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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

 

[ X]

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

 

 

For the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2003

 

 

[  ]

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

 

Commission file number 0-21220

ALAMO GROUP INC.

(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

 

DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

74-1621248
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

 

1502 East Walnut, Seguin, Texas 78155

(Address of principal executive offices)

830-379-1480
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

 

TITLE OF EACH CLASS
Common Stock, par value
$.10 per share

NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE
ON WHICH REGISTERED
New York 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 requirement for the past 90 days.   Yes [ X ]  No [  ]

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

        Indicate by check mark if whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12 b-2)
Yes [X]  No

        The aggregate market value of the voting stock (which consists solely of shares of Common Stock) held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 30, 2003 (based upon the last reported sale price of $12.22 per share) was approximately $ 75,516,288 on such date.

        The number of shares of the issuer's Common Stock, par value $.10 per share, outstanding as of February 27, 2004 was 9,727,059 shares.

        Documents incorporated by reference:  Portions of the Registrant's Proxy Statement relating to the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 5, 2004, have been incorporated by reference herein (Part III).

 

 



 

ALAMO GROUP INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                                                                                                 

PART I

Page

Item 1.

Business

3

Item 2.

Properties

11

Item 3. 

Legal Proceedings

12

Item 4. 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

12

PART II

Item 5.

Market for Registrant's Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters

12

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

13

Item 7.

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

13

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks

21

Item 8.

Financial Statements

22

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

22

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

23

PART III

Item 10.

Directors and Executive Officers

23

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

23

Item 12.

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

23

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

23

Item 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

24

PART IV

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8K

23

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements                    

F1    

 

 

2



PART I

Item 1.  Business

General

      Alamo Group Inc., which includes its subsidiaries ("Alamo Group," or the "Company"), is a leading manufacturer of high quality equipment for right-of-way maintenance and agriculture.  Our products include tractor‑mounted mowing and other vegetation maintenance equipment, street sweepers, agricultural implements and related after market parts and services.  The Company believes it is one of a few vegetation maintenance equipment manufacturers offering a comprehensive product line that employs the three primary heavy‑duty cutting technologies: rotary, flail, and sickle‑bar as well as other cutting technologies. The Company emphasizes high quality, cost effective products for its customers and strives to develop and market innovative products while constantly monitoring and containing its manufacturing and overhead costs.  The Company has a long-standing strategy of supplementing its internal growth through acquisitions of businesses or product lines that currently command, or have the potential to achieve, a meaningful share of their niche markets.

      The predecessor corporation to the Company was incorporated in Texas in 1969 as successor to a business that began selling mowing equipment in 1955.  The Company was reincorporated in Delaware in 1987.  As used herein and otherwise required by the context, the terms "Alamo Group" and "the Company" shall mean Alamo Group Inc. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries.

      Since its founding in 1969, the Company has focused on satisfying customer needs through geographic market expansion, product development and refinement and selected acquisitions.  The Company's first products were based on the rotary cutting technology.  Through acquisitions the Company added flail cutting technology in 1983 and sickle-bar technology in 1984.  The Company added to its presence in the industrial and governmental markets with the acquisition of Tiger Corporation ("Tiger") in 1994.

      A thrust into agricultural mowing markets began in 1986 with the acquisition of Rhino Products Inc. ("Rhino"), a leading manufacturer in this field. With this acquisition the Company embarked on a strategy to increase the Rhino dealer network during a period of industry contraction. Strengthening our distribution network remains a primary focus of the Company's marketing plans for agricultural and industrial uses.  The addition of M&W Gear Company ("M&W") in early 1995 allowed the Company to enter into the manufacturing and distribution of hay-making equipment which complements the Rhino distribution system.  M&W has been integrated into the agricultural marketing group utilizing the same sales force to cross sell Rhino and M&W products.

      In 1991, the Company began its international expansion with the acquisition of McConnel Ltd. ("McConnel"), a United Kingdom ("U.K.") manufacturer of vegetation maintenance equipment, principally hydraulic boom-mounted hedge and grass cutters and related parts. Bomford-Turner Ltd. ("Bomford"), also a U.K. company, was acquired in 1993.  Bomford is a manufacturer of heavy-duty, tractor-mounted grass and hedge mowing equipment.

      In 1994, the Company acquired Signalisation Moderne Autoroutiere S.A. ("SMA") located in Orleans, France.  SMA manufacturers and sells principally a line of heavy-duty, tractor-mounted grass and hedge mowing equipment and associated replacement parts to departments of the French government.  This acquisition along with the acquisition of Forges Gorce in 1996, a flail blade manufacturer in France, when combined with McConnel and Bomford, has made the Company one of the largest manufacturers in the European market for the kind of equipment sold by the Company.

      In late 1995, the Company expanded its business in the agricultural market with the acquisition of Herschel Corporation ("Herschel"), a leading manufacturer and distributor of farm equipment replacement and wear parts.  In addition, the Company has concentrated on developing new products which meet the needs of its niche market customers and on adapting its existing products to serve other applications.

      On February 29, 2000, the Company acquired Schwarze Industries, Inc. ("Schwarze")Schwarze is a manufacturer of a broad range of street sweeping equipment which is sold to governmental agencies and contractors.  The Company believes the Schwarze sweeper products fit the Company's strategy of identifying product offerings with brand recognition in the industrial markets the Company serves.

 

3



      On September 8, 2000, the Company purchased the product line and associated assets of Twose of Tiverton LTD ("Twose") in the U.K. and incorporated its production into the existing facilities at McConnel and Bomford while maintaining its own sales force and dealer network.  Twose was a small regional manufacturer of power arm flail mowers and parts, as well as harrows and rollers, which solidified the Company's market leadership position in the U.K.

      On November 6, 2000, the Company acquired Schulte Industries, LTD. and its related entities ("Schulte")Schulte is a Canadian manufacturer of mechanical rotary mowers, snow blowers, and rock removal equipment. Schulte brought to the Company a stronger Canadian presence in both marketing and manufacturing.  It also expanded the Company's range of large heavy-duty rotary mowers.

      On August 14, 2001, the Company acquired all of the assets of SMC Corporation ("SMC").  SMC manufactures front-end loaders and backhoes principally for Original Equipment Manufacturers ("OEM") customers and its own SMC brand.  This acquisition expanded the product range of our agricultural division by branding a line of loaders for Rhino.

      On April 5, 2002, the Company purchased inventory, fixed assets and certain other assets of Valu-Bilt Tractor Parts ("Valu-Bilt") located in Des Moines, Iowa, a subsidiary of Quality Stores, Inc. which was in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.  Valu-Bilt is a distributor of new, used and rebuilt tractor parts and other agricultural spare and wear parts sold directly to customers through its catalog offering and on a wholesale basis to dealers.  Subsequent to the purchase, the operations of Valu-Bilt in Des Moines, Iowa, was consolidated into the Company's Herschel facility in Indianola, Iowa.

      On November 14, 2002, the Company purchased substantially all of the assets of Faucheux Industries SA, ("Faucheux") a leading French manufacturer of front-end loaders and attachments.  The Company acquired Faucheux out of administration, a form of bankruptcy in France similar to Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S.

       

Marketing and Marketing Strategy

      The Company's products are sold through the Company's various marketing organizations, and extensive, world-wide dealer networks under the Alamo Industrial®, Tiger™, Schwarze™, Rhino®, M&W®, Fuerst®, SMC™, Herschel™, Adams®, Valu-Bilt®, Schulte®, McConnel®, Bomford®, S.M.A.® , Forges Gorce™ Twose™, Faucheux™  and other trademarks and trade names.

      Alamo Industrial equipment is principally sold to governmental end-users, related independent contractors and, to a lesser extent, the agricultural and commercial turf markets.  Governmental agencies and contractors that perform services for such agencies purchase primarily hydraulically-powered, tractor-mounted mowers, including boom-mounted mowers, other types of cutters and replacement parts for heavy-duty, intensive use applications including the maintenance around highway, airport, recreational and other public areas. A portion of Alamo Industrial sales includes tractors, which are not manufactured by Alamo Industrial.  Municipal park agencies, golf courses and landscape maintenance contractors purchase certain Alamo Industrial mowers that deliver a fine manicured cut.

      Tiger equipment includes heavy-duty, tractor and truck-mounted mowing and vegetation maintenance equipment and replacement parts.  Tiger sells to state, county, local governmental entities and related contractors primarily through a network of dealers.  In many cases, the principal product line of Tiger's larger dealers is Tiger equipment.  Tiger's dealership network is independent of Alamo Industrial's dealership network.

      Schwarze equipment includes air, mechanical broom, and regenerative air sweepers along with a high-efficiency environmental sweeper and replacement parts.  Schwarze primarily sells its products to governmental agencies and independent contractors.  The Company believes that Schwarze compliments Alamo Industrial because the dealer and/or end-user for both products in many cases are the same.  In 2001, the Alamo Industrial Latin American territory manager began marketing Schwarze and Schulte products along with Alamo Industrial products in Mexico and other Latin American countries.  In the first half of 2002, the dealer sales force of Alamo Industrial and Schwarze were combined and trained to cross-sell products.

4



      Rhino and M&W equipment is generally sold to farmers and ranchers to clear brush, maintain pastures and unused farmland, shred crops, till fields and for haymaking.  It is also sold to other customers, such as mowing contractors and construction contractors, for non-agricultural purposes. Rhino equipment consists principally of a comprehensive line of tractor-powered equipment including rotary cutters, finishing mowers, flail mowers and disc mowers.  Rhino also sells posthole diggers, scraper blades and replacement parts for all Rhino equipment.  Farm equipment dealers play the primary role in the sale of Rhino and M&W equipment.  M&W haymaking equipment uses a fixed chamber, round bale technology.  A portion of the Rhino product line is also sold through McConnel's network of agricultural tractor dealers in the U.K.

      SMC equipment includes a broad line of front-end loaders and backhoes that fit many tractors on the market today.  The majority of the products are sold to Original Equipment Manufacturers ("OEM's").  In the fall of 2001, the Company introduced Rhino branded loaders and backhoes to be sold through its agricultural dealer network

      Herschel replacement parts are sold for many types of farm equipment and tractors and certain types of mowing and construction equipment.  Herschel products include a wide range of cutting parts, chromium carbide treated hard-faced and plain replacement tillage tools, disc blades and fertilizer application components.  Herschel replacement tools and parts are sold throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico to five major customer groups: farm equipment dealers, fleet stores, wholesale distributors, original equipment manufacturers and construction equipment dealers.  The acquisition of Valu-Bilt compliments the Herschel product lines while also expanding the Company's offering of after-market agricultural parts and added catalog direct sales to end-users, a new customer group.

      Schulte equipment includes heavy-duty mechanical rotary mowers, snow blowers, rock removal equipment and related replacement parts.  Schulte serves both the agricultural and industrial markets primarily in Canada and the U.S.  The Company is pursuing cross-selling opportunities between Schulte and some of the Company's other product lines.  Schulte sells some of its products through Bomford in the U.K. and independent distributors throughout the world.

      McConnel equipment principally includes a line of hydraulic, boom-mounted hedge and grass cutters, as well as other tractor attachments and implements such as hydraulic backhoes, cultivators, subsoilers, buckets and other digger implements and replacement parts.  McConnel equipment is sold primarily in the U.K. and France, and to a lesser extent, in other parts of Europe, Australia, and North America through independent dealers and distributors.  To a lesser extent, McConnel also sells turf maintenance equipment to the golf course and leisure markets.

      Bomford equipment includes hydraulic, boom-mounted hedge and hedgerow cutters, industrial grass mowers, agricultural seedbed preparation cultivators and replacement parts.  Bomford equipment is sold to governmental agencies, contractors and agricultural end-users in the U.K. and France and to a lesser extent, other countries in Europe, North America, Australia and the Far East.  Bomford's sales network is very similar to that of McConnel in the U.K.  Rhino and Tiger sell some of Bomford's product line in the U.S.

      SMA equipment includes hydraulic, boom-mounted hedge and hedgerow cutters and associated replacement parts.  SMA's principal customers are French local authorities. SMA's product offerings were expanded in 1994 to include certain quick-attach boom mowers manufactured by the Company in the U.K. to expand its presence in agricultural dealerships.  Forges Gorce, acquired in 1996, manufactures flail blades which are sold to some of the Company's subsidiaries as well as to other customers.

      Twose equipment includes light-duty power arm mowers and agricultural equipment and related parts.  Twose products are manufactured at the Company's U.K. facilities but sold through its own dealer network in the U.K. and through Faucheux in France.

5



      Faucheux equipment includes front-end loaders, backhoes, attachments and related parts.  Historically, the majority of Faucheux sales have been in France but the Company has recently expanded Faucheux's market coverage to other countries, particularly the U.K., using the Company's existing distribution network.

      In addition to the sales of Herschel replacement parts, the Company derives a significant portion of its revenues from sales of replacement parts for each of its whole goods lines. Replacement parts represented approximately 27% of the Company's total sales for the year ended December 31, 2003.  Replacement parts generally are more profitable and less cyclical than wholegoods.

      While the Company believes that the end-users of its products evaluate their purchases on the basis of price and product quality, such purchases are also based on a dealer's service, support and loyalty to the dealer based on previous purchases as well as other factors such as product availability.

      Demand for the majority of the Company's products tends to be strongest in the spring and summer seasons.  The Company provides incentives for off-season purchases for many of its products, including discounts, as a way to even out seasonal variations in its manufacturing cycles.

Product Development

      The Company's ability to provide innovative responses to customer needs, to develop and manufacture new products, and to enhance existing product lines is important to its success.  The Company continually conducts research and development activities in an effort to improve existing products and develop new products.  As of December 31, 2003 the Company employed 74 people in its various engineering departments, 31 of whom are degreed engineers and the balance of whom are support staff.  Amounts expended on research and development activities were approximately $2,953,000 in 2003, $2,612,000 in 2002, and $2,405,000 in 2001.  As a percent of sales, Research and Development was approximately 1.0% in 2003, 2002, and 2001, respectively, and is expected to continue at similar levels in 2004.

Seasonality

      In general, the vegetation maintenance equipment industry tends to follow the seasonal buying patterns of its major customers with peak sales occurring in the second and third quarters.  Agricultural and governmental end-users typically purchase new equipment during the first and second calendar quarters.  Weather conditions and general economic conditions, however, may affect the timing of purchases.  In order to achieve efficient utilization of manpower and facilities throughout the year, the Company estimates seasonal demand months in advance and equipment is manufactured in anticipation of such demand.  The Company utilizes a rolling twelve-month sales forecast provided by the Company's marketing divisions and order backlog in order to develop a production plan for its manufacturing facilities.  Additionally, many of the Company's marketing divisions attempt to equalize demand for its products throughout the calendar year by offering seasonal sales programs which may provide additional incentives on equipment that is ordered during off-season periods.

Competition

      The Company's products are sold in highly competitive markets throughout the world.  The principal competitive factors are price, quality, availability, service and reputation.  The Company competes with several large national and international companies that offer a broad range of agricultural equipment and replacement parts, as well as numerous small manufacturers and suppliers of a limited number of products mainly on a regional basis.  However, the Company has fewer competitors in wide-swath and boom-mounted mowing equipment within the governmental niche. Some of the Company's competitors are significantly larger than the Company and have substantially greater financial and other resources at their disposal.  The Company believes that it is able to compete successfully in its markets by containing its manufacturing costs, offering high quality products, developing and designing innovative products and, to some extent, avoiding direct competition with significantly larger competitors.  There can be no assurance that such competitors will not substantially increase the resources devoted to the development and marketing of products competitive with those of the Company.  The Company believes that within the U.S. it is a leading supplier to governmental markets, a major supplier in the U.S. agricultural market and one of the largest suppliers in the European market for its type of mowing equipment.

 

6



Unfilled Orders

      As of December 31, 2003, the Company had unfilled customer orders of $35,656,000 compared to $34,251,000 at the end of 2002.  The increase is primarily attributable to slight improvements in market conditions in the agricultural and European markets.  The Company continues to see reduced government spending compared to historical levels in the industrial sector served by the Company.  Management expects that substantially all of the Company's backlog as of December 31, 2003 will be shipped during fiscal year 2004.  The amount of unfilled orders at a particular time is affected by a number of factors, including manufacturing and shipping schedules, which in most instances are dependent on the Company's seasonal sales programs and the requests of its customers. Certain of the Company's orders are subject to cancellation any time before shipment; therefore, a comparison of unfilled orders from period to period is not necessarily meaningful and may not be indicative of future actual shipments.

Sources of Supply

      The Company, through its subsidiaries, purchases tractors, truck chassis and engines as well as steel, gearboxes, drivelines, hydraulic components and other industrial parts and supplies.  During 2003, these products were readily available from a variety of sources in adequate quantities and at prevailing market rates.  However, we have some concerns that certain commodities such as steel and fuel could have price and availability issues in 2004 A number of the Company's products are mounted and shipped with a tractor.  Tractors are generally available, but some delays in receiving tractors can occur throughout the year.  No single supplier is responsible for supplying more than 10% of the principal raw materials used by the Company.  The Company sources its purchased goods from foreign and domestic suppliers.

      While the Company manufactures many of the parts for its products, a significant percentage of parts, including most drive lines, gear boxes and hydraulic pumps and motors, are purchased from outside suppliers which manufacture to the Company's specifications.

Patents and Trademarks

      The Company owns various U.S. and international patents. While the Company considers its patents to be advantageous to its business, it is not dependent on any single patent or group of patents.  The Company amortizes approximately $62,000 annually in patents and trademarks relating to the industrial segment.  The net book value of the patents and trademarks was $887,000 as of December 31, 2003.

      Products manufactured by the Company are advertised and sold under numerous trademarks.  Alamo Industrial®, Rhino®, M&W®, SMC™ Fuerst®, McConnel®, Bomford®, SMA®, Schwarze™, Tiger™, Schulte®, Forges Gorce™, Twose™, Faucheux™, Herschel™  Adams® and Valu-Bilt® trademarks are the primary marks for the Company's products.  The Company also owns other trademarks, which it uses to a lesser extent such as Terrain King®, Triumph®, Mott®, Turner®, and Dandl®.  Management believes that the Company's trademarks are well known in its markets and are valuable and that their value is increasing with the development of its business.  The Company actively protects its trademarks against infringement and believes it has applied for or registered its trademarks in the appropriate jurisdictions.

Environmental and Other Governmental Regulations

      The Company is subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations concerning air emissions, discharges into waterways and the generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste materials.  The Company's policy is to comply with all applicable environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, and the Company believes it is currently in material compliance with all such applicable laws and regulations.  These laws and regulations are constantly changing, and it is impossible to predict with accuracy the effect that changes to such laws and regulations may have on the Company in the future.  Like other industrial concerns, the Company's manufacturing operations entail the risk of noncompliance, and there can be no assurance that the Company will not incur material costs or other liabilities as a result thereof.  The Company knows that the Indianola, Iowa property on which its Herschel facility operates is contaminated with chromium.  The contamination likely resulted from chrome-plating operations which were discontinued several years before the Company purchased the property.  The Company has been working with an environmental consultant and the state of Iowa to develop and implement a plan to remediate the contamination.  All remediation costs through June of 2002 were paid by the previous owner of the property pursuant to the agreement by which the Company purchased the property. The successor to the previous owner is in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy proceedings and the Company filed a claim with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan.  During the second quarter of 2002, the Company settled all outstanding claims including the environmental claim with the successor and applied approximately $100,000 of the overall settlement towards the environmental reserve.  The balance in the environmental liability reserve at December 31, 2003 was $155,000.  The amount of potential liability has been estimated by an independent environmental engineering company to be between $100,000 and $250,000.

7



      The Company is subject to various other federal, state, and local laws affecting its business, as well as a variety of regulations relating to such matters as working conditions, equal employment opportunities and product safety.  A variety of state laws regulate the Company's contractual relationships with its dealers, some of which impose restrictive standards on the relationship between the Company and its dealers, including events of default, grounds for termination, non-renewal of dealer contracts and equipment repurchase requirements.  The Company believes it is currently in material compliance with all such applicable laws and regulations.

Employees

      As of December 31, 2003, the Company employed 1,634 full-time employees. The SMC manufacturing facility in the U.S. has a collective bargaining agreement which covers approximately 124 employees; it expires in the second quarter of 2004.  The Company's European operations, McConnel, Bomford, SMA, Forges Gorce and Faucheux also have collective bargaining agreements covering 335 persons.  The Company's Herschel facility which had a collective bargaining agreement was decertified by the union in August of 2002.  The Company considers its employee relations to be satisfactory.

Financial Information about Segments

      See Note 13 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

International Operations and Geographic Information

      See Note 14 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Available Information

The Company files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").  You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC's public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549.  Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for information on the public reference room.  The SEC maintains a website that contains annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy and information statements and other information that issuers (including the Company) file electronically with the SEC.  The SEC's website is www.sec.gov.

The Company's website is (www.alamo-group.com).  The Company makes available free of charge through its website, via a link to the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q; current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.  The Company also makes available, through its website, via a link to the SEC's website, statements of beneficial ownership of the Company's equity securities filed by its directors, officers, 10% or greater shareholders and others under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

The Company makes available on its website its most recent annual report on Form 10-K, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the current fiscal year, its most recent proxy statement and its most recent summary annual report to shareholders, although in some cases these documents are not available on our site as son as they are available on the SEC's site.  You will net to have on your computer the Adobe Acrobat Reader® software to view the documents, which are in PDF format.  In addition, the Company posts on its website its Charters for its Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee as well as its Corporate Governance Policies and its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for its directors, officers and employees.  You can request a copy of these documents, excluding exhibits, at no cost, by sending your request to the Corporate Secretary, Alamo Group Inc., 1502 E. Walnut Street, Seguin, Texas, 78155, which is the principal executive office of the Company.  The telephone number is 830-379-1480.  The information on the Company's website is not incorporated by reference into this report.

 

8



 

Forward-Looking Information

      Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10‑K and the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included in Part II of this Annual Report contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  In addition, forward-looking statements may be made orally or in press releases, conferences, reports or otherwise, in the future by or on behalf of the Company.

      Statements that are not historical are forward-looking.  When used by or on behalf of the Company, the words "estimate," "believe," "intend" and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company.

      Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties.  These uncertainties include factors that affect all businesses operating in a global market, as well as matters specific to the Company and the markets it serves.  Particular risks and uncertainties facing the Company at the present include changing conditions in the Company's North American and European agricultural markets; increased competition in the Company's business from competitors;  deterioration in the Company's industrial market due to reduced governmental budgets that could affect their purchases of goods and services; the Company's ability to develop and manufacture new and existing products profitably; market acceptance of new and existing products; the Company's ability to maintain good relations with its employees; and the ability to hire and retain quality employees.

      In addition, the Company is subject to risks and uncertainties facing the industry in general, including changes in business and political conditions and the economy in general in both domestic and international markets; weather conditions affecting demand; slower growth in the Company's markets; financial market changes including increases in interest rates and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; actions of competitors; the inability of the Company's suppliers, customers, creditors, public utility providers and financial service organizations to deliver or provide their products or services to the Company; availability and significantly increased prices of steel; seasonal factors in the Company's industry; unforeseen litigation; animal diseases such as the mad cow and bird flu; government actions including budget levels, regulations and legislation, such as Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002; legislation relating to the environment, commerce, infrastructure spending, health and safety; and availability of materials.

      The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement and to recognize that the statements are not predictions of actual future results.  Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements and from historical results, due to the risks and uncertainties described above, as well as others not now anticipated.  The foregoing statements are not exclusive and further information concerning the Company and its businesses, including factors that could potentially materially affect the Company's financial results, may emerge from time to time.  It is not possible for management to predict all risk factors or to assess the impact of such risk factors on the Company's businesses.

 

 

9



Executive Officers of the Company

      Certain information is set forth below concerning the executive officers of the Company, each of whom has been elected to serve until the 2004 annual meeting of directors or until his successor is duly elected and qualified.

Name

 

Age

 

Position

Ronald A. Robinson

52

President and Chief Executive Officer

Robert H. George

57

Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer

Richard J. Wehrle

47

Vice President and Corporate Controller

Donald C. Duncan

52

Vice President and General Counsel

Geoffrey Davies

56

Vice President and Managing Director, Alamo Group (EUR) Ltd.

Douglas W. Anderson

60

Executive Vice President, Alamo Group (USA) Inc. Agricultural Division

Ian Burden

49

Executive Vice President, Alamo Group (USA) Inc. Alamo Industrial Division

     

      Ronald A. Robinson was appointed President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company on July 7, 1999.  Mr. Robinson had previously been President of Svedala Industries, Inc. the U.S. subsidiary of Svedala Industries AB of Malmo, Sweden, a leading manufacturer of equipment and systems for the worldwide construction, mineral processing and materials handling industries.  Mr. Robinson joined Svedala in 1992 when it acquired Denver Equipment Company of which he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

      Robert H. George joined the Company in May 1987 as Vice President and Secretary and has served the Company in various executive capacities since that time.  Prior to joining the Company, Mr. George was Senior Vice President of Frost National Bank from 1978 to 1987.

      Richard J. Wehrle has been Vice President and Corporate Controller of the Company since May 2001.  Prior to his appointment, Mr. Wehrle served in various accounting management capacities within the Company since 1988.

      Donald C. Duncan has been General Counsel of the Company since January 2002 and was elected Vice President in February 2003.  Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Duncan was counsel for various publicly held companies in Houston, Texas and most recently was Counsel for EGL, Inc., from 2000 to 2001 and Weatherford International Inc. from 1997 to 1999.

      Geoffrey Davies has been Managing Director of Alamo Group (EUR) Ltd. since December 1993 and was elected Vice President of the Company in February 2003.  From 1988 to 1993, Mr. Davies served McConnel Ltd., a U.K. company acquired by Alamo Group in 1991, in various capacities including serving as its Marketing Director from February 1992 until December 1993.

      Douglas W. Anderson has been Executive Vice President of Alamo Group (USA) Inc. since July 2001 and manages the Agricultural division.  Prior to his appointment as Executive Vice President, Mr. Anderson was Vice President for Telemotive Industrial Controls since 1997.

      Ian Burden has been Executive Vice President of Alamo Group (USA) Inc. since January 1994 and manages the Alamo Industrial division.  Since 1981 Mr. Burden served in various sales and marketing capacities for Bomford Turner, Ltd., a U.K. company acquired by Alamo in 1993.

 

10



Item 2.  Properties

      At December 31, 2003, the Company utilized seven principal manufacturing plants located in the United States, five in Europe, one in Canada, and one in Australia.  Listed below are the facilities:

Facility

Square Footage

 

Principal Types of Products Manufactured And Assembled

Gibson City, Illinois

235,000 

Owned

Mechanical Mowers for Rhino and M&W, Hay Balers and Deep Tillage Equipment

Seguin, Texas

230,000 

Owned

Hydraulic and Mechanical Rotary and Flail Mowers, Sickle-Bar Mowers, and Boom-Mounted Equipment for Alamo Industrial

Indianola, Iowa

200,000 

Owned

After Market Farm Equipment Replacement and Wear parts for Herschel/Valu-Bilt

Ludlow, England

160,000 

Owned

Hydraulic Boom-Mounted Hedge and Grass Cutters and other Equipment for McConnel and Twose

Holton, Kansas

150,000 

Owned

Mechanical Rotary Mowers, Blades and Post Hole Diggers for Rhino

Chartres, France

136,000 

Owned

Front-end Loaders, Backhoes and Attachments for Faucheux

Huntsville, Alabama

100,000 
36,000 

Leased
Owned

Air and Mechanical Sweeping Equipment for Schwarze

       

Salford Priors, England

106,000 

Owned

Tractor-Mounted Power Arm Flails and other Equipment for Bomford and Twose

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

60,000 

Owned

Hydraulic and Mechanical Mowing Equipment for Tiger

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

59,000 

Owned

Front-end Loaders and Backhoes for OEM, SMC and Rhino

Englefeld, Saskatchewan Canada

46,000 

Owned

Mechanical Rotary Mowers, Snow Blowers, and Rock Removal Equipment for Schulte

Orleans, France

40,000 

Owned

Heavy-Duty, Tractor-Mounted Grass and Hedge Mowing Equipment for SMA

Queensland, Australia

15,000 

Leased

Air and Mechanical Sweeping Equipment for Schwarze

Peschadores, France

12,000 

Owned

Manufactures Replacement Parts for Blades, Knives and Shackles by Forges Gorce

Warehouses & Sales Offices

58,000 
2,200 

Owned
Leased

Service Parts Distribution and Sales Office

Total

1,643,200 

      Approximately 97% of the manufacturing, warehouse and office space is owned.  The Company closed its manufacturing facilities in Guymon and Wakita, Oklahoma on November 30, 2001. The Guymon facility is currently an asset held for sale and the Wakita facility was sold on January 15, 2003.  During the first quarter of 2003 the Company closed its warehouses in Waco, Texas and Sparks, Nevada.   Except as otherwise stated herein, the Company considers each of its facilities to be well maintained, in good operating condition and adequate for its present level of operations.

11



Item 3.  Legal Proceedings

      The Company is subject to various legal actions, which have arisen in the ordinary course of its business.  The most prevalent of such actions relate to product liability which is generally covered by insurance.  While amounts claimed might be substantial and the ultimate liability with respect to such litigation cannot be determined at this time, the Company believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position.

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

      No matter was submitted to a vote of security holders of the Company during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.

PART II

Item 5.  Market for Registrant's Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters

      The Company's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: ALG.  On February 27, 2004, there were 9,727,059 shares of common stock outstanding, held by approximately 160 holders of record.  The total number of beneficial owners of the Company's common stock exceeds this number.  On February 27, 2004, the closing price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $18.17 per share.

      The following table sets forth for the period indicated, on a per share basis, the range of high and low sales prices for the Company's common stock as quoted by the New York Stock Exchange. These price quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without adjustment for retail mark-ups, markdowns or commissions, and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.

High and low stock prices for the last two fiscal years were:

2003

2002

Cash

Cash

Sales Price

Dividends

Sales Price

Dividends

Quarter Ended

High

Low

Declared

Quarter Ended

High

 

Low

 

Declared

March 31, 2003

$

12.47

$

11.25

$

.06

March 31, 2002

$

16.50

$

13.50

$

.06

June 30, 2003

12.25

11.40

.06

June 30, 2002

17.15

15.00

.06

September 30, 2003

14.92

12.06

.06

September 30, 2002

16.40

12.30

.06

December 31, 2003

15.81

14.20

.06

December 31, 2002

12.75

11.25

.06

      On January 2, 2004, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a quarterly dividend of $.06 per share which was paid on February 4, 2004, to holders of record as of January 16, 2004. The Company expects to continue its policy of paying regular cash dividends, although there is no assurance as to future dividends as they depend on future earnings, capital requirements and financial condition.  In addition, the payment of dividends is subject to restrictions under the Company's bank revolving credit agreement.  See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources" in Item 7 of Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10‑K for a further description of the bank revolving credit agreement.

      Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans are incorporated in this Item 5, by reference that portion of the Company's definitive proxy statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which appears under the caption "Aggregated Option Grants and Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-end Option Values."

 

12



Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

      The following selected financial data is derived from the consolidated financial statements of Alamo Group Inc. and Subsidiaries.  The data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, related notes and other financial information included herein.

 

Fiscal Year Ended December 31,(1)

 (in thousands, except per share amounts)

 2003  

 2002  

 2001  

 2000  

 1999  

Operations:

Net sales

$

279,078 

$

259,435 

$

246,047 

$

215,874 

$

176,608 

Income before income taxes

12,972 

9,774 

16,606 

15,890 

9,696 

Net income

8,038 

6,382 

10,812 

10,770 

6,102 

Percent of sales

2.9%

2.5%

4.4%

5.0%

3.5%

Earnings per share

                           

   Basic

0.83 

 

0.66 

 

1.11 

1.11 

0.63 

   Diluted

0.82 

 

0.65 

 

1.11 

1.11 

0.63 

Dividends per share

0.24 

0.24 

0.24 

0.24 

0.34 

Average common shares

                         

   Basic

9,721 

9,713 

9,706 

9,698 

9,722 

   Diluted

9,789 

9,789 

9,787 

9,759 

9,726 

Financial Position:

Total assets

$

195,967 

$

191,222 

$

185,921 

$

173,408 

$

132,795 

Short-term debt and current maturities

1,615 

2,583 

3,013 

1,484 

526 

Long-term debt, excluding current
 maturities

14,379 

27,833 

36,315 

30,355 

5,469 

Stockholders' equity

$

144,067 

$

130,478 

$

121,813 

 

$

114,539 

$

108,030 

(1)   Includes the results of operations of companies acquired from the effective dates of acquisitions.

Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition And Results of Operations

      The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

      The following tables set forth, for the periods indicated, certain financial data:

Fiscal Year Ended December 31,

Sales data in thousands:

 2003  

 2002  

 2001  

    North American

        Agricultural

$       108,075

$      110,784

 $      97,978

        Industrial

104,801

100,905

108,001

    European

66,202

47,746

40,068

    Total net sales

$       279,078

$      259,435

 $    246,047

Cost and profit margins, as percentages of net sales:

        Cost of sales

78.6%

79.4%

75.8%

        Gross margin

21.4%

20.6%

24.2%

        Selling, general and administrative expense

16.4%

16.2%

16.3%

        Income from operations

5.0%

4.4%

7.9%

        Income before income taxes

4.7%

3.8%

6.8%

        Net income

2.9%

2.5%

4.4%

 

13



Results of Operations

Fiscal 2003 compared to Fiscal 2002

      The Company's net sales in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003 ("2003") were $279,078,000, an increase of $19,643,000 or 7.6% compared to $259,435,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 ("2002").  The increase in sales was primarily attributable equally to both internal growth in our European operations and the acquisitions of Faucheux on November 14, 2002 and Valu-bilt on April 5, 2002.

North American Agricultural sales (Net) were $108,075,000 in 2003 compared to $110,784,000 in 2002, representing a decrease of $2,709,000 or 2.4%.  The revenue decline reflected continued weak market conditions throughout 2003.  Increased fuel prices and the outbreak of war in Iraq during the first quarter had a negative impact on consumer spending.  The U.S. Farm Bill enacted in 2002, did not begin to have a significant impact until late in the first quarter of 2003.  The Company began to see some recovery during the fourth quarter with increased new orders, particularly in the Company's Rhino product line.  Herschel/Valu-Bilt aftermarket replacement parts business showed improved sales in both the wholesale and retail lines.

North American Industrial sales (Net) in 2003 were $104,801,000 compared to $100,905,000 in 2002, a $3,896,000 or 3.9% increase. Most of the growth came from sales of Schwarze sweepers mainly to dealers for governmental entities and related contractors.  Budget constraints at state government agencies as well as city and other municipalities, continued to affect industrial mower sales, which have remained below historical levels since the second quarter of 2002. 

European sales (Net) increased $18,456,000 or 38.7% to $66,202,000 in 2003 compared to $47,746,000 in 2002.  The increase was a result of the acquisition of Faucheux and internal sales growth from new product introductions and aggressive marketing initiatives despite sluggish market conditions in France, which was affected by drought conditions during the spring and summer of 2003.  In addition, the strength of the exchange rate of the British Pound and the Euro compared to the U.S. dollar further aided the increase on the Company's foreign operations.

      Gross Margins for 2003 were $59,762,000 (21.4% of net sales) compared to $53,544,000 (20.6% of net sales) in 2002.  Margins increased mainly from lower production overhead costs as the Company continued to improve on its operational efficiencies.  This increase was tempered by declines in sales of higher margin products as well as higher discounts and incentives offered to customers in the Industrial and Agricultural segments.  The Company began to reduce its workforce in the second quarter of 2002, streamline plant utilization and consolidated the Valu-Bilt and Herschel operations, all resulting in improved gross margins.

      Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") were $45,775,000 (16.4% of net sales) in 2003 compared to $42,112,000 (16.2% of net sales) in 2002.  The increase of $3,663,000 over 2002 was primarily due to a full year of expenses from the addition of Valu-Bilt and Faucheux in the amount of $2,229,000.  Also included is an expense of $1,235,000 relating to higher exchange rates in 2003 on the Company's foreign operations.

      Interest expense for 2003 was $1,968,000 compared to $2,426,000 in 2002, a $458,000 or 18.9% decrease.  The reductions reflect reduced borrowings and lower interest rates compared to 2002.

      Other Income (expense), net in 2003 reflected income of $475,000 versus income of $265,000 in 2002.  During the second quarter of 2003, the Company sold surplus land adjacent to its Texas facility and recorded a $365,000 gain.  The Company also recorded a $200,000 expense relating to a reduction in its machinery and equipment value in its assets held for sale located in Guymon Oklahoma.  The Company reported increased income in 2003 from exchange rate gains on foreign contracts on accounts receivable transactions in our European operations in the amount of $370,000.

 

14



      Provision for Income Taxes was $4,934,000 (38.0%) for 2003 compared to $3,392,000 (34.8%) in 2002.  The increase in the percentage was mainly a reflection of increased state taxes in the U.S. during 2003.

      Net Income for 2003 was $8,038,000 compared to $6,382,000 in 2002 due to the factors described above.

Fiscal 2002 compared to Fiscal 2001

The Company's net sales in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2002 ("2002") were $259,435,000, an increase of $13,388,000 or 5.4% compared to $246,047,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 ("2001").  The increase in sales was attributable to the acquisition of Valu-Bilt in April 2002 and Faucheux in November 2002 as well as a full year of SMC sales which was acquired in August 2001.  Internal sales within the Company fell 6.6%.

North American Agricultural Sales (Net) were $110,784,000 in 2002 compared to $97,978,000 in 2001 representing an increase of $12,806,000 or 13.1%.  The increase was primarily from a full year of SMC sales which was reflected for only four months in 2001 and the acquisition of Valu-Bilt.  The Company experienced soft market conditions throughout the year as well as drought conditions in the mid-west section of the United States and western Canada.   A decline in net farm income and the delay in receiving benefits from the United States Department of Agriculture 2002 Farm Bill were also negative factors that affected the market.

North American Industrial Sales (Net) in 2002 were $100,905,000 compared to $108,001,000 in 2001, a $7,096,000 or 6.6% decrease.  During the last three quarters of 2002, sales of mowing products in this business sector have fallen approximately 30% due primarily to a continuing decline in new orders from state governmental agencies.  Nearly every state experienced budget short falls in 2002 and this trend is expected to continue in 2003.  Sales of Schwarze sweepers held up better than our industrial mowers, but direct sales to contractors continued to be soft due to extremely competitive conditions, increased operating costs due primarily to fuel cost increases and the weak economy.

European Sales (Net) increased $7,678,000 or 19.2% to $47,746,000 in 2002 compared to $40,068,000 in 2001.  The increase is mainly from the acquisition of Faucheux and improved market conditions previously adversely affected by the foot and mouth disease in the U.K.  Sales in other European markets, particularly France, performed well despite sluggish market conditions.

Gross margins for 2002 were $53,544,000 (20.6% of net sales) compared to $59,529,000 (24.2% of net sales) in 2001.  More than half of the decrease in gross profit was attributable to the decline of higher margin sales in the industrial market.  Additionally, to a lesser extent, the Company continued to incur higher property and casualty insurance premiums, increased warranty expense and higher costs of raw materials, especially steel which was affected by U.S. tariffs enacted in 2002 on imported steel.  In the last three quarters of 2002, the Company trimmed production overhead costs by reducing workforce as well as consolidating our Herschel and Valu-Bilt operations and the closure of one warehouse in Texas in the third quarter.

Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") were $42,112,000 (16.2% of net sales) in 2002 compared to $40,173,000 (16.3% of net sales) in 2001.  The increase of $1,939,000 over 2001 primarily resulted from the additions of SMC for a full year in 2002 of $873,000 as well as, $798,000 related to the acquisitions of Valu-Bilt and Faucheux.  Also, the Company incurred relocation expenses for the combining of the Valu-Bilt and Herschel facilities in the amount of $497,000 and a full year of depreciation expense of $420,000 from the Company's Enterprise Resource Planning ("ERP") project.  The Company did not amortize goodwill during 2002 due to the adoption of FAS142, which resulted in a reduction of amortization expense of $1,732,000.

 

15



Interest expense was $2,426,000 in 2002 compared to $3,284,000 in 2001, an $858,000 or 26.1% decrease. Lower borrowings and interest rates in 2002 compared to the prior year were the main reasons for the decrease.

Other Income (expense), net was income of $265,000 in 2002 compared to an expense of $75,000 in 2002.  The significant change was all due to exchange rate gains on foreign contracts on accounts receivable transactions in our European operations.

The Company's net income for 2002 was $6,382,000 compared to $10,812,000 in 2001 due largely to the factors described above.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

      In addition to normal operating expenses, the Company has ongoing cash requirements, which are necessary to conduct the Company's business including inventory purchases and capital expenditures.  The Company's inventory and accounts payable levels typically build in the first quarter and early spring of the year and, to a lesser extent, in the fourth quarter in anticipation of the spring and fall selling seasons.  Accounts receivable historically build in the first and fourth quarters of each year as a result of preseason sales.  These sales help balance the Company's production during the first and fourth quarters.

        As of December 31, 2003, the Company had working capital of $100,968,000, which represents a decrease of $1,421,000 from working capital of $102,286,000 as of December 31, 2002.

      Capital expenditures were $4,966,000 for 2003, compared to $5,479,000 for 2002.  Capital expenditures for 2004 are expected to be in line with or slightly above 2003.  The 2003 amount included the purchase on July 7, 2003 of the land and building where the Company's Tiger operation is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Tiger was acquired in December of 1994 and the land and building were leased at that time under a ten year capital lease.  The purchase price was $1,780,000 and included cancellation of the remaining term of the lease through December 2004.  The Company expects to fund capital expenditures from operating cash flows or through its revolving credit facility, described below.

      The Company was authorized by its Board of Directors in 1997 to repurchase up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock to be funded through working capital and credit facility borrowings. No shares were repurchased in 2002 or in 2003.  The authorization to repurchase shares remains available.

      Net cash provided by operating activities was $18,228,000 for 2003, compared to $27,598,000 for 2002. The decrease of cash from operating activities resulted primarily from higher accounts receivable due to increased customer demands for the Company's product during the fourth quarter.  In 2002, the Company had significant cash from operating activities mainly due to reduced inventory and higher accounts payable and accrued liabilities from the Valu-Bilt and Faucheux acquisitions.

      Net cash used by financing activities was $16,666,000 for 2003, compared to net cash used of $11,337,000 for 2002.  The increased was mainly the pay down on the Company's revolving line of credit. 

        The Company entered into a $70,000,000 contractually committed, unsecured, long-term bank revolving credit facility on August 31, 2001, under which the Company could borrow and repay until September 30, 2003, with interest at variable rate options based upon Prime or Libor rates, with such rates either floating on a daily basis or fixed for periods up to 180 days.  Proceeds may be used for general corporate purposes or, subject to certain limitations, acquisition activities.  The loan agreement contains the following financial covenants; Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Minimum Consolidated Tangible Net Worth, Consolidated Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio, and Minimum Asset Coverage Ratio, and limitations on dividends, indebtedness, liens and investments.  For more information the unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement was filed on September 30, 2001 on Form 10-Q as shown in the Exhibits to this filing.  On September 26, 2002 but effective August 31, 2002, the Company and its lenders agreed to extend the final maturity of its long-term revolving credit facility to August 31, 2004.  As of December 31, 2003, there was $14,000,000 borrowed under the revolving credit facility.  At December 31, 2003, $2,880,000 of the revolver capacity was committed to irrevocable standby letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business as required by vendors' contracts.  There are three smaller additional lines of credit, one for the Company's European operation in the amount of 4,000,000 British pounds, one for our Canadian operation in the amount of 3,000,000 Canadian dollars, and one for our Australia operation in the amount of 1,300,000 Australian dollars.  The Australian facility is secured by a letter of credit issued by the Company.  As of December 31, 2003 there were no British pounds borrowed against the European line of credit, 720,000 Canadian dollars against the Canadian line of credit and 500,000 Australian dollars outstanding under its facility.  The Canadian revolving credit facility is guaranteed by the Company.  The Company's borrowing levels for working capital are seasonal with the greatest utilization generally occurring in the first quarter and early spring.

16



      At March 31, 2003, the Company was in technical default with one of its financial covenants under its $70,000,000 Revolving Credit Agreement.  The Company fell short in meeting its first quarter 2003 operating leverage ratio (as defined by the Revolving Credit Agreement) which was based on total funded debt to operating cash flow or Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA").  Effective May 1, 2003, the Company obtained a waiver for the first quarter of 2003 through June 15, 2003.  Effective June 13, 2003, the Company and its lenders entered into an amendment to the Revolving Credit Agreement.  The principle changes were an increase in operating leverage ratio from 2.5 to 1 to 3.0 to 1 and extending the final maturity one year to August 31, 2005. The amendment in its entirety was filed, as an exhibit to the Company's 10-Q for the quarter ending June 30, 2003.  As of December 31, 2003, the Company is in compliance with the terms and conditions of its credit facilities.

Inflation

      The Company believes that inflation generally has not had a material impact on its operations or liquidity to date.             However, the Company has experienced significant cost increase in steel, fuel and medical expense in the last quarter of 2003 and the first quarter of 2004.  If this trend continues through 2004 at these current levels, it will have an impact on our customers.

New Accounting Standards and Disclosures 

      In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No. 141, "Business Combinations" (FAS 141), and Statement No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" (FAS 142). FAS 141 required the purchase method of accounting to be used for all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001.  Use of the pooling-of-interests method is prohibited.  FAS 141 also provides new criteria to determine whether an acquired intangible asset should be recognized separately from goodwill.

       Upon adoption of FAS 142, amortization of existing goodwill ceased and the remaining book value is tested for impairment at least annually at the reporting unit level using a detailed impairment test.  Provisions of FAS 142, states that any impairment loss identified upon adoption of this standard, is recognized as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle.  Any impairment loss recognized of FAS 142 is recorded as a charge to current period earnings.

      On January 1, 2002, the Company adopted statement FAS 142 and established its annual review for impairment as of December 31.  Based on the analysis completed, at December 31, 2003, the Company's review indicated no impairment of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and no write-off was required.  The Company will review for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if deemed necessary.  At December 31, 2003, the net book value of goodwill was $21,677,000 and at December 31, 2002, the net book value was $19,875,000.  The increase was all due to changes in currency exchange rates.

 

 

17



      The following table shows the effect of the adoption of FAS 142 on the Company's net income as of December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 as if the adoption had occurred on January 1, 2000:

Actual

 

Actual

 

Pro-forma 

December 31,

(in thousands, except earnings per share)

2003 

 

2002  

 

2001  

Net Income - as reported

$

8,038

$

6,382

$

10,812 

Amortization (net of tax)

---

---

1,129 

Adjusted Net Income

$

8,038

$

6,382

$

11,941 

Basic Earnings per share - as reported

$

0.83

$

0.66

$

1.11 

Amortization (net of tax)

---

---

0.12 

Adjusted Basic Earnings per share

$

0.83

$

0.66

$

1.23 

Diluted Earnings per share - as reported

$

0.82

$

0.65

$

1.11 

Amortization (net of tax)

---

---

0.12 

Adjusted Diluted Earnings per share

$

0.82

$

0.65

$

1.23 

      The FASB issued FAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets," (FAS 144) in August 2001.  FAS 144 supersedes SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of" and other related accounting guidance.  FAS 144 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early application encouraged.  The provisions of this Statement generally are to be applied prospectively.  The Company adopted FAS 144 in the first quarter of 2002.  The Company has evaluated the effect of the adoption of FAS 144, and the Company believes it does not have a material impact to its consolidated financial statements.

In April 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 145, Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 12, and Technical Corrections ("Statement 145").  Statement 145 rescinds FASB Statement No. 4, Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt, and an amendment of that Statement, and FASB Statement No. 64, Extinguishments of Debt Made to Satisfy Sinking-Fund Requirements.  Statement 145 also rescinds FASB Statement No. 44, Accounting for Leases, to eliminate an inconsistency between the required accounting for sale-leaseback transactions and the required accounting for certain lease modifications that have economic effects that are similar to sale-leaseback transactions.  Statement 145 also amends other existing authoritative pronouncements to make various technical corrections, clarify meanings, or describe their applicability under changed conditions.  Early adoption of Statement 145 is encouraged and may be as of the beginning of the fiscal year or as of the beginning of the interim period in which the statement was issued.  The Company elected to early adopt this statement effective January 1, 2002.  Management does not believe adoption of this statement materially impacted the Company's financial position or results of operations.

In July 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities ("Statement 146").  Statement 146 addresses the accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") Issue No. 94-3, "Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Terminations Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity."  It also substantially nullifies EITF Issue No. 88-10, "Costs Associated with Lease Modification or Termination."  Statement 146 is effective for exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002.  Management does not believe that adoption of this statement will materially impact the Company's financial position or results of operations.

In November 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others ("the Interpretation").  The Interpretation applies to contracts or indemnifications agreements that contingently require the guarantor to make payments to the guaranteed party based on changes in an underlying that is related to an asset, liability, or an equity security of the guaranteed party.  The Interpretation's disclosure requirements are effective for financial statements of interim or annual periods ending after December 15, 2002.  The Interpretation's initial recognition and initial measurement provisions are applicable on a prospective basis to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002, irrespective of the guarantor's fiscal year-end.  The Company adopted the disclosure requirements of this Interpretation for its 2002 annual report.  Management believes there is no impact on the Company's financial position or result of operations.

18



On December 31, 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure ("Statement 148").  Statement 148 amends Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Account for Stock-Based Compensation ("Statement 123"), to provide alternative methods of transition to Statement 123's fair value method of account for stock-based employee compensation.  Statement 148 also amends the disclosure provisions of Statement 123 and Accounting Principals Board Opinion No. 28, Interim Financial Reporting, to require disclosures in the summary of significant account policies of the effects of an entity's accounting policy with respect to stock-based employee compensation on reported net income and earnings per share in annual and interim financial statements.  Statement 148 does not amend Statement 123 to require companies to account for employee stock options using the fair value method.  The Company adopted the disclosure provisions required in Statement 148 and have provided the necessary disclosures within Note 1 of the financial statements.

In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued interpretation No. 46 ("FIN 46").  "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities" and in December 2003 issued a revised interpretation ("FIN 46R").  FIN 46 and FIN 46R address the accounting for and disclosure of investments in variable interest entities.  The Company's adoption of FIN 46 and FIN 46R during 2003 did not have a significant effect on our financial position or results of operations.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

    The Company does not have any obligation under any transaction, agreement or other contractual arrangement to which an entity unconsolidated with the Company is party, that has or is reasonably likely to have a material effect on the Company's financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.

Contractual and Other Obligations

      The following table shows the Company's approximate obligations and commitments to make future payments under contractual obligations as of December 31, 2003.

Payment due by period

(in thousands)

 

Less than

 

1-3

 

3-5

 

More than

Contractual Obligations

Total

1 Year

Years

Years

5 Years

 

Long-Term Debts Obligations

$

15,354 

$

1,330 

$

14,000 

$

24 

$

Capital Lease Obligations

640 

288 

352 

Operating Lease Obligations

2,672 

1,592 

1,061 

19 

Purchase Obligations  

33,352

   

33,352

                 
 

    Total

52,018

36,562

15,413 

43 

 

Definitions:

(A)  Long-Term Debt Obligation means a payment obligation under long-term borrowings referenced in FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 47 Disclosure of Long-Term Obligations (March 1981), as may be modified or supplemented.

(B)  Capital Lease Obligation means a payment obligation under a lease classified as a capital lease pursuant to FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 13 Accounting for Leases (November 1976), as may be modified or supplemented.

(C)  Operating Lease Obligation means a payment obligation under a lease classified as an operating lease and disclosed pursuant to FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 13 Accounting for Leases (November 1976), as may be modified or supplemented.

(D)  Purchase Obligations represent an estimate of goods and services to be purchased under outstanding purchase orders not reflected on the Company's balance sheet.

 

19



In addition, the Company sponsors various pension plans that may obligate us to make contributions to the plans from time to time.  We expect to make a cash contribution to our pension plans in 2004, and contributions required for 2005 and future years will depend on a number of unpredictable factors including the market performance of the plan’s assets and future changes in interest rates that affect the actuarial measurement of the plan’s obligations.


Critical Accounting Estimates

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based upon our Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP.  The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.  Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.  Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.


An accounting policy is deemed to be critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the estimate is made, and if different estimates that reasonably could have been used, or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact the financial statements.  Management believes the following critical accounting policies reflect its more significant estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements.  For further information on the critical accounting policies, see Note 1 of our Notes to Consolidate Financial Statements.

Critical Accounting Policies

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

      The Company evaluates the collectibility of its accounts receivable based on a combination of factors.  In circumstances where it is aware of a specific customer's inability to meet its financial obligations, it records a specific reserve to reduce the amounts recorded to what it believes will be collected.  For all other customers, it recognizes reserves for bad debt based on historical experience of bad debts as a percent of revenues for each business unit, adjusted for relative improvements or deteriorations in the agings and changes in current economic conditions.

The Company evaluates all aged receivables that are over 60 days old and will reserve specifically on a 90-day basis.  The Company has a secured interest on most of its wholegoods each customer purchases.  This allows the Company, in times of a difficult economy when the customer is unable to pay or has filed for bankruptcy (usually Chapter 11), to repossess the customer's inventory.  This allows Alamo Group to maintain only a reserve over its cost which usually represents the margin on the original sales price.

      The bad debt reserve balance was $1,708,000 at December 31, 2003 and $1,733,000 at December 31, 2002. 

Sales Discounts

      At December 31, 2003 the Company had $4,940,000 in reserves for sales discounts compared to $5,414,000 at December 31, 2002 on product shipped to our customers under various promotional programs.  The decrease was due primarily from lower discount accruals given on the Company's Rhino and M&W products during the pre-season program, which ran from September to December of 2003.  The Company reviews the reserve quarterly based on analysis made on each program outstanding at the time. 

The Company bases its reserves on historical data relating to discounts taken by the customer under each program.  Historically between 85% and 95% of the Company's customers who qualify for each program actually take the discount that is available.

Inventories - - Obsolescence and Slow Moving

      The Company had $4,613,000 at December 31, 2003 and $4,454,000 at December 31, 2002 in reserve to cover obsolescence and slow moving inventory.  The increase was mainly due to exchange rate fluctuations.  The obsolescence and slow moving policy states that the reserve is to be calculated on a basis of: 1) Inventory with a quantity on hand and no usage over a three year period is deemed obsolete and reserved at 100 percent and 2) slow moving inventory with little usage requires a 100 percent reserve on items that have a quantity greater than a three year supply.  There may be exceptions to the obsolete and slow moving classifications if approved by an officer of the Company based on specific identification of an item or items that is deemed to be either included or excluded from this classification.

The reserve is reviewed and if necessary, adjustments are made on a quarterly basis.  The Company relies on historical information to support its reserve.  Once the inventory is written down, the Company does not adjust the reserve balance until the inventory is sold.

Warranty

      The Company's warranty policy is generally to provide its customers warranty for up to one year on all wholegood units and 90 days for parts.

      Warranty reserve, as a percent of sales, is calculated by looking at the current twelve months expenses and prorating that based on twelve months sales with a six month lag period.  The Company's historical experience is that a customer takes approximately six months from the time he receives the unit and puts it into operation to file any warranty claim.  A warranty reserve is established for each different marketing group.  Reserve balances are evaluated on a quarterly basis and adjustments made when required.

20



      The warranty reserve balance was $3,093,000 at December 31, 2003 and $2,899,000 at December 31, 2002.  The increase was related to the growth in sales and a higher claims experience primarily in the industrial division.

Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks

      The Company is exposed to various financial market risks.  Market risk is the potential loss arising from adverse changes in market prices and rates.  The Company does not enter into derivative or other financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Foreign Currency Risk

International Sales

      A portion of the Company's operations consists of manufacturing and sales activities in international jurisdictions. The Company primarily manufactures its products in the United States, the U.K., France, Canada and Australia.  The Company sells its products primarily within the markets where the products are produced, but certain of the Company's sales from its U.K. operations are denominated in other European currencies.  As a result, the Company's financials, specifically the value of its foreign assets, could be affected by factors such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates or weak economic conditions in the other markets in which the subsidiaries of the Company distribute their products.

      To mitigate the short-term effect of changes in currency exchange rates on the Company's functional currency-based sales, the Company's U.K. subsidiaries regularly hedge by entering into foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge approximately 80% of its future net foreign currency cash receipts over a period of six months.  As of December 31, 2003, the Company had $2,090,000 outstanding in forward exchange contracts related to accounts receivable; additionally, there was an exchange contract of $13,307,000 relating to a short-term inter-company cash transfer from the U.K. to the U.S.  A 15% fluctuation in exchange rates for these currencies would change the fair value by approximately $2,311,000.  However, since these contracts hedge foreign currency denominated transactions, any change in the fair value of the contracts should be offset by changes in the underlying value of the transaction being hedged.

At January 1, 2003, the foreign currency hedge agreements were in a favorable position by approximately $89,000. In accordance with the provisions of FAS 133, the net-of-tax on January 1, 2003, was a gain of $60,000 in accumulated other comprehensive income with a deferred income tax liability of $32,000.  At December 31, 2003, the fair value of the hedge agreements was also in a favorable position; therefore, the derivative financial instruments were recorded as an asset of $128,000.  Accumulated other comprehensive income was adjusted to an accumulated gain of $82,000 and the deferred income tax was adjusted to a $46,000 tax liability.  As the hedge agreements are deemed to be effective cash flow hedges, there was no income statement impact related to hedge ineffectiveness.  The Company has reclassified approximately $60,000 of existing gains in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes, into net income during the year ended December 31, 2003.

Exposure to Exchange Rates

      The Company's earnings are affected by fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar as compared to foreign currencies, predominately in European countries and Canada, as a result of the sale of its products in international markets.  Foreign currency forward contracts in the U.K. are used to hedge against the earnings effects of such fluctuations.  At December 31, 2003, the result of a uniform 10% strengthening in the value of the dollar relative to the currencies in which the Company's sales are denominated would result in a decrease in gross profit of $2,519,000 for the year ending December 31, 2003.  Comparatively, at December 31, 2002, the result of a uniform 10% strengthening in the value of the dollar relative to the currencies in which the Company's sales are denominated would have resulted in a decrease in gross profit of approximately $2,120,000 for the year-ended December 31, 2002.  This calculation assumes that each exchange rate would change in the same direction relative to the U.S. dollar.  In addition to the direct effects of changes in exchange rates, which are a changed dollar value of the resulting sales, changes in exchange rates may also affect the volume of sales or the foreign currency sales price as competitors' products become more or less attractive.  The Company's sensitivity analysis of the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates does not factor in a potential change in sales levels or local currency prices.  The translation adjustment during 2003 was a gain of $7,789,000.  On December 31, 2003, the British pound closed at .5599 relative to 1.00 U.S. dollar, and the Euro dollar closed at 1.2579 relative to 1.00 U.S. dollar.  By comparison, on December 31, 2002, the British pound closed at .6212 relative to 1.00 U.S. dollar, and Euro dollar closed at 1.0500 relative to 1.00 U.S. dollar.  No assurance can be given as to future valuation of the British pound or Euro or how further movements in those or other currencies could affect future earnings or the financial position of the Company.

21



Interest Rate Risk

            The Company's long-term debt bears interest at variable rates.  Accordingly, the Company's net income is affected by changes in interest rates.  Assuming the current level of borrowings at variable rates and a two hundred basis point change in the 2003 average interest rate under these borrowings, the Company's 2003 interest expense would have changed by approximately $280,000.  In the event of an adverse change in interest rates, management could take actions to mitigate its exposure.  However, due to the uncertainty of the actions that would be taken and their possible effects, this analysis assumes no such actions.  Further, this analysis does not consider the effects of the change in the level of overall economic activity that could exist in such an environment.

Item 8.  Financial Statements

      The financial statements and supplementary data described in Item 14(a)1 of this report and included on pages F‑1 through F‑25 of this Report are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

      None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

The Company has established a system of controls and other procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its periodic reports filed, as defined in Rules 13a - 14(c) and 15d-14(c), under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms.  These disclosure controls and procedures were evaluated under the direction of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Accounting Officer on March 5, 2004, within the last 90 days.  Based on such evaluations, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Accounting Officer have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective.  There have been no significant changes in the Company's system of internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the evaluation by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Accounting Officer.

PART III

Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers

      There is incorporated in this Item 10, by reference, that portion of the Company's definitive proxy statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which appears therein under the captions "Item 1: Election of Directors," "Information Concerning Directors," and "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance."  See also the information under the caption "Executive Officers of the Company" in Part I of this Report.

The Board of Directors has delegated certain responsibilities to three Committees of the Board.  The Committees are the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee. The Board of Directors has also adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for all employees including the Chief Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer, Controller (principal accounting officer) and those individuals performing similar functions.

22



 

      The Committee Charters and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics may be found on the Company's website (www.alamo-group.com) under the "Our Commitment" tab and are also available in print by sending your request to the Corporate Secretary, Alamo Group Inc., 1502 E. Walnut Street, Seguin, Texas, 78155, which is the principal executive office of the company.  The telephone number is 830-379-1480.  We will post any amendments to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and any waivers that are required to be disclosed by the rules either the SEC or the NYSE, on our website.

Item 11.  Executive Compensation

      There is incorporated in this Item 11, by reference, that portion of the Company's definitive proxy statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which appears under the caption "Executive Compensation."

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

      There is incorporated in this Item 12, by reference, that portion of the Company's definitive proxy statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which appears under the caption "Beneficial Owners of Common Stock."

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

      There were no such reportable relationships or related transactions in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.  During 1999, the Company approved a supplemental retirement benefit for Donald J. Douglass which is paid on a quarterly basis over a period of fourteen and one-half years that began in the year 2000.  The balance at December 31, 2003 and 2002 were $584,000 and $618,000 and is included in the Accrued liabilities section of the Company's balance sheet.

Item 14.  Principal Accountant Fees and Services

     

      Information regarding principal accountant fees and services is set forth under the caption "Item 2. - - Appointment of Auditors" in the Company's definitive proxy statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and such information is information is incorporated by reference herein.

 

 

 

23



PART IV

Item 15.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)1.     Financial Statements

      The following consolidated financial statements of the Company are included following the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page F-1 of this Report.   

 

Page

Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets

F-3

Consolidated Statements of Income

F-4

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity

F-5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

F-6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

F-7

 

(a)2.     Financial Statement Schedules

      All schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable or not required under the instructions or the information requested is set forth in the consolidated financial statements or related notes thereto.

 

 

 

25



(a)3.     Exhibits

      The following Exhibits are incorporated by reference to the filing indicated or are included following the Index to Exhibits.

 INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

 

 

 

Incorporated by Reference

 

 

 

 

 

From the Following

 

Exhibits

 

Exhibit Title

 

Documents

 

 

3.1 

-

Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of Alamo Group Inc.

Form S-1, February 5, 1993

 

3.2 

-

By-Laws of Alamo Group Inc.

Form 10-K, March 29, 1996

 

*10.2 

-

1993 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, adopted by the Board of Directors on February 2, 1993

Form S-1, February 5, 1993

 

*10.3 

-

Alamo Group Inc. Executive Loan Program of 1991

Form S-1, March 18, 1993

 

*10.4 

-

1994 Incentive Stock Option Plan, adopted by the Board of Directors on January 25, 1994

Form 10-K, March 28, 1994

 

10.8 

-

Form of indemnification agreements with Directors of Alamo Group Inc.

Form 10-Q, May 15, 1997

10.9 

-

Form of indemnification agreements with certain executive officers of Alamo Group Inc.

Form 10-Q, May 15, 1997

*10.12 

-

Incentive Compensation Plan, adopted on December 9, 1997

Form 10-K, March 31, 1998

*10.13 

-

401(k) Restoration Plan for Highly Compensated Employees, adopted on December 9, 1997

Form 10-K, March 31, 1998

*10.19 

-

1999 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, adopted by the Board of Directors on July 7, 1999

Schedule 14A, July 30, 1999

*10.20 

-

Amended and Restated 1994 Incentive Stock Option Plan adopted by the Board of Directors on July 7, 1999

Schedule 14A, July 30, 1999

*10.21 

-

First Amended and Restated 1999 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, adopted by the Board of Directors on February 13, 2001

Schedule 14A, May 3, 2001

10.22 

-

$70,000,000 Unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement among Alamo Group Inc., the Guarantors, and Bank of America, N.A., Chase Manhattan Bank, and Guaranty Bank dated August 31, 2001

Form 10-Q, September 30, 2001

10.23 

First Loan Modification Agreement (to the $70,000,000 Unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement) dated September 26, 2002 Effective as of August 31, 2002.

Form 10-Q, September 30, 2002

10.24 

Third Amendment of Revolving Credit Agreement dated and effective June 13, 2003.

From 10-Q, June 30, 2003

21.1 

-

Subsidiaries of the Registrant

Filed Herewith

23.1 

-

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

Filed Herewith

31.1 

Certification by Ronald A. Robinson under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Filed Herewith

31.2 

Certification by Richard J. Wehrle under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Filed Herewith

32.1 

-

Certification by Ronald A. Robinson under Section 906 of the  Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Filed Herewith

32.2 

-

Certification by Richard J. Wehrle under Section 906 of the  Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Filed Herewith

*  Compensatory Plan

(b)    Reports on Form 8-K filed during the last quarter of 2003

Form 8-K dated November 7, 2003 - Press release announcing third quarter fiscal 2003 earnings.

 

 

25



 

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.

 

  ALAMO GROUP INC.
   
Date:  March 15, 2004 By:  /s/ RONALD A. ROBINSON      
       President and Chief Executive 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.

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

/s/  DONALD J. DOUGLASS
         Donald J. Douglass

Chairman of the Board and Director

March 15, 2004

 

/s   RONALD A. ROBINSON
         Ronald A. Robinson

President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director (Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer)

March 15, 2004

 

/s/  RICHARD J. WEHRLE
         Richard J. Wehrle

Vice President and Corporate Controller
 (Principal Accounting Officer)

March 15, 2004

 

/s/  JERRY E. GOLDRESS
         Jerry E. Goldress

Director

March 15, 2004

        

/s/  DAVID H. MORRIS       
         David H. Morris

Director

March 15, 2004

        

/s/  JAMES B. SKAGGS     
         James B. Skaggs

Director

March 15, 2004

        

/s/  WILLIAM R. THOMAS   
         William R. Thomas

Director

March 15, 2004

 



ALAMO GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

F-2

Consolidated Financial Statements

Consolidated Balance Sheets

            December 31, 2003 and 2002

F-3

Consolidated Statements of Income

            Years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

F-4

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity

            Years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

F-5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

            Years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

F-6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

F-7

 

 

 

 

 

F-1



Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

 

 

 

Board of Directors and Stockholders
Alamo Group Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Alamo Group Inc. and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003.  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 auditing standards generally accepted in the United States.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  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 Alamo Group Inc. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2003 and 2002 and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.

                                                                                          ERNST & YOUNG LLP

San Antonio, Texas
March 1, 2004

 

 

 

 

F-2



Alamo Group Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

 

December 31,

(in thousands, except share amounts)

 

 

2003  

 

 

2002  

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

3,281 

$

5,583 

Accounts receivable

64,263 

59,720 

Inventories

63,579 

63,512 

Deferred income taxes

2,465 

2,436 

Prepaid expenses

2,086 

1,593 

Total current assets

135,674 

132,844 

 

Property, plant and equipment

82,218 

75,160 

Less:  Accumulated depreciation

(49,991)

(43,431)

32,227 

31,729 

 

Goodwill

21,677 

19,873 

Assets held for sale

1,048 

1,430 

Other assets

3,598 

3,500 

 

Total assets

$

194,224 

$

189,376 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Trade accounts payable

$

18,098 

$

15,216 

Income taxes payable

1,724 

79 

Accrued liabilities

13,269 

12,680 

Current maturities of long-term debt

1,615 

2,583 

Total current liabilities

34,706 

30,558 

 

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

14,379 

27,833 

Deferred income taxes

1,072 

507 

Stockholders' equity:

Common stock, $.10 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized;
9,769,659 and 9,759,909 issued at December 31, 2003 and
December 31, 2002, respectively

977 

976 

Additional paid-in capital

51,439 

51,345 

Treasury stock, at cost; 42,600 shares at December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002.

(426)

(426)

Retained earnings

84,249 

78,544 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

7,828 

39 

Total stockholders' equity

144,067 

130,478 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

194,224 

$

189,376 

            See accompanying notes.

 

 

 F-3



 

Alamo Group Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income

  

Year Ended December 31,

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2003  

 

2002  

 

2001  

Net sales:

 North American

    Agricultural

$

108,075 

$

110,784 

$

97,978 

    Industrial

104,801 

100,905 

108,001 

 European

66,202 

47,746 

40,068 

Total net sales

279,078 

259,435 

246,047 

 

Cost of sales

219,316 

205,891 

186,518 

   Gross profit

59,762 

53,544 

59,529 

 

Selling, general and administrative expense

45,775 

42,112 

40,173 

   Income from operations

 

13,987 

11,432 

19,356 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(1,968)

(2,426)

(3,284)

Interest income

 

478 

503 

609 

Other income (expense), net

475 

265 

(75)

   Income before income taxes

 

12,972 

9,774 

16,606 

 

Provision for income taxes

4,934 

3,392 

5,794 

   Net income

$

8,038 

$

6,382 

$

10,812 

 

Net income per common share:

   Basic

$

.83 

$

.66 

$

1.11 

   Diluted

$

.82 

$

.65 

$

1.11 

Average common shares:

   Basic

9,721 

9,713 

9,706 

   Diluted

9,789 

9,789 

9,787 

See accompanying notes.

 

 

F-4



Alamo Group Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity

 

 

Common Stock

 

Additional
Paid-in

Treasury

 

Retained

Accumulated Other
Comprehensive

 

Total Stock-
holders'

(in thousands)

Shares

Amount

Capital

Stock

Earnings

Income

Equity

 

Balance at December 31, 2000

9,704

$

974 

$

50,969 

$

(400)

$

66,010 

$

(3,014)

$

 114,539 

 

    Net income

-

-

-

-

10,812 

-

10,812 

    Cumulative effect of a change in accounting for derivative financial instruments upon adoption of FAS 133, net of taxes $27

-

-

-

-

-

(50)

-

    Net derivative loss, net of taxes $27

-

-

-

-

-

(49)

-

    Reclassification adjustment for loss included in net income, net of taxes $41

-

-

-

-

-

76 

-

    

(23)

    Translation adjustment

-

-

-

-

-

(1,474)

(1,497)

    Total comprehensive income

-

-

-

-

-

-

9,315 

    Purchase of treasury stock, at cost

(2)

-

-

(26)

-

-

(26)

    Sale of common stock

313 

-

-

-

314 

    Dividends paid ($.24 per share)

-

-

-

-

(2,329)

-

(2,329)

Balance at December 31, 2001

9,711 

$

975 

$

51,282 

$

(426)

$

74,493 

$

(4,511)

$

 121,813 

 

    Net income

-

-

-

-

6,382 

-

6,382 

    Net derivative gain, net of taxes $20

-

-

-

-

-

37 

-

    Reclassification adjustment for gain included in net income, net of taxes $12

-

-

-

-

-

23 

-

   

60 

    Translation adjustment

-

-

-

-

-

4,490 

4,550 

    Total comprehensive income

-

-

-

-

-

10,932 

    Sale of common stock

63 

-

-

64 

    Dividends paid ($.24 per share)

-

-

-

(2,331)

-

(2,331)

Balance at December 31, 2002

9,717 

$

976 

$

51,345 

$

(426)

$

78,544 

$

39 

$

130,478 

 

    Net income

-

-

-

-

8,038 

-

8,038 

    Net derivative gain, net of taxes $46

-

-

-

-

-

82 

-

    Reclassification adjustment for gain included in net income, net of taxes $20

-

-

-

-

-

(37)

-

    

45 

    Translation adjustment

-

-

-

-

-

7,744 

7,789 

    Total comprehensive income

-

-

-

-

-

15,827 

    Sale of common stock

10 

94 

-

-

95 

    Dividends paid ($.24 per share)

-

-

-

(2,333)

-

(2,333)

Balance at December 31, 2003

9,727 

$

977 

$

51,439 

$

(426)

$

84,249 

$

7,828 

$

144,067 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

F-5



Alamo Group Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

  

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

(in thousands)

 

2003   

 

 

2002  

 

 

2001   

 

Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

Net income

$

8,038 

 

$

6,382 

 

$

10,812 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
    operating activities:

 

 

 

 

        Provision for doubtful accounts

303 

 

 

637 

 

 

372 

        Depreciation

5,642 

 

 

5,368 

 

 

4,416 

        Amortization

248 

 

 

181 

 

 

1,914 

        Provision for deferred income tax benefit

520 

 

 

(48)

 

 

1,136 

        Gain on sale of  equipment

(528)

 

 

(40)

 

 

(1,676)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions:

 

 

 

 

 

        Accounts receivable

(2,400)

 

 

(1,177)

 

 

(4,241)

        Inventories

2,988 

 

 

9,039 

 

 

(998)

        Prepaid expenses and other

682 

 

 

3,732 

 

 

1,459 

        Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities

1,238 

 

 

3,710 

 

 

(5,215)

        Income taxes payable

1,497 

 

 

(186)

 

 

251 

Net cash provided by operating activities

18,228 

 

 

27,598 

 

 

8,230 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

-

 

 

(9,408)

 

 

(7,880)

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

(4,966)

 

 

(5,479)

 

 

(7,074)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

876 

 

 

287 

 

 

2,516 

Purchase of long-term investment

-

 

 

201 

 

 

-

Equity method investment

-

 

 

(779)

 

 

-

Net cash used by investing activities

(4,090)

 

 

(15,178)

 

 

(12,438)

 

 

 

 

 

Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in bank revolving credit facility

(13,000)

(8,200)

6,400 

Principal payments on long-term debt and capital leases

(1,428)

(871)

1,189 

Dividends paid

(2,333)

(2,331)

(2,329)

Proceeds from sale of common stock 

95 

65 

312 

Cost of common stock repurchased

-

-

(26)

Net cash provided (used) by financing activities

(16,666)

(11,337)

5,546 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

226 

314 

(81)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

(2,302)

1,397 

1,257 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year

5,583 

4,186 

2,929 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year

$

3,281 

$

5,583 

$

4,186 

 

Cash paid during the year for:

    Interest

$

2,199 

$

2,033 

$

3,379 

    Income taxes

3,107 

3,830 

5,091 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

F-6



1.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of the Business and Segments

      The Company manufactures, distributes and services high quality equipment for right-of-way maintenance and agriculture.  Our products include tractor-mounted mowing and other vegetation maintenance equipment, street sweepers, agricultural implements and related after market parts and services.

      Effective January 1, 1998, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information (Statement 131).  Statement 131 superseded FASB Statement No. 14, Financial Reporting for Segments of a Business Enterprise.  Statement 131 establishes standards for the way that public business enterprises report information about operating segments in annual financial statements and requires that those enterprises report selected information about operating segments in interim financial reports.  Statement 131 also establishes standards for related disclosures about products and services, geographic areas and major customers.  The adoption of Statement 131 did not affect results of operations or financial position.  The Company manages its business in three principal reporting segments; Agricultural, Industrial, and European.  The adoption of Statement 131 requires segment reporting and certain geographic disclosures, which are included in Footnotes 13 and 14.

Basis of Consolidation

        The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Alamo Group Inc. and its subsidiaries ("the Company"), all of which are wholly owned.  Other investments are accounted for under the equity method or the cost method.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. 

Use of Estimates

      The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Foreign Currency

      The Company translates the assets and liabilities of foreign-owned subsidiaries at rates in effect at the end of the year.  Revenues and expenses are translated at average rates in effect during the reporting period.  Translation adjustments are included in accumulated comprehensive income within the statement of stockholders' equity.

      The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge its exposure on material foreign currency transactions.  The Company does not hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes.  Changes in the market value of the foreign currency instruments are recognized in the financial statements upon settlement of the hedged transaction.  At December 31, 2003, the Company had $2,090,000 in outstanding forward exchange contracts related to sales and a foreign currency forward contract of $13,307,000 relating to a short-term inter-company cash transfer maturing in January 2004.  The maximum exposure of the December 31, 2003 contracts that the Company expects to incur during the first quarter of 2004 is approximately a $82,000 gain.  Foreign currency transaction gains or losses are included in Other income (expense), net.  For 2003, 2002 and 2001, such transactions netted a gain of $370,000, a gain of $37,000, and a loss of $117,000, respectively.

Cash Equivalents

      Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with a maturity date no longer than 90 days.

 

 

F-7



Concentrations of Credit Risk

      Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of accounts receivable.  The credit risk is limited because of the large numbers and types of customers and their geographic dispersion.

Inventories

      Inventories of U.S. operating subsidiaries are principally stated at the lower of cost (last-in, first-out method) ("LIFO") or market, and the Company's international subsidiaries' inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) ("FIFO") or market.

Property, Plant and Equipment

      Property, plant, and equipment are stated on the basis of cost.  Major renewals and betterments are charged to the property accounts while replacements, maintenance and repairs, which do not improve or extend the lives of the respective assets, are expensed currently.  Depreciation is provided at amounts calculated to amortize the cost of the assets over their estimated useful economic lives using the straight-line method.

Goodwill

      Goodwill is related to purchase acquisitions and, with minor exceptions, was being amortized over fifteen years from respective acquisition dates.  Goodwill is shown net of amortization of $8,876,000 and $8,724,000 for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.  The difference in the accumulated amortization between 2003 and 2002 is the translation adjustment relating to goodwill in the Company's foreign operations.  In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" (FAS 142).

      Upon adoption of FAS 142, amortization of existing goodwill ceased and the remaining book value is tested for impairment at least annually at the reporting unit level using a detailed impairment test.  Provisions of FAS 142 states that any impairment loss identified upon adoption of this standard is recognized as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle.  Any impairment loss recognized of FAS 142 is recorded as a charge to current period earnings.

      On January 1, 2002, the Company adopted statement FAS 142 and established its annual review for impairment as of December 31.  Based on the analysis completed, at December 31, 2003, the Company's review indicated no impairment of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and no write-off was required.  The Company will review for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if deemed necessary.  At December 31, 2003 the net book value of goodwill was $21,677,000 and at December 31, 2002, the net book value was $19,873,000.  The increase was all due to changes in currency exchange rates.

 

 

F-8



The following table shows the effect of the adoption of FAS 142 on the Company's net income as of December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 as if the adoption had occurred on January 1, 2000:

Actual

 

Actual

 

Pro-forma 

December 31,

(in thousands, except earnings per share)

2003 

 

2002  

 

2001  

Net Income - as reported

$

8,038

$

6,382

$

10,812 

Amortization (net of tax)

-

-

1,129 

Adjusted Net Income

$

8,038

$

6,382

$

11,941 

Basic Earnings per share - as reported

$

0.83

$

0.66

$

1.11 

Amortization (net of tax)

-

-

0.12 

Adjusted Basic Earnings per share

$

0.83

$

0.66

$

1.23 

Diluted Earnings per share - as reported

$

0.82

$

0.65

$

1.11 

Amortization (net of tax)

-

-

0.12 

Adjusted Diluted Earnings per share

$

0.82

$

0.65

$

1.23 

Long-Term Investments

      At December 31, 2003 and 2002, the Company had $1,799,000 invested in a Small Business Investment Company which is carried at cost in Other assets.  The Company received a payment of $201,000 during the second quarter of 2002 which was treated as a return of capital.  Due to inherent risk factors in such investments, the ultimate realization of these amounts, included in Other assets in the accompanying financial statements, is not determinable at this date.

Patents and Trademarks                                                                                                                      

      The Company owns various U.S. and international patents which had a net book value of $887,000 as of December 31, 2003 and $949,000 as of December 31, 2002.  It expensed approximately $62,000 in 2003, $93,000 in 2002, and $99,000 in 2001 as amortization against these patents.  While the Company considers its patents to be advantageous to its business, it is not dependent on any single patent or group of patents.

Related Party Transactions

      There were no such reportable relationships or related transactions in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.  Notes Receivable from a retired officer of the Company was zero for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002.  Notes Receivable from Mr. Douglass, Chairman of the Board, were prepaid in their entirety during 2002.  During 1999, the Company approved a supplemental retirement benefit for Donald J. Douglass which is paid on a quarterly basis over a period of fourteen and one-half years that began in the year 2000.  The balance at December 31, 2003 and 2002 were $584,000 and $618,000 and is included in the Accrued liabilities section of the Company's balance sheet.

Revenue Recognition

      The Company recognizes revenue when each of the following four criteria are met: 1) a contract or sales arrangement exists; 2) products have been shipped per agreed terms and title has been transferred or services have been rendered; 3) the price of the products or services is fixed or determinable; and 4) collectibility is reasonably assured.  Pre-season sales orders are solicited in the fall in advance of the dealer's sales season in the spring and summer.  Pre-season sales orders are shipped beginning in the fall and continuing through the spring and represent an opportunity for the Company's factories to level their production/shipping volumes through the winter months.  These pre-season shipments carry descending discounts in conjunction with delayed payment terms of up to six months from the dealer's requested delivery date.  Revenue from sales is recorded net of a provision for discounts that are anticipated to be earned and deducted at time of payment by the customer.  These approximated discounts represent an average of historical amounts taken and are adjusted as program terms are changed.  The reserves for discounts are reviewed and adjusted quarterly.

F-9



Accounting for Internal Use Software

      The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position 98-1, "Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use" (SOP 98-1) in March 1998.  SOP 98-1 provides guidance on accounting for the costs of computer software developed or obtained for internal use and identifies characteristics of internal-use software.  The Company's accounting policy with respect to accounting for computer software developed or obtained for internal use is consistent with SOP 98-1.  The Company has purchased and capitalized approximately $1,694,000 net of depreciation at December 31, 2003 and approximately $1,959,000 net of depreciation at December 31, 2002.  The internal use software is amortized for financial reporting purposes using the straight-line method over the estimated life of seven years.

Shipping and Handling Costs

      In September 2000, the Emerging Issues Task Force issued EITF 00-10, which requires disclosure of shipping and handling costs that are not included in costs of goods sold.  The Company's policy is to include shipping and handling costs in costs of goods sold.

Advertising

      We charge advertising costs to expense as incurred.  Advertising and marketing expense related to operations for fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001 was approximately $2,162,000, $3,015,000 and $2,301,000, respectively.  Advertising and marketing expense is included in Selling, general and administrative expense ("SG&A").

Research and Development

      Product development and engineering costs charged to Selling, general and administrative expense amounted to $2,953,000, $2,612,000, and $2,405,000 for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. 

Federal Income Taxes

      Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using presently enacted tax rates and laws.

Reclassification

      Certain prior year balances have been reclassified in order to conform with the current financial statement presentation.

 

 

F-10



Stock-Based Compensation

      Effective January 1, 1996, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 ("SFAS 123"), Accounting for Stock Based Compensation, and elected to continue to use the intrinsic value method in accounting for its stock option plans.  Accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized in the financial statements for these plans.  Had compensation costs for the Company's stock based employee compensation plans been determined based upon a fair value method consistent with SFAS 123, the Company's net income and earnings per share would have been decreased to the pro forma amounts indicated below.

                   

December 31,

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

2003  

 

2002  

 

2001  

Net income as reported

$

8,038 

$

6,382 

$

10,812 

 Fair Value of

   Compensation cost (tax affected)

(301)

(172)

(157)

   Pro forma Net Income

7,737 

6,210 

10,655 

 Earnings per share (diluted)

   As reported

$

0.82 

$

0.65 

$

1.11 

       Fair Value of Compensation Cost

(0.03)

(0.02)

(0.02)

 

Pro forma earnings per share

$

0.79 

$

0.63 

$

1.09 

      The Company calculated the fair value for these options using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weight average assumptions for 2003, 2002, and 2001:

                   

December 31,

2003  

 

2002  

 

2001  

 

 

Risk-free interest rate

4.0%

6.0%

6.0%

 

Dividend Yield

0.0-3.8%

0.0-3.8%

0.0-3.8%

 

Volatility Factors

24-68%

24-68%

24-68%

 

Weighted Average Expected Life

4 years

3.3 years

4.0 years

 

 

 

F-11



2.  EARNINGS PER SHARE

      The following table sets forth the reconciliation from basic to diluted average common shares and the calculations of net income per common share.  Net income for basic and diluted calculations does not differ.

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

2003  

 

2002 

 

2001  

 

Net income

$

8,038 

$

6,382

$

10,812

 

 

Average common shares:

 

   BASIC (weighted-average outstanding shares) ...

9,721

9,713

9,706

 

 

   Dilutive potential common shares from stock
      options and warrants

68

76

81

 

   DILUTED (weighted-average outstanding shares)

9,789

9,789

9,787

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

$

0.83

$

0.66

$

1.11

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

$

0.82

$

0.65

$

1.11

 

      Stock options totaling 48,610 shares in 2003 and 24,092 shares in 2002, were not included in the average diluted earnings per share calculation as the exercise price was above the market price at certain times during 2003 and 2002, which made them antidilutive.

3.  TERMINATION OF OPERATIONS

      On November 30, 2001, the Company completed the closing of its manufacturing facilities (agricultural segment) in Guymon and Wakita, Oklahoma.  The inventory and some of the assets were relocated to its Indianola, Iowa location.  The remaining machinery and equipment as well as the land and building are currently assets held for sale at their net book value of $1,048,000.  The value was reduced by $200,000 during 2003 and expensed in Other Income (Expense) due to impairment concerns about the book value of the machinery and equipment based on the Company's analysis of the market for this type of equipment.  On February 27, 2001, the Company sold its trucking operations and on December 31, 2001, sold its related land and building in Seguin, Texas.  The Company closed one of its warehouses located in Seguin, Texas during the third quarter of 2002.  Also in the third quarter of 2002 the Company consolidated its Valu-Bilt Operations in Des Moines, Iowa, into its Herschel facility in Indianola, Iowa.

 

 

F-12


 


4.  VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

Valuation and qualifying accounts included the following:

(in thousands)

 

Balance
Beginning of
Year

 

Net
Charged to
Costs and
Expenses

 

 

Translations,
Reclassifications
and Acquisitions

 

 

Net Write-Offs or
 Discounts Taken

 

 

Balance
End of
Year

2003

Allowance for doubtful accounts

$     1,733 

$          431 

$                118 

$             (574)

$  1,708 

Reserve for sales discounts

5,414 

16,279 

(90)

(16,663)

4,940 

Reserve for inventory obsolescence

4,454 

68 

475 

(384)

4,613 

2002

Allowance for doubtful accounts

$     1,266 

$         683 

$                75 

$             (291)

$  1,733 

Reserve for sales discounts

4,549 

15,512 

10 

(14,657)

5,414 

Reserve for inventory obsolescence

3,857 

430 

547 

(380)

4,454 

2001

Allowance for doubtful accounts

$     1,322 

$         361 

$                27 

$             (443)

$  1,266 

Reserve for sales discounts

4,105 

14,802 

(3)

(14,355)

4,549 

Reserve for inventory obsolescence

4,201 

421 

452 

(1,217)

3,857 

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company evaluates the collectibility of its accounts receivable based on a combination of factors.  In circumstances where it is aware of a specific customer's inability to meet its financial obligations, it records a specific reserve to reduce the amounts recorded to what it believes will be collected.  For all other customers, it recognizes reserves for bad debt based on historical experience of bad debts as a percent of revenues for each business unit, adjusted for relative improvements or deteriorations in the agings and changes in current economic conditions.

      The Company evaluates all aged receivables that are over 60 days old and will reserve specifically on a 90-day basis.  The Company has a secured interest on most of its wholegoods each customer purchases.  This allows the Company, in times of a difficult economy when the customer is unable to pay or has filed for bankruptcy (usually Chapter 11), to repossess the customer's inventory.  This allows Alamo Group to maintain only a reserve over its cost which usually represents the margin on the original sales price.

      The bad debt reserve balance was $1,708,000 at December 31, 2003, and $1,733,000 at December 31, 2002.

Sales Discounts

      At December 31, 2003, the Company had $4,940,000 in reserves for sales discounts compared to $5,414,000 at December 31, 2002, on product shipped to our customers under various promotional programs.  The decrease was primarily from lower discounts given on the Company's Rhino and M&W products during the pre-season, which runs from September to December of each year.  The Company reviews the reserve quarterly based on analysis made on each program outstanding at the time.

F-13



      The Company bases its reserves on historical data relating to discounts taken by the customer under each program.  85% to 95% of the Company's customers, who qualify for each program, actually take the discount that is available.

 

Inventories - - Obsolescence and Slow Moving

      The Company had $4,613,000 at December 31, 2003 and $4,454,000 at December 31, 2002 in reserve to cover obsolescence and slow moving inventory.  The increase was mainly due to exchange rate fluctuations.  The obsolescence and slow moving policy states that the reserve is to be calculated on a basis of: 1) Inventory with a quantity on hand and no usage over a three year period is deemed obsolete and reserved at 100 percent and 2) slow moving inventory with little usage requires a 100 percent reserve on items that have a quantity greater than a three year supply.  There may be exceptions to the obsolete and slow moving classifications if approved by an officer of the Company based on specific identification of an item or items that is deemed to be either included or excluded from this classification.

      The reserve is reviewed and if necessary, adjustments made, on a quarterly basis.  The Company relies on historical information to support its reserve.  Once the inventory is written down, the Company does not adjust the reserve balance until the inventory is sold.

5.  INVENTORIES

      Inventories valued at LIFO cost represented 57% and 59% of total inventory for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.  The excess of current costs over LIFO-valued inventories was $4,853,000 and $4,381,000 at December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively.  On the 2003 and 2002 Income Statements, the impact was $472,000 of expense and $374,000 of Income, respectively.  Inventories consisted of the following on a basis net of reserves:

December 31,

(in thousands)

2003  

2002  

Finished wholegoods and parts

$

51,757

$

52,742

Work in process

5,189

4,950

Raw materials

6,633

5,820

$

63,579

$

63,512

           

6.  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

      Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:

December 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2003 

 

2002 

Useful
Lives

 

Land

$

5,414 

$

4,587 

Buildings and improvements

27,570 

23,174 

15-25 yrs.

Machinery and equipment

34,330 

34,134 

5 yrs.

Office furniture and equipment

8,835 

7,438 

5 yrs.

Computer Software

2,422 

2,348 

7 yrs.

Transportation equipment

3,647 

3,479 

3-5 yrs.   

82,218 

75,160 

Accumulated depreciation

(49,991)

(43,431)

$

32,227 

$

31,729 

     

 

F-14



 

      Property, plant and equipment at December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, include $2,058,000 and $2,276,000, respectively, for buildings, machinery and equipment held under capitalized leases.  Accumulated depreciation at December 31, 2003 and 2002 were $1,050,000 and $816,000 respectively.

 

 

 

 

 

F-15



7.  ACCRUED LIABILITIES

      Accrued liabilities consist of the following balances:

December 31,

(in thousands)

2003 

 

2002 

Salaries, wages and bonuses

$

4,690

$

3,411

Warranty

3,093

2,899

State taxes

1,828

1,069

Pensions

1,220

971

Accrued interest

75

313

Other

2,363

4,017

$

13,269

$

12,680

 

8.  LONG-TERM DEBT

      The components of long-term debt are as follows:

December 31,

(in thousands)

2003 

 

2002 

Bank revolving credit facility

$

14,000

$

27,000

Capital lease obligations

562

1,164

Other notes payable

1,432

2,252

Total long-term debt

15,994

30,416

Less current maturities

1,615

2,583

$

14,379

$

27,833

        The Company entered into a $70,000,000 contractually committed, unsecured, long-term bank revolving credit facility on August 31, 2001, under which the Company could borrow and repay until September 30, 2003, with interest at variable rate options based upon Prime or Libor rates, with such rates either floating on a daily basis or fixed for periods up to 180 days.  Proceeds may be used for general corporate purposes or, subject to certain limitations, acquisition activities.  The loan agreement contains the following financial covenants, Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Minimum Consolidated Tangible Net Worth, Consolidated Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio, and Minimum Asset Coverage Ratio, and limitations on dividends, indebtedness, liens and investments.  For more information the unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement was filed on September 30, 2001 on Form 10-Q as shown in the Exhibits to this filing.  On September 26, 2002 but effective August 31, 2002, the Company and its lenders agreed to extend the final maturity of its long-term revolving credit facility to August 31, 2004.  As of December 31, 2003, there was $14,000,000 borrowed under the revolving credit facility.  At December 31, 2003, $2,880,000 of the revolver capacity was committed to irrevocable standby letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business as required by vendor's contracts.  There are three smaller additional lines of credit, one for the Company's European operation in the amount of 4,000,000 British pounds, one for our Canadian operation in the amount of 3,000,000 Canadian dollars, and one for our Australia operation in the amount of 1,300,000 Australian dollars.  The Australian facility is secured by a letter of credit issued by the Company.  As of December 31, 2003 there were no British pounds borrowed against the European line of credit, 720,000 Canadian dollars against the Canadian line of credit and 500,000 Australian dollars outstanding under its facility.  The Canadian revolving credit facility is guaranteed by the Company.  The Company's borrowing levels for working capital are seasonal with the greatest utilization generally occurring in the first quarter and early spring.

      At March 31, 2003, the Company was in technical default with one of its financial covenants under its $70,000,000 Revolving Credit Agreement.  The Company fell short in meeting its first quarter 2003 operating leverage ratio (as defined by the Agreement) which was based on total funded debt to operating cash flow or Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA").  Effective May 1, 2003, the Company obtained a waiver for the first quarter of 2003 through June 15, 2003.  Effective June 13, 2003, the Company and its lenders entered into an amendment to the Revolving Credit Agreement.  The principle changes were an increase in operating leverage ratio from 2.5 to 1 to 3.0 to 1 and extending the final maturity one year to August 31, 2005. The amendment in its entirety was filed, as an exhibit to the Company's 10-Q for the quarter ending June 30, 2003.  As of December 31, 2003, the Company is in compliance with the terms and conditions of its credit facilities.

F-16



 

      The aggregate maturities of long-term debt, as of December 31, 2003, are as follows: $1,615,000 in 2004, $14,326,000 in 2005, $29,000 in 2006, zero in 2007 and zero in 2008 and $24,000 thereafter.

      The fair value of the Company's debt is based on secondary market indicators.  Since the Company's debt is not quoted, estimates are based on each obligation's characteristics, including remaining maturities, interest rate, credit rating, collateral, amortization schedule and liquidity.  The carry amount approximates fair value.

9.  INCOME TAXES

      U.S. and non-U.S. income before income taxes is as follows:

 

December 31,

(in thousands)

 

2003

 

 

2002

 

 

2001

Income before income taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

   North American - U.S.

$

4,961 

$

2,538

$

11,473

   International

8,011 

7,236

5,133

$

12,972 

$

9,774

$

16,606

      The provision for income taxes consists of:

December 31,

(in thousands)

2003

2002

2001

Current:

   Federal

$

1,412 

$

820 

$

2,848 

   Foreign

2,731 

2,472 

1,654 

   State

255 

155 

274 

4,398 

3,447 

4,776 

Deferred:

   Federal

486 

12 

992 

   Foreign

50 

(67)

26 

536 

(55)

1,018 

       Total income taxes

$

4,934 

$

3,392 

$

5,794 

      Reconciliation of the statutory U.S. federal rate to actual tax rate is as follows:

December 31,

(in thousands)

2003

2002

2001

Statutory U.S. federal tax at 34%

$

4,410 

$

3,323 

$

5,646 

   Increase (reduction) from:

      Non-U.S. taxes

57 

(55)

(65)

      U.S. State taxes

168 

102 

180 

      Other

299 

22 

33 

Provision for income taxes

$

4,934 

$

3,392 

$

5,794 

Actual tax rate

38%

35%

35%

     

F-17



 

     At December 31, 2003, the Company had unremitted earnings of international subsidiaries of $37,148,000.  These earnings, which reflect full provision for non-U.S. income taxes, are indefinitely reinvested in non-U.S. operations or can be remitted without substantial additional tax.  Accordingly, no provision has been made for taxes that might be payable upon remittance of such earnings nor is it practical to determine the amount of this liability.

      The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the balance sheets are as follows:

December 31,

(in thousands)

2003

 

2002

Current:

    Deferred tax assets:

    Inventory

$

1,084 

$

1,215 

    Accounts receivable

1,516 

1,691 

    Insurance

225 

315 

    Other

1,139 

948 

3,964 

4,169 

    Deferred tax liabilities

$

(1,499)

$

(1,733)

Net current deferred tax asset

$

2,465 

$

2,436 

Non-Current:

    Deferred tax assets:

    Depreciation

183 

219 

    Deferred compensation

275 

323 

      Other

1,285 

1,304 

1,743 

1,846 

    Deferred tax liabilities:

    Difference between book and tax basis

2,815 

2,353 

Net non-current tax (liability)

$

(1,072)

$

(507)

      Net current deferred tax assets were $2,465,000 in 2003 and $2,436,000 in 2002.  Net non-current deferred tax liabilities were $1,072,000 in 2003 and $507,000 in 2002.

10.  COMMON STOCK

      The Company was authorized by its Board of Directors in 1997 to repurchase up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock to be funded through working capital and credit facility borrowings.  No shares were repurchased in 2002 or 2003.  The authorization to repurchase shares remains available.

      Subsequent to December 31, 2003, the Company declared and paid a dividend of $.06 per share.

11.   STOCK OPTIONS

Incentive Options

      On April 28, 1994, the stockholders approved the 1994 Incentive Stock Option Plan ("1994 ISO Plan") for key employees.  Each option becomes vested and exercisable for up to 20% of the total optioned shares each year after grant.  Under the terms of this plan, the exercise price of the shares subject to each option granted would not be less than the fair market value of the common stock at the date the option is granted.  

      On August 31, 1999, the stockholders of the Company approved amending the 1994 ISO Plan.  The amendment was filed on Schedule 14A, dated July 30, 1999.  During the period ended December 31, 2003, options to purchase 72,000 shares had been granted.  At December 31, 2003, the Company had reserved 96,200 shares of common stock for these options.

 

F-18



 

      On February 12, 2003, the Board of Directors approved an administrative amendment to the ("1994 ISO Plan").  The amendment eliminates the mandatory minimum annual purchase requirement and eliminates the one month window to purchase vested options for any new option grants after February 12, 2003.

Following is a summary of activity in the Incentive Stock Option Plan for the periods indicated:

December 31,

2003  

 

2002  

 

2001  

Options outstanding at beginning of year

96,600 

86,600 

92,550 

     Granted

72,000 

21,000 

16,000 

     Exercised

(9,750)

(6,000)

(9,150)

     Cancelled

(12,000)

(5,000)

(12,800)

Options outstanding at end of year

146,850 

96,600 

86,600 

Options exercisable at end of year

45,250 

34,000 

20,800 

Options available for grant at end of year

96,200 

156,200 

172,200 

      Per share option prices, for options outstanding at December 31, 2003, ranged from $8.9375 to $14.63.

Non-qualified Options

      On February 2, 1993, the Company granted non-qualified options for 200,000 shares of common stock to key employees of the Company at $11.50 per share.  Each option became vested and exercisable for up to 20% of the total optioned shares after one year following the grant of the option and for an additional 20% of the total optioned shares after each succeeding year until the option is fully exercisable at the end of the fifth year.  During 2003, 2002 and 2001, no shares were exercised, and the remaining 20,000 options remain outstanding unexercised and expired on January 30, 2003.

      On July 7, 1999, the Company granted 200,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock from the 1999 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan to Mr. Robinson, CEO and President at an exercised price of $8.9375 per share being the closing price of the Company's Common Stock on the grant date.  Each option becomes vested and exercisable for up to 20% of the total optioned shares after one year following the grant of the option and for an additional 20% of the total optioned shares after each succeeding year until the option is fully exercisable.  During 2003, 2002 and 2001, no shares were exercised.

      On May 3, 2001, the Stockholders of the Company approved the First Amended and Restated 1999 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan ("FAR 1999 NQSO Plan") to add non-employee directors as eligible persons to receive grants of stock options.  The Company then granted an option to purchase 5,000 shares each of the Company's Common Stock to Messrs. Goldress, Morris, Skaggs, and Thomas, respectively, at an exercise price of $13.96 per share being the closing price of the Company's Common Stock on the grant date.  Each option becomes vested and exercisable for up to 20% of the total optioned shares after one year following the grant of the option and for an additional 20% of the total optioned shared after each succeeding year until the option is fully exercisable.    During 2002, 500 shares were exercised.  No shares were exercised in 2003.

      On May 12, 2003 the Company granted an additional option under the FAR 1999 NQSO Plan to purchase 5,000 each shares of the Company's Common Stock to Messrs. Goldress, Morris, Skaggs and Thomas, respectively, and 50,000 shares to Mr. Robinson at an exercise price of $12.10 per share, being the closing price of the Company's Common Stock on the grant date.   Each option becomes vested and exercisable for up to 20% of the total optioned shares after one year following the grant of the option and for an additional 20% of the total optioned shares after each succeeding year until the option is fully exercisable.

F-19



 

      Following is a summary of activity in the non-qualified option plans for the periods indicated:

December 31,

2003  

2002  

2001  

Options outstanding at beginning of year.

239,500 

240,000 

220,000 

     Granted

70,000 

25,000 

     Exercised

(500)

     Cancelled

(20,000)

(5,000)

Options outstanding at end of year

289,500 

239,500 

240,000 

Options exercisable at end of year

167,500 

143,500 

100,000 

Options available for grant at end of year

130,000 

180,000 

180,000 

        Per share option prices, for options outstanding at December 31, 2003, ranged from $8.9375 to $13.96.

12.  RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

      The Company provides a defined contribution 401(k) retirement and savings plan for eligible U.S. employees.  Company matching contributions are based on a percentage of employee contributions.  Company contributions to the plan during 2003, 2002 and 2001 were $814,000, $779,000, and $643,000, respectively.  A U.S. subsidiary of the Company has an Hourly Employee Pension Plan of Trust covering collective bargaining.  The Company contributed $42,000 for the Plan year ending December 31, 2003.

      Four of the Company's international subsidiaries also participate in a defined contribution and savings plan covering eligible employees.  The Company's international subsidiaries contribute between 3% and 7.5% of the participant's salary up to a specific limit.  Contributions were $408,000 in 2003, $344,000 in 2002, and $350,000 in 2001.

13.  SEGMENT REPORTING

 At December 31, 2003, the following audited financial information is segmented: 

 

December 31,

(in thousands)

 

2003  

2002  

2001  

Net Revenue

 

      Agricultural

$

108,075

$

110,784

$

97,978

      Industrial

104,081

100,905

108,001

      European

66,202

47,746

40,068

Consolidated

279,078

259,435

246,047

 

Operating Income

      Agricultural

$

3,658

$

2,361

$

7,259

      Industrial

4,428

3,899

8,374

      European

5,901

5,172

3,723

Consolidated

13,987

11,432

19,356

 

Total Identifiable Assets

      Agricultural

$

84,114

$

79,548

$

82,219

      Industrial

61,824

58,884

63,835

      European

50,029

52,790

39,867

Consolidated

$

195,967

$

191,222

$

185,921

 

 

F-20



14.  INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

      Following is selected financial information on the Company's international operations:

December 31,

(in thousands)

2003  

2002  

2001  

Net sales

$

86,725

$

65,111

$

57,627

Income from operations

7,942

7,380

5,778

Income before income taxes and allocated interest expense

8,159

7,236

5,133

Identifiable assets

80,618

66,533

52,134

Following is other selected geographic financial information on the Company's operations:

December 31,

(in thousands)

2003  

2002  

2001  

Geographic net sales:

     United States

$

197,366

$

201,367

$

195,215

     United Kingdom

24,884

18,863

16,679

     France

34,882

21,260

17,316

     Canada

7,174

5,827

6,502

     Australia

8,026

5,561

4,080

     Other

6,746

6,557

6,256

Total net sales

$

279,078

$

259,435

$

246,047

Geographic location of long lived assets:

     United States

$

32,035

$

33,755

$

35,165

     United Kingdom

11,779

10,666

9,740

     France

6,427

5,250

2,661

     Canada

7,780

6,360

5,862

     Australia

188

199

278

Total long lived assets

$

58,209

$

56,230

$

53,706

      Net sales are attributed to countries based on the location of customers.

15. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

      As of January 1, 1998, the Company adopted Statement 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income.  The adoption of this Statement has no impact on the net income or stockholders' equity.  Statement 130 requires unrealized gains or losses on the Company's available-for-sale securities and foreign currency translation adjustments, which prior to adoption were reported in stockholders' equity, to be included, along with net income, in Comprehensive income. 

      For 2003, 2002 and 2001 the Company's Comprehensive Income was $15,827,000, $10,932,000, and $9,315,000, respectively.

The components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income are as follows:

December 31,

(in thousands)

2003  

 

2002 

 

2001  

Foreign currency translation adjustments

$

7,746  

$

(21) 

$

(4,488)

Net derivative gain (loss), net of taxes

82  

60  

(23)

Total accumulated other comprehensive income

7,828  

39  

(4,511)

 

 

F-21



16.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Leases

      The Company leases office space and transportation equipment under various operating leases, which generally are expected to be renewed or replaced by other leases.  The Company has certain capitalized leases consisting principally of leases of buildings.  At December 31, 2003, future minimum lease payments under these noncancelable leases and the present value of the net minimum lease payments for the capitalized leases are:

  

(in thousands)

Operating Leases

 

Capitalized Leases

2004

$

1,592

$

346

2005

829

294

2006

197

-

2007

35

-

2008

17

-

Thereafter

2

-

Total minimum lease payments

$

2,672

$

640

Less amount representing interest

78

Present value of net minimum lease payments

562

Less current portion

288

Long-term portion

$

274

     

      Rental expense for operating leases was $1,687,000 for 2003, $1,583,000 for 2002 and $1,687,000 for 2001.

Other

      The Company is subject to various unresolved legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of its business.  The most prevalent of such actions relates to product liability, which is generally covered by insurance.  While amounts claimed might be substantial and the ultimate liability with respect to such litigation cannot be determined at this time, the Company believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.

      The Company is subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations concerning air emissions, discharges into waterways and the generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste materials.  The Company's policy is to comply with all applicable environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, and the Company believes it is currently in material compliance with all such applicable laws and regulations.  These laws and regulations are constantly changing, and it is impossible to predict with accuracy the effect that changes to such laws and regulations may have on the Company in the future.  Like other industrial concerns, the Company's manufacturing operations entail the risk of noncompliance, and there can be no assurance that the Company will not incur material costs or other liabilities as a result thereof.  The Company knows that the Indianola, Iowa property on which its Herschel facility operates is contaminated with chromium.  The contamination likely resulted from chrome-plating operations which were discontinued several years before the Company purchased the property.  The Company has been working with an environmental consultant and the state of Iowa to develop and implement a plan to remediate the contamination.  All remediation costs through June of 2002 were paid by the previous owner of the property pursuant to the agreement by which the Company purchased the property. The successor to the previous owner is in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy proceedings and the Company filed a claim with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan.  During the second quarter of 2002, the Company settled all outstanding claims including the environmental claim with the successor and applied approximately $100,000 of the overall settlement towards the environmental reserve.  The balance in the environmental liability reserve at December 31, 2003 was $155,000.  The amount of potential liability has been estimated by an independent environmental engineering company to be between $100,000 and $250,000.

 

F-22



 

      The Company is subject to various other federal, state, and local laws affecting its business, as well as a variety of regulations relating to such matters as working conditions, equal employment opportunities and product safety.  A variety of state laws regulate the Company's contractual relationships with its dealers, some of which impose restrictive standards on the relationship between the Company and its dealers, including events of default, grounds for termination, non-renewal of dealer contracts and equipment repurchase requirements.  The Company believes it is currently in material compliance with all such applicable laws and regulations.

      The Company had an executive loan program pursuant to which the Company made loans to certain officers and employees of the Company to purchase stock of the Company.  The loans were subject to approval by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.  All loans are secured by a pledge of the shares being purchased.  Each loan bears interest at prime and is payable annually.  The executive loan program has been terminated and beginning March 2001, each employee must make annual principal payments equal to 10% of the amount loaned to the employee.  As of December 31, 2003, and 2002, $30,000 and $31,000, respectively, were outstanding under the program and are included in additional paid-in capital.  The executive loan program has expired.

17.  QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited)

      Summarized quarterly financial data for 2003 and 2002 is presented below.  Seasonal influences affect the Company's sales and profits with peak business occurring in May through August.  (In thousands, except per share amounts):

2003

 

2002

 

First

 

Second

 

Third

 

Fourth

 

First

 

Second

 

Third

 

Fourth

 

Sales

$

67,371

$

73,536

$

70,723

$

67,448

$

64,777

$

69,520

$

65,213

$

59,925 

Gross profit

12,388

16,844

16,490

14,040

14,361

15,415

14,130

9,638 

Net income (loss)

665

3,268

2,632

1,473

2,509

2,725

1,670

(522)

Earnings per share

    Diluted

$

0.07

$

0.33

$

0.27

$

0.15

$

0.26

$

0.28

$

0.17

$

(0.05)

Average shares  

    Diluted

9,764

9,767

9,800

9,822

9,793

9,809

9,787

9,717 

Dividends per share

$

0.06

$

0.06

$

0.06

$

0.06

$

0.06

$

0.06

$

0.06

$

0.06 

Market price of common stock

    High

$

12.47

$

12.25

$

14.92

$

15.81

$

16.50

$

17.15

$

16.40

$

12.75 

    Low

$

11.25

$

11.40

$

12.06

$

14.20

$

13.50

$

15.00

$

12.30

$

11.25 

18.  ACQUISITIONS AND INVESTMENTS

During 2002 the Company made the following acquisition:

F-23



      The pro forma statement of the Company assuming the transactions were completed at January 1, 2002 is listed in the following table:

December 31,

 

(in thousands except for per share)

 

2002

Net Sales

$

289,305

 

Net Income

$

7,424

 

Diluted Earnings per Share

$

0.76

 

 

 

 

      The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of the Company's assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of merger:

December 31,

(in thousands)

2002

 

Current assets

$

11,169

 

Property, plant and equipment

2,345

 

Intangible assets

697

 

Other assets

40

 

   Total assets acquired

$

14,251

 

 

 

Current liabilities

4,518

 

Long-term debt

-

 

Deferred income taxes

-

 

Other long-term liabilities

-

 

   Total liabilities assumed

$

4,518

 

    Net assets acquired

$

9,733

 

 

 

 

19. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

      On February 6, 2004, the Company announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Rousseau Holding, S.A., a leading French manufacturer of right of way mowing and other vegetation maintenance equipment, parts and service.  The Company anticipates that the transaction will close in March, subject to customary closing conditions and review by French anti-trust authorities.

      Rousseau is located near Lyon, France and was founded in 1962.  During 2003, Rousseau had annual revenue of approximately €16 million (approx. $19 million) with 135 employees.  Historically the majority of their sales have been in France.

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 F-24