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Table of Contents

 

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

 

FORM 10-Q

 

[ X ]     QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended July 31, 2017

 

OR

 

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

 

For the transition period from _____________ to ______________

 

Commission file number 0-27022

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Virginia

54-1237042

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation

(I.R.S. Employer

or organization)

Identification No.)

 

5290 Concourse Drive
Roanoke, Virginia 24019
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(540) 265-0690
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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. (1) Yes ☒    No ☐

 

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

 

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

    

Large Accelerated Filer ☐    Accelerated Filer ☐    Non-accelerated Filer ☐     Smaller Reporting Company ☒

Emerging Growth Company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes ☐    No ☒

 

As of September 8, 2017, 7,334,016 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, no par value, were outstanding.

 

 

optical cable corporation

 

Form 10-Q Index

 

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2017

 

 

 

    Page
     
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
       
  Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited)  
       
   

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – July 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016

2

       
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations – Three Months and Nine Months Ended July 31, 2017 and 2016  3
       
    Condensed Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity – Nine Months Ended July 31, 2017 4
       
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Nine Months Ended July 31, 2017 and 2016  5
       
    Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 6
       
  Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 14
       
  Item 4. Controls and Procedures 28
       
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION  
       
  Item 1. Legal Proceedings 29
       
  Item 6. Exhibits 30
       
SIGNATURES   31

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

 

 

   

July 31,

   

October 31,

 

 

 

2017

   

2016

 
Assets            

Current assets:

               

Cash

  $ 529,264     $ 1,879,064  

Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $75,827 at July 31, 2017 and $74,266 at October 31, 2016

    9,300,973       8,916,245  

Other receivables

    41,580       70,828  

Inventories

    18,354,925       15,023,966  

Prepaid expenses

    468,487       431,780  

Total current assets

    28,695,229       26,321,883  

Property and equipment, net

    12,601,351       13,399,158  

Intangible assets, net

    612,132       575,010  

Other assets, net

    180,611       369,737  

Total assets

  $ 42,089,323     $ 40,665,788  

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

               

Current liabilities:

               

Current installments of long-term debt

  $ 248,212     $ 294,214  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    4,315,670       2,636,420  

Accrued compensation and payroll taxes

    1,324,641       1,179,872  

Income taxes payable

    21,896       15,603  

Total current liabilities

    5,910,419       4,126,109  

Note payable to bank

    5,400,000       5,000,000  

Long-term debt, excluding current installments

    6,482,701       6,651,780  

Other noncurrent liabilities

    131,574       122,910  

Total liabilities

    17,924,694       15,900,799  

Shareholders’ equity:

               

Preferred stock, no par value, authorized 1,000,000 shares; none issued and outstanding

           

Common stock, no par value, authorized 50,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 7,334,348 shares at July 31, 2017 and 7,081,159 shares at October 31, 2016

    11,647,263       11,080,595  

Retained earnings

    12,517,366       13,684,394  

Total shareholders’ equity

    24,164,629       24,764,989  

Commitments and contingencies

               

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

  $ 42,089,323     $ 40,665,788  

 

See accompanying condensed notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

 

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

July 31,

   

July 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

2017

   

2016

 

Net sales

  $ 16,432,243     $ 16,915,135     $ 46,885,968     $ 47,303,178  

Cost of goods sold

    11,126,456       11,453,444       31,106,743       33,787,761  

Gross profit

    5,305,787       5,461,691       15,779,225       13,515,417  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    5,426,018       5,074,839       16,517,168       15,513,897  

Royalty expense, net

    39,185       38,920       109,350       105,249  

Amortization of intangible assets

    6,650       4,194       18,614       11,322  

Income (loss) from operations

    (166,066 )     343,738       (865,907 )     (2,115,051 )

Other expense, net:

                               

Interest expense

    (126,658 )     (166,154 )     (392,624 )     (459,672 )

Other, net

    11,659       3,419       109,829       19,752  

Other expense, net

    (114,999 )     (162,735 )     (282,795 )     (439,920 )

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (281,065 )     181,003       (1,148,702 )     (2,554,971 )

Income tax expense (benefit)

    14,095       (7,160 )     1,307       7,181  

Net income (loss)

  $ (295,160 )   $ 188,163     $ (1,150,009 )   $ (2,562,152 )

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

                      (22,172 )

Net income (loss) attributable to OCC

  $ (295,160 )   $ 188,163     $ (1,150,009 )   $ (2,539,980 )

Net loss attributable to OCC per share: Basic and diluted

  $ (0.05 )   $ 0.03     $ (0.18 )   $ (0.40 )

 

See accompanying condensed notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity

(Unaudited)

 

 

   

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2017

 
                           

Total

 
   

Common Stock

   

Retained

   

Shareholders’

 
   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Earnings

   

Equity

 

Balances at October 31, 2016

    7,081,159     $ 11,080,595     $ 13,684,394     $ 24,764,989  

Share-based compensation, net

    258,434       566,668             566,668  

Repurchase and retirement of common stock (at cost)

    (5,245 )           (17,019 )     (17,019 )

Net loss

                (1,150,009 )     (1,150,009 )

Balances at July 31, 2017

    7,334,348     $ 11,647,263     $ 12,517,366     $ 24,164,629  

 

See accompanying condensed notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

July 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

               

Net loss

  $ (1,150,009 )   $ (2,562,152 )

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

               

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

    1,232,460       1,494,716  

Bad debt expense

    6,161       23,074  

Share-based compensation expense

    668,676       659,796  

(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment

    88,464       (5,507 )

(Increase) decrease in:

               

Trade accounts receivable

    (390,889 )     120,155  

Other receivables

    29,248       88,198  

Income taxes refundable

          335,286  

Inventories

    (3,330,959 )     2,871,967  

Prepaid expenses

    (36,707 )     113,007  

Increase (decrease) in:

               

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    1,630,938       (702,472 )

Accrued compensation and payroll taxes

    144,769       26,562  

Income taxes payable

    6,293       (22,498 )

Other noncurrent liabilities

    171,431       (452,444 )

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

    (930,124 )     1,987,688  

Cash flows from investing activities:

               

Purchase of and deposits for the purchase of property and equipment

    (412,332 )     (567,420 )

Investment in intangible assets

    (55,736 )     (77,339 )

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

          9,118  

Net cash used in investing activities

    (468,068 )     (635,641 )

Cash flows from financing activities:

               

Payroll taxes withheld and remitted on share-based payments

    (102,008 )     (73,160 )

Proceeds from note payable to bank

    1,000,000       6,000,000  

Principal payments on long-term debt and note payable to bank

    (815,081 )     (6,310,037 )

Payments for financing costs

    (17,500 )     (137,794 )

Repurchase of common stock

    (17,019 )      

Common stock dividends paid

          (141,311 )

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    48,392       (662,302 )

Net increase (decrease) in cash

    (1,349,800 )     689,745  

Cash at beginning of period

    1,879,064       1,083,072  

Cash at end of period

  $ 529,264     $ 1,772,817  

 

See accompanying condensed notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

 

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2017

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

(1)

General

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Optical Cable Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “OCC®”) have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the nine months ended July 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2017 because the following items, among other things, may impact those results: changes in market conditions, seasonality, changes in technology, competitive conditions, ability of management to execute its business plans, as well as other variables, uncertainties, contingencies and risks set forth as risks in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016 (including those set forth in the “Forward-Looking Information” section), or as otherwise set forth in other filings by the Company as variables, contingencies and/or risks possibly affecting future results. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and condensed notes are presented as permitted by Form 10-Q and do not contain certain information included in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and notes. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016.

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs ("ASU 2015-03"). ASU 2015-03 requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the associated debt liability, consistent with the presentation of a debt discount. Prior to the issuance of the standard, debt issuance costs were required to be presented in the balance sheet as an asset. In August 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-15, Interest - Imputed Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements (“ASU 2015-15”) which clarified that entities may continue to defer and present debt issuance costs associated with a line-of-credit as an asset and subsequently amortize the deferred costs ratably over the term of the arrangement. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015. The new guidance must be applied retrospectively to all prior reporting periods presented.  The Company adopted ASU 2015-03 effective November 1, 2016. The adoption did not have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity or our related financial statement disclosures.

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-17, Income Taxes (“ASU 2015-17”). ASU 2015-17 requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. ASU 2015-17 is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those periods, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2015-17 effective November 1, 2016. The adoption did not have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity or our related financial statement disclosures.

 

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

 

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2017

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

(2)

Stock Incentive Plans and Other Share-Based Compensation

 

On March 28, 2017, the Company’s shareholders approved the Optical Cable Corporation 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”) that was recommended for approval by the Company’s Board of Directors. The 2017 Plan reserves 500,000 new common shares of the Company for issuance under the 2017 Plan and succeeds and replaces the Optical Cable Corporation Second Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”). As of July 31, 2017, there were approximately 566,000 remaining shares available for grant under the 2017 Plan (including the 500,000 new shares and the 36,903 shares transferred from the 2011 Plan, plus 60,689 shares forfeited or withheld for taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted shares less 31,380 shares granted in March 2017).

 

Share-based compensation expense for employees, a consultant and non-employee Directors recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2017 was $237,663 and $668,676, respectively and for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2016 was $145,459 and $659,796, respectively. Share-based compensation expense is entirely related to expense recognized in connection with the vesting of restricted stock awards or other stock awards.

 

Restricted and Other Stock Awards

 

The Company has granted, and anticipates granting from time to time, restricted stock awards subject to approval by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Since fiscal year 2004, the Company has exclusively used restricted stock awards for all share-based compensation of employees and consultants, and restricted stock awards or stock awards to non-employee members of the Board of Directors.

 

Restricted stock award activity during the nine months ended July 31, 2017 consisted of restricted stock grants totaling 391,211 shares, restricted and other shares forfeited totaling 104,692 and restricted shares withheld for taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted shares totaling 28,085. Employees and non-employee Directors have the option to surrender shares to pay for withholding tax obligations resulting from any vesting restricted shares, or to pay cash to the Company or taxing authorities in the amount of the withholding taxes owed on the value of any vesting restricted shares in order to avoid surrendering shares.

 

As of July 31, 2017, the estimated amount of compensation cost related to unvested equity-based compensation awards in the form of service-based and operational performance-based shares that the Company will recognize over a 3.1 year weighted-average period is approximately $2.5 million.

 

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

 

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2017

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

(3)

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts for Trade Accounts Receivable

 

A summary of changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts for trade accounts receivable for the nine months ended July 31, 2017 and 2016 follows:

 

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

July 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Balance at beginning of period

  $ 74,266     $ 63,011  

Bad debt expense

    6,161       23,074  

Losses charged to allowance

    (4,729 )      

Recoveries added to allowance

    129        

Balance at end of period

  $ 75,827     $ 86,085  

 

 

(4)

Inventories

 

Inventories as of July 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016 consist of the following:

 

   

July 31,

   

October 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Finished goods

  $ 5,780,827     $ 4,657,779  

Work in process

    3,144,780       2,591,885  

Raw materials

    9,083,691       7,515,717  

Production supplies

    345,627       258,585  

Total

  $ 18,354,925     $ 15,023,966  

 

 

(5)

Product Warranties

 

As of July 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016, the Company’s accrual for estimated product warranty claims totaled $155,000 and $70,000, respectively, and is included in accounts payable and accrued expenses. Warranty claims expense for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2017 totaled $96,927 and $178,565, respectively. Warranty claims expense for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2016 totaled $34,042 and $57,724, respectively.

 

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

 

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2017

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s accrual for product warranties during the nine months ended July 31, 2017 and 2016:

 

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

July 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Balance at beginning of period

  $ 70,000     $ 130,000  

Liabilities accrued for warranties issued during the period

    176,113       117,437  

Warranty claims and costs paid during the period

    (93,565 )     (112,724 )

Changes in liability for pre-existing warranties during the period

    2,452       (59,713 )

Balance at end of period

  $ 155,000     $ 75,000  

 

 

(6)

Long-term Debt and Note Payable to Bank

 

The Company has credit facilities consisting of a real estate term loan, as amended and restated (the “Virginia Real Estate Loan”), a supplemental real estate term loan, as amended and restated (the “North Carolina Real Estate Loan”) and a revolving credit note.

 

On December 21, 2016, the Company entered into a Loan Modification Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Bank of North Carolina (“BNC”) to modify the Credit Agreement dated April 26, 2016 entered into between the Company and BNC, the Revolving Credit Note dated April 26, 2016 payable by the Company to BNC and the term loans dated April 26, 2016 payable by the Company to BNC.

 

The Agreement with BNC lowered the interest rate of the Virginia Real Estate Loan and the North Carolina Real Estate Loan to 3.75% effective January 1, 2017 and resulted in lower monthly installment payments.

 

On April 27, 2017, the Company entered into a Third Loan Modification Agreement with BNC to modify the Credit Agreement dated April 26, 2016 entered into between the Company and BNC and the term loans dated April 26, 2016.

 

The Third Loan Modification Agreement revised the interest rates of the term loans and the applicable repayment installments and extended the maturity date. The fixed interest rate of each of the two term loans was revised to 3.95% from 3.75%, and the maturity date of the term loans was extended to May 1, 2024. All other terms of the term loans remain unaltered and remain in full force and effect.

 

The real estate loans continue to be secured by a first priority lien on all of the Company’s personal property and assets, all money, goods, machinery, equipment, fixtures, inventory, accounts, chattel paper, letter of credit rights, deposit accounts, commercial tort claims, documents, instruments, investment property and general intangibles now owned or hereafter acquired by the Company and wherever located, as well as a first lien deed of trust on the Company’s real property.

 

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

 

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2017

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

Long-term debt as of July 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016 consists of the following:

 

   

July 31,

   

October 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Virginia Real Estate Loan ($6.5 million original principal) payable in monthly installments of $31,812, including interest (at 3.95%), with final payment of $3,644,211 due May 1, 2024

  $ 5,005,791     $ 5,165,785  

North Carolina Real Estate Loan ($2.24 million original principal) payable in monthly installments of $10,963, including interest (at 3.95%), with final payment of $1,255,850 due May 1, 2024

    1,725,122       1,780,209  

Total long-term debt

    6,730,913       6,945,994  

Less current installments

    248,212       294,214  

Long-term debt, excluding current installments

  $ 6,482,701     $ 6,651,780  

 

 

The Revolving Credit Note (“Revolver”) with BNC provides the Company with a $7.0 million revolving line of credit (“Revolving Loan”) for the working capital needs of the Company. Under the Agreement and Revolver, BNC provides the Company with one or more revolving loans in a collective maximum principal amount of $7.0 million. The Company may borrow, repay, and reborrow at any time or from time to time while the Revolving Loan is in effect.

 

The Agreement with BNC resulted in the lowering of the applicable margin in the Revolving Credit Note and established a floor on the interest rate for the Revolving Credit Note such that the rate will never be less than 2.50% per annum. The Revolving Loan accrues interest at LIBOR plus 2.50% (resulting in a 3.72% rate at July 31, 2017). The Revolving Loan is payable in monthly payments of interest only with principal and any outstanding interest due and payable at maturity.

 

On February 28, 2017, the Company entered into a Second Loan Modification Agreement (the “Modification Agreement”) extending the maturity date of the Revolver to March 31, 2019, and removing certain previously existing provisions of the Revolving Loan that required reductions in availability originally contemplated to occur on February 28, 2017 and 2018. As a result, the collective maximum principal amount of the Revolving Loan will remain at $7.0 million. All other terms of the Revolving Loan remain unaltered and remain in full force and effect. Within the revolving loan limit of the Revolving Loan and the Modification Agreement, the Company may borrow, repay, and reborrow, at any time or from time to time until March 31, 2019.

 

The Revolving Loan continues to be secured by a perfected first lien security interest on all assets, including but not limited to, accounts, as-extracted collateral, chattel paper, commodity accounts, commodity contracts, deposit accounts, documents, equipment, fixtures, furniture, general intangibles, goods, instruments, inventory, investment property, letter of credit rights, payment intangibles, promissory notes, software and general tangible and intangible assets owned now or later acquired. The Revolving Loan is also cross-collateralized with the Company’s real property.

 

As of July 31, 2017, the Company had $5.4 million of outstanding borrowings on its Revolving Loan and $1.6 million in available credit. As of October 31, 2016, the Company had outstanding borrowings of $5.0 million on its former revolving credit facility and $2.0 million in available credit.

 

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

 

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2017

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

(7)

Fair Value Measurements

 

The carrying amounts reported in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of July 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016 for cash, trade accounts receivable, other receivables and accounts payable and accrued expenses, including accrued compensation and payroll taxes, approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. The carrying values of the Company’s note payable to bank and long-term debt approximate fair value based on similar long-term debt issues available to the Company as of July 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016. Fair value is defined as the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

 

(8)

Net Income (Loss) Per Share

 

Basic net income (loss) per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income (loss) per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the net income (loss) of the Company.

 

The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the net income (loss) per share computations for the periods presented:

 

   

Three months ended

   

Nine months ended

 
   

July 31,

   

July 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

2017

   

2016

 

Net income (loss) attributable to OCC (numerator)

  $ (295,160 )   $ 188,163     $ (1,150,009 )   $ (2,539,980 )

Shares (denominator)

    6,490,205       7,115,389       6,538,621       6,403,352  

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share

  $ (0.05 )   $ 0.03     $ (0.18 )   $ (0.40 )

 

 

Weighted average unvested shares for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2017 totaling 862,895 and 738,430, respectively, while issued and outstanding, were not included in the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2017 (because to include such shares would have been antidilutive, or in other words, to do so would have reduced the net loss per share for those periods).

 

Weighted average unvested shares for the nine months ended July 31, 2016 totaling 681,570, while issued and outstanding, were not included in the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share for the nine months ended July 31, 2016 (because to include such shares would have been antidilutive, or in other words, to do so would have reduced the net loss per share for that period).

 

(9)

Segment Information and Business and Credit Concentrations

 

The Company provides credit, in the normal course of business, to various commercial enterprises, governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations. Concentration of credit risk with respect to trade receivables is limited due to the Company’s large number of customers. The Company also manages exposure to credit risk through credit approvals, credit limits and monitoring procedures. Management believes that credit risks as of July 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016 have been adequately provided for in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

 

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2017

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

For the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2017, 15.8% and 16.3%, respectively, of consolidated net sales were attributable to one customer. For the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2016, 16.3% and 14.2%, respectively, of consolidated net sales were attributable to the same customer.

 

The Company has a single reportable segment for purposes of segment reporting.

 

(10)

Non-controlling Interest

 

On August 1, 2008, OCC acquired 70% of the authorized membership interests of Centric Solutions LLC (“Centric Solutions”), a limited liability company focused on sales of turnkey cabling and connectivity solutions for the datacenter market. OCC consolidated Centric Solutions for financial reporting purposes and a non-controlling interest was recorded for the other members’ interests in the net assets and operations of Centric Solutions to the extent of the non-controlling members’ investment.

 

Effective February 1, 2016, OCC purchased, for a nominal amount, the membership interest in Centric Solutions of one of the non-controlling members, and Centric Solutions purchased, for a nominal amount, and retired the membership units of the remaining non-controlling member. As a result, Centric Solutions became a wholly owned subsidiary of OCC. OCC continues to consolidate Centric Solutions for financial reporting purposes; however, beginning in the second quarter of fiscal year 2016, the Company no longer records a non-controlling interest in its condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

(11)

Contingencies     

 

From time to time, the Company is involved in various claims, legal actions and regulatory reviews arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

(12)

New Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that expands disclosure requirements and requires an entity to recognize revenue when promised goods or services are transferred to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date (“ASU 2015-14”) which defers the effective date of the new revenue recognition standard by one year. Under ASU 2015-14, the new revenue recognition standard is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal year 2019. The FASB has also issued ASU 2016-08, ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-11, ASU 2016-12, and ASU 2016-20 all of which clarify certain implementation guidance within ASU 2014-09. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this guidance, but does not anticipate that the adoption will significantly change the timing or amount of revenue recognized. Therefore, the Company believes the adoption will be limited to expanded disclosures with no material impact on its results of operations, financial position and liquidity.

 

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

 

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2017

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

In July 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU 2015-11”). ASU 2015-11 changes the inventory valuation method from lower of cost or market to lower of cost and net realizable value for inventory valued using first-in, first-out or average cost. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. ASU 2015-11 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and should be applied prospectively with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2015-11 is not expected to have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity or its related financial statement disclosures.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 requires the recognition of a separate lease liability representing the required lease payments over the lease term and a separate lease asset representing the right to use the underlying asset during the same lease term. Additionally, this ASU provides clarification regarding the identification of certain components of contracts that would represent a lease as well as requires additional disclosures to the notes to the financial statements. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period with early adoption permitted. The Company is in the process of compiling an inventory of all leases that fall under the requirements of ASU 2016-02, but does not expect the new guidance to have a material impact on its results of operations, financial position and liquidity and its related financial statement disclosures.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”). ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects related to the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, statutory tax withholding requirements and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-09 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity or its related financial statement disclosures.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”). ASU 2016-15   provides guidance related to the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statement of cash flows. The pronouncement provides clarification guidance on eight specific cash flow presentation issues that have developed due to diversity in practice. ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity or its related financial statement disclosures.

 

In October 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (“ASU 2016-16”). ASU 2016-16 requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset (with the exception of inventory) when the transfer occurs.  Under current GAAP, entities are prohibited from recognizing current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity transfer until the asset is sold to a third party.  Examples of assets that would be affected by the new guidance are intellectual property and property, plant and equipment.  ASU 2016-16 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-16 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity or its related financial statement disclosures.

  

There are no other new accounting standards issued, but not yet adopted by the Company, which are expected to materially impact the Company’s financial position, operating results or financial statement disclosures.

 

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Forward-Looking Information

 

This Form 10-Q may contain certain forward-looking information within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The forward-looking information may include, among other information, (i) statements concerning our outlook for the future, (ii) statements of belief, anticipation or expectation, (iii) future plans, strategies or anticipated events, and (iv) similar information and statements concerning matters that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown variables, uncertainties, contingencies and risks that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from our expectations. Such known and unknown variables, uncertainties, contingencies and risks (collectively, “factors”) may also adversely affect Optical Cable Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “OCC®”), the Company’s future results of operations and future financial condition, and/or the future equity value of the Company. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences from our expectations or that could adversely affect the Company include, but are not limited to: the level of sales to key customers, including distributors; timing of certain projects and purchases by key customers; the economic conditions affecting network service providers; corporate and/or government spending on information technology; actions by competitors; fluctuations in the price of raw materials (including optical fiber, copper, gold and other precious metals, plastics and other materials); fluctuations in transportation costs; our dependence on customized equipment for the manufacture of certain of our products in certain production facilities; our ability to protect our proprietary manufacturing technology; market conditions influencing prices or pricing in one or more of the markets in which we participate, including the impact of increased competition; our dependence on a limited number of suppliers; the loss of or conflict with one or more key suppliers or customers; an adverse outcome in litigation, claims and other actions, and potential litigation, claims and other actions against us; an adverse outcome in regulatory reviews and audits and potential regulatory reviews and audits; adverse changes in state tax laws and/or positions taken by state taxing authorities affecting us; technological changes and introductions of new competing products; changes in end-user preferences for competing technologies relative to our product offering; economic conditions that affect the telecommunications sector, the data communications sector, certain technology sectors and/or certain industry market sectors (for example, mining, oil & gas, military and wireless carrier industry market sectors); economic conditions that affect U.S. based manufacturers; economic conditions or changes in relative currency strengths (for example, the strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to certain foreign currencies) that affect certain geographic markets, the relative costs of U.S. products exported, and/or the economy as a whole; changes in demand for our products from certain competitors for which we provide private label connectivity products; changes in the mix of products sold during any given period (due to, among other things, seasonality or strength or weaknesses in particular markets in which we participate) which may impact gross profits and gross profit margins or net sales; variations in orders and production volumes of hybrid cables (fiber and copper) with high copper content, which tend to have lower gross profit margins; variations resulting from high volatility, large sales orders and high sales concentration among a limited number of customers in the wireless carrier market; terrorist attacks or acts of war, and any current or potential future military conflicts; changes in the level of military spending or other spending by the United States government, including, but not limited to reductions in government spending due to automatic budget cuts or sequestration; ability to recruit and retain key personnel; poor labor relations; the impact of changes in accounting policies and related costs of compliance, including changes by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”), the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), and/or the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”); our ability to continue to successfully comply with, and the cost of compliance with, the provisions of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or any revisions to that act which apply to us; the impact of changes and potential changes in federal laws and regulations adversely affecting our business and/or which result in increases in our direct and indirect costs, including our direct and indirect costs of compliance with such laws and regulations; the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and any revisions to those acts that apply to us and the related legislation and regulation associated with those acts, which directly or indirectly result in increases to our costs; the impact of changes in state or federal tax laws and regulations increasing our costs and/or impacting the net return to investors owning our shares; any changes in the status of our compliance with financial debt covenants with our lender; our ability to maintain and/or secure debt financing and/or equity financing to adequately finance our ongoing operations; the impact of future consolidation among competitors and/or among customers adversely affecting our position with our customers and/or our market position; actions by customers adversely affecting us in reaction to the expansion of our product offering in any manner, including, but not limited to, by offering products that compete with our customers, and/or by entering into alliances with, making investments in or with, and/or acquiring parties that compete with and/or have conflicts with our customers; voluntary or involuntary delisting of the Company’s common stock from any exchange on which it is traded; the deregistration by the Company from SEC reporting requirements, as a result of the small number of holders of the Company’s common stock; a continued suspension of dividends declared to shareholders due to inadequate or alternative uses of cash on hand; adverse reactions by customers, vendors or other service providers to unsolicited proposals regarding the ownership or management of the Company; the additional costs of considering, responding to and possibly defending our position on unsolicited proposals regarding the ownership or management of the Company; impact of weather or natural disasters in the areas of the world in which we operate, market our products and/or acquire raw materials; an increase in the number of shares of the Company’s common stock issued and outstanding; further economic downturns generally and/or in one or more of the markets in which we operate; changes in market demand, exchange rates, productivity, market dynamics, market confidence, macroeconomic and/or other economic conditions in the areas of the world in which we operate and market our products; and our success in managing the risks involved in the foregoing.

 

 

We caution readers that the foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. Furthermore, we incorporate by reference those factors included in current reports on Form 8-K, and/or in our other filings.

 

Dollar amounts presented in the following discussion have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand, except in the case of amounts less than one million and except in the case of the table set forth in the “Results of Operations” section, the amounts in which both cases have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

 

Overview of Optical Cable Corporation

 

Optical Cable Corporation (or OCC®) is a leading manufacturer of a broad range of fiber optic and copper data communication cabling and connectivity solutions primarily for the enterprise market and various harsh environment and specialty markets (the non-carrier markets), offering integrated suites of high quality products which operate as a system solution or seamlessly integrate with other providers’ offerings. Our product offerings include designs for uses ranging from enterprise network, datacenter, residential and campus installations to customized products for specialty applications and harsh environments, including military, industrial, mining, petrochemical and broadcast applications, and for the wireless carrier market. Our products include fiber optic and copper cabling, fiber optic and copper connectors, specialty fiber optic and copper connectors, fiber optic and copper patch cords, pre-terminated fiber optic and copper cable assemblies, racks, cabinets, datacom enclosures, patch panels, face plates, multi-media boxes, fiber optic reels and accessories and other cable and connectivity management accessories, and are designed to meet the most demanding needs of end-users, delivering a high degree of reliability and outstanding performance characteristics.

 

OCC® is internationally recognized for pioneering the design and production of fiber optic cables for the most demanding military field applications, as well as of fiber optic cables suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, and creating a broad product offering built on the evolution of these fundamental technologies. OCC is also internationally recognized for pioneering the development of innovative copper connectivity technology and designs used to meet industry copper connectivity data communications standards.

 

 

Founded in 1983, Optical Cable Corporation is headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia with offices, manufacturing and warehouse facilities located in Roanoke, Virginia, near Asheville, North Carolina and near Dallas, Texas. We primarily manufacture our fiber optic cables at our Roanoke facility, which is ISO 9001:2008 registered and MIL-STD-790G certified, primarily manufacture our enterprise connectivity products at our Asheville facility, which is ISO 9001:2008 registered, and primarily manufacture our harsh environment and specialty connectivity products at our Dallas facility which is ISO 9001:2008 registered and MIL-STD-790G certified.

 

OCC designs, develops and manufactures fiber optic cables for a broad range of enterprise, harsh environment and specialty markets and applications. We refer to these products as our fiber optic cable offering. OCC designs, develops and manufactures fiber and copper connectivity products for the enterprise market, including a broad range of enterprise and residential applications. We refer to these products as our enterprise connectivity product offering. OCC designs, develops and manufactures a broad range of specialty fiber optic connectors and connectivity solutions principally for use in military, harsh environment and other specialty applications. We refer to these products as our harsh environment and specialty connectivity product offering.

 

We market and sell the products manufactured at our Dallas facility through our wholly owned subsidiary Applied Optical Systems, Inc. (“AOS”) under the names Optical Cable Corporation and OCC® by the efforts of our integrated OCC sales team.

 

The OCC team seeks to provide top-tier communication solutions by bundling all of our fiber optic and copper data communication product offerings into systems that are best suited for individual data communication needs and application requirements of our customers and the end-users of our systems.

 

OCC’s wholly owned subsidiary Centric Solutions LLC (“Centric Solutions”) provides cabling and connectivity solutions for the datacenter market. Centric Solutions’ business is located at OCC’s facility near Dallas, Texas.

 

Optical Cable Corporation, OCC®, Procyon®, Procyon Blade, Superior Modular Products, SMP Data Communications, Applied Optical Systems, Centric Solutions and associated logos are trademarks of Optical Cable Corporation.

 

Summary of Company Performance for Third Quarter and First Nine Months of Fiscal Year 2017

 

 

Consolidated net sales for the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 were $16.4 million, a decrease of 2.9% compared to net sales of $16.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016. Sequentially, net sales increased 3.7% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, compared to net sales of $15.8 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2017. Consolidated net sales for the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 were $46.9 million, a decrease of less than one percent compared to net sales of $47.3 million for the same period last year.

 

 

Gross profit was $5.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, compared to $5.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016. Gross profit was $15.8 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2017, compared to $13.5 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2016.

 

 

Gross profit margin (gross profit as a percentage of net sales) was 32.3% during the third quarters of both fiscal years 2017 and 2016. Gross profit margin was 33.7% during the first nine months of fiscal year 2017, compared to 28.6% for the first nine months of fiscal year 2016.

 

 

Net loss was $295,000, or $0.05 per share, during the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, compared to net income of $188,000, or $0.03 per share, for the comparable period last year. Net loss was $1.2 million, or $0.18 per share, during the first nine months of fiscal year 2017, compared to $2.5 million, or $0.40 per share, during the first nine months of fiscal year 2016.

 

 

Results of Operations

 

We sell our products internationally and domestically to our customers, which include major distributors, various regional and smaller distributors, original equipment manufacturers and value-added resellers. All of our sales to customers outside of the United States are denominated in U.S. dollars. We can experience fluctuations in the percentage of net sales to customers outside of the United States and in the United States from period to period based on the timing of large orders, coupled with the impact of increases and decreases in sales to customers in various regions of the world. Sales outside of the U.S. can also be impacted by fluctuations in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar compared to other currencies.

 

Net sales consist of gross sales of products less discounts, refunds and returns. Revenue is recognized at the time of product shipment or delivery to the customer (including distributors) provided that the customer takes ownership and assumes risk of loss (based on shipping terms), collection of the relevant receivable is probable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists and the sales price is fixed or determinable. Our customers generally do not have the right of return unless a product is defective or damaged and is within the parameters of the product warranty in effect for the sale.

 

Cost of goods sold consists of the cost of materials, product warranty costs and compensation costs, and overhead and other costs related to our manufacturing operations. The largest percentage of costs included in cost of goods sold is attributable to costs of materials.

 

Our gross profit margin percentages are heavily dependent upon product mix on a quarterly basis and may vary based on changes in product mix. To the extent not negatively impacted by product mix, gross profit margins tend to be higher when we achieve higher net sales levels, as certain fixed manufacturing costs are spread over higher sales. Hybrid cables (fiber and copper) with higher copper content tend to have lower gross profit margins.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A expenses”) consist of the compensation costs for sales and marketing personnel, shipping costs, trade show expenses, customer support expenses, travel expenses, advertising, bad debt expense, the compensation costs for administration and management personnel, legal, accounting, advisory and professional fees, costs incurred to settle litigation or claims and other actions against us, and other costs associated with our operations.

 

Royalty expense, net consists of royalty and related expenses, net of royalty income earned, if any, on licenses associated with our patented products.

 

Amortization of intangible assets consists of the amortization of the costs, including legal fees, associated with internally developed patents that have been granted. Amortization of intangible assets is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the intangible assets.

 

Other income (expense), net consists of interest expense and other miscellaneous income and expense items not directly attributable to our operations.

 

 

The following table sets forth and highlights fluctuations in selected line items from our condensed consolidated statements of operations for the periods indicated:

 

   

Three Months Ended

           

Nine Months Ended

         
   

July 31,

   

Percent

   

July 31,

   

Percent

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

Change

   

2017

   

2016

   

Change

 

Net sales

  $ 16,432,000     $ 16,915,000       (2.9

)%

  $ 46,886,000     $ 47,303,000       (0.9

)%

Gross profit

    5,306,000       5,462,000       (2.9

)%

    15,779,000       13,515,000       16.7

%

SG&A expenses

    5,426,000       5,075,000       6.9

%

    16,517,000       15,514,000       6.5

%

Net income (loss) attributable to OCC

    (295,000 )     188,000       (256.9

)%

    (1,150,000 )     (2,540,000 )     54.7

%

 

 

Three Months Ended July 31, 2017 and 2016

 

Net Sales

 

Consolidated net sales for the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 decreased 2.9% to $16.4 million compared to net sales of $16.9 million for the same period last year. We experienced an increase in net sales in our specialty markets in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 compared to the same period last year, despite significant weakness in the military portion of our specialty markets, but our net increase in the specialty markets was offset by a decrease in net sales in our enterprise markets. Sequentially, net sales increased 3.7% and 12.5%, respectively, in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, compared to net sales of $15.8 million and $14.6 million for the second and first quarters of fiscal year 2017.

 

Net sales to customers outside of the United States increased 1.2% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, compared to the same period last year, while net sales to customers in the United States decreased 3.8% compared to the same period last year.

 

Gross Profit

 

Our gross profit was $5.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, a decrease of 2.9% compared to gross profit of $5.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016. Gross profit margin, or gross profit as a percentage of net sales, was 32.3% in the third quarters of both fiscal years 2017 and 2016.

 

Our gross profit margin percentages are heavily dependent upon product mix on a quarterly basis.

 

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

 

SG&A expenses increased 6.9% to $5.4 million during the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, compared to $5.1 million for the same period last year. SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales were 33.0% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, compared to 30.0% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016.

 

The increase in SG&A expenses during the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 compared to the same period last year was primarily the result of increased employee related costs totaling $340,000. Compensation costs have increased when comparing the third quarter of fiscal 2017 to the comparable period in fiscal year 2016 largely as a result of new hires, selectively added to accomplish long-term strategic objectives.

 

 

Royalty Expense, Net

 

We recognized royalty expense, net of royalty income, totaling $39,000 during the third quarters of both fiscal years 2017 and 2016. We expect the trend of royalty expense completely offsetting royalty income to continue through fiscal year 2017 as a result of the decline in royalty income due to the expiration of patents for licensed products.

 

Amortization of Intangible Assets

 

We recognized $7,000 of amortization expense, associated with intangible assets, during the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, compared to $4,000 during the third quarter of fiscal year 2016.

 

Other Expense, Net

 

We recognized other expense, net in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 of $115,000 compared to $163,000 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016. Other expense, net is comprised primarily of interest expense together with other miscellaneous items. The decrease in other expense, net during the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to the decrease in the interest rate, effective December 21, 2016, and changes in the balance of our Revolving Credit Note.

 

Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes

 

We reported a loss before income taxes of $281,000 for the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, compared to income before income taxes of $181,000 for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016. The change was primarily due to the decrease in gross profit of $156,000 and the increase in SG&A expenses of $351,000, compared to the same period in 2016.

 

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

 

Income tax expense totaled $14,000 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, compared to income tax benefit of $7,000 for the same period in fiscal year 2016. Our effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 was negative 5.0% compared to negative 4.0% for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016.

 

Fluctuations in our effective tax rates are primarily due to permanent differences in U.S. GAAP and tax accounting for various tax deductions and benefits, but can also be significantly different from the statutory tax rate when income or loss before taxes is at a level such that permanent differences in U.S. GAAP and tax accounting treatment have a disproportional impact on the projected effective tax rate.

 

During fiscal year 2015, we established a $2.4 million valuation allowance against all of our net deferred tax assets. As a result of establishing a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets, if we generate sufficient taxable income in subsequent periods to realize a portion or all of our net deferred tax assets, our effective income tax rate could be unusually low due to the tax benefit attributable to the necessary decrease in our valuation allowance. Further, if we generate losses before taxes in subsequent periods, as we did in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, our effective income tax rate could also be unusually low as any increase in our net deferred tax asset from such a net operating loss for tax purposes would be offset by a corresponding increase to our valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets.

 

If we generate sufficient income before taxes in future periods such that U.S. GAAP would permit us to conclude that the removal of any valuation allowance against our net deferred tax asset is appropriate, then during the period in which such determination is made, we will recognize the non-cash benefit of such removal of the valuation allowance in income tax expense on our consolidated statement of operations, which will increase net income and will also increase the net deferred tax asset on our consolidated balance sheet. If we do not generate sufficient income before taxes in future periods such that U.S. GAAP would permit us to conclude that the reduction or removal of any valuation allowance against our net deferred tax asset is appropriate, then no such non-cash benefit would be realized. There can be no assurance regarding any future realization of the benefit by us of all or part of our net deferred tax assets.

 

 

Net Income (Loss)

 

Net loss for the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 was $295,000 compared to net income of $188,000 for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016. This change was primarily due to the decrease in income before income taxes of $462,000.

 

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2017 and 2016

 

Net Sales

 

Consolidated net sales for the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 decreased less than one percent to $46.9 million compared to net sales of $47.3 million for the same period last year. We experienced a decrease in net sales in both our enterprise and specialty markets in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 compared to the same period last year. Net sales to customers in the United States increased less than one percent in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 compared to the same period last year, while net sales to customers outside of the United States decreased 6.7%. During the first nine months of fiscal year 2017, net sales outside of the United States continued to be negatively impacted by a strong U.S. dollar relative to other currencies, particularly in certain geographic regions.

 

Gross Profit

 

Our gross profit was $15.8 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017, an increase of 16.7% compared to gross profit of $13.5 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2016. Gross profit margin, or gross profit as a percentage of net sales, increased to 33.7% in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 compared to 28.6% in the first nine months of fiscal year 2016.

 

Our gross profit margin percentages are heavily dependent upon product mix on a quarterly basis. Gross profit margin in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 was positively impacted primarily due to a shift in product mix toward the sale of certain higher margin products in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 compared to the first nine months of fiscal year 2016.

 

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

 

SG&A expenses increased 6.5% to $16.5 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 from $15.5 million for the same period last year. SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales were 35.2% in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 compared to 32.8% in the first nine months of fiscal year 2016.

 

The increase in SG&A expenses during the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 compared to the same period last year was primarily the result of increased employee related costs totaling $592,000, increased legal fees totaling $228,000 and increased marketing expenses totaling $110,000. Compensation costs have increased when comparing the first nine months of fiscal 2017 to the comparable period in fiscal year 2016 largely as a result of new hires, selectively added to accomplish strategic objectives, and increases in commissions due to new sales incentive programs added to increase and improve targeted sales activity. Legal fees increased primarily due to legal action undertaken by the Company during the first six months of fiscal year 2017. As expected, legal fees did not recur at the same level in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 and are not expected to recur at the same level in the final three months of the fiscal year. Marketing expenses increased due to a number of new marketing initiatives and work related to future product launches. The increases in employee related costs, legal fees and marketing expenses were partially offset by a decrease in SG&A expenses associated with Centric Solutions totaling $89,000.

 

 

On November 30, 2015, Centric Solutions’ operating lease expired, and Centric Solutions began sharing office and manufacturing space with OCC in our facility near Dallas, Texas. In connection with the move, certain positions were also eliminated. As a result, both reduced employee related costs and reduced rent expense contributed to the decrease in SG&A expenses of Centric Solutions when comparing the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 to the same period in fiscal year 2016.

 

Royalty Expense, Net

 

We recognized royalty expense, net of royalty income, totaling $109,000 during the first nine months of fiscal year 2017, compared to $105,000 during the same period last year. We expect the trend of royalty expense completely offsetting royalty income to continue through fiscal year 2017 as a result of the decline in royalty income due to the expiration of patents for licensed products.

 

Amortization of Intangible Assets

 

We recognized $19,000 of amortization expense, associated with intangible assets, for the first nine months of fiscal year 2017, compared to amortization expense of $11,000 during the first nine months of fiscal year 2016.

 

Other Expense, Net

 

We recognized other expense, net in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 of $283,000 compared to $440,000 in the first nine months of fiscal year 2016. Other expense, net in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 was comprised of interest expense and other miscellaneous items, partially offset by income of approximately $171,000, resulting from the reversal of amounts previously accrued upon the favorable settlement of certain legal matters. Other expense, net in the first nine months of fiscal year 2016 was comprised of interest expense and other miscellaneous items. The decrease in other expense, net during the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to the decrease in the interest rate, effective December 21, 2016, and changes in the balance of our Revolving Credit Note.

 

Loss Before Income Taxes

 

We reported a loss before income taxes of $1.1 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 compared to $2.6 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2016. This improvement was primarily due to the increase in gross profit of $2.3 million, partially offset by the increase in SG&A expenses of $1.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017, compared to the same period in 2016.

 

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

 

Income tax expense totaled $1,000 in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 compared to $7,000 for the same period in fiscal year 2016. Our effective tax rate for the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 was less than negative one percent for the first nine months of both fiscal years 2017 and 2016.

 

Fluctuations in our effective tax rates are primarily due to permanent differences in U.S. GAAP and tax accounting for various tax deductions and benefits, but can also be significantly different from the statutory tax rate when income or loss before taxes is at a level such that permanent differences in U.S. GAAP and tax accounting treatment have a disproportional impact on the projected effective tax rate.

 

 

During fiscal year 2015, we established a $2.4 million valuation allowance against all of our net deferred tax assets. As a result of establishing a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets, if we generate sufficient taxable income in future periods to realize a portion or all of our net deferred tax assets, our effective income tax rate could be unusually low due to the tax benefit attributable to the necessary decrease in our valuation allowance. Further, if we generate losses before taxes in future periods, as we did in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017, our effective income tax rate could also be unusually low, as any increase in our net deferred tax asset from such a net operating loss for tax purposes, would be offset by a corresponding increase to our valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets.

 

If we generate sufficient income before taxes in future periods such that U.S. GAAP would permit us to conclude that the removal of any valuation allowance against our net deferred tax asset is appropriate, then during the period in which such determination is made, we will recognize the non-cash benefit of such removal of the valuation allowance in income tax expense on our consolidated statement of operations, which will increase net income attributable to OCC and will also increase the net deferred tax asset on our consolidated balance sheet. If we do not generate sufficient income before taxes in future periods such that U.S. GAAP would permit us to conclude that the reduction or removal of any valuation allowance against our net deferred tax asset is appropriate, then no such non-cash benefit would be realized. There can be no assurance regarding any future realization of the benefit by us of all or part of our net deferred tax assets.

 

Net Loss

 

Net loss attributable to OCC for the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 was $1.2 million compared to $2.5 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2016. This improvement was due primarily to the decrease in the loss before income taxes of $1.4 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017, compared to the same period in fiscal year 2016.

 

Financial Condition

 

Total assets increased $1.4 million, or 3.5%, to $42.1 million at July 31, 2017, from $40.7 million at October 31, 2016. This increase was primarily due to a $3.3 million increase in inventories and a $385,000 increase in trade accounts receivable, net, partially offset by a $1.3 million decrease in cash. Inventories increased as the result of the planned replenishment of stock inventory to sufficient levels, increases in work in process levels related to pending shipments and stock replenishment, and the timing of certain raw material purchases. The increase in trade accounts receivable, net largely resulted from the timing of collections. Further detail regarding the decrease in cash is provided in our discussion of “Liquidity and Capital Resources”.

 

Total liabilities increased $2.0 million, or 12.7%, to $17.9 million at July 31, 2017, from $15.9 million at October 31, 2016. The increase in total liabilities was primarily due to an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses totaling $1.7 million, primarily due to the timing of vendor payments.

 

Total shareholders’ equity at July 31, 2017 decreased $600,000 in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017. The decrease resulted primarily from the net loss of $1.2 million, partially offset by share-based compensation, net of $567,000.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our primary capital needs during the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 have been to fund working capital requirements, capital expenditures and to make principal payments on long-term debt and our note payable to bank. Our primary source of capital for these purposes has been existing cash, cash provided by operations and advances on our revolving credit facility.

 

Our cash totaled $529,000 as of July 31, 2017, a decrease of $1.3 million, compared to $1.9 million as of October 31, 2016. The decrease in cash for the nine months ended July 31, 2017 primarily resulted from net cash used in operating activities of $930,000 and capital expenditures totaling $412,000, partially offset by net cash provided by financing activities totaling $48,000.

 

 

On July 31, 2017, we had working capital of $22.8 million compared to $22.2 million on October 31, 2016. The ratio of current assets to current liabilities as of July 31, 2017 was 4.9 to 1 compared to 6.4 to 1 as of October 31, 2016. The increase in working capital was primarily due to the $3.3 million increase in inventories and the $385,000 increase in trade accounts receivable, net, partially offset by the $1.3 million decrease in cash and the $1.7 million increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses. The decrease in the current ratio was primarily due to the fact that current assets increased $2.4 million, or 9.0%, while current liabilities increased $1.8 million, or 43.2%.

 

As of July 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016, we had outstanding loan balances under our revolving credit facilities totaling $5.4 million and $5.0 million, respectively. As of July 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016, we had outstanding loan balances, excluding our revolving credit facility, totaling $6.7 million and $6.9 million, respectively.

 

Net Cash

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $930,000 in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $2.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2016. Net cash used in operating activities during the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 primarily resulted from an increase in inventories totaling $3.3 million and the cash flow impact of increases in trade accounts receivable, net totaling $391,000, partially offset by certain adjustments to reconcile a net loss of $1.2 million to net cash used in operating activities including depreciation, amortization and accretion of $1.2 million and share-based compensation expense of $669,000. Additionally, the cash flow impact of increases in accounts payable and accrued expense of $1.6 million further contributed to offset net cash used in operating activities.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities during the first nine months of fiscal year 2016 primarily resulted from certain adjustments to reconcile a net loss of $2.6 million to net cash provided by operating activities including depreciation, amortization and accretion of $1.5 million and share-based compensation expense of $660,000. Additionally, the decrease in inventories of $2.9 million further contributed to net cash provided by operating activities. All of the aforementioned factors positively affecting cash provided by operating activities were partially offset by the cash flow impact of decreases in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $702,000.

 

Net cash used in investing activities totaled $468,000 in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017, compared to $636,000 in the first nine months of fiscal year 2016. Net cash used in investing activities during the first nine months of fiscal years 2017 and 2016 resulted primarily from purchases of property and equipment and deposits for the purchase of property and equipment.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities totaled $48,000 in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017, compared to net cash used in financing activities of $662,000 in the first nine months of fiscal year 2016. Net cash provided by financing activities in the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 resulted primarily from proceeds from a note payable to our bank under our line of credit, net of repayments, totaling $400,000, partially offset by principal payments on long-term debt totaling $215,000. Net cash used in financing activities in the first nine months of fiscal year 2016 resulted primarily from the payment of dividends previously declared totaling $141,000, principal payments on long-term debt totaling $310,000 and refinancing costs totaling $138,000.

 

We have a plan (the “Repurchase Plan”), approved by our Board of Directors on July 14, 2015, to purchase and retire up to 400,000 shares of our common stock, or approximately 6.0% of the shares then outstanding. We anticipate that the purchases will be made over a 24- to 36-month period, but there is no definite time period for repurchase. As of July 31, 2017, we had 398,400 shares remaining to purchase under this Repurchase Plan.

 

 

We have repurchased outstanding common stock outside of the Repurchase Plan directly from certain shareholders and through an odd lot repurchase offer. During the first nine months of fiscal year 2017, we repurchased and retired 5,245 shares for approximately $17,000, outside of the Repurchase Plan.

 

Credit Facilities

 

We have credit facilities consisting of a real estate term loan, as amended and restated (the “Virginia Real Estate Loan”), a supplemental real estate term loan, as amended and restated (the “North Carolina Real Estate Loan”) and a revolving credit note.

 

On December 21, 2016, we entered into a Loan Modification Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Bank of North Carolina (“BNC”) to modify the Credit Agreement dated April 26, 2016 entered into between the Company and BNC, the Revolving Credit Note dated April 26, 2016 payable by the Company to BNC and the term loans dated April 26, 2016 payable by the Company to BNC.

 

The Agreement with BNC lowered the interest rate of the Virginia Real Estate Loan and the North Carolina Real Estate Loan to 3.75% effective January 1, 2017 and resulted in lower monthly installment payments.

 

On April 27, 2017, we entered into a Third Loan Modification Agreement with BNC to modify the Credit Agreement dated April 26, 2016 entered into between the Company and BNC and the term loans dated April 26, 2016.

 

The Third Loan Modification Agreement revised the interest rates of the term loans and the applicable repayment installments and extended the maturity date. The fixed interest rate of each of the two term loans was revised to 3.95% from 3.75%, and the maturity date of the term loans was extended to May 1, 2024. All other terms of the term loans remain unaltered and remain in full force and effect.

 

The real estate loans continue to be secured by a first priority lien on all of our personal property and assets, all money, goods, machinery, equipment, fixtures, inventory, accounts, chattel paper, letter of credit rights, deposit accounts, commercial tort claims, documents, instruments, investment property and general intangibles now owned or hereafter acquired by us and wherever located, as well as a first lien deed of trust on our real property.

 

Our Revolving Credit Note (“Revolver”) with BNC provides the Company with a $7.0 million revolving line of credit (“Revolving Loan”) for our working capital needs. Under the Revolver, BNC provides us with one or more revolving loans in a collective maximum principal amount of $7.0 million. We may borrow, repay, and reborrow at any time or from time to time while the Revolving Loan is in effect.

 

The Agreement with BNC resulted in the lowering of the applicable margin in the Revolving Credit Note and established a floor on the interest rate for the Revolving Credit Note such that the rate will never be less than 2.50% per annum. The Revolving Loan accrues interest at LIBOR plus 2.50% (resulting in a 3.72% rate at July 31, 2017). The Revolving Loan is payable in monthly payments of interest only with principal and any outstanding interest due and payable at maturity.

 

On February 28, 2017, we entered into a Second Loan Modification Agreement (“Modification Agreement”) extending the maturity date of the Revolver to March 31, 2019, and removing certain previously existing provisions of the Revolving Loan that required reductions in availability originally contemplated to occur on February 28, 2017 and 2018. As a result, the collective maximum principal amount of the Revolving Loan will remain at $7.0 million. All other terms of the Revolving Loan remain unaltered and remain in full force and effect. Within the revolving loan limit of the Revolving Loan and the Modification Agreement, we may borrow, repay, and reborrow, at any time or from time to time until March 31, 2019.

 

 

The Revolving Loan continues to be secured by a perfected first lien security interest on all assets, including but not limited to, accounts, as-extracted collateral, chattel paper, commodity accounts, commodity contracts, deposit accounts, documents, equipment, fixtures, furniture, general intangibles, goods, instruments, inventory, investment property, letter of credit rights, payment intangibles, promissory notes, software and general tangible and intangible assets owned now or later acquired. The Revolving Loan is also cross-collateralized with our real property.

 

As of July 31, 2017, we had $5.4 million of outstanding borrowings on our Revolving Loan and $1.6 million in available credit.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

We did not have any material commitments for capital expenditures as of July 31, 2017. During our 2017 fiscal year budgeting process, we included an estimate for capital expenditures of $2.0 million for the year. These expenditures will be funded out of our working capital or borrowings under our credit facility. Capital expenditures are reviewed and approved based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, current cash flow considerations, the expected return on investment, project priorities, impact on current or future product offerings, availability of personnel necessary to implement and begin using acquired equipment, and economic conditions in general. Historically, we have spent less than our budgeted capital expenditures in most fiscal years.

 

Corporate acquisitions and other strategic investments, if any, are considered outside of our annual capital expenditure budgeting process.

 

Future Cash Flow Considerations

 

We believe that our future cash flow from operations, our cash on hand and our existing credit facilities will be adequate to fund our operations for at least the next twelve months.

 

From time to time, we are involved in various claims, legal actions and regulatory reviews arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

Seasonality

 

We typically expect net sales to be relatively lower in the first half of each fiscal year and relatively higher in the second half of each fiscal year, which we believe may be partially due to the construction cycles, buying patterns and budgetary considerations of our customers. Our trend for the last three fiscal years has been that an average of approximately 47%, 49% and 44% of our net sales occurred during the first half of fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and an average of approximately 53%, 51% and 56% of our net sales occurred during the second half of fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

This trend may be substantially altered during any quarter or year by the timing of larger projects, timing of orders from larger customers, other economic factors impacting our industry or impacting the industries of our customers and end-users and macroeconomic conditions. While we believe seasonality may be a factor that impacts our quarterly net sales results, we are not able to reliably predict net sales based on seasonality because these other factors can also substantially impact our net sales patterns during the year. We also believe net sales may not follow this trend in periods when overall economic conditions in the industry and/or in the world are atypical.

 

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying condensed notes that have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires management 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 condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements filed with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2016 provides a summary of our significant accounting policies. Those significant accounting policies detailed in our fiscal year 2016 Form 10-K did not change during the period from November 1, 2016 through July 31, 2017.

 

New Accounting Standards

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that expands disclosure requirements and requires an entity to recognize revenue when promised goods or services are transferred to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date (“ASU 2015-14”) which defers the effective date of the new revenue recognition standard by one year. Under ASU 2015-14, the new revenue recognition standard is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal year 2019. In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) Principle versus Agent Considerations, (“ASU 2016-08”). ASU 2016-08 clarifies the implementation guidance on principal-versus-agent considerations. In April 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing (“ASU 2016-10”). ASU 2016-10 clarifies two aspects of Topic 606: identifying performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance, while retaining the related principles for those areas.  In May 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) – Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients (“ASU 2016-12”). The amendments in ASU 2016-12 address the areas of collectability, presentation of sales tax and other similar taxes collected from customers, noncash consideration, contract modifications and completed contracts at transition. The update also amends the disclosure requirements within ASU 2014-09 for entities that retrospectively apply the guidance. The amendments in ASU 2016-08, ASU 2016-10 and ASU 2016-12 are effective in conjunction with ASU 2015-14. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this guidance, but do not anticipate that the adoption will significantly change the timing or amount of revenue recognized. Therefore, we believe the adoption will be limited to expanded disclosures with no material impact on our results of operations, financial position and liquidity.

 

In July 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU 2015-11”). ASU 2015-11 changes the inventory valuation method from lower of cost or market to lower of cost and net realizable value for inventory valued using first-in, first-out or average cost. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. ASU 2015-11 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and should be applied prospectively with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2015-11 is not expected to have any impact on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity or our related financial statement disclosures.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 requires the recognition of a separate lease liability representing the required lease payments over the lease term and a separate lease asset representing the right to use the underlying asset during the same lease term. Additionally, this ASU provides clarification regarding the identification of certain components of contracts that would represent a lease as well as requires additional disclosures to the notes of the financial statements. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period with early adoption permitted. We are currently in the process of compiling an inventory of all leases that fall under the requirement of ASU 2016-02, but do not expect the new guidance to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position and liquidity and our related financial statement disclosures.

 

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”). ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects related to the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, statutory tax withholding requirements and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-09 is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity or our related financial statement disclosures.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”). ASU 2016-15 provides guidance related to the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statement of cash flows. The pronouncement provides clarification guidance on eight specific cash flow presentation issues that have developed due to diversity in practice. ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity or our related financial statement disclosures.

 

In October 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (“ASU 2016-16”). ASU 2016-16 requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset (with the exception of inventory) when the transfer occurs.  Under current GAAP, entities are prohibited from recognizing current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity transfer until the asset is sold to a third party.  Examples of assets that would be affected by the new guidance are intellectual property and property, plant and equipment.  ASU 2016-16 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-16 is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity or our related financial statement disclosures.

 

There are no other new accounting standards issued, but not yet adopted by us, which are expected to be applicable to our financial position, operating results or financial statement disclosures.

 

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that are designed to be effective in providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in reports under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed and summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Our management evaluated, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer), the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of July 31, 2017. Based on this evaluation process, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of July 31, 2017, and that there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2017 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATIOn

 

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

On May 31, 2016, G. Thomas Hazelton, Jr. was terminated by Applied Optical Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of OCC (“AOS”) for Cause as defined both in his employment agreement dated October 31, 2009 (the “Employment Agreement”) and also in the Stock Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) dated October 31, 2009 by and among OCC, as buyer, and G. Thomas Hazelton, Jr. (“Hazelton”) and Daniel Roehrs (“Roehrs”), as sellers.

 

OCC acquired AOS from Hazelton and Roehrs pursuant to the terms of the SPA. In addition to its claims under the Employment Agreement, OCC also asserted claims of indemnification against Hazelton under the SPA related to alleged unlawful actions by Hazelton and Roehrs. 

 

As a result, OCC had not paid Hazelton any severance compensation and did not pay Hazelton any of the minimum earn out amount (a maximum amount of $470,665 payable on January 31, 2017 under the terms of the SPA) that otherwise would have been owed to Hazelton, but for Hazelton’s termination for Cause and OCC’s indemnification claims under the SPA. The Company began accruing this minimum earn out amount immediately following the acquisition in October 2009.

 

As a result of this dispute, OCC and AOS filed suit against Hazelton on September 9, 2016 in state court in Roanoke City, Virginia.  Hazelton filed suit against OCC and AOS on September 7, 2016 in state court in Collin County, Texas (collectively, the “Hazelton Litigation”). 

 

In May 2017, a settlement agreement was reached in the Hazelton Litigation, with the Company’s obligations being less than the amount previously accrued for the minimum earn out amount under the SPA. As a result, the lawsuits filed in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the state of Texas in fiscal year 2016 were dismissed with prejudice.

 

Additionally, OCC, AOS, and Centric Solutions LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of OCC (“Centric Solutions”) filed suit against Roehrs, William DiBella (“DiBella”) (a former employee of Centric Solutions), and Rosenberger CDS, LLC and Rosenberger North America (together, “Rosenberger”) on September 20, 2016 in state court in Roanoke County, Virginia, in connection with related alleged unlawful actions by Roehrs, DiBella and Rosenberger. On February 10, 2017, the judge in state court in Roanoke County, Virginia ruled that the Virginia court lacked personal jurisdiction over Rosenberger and dismissed the claims against Rosenberger without prejudice.

 

In May 2017, the Company reached a settlement agreement with DiBella, with no monetary impact for the Company. As a result, the Company’s claims against DiBella were dismissed with prejudice in the lawsuit filed in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

 

The Company’s claims against Roehrs are still pending.

 

From time to time, the Company is involved in other various claims, legal actions and regulatory reviews arising in the ordinary course of business, which may include matters related to former employees. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATIOn

 

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

The exhibits listed on the Exhibit Index are filed as part of, and incorporated by reference into, this report.

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION
(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

       

Date: September 12, 2017

 

/s/ Neil D. Wilkin, Jr.

 

 

 

Neil D. Wilkin, Jr.

 

 

 

Chairman of the Board of Directors,

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

       
       
Date: September 12, 2017   /s/ Tracy G. Smith  
    Tracy G. Smith  
   

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial

Officer

 

 

 

Exhibit Index

 

  Exhibit No. Description
     
 

3.1

Articles of Amendment filed November 5, 2001 to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended through November 5, 2001 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Company’s Form 8-A12G filed with the Commission on November 5, 2001).

     
 

3.2

Articles of Amendment filed July 5, 2002 to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended through July 5, 2002 (incorporated herein by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Form 14A filed July 5, 2002).
     
 

3.3

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Optical Cable Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter ended July 31, 2011).

     
 

4.1

Form of certificate representing Common Stock (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter ended July 31, 2004 (file number 0-27022)).

     
 

4.2

Form of certificate representing Common Stock (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter ended July 31, 2012).

     
 

4.3

Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement dated as of October 28, 2011, between Optical Cable Corporation and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent, including as Exhibit A The Forms of Rights Certificate and Election to Exercise (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-A12G filed with the Commission on November 1, 2011).

     
 

4.4

Credit Agreement dated May 30, 2008 by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Superior Modular Products Incorporated as borrowers and Valley Bank as lender in the amount of $17,000,000 consisting of a Revolver in the amount of $6,000,000; Term Loan A in the amount of $2,240,000; Term Loan B in the amount of $6,500,000; and a Capital Acquisitions Term Loan in the amount of $2,260,000 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.16 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2008 filed January 29, 2009).

     
 

4.5

Credit Line Deed of Trust dated May 30, 2008 between Optical Cable Corporation as Grantor, LeClairRyan as Trustee and Valley Bank as Beneficiary (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.17 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2008 filed January 29, 2009).

 

 

 

4.6

Deed of Trust, Security Agreement and Fixtures Filing dated May 30, 2008 by and between Superior Modular Products Incorporated as Grantor, LeClairRyan as Trustee and Valley Bank as Beneficiary (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.18 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2008 filed January 29, 2009).

 
       
 

4.7

Security Agreement dated May 30, 2008 between Optical Cable Corporation and Superior Modular Products Incorporated and Valley Bank (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.19 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2008 filed January 29, 2009).

 
       
 

4.8

Term Loan A Note in the amount of $2,240,000 by Optical Cable Corporation and Superior Modular Products Incorporated dated May 30, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.21 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2008 filed January 29, 2009).

 
       
 

4.9

Term Loan B Note in the amount of $6,500,000 by Optical Cable Corporation and Superior Modular Products Incorporated dated May 30, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.22 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2008 filed January 29, 2009).

 
       
 

4.10

First Loan Modification Agreement dated February 16, 2010 by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Valley Bank (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 22, 2010).

 
       
 

4.11

Second Loan Modification Agreement dated April 30, 2010 by and between Optical Cable Corporation, for itself and as successor by merger to Superior Modular Products Incorporated, and Valley Bank (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended April 30, 2010 filed June 14, 2010).  

 
       
 

4.12

Third Loan Modification Agreement dated April 22, 2011 by and between Optical Cable Corporation, for itself and as successor by merger to Superior Modular Products Incorporated, and Valley Bank (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 28, 2011).  

 
       
 

4.13

Fourth Loan Modification Agreement dated July 25, 2011 by and between Optical Cable Corporation, for itself and as successor by merger to Superior Modular Products Incorporated, and Valley Bank (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 26, 2011).  

 
       
 

4.14

Fifth Loan Modification Agreement dated August 31, 2012 by and between Optical Cable Corporation, for itself and as successor by merger to Superior Modular Products Incorporated, and Valley Bank (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 31, 2012).  

 

 

 

 

4.15

Sixth Loan Modification Agreement dated August 30, 2013 by and between Optical Cable Corporation, for itself and as successor by merger to Superior Modular Products Incorporated, and Valley Bank (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 3, 2013).

 
       
 

4.16

Seventh Loan Modification Agreement dated January 25, 2016, by and between Optical Cable Corporation, for itself and as successor by merger to Superior Modular Products Incorporated, and BNC Bancorp, successor in interest to Valley Bank (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.23 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2015 filed January 28, 2016).

 
       
 

4.17

Credit Agreement dated April 26, 2016 by and between Optical Cable Corporation as borrower and Bank of North Carolina as lender in the amount of $7,000,000 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 3, 2016).

 
       
 

4.18

Revolving Credit Note in the amount of $7,000,000 by Optical Cable Corporation dated April 26, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 3, 2016).

 
       
 

4.19

Term Loan A Note in the amount of $1,816,609 by Optical Cable Corporation dated April 26, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 3, 2016).

 
       
 

4.20

Term Loan B Note in the amount of $5,271,411 by Optical Cable Corporation dated April 26, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 3, 2016).

 
       
 

4.21

Modification of Credit Line Deed of Trust dated April 26, 2016 by and between Optical Cable Corporation (successor by merger to Superior Modular Products Incorporated) as Grantor, Andrew B. Agee (in substitution of LeClairRyan) as Trustee and Bank of North Carolina (successor by merger with Valley Bank) as Beneficiary, modifying that certain Credit Line Deed of Trust dated May 30, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 3, 2016).

 
       
 

4.22

Modification of Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, and Assignment of Leases and Rents dated April 26, 2016 by and between Optical Cable Corporation (successor by merger to Superior Modular Products Incorporated) as Grantor, Andrew B. Agee (in substitution of LeClairRyan) as Trustee and Bank of North Carolina (successor by merger with Valley Bank) as Beneficiary, modifying that certain Deed of Trust, Security Agreement and Assignment of Leases and Rents dated May 30, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 3, 2016).

 
       
 

4.23

Security Agreement dated April 26, 2016 between Optical Cable Corporation and Bank of North Carolina (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 3, 2016).

 
       
 

4.24

Loan Modification Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between Optical Cable Corporation and Bank of North Carolina (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 21, 2016).

 

 

 

 

4.25

Second Loan Modification Agreement dated February 28, 2017 by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Bank of North Carolina (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 2, 2017).

 
       
 

4.26

Third Loan Modification Agreement dated April 27, 2017 by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Bank of North Carolina (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 28, 2017).

 
       
 

10.1*

Optical Cable Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Form 14A filed February 23, 2005).

 
       
 

10.2*

Optical Cable Corporation 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Form 14A filed February 23, 2011).

 
       
 

10.3*

Optical Cable Corporation Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Form 14A filed February 27, 2013).

 
       
 

10.4*

Optical Cable Corporation Second Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Form 14A filed March 4, 2015).

 
       
 

10.5*

Form of time vesting award agreement under the Optical Cable Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, 2011 Stock Incentive Plan and Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended April 30, 2006 filed June 14, 2006).  

 
       
 

10.6*

Form of operational performance (Company financial performance measure) vesting award agreement under the Optical Cable Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, 2011 Stock Incentive Plan and Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended April 30, 2009 filed June 12, 2009).

 
       
 

10.7

Notice of Exercise of Warrant by the Company to purchase 98,741 shares of common stock of Applied Optical Systems, Inc. dated October 30, 2009 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2009 filed January 29, 2010).

 

 

 

10.8

Stock Purchase Agreement dated October 31, 2009 by and among the Company, as buyer and G. Thomas Hazelton, Jr. and Daniel Roehrs as sellers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2009 filed January 29, 2010).

 

 

 

     
 

10.9

Buy-Sell Agreement dated October 31, 2009, by and between G. Thomas Hazelton, Jr., as guarantor, and the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.25 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2009 filed January 29, 2010).

     
 

10.10

Indemnification Agreement dated October 31, 2009, between the Company and Applied Optical Systems, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.27 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2009 filed January 29, 2010).

     
 

10.11

Supplemental Agreement dated October 31, 2009, by and among the Company, as buyer, Applied Optical Systems, Inc., George T. Hazelton Family Trust, G. Thomas Hazelton, Jr., and Daniel Roehrs (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.28 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2009 filed January 29, 2010).

     
 

10.12

Termination Agreement dated October 31, 2009, by and among Applied Optical Systems, Inc., the Company, as lender, and G. Thomas Hazelton, Jr. and Daniel Roehrs (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.29 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2009 filed January 29, 2010).

     
 

10.13

Warrant Exercise Agreement between the Company and Applied Optical Systems, Inc. dated October 30, 2009 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.30 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2009 filed January 29, 2010).

     
 

10.14

Redemption Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and BB&T Capital Markets dated July 14, 2015 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 14, 2015).

     
 

10.15*

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Neil D. Wilkin, Jr. effective April 11, 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 15, 2011).

     
 

10.16*

Amendment, effective December 18, 2012, to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Neil D. Wilkin, Jr. effective April 11, 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.16 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2013 filed March 15, 2013).  

     
 

10.17*

Second Amendment, effective March 14, 2014, to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Neil D. Wilkin, Jr. effective April 11, 2011, as amended December 18, 2012 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2014 filed March 17, 2014).  

 

 

 

10.18*

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Tracy G. Smith effective April 11, 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 15, 2011).

     
 

10.19*

Amendment, effective December 18, 2012, to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Tracy G. Smith effective April 11, 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2013 filed March 15, 2013).  

     
 

10.20*

Second Amendment, effective March 14, 2014, to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Tracy G. Smith effective April 11, 2011, as amended December 18, 2012 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2014 filed March 17, 2014).  

     
 

10.21*

Form of vesting award agreement for non-employee Board members under the Optical Cable Corporation 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended April 30, 2017 filed June 13, 2017).  

     
 

11.1

Statement regarding computation of per share earnings (incorporated by reference to note 8 of the Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained herein).

     
 

31.1

Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. FILED HEREWITH.

     
 

31.2

Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. FILED HEREWITH.

     
 

32.1

Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. FURNISHED HEREWITH.

     
 

32.2

Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. FURNISHED HEREWITH.

     
 

101

The following materials from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2017, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at July 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2017 and 2016, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity for the nine months ended July 31, 2017, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended July 31, 2017 and 2016, and (v) Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. FILED HEREWITH.

 


 

*

Management contract or compensatory plan or agreement.