalties based upon
unit sales of licensed products. Under the DigiCipher(R) private label
agreement, the Company is granted the non-exclusive right to sell DigiCipher(R)
II integrated receiver decoders bearing the Blonder Tongue name for use in the
commercial market for a term expiring in December, 1998. The DigiCipher(R)
private label agreement provides for the payment by the Company of a one-time
license fee for the Company's first model of licensed product and additional
one-time license fees for each additional model of licensed product.
-10-
In November, 1996, the Company entered into a license agreement with
EchoStar, pursuant to which the Company is licensed to manufacture and sell
digital satellite receiver systems which are compatible with digital programming
transmitted by EchoStar's DISH Network(TM), for use in the commercial market.
The agreement is for a term of five years, expiring in November, 2001. The
EchoStar license agreement provides for the payment by the Company of a one-time
license fee and for the payment of royalties based upon unit sales of licensed
products.
During 1996, the Company also entered into several software development
and license agreements for specifically designed controller and interface
software necessary for the operation of the Company's Video Central(TM) remote
interdiction control system, which is used for remote operation of VideoMask(TM)
signal jammers installed at subscriber locations. These licenses are perpetual
and require the payment of a one-time license fee and in one case additional
payments, the aggregate of which are not material.
In February, 1998, the Company entered into an exclusive license
agreement with Hughes, pursuant to which the Company is licensed to design,
manufacture, and market commercial digital satellite receivers which are
compatible with DIRECTV(R) programming, for use in headend applications in both
the franchised and private cable markets. The agreement is for a term of five
(5) years, expiring in February 2003.
In connection with the acquisition of Scientific's Interdiction
Business in March, 1998, the Company acquired all intellectual property and
related technology associated with the Interdiction Business, including 29
patents filed in the United States and/or abroad.
The Company relies on a combination of contractual rights and trade
secret laws to protect its proprietary technology and know-how. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to protect its technology and know-how
or that third parties will not be able to develop similar technology and
know-how independently. Therefore, existing and potential competitors may be
able to develop products that are competitive with the Company's products and
such competition could adversely affect the prices for the Company's products or
the Company's market share. The Company also believes that factors such as the
technological and creative skills of its personnel, new product developments,
frequent product enhancements, name recognition and reliable product maintenance
are essential to establishing and maintaining its leadership position.
Regulation
Private Cable (estimated by the Company to represent approximately 80%
of its business), while in some cases subject to certain FCC licensing
requirements, is not presently burdened with extensive government regulations.
CATV operators (estimated by the Company to represent approximately 20% of its
business) had been subject to extensive government regulation pursuant to the
Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992, which among
other things provided for rate rollbacks for basic tier cable service, further
rate reductions under certain circumstances and limitations on future rate
increases. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 has deregulated many aspects of
CATV system operation and has opened the door to competition among cable
operators and telephone companies in each of their respective industries. The
Company believes that this legislation will increase the base of potential
customers for the Company's products.
Environmental Regulations
The Company is subject to a variety of federal, state and local
governmental regulations related to the storage, use, discharge and disposal of
toxic, volatile or otherwise hazardous chemicals used in its manufacturing
processes. The Company did not incur in 1997 and does not anticipate incurring
in 1998 material capital expenditures for compliance with federal, state and
local environmental laws and regulations. There can be no assurance, however,
that changes in environmental regulations will not result in the need for
additional capital expenditures or otherwise impose additional financial burdens
on the Company. Further, such
-11-
regulations could restrict the Company's ability to expand its operations. Any
failure by the Company to obtain required permits for, control the use of, or
adequately restrict the discharge of, hazardous substances under present or
future regulations could subject the Company to substantial liability or could
cause its manufacturing operations to be suspended.
The Company presently holds a permit from the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection ("NJDEP"), Division of Environmental Quality, Air
Pollution Control Program relating to its operation of certain process
equipment, which permit expires in June, 2001. The Company has held such a
permit for this equipment on a substantially continuous basis since
approximately April, 1989. The Company also has authorization under the New
Jersey Pollution Discharge Elimination System/Discharge to Surface Waters
General Industrial Stormwater Permit, Permit No. NJ0088315. This permit will
expire November 1, 1998. The Company anticipates that such permit will
be renewed.
Employees
The Company employs approximately 587 persons, including 458 in
manufacturing, 21 in research and development, 20 in quality assurance, 45 in
production services, 21 in sales and marketing, and 22 in a general and
administrative capacity. 396 of the Company's employees are members of the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union, Local 2066, which has a
three year labor agreement with the Company expiring in February, 1999.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company's principal manufacturing, engineering, sales and
administrative facilities consist of one building totalling approximately
130,000 square feet located on approximately 20 acres of land in Old Bridge, New
Jersey (the "Old Bridge Facility") which is owned by the Company. Until June 30,
1997, the Company leased approximately 8,100 square feet of space in San Diego,
California for which it paid base rent of approximately $4,100 per month, which
base rent was offset by sublease income associated with such space of
approximately $2,000 per month. The Company also leases office space in
Cincinnati, Ohio and Grapevine, Texas for which it pays rent of approximately
$260 and $1,000 per month, respectively.
Management believes that the Old Bridge Facility is adequate to support
the Company's anticipated needs in 1998. Subject to compliance with applicable
zoning and building codes, the Old Bridge real property is large enough to
double the size of the plant to accommodate expansion of the Company's
operations should the need arise.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On October 18, 1996, the Company was served with a complaint in a
lawsuit filed by Scientific- Atlanta, Inc. ("Scientific") in the United States
District Court for the Northern District of Georgia alleging patent infringement
by the Company's VideoMask(TM) interdiction product. The complaint requested an
unspecified amount of damages and injunctive relief.
Following the Company's acquisition of the assets and technology rights
of Scientific's Interdiction Business, Scientific's lawsuit against the Company
was dismissed with prejudice.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the
fourth quarter ended December 31, 1997 through the solicitation of proxies or
otherwise.
-12-
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The Company's common stock has been traded on the American Stock
Exchange since the Company's initial public offering on December 14, 1995. The
following table sets forth for the fiscal quarters indicated, the high and low
sale prices for the Company's Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange.
Market Information
Fiscal year ended December 31, 1997: High Low
First Quarter ........................ 9 1/2 6 3/8
Second Quarter........................ 9 6 1/8
Third Quarter ........................ 17 1/2 7 11/16
Fourth Quarter ....................... 18 7/16 12 5/8
Fiscal year ended December 31, 1996: High Low
First Quarter ........................ 13 3/4 9
Second Quarter........................ 19 1/2 9 7/8
Third Quarter ........................ 15 7 3/4
Fourth Quarter ....................... 10 7/8 8 1/8
The Company's Common Stock is traded on the American Stock Exchange
under the symbol "BDR".
Holders
As of March 16, 1998, the Company had approximately 76 holders of
record of the Common Stock. Since a portion of the Company's common stock is
held in "street" or nominee name, the Company is unable to determine the exact
number of beneficial holders.
Dividends
The Company currently anticipates that it will retain all of its
earnings to finance the operation and expansion of its business, and therefore
does not intend to pay dividends on its Common Stock in the foreseeable future.
Other than in connection with certain S Corporation distributions, the Company
has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock. Any
determination to pay dividends in the future is at the discretion of the
Company's Board of Directors and will depend upon the Company's financial
condition, results of operations, capital requirements, limitations contained in
loan agreements and such other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant.
The Company's loan agreement with CoreStates Bank prohibits the payment of
dividends by the Company on its Common Stock, unless at the time of and after
giving effect to any proposed dividend payment, the Company is not in default
under the loan agreement and is in compliance with certain financial covenants
relating to, among other things, working capital, tangible net worth and debt
service coverage.
-13-
ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected consolidated statement of earnings data presented below
for each of the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, and the selected
consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 are derived
from, and are qualified by reference to, the audited consolidated financial
statements of the Company and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form
10-K. The selected consolidated statement of earnings data for the years ended
December 31, 1994 and 1993 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as
of December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 are derived from audited consolidated
financial statements not included herein. The data set forth below is qualified
in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and
the consolidated financial statements, notes thereto and other financial and
statistical information appearing elsewhere herein.
Year Ended December 31,
----------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(in thousands, except per share data)
Consolidated Statement of Earnings Data:
Net sales...................................... $ 62,057 $ 48,862 $ 51,982 $ 35,804 $ 24,136
Cost of goods sold ............................ 39,656 30,613 32,528 21,791 14,472
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Gross profit................................. 22,401 18,249 19,454 14,013 9,664
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative.......... 9,938 9,135 9,791 7,060 5,565
Research and development..................... 1,954 1,972 2,011 1,477 963
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total operating expenses..................... 11,892 11,107 11,802 8,537 6,528
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Earnings from operations....................... 10,509 7,142 7,652 5,476 3,136
Interest expense............................... 414 658 1,296 439 183
Other (income) expense, net.................... (595) -- (60) (89) (15)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Earnings before income taxes................... 10,690 6,484 6,416 5,126 2,968
Provisions for income taxes.................... 4,276 2,601
-------- --------
Net earnings................................... $ 6,414 $ 3,883
======== ========
Basic earnings per share....................... $ 0.78 $ 0.48
Basic weighted average shares outstanding(2)... 8,227 8,144
Diluted earnings per share..................... $ 0.77 $ 0.47
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding(2). 8,375 8,300
Pro Forma Data:
Pro forma provision for income taxes(1)........ 2,566 2,050 1,187
-------- -------- --------
Pro forma net earnings......................... $ 3,850 $ 3,076 $ 1,781
======== ======== ========
Pro forma basic net earnings per share......... $ 0.66 $ 0.48 $ 0.23
Basic weighted average shares outstanding(2)... 5,823 6,406 7,772
Pro forma diluted earnings per share........... $ 0.64 $ 0.48 $ 0.23
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding(2). 6,054 6,475 7,772
Other Data:
S Corporation distributions declared........... $ -- $ -- $ 7,896 $ 4,425 $ 964
Year Ended December 31,
----------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(in thousands)
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital ............................... $ 26,055 $ 23,015 $ 14,407 $ 5,786 $ 3,920
Total assets .................................. 42,272 36,165 31,804 15,832 11,197
Long-term debt (including
current maturities) ........................... 5,054 6,347 2,145 5,196 1,552
Stockholders' equity .......................... 31,795 25,576 19,740 3,509 4,204
- ------------------
(1) On December 11, 1995, the Company's status as an S Corporation terminated
and as a result the Company is now subject to corporate income taxes.
Accordingly, pro forma net earnings reflect a pro forma adjustment for
income taxes which would have been recorded had the Company been a C
Corporation.
(2) Weighted average shares are calculated in accordance with the provisions of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings Per Share."
See Note 1(k) of notes to the Company's consolidated financial statements.
-14-
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of the Company's historical
results of operations and liquidity and capital resources should be read in
conjunction with "Selected Consolidated Financial Data" and the consolidated
financial statements of the Company and notes thereto appearing elsewhere
herein.
Overview
The Company was incorporated in November, 1988, under the laws of
Delaware as GPS Acquisition Corp. for the purpose of acquiring the business of
Blonder-Tongue Laboratories, Inc., a New Jersey corporation which was founded in
1950 by Ben H. Tongue and Isaac S. Blonder (the "former Blonder-Tongue") to
design, manufacture and supply a line of electronics and systems equipment
principally for the Private Cable industry. Following the acquisition, the
Company changed its name to Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc.
The Company's success is due in part to management's efforts to
leverage the Company's reputation by broadening its product line to offer
one-stop shop convenience to Private Cable and CATV system integrators and to
deliver products having a high performance-to-cost ratio. The Company has
experienced significant growth since the acquisition of the former
Blonder-Tongue, both internally and through strategic acquisitions.
In December 1995, the Company successfully concluded an initial public
offering of 2,200,000 shares of its Common Stock. Thereafter, in January 1996,
the Company's underwriters exercised their over-allotment option, as a result of
which an additional 181,735 shares of the Company's Common Stock were sold. The
proceeds received by the Company from the sale of its Common Stock in the
offering (including shares sold pursuant to the over-allotment option), net of
expenses of the offering and certain S Corporation distributions to the
Company's principal stockholders, was approximately $14,045,000. These funds
were used to acquire the Company's Old Bridge Facility and to reduce the
Company's outstanding bank debt. The Company has further enhanced its liquidity
through a long-term loan secured by a mortgage against the Old Bridge Facility.
On March 26, 1998, the Company acquired all of the assets and
technology rights of the interdiction business (the "Interdiction Business") of
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. ("Scientific") for a purchase price consisting of (i)
$19 million in cash, (ii) 67,889 shares of the Company's common stock, (iii) a
warrant to purchase 150,000 additional shares of the Company's common stock at
an exercise price of $14.25 per share and (iv) assumption by the Company of
certain obligations under executory contracts with vendors and customers and
certain warranty obligations and other current liabilities of the Interdiction
Business. The Interdiction Business generated approximately $16 million in
revenues for the prior twelve month period. The Company believes that
Scientific's interdiction products, which have been engineered primarily to
serve the franchised cable market, will supplement the Company's VideoMask(TM)
products, which are primarily focused on the Private Cable market. In addition,
the Company expects that the technology acquired as part of the Interdiction
Business will enhance its ability to design products that meet the specific
needs of all cable providers, while improving its position in the franchised
cable market.
-15-
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth, for the fiscal periods indicated,
certain consolidated statement of earnings data as a percentage of net sales:
Year Ended December 31,
----------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995
------ ------ ------
Net sales.............................. 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Costs of goods sold.................... 63.9 62.7 62.6
Gross profit........................... 36.1 37.3 37.4
Selling expenses....................... 8.0 9.8 9.3
General and administrative expenses.... 8.0 8.9 9.5
Research and development expenses...... 3.2 4.0 3.9
Earnings from operations............... 16.9 14.6 14.7
Other (income) expense, net............ (.3) 1.3 2.4
Earnings before income taxes........... 17.2 13.3 12.3
1997 Compared with 1996
Net Sales. Net sales increased $13,195,000, or 27%, to $62,057,000 in
1997 from $48,862,000 in 1996. International sales accounted for $1,620,000
(2.6% of total sales) for 1997 compared to $2,655,000 (5.4% of total sales) for
1996. Net sales did not include any milestone billings under the Company's
agreement with Pacific Bell for 1997 compared to $2,192,000 for 1996.
The increase in sales is primarily attributed to an increase in demand
for products in the MDU market and the continued growth in the Lodging market.
In addition, the sales of VideoMask(TM) interdiction equipment remained strong.
Net sales included approximately $7,567,000 of VideoMask(TM) interdiction
equipment for 1997 compared to $2,939,000 for 1996.
Effective July 18, 1997, the Company's agreement to supply interdiction
equipment to Pacific Bell was terminated. The termination did not have a
significant impact on 1997 sales. The Pacific Bell contract contained provisions
for penalties upon early termination by either party. In July, 1997, the Company
received a payment in the amount of $1.5 million from Pacific Bell for
reimbursement of costs incurred by the Company through the date of termination.
The payment was offset by a portion of the costs incurred by the Company for
customized inventory ($708,000) and operating expenses ($257,000) incurred in
connection with the contract.In addition, the Company recognized $535,000 in
other income.
Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold increased to $39,656,000 for
1997 from $30,613,000 for 1996, primarily due to increased volume, and increased
as a percentage of sales to 63.9% from 62.7%. The increase as a percentage of
sales was caused primarily by a greater proportion of sales during the period
being comprised of lower margin products.
Selling Expenses. Selling expenses increased to $4,964,000 in 1997 from
$4,780,000 in 1996, but decreased as a percentage of sales to 8.0% in 1997 from
9.8% in 1996. The dollar increase was primarily due to an increase in
commissions ($128,000) as a result of the increase in sales, an increase in
shipping materials ($86,000) and an increase in royalty payments related to
licensing agreements ($76,000). These increases were offset by a reduction of
costs incurred for trade shows ($142,000).
General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative
expenses increased to $4,974,000 in 1997 from $4,355,000 for 1996 but decreased
as a percentage of sales to 8.0% in 1997 from 8.9% for 1996.
-16-
The $619,000 increase can be primarily attributable to an increase in the
accrual for executive bonuses in connection with the implementation of the
Company's Executive Officer Salary Bonus Plan and an increase in the allowance
for doubtful accounts related to the increase in sales volume.
Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses
decreased 1% to $1,954,000 in 1997 from $1,972,000 in 1996, primarily due to the
reimbursement of costs incurred as a result of the termination of the Pacific
Bell contract and a decrease in expenditures for consulting services that were
incurred with respect to the VideoMask(TM) product line in 1996. These decreases
were offset by an increase in amortization of technology license agreements, an
increase in depreciation expense related to the acquisition of new equipment and
an increase in wages due to the hiring of personnel with higher qualifications.
Research and development expenses also decreased as a percentage of sales to
3.2% from 4.0%.
Operating Income. Operating income increased 47.1% to $10,509,000 for
1997 from $7,142,000 for 1996. Operating income as a percentage of sales
increased to 16.9% in 1997 from 14.6% in 1996.
Interest and Other Expenses. Other income in 1997 consisted of $535,000
related to the final payment received from Pacific Bell as a result of the
contract termination in July, 1997, along with $60,000 of interest income offset
by $414,000 of interest expense. Other expenses in 1996 consisted of interest
expense of $658,000. The reduction in interest expense is primarily attributed
to reduced borrowings under the Company's credit line.
Income Taxes. The provision for income taxes for 1997 increased to
$4,276,000 from $2,601,000 for 1996 as a result of increased taxable income. The
effective tax rate for both years remained at 40%.
1996 Compared with 1995
Net Sales. Net sales decreased $3,120,000, or 6.0%, to $48,862,000 in
1996 from $51,982,000 in 1995. International sales accounted for $2,655,000
(5.4% of total sales) for 1996 compared to $4,809,000 (9.3% of total sales) for
1995. Net sales included approximately $2,939,000 of VideoMask(TM) interdiction
equipment. Net sales also included $2,192,000 under the Company's agreement to
supply interdiction equipment to Pacific Bell.
Sales in the lodging market remained strong during 1996 but MDU sales
were impacted by the uncertainty surrounding the installation of private cable
systems in properties under contract to Interactive Cable Systems, Inc. ("ICS"),
one of the Company's largest customers in 1995. Net sales to ICS were
approximately $684,000 in 1996 compared to approximately $9,266,000 in 1995.
Approximately $655,000 of accounts receivable outstanding at December 31, 1996
was due from ICS for more than 60 days, compared with approximately $933,000
outstanding for more than 60 days at December 31, 1995.
Longer than anticipated accelerated life testing of the Company's, new
VideoMask(TM) interdiction product delayed production until early March, 1996.
Thereafter, volume interdiction sales were further delayed due to the inability
of ICS to complete the installation of private cable systems in properties under
contract to them and the shift in demand to other users of interdiction whose
requirements were for product configurations not yet in production.
Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold decreased to $30,613,000 in 1996
from $32,528,000 in 1995 but increased as a percentage of sales to 62.7% from
62.6%. The increase as a percentage of sales was caused primarily by a greater
proportion of sales during the period being comprised of lower margin products.
Reconfiguration costs and low volume production of VideoMask(TM) during 1996
affected gross margins of the product. As VideoMask(TM) volume increases,
margins on such products should improve, although there can be no assurance that
additional delays will not occur or that volume will increase.
-17-
Selling Expenses. Selling expenses decreased to $4,780,000 in 1996 from
$4,824,000 in 1995, primarily due to decreased costs incurred for commissions as
a result of the termination of certain sales representatives offset by increased
expenditures for marketing materials, royalties related to certain license
agreements and increased operational costs of the BTI sales office along with
additional costs incurred in connection with the closure of such office.
General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative
expenses decreased to $4,355,000 in 1996 from $4,967,000 for 1995 and also
decreased as a percentage of sales to 8.9% in 1996 from 9.5% in 1995. The
$612,000 decrease can be attributed to a reduction in rent expense, net of
increased depreciation, as a result of the Company's purchase of the Old Bridge
Facility and a decline in salaries due to a reduction in personnel, offset by an
increase in expenditures for professional services and insurance.
Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses
decreased 1.9% to $1,972,000 in 1996 from $2,011,000 in 1995, primarily due to a
decrease in consulting services incurred, which were primarily attributable to
the development of the VideoMask(TM) interdiction product line during 1995 and
the first half of 1996, offset by an increase in purchased materials for
research and development. Research and development expenses increased as a
percentage of sales to 4.0% from 3.9%.
Operating Income. Operating income decreased 6.7% to $7,142,000 in 1996
from $7,652,000 in 1995. Operating income as a percentage of sales decreased to
14.6% in 1996 from 14.7% in 1995.
Interest and Other Expenses. Other expenses, net, decreased to $658,000
in 1996 from $1,236,000 in 1995. These expenses in 1996 consisted of interest
expense in the amount of $658,000. Other expenses in 1995 consisted of interest
expense of $1,296,000, offset by $60,000 of other income. The reduction in
interest expense is primarily attributed to reduced borrowings under the
Company's credit line.
Income Taxes. The Company, with the consent of its stockholders,
elected to be taxed as an S Corporation for federal income tax purposes from its
inception until its initial public offering of common stock. As a consequence,
the taxable net earnings of the Company were taxed as income to the Company's
stockholders in proportion to their individual stockholdings, and the payment of
federal income taxes on such proportionate share of the Company's taxable
earnings was the personal obligation of each stockholder. The Company's status
as an S Corporation terminated on December 11, 1995, and as a result the Company
is now a C Corporation for income tax purposes. As a C Corporation, the Company
is currently taxed at a combined effective rate of approximately 40% based upon
current federal and state income tax regulations. Had the Company been taxable
as a C Corporation for the entire year of 1995, pro forma income taxes and pro
forma net earnings after taxes for the year ended December 31, 1995 would have
been $2,566,000 and $3,850,000, respectively, compared with a provision for
income taxes and net earnings after taxes for the year ended December 31, 1996
of $2,601,000 and $3,883,000, respectively.
Inflation and Seasonality
Inflation and seasonality have not had a material impact on the results
of operations of the Company. Fourth quarter sales in 1997 were slightly
impacted by fewer production days. The Company expects sales each year in the
fourth quarter to be impacted by fewer production days.
Year 2000
Historically, computer programs have been written using two digits
rather than four to define the applicable year. Such programs were written
without considering the impact of the upcoming change in the century and may
experience problems handling dates beyond December 31, 1999. This could cause
computer applications to fail or to create erroneous results unless corrective
measures are taken. Incomplete or untimely
-18-
resolution of the Year 2000 issue could have a material adverse impact on the
Company's business, operations or financial condition in the future.
The Company has been assessing the impact that the Year 2000 issue will
have on its computer systems, including both hardware and software utilized by
the Company, since 1994. In response to these assessments, which are ongoing,
the Company has developed and is implementing a plan to develop solutions to
those systems found to have date-related deficiencies. Project plans call for
the completion of the solution implementation phase and testing of such
solutions prior to any anticipated impact on the Company's systems. The Company
is also surveying its bank and critical suppliers and customers to determine the
status of their Year 2000 compliance programs.
Based on the current status of the Company's Year 2000 compliance
program, and assuming that project plans, which continue to evolve, can be
implemented as planned, the Company believes future costs relating to the Year
2000 issue will not have a material adverse impact on the Company's business,
operations or financial condition.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 1997 and 1996, the Company's working capital was
$26,055,000 and $23,015,000, respectively. The increase in working capital is
attributable primarily to the Company's net earnings offset by a $1,278,000
reclassification of certain promissory notes to shareholders as a current
liability due to their maturity dates being within one year and capital
expenditures of $1,424,000. Historically, the Company has satisfied its cash
requirements primarily from net cash provided by operating activities and from
borrowings under its line of credit.
The Company's net cash provided by operating activities for the period
ended December 31, 1997 was $2,290,000 as a result of the Company's net earnings
offset by $1,847,000 to fund the increase in inventory and $4,470,000 related to
the increase in accounts receivable, compared to cash used in operating
activities for the period ended December 31, 1996 of $534,000.
Cash used in investing activities was $1,587,000. $163,000 was utilized
for fees associated with the acquisition of certain license agreements, and
$1,424,000 is attributable to capital expenditures for new equipment. The
Company purchased several high speed robotic insertion machines which are used
primarily in the manufacture of circuit boards for the Company's new
VideoMask(TM) product line and the balance was used for the purchase of other
automated assembly and test equipment. The Company does not have any present
plans or commitments for material capital expenditures for fiscal year 1998,
other than in connection with the acquisition of Scientific's Interdiction
Business.
Cash used in financing activities was $1,488,000 for the period ended
December 31, 1997, comprised primarily of $1,176,000 of payments on the
Company's line of credit, prepayments of $313,000 on notes to shareholders and
repurchase of $498,000 of the Company's common stock under the Company's stock
repurchase program, offset by $303,000 in proceeds relating to the exercise of
stock options.
In October, 1997, the Company executed a new $15 million revolving line
of credit with its bank, on which funds may be borrowed at the bank's overnight
base rate ("OBR") plus a margin ranging from .95% to 2.45%, depending upon the
calculation of certain financial covenants (7.7% at December 31, 1997). As of
December 31, 1997, the Company had no balance outstanding under the line of
credit. The line of credit is collateralized by a security interest in all of
the Company's assets. The agreement contains restrictions that
-19-
require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios as well as restrictions
on the payment of dividends. In addition, the Company has an acquisition loan
commitment which may be drawn upon by the Company to finance acquisitions in
accordance with certain terms. The acquisition loan commitment had been $15
million until March, 1998 when it was increased to $20 million to accommodate
the acquisition of Scientific's Interdiction Business. Funds may be borrowed
under the acquisition loan commitment at OBR plus a margin ranging from 1.25% to
2.75%, depending upon the calculation of certain financial covenants. At
December 31, 1997, there was no balance outstanding under the acquisition loan
commitment and as of March 26, 1998, there was $19 million outstanding under the
acquisition loan commitment. The line of credit and the acquisition loan
commitment expire on June 30, 1999.
On May 24, 1996, the Company borrowed $2.8 million for a ten year term
secured by a mortgage against the Old Bridge Facility. The loan bears interest
at the fixed rate of 7.25% through May 1999 and may be negotiated to another
fixed rate or remain variable for the remaining seven years of the loan.
The Company currently anticipates that the cash generated from
operations, existing cash balances and amounts available under its existing or a
replacement line of credit, will be sufficient to satisfy its foreseeable
working capital needs.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In June 1997, SFAS 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income," and SFAS 131,
"Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information," were
issued. SFAS 130 addresses standards for reporting and display of comprehensive
income and its components and SFAS 131 requires disclosure of reportable
operating segments. In February 1998, SFAS 132, "Employer's Disclosures About
Pensions and Other Postretirement Plans" was issued. SFAS 132 standardizes
pension disclosures. These statements are effective in 1998. The Company will be
reviewing these pronouncements to determine their applicability to the Company,
if any.
Additional Factors That May Affect Future Results and Market Price of Stock
Blonder Tongue's business operates in a rapidly changing environment
that involves a number of risks, some of which are beyond the Company's control.
The following discussion highlights some of these risks which are not otherwise
addressed elsewhere in this Annual Report. There can be no assurance that the
Company will anticipate the evolution of industry standards in Private Cable or
the communications industry generally, changes in the market and customer needs,
or that technologies and applications under development by the Company will be
successfully developed, or if they are successfully developed, that they will
achieve market acceptance. The competition to attract and retain highly-skilled
engineering, manufacturing, marketing and managerial personnel is intense.
Capital spending by cable operators for constructing, rebuilding, maintaining or
upgrading their systems (upon which the Company's sales and profitability are
dependent) is dependent on a variety of factors, including access to financing,
demand for their cable services, availability of alternative video delivery
technologies, and general economic conditions. Factors such as announcements of
technological innovations or new products by the Company, its competitors or
third parties, quarterly variations in the Company's actual or anticipated
results of operations, market conditions for emerging growth stocks or cable
industry stocks in general, or the failure of revenues or earnings in any
quarter to meet the investment community's expectations, may cause the market
price of the Company's Common Stock to fluctuate significantly. The stock price
may also be affected by broader market trends unrelated to the Company's
performance.
-20-
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Incorporated by reference from the consolidated financial statements
and notes thereto of the Company which are attached hereto beginning on page 25.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
PART III
ITEMS 10. through 13. INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The information called for by Item 10 "Directors and Executive Officers
of the Registrant," Item 11 "Executive Compensation," Item 12 "Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" and Item 13 "Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions" is incorporated herein by reference to
the Company's definitive proxy statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders
scheduled to be held May 7, 1998, which definitive proxy statement is expected
to be filed with the Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the
fiscal year to which this report relates. Note that the sections in the
definitive proxy statement entitled "Report of Compensation Committee on
Executive Compensation Policies" and "Comparative Stock Performance" pursuant to
Regulation S-K, Item 402 (a) (9), are not deemed "soliciting material" or
"filed" as part of this report.
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a)(1) Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants,
BDO Seidman, LLP...................................................26
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31,
1997 and 1996......................................................27
Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the Years
Ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995.............................28
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for
the Years Ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995...................29
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years
Ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995.............................30
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..........................31
(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules.
Included in Part IV of this report:
Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves
All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable
accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not
required under the applicable instructions or are inapplicable and therefore
have been omitted.
-21-
(a)(3) Exhibits
The exhibits are listed in the Index to Exhibits appearing below and
are filed herewith or are incorporated by reference to exhibits previously filed
with the Commission.
(b) No reports on Form 8-K were filed in the quarter ended December 31, 1997.
(c) Exhibits:
Exhibit # Description Location
3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Blonder Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
Tongue Laboratories, Inc. 3.1 to Registrant's S-1 Registration
Statement No. 33-98070 originally filed
October 12, 1995, as amended.
3.2 Restated Bylaws of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
Inc. 3.2 to Registrant's S-1 Registration
Statement No. 33-98070 originally filed
October 12, 1995, as amended.
4.1 Specimen of stock certificate Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
4.1 to Registrant's S-1 Registration
Statement No. 33-98070 originally filed
October 12, 1995, as amended.
10.1 Consulting Agreement, dated January 1, 1995, Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
between Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and 10.3 to Registrant's S-1 Registration
James H. Williams. Statement No. 33-98070 originally filed
October 12, 1995, as amended.
10.2 1994 Incentive Stock Option Plan. Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
10.5 to Registrant's S-1 Registration
Statement No. 33-98070 originally filed
October 12, 1995, as amended.
10.3 1995 Long Term Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
10.6 to Registrant's S-1 Registration
Statement No. 33-98070 originally filed
October 12, 1995, as amended.
10.4 1996 Director Option Plan. Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
10.7 to Registrant's S-1 Registration
Statement No. 33-98070 originally filed
October 12, 1995, as amended.
10.5 Employment Agreement, dated August 1, 1995, Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
between Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and 10.9 to Registrant's S-1 Registration
Daniel J. Altiere. Statement No. 33-98070 originally filed
October 12, 1995, as amended.
10.6 Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
by Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. in favor of 10.10 to Registrant's S-1 Registration
each of its Directors and Officers. Statement No. 33-98070 originally filed
October 12, 1995, as amended.
-22-
10.7 VideoCipher(R)IICM Commercial Descrambler Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
Module Master Purchase and License Agreement, 10.11 to Registrant's S-1 Registration
dated August 23, 1990, between Blonder Tongue Statement No. 33-98070 originally filed
Laboratories, Inc. and Cable/Home October 12, 1995, as amended.
Communication Corp.
+ 10.8 Patent License Agreement, dated August 21, Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
1995, between Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. 10.12 to Registrant's S-1 Registration
and Philips Electronics North America Statement No. 33-98070 originally filed
Corporation. October 12, 1995, as amended.
+ 10.9 Interdiction Technology License Agreement, dated Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
August 21, 1995, between Blonder Tongue 10.13 to Registrant's S-1 Registration
Laboratories, Inc. and Philips Broadband Statement No. 33-98070 originally filed
Networks, Inc. October 12, 1995, as amended.
10.10 401(k) Savings & Investment Retirement Plan. Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
10.21 to S-1 Registration Statement No.
33-98070 originally filed October 12,
1995, as amended.
10.11 Bargaining Unit Pension Plan. Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
10.22 to S-1 Registration Statement No.
33-98070 originally filed October 12,
1995, as amended.
10.12 Mortgage, Assignment of Leases, and Security Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
Agreement dated May 23, 1996 by Blonder 10.2 to Registrant's Quarterly Report on
Tongue Laboratories, Inc. in favor of CoreStates Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30,
Bank, N.A., successor to Meridian Bank. 1996, filed August 14, 1996.
10.13 Real Estate Loan Note dated May 23, 1996 from Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. in favor of 10.3 to Registrant's Quarterly Report on
CoreStates Bank, N.A., successor to Meridian Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30,
Bank. 1996, filed August 14, 1996.
10.14 Allonge to Real Estate Loan Note, dated Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
September 26, 1996 from Blonder Tongue 10.3 to Registrant's Quarterly Report on
Laboratories, Inc., in favor of CoreStates Bank, Form 10-Q for the period ended
N.A., successor to Meridian Bank. September 30, 1996, filed November 14,
1996.
+ 10.15 License Agreement dated November 12, 1996 Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
between Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and 10.31 to Registrant's Annual Report on
Houston Tracker Systems, Inc. Form 10-K for fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996, filed March 27, 1997.
10.16 Executive Officer Bonus Plan Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
10.3 to Registrant's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the period ended March
31, 1997.
10.17 First Amendment to 1995 Long Term Incentive Incorporated by reference from Exhibit
Plan 10.5(a) to Registrant's Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the period ended
March 31, 1997.
-23-
10.18 Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement Filed herewith.
dated October 29, 1997 between Blonder Tongue
Laboratories, Inc. and CoreStates Bank, N.A.
10.19 Third Amended and Restated Line of Credit Note Filed herewith.
dated October 29, 1997 by Blonder Tongue
Laboratories, Inc. in favor of CoreStates Bank,
N.A.
21 Subsidiaries of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. Filed herewith.
23 Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP Filed herewith.
27 Financial Data Schedule Electronic filing only.
27.1 Amended and Restated Financial Data Schedule Electronic filing only.
relative to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996.
- ------------------------------
+ Certain portions of exhibit have been afforded confidential treatment by
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(d) Financial Statement Schedules:
Report of BDO Seidman, LLP on financial statement schedule.
The following financial statement schedule is included on page 48 of this
Annual Report on Form 10-K: Schedule II. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
and Reserves
All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting
regulations of the Commission are not required under the applicable instructions
or are inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.
-24-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page
Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants, BDO Seidman, LLP.........26
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 ................27
Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the Years Ended December 31,
1997, 1996 and 1995.........................................................28
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Years Ended
December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 ...........................................29
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31,
1997, 1996 and 1995 ........................................................30
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements...................................31
-25-
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Blonder Tongue
Laboratories, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and the
related consolidated statements of earnings, stockholders' equity and cash flows
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
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 consolidated financial position of Blonder
Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and
the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years
in the period ended December 31, 1997 in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.
BDO Seidman, LLP
Woodbridge, New Jersey
February 20, 1998, except for Note 16
for which the date is March 25, 1998
-26-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
December 31,
-------------------------
1997 1996
------ -----
Assets (Note 4)
Current assets:
Cash................................................. $ 555 $ 1,340
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
doubtful accounts of $607 and $280, respectively..... 13,130 8,987
Inventories (Note 2)................................. 17,875 16,028
Other current assets ................................ 318 403
Deferred income taxes (Note 13)...................... 1,054 534
------- -----------
Total current assets..................... 32,932 27,292
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated
depreciation and amortization (Note 3)............. 7,721 7,161
Other assets........................................... 1,619 1,712
--------- -----------
$42,272 $36,165
========= ===========
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt, including related
party debt of $1,278 in
1997 (Note 4).......................................... $ 1,866 $ 445
Accounts payable........................................ 2,305 1,627
Accrued compensation.................................... 1,606 993
Other accrued expenses.................................. 929 589
Income taxes (Note 13).................................. 171 623
---------- --------
Total current liabilities................... 6,877 4,277
---------- --------
Deferred income taxes (Note 13)........................... 412 410
Revolving line of credit (Note 4)......................... - 1,176
Long-term debt, including related party debt of $1,591
in 1996 (Note 4).......................................... 3,188 4,726
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 5 and 6)............. - -
Stockholders' equity (Notes 9, 10, 11 and 12):
Preferred stock, $.001 par value; authorized
5,000,000 shares; no shares outstanding................ - -
Common stock, $.001 par value; authorized 25,000,000
shares, 8,272,758 shares issued at December 31,
1997 and 8,193,509 shares issued and
outstanding at December 31, 1996....................... 8 8
Paid-in capital.......................................... 21,802 21,499
Retained earnings........................................ 10,483 4,069
Treasury stock at cost, 40,200 shares at December 31,
1997 and no shares at December 31, 1996 (Note 9)........ (498) -
---------- --------
Total stockholders' equity.................. 31,795 25,576
---------- --------
$42,272 $36,165
========== ========
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
-27-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Year Ended December 31
------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995
------------- ------------ ------------
Net sales........................... $62,057 $48,862 $51,982
Cost of goods sold.................. 39,656 30,613 32,528
------------ ------------ -------------
Gross profit.................... 22,401 18,249 19,454
------------ ------------ -------------
Operating expenses:
Selling expenses................ 4,964 4,780 4,824
General and administrative...... 4,974 4,355 4,967
Research and development........ 1,954 1,972 2,011
------------ ------------ -------------
11,892 11,107 11,802
------------ ------------ -------------
Earnings from operations............ 10,509 7,142 7,652
------------ ------------ -------------
Other income (expense):
Interest expense................ (414) (658) (1,296)
Other income.................... 595 -- 60
------------ ------------ -------------
181 (658) (1,236)
------------ ------------ -------------
Earnings before income taxes........ 10,690 6,484 6,416
Provision for income taxes
(Note 13).......................... 4,276 2,601 884
------------ ------------ -------------
Net earnings.................... $ 6,414 $ 3,883 $ 5,532
============ ============ =============
Basic earnings per share (Note 10).. $ 0.78 $ 0.48
============ ============
Basic weighted average shares
outstanding (Note 10)............. 8,227 8,144
============ ============
Diluted earnings per share
(Note 10)........................... $ 0.77 $ 0.47
============ ============
Diluted weighted average shares
outstanding (Note 10).............. 8,375 8,300
============ ============
Pro forma data (Note 1):
Historical earnings before
income taxes................... $ 6,416
Pro forma provision for income
taxes (Note 13)................ 2,566
-------------
Net earnings ............... $ 3,850
=============
Pro forma basic net earnings
per share (Note 10)................ $ 0.66
=============
Basic weighted average shares
outstanding (Note 10).............. 5,823
=============
Pro forma diluted earnings per
share (Note 10).................... $ 0.64
=============
Diluted weighted average shares
outstanding (Note 10).............. 6,054
=============
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
-28-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Note
Receivable
From Sale
Common Stock of Common
----------------- Paid-in Retained Stock Treasury
Shares Amount Capital Earnings Stock Total
------ -------- -------- -------- --------- -------- --------
Balance at January 1, 1995 5,653 $ 6 $ 1,449 $ 2,662 $ (608) $ -- $ 3,509
Collection of note receivable -- -- -- -- 608 -- 608
S Corporation net earnings -- -- -- 5,346 -- -- 5,346
Distributions to stockholders -- -- -- (7,896) -- -- (7,896)
Issuance and simultaneous
purchase and retirement of treasury
stock pursuant to acquisition (Note 11) 66 -- (347) -- -- -- (347)
Reclassification of S Corporation
retained earnings -- -- 112 (112) -- -- --
Proceeds from sale of stock 2,200 2 19,285 -- -- -- 19,287
Costs of initial public offering -- -- (953) -- -- -- (953)
C Corporation net earnings -- -- -- 186 -- -- 186
------ -------- -------- -------- --------- -------- --------
Balance at December 31, 1995 7,919 8 19,546 186 -- -- 19,740
Proceeds from sale of stock 182 -- 1,606 -- -- 1,606
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 84 -- 261 -- -- -- 261
Issuance of common stock in
exchange for investment 8 -- 86 -- -- -- 86
Net earnings -- -- -- 3,883 -- -- 3,883
------ -------- -------- -------- --------- -------- --------
Balance at December 31, 1996 8,193 8 21,499 4,069 -- -- 25,576
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 80 -- 303 -- -- -- 303
Acquisition of treasury stock -- -- -- -- -- (498) (498)
Net earnings - -- -- 6,414 -- -- 6,414
------ -------- -------- -------- --------- -------- --------
Balance at December 31, 1997 8,273 $ 8 $ 21,802 $ 10,483 $ -- $ (498) $ 31,795
===== ======== ======== ======== ========= ======== ========
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
-29-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
-------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995
---------- --------- ----------
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net earnings.................................................... $ 6,414 $ 3,883 $ 5,532
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash
provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization............................... 1,130 1,099 431
Provision for doubtful accounts............................. 327 135 58
Deferred income taxes....................................... (518) (469) 345
Non cash compensation expense............................... - - 304
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable....................................... (4,470) 33 (4,727)
Inventories............................................... (1,847) (2,638) (5,129)
Other current assets...................................... 85 503 (384)
Other assets.............................................. (10) (184) (7)
Income taxes.............................................. (452) 97 526
Accounts payable and accrued expenses..................... 1,631 (2,993) 3,546
--------- ---------- ----------
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities...... 2,290 (534) 495
Cash Flows From Investing Activities: --------- ---------- ----------
Capital expenditures............................................ (1,424) (1,471) (5,502)
Acquisitions of licenses........................................ (163) (492) (600)
--------- ---------- ----------
Net cash used in investing activities.................... (1,587) (1,963) (6,102)
--------- ---------- ----------
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Net borrowings (repayments) under revolving line of credit...... (1,176) (1,533) (532)
Borrowings from stockholders.................................... - - 1,591
Repayments of borrowings from stockholders...................... (313) - -
Proceeds from long-term debt.................................... 683 3,422 5,000
Repayments of long-term debt.................................... (487) (396) (9,642)
Proceeds from sale of common stock.............................. - 1,606 18,334
Proceeds from exercise of stock options......................... 303 261 -
Purchase and retirement of treasury stock....................... - - (347)
Acquisition of treasury stock................................... (498) - -
Collection of note receivable from sale of common stock......... - - 304
Distributions paid to stockholders.............................. - - (9,126)
--------- ---------- ----------
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities...... (1,488) 3,360 5,582
--------- ---------- ----------
Net (Decrease) Increase In Cash................................... (785) 863 (25)
Cash, beginning of period......................................... 1,340 477 502
--------- ---------- ----------
Cash, end of period............................................... $ 555 $ 1,340 $ 477
========= ========== ==========
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid for interest.......................................... $ 397 $ 650 $ 1,329
Cash paid for income taxes...................................... 5,251 2,681 29
========= ========== ==========
Non-cash transactions:
Issuance of common stock in exchange for investment............. $ - $ 86 $ -
========= ======== ==========
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
-30-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a) Company and Basis of Presentation
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. (the "Company") is a manufacturer of
television and satellite signal distribution equipment supplied to the private
cable television and broadcast industries. The consolidated financial statements
include the accounts of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and subsidiaries as
discussed below. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been
eliminated in consolidation.
(b) Reorganization and Recapitalization
On October 3, 1995, the Board of Directors and stockholders approved
the following actions in connection with the Company's initial public offering,
which actions were implemented on December 11, 1995:
Authorized capital consisting of 25 million shares of $.001 par value
common stock and 5 million shares of $.001 par value preferred stock.
The preferred stock may be issued in one or more series with such
rights, preferences and limitations as the Board of Directors of the
Company may determine.
Declared a 2,011 for 1 stock split for the common stock. The
consolidated financial statements reflect the impact of the stock split
for all periods presented.
On December 11, 1995, the Company acquired Blonder Tongue
International, Inc. ("BTI"). BTI was an S Corporation formed in 1994 by the
stockholders of the Company. The acquisition was consummated by contribution of
BTI's shares to the Company. The acquisition was accounted for at historical
cost similar to a pooling of interests, due to the common control exercised over
the entities by related parties. As a result of the acquisition of BTI, the S
Corporation elections for both BTI and the Company automatically terminated on
December 11, 1995. See Note 13.
In September 1996, BTI closed its sales office located in Barcelona,
Spain. The closure did not have a material impact on the Company's operating
results.
(c) Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined by the
first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method, or market.
(d) Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. The Company provides
for depreciation generally on the straight-line method based upon estimated
useful lives of 3 to 5 years for office equipment, 5 to 7 years for furniture
and fixtures, 6 to 10 years for machinery and equipment, 10 to 15 years for
building improvements and 40 years for the manufacturing and administrative
office facility.
(e) Income Taxes
Prior to December 11, 1995, the Company was treated as an S Corporation
under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Under these provisions, all
earnings and losses of the Company were reported on the federal income tax
returns of the stockholders. Accordingly, no provisions had been made for
federal income taxes. In January, 1994, the Company elected to be taxed as a
small business corporation in the state of New Jersey. The 1995 consolidated
financial statements reflect a state income tax provision only.
-31-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
The Company accounts for income taxes under the provisions of Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes."
Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences in the recognition
of certain income and expenses for financial and tax reporting purposes.
Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax
assets to the amount expected to be realized.
(f) Intangible Assets
Intangible assets totaling $1,617 and $1,706 as of December 31, 1997
and 1996, respectively, consist of goodwill, prepaid licensing fees, and
acquired patent rights, and are carried at cost less accumulated amortization.
Amortization is computed utilizing the straight-line method over the estimated
useful life of the respective asset, 3 to 15 years. Amortization expense was
$206, $303 and $52 for 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
(g) Long-Lived Assets
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121, "Accounting for
the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of"
("SFAS 121"), was adopted as of January 1, 1996. SFAS 121 standardized the
accounting practices for the recognition and measurement of impairment losses on
certain long-lived assets based on non-discounted cash flows. The adoption of
SFAS 121 was not material to the results of operations or financial position.
(h) Statements of Cash Flows
For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company
considers all highly liquid debt instruments with a maturity of less than three
months at purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company did not have any cash
equivalents at December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995.
(i) Research and Development
Research and development expenditures for the Company's projects are
expensed as incurred.
(j) Revenue Recognition
The Company records revenues when products are shipped. Customers do
not have a right to return products shipped.
(k) Earnings Per Share
During 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings per Share" ("SFAS 128"),
which provides for the calculation of "basic" and "diluted" earnings per share.
This Statement, effective for financial statements issued for periods ending
after December 15, 1997, requires restatement of all prior-period earnings per
share data presented. Basic earnings per share includes no dilution and is
computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of common
shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect, in
periods in which they have a dilutive effect, the effect of common shares
issuable upon exercise of stock options. All periods presented have been
restated to comply with the provisions of SFAS 128.
-32-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(l) Treasury Stock
Treasury Stock is recorded at cost. Gains and losses on disposition are
recorded as increases or decreases to additional paid-in capital with losses in
excess of previously recorded gains charged directly to retained earnings.
(m) Pro Forma Presentations
The pro forma income tax provision has been calculated as if the
Company were taxable as a C Corporation under the Internal Revenue Code for all
periods presented.
(n) Significant Risks and Uncertainties
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.
Approximately 68% of the Company's employees are covered by a three
year collective bargaining agreement, which expires in February, 1999.
The Company estimates that Headend products accounted for approximately
80% of the Company's revenues in 1997, 84% in 1996 and 90% in 1995. Any
substantial decrease in sales of Headend products could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's results of operations and financial condition.
The Company purchases several products from sole suppliers for which
alternative sources are not available, such as the VideoCipher(R) and
DigiCipher(R) encryption systems manufactured by General Instrument Corporation,
which are standard encryption methodology employed on U.S. C-Band and Ku-Band
transponders and EchoStar digital satellite receiver decoders, which are
specifically designed to work with the DISH Network(TM). An inability to timely
obtain sufficient quantities of these components could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's operating results. The Company does not have a supply
agreement with General Instrument Corporation or any other supplier. The Company
submits purchase orders to its suppliers on an as- needed basis.
(o) New Accounting Pronouncements
In June 1997, SFAS 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income," and SFAS 131,
"Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information," were
issued. SFAS 130 addresses standards for reporting and display of comprehensive
income and its components and SFAS 131 requires disclosure of reportable
operating segments. In February 1998, SFAS 132, "Employer's Disclosures About
Pensions and Other Postretirement Plans" was issued. SFAS 132 standardizes
pension disclosures. These statements are effective in 1998. The Company will be
reviewing these pronouncements to determine their applicability to the Company,
if any.
-33-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Note 2 - Inventories
Inventories are summarized as follows:
December 31,
---------------------------------
1997 1996
------------ -----------
Raw materials....................... $ 8,740 $ 7,746
Work in process..................... 2,907 2,451
Finished goods...................... 6,228 5,831
------------ -----------
$17,875 $16,028
============ ===========
Note 3 - Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are summarized as follows:
December 31,
----------------------------
1997 1996
----------- ----------
Land............................................... $ 1,000 $ 1,000
Building........................................... 3,361 3,361
Machinery and equipment............................ 4,623 3,457
Furniture and fixtures............................. 391 292
Office equipment................................... 729 596
Building improvements.............................. 415 389
----------- ----------
10,519 9,095
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization... (2,798) (1,934)
----------- ----------
$ 7,721 $ 7,161
=========== ==========
Note 4 - Debt
In October, 1997, the Company executed a new $15 million revolving line
of credit with its bank, on which funds may be borrowed at the bank's overnight
base rate ("OBR") plus a margin ranging from .95% to 2.45%, depending upon the
calculation of certain financial covenants (7.7% at December 31, 1998). As of
December 31, 1997, the Company had no balance outstanding under the line of
credit. The line of credit is collateralized by a security interest in all of
the Company's assets. The agreement contains restrictions that require the
Company to maintain certain financial ratios as well as restrictions on the
payment of dividends. In addition, the Company has an acquisition loan
commitment which may be drawn upon by the Company to finance acquisitions in
accordance with certain terms. The acquisition loan commitment had been $15
million until March, 1998 when it was increased to $20 million to accommodate
the acquisition of Scientific's Interdiction Business (See Note 16). Funds may
be borrowed under the acquisition loan commitment at OBR plus a margin ranging
from 1.25% to 2.75%, depending upon the calculation of certain financial
covenants. At December 31, 1997, there was no balance outstanding under the
acquisition loan commitment and as of March 26, 1998, there was $19 million
outstanding under the acquisition loan commitment. The line of credit and the
acquisition loan commitment expire on June 30, 1999.
The average amount outstanding on the line of credit during 1997 was
$859 at a weighted average interest rate of 8.20%. The maximum outstanding under
this facility was $1,255 in 1997.
-34-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
On May 24, 1996, the Company borrowed $2.8 million for a ten year term
secured by a mortgage against the Company's Old Bridge Facility. The loan bears
interest at the fixed rate of 7.25% through May 1999 and may be negotiated to
another fixed rate or remain variable for the remaining seven years of the loan.
Long-term debt consists of the following:
December 31,
-------------------
1997 1996
--------- --------
Term loan with a bank bearing interest at prime
rate less 2%, payable in quarterly installments
through June, 1998...................................... $ 143 $ 285
Term loan with a bank bearing interest at 7.25%,
payable in monthly installments......................... 2,505 2,691
Term loans with stockholders bearing interest
at prime, due December 19, 1998(a)...................... 1,278 1,591
Capital leases (Note 5)................................. 1,128 604
----------- --------
5,054 5,171
Less: Current portion.................................. (1,866) (445)
---------- --------
$ 3,188 $ 4,726
========== ========
(a) $1,591 of the S Corporation distributions made after September 30, 1995 was
lent back to the Company by the principal stockholders on an unsecured basis for
a term of three years at an interest rate equal to the rate on the Company's
line of credit. These loan agreements with the stockholders provide for payments
of accrued interest on a monthly basis with the principal balance due in
December, 1998. In 1997, the Company made prepayments of $313 on these notes. In
January, 1998, the Company prepaid the balance due plus accrued interest in full
satisfaction of these notes.
The fair value of the debt approximates the recorded value based on the
borrowing rates currently available for loans with similar terms and maturities.
Annual maturities of long-term debt at December 31, 1997 are:
1998............$ 1,866
1999................443
2000................463
2001................435
2002................289
Thereafter....... 1,558
-----
$ 5,054
=====
Note 5 - Commitments and Contingencies
Leases
The Company leases certain factory and automotive equipment under
noncancellable operating leases expiring at various dates through October 2001.
The Company also leased its facility and was generally obligated under the
facility leases to pay additional amounts based on real estate taxes, utilities,
insurance and common area maintenance charges. The Company leased its primary
manufacturing and administrative office facility from a partnership whose only
operations consisted of leasing this facility to the Company. The Company had a
49%
-35-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
interest in the partnership and the remaining 51% interest in the partnership
was held by an unrelated third party. The Company accounted for its interest in
the partnership using the equity method. Lease payments to this partnership were
approximately $605 in 1995.
In 1995, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase the remaining 51%
interest of the partnership and thereby acquired the manufacturing and
administrative office facility for $633 in cash plus the payment of two
mortgages in the amount of $3,728. The Company made these payments from the
proceeds of its initial public offering and accounted for the purchase of the
partnership interest as an acquisition of the building since it owns the
building outright upon purchase of the remaining partnership interest.
Future minimum rental payments, required for all noncancellable leases
are as follows:
Capital Operating
1998............................................. $ 327 $ 177
1999............................................. 319 118
2000............................................. 318 39
2001............................................. 267 13
2002............................................. 106 --
------- --------
Total future minimum lease payments.............. 1,337 $ 347
======
Less: amounts representing interest............. (209)
--------
Present value of minimum lease payments.......... $ 1,128
=======
Property, plant and equipment included capitalized leases of $1,331,
less accumulated amortization of $183, at December 31, 1997, and $648, less
accumulated amortization of $32, at December 31, 1996.
Rent expense, net of sublease income was $31, $77 and $709 for the
years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 respectively. Rent expense was $43,
$79 and $725 for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
Litigation
On October 18, 1996, the Company was served with a complaint in a
lawsuit filed by Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. ("Scientific") in the United States
District Court for the Northern District of Georgia alleging patent infringement
by the Company's VideoMask(TM) interdiction product. The complaint requested an
unspecified amount of damages and injunctive relief.
Following the Company's acquisition of the assets and technology rights
of Scientific's interdiction business, Scientific's lawsuit against the Company
was dismissed with prejudice (See Note 16).
Note 6 - Benefit Plans
Defined Contribution Plan
The Company has a defined contribution plan covering all full time
non-union employees qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code,
in which the Company matches a portion of an employee's salary deferral. The
Company's contributions to this plan were $59, $54 and $46 for the years ended
December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
-36-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Defined Benefit Pension Plan
Substantially all union employees who meet certain requirements of age,
length of service and hours worked per year are covered by a Company sponsored
non-contributory defined benefit pension plan. Benefits paid to retirees are
based upon age at retirement and years of credited service. Net pension expense
for this plan includes the following components:
December 31,
----------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995
--------- ---------- --------
Service cost..................... $ 81 $78 $54
Interest cost.................... 56 49 42
Actual return on plan assets..... (90) (63) (78)
Net amortization and deferral.... 42 29 51
--------- ---------- --------
Net pension expense.............. $ 89 $93 $69
========= ========== ========
The funded status of the plan and the amounts recorded in the Company's
consolidated balance sheets are as follows:
December 31,
-----------------------
1997 1996
-------- --------
Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:
Vested benefit obligation.......................... $ 543 $553
======== ========
Accumulated benefit obligation..................... $ 679 $644
======== ========
Projected benefit obligation.......................... 757 716
Plan assets at fair value............................. 762 681
-------- --------
Projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets. (5) (35)
Unrecognized net gain................................. 195 201
Unrecognized net transition liability................. (89) (99)
-------- --------
Prepaid pension costs................................. $ 101 $67
======== ========
Key economic assumptions used in these determinations
were:
December 31,
---------------------
1997 1996
-------- ------
Discount rate......................................... 7.5% 7.5%
Expected long-term rate of return..................... 7.0% 7.0%
Note 7 - Related Party Transactions
On July 22, 1993, the Company issued a $912 note to a stockholder, who
is also the Company's President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the
Board, pertaining to the purchase of 2,040 shares of common stock. Principal
payments on this note are due annually through July, 1996 with interest at
3.62%. Upon completion of the offering, the final payment of this note was
prepaid.
In addition, the Company had a special bonus agreement whereby the
stockholder was paid net after-tax bonuses of $291, $281 and $272 over a three
year period due annually, through July, 1996.
On January 1, 1995, the Company entered into a consulting and
non-competition agreement for a period of five years with a director, who is
also the largest stockholder. During this period, the director will provide
consulting services on various operational and financial issues and is currently
paid at an annual rate of $130 but in no event is such amount permitted to
exceed $150. The director also agreed to keep all Company
-37-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
information confidential and will not compete directly or indirectly with the
Company for the term of the agreement and for a period of two years thereafter.
Note 8 - Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to
significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash deposits
and trade accounts receivable.
The Company maintains cash balances at several banks located in the
northeastern United States. As part of its cash management process, the Company
periodically reviews the relative credit standing of these banks.
Credit risk with respect to trade accounts receivable is concentrated
with ten of the Company's customers. These customers accounted for approximately
64% and 61% of the Company's outstanding trade accounts receivable at December
31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. These customers are distributors of
telecommunications and private cable television components, and providers of
private cable television service. The Company performs ongoing credit
evaluations of its customers' financial condition, uses credit insurance and
requires collateral, such as letters of credit, to mitigate its credit risk. The
deterioration of the financial condition of one or more of its major customers
could adversely impact the Company's operations.
For the year ended December 31, 1997, the Company's largest customer
accounted for approximately 16% of the Company's sales. At December 31, 1997,
this customer accounted for approximately 16% of the Company's outstanding trade
accounts receivable. Management believes these amounts to be collectible. A
different customer accounted for approximately 17% of the Company's sales in
1996 while a third customer accounted for approximately 18% of the Company's
sales in 1995.
Note 9 - Stockholders' Equity
In December, 1995, the Company sold 2,200 shares of Common Stock at a
price of $9.50 per share in a public offering which generated net proceeds of
approximately $18,334. The proceeds were used to repay outstanding bank debt,
purchase the Company's manufacturing facility, make certain S Corporation
distributions and for working capital.
In January, 1996, an additional 182 shares of Common Stock were sold at
a price of $9.50 per share pursuant to the exercise of the underwriters'
over-allotment option which generated net proceeds of approximately $1,606.
Stock Repurchase Program
On April 1, 1997, the Company announced that its Board of Directors
authorized management to purchase up to 100 shares of its common stock.
Purchases will be made from time to time in the open market, and it is expected
that the funding of this program will come from operating cash flow and existing
bank facilities. As of December 31, 1997, the Company had repurchased 40 shares
under this new program.
Note 10 - Earnings Per Share
Basic and diluted earnings per share for each of the three years ended
December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 are calculated as follows:
-38-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Net Income Shares Per Share
(Numerator) (Denominator) Amount
-----------------------------------------
For the year ended December 31, 1997:
Basic earnings per share $ 6,414 8,227 $ 0.78
Effect of assumed conversion of
employee stock options - 148
---------------------
Diluted earnings per share $ 6,414 8,375 $ 0.77
======================================
For the year ended December 31, 1996:
Basic earnings per share $ 3,883 8,144 $ 0.48
Effect of assumed conversion of
employee stock options - 156
---------------------
Diluted earnings per share $ 3,883 8,300 $ 0.47
=======================================
For the year ended December 31, 1995
(pro forma):
Basic earnings per share $ 3,850 5,823 $ 0.66
Effect of assumed conversion of
employee stock options - 231
---------------------
Diluted earnings per share $ 3,850 6,054 $ 0.64
=======================================
Note 11 - Acquisition
In 1993, the Company acquired the assets of MAR Associates, a company
engaged in research, development, manufacturing, and sales of electronic
components used in low power television transmission and microwave- link signal
transmission. The purchase price of $360 was paid in cash and the assumption of
certain liabilities. Additionally, the Company agreed to grant the former owners
options to purchase 132 shares of the Company's stock, for a nominal amount,
contingent upon the acquired company's meeting certain performance targets. In
October, 1994, the acquired company met the performance requirements, and the
Company granted the stock options and recorded goodwill of $342 as additional
consideration. The options were valued at the estimated fair market value at
date of grant. In March 1995, the former owners notified the Company of their
intention to exercise the options by tendering the cash required under the
purchase agreement. However, the former stockholders did not execute the
stockholders agreement required by the purchase agreement until October 10,
1995. Upon execution of the agreement, the Company issued 132 shares of common
stock and simultaneously therewith repurchased and retired 66 shares of the
common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $347 ($5.31 per share).
-39-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Note 12 - Stock Option Plans
In 1994, the Company established the 1994 Incentive Stock Option Plan
(the "1994 Plan"). The 1994 Plan provides for the granting of Incentive Stock
Options to purchase shares of the Company's common stock to officers and key
employees at a price not less than the fair market value at the date of grant as
determined by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors. The maximum
number of shares available for issuance under the plan was 298. Options become
exercisable as determined by the compensation committee of the Board of
Directors at the date of grant. Options expire ten years from the date of grant.
Also, in 1994, the Company granted non-qualified options for 6 shares
to an employee of BTI. These options expired during 1996 as a result of the
termination of the employee.
In October, 1995, the Company's Board of Directors and stockholders
approved the 1995 Long Term Incentive Plan (the "1995 Plan"). The 1995 Plan
provides for grants of "incentive stock options" or nonqualified stock options,
and awards of restricted stock, to executives and key employees, including
officers and employee Directors. The 1995 Plan is administered by the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, which determines the optionees
and the terms of the options granted under the 1995 Plan, including the exercise
price, number of shares subject to the option and the exercisability thereof, as
well as the recipients and number of shares awarded for restricted stock awards;
provided, however, that no employee may receive stock options or restricted
stock awards which would result, separately or in combination, in the
acquisition of more than 100 shares of Common Stock of the Company under the
1995 Plan. The exercise price of incentive stock options granted under the 1995
Plan must be equal to at least the fair market value of the Common Stock on the
date of grant. With respect to any optionee who owns stock representing more
than 10% of the voting power of all classes of the Company's outstanding capital
stock, the exercise price of any incentive stock option must be equal to at
least 110% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant,
and the term of the option may not exceed five years. The term of all other
incentive stock options granted under the 1995 Plan may not exceed ten years.
The aggregate fair market value of Common Stock (determined as of the date of
the option grant) for which an incentive stock option may for the first time
become exercisable in any calendar year may not exceed $100. The exercise price
for nonqualified stock options is established by the Compensation Committee, and
may be more or less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date
of grant.
Generally, options granted under the 1995 Plan are exercisable over the
term of the option, as provided by the Compensation Committee. Upon any merger
or consolidation, if the Company is not the surviving corporation, all
outstanding options granted shall terminate unless such options are assumed or
other options are substituted therefor by the successor corporation, or the
vesting of such shares is accelerated by the Compensation Committee.
Under the 1995 Plan awards may be made to key executive employees of
restricted stock which is forfeitable unless the employee remains in the employ
of the Company for five years and does not violate other terms of the award,
such as non-transferability. Exceptions to forfeiture are provided for the cases
of retirement at age 65 or death while in employment. No restricted shares have
been awarded under the 1995 Plan.
Stockholders have previously approved a total of 500 shares of common
stock for issuance under the 1995 Plan, as amended to date. In September, 1997,
the Board of Directors approved an increase in the number of shares available
for issuance under the 1995 Plan from 500 to 750, subject to stockholder
approval at the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
In December, 1995, the stockholders of the Company approved the
adoption of the Company's 1996 Director Option Plan (the "1996 Plan"). Under the
1996 Plan, Directors who within the preceding 12 months have not been employed
by the Company and have not served as a consultant to the Company where annual
-40-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
compensation exceeds $100, are eligible to receive options to purchase 0.5
shares of the Company's Common Stock for each year of service on the Board. The
exercise price for such shares is the fair market value thereof on the date of
grant (which is December 31 of each year) and the options are subject to a
one-year vesting requirement. The options become exercisable, in whole or in
part, during the second through sixth years from the date of grant. Under the
1996 Plan the grant of options is automatic to each eligible Director serving on
December 31 of any year provided the Director had served in such capacity since
June 30 of such year. A maximum of 25 shares may be awarded under the 1996 Plan
which expires January 2, 2006. The plan is administered by a committee presently
comprised of James A. Luksch and Robert J. Palle, Jr.
During October, 1997, subject to stockholder approval, the Board of
Directors amended the 1996 Plan to provide that it would be administered by the
Board of Directors rather than the 1996 Plan Committee, and that rather than
providing for annual automatic grants of options for a specified number of
shares to all non-employee Directors, the Board would have the power to grant
options to non-employee Directors at its discretion from time to time to
purchase the number of shares of Common Stock determined by the Board; provided,
however, that no Director would be permitted to receive options to purchase more
than 2 shares of Common Stock in any one calendar year.
During December, 1997, the Board of Directors adopted the Amended and
Restated 1996 Director Option Plan (the "Amended 1996 Plan") subject to
stockholder approval. The Amended 1996 Plan incorporates the amendments to the
1996 Plan the Board had approved in October, 1997, as well as certain additional
amendments, and restates the 1996 Plan as amended. Under the Amended 1996 Plan,
Directors who are not currently employed by the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company and have not been so employed within the preceding six months are
eligible to receive options from time to time to purchase the number of shares
of Common Stock determined by the Board; provided, however, that no Director is
permitted to receive options to purchase more than 5 shares of Common Stock in
any one calendar year. The exercise price for such shares is the fair market
value thereof on the date of grant, and the options vest as determined in each
case by the Board of Directors. Options granted under the Amended 1996 Plan must
be exercised within 10 years from the date of grant. A maximum of 100 shares of
Common Stock are subject to issuance under the Amended 1996 Plan. The plan will
be administered by the Board of Directors. Also subject to stockholder approval
and in keeping with the terms of the Amended 1996 Plan, in 1997 no Director
received the grant of an option to purchase 0.5 shares of Common Stock at year
end provided for in the original 1996 Plan.
In 1996, the Board of Directors granted a non-plan, non-qualified
option for 10 shares to an individual, who was not an employee or director of
the Company at the time of the grant. The option is exercisable at $10.25 and
expires in 2006.
-41-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Weighted- Weighted- Weighted-
Average Average Average
1994 Exercise 1995 Exercise 1996 Exercise
Plan (#) Price ($) Plan (#) Price ($) Plan (#) Price ($)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares under option:
Outstanding at
January 1, 1995 170,607 2.57 -- -- -- --
Granted 98,169 4.33 -- -- -- --
Exercised -- -- -- -- -- --
Canceled -- -- -- -- -- --
Outstanding at
December 31, 1995 268,776 3.21 -- -- -- --
Granted 34,000 10.38 226,500 9.72 1,500 8.50
Exercised (84,156) 3.10 -- -- -- --
Canceled (6,033) 4.33 (1,500) 9.63 -- --
Outstanding at
December 31, 1996 212,587 4.36 225,000 9.72 1,500 8.50
Granted -- -- 253,500(a) 9.27 -(b) --
Exercised (66,915) 2.77 (12,334) 9.63 -- --
Canceled (5,228) 4.33 (28,000) 9.31 -- --
Outstanding at
December 31, 1997 140,444 5.13 438,166 9.49 1,500 8.50
Options exercisable at
December 31, 1997 86,810 4.04 67,520 10.08 1,500 8.50
Weighted-average fair
value of options granted
during 1995 $ 1.37 -- --
Weighted-average fair
value of options granted
during 1996 $ 6.36 $ 6.27 $ 5.53
Weighted-average fair
value of options granted -- $ 5.81 --
during 1997
- ------------
(a) Does not include options to purchase an aggregate of 30,000 shares of
common stock which were conditionally granted by the Compensation Committee
of the Board of Directors, subject to stockholder approval of an increase
in the number of shares of common stock subject to issuance under the 1995
Plan.
(b) Does not include options to purchase an aggregate of 4,000 shares of common
stock which were conditionally granted by the Board of Directors, subject
to stockholder approval of the Amended 1996 Plan.
-42-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
The following table summarizes information about stock options
(excluding conditionally granted stock options subject to stockholder approval)
outstanding at December 31, 1997:
Options Outstanding Options Exercisable
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Weighted-
Options Average Weighted- Number
Range of Exercise Outstanding at Remaining Average Exercise Exercisable at Weighted-Average
Prices ($) 12/31/97 Contractual Life Price ($) 12/31/97 Exercise Price ($)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994 Plan:
2.57 52,808 6.6 years 2.57 52,808 2.57
4.33 53,636 7.3 4.33 22,668 4.33
9.38 to 10.59 34,000 4.5 10.38 11,334 10.38
------ ------
2.57 to 10.59 140,444 6.3 5.13 86,810 4.04
======= ======
1995 Plan:
8.63 to 9.63 377,666 9.1 9.09 52,836 9.63
10.59 20,500 3.6 10.59 6,834 10.59
12.69 40,000 9.7 12.69 7,850 12.69
------ -----
8.63 to 12.69 438,166 8.9 9.49 67,520 10.08
======= ======
1996 Plan:
8.50 1,500 5.0 8.50 1,500 8.50
===== =====
The Corporation has adopted the disclosures only provisions of SFAS
123. Accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized for the stock option
plans. Had compensation cost been recognized for the stock option plans been
determined based on the fair value at the date of grant consistent with the
provisions of SFAS No. 123, the Corporation's net earnings and net earnings per
share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below:
December 31,
------------
1997 1996 1995(a)
------ ------ -------
Net earnings - as reported $6,414 $3,883 $3,850
Net earnings - pro forma 5,957 3,686 3,827
Basic earnings per share - as reported 0.78 0.48 0.66
Basic earnings per share - pro forma 0.72 0.45 0.66
Diluted earnings per share - as reported 0.77 0.47 0.64
Diluted earnings per share - pro forma 0.71 0.44 0.63
(a) 1995 net earnings are presented on a pro forma basis (See Note 1).
The fair market 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 used for grants:
1997 1996 1995
---- ---- ----
Expected volatility 60% 65% 65%
Risk-free interest rate 6.0% 6.45% 6.45%
Expected lives 6 6 6
Dividend yield none none none
-43-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Note 13 - Income Taxes
Prior to December 11, 1995, with the consent of its stockholders, the
Company elected to be treated as an S Corporation under the provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code. Under these provisions, all earnings and losses of the
Company were reported on the federal income tax returns of the stockholders.
Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes had been made. In January
1994, the Company elected to be taxed as a small business corporation in the
State of New Jersey. The consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1995 reflect state income tax provisions only.
The provision for income taxes for the period January 1 through
December 10, 1995 was $177 as the Company was still treated as an S Corporation.
On December 11, 1995, the Company's S election was terminated and, accordingly,
the Company was subject to federal income taxes. Upon termination of the S
election, the Company recorded a $587 charge related to net deferred tax
liabilities. The pro forma income taxes represent the taxes that would have been
reported as Federal, State and local income taxes had the Company accounted for
its income taxes under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109 as a
C Corporation. The effective rate utilized for all periods presented was 40%.
The following summarizes the provision for income taxes:
Year Ended December 31,
------------------------------------------------
(pro forma)
1997 1996 1995 1995
---------- ---------- ------- -------------
Current:
Federal................... $3,707 $2,372 $279 $2,082
State and local........... 1,087 698 260 613
---------- ---------- ------- -------------
4,794 3,070 539 2,695
Deferred:
Federal................... (399) (361) 179 (99)
State and local........... (119) (108) 166 (30)
---------- ---------- ------- -------------
(518) (469) 345 (129)
---------- ---------- ------- -------------
Provision for income taxes... $4,276 $2,601 $884 $2,566
========== ========== ======= =============
The provision for income taxes on adjusted historical income differs
from the amounts computed by applying the applicable Federal statutory rates due
to the following:
Year Ended December 31,
-------------------------------------------------
(pro forma)
1997 1996 1995 1995
---------- ---------- ------- -------------
Provision for Federal income taxes at the statutory rate....... $3,630 $2,205 $2,181 $2,181
State and local income taxes, net of Federal benefit........... 641 391 191 385
S Corporation earnings not subject to Federal income taxes..... - - (2,075) -
Recording of net deferred taxes for conversion to C -
Corporation.................................................... - - 587 -
Research and development credits............................... (28) (28) (2) (26)
Other, net..................................................... 33 33 2 26
---------- ---------- ------- --------------
Provision for income taxes..................................... $4,276 $2,601 $ 884 $2,566
========== ========== ======= =============
-44-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Upon the completion of the offering, the Company declared a
distribution equal to the 1995 taxable S Corporation income which was paid from
the proceeds of the offering. At the date of the termination, the Company had
approximately $1,760 of previously untaxed income as a result of change in tax
accounting methods. The Company recorded a tax liability for the taxes due
(which is payable over 6 years) resulting from this change. The estimated tax
liability was approximately $704 (using an effective rate of 40%).
Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and
liabilities are as follows:
December 31,
--------------------------
1997 1996
-------- --------
Deferred tax assets:
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 243 $ 112
Inventory 658 384
Accrued Vacation 179 99
Other 123 125
-------- --------
Total deferred tax assets 1,203 720
-------- --------
Deferred tax liabilities:
Tax accounting method (165) (247)
Depreciation (396) (349)
-------- --------
Total deferred tax liabilities (561) (596)
-------- --------
$ 642 $ 124
======== ========
Note 14 - Export Sales
The Company exports its products to countries in North and South
America, Europe, and Asia. The Company's export sales were approximately 3% in
1997, 5% in 1996, and 9% in 1995. The Company's export sales were concentrated
to customers in North and South America for all periods presented.
Note 15 - Quarterly Financial Information - Unaudited
1997 Quarters 1996 Quarters
------------------- ----------------
First Second Third Fourth First Second Third Fourth
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales $14,041 $15,575 $16,965 $15,476 $11,572 $11,693 $13,154 $12,443
Gross profit 4,745 5,284 6,181 6,191 3,957 4,540 5,020 4,732
Net earnings 1,130 1,510 2,098 1,676 590 807 1,253 1,233
Basic earnings per share 0.14 0.18 0.26 0.20 0.07 0.10 0.16 0.15
Diluted earnings per share 0.14 0.18 0.25 0.20 0.07 0.10 0.15 0.15
Note 16 - Subsequent Event
On March 26, 1998, the Company acquired all of the assets and
technology rights of the interdiction business (the "Interdiction Business") of
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. ("Scientific") for a purchase price consisting of (i)
$19 million in cash, (ii) 67,889 shares of the Company's common stock, (iii) a
warrant to purchase 150,000 additional shares of the Company's common stock at
an exercise price of $14.25 per share and (iv) assumption by the Company of
certain obligations under executory contracts with vendors and customers and
certain warranty obligations and current liabilities of the Interdiction
Business. The Interdiction Business generated approximately $16 million in
revenues for the prior twelve month period. The Company believes that
Scientific's interdiction products, which have been engineered primarily to
serve the franchised cable market,
-45-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
will supplement the Company's VideoMask(TM) products, which are primarily
focused on the Private Cable market. In addition, the Company expects that the
technology acquired as part of the Interdiction Business will enhance its
ability to design products that meet the specific needs of all cable providers,
while improving its position in the franchised cable market. Scientific will
provide certain manufacturing, consulting and other transition services to the
Company pursuant to agreements executed by the parties during a limited period
following the acquisition in order to permit the Company to fulfill sales orders
of the Interdiction Business for the transition period following the closing.
In addition, under the terms of the purchase agreement with Scientific,
the Company is obligated to file a registration statement with the Securities
and Exchange Commission to register the shares of common stock issued to
Scientific and underlying the warrant held by Scientific as part of the purchase
price for the Interdiction Business within 90 days after the closing of the
acquisition.
-46-
Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc.:
The audits referred to in our report dated February 20, 1998 relating
to the consolidated financial statements of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc.
and subsidiaries, which is contained in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, included the
audit of the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index. This
financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company's management.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial statement schedule
based upon our audits.
In our opinion, such financial statement schedule presents fairly, in all
material respects, the information set forth therein.
BDO Seidman, LLP
Woodbridge, New Jersey
February 20, 1998
-47-
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE II. VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995
(Dollars in thousands)
Column A Column B Column C Column D Column E
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Additions
Balance at Charged Charged
Allowance for Doubtful Beginning to to Other Deductions Balance at
Accounts of Period Expenses Accounts Write-Offs End of Period
Year ended December 31, 1997: $280 $366 - ($39) $607
Year ended December 31, 1996: $205 $135 - ($60) $280
Year ended December 31, 1995: $147 $75 - ($17) $205
-48-
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.
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC.,
Date: March 30, 1998 By:/s/ James A. Luksch
-----------------------------
James A. Luksch
President and Chief Executive Officer
By:/s/ Peter Pugielli
-----------------------------
Peter Pugielli, Senior Vice President
- Finance Treasurer and Chief
Financial Officer
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
Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name Title Date
/s/ James A. Luksch Director, President and March 30, 1998
- ------------------------- Chief Executive Officer
James A. Luksch (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Peter Pugielli Senior Vice President, March 30, 1998
- ------------------------- Chief Financial Officer,
Peter Pugielli Treasurer and Assistant
Secretary (Principal
Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting
Officer)
/s/ Robert J. Palle, Jr. Director, Executive Vice March 30, 1998
- ------------------------- President, Chief Operating
Robert J. Palle, Jr. Officer and Secretary
/s/ John E. Dwight Senior Vice President March 30, 1998
- -------------------------
John E. Dwight
/s/ James H. Williams Director March 30, 1998
- -------------------------
James H. Williams
/s/ James F. Williams Director March 30, 1998
- -------------------------
James F. Williams
/s/ Robert B. Mayer Director March 30, 1998
- -------------------------
Robert B. Mayer
/s/ Gary P. Scharmett Director March 30, 1998
- -------------------------
Gary P. Scharmett
/s/ Robert E. Heaton Director March 30, 1998
- -------------------------
Robert E. Heaton
-49-