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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

 

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

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission file number 1-9511

 

THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   94-2490990
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
350 Woodview Avenue, Morgan Hill, California   95037
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(408) 782-6686

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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

 

Common Stock, par value, $.001 per share   American Stock Exchange
(Title of Class)   (Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:   None

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports); and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES þ    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. þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes ¨    No þ

 

The aggregate market value of the outstanding shares of common stock held by non-affiliates of Registrant as of June 30, 2003, which was determined on the basis of the closing price of Registrant’s shares on that date, was approximately $12,068,000.

 

As of March 12, 2004, a total of 4,548,098 shares of Registrant’s Common Stock were outstanding.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Except as otherwise stated therein, Part III of the Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting which is expected to be filed on or before April 30, 2004.


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THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC.

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
No.


Forward Looking Statements

   1

Part I

         

        Item 1

  

Business

   1

        Item 2

  

Properties

   4

        Item 3

  

Legal Proceedings

   5

        Item 4

  

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Securities Holders

   5
    

Executive Officers of the Registrant

   5

Part II

         

        Item 5

  

Market for Registrant’s Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters

   6

        Item 6

  

Selected Financial Data

   7

        Item 7

  

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

   8

        Item 7A

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

   17

        Item 8

  

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

   18
    

       Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants

   19
    

       Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2003 and 2002

   20
    

       Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

   21
    

       Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

   22
    

       Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

   23
    

       Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   24
    

       Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003

   34

        Item 9

  

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures

   35

        Item 9A

  

Controls and Procedures

   35

Part III

         

        Item 10

  

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

   35

        Item 11

  

Executive Compensation

   35

        Item 12

  

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

   35

        Item 13

  

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

   36

        Item 14

  

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

   36

Part IV

         

        Item 15

  

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, Reports on Form 8-K

   36

Signature Page

   S-1

Index to Exhibits

   E-1

 

 

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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Statements contained in this Report that are not historical facts or that discuss our expectations or beliefs regarding our future operations or future financial performance, or financial or other trends in our business, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”). Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Often, they include the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or “may.” Forward-looking statements are based on current information and the expectations or beliefs expressed in those statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our financial condition or operating results in the future to differ significantly from those set forth in those statements. Some of those risks and uncertainties are described in Part II of this Report in the Section entitled “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS — Certain Factors That Could Affect Future Performance” and readers of this Report are urged to read the cautionary statements contained in that Section of this Report.

 

Due to these uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this Report, which speak only as of the date of this Annual Report. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

 

GENERAL

 

The Coast Distribution System, Inc. is, we believe, one of the largest wholesale suppliers of replacement parts, supplies and accessories for recreational vehicles (“RVs”), and boats in North America. We supply more than 25,000 products and serve more than 15,000 customers throughout the United States and Canada, from 13 regional distribution centers in the United States that are located in California, Texas, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, Georgia, Florida and Wisconsin and 4 regional distribution centers in Canada located, respectively, in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. Reference is made to Note H to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company, contained elsewhere in this Report, for certain information regarding the respective operating results of the Company’s operations in the United States and Canada. Our customers are comprised primarily of RV and boat dealers and RV and boating parts supply stores and service centers (“After-Market Customers”), who resell the products they purchase from us, at retail, to consumers that own or use RVs and boats.

 

We have introduced into the marketplace a number of products that have been designed specifically for us by independent product design firms and are manufactured for us, generally on an exclusive basis, by a number of different independent manufacturers (which we will refer to in this report as “proprietary products”). The proprietary products are marketed by us under our own brand-names in competition with brand name products from traditional suppliers of RV and boating parts, supplies and accessories. We are able to obtain the proprietary products at prices that generally are below those we would have to pay for functionally equivalent brand name products. For additional information regarding our proprietary products, see the Section of this Part I of this Report entitled “PRODUCTS— Proprietary Products.”

 

In late 2000 we began the implementation of a new inventory management and deployment program. This program was designed to enable us to place fewer, but larger, orders with our suppliers and thereby consolidate product shipments and improve the responsiveness of service to our customers by, among other things, enabling us to fill a greater percentage of their orders from those of our warehouses closest to the location of the customer. During the implementation phase of this program, our operating costs did increase and service levels did suffer. However, this program enabled us, beginning in fiscal 2002, to increase our gross margins through vendor price concessions and freight reimbursements, to reduce our operating expenses and, at the same time, to improve the level and responsiveness of service that we are able to provide our customers. See “Business — Distribution” in this Part I, and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, of this Report.

 

We utilize a computer-based order entry and warehousing system which enables customers to transmit orders either telephonically or electronically to us, and enables us to prepare and invoice most orders within 24 hours of receipt. We also have established a national customer service center to enable customers to obtain product information


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and place orders by telephone using Company toll-free telephone numbers. We believe that the breadth of our product lines, the proprietary products we are able to offer to our customers, the computer integration of our operations, and our inventory management and deployment program distinguishes us from other distributors and suppliers of RV and boating parts, supplies and accessories with which we compete.

 

The Coast Distribution System, Inc. was incorporated in California in June 1977, and reincorporated in Delaware in April 1998. For convenience, we will refer to The Coast Distribution System in this Report as “we” or “us” or the “Company.”

 

THE PARTS, SUPPLIES AND ACCESSORIES AFTER-MARKETS

 

Many manufacturers of RV and boating replacement parts, supplies and accessories rely on independent distributors, such as the Company, to market and distribute their products or to augment their own product distribution operations. Distributors relieve manufacturers of a portion of the costs associated with distribution of their products while providing geographically dispersed selling, order processing and delivery capabilities. At the same time, distributors offer retailers access to a broad line of products and the convenience of rapid delivery of orders.

 

The market for RV parts, supplies and accessories distributed by the Company includes both RV dealers and RV supply stores and service centers. The products that we sell include optional equipment and accessories, such as trailer hitches, air conditioning units, water heaters and other accessories, and replacement and repair parts and maintenance supplies.

 

The market for boating parts, supplies and accessories is comprised primarily of independent boat dealers that sell boats and boating parts, supplies and accessories at retail. Independent boat dealers purchase primarily replacement parts, boating supplies and smaller accessories from the Company. See “Products” below.

 

PRODUCTS

 

General. We carry a full line of more than 15,000 recreational vehicle parts, supplies and accessories which we purchase from more than 500 manufacturers. RV products distributed by the Company include antennae, vents, electrical items, towing equipment and hitches, appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, ranges and generators, LP gas equipment, portable toilets and plumbing parts, hardware and tools, specialized recreational vehicle housewares, chemicals and supplies, and various accessories, such as ladders, jacks, fans, load stabilizers, mirrors and compressors.

 

We carry a line of approximately 10,000 boating and marine products that we distribute. Those products include boat covers, stainless steel hardware, depth sounders, anchors, life jackets and other marine safety equipment and fishing equipment.

 

Proprietary Products. We have introduced into the RV and boating aftermarkets a number of proprietary products, which are manufactured specifically for us, generally on an exclusive basis, by a number of different independent manufacturers. The proprietary products, which are designed for us by independent professional product design firms or by the independent manufacturers that we have retained to manufacture the products for us, include trailer hitches, plastic wastewater tanks, vent lids and stabilizing jacks. We market these proprietary products under our own brand-names in competition with brand name products from traditional suppliers, which usually sell their products to a number of distributors and into other markets. However, some of our proprietary products currently lack the same name brand recognition as the competitive products manufactured by traditional suppliers, which may have a limiting effect on unit sales of and on the prices that we are able to charge for our proprietary products. It also means that the costs of marketing the proprietary products generally is greater than for brand-name products, which somewhat offsets the margin advantage we gain on sales of our proprietary products.

 

MARKETING, SALES AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

 

Our Customers. Our customers include (i) RV dealers, which primarily purchase optional equipment and accessories for new recreational vehicles and replacement and repair parts for their service departments, (ii) independent RV supply stores and service centers that purchase parts, supplies and accessories for resale to owners of RVs and for their service centers, and (iii) independent boat dealers that purchase small accessories for new boats and replacement parts and boating supplies for resale to boat owners and operators. We are not dependent on any single customer for any material portion of our business and no single customer accounted for as much as 5% of our sales in 2003, 2002 or 2001.

 

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Our Customer Service Center and Computerized Order Entry and Warehousing System. We have designed and implemented a computer-based order entry and warehousing system which enables our customers to transmit orders electronically to our central computers and also enables us, subject to product availability, to prepare and invoice most customer orders within 24 hours of receipt.

 

We also operate a customer sales and service center through which our customers can obtain product information and place orders by telephone using our toll-free telephone numbers. With the exception of holidays, our customer sales and service center is operational for a total of 13 hours per day, Monday through Friday and is staffed by sales personnel who are trained to promote the sale of our products and to handle customer service issues. Currently, the number of customer calls handled by our national customer sales and service center, which can be accessed by virtually all of the Company’s customers in the United States and Canada, ranges from 2,000 to 6,000 per day and the customer service center has enabled us to improve customer service and at the same time reduce our selling expenses.

 

Orders transmitted from customers either electronically, or by telephone to the national customer sales and service center, are input into our IBM AS 400 computer and then are relayed to the regional distribution center selected by the customer, where the products are selected, packed and shipped. At the time the order is received, the customer is informed, either by electronic confirmation, or by the sales person handling the customer’s call at the customer service center, that the order has been accepted and whether any items are not currently in stock (that is, on “back-order”). In addition, we offer to participating customers a “split shipment program” by which a customer’s order for a product that is not available from the Company’s distribution center closest to the customer will be shipped to that customer from another of the Company’s distribution centers when that product is available at that back-up distribution center. One of the objectives of our new inventory management and deployment program is to improve our ability to fulfill customer orders from the distribution centers closest to the customer and thereby to improve the responsiveness, and reduce the costs, of service to the customer (see “Distribution” below).

 

DISTRIBUTION

 

General. Our regional distribution and warehouse centers in North America carry inventory of up to approximately 15,000 RV parts, supplies and accessories. In addition, our distribution centers stock, in varying quantities, up to approximately 10,000 boating and marine parts, supplies and accessories.

 

We rely primarily on independent freight companies to ship our products to our customers.

 

Inventory Management and Deployment Program. We have developed and implemented an inventory management and deployment program that is designed to enable us to place fewer, but larger, orders with our suppliers and thereby consolidate product shipments, and to provide greater flexibility to meet changing customer demands, with the overall objectives of improving service levels to our customers, improving our gross margins, and reducing freight costs and other costs of operations. The development and implementation of this program did cause some initial disruptions in our operations and increases in our costs. However, now that implementation of this program is complete, we believe that the program has enabled us to improve our service levels and produce greater efficiencies and costs savings in our operations. See “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS” in Part II of this Report.

 

ARRANGEMENTS WITH MANUFACTURERS

 

General. The products we distribute are purchased from more than 500 different manufacturers. As is typical in the industry, in most instances we acquire those products on a purchase order basis and we have no guaranteed price or delivery agreements with manufacturers, including the manufacturers that produce proprietary products for us. As a result, short-term inventory shortages can occur. We sometimes choose to carry only a single manufacturer’s products for certain of the brand-name product lines that we sell, although comparable products usually are available from more than one source. In addition, we obtain each of our proprietary products from a single source manufacturer, although in most instances we own the tooling required for their manufacture.

 

Dependence on a single manufacturer for any product or line of related products, however, presents some risks, including the inability to readily obtain alternative product supply sources in the event that a single source supplier

 

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(i) encounters quality or other production problems, (ii) decides to enter into an exclusive supply arrangement or alliance with a competing distributor, or (iii) decides to vertically integrate its operations to include not only manufacturing, but also distribution, of its products. Termination of a single source supply relationship could adversely affect our sales and operating income, possibly to a significant extent.

 

None of the manufacturers or suppliers from which we obtain products accounted for more than 5% of our product purchases in 2003, 2002 or 2001, except Airxcel, Inc., which supplies us with our requirements for RV air conditioners, sold under the Coleman® brand name, under a multi-year product supply agreement. In the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, and 2001, the products supplied by Airxcel accounted for approximately 11%, 11% and 12%, respectively, of the Company’s net sales in those years.

 

Manufacturers generally warrant the products that we distribute, including our proprietary products, and allow us to return defective products, including those that have been returned to us by our customers. We do not independently warrant the products that we distribute, including the proprietary products that we sell.

 

COMPETITION

 

The Company faces significant competition. There are a number of national and regional distributors of RV and boating parts, supplies and accessories that compete with the Company. There also are mass merchandisers, catalog houses and national and regional retail chains specializing in the sale of RV or boating parts, supplies and accessories that purchase such products directly from manufacturers. The mass merchandisers and national and regional chains compete directly with the RV and boating supply stores and service centers that purchase products from us. This competition affects both the volume of our sales, and the prices we are able to charge for the products we sell, to RV and boating supply stores. Additionally, there is no assurance that changes in supply relationships or new alliances within the RV or boating products industry will not occur that would further increase competition. See “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – Certain Factors That Could Affect Future Performance” in Part II of this Report.

 

Like most of our competitors, we compete on the basis of the quality, speed and reliability of our service, the breadth of our product lines and price. We believe that we are highly competitive in each of those areas.

 

EMPLOYEES

 

At December 31, 2003, we had approximately 400 full-time employees, which includes employees in Canada. During the peak summer months, we also employ part-time workers at our regional distribution centers. None of our employees is represented by a labor union and we believe that we have good relations with our employees.

 

COMPANY WEBSITE

 

Our internet website address is wwwcoastdistribution.com. Our Annual Report to Stockholders, quarterly reports to stockholders for the first three quarters of each year, and the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available on our website.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

 

We operate 13 regional distribution centers in 12 states in the United States, and 4 regional distribution centers, each located in a different Province, in Canada. All of the facilities at which those distribution centers are located are leased under triple net leases which require us to pay, in addition to rent, real property taxes, insurance and maintenance costs.

 

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The following table sets forth certain information regarding those facilities.

 

Location


   Square
Footage


  

Lease
Expiration Date


Portland, Oregon

   57,000    December 31, 2006

Visalia, California

   90,000    November 30, 2012

Fort Worth, Texas

   90,670    April 30, 2009

San Antonio, Texas

   27,300    June 30, 2008

Denver, Colorado

   50,000    September 30, 2004

Elkhart, Indiana

   109,000    December 31, 2005

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

   64,900    June 30, 2009

Atlanta, Georgia

   66,800    August 31, 2004

Tampa, Florida

   38,000    June 30, 2008

Phoenix, Arizona

   36,500    March 31, 2007

Salt Lake City, Utah

   30,400    June 30, 2008

Albany, New York

   52,500    June 30, 2004

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

   36,000    October 31, 2004

Montreal, Quebec

   40,715    January 1, 2010

Toronto, Ontario

   34,020    December 1, 2006

Calgary, Alberta

   30,750    December 1, 2008

Vancouver, British Columbia

   22,839    June 1, 2005

 

The Company’s executive offices are located in Morgan Hill, California, a suburb of San Jose, California where it leases 26,000 square feet of office space. The Company’s address is 350 Woodview Avenue, Morgan Hill, California 95037 and its telephone number at that location is (408) 782-6686.

 

The Company also leases 1,500 square feet of office space in Seattle, Washington and 2,000 square feet in Anchorage, Alaska where the Company maintains sales offices.

 

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

The Company from time to time is named as a defendant, sometimes along with product manufacturers and others, in product liability and personal injury litigation. We believe that this type of litigation is incident to our operations, and since we have insurance, and in many instances also have obtained indemnification agreements from manufacturers, covering any potential liability, we believe that such litigation will not have a material adverse affect on our business, operating results, financial condition or cash flow.

 

ITEM 4.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

None.

 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF REGISTRANT

 

Name


   Age

  

Position


Thomas R. McGuire

   60    Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

Sandra A. Knell

   46    Executive Vice President — Finance and Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

David A. Berger

   49    Executive Vice President — Marketing — Marine Products Division

Dennis A. Castagnola

   56    Executive Vice President — Sales

 

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Set forth below is certain information regarding the Company’s executive officers.

 

THOMAS R. MCGUIRE. Mr. McGuire is a founder of the Company and has been Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since the Company’s inception.

 

SANDRA A. KNELL. Mrs. Knell has been the Company’s Executive Vice President — Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary since August 1985. From 1984 until she joined the Company, Mrs. Knell was an Audit Manager, and for the prior four years was a senior and staff accountant, with Grant Thornton LLP. Mrs. Knell is a Certified Public Accountant.

 

DAVID A. BERGER. Mr. Berger has served as Executive Vice President — Marketing since May 1988. From August 1986 to May 1988, Mr. Berger was Senior Vice President Purchasing of the Company. For the prior 14 years he held various management positions with C/P Products Corp., a distributor of recreational vehicle parts and accessories that was acquired by the Company in 1985.

 

DENNIS A. CASTAGNOLA. Mr. Castagnola was appointed to his current position of Executive Vice President —Sales in November 2000. From May 1994 through November 2000, he served as Senior Vice President — Proprietary Products, where he directed the Company’s proprietary products program. For the prior 19 years, he held various positions with the Company, including Vice President/Division Manager of the Company’s Portland, Oregon Distribution Center.

 

PART II

 

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED SECURITY HOLDER MATTERS

 

The Company’s shares of common stock are listed and trade on the American Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “CRV.”

 

The following table sets forth for the calendar quarters indicated the range of the high and low sales prices per share of the Company’s common stock on the American Stock Exchange.

 

     HIGH

   LOW

2003

             

First Quarter

   $ 2.39    $ 1.65

Second Quarter

     3.60      1.66

Third Quarter

     5.73      3.16

Fourth Quarter

     6.82      4.71

2002

             

First Quarter

   $ 1.75    $ 0.57

Second Quarter

     3.99      1.40

Third Quarter

     2.99      1.56

Fourth Quarter

     2.39      1.40

 

On March 11, 2004 the closing price per share of the Company’s common stock on the American Stock Exchange was $6.72 and there were approximately 900 holders of record of the Company’s common stock.

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

In March 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a $0.06 per share cash dividend that is to be paid on April 23, 2004 to stockholders of record as of April 9, 2004. A cash dividend of $0.06 per share also was paid to the Company’s stockholders in April 2003. Whether or not dividends will be paid in the future will depend on a number of factors, the most important of which are the earnings we are able to generate, cash flow from operations and the cash requirements of our business. Additionally, the payment of dividends in the future will require the prior approval of the Company’s bank lender. Consequently, there is no assurance that we will pay dividends in the future.

 

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ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The selected consolidated operating data set forth below for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, and the selected consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2003 and 2002, are derived from the Company’s audited financial statements included elsewhere in this Report and should be read in conjunction with those financial statements. The selected consolidated operating data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the selected consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, are derived from audited financial statements which are not included in this Report.

 

     Year Ended December 31,

 
     2003

    2002

    2001

    2000

    1999

 
           (As restated)(1)     (As restated)(1)              
     (In thousands, except per share data)  

Operating Data:

                                        

Net Sales

   $ 156,478     $ 145,816     $ 134,958     $ 147,491     $ 154,800  

Cost of sales (including distribution costs)

     129,094       122,614       115,740       125,426       128,804  
    


 


 


 


 


Gross margin

     27,384       23,202       19,218       22,065       25,996  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     22,087       20,561       22,044       24,302       23,140  
    


 


 


 


 


Operating income (loss)

     5,297       2,641       (2,826 )     (2,237 )     2,856  

Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies

     54       9       107       50       76  

Other income (expense)

                                        

Interest expense

     (1,269 )     (1,456 )     (2,293 )     (3,006 )     (2,371 )

Other

     108       684       1,319       1,202       (15 )
    


 


 


 


 


Earnings (loss) before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change

     4,190       1,878       (3,693 )     (3,991 )     546  

Income tax provision (benefit)

     1,743       791       (1,179 )     (1,150 )     536  
    


 


 


 


 


Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change

     2,447       1,087       (2,514 )     (2,841 )     10  

Cumulative effect of accounting change (2)

           (6,325 )                  
    


 


 


 


 


Net earnings (loss)

   $ 2,447     $ (5,238 )   $ (2,514 )   $ (2,841 )   $ 10  
    


 


 


 


 


Net earnings (loss) per share-diluted before cumulative effect of accounting change (3)

   $ 0.53     $ 0.25     $ (0.58 )   $ (0.66 )   $ 0.00  

Cumulative effect of accounting change (2)

           (1.44 )                  
    


 


 


 


 


Net earnings (loss) per share-diluted

   $ 0.53     $ (1.19 )   $ (0.58 )   $ (0.66 )   $ 0.00  
    


 


 


 


 


Weighted Average shares — diluted — used in computation of net earnings (loss) per share

     4,635       4,387       4,360       4,324       4,641  
    


 


 


 


 


     Year Ended December 31,

 
     2003

    2002

    2001

    2000

    1999

 
           (As restated)(1)     (As restated)(1)              
     (In thousands)  

Balance Sheet Data:

                                        

Working capital

   $ 44,685     $ 40,121     $ 35,462     $ 39,948     $ 45,653  

Total assets

     62,101       57,272       60,471       63,890       69,687  

Long-term obligations (4)

     23,799       23,140       21,785       25,140       28,105  

Stockholders’ equity

     23,898       20,548       25,610       28,165       31,243  

(1) See Note N to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
(2) See Note B to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
(3) See Note J to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
(4) Exclusive of current portion. For additional information regarding long-term obligations, see Note D to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND USE OF ESTIMATES

 

General

 

In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), we record most of our assets at the lower of cost or fair value. In determining the fair value of some of our assets, principally accounts receivable, inventories and deferred income taxes, we must make judgments, estimates and assumptions regarding future events and circumstances that could affect the value of those assets, such as future economic conditions that will affect our ability to collect our accounts receivable or sell our inventories. Those judgments, estimates and assumptions are based on current information available to us at the time they are made. Many of those events and circumstances, however, are outside of our control and if changes in those events or circumstances subsequently occur, GAAP will require us to adjust the earlier estimates that are affected by those changes. Any resulting downward adjustments to our prior estimates of fair value are commonly referred to as “write-downs” of assets involved.

 

It is our practice to establish reserves or allowances against which we are able to charge any such downward adjustments or “write-downs” in fair value of such assets. Examples include reserves or allowances established for uncollectible accounts receivable (sometimes referred to as “bad debt reserves”) and reserves for inventory obsolescence. The amounts at which those reserves are established and maintained are based on historical experience and also on our assumptions and judgments about future circumstances, business trends and market and economic conditions. Those reserves are periodically increased to replenish the reserve following write-downs of uncollectible accounts or to take account of increased risks due to changes in circumstances, business trends or economic conditions. Those increases are effectuated by charges to income or increases in expense in our statement of operations in the periods when those reserves or allowances are increased. As a result, our judgments, estimates and assumptions about future events can and will affect not only the amounts at which we record these assets on our balance sheet, but also our results of operations.

 

Under GAAP, most businesses also must make estimates or judgments regarding the periods during which sales are recorded and also the amounts at which they are recorded. Those estimates and judgments will depend on such factors as the steps or actions that a business must take to complete a sale of products to or to perform services for a customer and the circumstances under which a customer would be entitled to return the products or reject or adjust the payment for the services rendered to it. Additionally, in the case of a company that grants its customers contractual rights to return products sold to them, GAAP requires that the company establish a reserve or allowance for product returns by means of a reduction in the amount at which its sales are recorded primarily based on the nature, extensiveness and duration of those rights and its historical return experience.

 

In making our estimates and assumptions we follow GAAP and accounting practices applicable to our business that we believe will enable us to make fair and consistent estimates of the fair value of those assets and to establish adequate reserves or allowances. See “Consolidated Financial Statements — Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants” in Item 8 of this Report.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Set forth below is a summary of the accounting policies that we believe are material to an understanding of our financial condition and results of operations that are discussed below.

 

Revenue Recognition and the Allowance for Product Returns. We recognize revenue from the sale of a product upon its shipment to the customer. We provide our customers with limited rights of return. We establish an allowance for potential returns that reduces the amounts of our reported sales. We estimate the allowance based on historical experience with returns of like products and current economic and market conditions, which can affect the level at which customers submit product returns.

 

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Accounts Receivable and the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. In the normal course of our business we extend 30 day payment terms to our customers and, due to the seasonality of our business, during late fall and winter we grant extended payment terms to those of our customers that have good credit records. We regularly review our customers’ accounts and estimate the amount of and establish an allowance for uncollectible amounts or receivables in each reporting period. The amount of the allowance is based on several factors, including the age of unpaid amounts, a review of significant past due accounts, and current economic trends and trends in our markets, which affect the ability of customers to keep their accounts current. Estimates of uncollectible amounts are reviewed periodically to determine if the allowance should be increased, and any increases are recorded in the accounting period in which the events that require such increases become known. For example, if the financial condition of customers or economic or market conditions were to deteriorate, adversely affecting the ability of customers to make payments, increases in the allowance may be required. Since the allowance is created by recording a charge which is included in, and therefore has the effect of increasing, selling, general and administrative expenses, an increase in the allowance will reduce income in the period when the increase is recorded.

 

Reserve for Excess, Slow-Moving and Obsolete Inventory. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value and are reduced by an allowance for excess and slowing-moving or obsolete inventories. The amount of the allowance is determined on the basis of historical experience with different product lines, estimates concerning future economic and market conditions and estimates of future sales. If there is an economic downturn or a decline in sales, causing inventories of some product lines to accumulate, it may become necessary to increase the allowance. Other factors that can require increases in the allowance or inventory write downs are reductions in pricing or introduction of new or competitive products by manufacturers; however, due to the relative maturity of the markets in which the Company operates, usually these are not significant factors. Increases in this allowance also will cause a decline in operating results as such increases are effectuated by charges against income.

 

Allowance for Deferred Income Taxes. We record as a “deferred tax asset” on our balance sheet tax loss and tax credit carryforwards and tax deductions that can be applied in future periods to offset or reduce our future income tax liability. At December 31, 2003 the aggregate amount of that deferred tax asset was approximately $2.6 million. Under applicable federal and state income tax laws and regulations, tax loss and tax credit carryforwards and tax deductions will expire if not used within specified periods of time. Accordingly, the ability to use this deferred tax asset depends on our generating taxable income during those time periods. Under GAAP the amount that we are permitted to record, as a deferred tax asset, is the amount of available tax loss and tax credit carryforwards that we believe we will be able to utilize prior to their expiration based on an estimate of our future taxable income. In estimating future taxable income, we consider current operating and economic and market trends as they may affect the amounts and timing of future taxable income that we currently believe we can generate during the periods remaining prior to the expiration of the tax loss and tax credit carryforwards that are available to offset future income tax liability. If that estimate indicates that it we are not likely to be able to fully utilize the available tax loss and tax credit carryforwards, we would establish a valuation allowance that would be applied as a reduction of the gross amount of that deferred tax asset. Currently available evidence leads us to believe that it is more likely than not that we will be able to utilize the net deferred tax asset that is recorded in our financial statements. However, if due to future events or circumstances, such as an economic downturn that might adversely affect our operating results, we subsequently come to a different conclusion regarding our future taxable income and, hence, our ability to fully utilize this asset, we would increase the allowance and thereby reduce the amount at which we record the deferred tax asset. That reduction would be effectuated by an increase in the provision (or a reduction in the credit) for income taxes in our statement of operations, which would have the effect of causing a decline in our operating results.

 

Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill. Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and goodwill and intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of those assets may not be recoverable. Prior to fiscal 2002, in accordance with GAAP, we used estimated undiscounted future cash flows to determine if such an asset was impaired and would reduce its carrying value, by recording a charge against income, in the event that we determined that an impairment had occurred to the value of the asset. For fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2002, we are required to assess our goodwill for impairment, at least annually (or more frequently if circumstances indicate potential impairment), based on standards established by SFAS No. 142, by comparing the fair value of goodwill to its carrying amount.

 

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During fiscal 2002, we completed a transitional impairment test as required by SFAS No. 142 with respect to our intangible assets, including goodwill. Based on that test, we determined that goodwill had been impaired by $6.3 million. As a result, in accordance with SFAS No. 142, we recorded, in our statement of operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, a non-cash goodwill impairment charge in that amount as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. See the paragraph entitled “Intangible Assets” in Note A to our Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this Report for additional information regarding SFAS 142.

 

Foreign Currency Translation. The financial position and results of operations of our foreign subsidiaries are measured using local currency as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities of each foreign subsidiary are translated into U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange in effect at the end of each reporting period. Revenues and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rate for the reporting period. Foreign currency translation gains and losses not impacting cash flows are credited to or charged against other comprehensive income (loss). Foreign currency translation gains and losses arising from cash transactions are credited to or charged against current earnings.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Factors Generally Affecting Sales of RV and Boating Products

 

We believe that the Company is one the largest wholesale distributors of replacement parts, accessories and supplies for recreational vehicles (“RVs”), and boats in North America. Our sales are made to retail parts and supplies stores, service and repair establishments and new and used RV and boat dealers (“After-Market Customers”). Our sales are affected primarily by (i) usage of RVs and boats by the consumers to whom After-Market Customers sell our products, because such usage affects the consumers’ needs for and purchases of replacement parts, repair services and supplies, and (ii) sales of new RVs and boats, because consumers often “accessorize” their RVs and boats at the time of purchase.

 

The usage and the purchase, by consumers, of RVs and boats depend, in large measure, upon the extent of discretionary income available to consumers and their confidence about economic conditions. As a result, recessionary conditions and increases in interest rates often lead to declines in the purchase and, to a lesser extent, in the usage, of RVs and boats. Weather conditions also affect the usage of RVs and boats. Additionally, shortages in the supply of gasoline and, depending on other economic conditions, increases in the prices of gasoline, also can lead to declines in the usage and purchases of RVs and boats. On the other hand we have found, at least since September 11, 2001, that usage and purchases of RVs also can be affected by geopolitical conditions. The events of September 11, 2001 appear to have resulted in a decrease both in international travel and in plane travel and a concomitant increase in the usage of RVs. As a result, our sales and operating results can be, and in the past have been, affected by recessionary economic conditions, increases in interest rates, shortages in the supply and increases in the prices of gasoline, and unusually adverse weather conditions and geopolitical events, as well.

 

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Overview of Fiscal 2003 Operating Results

 

     Year Ended December 31,

 
     2003

   2002

    2001

 
          (As restated)(1)     (As restated)(1)  
     (In thousands, except per share data)  

Net Sales

   $ 156,478    $ 145,816     $ 134,958  

Gross margin

     27,384      23,202       19,218  

Operating income (loss)

     5,297      2,641       (2,826 )

Earnings (loss) before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change

     4,190      1,878       (3,693 )

Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change

     2,447      1,087       (2,514 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change

          (6,325 )      

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 2,447    $ (5,238 )   $ (2,514 )

Net earnings (loss) per share-diluted

                       

Before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ 0.53    $ 0.25     $ (0.58 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change

          (1.44 )      

Net earnings (loss) per share-diluted

   $ 0.53    $ (1.19 )   $ (0.58 )

(1) See Note N to the Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Report.

 

As the above table indicates, in 2003 operating income more than doubled, and earnings (before the cumulative effect of an accounting change for goodwill impairment in 2002 ) increased by 125.1%, in each case as compared to 2002. Those improvements were primarily attributable to increases in net sales and improvements in our gross profit margin and a reduction in interest expense, which more than offset an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses in 2003.

 

As previously reported, we adopted SFAS 142, “Goodwill and Intangible Assets” effective as of January 1, 2002. We determined the amount of the non-cash goodwill impairment charge to be $6,325,000, or $1.44 per share. As a result of that charge, which was reported as the cumulative effect of an accounting change, we had a net loss of $5,238,000, or a $1.19 loss per diluted share, in 2002. This goodwill impairment charge did not affect the Company’s tangible net worth or cash flow.

 

We restated our previously issued 2002 and 2001 consolidated financial statements to reflect adjustments related to the recording of deferred income taxes on transfers of assets within companies in our consolidated group of companies. Those adjustments were erroneously not made in those two years. The effect of that restatement was to adjust, in an immaterial amount, our results of operations, as set forth in the table below:

 

     2002

    2001

 
     (In thousands, except
per share data)
 

Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change

                

As previously reported

   $ 1,063     $ (2,495 )

As restated

     1,087       (2,514 )

Net loss:

                

As previously reported

   $ (5,262 )   $ (2,495 )

As restated

     (5,238 )     (2,514 )

Basic and diluted earnings per share before cumulative effect of accounting change:

                

As previously reported

   $ 0.24     $ (0.57 )

As restated

     0.25       (0.58 )

Basic and diluted earnings per share:

                

As previously reported

   $ (1.20 )   $ (0.57 )

As restated

     (1.19 )     (0.58 )

 

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Net Sales.

 

Year Ended December 31,

(Dollars in thousands)


2003


  

2002


  

% Increase
2003 vs. 2002


  

2001


  

% Increase
2002 vs. 2001


$156,478

   $145,816    7.3%    $134,958    8.0%

 

The increases in net sales in 2003 and 2002, as compared to the corresponding periods of their respective prior years, were due to a number of factors, including (i) relatively stable consumer confidence despite a weakened economy, which we believe is at least partially attributable to low market rates of interest, (ii) security concerns about foreign travel and travel by air which have, we believe, led to an increase in the usage and purchases of RVs, and (iii) our progress in implementing our inventory management and deployment program, which has enabled us to improve our service levels to our customers and, we believe, increase our share of RV After-Market sales.

 

Gross Profit    Year Ended December 31,

 
(Dollars in Thousands)    2003

    2002

    2001

 

Gross profit

   $ 27,384     $ 23,202     $ 19,218  

Gross margin

     17.5 %     15.9 %     14.2 %

 

Gross profit is calculated by subtracting the cost of products sold from net sales. Cost of products sold consist primarily of the amounts paid to manufacturers and suppliers for the products that we purchase for resale, and warehouse and distribution costs, including freight charges. Gross margin is gross profits stated as a percent of net sales.

 

The increase in our gross margin in 2003, as compared to 2002 was due to (i) a reduction in both freight in and freight out expenses, which was largely a result of the implementation of our inventory management and deployment program, (ii) the continued strengthening of the Canadian dollar, which reduced our Canadian subsidiary’s cost of sales, and (iii) a change in the mix of products sold to a higher proportion of higher margin products in 2003 as compared to 2002.

 

The increase in gross margin in 2002 was due to (i) an overall reduction in the prices that we paid for products purchased from our suppliers due to volume purchases, (ii) a reduction in freight-in costs, net of supplier allowances, associated with receiving product from our suppliers and redistributing it to our regional distribution centers, (iii) a reduction in warehouse labor costs as a percentage of net sales due to their relatively fixed nature of such costs as compared to our net sales, and (iv) a reduction in shipping costs as a percentage of net sales due to improved fill rates to our customers. These reductions were largely attributable to the completion of the implementation phase of our inventory management and deployment system.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses    Year Ended December 31,

 
(Dollars in Thousands)    2003

    2002

    2001

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   $ 22,087     $ 20,561     $ 22,044  

As a percentage of net sales

     14.1 %     14.1 %     16.3 %

 

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses consist primarily of selling and marketing costs, labor and administrative costs, professional fees and expenses and the provision made for uncollectible accounts. The 7.4% increase in SG&A expenses in 2003, as compared to 2002, was due primarily to increases in labor costs, both selling and administrative, as well as an increase in marketing costs. However, as a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses remained the same in 2003 as in 2002.

 

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The 7% reduction in SG&A expenses in 2002, as compared to 2001, was due primarily to (i) our cost containment efforts that we began in 2001, including reductions in labor costs that resulted from reductions in both the number of employees and in salaries, (ii) a reduction in marketing and computer expenses and (iii) the elimination of the amortization of goodwill resulting from the implementation of SFAS 142 (which is explained in more detail in Note B to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this Report). The decrease in SG&A expenses, as a percentage of net sales in 2002, as compared to 2001, was attributable to the combined effects of the increase in net sales and the dollar reduction in such expenses in 2002.

 

The majority of our corporate overhead costs are incurred in the United States. Portions of those costs are allocated to our foreign operations to the extent that they directly benefit from the expenses incurred.

 

Operating Income    Year Ended December 31,

 
(Dollars in Thousands)    2003

    2002

    2001

 

Operating income (loss)

   $ 5,297     $ 2,641     $ (2,826 )

As a percentage of net sales

     3.4 %     1.8 %     (2.1 )%

 

The doubling of our operating income in 2003 as compared to 2002 was due to the combined effects of the increase in sales and gross margin, which more than offset the increase in selling, general and administrative expenses. The increase in operating income in 2002 was due to the combined effects of the increases in sales and gross margin and the reduction in SG&A expenses. In 2001, the operating loss was attributable to declines in sales and gross margin.

 

Other Income (Expense)    Year Ended December 31,

 
(Dollars in Thousands)    2003

    2002

    2001

 

Other income (expense)

                        

Interest expense

   $ (1,269 )   $ (1,456 )   $ (2,293 )

Other

     108       684       1,319  
    


 


 


Total

   $ (1,161 )   $ (772 )   $ (974 )
    


 


 


As a percentage of net sales

     (0.7 )%     (0.5 )%     (0.7 )%

 

Interest Expense. Interest expense is the largest component of other income (expense). In 2003 interest expense decreased by 12% as compared to 2002. In 2002, interest expense decreased by 37% as compared to 2001. These decreases were the result of reductions in interest rates during 2002 and 2003, and, in 2002, a year over year reduction in average long-term borrowings outstanding that was attributable primarily to inventory reductions that we were able to implement as a result of our new inventory management and deployment system.

 

Other Income. Other income in 2002 was attributable to the sale, to a manufacturer of RV parts, of manufacturing rights and equipment for and inventories of a line of proprietary products that we had been selling not only to our After-Market Customers, but also to recreational vehicle manufacturers. In 2001, other income was primarily attributable to the sale of the real property where our distribution center in Portland, Oregon was located. Following that sale, that distribution center was relocated, to a leased facility, also in the Portland area.

 

 

Income Tax Provision (Benefit)    Year Ended December 31,

 
(Dollars in Thousands)    2003

    2002

    2001

 
         As Restated(1)     As Restated(1)  

Income tax provision (benefit)

   $ 1,743     $ 791     $ (1,179 )

Effective tax rate

     41.6 %     42.1 %     (31.9 )%

As a percentage of net sales

     1.1 %     0.5 %     (0.9 )%

(1) See Note N to the Consolidated Financial Statements below.

 

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Our effective income tax rate is affected by the amount of our expenses that are not deductible for income tax purposes and by varying tax rates on income generated by our foreign subsidiaries. The increase in the income tax provision in 2003 was primarily attributable to the increase in taxable income. The increase in income taxes in 2002 was primarily attributable to the fact that we recorded an income tax benefit in 2001 that was primarily attributable to the loss before income taxes incurred in that year.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Sources and Uses of Cash

 

We finance our working capital requirements for our operations primarily with borrowings under a long-term revolving credit facility from a bank and internally generated funds. Under the terms of the revolving credit facility, we may borrow up to the lesser of (i) $40,000,000 during the period from March through July, and from $30,000,000 to $35,000,000 during the period from August through February, of each year, or (ii) an amount equal to 80% of eligible accounts receivable and between 50% to 55% of eligible inventory. Interest on the revolving credit facility is payable at the bank’s prime rate plus 0.75% or, at the Company’s option but subject to certain limitations, at the bank’s LIBOR rate, plus 2.5 percent. The bank credit facility matures on May 31, 2005.

 

At March 12, 2004, outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility totaled $33,000,000. Our bank borrowings are secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets and rank senior in priority to other indebtedness of the Company.

 

Due to the nature of our business, our primary need for working capital is to finance our accounts receivable and our purchases of inventory. Typically we bill our customers on an open account basis with 2% 10 day, net 30-day terms. During late fall and winter, however, certain of our customers receive extended payment terms. We were able in late 2002 and 2003 to obtain similar extended payment terms from some of our suppliers, which reduced the amounts we had to borrow under our credit facility to make inventory purchases. There is no assurance that we will be able to obtain extended payment terms from our suppliers in the future. If we are unable to do so, we anticipate that it would become necessary either to incur additional borrowings under our credit facility or to extend the payment cycle on outstanding payables, which would adversely affect the discounts we could otherwise obtain from our suppliers. Also, in the event our customers were to delay their payments to us, our payments to our suppliers would have to be funded with additional bank borrowings or would have to be slowed.

 

We generally use cash for, rather than generate cash from, operations in the first half of the year, because we build inventories, and accounts receivable increase as our customers begin increasing their product purchases for the spring and summer selling seasons. See “Seasonality and Inflation” below.

 

In an effort to increase our service level to our customers and in anticipation of our annual winter selling show, we increased our inventories by $5,154,000 at December 31, 2003. As a result, in 2003 we used net cash of $1,950,000 for operating activities, as compared to $1,158,000 in 2002 and net cash provided by operations of $3,303,000 in 2001.

 

During 2002, we generated gross proceeds of $1,152,000 from the sale of manufacturing rights and equipment for one of our lines of proprietary products and we received $262,000 from the sale of an investment we had in an Australian company. During 2001, we received $2,669,000 from the sale of our Portland, Oregon distribution facility, which was relocated to a smaller, leased facility in nearby Wilsonville, Oregon.

 

Capital expenditures were $640,000 in 2003 as compared to $1,148,000 in 2002 and $324,000 in 2001. These expenditures were primarily for computer enhancements designed to increase the functionality of our computer system, which accounted for a substantial portion of the capital expenditures in 2002, and for the purchase of telephone and warehouse equipment.

 

Borrowings under our credit facility increased by $677,000 in 2003 and $1,254,000 in 2002 and decreased by $3,809,000 in 2001. The proceeds from the additional credit facility borrowings in 2003 and 2002 were used largely to increase product inventories. In 2001, we also repaid $1,333,000 in other long-term debt, the majority of which was owed on the mortgage of the Portland, Oregon distribution facility that we sold.

 

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Contractual Commitments

 

We lease our facilities and certain of our equipment under non-cancelable operating leases. In 2003, rent expense under all operating leases totaled approximately $3,602,000. The following table sets forth our future lease commitments.

 

Year ending December 31,


   (In thousands)

2004

   $ 3,000

2005

     2,599

2006

     2,591

2007

     1,844

2008

     1,563

Thereafter

     3,099
    

     $ 14,696
    

 

We do not expect any material changes in the uses or our needs for capital or in the sources of funds, and we anticipate that we will be able to fund our cash requirements with borrowings under our revolving credit facility and internally generated funds, during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004.

 

Seasonality and Inflation

 

Seasonality. Sales of recreational vehicle and boating parts, supplies and accessories are seasonal. We have significantly higher sales during the six-month period from April through September than we do during the remainder of the year. Because substantial portions of our expenses are fixed, operating income declines and we sometimes incur losses and must rely more heavily on borrowings to fund operating requirements in the winter months when sales are lower.

 

The table below presents unaudited quarterly financial information for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002. We prepared this information on a basis consistent with our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Report. The following information includes all necessary adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, we consider necessary for a fair presentation of the unaudited quarterly operating results when read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Report. These quarterly operating results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected in future periods.

 

     Quarter Ended

 
     March 31, 2003

    June 30, 2003

   Sept. 30, 2003

   Dec. 31, 2003

 
     As Restated(1)

    As Restated(1)

   As Restated(1)

      
           (Unaudited)            

Revenues

   $ 40,631     $ 47,530    $ 42,792    $ 25,525  

Gross profit

     7,458       9,429      7,365      3,132  

Net earnings (loss)

     836       1,620      758      (767 )

Net earnings (loss) per share — diluted

     0.19       0.35      .16      (0.16 )
     Quarter Ended

 
     March 31, 2002

    June 30, 2002

   Sept. 30, 2002

   Dec. 31, 2002

 
     As Restated(1)

 
     (Unaudited)  

Revenues

   $ 38,197     $ 44,885    $ 39,514    $ 23,220  

Gross profit

     7,124       7,082      6,613      2,383  

Net earnings (loss)

     (5,581 )(2)     609      418      (684 )

Net earnings (loss) per share — diluted

   $ (1.26 )(2)   $ 0.14    $ 0.09    $ (0.15 )

(1) See “Results of Operation — Overview of Fiscal 2003 Operating Results” and Note N to the Consolidated Financial Statements below.
(2) Includes the transitional goodwill charge of $6.3 million in fiscal 2002, which in accordance with SFAS 142 was required to be recorded in the first quarter of that year. See Note B to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Report.

 

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Inflation. Generally, we have been able to pass inflationary price increases on to our customers. However, inflation also may cause or may be accompanied by increases in gasoline prices and interest rates. Such increases, or even the prospect of increases in the price or shortages in the supply of gasoline or increases in interest rates, can adversely affect the purchase and usage of RVs and boats, which can result in a decline in the demand for the products we sell.

 

CERTAIN FACTORS THAT COULD AFFECT FUTURE PERFORMANCE

 

Statements contained in this Annual Report that are not historical facts or that discuss our expectations regarding our future operations or future financial performance or trends in our business constitute “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements are estimates of future performance or our future financial condition or financial or market trends that are based upon current information and that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual operating results or our financial performance or condition in future periods to differ significantly from those expected at the current time. Those risks and uncertainties include, although they are not limited to, the following:

 

Our Business is Seasonal and is Subject to Various Economic and Climatic Influences. Our sales are affected directly by the usage levels and purchases of RVs and boats. The purchase and, in particular, the usage of RVs and boats, are affected by weather conditions. As a result, our sales and operating results ordinarily decline in the winter months and we usually incur losses in these periods of the year. Additionally, unusual weather conditions in a particular season, such as unusually cold weather in the spring or summer months, can cause period to period fluctuations in our sales and financial performance. The usage and purchases of RVs and boats also are affected by consumers’ level of discretionary income and their confidence about economic conditions and changes in interest rates and in the availability and cost of gasoline. As a result, our sales and operating results can be, and in the past have been, adversely affected by the following:

 

  Loss of confidence among consumers regarding economic conditions and the onset of economic recessions, which affect the willingness of consumers to purchase and use their RVs and boats;

 

  Increases in interest rates which affect the availability and affordability of financing for RVs and boats;

 

  Shortages in the supply and, to a lesser extent, increases in the costs of gasoline which affect the ability to use and the costs of using RVs and boats; and

 

  Unusually severe or extended winter weather conditions, which can reduce the usage of RV and boats for periods extending beyond the ordinary winter months or to regions that ordinarily encounter milder winter weather conditions.

 

These conditions also often lead to increased price competition in our markets which could force us to reduce our prices, thereby reducing sales revenue and our margins.

 

We rely heavily on bank borrowings in the operation of our business. We rely heavily on bank borrowings to fund our working capital requirements and capital expenditures. Our outstanding borrowings create additional risks for our business. Among other things, we may find it more difficult to obtain additional financing to fund expansion or take advantage of other business opportunities, and we use a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to pay the principal and interest on our debt. Therefore, our existing debt makes us more vulnerable to general economic downturns and competitive pressures and, as discussed above in this Section of this Report, the interest we have to pay on such debt impacts our operating results.

 

The Effects of Possible Changes in Supply Relationships in Our Markets. As is the customary practice in our markets, in most instances we do not have long term supply contracts with our product suppliers. As a result, product suppliers are free to change the terms on which they will sell us products or to discontinue supplying us with products altogether, because they may choose to distribute their products directly to after-market dealers or because they might choose to establish exclusive supply relationships with other distributors. Additionally, manufacturers of new RVs and boats may choose to incorporate optional equipment on their RVs and boats at the time of manufacture that, historically were provided to their dealers by distributors such as the Company. Any of these occurrences could result in increased competition in our markets or reduce the number of products we are able to offer our customers, which could cause our sales to decline and could result in lower margins.

 

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Additional uncertainties are discussed above in this Section of this Report, including, in particular, in the introductory portion of this Section that discusses our accounting policies and estimates and the effects those policies and estimates can have on our future financial position and operating results.

 

Due to these and other possible uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this Report, which speak only as of the date of this Annual Report. We also disclaim any obligation to update forward-looking information contained in this Report, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Our exposure to market risk with respect to financial instruments is primarily related to changes in interest rates with respect to borrowing activities, which may adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. To a lesser degree, we are exposed to market risk from foreign currency fluctuations associated with our Canadian operations and our Canadian currency denominated debt. We do not use financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes and are not party to any derivative financial instruments.

 

In seeking to minimize the risks from interest rate fluctuations, we manage exposures through our regular operating and financing activities. The fair value of borrowings under our revolving credit facility approximates the carrying value of such obligations. As of December 31, 2003, we had outstanding borrowings of $23.7 million under our revolving credit facility.

 

We sometimes enter into forward exchange agreements to reduce the effect of foreign currency fluctuations on a portion of our inventory purchases in Canada for our Canadian operations. The gains and losses on these contracts are reflected in earnings in the period during which the transactions being hedged are recognized. We believe that these agreements do not subject us to significant market risk from exchange rate movements because the agreements offset gains and losses on the balances and transactions being hedged. As of December 31, 2003, there were no such agreements outstanding.

 

Approximately 14% of our debt is denominated in Canadian currency, which also exposes us to market risk associated with exchange rate movements. Historically, we have not used derivative financial instruments to manage our exposure to foreign currency rate fluctuations since the market risk associated with our foreign currency denominated debt has not been considered significant.

 

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page

Consolidated Financial Statements:

    

Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants

   19

Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31, 2003 and 2002

   20

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

   21

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

   22

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

   23

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   24

Financial Statement Schedules:

    

Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003

   34

 

(Other Financial Statement Schedules are omitted as the information is not required, is not material or is otherwise furnished.)

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

 

Board of Directors and Stockholders of The Coast Distribution System, Inc.

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The Coast Distribution System, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related consolidated statements of operations, 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 of America. 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.

 

As described in Note N to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has restated its 2002 and 2001 financial statements.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of The Coast Distribution System, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 2003 and 2002, and the consolidated results of their operations and their consolidated 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 of America.

 

We have also audited Schedule II of The Coast Distribution System, Inc. and Subsidiaries for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003. In our opinion, this schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information therein.

 

/s/ Grant Thornton LLP

 

San Jose, California

February 27, 2004

 

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THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

     As of December 31,

 
     2003

   2002

 
          (As restated;
see Note N)
 
ASSETS                

Current Assets

               

Cash

   $ 991    $ 1,996  

Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $981 in 2003 and $1,172 in 2002)

     12,799      12,118  

Inventories

     41,352      36,198  

Prepaid expenses

     1,031      537  

Deferred income taxes

     2,609      2,782  

Income tax refunds receivable

     307      74  
    

  


Total current assets

     59,089      53,705  

Property, Plant and Equipment

     2,264      2,454  

Other Assets

               

Costs in excess of net assets of acquired businesses

          68  

Deferred income taxes

     6      416  

Other

     742      629  
    

  


Total other assets

     748      1,113  
    

  


     $ 62,101    $ 57,272  
    

  


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY                

Current Liabilities

               

Accounts payable

   $ 10,613    $ 10,909  

Accrued liabilities

     3,743      2,613  

Current maturities of long-term obligations

     48      62  
    

  


Total current liabilities

     14,404      13,584  

Long-Term Obligations

     23,799      23,140  

Commitments

           

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

               

Preferred stock, $.001 par value; authorized: 2,000,000 shares; none issued or outstanding:

           

Common stock, $.001 par value; authorized: 10,000,0000 shares; 4,520,098 and 4,390,864 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively

     17,126      16,837  

Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)

     73      (806 )

Retained earnings

     6,699      4,517  
    

  


Total Stockholders Equity

     23,898      20,548  
    

  


     $ 62,101    $ 57,272  
    

  


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

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THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

     Year Ended December 31,

 
     2003

    2002

    2001

 
           (As restated;
see Note N)
    (As restated;
see Note N)
 
     (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Net sales

   $ 156,478     $ 145,816     $ 134,958  

Cost of products sold (including distribution costs)

     129,094       122,614       115,740  
    


 


 


Gross margin

     27,384       23,202       19,218  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     22,087       20,561       22,044  
    


 


 


Operating income (loss)

     5,297       2,641       (2,826 )

Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies

     54       9       107  

Other income (expense)

                        

Interest expense

     (1,269 )     (1,456 )     (2,293 )

Other

     108       684       1,319  
    


 


 


Earnings (loss) before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change

     4,190       1,878       (3,693 )

Income tax provision (benefit)

     1,743       791       (1,179 )
    


 


 


Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change

     2,447       1,087       (2,514 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change

           (6,325 )      
    


 


 


Net earnings (loss)

   $ 2,447     $ (5,238 )   $ (2,514 )
    


 


 


Basic earnings (loss) per share:

                        

Before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ 0.55     $ 0.25     $ (0.58 )
    


 


 


Cumulative effect of accounting change

           (1.44 )      
    


 


 


Basic earnings (loss) per share

   $ 0.55     $ (1.19 )   $ (0.58 )
    


 


 


Diluted earnings (loss) per share:

                        

Before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ 0.53     $ 0.25     $ (0.58 )
    


 


 


Cumulative effect of accounting change

           (1.44 )      
    


 


 


Diluted earnings (loss) per share

   $ 0.53     $ (1.19 )   $ (0.58 )
    


 


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

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THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

 

     Year Ended December 31,

 
     2003

    2002

    2001

 
           (As restated;
see Note N)
    (As restated;
see Note N)
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                        

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 2,447     $ (5,238 )   $ (2,514 )

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

                        

Depreciation

     890       814       781  

Amortization

     54       100       589  

Cumulative effect of accounting change

           6,325        

Loss (gain) from sale of property and equipment

     4       17       (1,141 )

Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies, net of distributions

     (39 )     6       (66 )

Gain from sale of product line

           (812 )      

Gain from termination of non-competition agreement

     (121 )            

Loss from sale of investment

           122        

Deferred income taxes

     583       633       (1,300 )

Change in assets and liabilities:

                        

Accounts receivable

     (681 )     642       200  

Inventories

     (5,154 )     (3,842 )     987  

Prepaids and income tax refunds receivable

     (767 )     (297 )     1,484  

Accounts payable

     (296 )           4,465  

Accrued liabilities

     1,130       372       (182 )
    


 


 


       (5,768 )     (3,125 )     6,954  
    


 


 


Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

     (1,950 )     (1,158 )     3,303  

Cash flows from investing activities:

                        

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

     1       2       2,669  

Proceeds from sale of product line

           1,152       400  

Proceeds from termination of non-competition agreement

     175              

Proceeds from sale of investment

           262        

(Decrease) increase in other assets

     (90 )     433       (226 )

Capital expenditures

     (640 )     (1,148 )     (324 )
    


 


 


Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (554 )     701       2,519  

Cash flows from financing activities:

                        

Net borrowings (repayments) under notes payable and line-of credit agreements

     677       1,254       (3,809 )

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     33       182       53  

Repayments of long-term debt

     (67 )     (47 )     (1,333 )

Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase and stock option plans

     289       14       23  

Redemption of redeemable preferred stock of subsidiary

                 (45 )

Dividends paid

     (265 )            
    


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     667       1,403       (5,111 )

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     832       49       (249 )
    


 


 


Net (decrease) increase in cash

     (1,005 )     995       462  

Cash beginning of year

     1,996       1,001       539  
    


 


 


Cash end of year

   $ 991     $ 1,996     $ 1,001  
    


 


 


Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

                        

Cash paid during the year for:

                        

Interest

   $ 1,233     $ 1,485     $ 2,188  

Income taxes (refund)

     761       155       (568 )

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

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THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

 

Three Years Ended December 31, 2003


   Common Stock

   Retained
Earnings


    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)


    Total

 

Balance at January 1, 2001 (as restated)(1)

   4,330,654    $ 16,800    $ 12,269     $ (650 )   $ 28,419  

Net loss for the year (as restated) (1)

             (2,514 )           (2,514 )

Foreign currency translation adjustments

                   (318 )     (318 )
                                


Comprehensive loss for the year (as restated)(1)

                                 (2,832 )
                                


Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan

   36,226      23                  23  
    
  

  


 


 


Balance at December 31, 2001 (as restated)(1)

   4,366,880      16,823      9,755       (968 )     25,610  

Net loss for the year (as restated)(1)

             (5,238 )           (5,238 )

Foreign currency translation adjustments

                   35       35  
                                


Cumulative translation adjustment associated with the sale of an investment

                   127       127  
                                


Comprehensive loss for the year (as restated)(1)

                                 (5,076 )
                                


Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan

   23,984      14                  14  
    
  

  


 


 


Balance at December 31, 2002 (as restated)(1)

   4,390,864      16,837      4,517       (806 )     20,548  

Net earnings for the year

             2,447             2,447  

Foreign currency translation adjustments

                   879       879  
                                


Comprehensive earnings for the year

                                 3,326  
                                


Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan

   129,234      289                  289  
    
  

  


 


 


Dividends paid

                 (265 )             (265 )
    
  

  


 


 


Balance at December 31, 2003

   4,520,098    $ 17,126    $ 6,699     $ 73     $ 23,898  
    
  

  


 


 



(1) See Note N to these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

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THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE A: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

A summary of the significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements follows:

 

  1. Principles of Consolidation. The Company consolidates the accounts of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, The Coast Distribution System (Canada) Inc. (“Coast Canada”) and Eura-Asia Recreational Vehicle Accessories Taiwan Company. Investments in unconsolidated affiliates are accounted for by the equity method. All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

 

  2. Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (determined on a first-in, first-out basis) or net realizable value. The Company regularly assesses the appropriateness of the inventory valuations with particular attention to obsolete, slow-moving and non-saleable inventory. Inventories consist primarily of replacement parts, supplies and accessories held for resale.

 

  3. Property, Plant and Equipment. Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are provided for in amounts sufficient to relate the cost of depreciable assets to operations over their estimated service lives, principally on a straight-line basis. The estimated lives used in determining depreciation and amortization are:

 

Buildings and improvements

   12 – 40 years

Warehouse and office equipment

   5 – 7 years

Automobiles

   3 – 5 years

 

Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lives of the respective leases or the service lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter. Currently the amortization periods range from 5 to 15 years.

 

  4. Revenue Recognition. Revenue from sales of products is recognized upon shipment. We provide our customers with a limited right of return. We establish an allowance for potential returns which reduces the amount of our reported sales. We estimate the allowance based on historical experience with returns of like products and current economic data, which can affect the level at which customers submit product returns.

 

  5. Segment Reporting. The Company has one operating segment which is the distribution of recreational vehicle and boating replacement parts, supplies and accessories. The Company distributes its recreational vehicle and boating products from 17 distribution centers located throughout the United States and Canada. No single customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s revenues in 2003, 2002 or 2001.

 

  6. Intangible Assets. Goodwill and other intangible assets primarily represent the excess of the purchase price paid over the fair value of the net assets acquired in connection with business acquisitions. Effective as of January 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS 142 “Goodwill and Intangible Assets”, pursuant to which we stopped amortizing goodwill and also performed the required transitional impairment test required by SFAS 142. This analysis resulted in an impairment write off of $6,325,000, which has been reported in the statement of operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 as a cumulative effect of accounting change. There was no tax benefit associated with this charge. Prior to 2002, the Company was amortizing its goodwill and other costs in excess of net assets of acquired businesses on a straight-line basis using periods ranging from four to thirty years. At December 31, 2003 and 2002, the accumulated amortization applicable to intangible assets was approximately $0 and $132,000 respectively.

 

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  7. Foreign Currency Translation. Exchange adjustments resulting from foreign currency transactions are generally recognized in net earnings, whereas adjustments resulting from the translation of financial statements are reflected as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Net foreign currency transaction gains or losses are not material in any of the years presented. The functional currency of the Company’s Canadian subsidiary is the Canadian dollar.

 

  8. Forward Exchange Contracts. On a selective basis, we enter into forward exchange contracts to reduce the effect of foreign currency fluctuations on a portion of the inventory purchases of Coast Canada. The gains or losses on these contracts are included in earnings in the period when the related transactions being hedged are recognized. The contracts do not subject us to significant market risk from exchange rate movements because the contracts offset gains and losses on the balances and transactions being hedged. There were no forward exchange contracts outstanding at December 31, 2003 or December 31, 2002.

 

  9. Income Taxes. The Company provides a deferred tax expense or benefit equal to the net change in the deferred tax liability or asset during the year. Deferred income taxes represent tax loss and credit carryforwards and future net tax effects resulting from temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance is provided against deferred tax assets when realization of the asset is not expected to occur. Reference is made to Note N below for additional information regarding the Company’s deferred tax asset.

 

  10. Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

  11. Earnings per Share. Basic earnings (loss) per share are computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share are computed using the weighted average number of common and potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive securities consist of the incremental common shares issuable upon on exercise of stock options (using the treasury stock method). Potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the computation if their effect is anti-dilutive.

 

     A total of 19,000 options in 2003, 665,000 options in 2002 and 659,000 options in 2001 were excluded from the computations of diluted earnings (loss) per share because either (i) the respective per share exercise prices of those options were greater than the average market price of the common shares, or (ii) the inclusion of the options would have been anti-dilutive because the Company experienced a net loss for the year.

 

  12. Reclassifications. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to current year presentations.

 

  13. Financial Instruments. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist principally of accounts receivable. The amounts reported for cash, accounts receivable, short-term borrowings, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate the fair value due to their short maturities. As of December 31, 2003, the carrying value of long-term debt approximates the estimated fair value of long-term debt, based on the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities.

 

  14. Accounts Receivable and the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. The majority of our accounts receivable are due from RV and boat dealers, supply stores and service centers. Credit is extended to a customer based on evaluation of its financial condition and, generally, collateral is not required. We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of customers to make required payments. We regularly evaluate the allowance for doubtful accounts. Estimated losses are based on the aging of accounts receivable balances, a review of significant past due accounts, and our historical write-off experience, net of recoveries. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, whether due to deteriorating economic conditions generally or otherwise, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances would be required.

 

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  15. Stock Based Compensation. The Company has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (“APB 25”), and related interpretations in accounting for stock based compensation. Accordingly, no compensation expense has been recognized in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for stock-based awards to employees when the exercise price of the award is equal to or greater than the quoted market price on the date of the grant. Had compensation cost for the stock-based awards been determined based on fair value at the grant dates, consistent with the method prescribed in SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, the Company’s net earnings (loss) and earnings (loss) per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below.

 

     Year Ended December 31,

 
     2003

    2002

    2001

 
           (As restated;
see Note N)
    (As restated;
see Note N)
 
     (In thousands, except per share amounts)  

Net earnings (loss) attributable to common stockholders

                        

As reported

   $ 2,447     $ (5,238 )   $ (2,514 )

Pro forma compensation expense

     (63 )     (79 )     (99 )

Pro forma net earnings (loss)

   $ 2,384     $ (5,317 )   $ (2,613 )

Per share — Basic

                        

As reported

   $ 0.55     $ (1.19 )   $ (0.58 )

Pro forma compensation expense

     (0.02 )     (0.02 )     (0.02 )

Pro forma net earnings (loss)

     0.53     $ (1.21 )   $ (0.60 )

Per share — Diluted

                        

As reported

   $ 0.53     $ (1.19 )   $ (0.58 )

Pro forma compensation expense

     (0.02 )     (0.02 )     (0.02 )

Pro forma net earnings (loss)

   $ 0.51     $ (1.21 )   $ (0.60 )

 

The fair value of each option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes options-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used: no expected dividend for 2003, 2002 or 2001; expected volatility of 68% in 2003, 127% for 2002, and 111% for 2001; risk-free interest rates of 2.9% for 2003, 3.3% for 2002, and 4.8% for 2001; an expected forfeiture rate of 46% for 2003, 44% for 2002, and 33% for 2001; and expected lives of 5 years in 2003, 2002 and 2001.

 

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure” which amended SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” SFAS No. 148 provides alternative methods of transition to the fair value method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. SFAS No. 148 also amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require disclosure of the effects of a company’s accounting policy with respect to stock-based compensation on reported earnings and earnings per share in both annual and interim financial statements. The transition and disclosure provisions of SFAS 148, which the Company has adopted, did not have a material impact on its results of operations or financial condition.

 

  16. Warranty Costs. The Company does not independently warrant the products that it distributes. The manufacturers of the products distributed by the Company generally warrant the products and allow the Company to return defective products, including those that have been returned to the Company by its customers. Accordingly, the Company has not established a warranty reserve.

 

NOTE B: GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

As of January 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (“SFAS 142”). In accordance with SFAS 142, the Company has ceased amortizing goodwill recorded in past business combinations effective as of January 1, 2002. As a result, there is no charge for goodwill amortization expense contained in the Company’s statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002; whereas the Company’s statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2001 does contain charges for goodwill amortization expense.

 

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SFAS 142 required that goodwill initially be tested for impairment by comparing the fair value of goodwill on a reporting unit basis to the carrying amount of the goodwill as of January 1, 2002. The Company performed the transitional impairment test and determined that the carrying amount of goodwill was in excess of the fair value of the Company’s net assets. This resulted in a transitional impairment charge of $6,325,000 which, in accordance with SFAS 142, was reported as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in 2002. No tax benefits were recorded in connection with this goodwill impairment.

 

The following is the Company’s disclosure of what reported net earnings (loss), and earnings (loss) per share before the cumulative effect of the accounting change, would have been in all periods presented if the Company had accounted for goodwill consistent with the provisions of SFAS 142 for the year ended December 31, 2001.

 

     Year Ended December 31,

 
     2003

   2002

   2001

 
          (As restated;
see Note N)
   (As restated;
see Note N)
 
     (In thousands)  

Net earnings (loss) as reported

   $ 2,447    $ 1,087    $ (2,514 )

Amortization, net of tax

               481  
    

  

  


Adjusted net earnings (loss)

   $ 2,447    $ 1,087    $ (2,033 )
    

  

  


Basic earnings (loss) per share, as reported

   $ 0.55    $ 0.25    $ (0.58 )

Change in amortization expense

               0.11  
    

  

  


Adjusted basic earnings (loss) per share

   $ 0.55    $ 0.25    $ (0.47 )
    

  

  


Diluted earnings (loss) per share, as reported

   $ 0.53    $ 0.25    $ (0.58 )

Change in amortization expense

               0.11  
    

  

  


Adjusted diluted earnings (loss) per share

   $ 0.53    $ 0.25    $ (0.47 )
    

  

  


 

NOTE C: PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

 

Property and equipment consist of the following at December 31:

 

     2003

   2002

     (In thousands)

Warehouse equipment

   $ 4,196    $ 3,917

Office equipment

     5,647      5,235

Leasehold improvements

     896      831

Automobiles

     72      49
    

  

       10,811      10,032

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

     8,547      7,578
    

  

     $ 2,264    $ 2,454
    

  

 

NOTE D: LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS

 

Long-term obligations consist of the following at December 31:

 

     2003

   2002

     (In thousands)

Secured notes payable to bank due May 31, 2005

   $ 23,681    $ 23,004

Capital lease obligations

     166      198
    

  

     $ 23,847    $ 23,202

Current portion

     48      62
    

  

     $ 23,799    $ 23,140
    

  

 

Subsequent to 2004, annual maturities of long-term obligations (in thousands) are $20,541 in 2005, $3,236 in 2006, and $23 in 2007.

 

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Table of Contents

Secured Notes Payable to Bank

 

The secured notes payable to bank evidence borrowings, under a revolving credit facility, which are collateralized by substantially all of the Company’s assets. During 2002, the Company amended its agreement with the bank, extending the expiration date of the revolving credit facility to May 31, 2005. The Company may borrow up to the lesser of (i) $40,000,000 (or from $30,000,000 to $35,000,000 from August to February) each year, or (ii) an amount equal to 80% of the value of its eligible accounts receivable and between 50% and 55% of the value of its eligible inventory. Interest is payable at the bank’s prime rate (4% at December 31, 2003) plus 0.75% or, at the Company’s option but subject to certain limitations, borrowings will bear interest at the bank’s LIBOR rate (1.4625% at December 31, 2003) plus 2.5%.

 

The loan agreement with the bank contains certain restrictive covenants. Included are covenants regarding profitability, minimum liquidity ratios, restrictions on investments, limitations on indebtedness, and consent requirements for the payment of dividends and for business acquisitions, mergers and consolidations. The Company is in compliance with all the covenants.

 

NOTE E: COMMITMENTS

 

Operating Leases. The Company leases its corporate offices, warehouse facilities, and data processing equipment. These leases are classified as operating leases as they do not meet the capitalization criteria of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 13, “Accounting for Leases.” The office and warehouse leases expire at various dates during the next ten years.

 

Minimum future rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases are as follows:

 

Year Ending December 31,


   (In thousands)

2004

   $ 3,000

2005

     2,599

2006

     2,591

2007

     1,844

2008

     1,563

Thereafter

     3,099
    

     $ 14,696
    

 

Rent expense charged to operations (stated in thousands) amounted to $3,602 in 2003, $3,634 in 2002 and $3,449 in 2001.

 

NOTE F: STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK PURCHASE PLANS

 

Stock Option Plans. The Company has in effect a 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (“the Plan”), which authorizes the issuance of options to purchase 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to key management employees of the Company and members of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company also had in effect a 1993 Plan Stock Option Plan under which authorized the issuance of options to purchase up to 500,000 shares of common stock (the “1993 Plan”). Options to purchase a total of 403,833 shares of common stock granted under that Plan were outstanding at December 31, 2003. However, that Plan expired in 2003 and, as a consequence, no additional options may be granted under the 1993 Plan. There also remain outstanding options to purchase shares of common stock that were granted under stock option plans that expired prior to 2001.

 

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Table of Contents

A summary of the Company’s stock option plans is presented below:

 

     2003

    2002

   2001

     Shares

    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price


    Shares

    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price


   Shares

    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price


Outstanding at beginning of year

     665,000     $ 2.96       659,000     $ 3.11      699,500     $ 3.73

Granted

     51,000       3.65       26,000       2.15      195,000       0.75

Exercised

     (105,500 )     (1.88 )                     

Forfeited

     (55,500 )     (7.55 )     (20,000 )     7.13      (235,500 )     2.99
    


         


        


     

Outstanding at end of year

     555,000       2.77       665,000       2.96      659,000       3.11

Exercisable at end of year

     498,800     $ 2.72       588,390     $ 3.20      506,645     $ 3.66
    


 


 


 

  


 

Weighted average fair value per option granted

   $ 2.14             $ 1.84            $ 0.62        
    


         


        


     

 

The following information applies to options outstanding at December 31, 2003:

 

Range

  Options
Outstanding


  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price


  Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (Years)


  Options
Exercisable


 

Weighted
Average

Exercise
Price


$ 0.63 – $3.50   409,000   $ 2.17   6   355,300   $ 2.02
$ 4.13 – $7.88   146,000   $ 4.48   3   143,500   $ 4.45
     
           
     
$ 0.63 – $7.88   555,000   $ 2.77   5   498,800   $ 2.72

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plans

 

The Company has in effect a 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan under which 400,000 shares of the Company’s common stock have been reserved for issuance to all permanent employees who have met minimum employment criteria. Employees who do not own 5% or more of the outstanding shares are eligible to participate through payroll deductions.

 

Under this Plan payroll deductions are made for participating employees during annual purchase periods. At the end of each such period, shares are purchased for the participants’ respective accounts at 85% of the lower of the fair market value at the beginning or the end of the offering period. However, any participating employee may elect to withdraw from participation in the Plan at any time prior to the end of the purchase period, in which event the payroll deductions accumulated in that employee’s account are refunded to and no shares are purchased for that employee. The weighted average per share fair values of the awards were $0.61, $0.61, and $0.51 for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, and 2001, respectively. At December 31, 2003, 219,034 shares under this plan remain available for issuance in future purchase periods.

 

NOTE G: EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN

 

The Company has a 401(k) profit sharing plan in which all full-time employees are eligible to participate beginning with the first quarter following the completion of six months of employment. The plan allows participants to make pretax contributions and apply for and secure loans from their account. The plan provides for the Company to make discretionary contributions to be determined annually. The Company has not contributed to this plan in any of the last three years.

 

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Table of Contents

NOTE H: FOREIGN OPERATIONS

 

A summary of the Company’s operations by geographic area for the years ended of December 31, is presented below:

 

     Year Ended December 31,

 
     2003

   2002

   2001

 
          (As restated;
see Note N)
   (As restated;
see Note N)
 
     (In thousands)  

Sales to external customers

                      

United States

   $ 128,441    $ 121,548    $ 112,377  

Canada

     28,002      24,229      22,548  

Other

     34      39      33  

Operating margin

                      

United States

   $ 3,971    $ 2,281    $ (3,336 )

Canada

     1,222      180      197  

Other

     104      180      313  

Identifiable assets

                      

United States

   $ 50,960    $ 47,914    $ 51,323  

Canada

     10,024      8,301      8,199  

Other

     1,117      1,057      949  

 

NOTE I: INCOME TAXES

 

Pretax income (loss), before the cumulative effect of accounting change, for the years ending December 31 was taxed under the following jurisdictions:

 

     2003

   2002

   2001

 
     (In thousands)  

Domestic

   $ 3,126    $ 1,765    $ (3,884 )

Foreign

     1,064      113      191  
    

  

  


     $ 4,190    $ 1,878    $ (3,693 )
    

  

  


 

The provision (benefit) for income taxes is summarized as follows for the year ended December 31:

 

     2003

    2002

    2001

 
           (As restated;
see Note N)
    (As restated;
see Note N)
 
     (In thousands)  

Current:

                        

Federal

   $ 554     $ 67     $ 32  

State

     178       49       82  

Foreign

     429       42       7  
    


 


 


     $ 1,161     $ 158     $ 121  
    


 


 


Deferred:

                        

Federal

   $ 579     $ 592     $ (1,150 )

State

     46       44       (148 )

Foreign

     (43 )     (3 )     (2 )
    


 


 


     $ 582     $ 633     $ (1,300 )
    


 


 


Income tax provision (benefit)

   $ 1,743     $ 791     $ (1,179 )
    


 


 


 

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Table of Contents

The total operating loss carryforwards available for state income tax purposes at December 31, 2003 were $3,478,000. The earliest carryforwards begin to expire in 2005.

 

Deferred tax assets (liabilities) are comprised of the following at December 31:

 

     2003

    2002

 
           (As restated;
see Note N)
 
     (In thousands)  

Deferred tax assets

                

Inventory

   $ 1,999     $ 1,709  

Bad debt provision

     286       260  

Property, plant and equipment

     62       71  

Loss carryforwards

     250       1,206  

Other

     154       165  
    


 


Gross deferred tax assets

     2,751       3411  

Less valuation allowance

           (70 )
    


 


     $ 2,751     $ 3,341  
    


 


Deferred tax liabilities

                

Investment in affiliates

            

Property, plant and equipment

     (136 )     (143 )
    


 


Gross deferred tax liabilities

     (136 )     (143 )
    


 


Net deferred tax assets

   $ 2,615     $ 3,198  
    


 


 

Set forth below is a reconciliation between actual tax expense (benefit), and expected tax expense (benefit), for the year ended December 31:

 

     2003

    2002

    2001

 
           (As restated;
see Note N)
    (As restated;
see Note N)
 
     (In thousands)  

Earnings (loss) before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ 4,190     $ 1,878     $ (3,693 )
    


 


 


Expected income tax expense (benefit) at 34%

     1,425       638       (1,256 )

Difference in rates on earnings (loss) of foreign operations

     23       22       (15 )

Goodwill amortization and other nondeductible expenses

     60       60       187  

State taxes (net of federal benefit)

     235       174       (111 )

Change in valuation allowance

     (70 )     (50 )     45  

Exclusion of earnings of foreign affiliates

     (3 )     (51 )     (18 )

Other

     73       (2 )     (11 )
    


 


 


Income tax provision (benefit)

   $ 1,743     $ 791     $ (1,179 )
    


 


 


 

Deferred income taxes have not been provided on the undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries or foreign joint ventures as they have been and will continue to be reinvested. Where it is contemplated that earnings will not be reinvested, the Company believes U.S. foreign tax credits would largely eliminate any U.S. tax.

 

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Table of Contents

NOTE J: EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

     Year Ended December 31,

 
     2003

   2002

    2001

 
          (As restated;
see Note N)
    (As restated;
see Note N)
 
     (In thousands)  

Numerator:

                       

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 2,447    $ (5,238 )   $ (2,514 )
    

  


 


Denominator:

                       

Weighted average shares outstanding

     4,436      4,387       4,360  

Dilutive effect of stock options

     199             
    

  


 


Denominator for diluted earnings (loss) per share

     4,635      4,387       4,360  
    

  


 


 

NOTE K: ACCRUED LIABILITIES

 

Accrued liabilities consist of the following at December 31:

 

     2003

   2002

     (In thousands)

Payroll and related benefits

   $ 998    $ 769

Rent

     404      361

Income and other taxes

     852      326

Other

     1,489      1,157
    

  

     $ 3,743    $ 2,613
    

  

 

NOTE L: SIGNIFICANT CONCENTRATIONS

 

The Company’s ability to satisfy demand for its products may be limited by the availability of those products from the Company’s suppliers. In 1995 the Company entered into a multi-year supply agreement with Airxcel, Inc. (formerly Recreational Vehicle Products, Inc.), which manufactures air conditioners under the Coleman® brand name. Airxcel is the Company’s principal supplier of these products, the sales of which accounted for approximately 10%, 11% and 11% of the Company’s net sales in 2003, 2002, and 2001, respectively.

 

NOTE M: OTHER INCOME

 

Other income in 2002 was attributable to the sale, to a manufacturer of RV parts, of manufacturing rights and equipment for and inventories of a line of proprietary products that we had been selling not only to our After-Market Customers, but also to recreational vehicle manufacturers. The sales price, net of selling expenses, was $1,152,000.

 

Other income in 2001 was primarily attributable to the sale of the real property where our distribution center in Portland, Oregon was located. The sales price of this property, net of selling expenses, was $2,667,000.

 

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Table of Contents

NOTE N: PRIOR PERIOD ADJUSTMENTS

 

The Company has restated its previously issued 2002 and 2001 financial statements to reflect adjustments principally related to the recording of deferred income taxes on intercompany transfers of assets. The Company did not record the deferral of income taxes paid on intercompany profits attributable to sales of assets (principally product inventories) within the consolidated group of companies. This restatement increased previously reported retained earnings as of January 1, 2001 by $254,000 and adjusted previously reported results of operations as follows:

 

     2002

    2001

 
     (In thousands,
except per share data)
 

Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change

                

As previously reported

   $ 1,063     $ (2,495 )

As restated

     1,087       (2,514 )

Net loss:

                

As previously reported

   $ (5,262 )   $ (2,495 )

As restated

     (5,238 )     (2,514 )

Basic and diluted earnings per share before cumulative effect of accounting change:

                

As previously reported

   $ 0.24     $ (0.57 )

As restated

     0.25       (0.58 )

Basic and diluted earnings per share:

                

As previously reported

   $ (1.20 )   $ (0.57 )

As restated

     (1.19 )     (0.58 )

Retained earnings at end of period:

                

As previously reported

   $ 4,258     $ 9,520  

As restated

     4,517       9,755  

 

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Table of Contents

SCHEDULE II

 

THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003

 

Description


   Balance at
Beginning of
Period


   Additions

   Deductions(1)

   Balance at
End of
Period


     (In thousands)

Allowance for doubtful accounts:

                           

Year Ended December 31, 2001

   $ 1,040    $ 832    $ 790    $ 1,082

Year Ended December 31, 2002

   $ 1,082    $ 550    $ 460    $ 1,172

Year Ended December 31, 2003

   $ 1,172    $ 364    $ 555    $ 981

(1) Write-off of doubtful accounts against the allowance.

 

Description


   Balance at
Beginning of
Period


   Additions

   Deductions(1)

   Balance at
End of
Period


     (In thousands)

Allowance for obsolete or slow-moving inventory:

                           

Year Ended December 31, 2001

   $ 1,730    $ 736    $ 699    $ 1,767

Year Ended December 31, 2002

   $ 1,767    $ 888    $ 632    $ 2,023

Year Ended December 31, 2003

   $ 2,023    $ 703    $ 327    $ 2,399

(1) Write-off of slow-moving or obsolete inventory.

 

Description


   Balance at
Beginning of
Period


   Additions

   Deductions(1)

   Balance at
End of
Period


     (In thousands)

Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets:

                           

Year Ended December 31, 2001

   $ 75    $ 45    $    $ 120

Year Ended December 31, 2002

   $ 120    $    $ 50    $ 70

Year Ended December 31, 2003

   $ 70    $    $ 70    $

(1) Net operating loss carryforwards used or expired.

 

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Table of Contents

ITEM 9. DISAGREEMENTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

The Company’s management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) in effect as of December 31, 2003. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2003, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were adequate and effective and designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to them by others within these entities.

 

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2003 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

Except for information concerning the Company’s executive officers which is included in Part I of this Report, the information required by Item 10 is incorporated by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement expected to be filed with the Commission on or before April 29, 2004 for the Company’s annual stockholders’ meeting.

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The information required by Item 11 is incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement expected to be filed with the Commission on or before on or before April 29, 2004 for the Company’s annual stockholders’ meeting.

 

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

 

Except for the information below regarding our equity compensation plans, the information required by Item 12 is incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement expected to be filed with the Commission on or before on or before April 29, 2004 for the Company’s annual stockholders’ meeting.

 

The following table provides information relating to our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2003:

 

     Number of Securities to be
Issued upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options


    Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options


    Number of Securities Remaining
Available for Future Issuance under
Equity Compensation Plans
(Excluding Securities Reflected in
Column A


Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders

                  

Stock option plans

   555,000     $ 2.77     148,500

Employee stock purchase plan (1)

   N/A (1)     (1)   219,034

Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders

            
    

 


 
     555,000     $ 2.77     367,534
    

 


 

(1) This plan is available to all full time employees and participation is voluntary. Employees desiring to participate must elect to do so at the beginning of an annual “purchase” period at which time they must authorize payment for the shares they will purchase by payroll deduction to be made ratably over the purchase period. The price of the shares is determined at the end of the purchase period, at which time the employees have the option of having their withholdings applied to purchase shares under the plan or withdrawing from the plan and receiving a return of their accumulated payroll deductions. The shares are sold under the plan at a price that is 85% of the lower of the market price of the Company’s shares at the beginning of the purchase period, or at the end of the purchase period.

 

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Table of Contents

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

The information required by Item 13 is incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement expected to be filed with the Commission on or before on or before April 29, 2004 for the Company’s annual stockholders’ meeting.

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

The information required by Item 14 is incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Commission on or before April 29, 2004 for the Company’s 2004 annual shareholders’ meeting.

 

PART IV

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Report:

 

  (1) Financial Statements. The Consolidated Financial Statements of The Coast Distribution System, Inc. and Financial Statement Schedules: See Index to Financial Statements on Page 17 of this Report.

 

  (2) Exhibits. See Index to Exhibits, elsewhere in this Report, for a list and description of (i) exhibits previously filed by the Company with the Commission and (ii) the exhibits being filed with this Report.

 

    Compensation Plans and Arrangements. Set forth below is a list of Compensation Plans and Arrangements that have been filed as exhibits with the Commission, together with the respective exhibit numbers thereof:

 

1993 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, as amended — See Exhibit 10.31.

 

1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan — See Exhibit 10. 35.

 

1999 Employee Stock Option Plan — See Exhibit 10.36.

 

(b) Current Reports on Form 8-K.

 

The Company filed the following reports on Form 8-K:

 

  (1) A Current Report dated November 4, 2003 to report the Company’s operating results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2003.

 

  (2) A Current Report dated March 8, 2004 to report the Company’s operating results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2003.

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

Dated: March 29, 2004

 

THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC.

By:  

/s/    THOMAS R. MCGUIRE


    Thomas R. McGuire, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report on Form 10-K has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Each person whose signature to this Report appears below hereby appoints Thomas R. McGuire and Sandra A. Knell, and either of them, individually, to act severally as attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for each of them, to sign on his behalf, individually and in the capacities stated below, and to file any and all amendments to this Annual Report, which amendment or amendments may make changes and additions as such attorneys-in-fact may deem necessary or appropriate.

 

SIGNATURE


  

TITLE


 

DATE


/s/ THOMAS R. MCGUIRE


Thomas R. McGuire

   Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and Director   March 29, 2004

/s/ SANDRA A. KNELL


Sandra A. Knell

   Executive Vice President (Principal Financial and Principal Accounting Officer)   March 29, 2004

/s/ ROBERT S. THROOP


Robert S. Throop

   Director   March 29, 2004

/s/ JOHN W. CASEY


John W. Casey

   Director   March 29, 2004

/s/ BEN A. FRYDMAN


Ben A. Frydman

   Director   March 29, 2004

/s/ LEONARD P. DANNA


   Director   March 29, 2004

Leonard P. Danna

        

 

 

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Table of Contents

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

Number


  

Description of Exhibits


3.1A    Certificate of Incorporation of the Company as filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on July 1, 1997 and as in effect since that date (incorporated by reference to Exhibit B to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement dated and filed with the SEC on July 3, 1997).
3.2    Bylaws of the Company as adopted on July 1, 1997 and as in effect since that date (incorporated by reference to Exhibit C to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement dated and filed with the SEC on July 3, 1997).
10.18    Agreement of Purchase and Sale dated June 25, 1985, between Coast R.V., Inc. and Coachmen Industries, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to the same numbered exhibit in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 28, 1985).
10.31    1993 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 33-64582) filed with the SEC on June 17, 1993).
10.33    Second Amended and Restated Loan Agreement between the Company and Mellon Bank, together with First Amendment thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended June 30, 1995).
10.34    Distribution Agreement dated October 11, 1995 between the Company and Recreation Vehicle Products, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended September 30, 1995).
10.35    1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-55933) filed with the Commission on June 3, 1998.
10.36    1999 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000).
10.37    Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 29, 1998, between the Company and The Coast Distribution System, a California corporation and the Company’s predecessor (“Coast California”) pursuant to which its reincorporation in Delaware was accomplished (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement dated and filed with the SEC on July 3, 1997).
10.38    Asset Purchase Agreement dated December 31, 2002 between the Company and SHURflo Manufacturing Co., relating to the sale of the Polar Aire Assets. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 31, 2002).
21    Subsidiaries of Registrant
23.1    Consent of Grant Thornton LLP, Independent Certified Public Accountants, re Consolidated Financial Statements of The Coast Distribution System, Inc.
24    Power of Attorney — Included on Signature Page.
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

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