U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

	[X]	Annual Report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
		For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.
	[  ]	Transition report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
		For the transition period from ___________ to ______________
		Commission file number 0-7441

 

 

Sierra Monitor Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

California		95-2481914
(State of incorporation)		(I.R.S. Employer ID No.)

 

1991 Tarob Court

Milpitas, California 95035

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Issuer’s telephone number, including area code: (408) 262-6611

 

 

Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act: None.

Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

(Title of class)

 

 

Check whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

[  ] Yes [X] No

 

Check whether the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

[  ] Yes [X] No

 

Check whether the issuer (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.
[X ] 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).

[X] Yes [  ] No

 

Check if there is no disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of Regulation S-B contained in this form, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]

 

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

	[  ] Large accelerated filer	[  ] Accelerated filer
	[  ] Non-accelerated filer	[X] Smaller reporting company
	(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

[  ] Yes [X] No

 

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 29, 2017 was approximately $5,362,564 based upon the last reported sale price of $1.45 per share on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board, which occurred on June 29, 2017. For purposes of this disclosure, common stock held by persons who hold more than 5% of the outstanding voting shares and common stock held by officers and directors of the Registrant have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be “affiliates” as that term is defined under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933. This determination is not necessarily conclusive.

 

The number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding as of March 26, 2018 was 10,203,995.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Certain information required under Item 8, and information required under Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on or about May 10, 2018.

 

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

SIERRA MONITOR CORPORATION

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I.
Item 1.	Business	3
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	7
Item 2.	Properties	7
Item 3.	Legal Proceedings	7
PART II.
Item 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	8
Item 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	9
Item 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	12
Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	12
Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures	12
Item 9B.	Other Information	13
PART III.
Item 10.	Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance	14
Item 11.	Executive Compensation	16
Item 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	16
Item 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence	17
Item 14.	Principal Accounting Fees and Services	17
PART IV.
Item 15.	Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules	18
SIGNATURES		19

 

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These statements may generally be identified by the use of such words as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” or “shall,” or the negative of those terms. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of the risk factors set forth elsewhere in this report. Forward-looking statements in this report include, among others, statements regarding the sufficiency of cash and accounts receivable, potential litigation expenses, methods, estimates and judgments in accounting policies, our internal control environment, effect of inflation and fluctuation in currency exchange rates on our results of operations, critical accounting policies, our dividend policy and other matters discussed under Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors,” and Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” below. Our future operating results may be affected by a number of factors, including general economic conditions in both foreign and domestic markets, changes in the economy and the credit market, investment and research and development plans and success, market position and penetration, strategic plans and objectives, operating margins, government and regulatory approvals or certifications, cyclical factors affecting our industry, our ability to identify, attract, motivate and retain qualified personnel, lack of growth in our end-markets, our ability to develop and manufacture, seasonality in our products, availability of components and materials used in our products, and our ability to sell both new and existing products at a profitable yet competitive price and other matters discussed under Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” and Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” below. All forward-looking statements in this document are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

 

PART I

 

Item 1.

Business.

 

General

 

Sierra Monitor Corporation, a California corporation (the “Company”, “Sierra Monitor”, “we” or “us”), was founded in 1978. The Company addresses the industrial and commercial facilities management market with Industrial Internet of Things (“IIoT”) solutions that target facility automation and facility safety requirements, also referred to as “Connect” and “Protect”.

 

 

Products and Applications

 

The Connect business is our FieldServer family of protocol gateways, routers, and network explorers which targets industrial and facilities automation. The products are used by original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) and systems integrators to enable local and remote monitoring and control of assets and facilities. With more than 270,000 installed gateways supporting over 140 protocols such as BACnet, LonWorks, MODBUS, and XML in commercial and industrial facilities, FieldServer is one of the industry’s leading multi-protocol gateway brands. The intellectual property in FieldServer products is the software which runs on a range of hardware platforms, from embedded silicon to channel-ready gateways, and with a variety of interfaces including serial, Ethernet, Wi-Fi and cellular, appropriate to the asset being interfaced. The FieldServer family of products interface to the SMCCloud device management and big-data storage platform. With SMCCloud, OEMs and systems integrators can better manage their customers and field-deployed assets by registering, monitoring, logging and remotely accessing third-party equipment from the portal or smartphone app. SMCCloud can interface with third-party cloud solutions over various interfaces including REST APIs built on Amazon Web Services (AWS). In addition, FieldServer includes value-added “edge computing” capabilities for monitoring, logging, alarming, and trending local field data. In 2017, combined revenue from sales of our FieldServer family of products was approximately 51% of our sales compared to approximately 54% in 2016.

 

The Protect business is our flame and gas detection solutions that address facility safety requirements and are used by industrial and commercial facilities managers to protect their personnel and assets. The motivation for installing life-safety systems like gas and flame detection is driven, in part, by industrial safety professionals guided by country-specific safety regulations such as the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration, as well as state and local governing bodies, insurance companies and various industry rule-making bodies. Sierra Monitor’s solutions consists of three components. The SentryIT controller system that runs embedded logic and gateway software. A comprehensive line of industry certified detector modules that sense the presence of various toxic and combustible gases and flames. The Sentry InSite user interface and application software that a facility manager can interact with either locally on site or remotely via the SMCCloud portal. With more than 100,000 detector modules sold, our fire and gas detection solutions are proven, reliable, and deployed in a variety of facilities, such as oil, gas and chemical processing plants, wastewater treatment facilities, alternate fuel vehicle maintenance garages and other sites where hazardous gases are used or produced. Revenue from gas detection products was approximately 43% of our sales in 2017 and 2016.

 

Our solutions are also sold to telecommunication companies and their suppliers to manage environmental and safety conditions such as temperature, gas, and smoke in remote structures such as local DSL distribution nodes and buildings at cell tower sites. Revenue from all products sold to the telecommunications industry was approximately 6% of our sales in 2017, compared to 3% in 2016.

 

Research and Development

 

We maintain research and development programs to develop new products and to enhance and support existing products. We use a core group of experienced engineers, supported by a dynamic network of third-party specialists with skills as needed by specific projects. Our research and development expenses, which include costs for sustaining engineering and technical support, were $3,073,087 or 16% of our sales in 2017, compared to $2,950,651or 15% of our sales in 2016.

 

Sales and Distribution

 

We use a combination of in-region sales managers and a centralized inside sales and customer support team. Our in-region sales managers are located in western, central, southern and eastern regions of the United States. Additionally, we have in-region sales managers in Europe, the Middle East and Canada. The regional sales managers are supported by our inside sales and customer support team based in Milpitas, California.

 

 

Our FieldServer products are sold to hundreds of OEMS and integrators who then use the product as part of their system integration projects. We target OEMs in North America and Europe and integrators worldwide through in-region sales managers supported by inside sales and customer support team at our headquarters in Milpitas, California. Our FieldServer products are also available from leading on-line catalog distributors of industrial products.

 

Our flame and gas products are primarily sold to engineering and installation firms that utilize the products as part of larger fire and safety facility projects. Our in-region and headquarters-based sales teams work with a network of independent sales representatives and value-added resellers to identify and fulfill such opportunities. After-sale service is carried out by certified service partners. There are currently 27 authorized representative companies in the United States and approximately 16 international sales partners. The majority of our domestic representatives have exclusive territories and the sales agreements with each representative restrict them from representing competing products.

 

Our marketing activities include maintaining a comprehensive and search-optimized web site and social media presence, participating in relevant trade shows and events, issuing newsletters, blogging, conducting on-line seminars and other forms of communication, seeking press coverage, and developing tools to assist in the selling effort.

 

Our selling and marketing expenses for 2017 were $5,165,931 or 26% of revenue, compared to $4,899,882 or 26% of revenue in 2016.

 

We consider that we operate in one business segment. Substantially all of the revenues reported in Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K are attributable to sales to that single segment. See “Note 8: Segment Reporting” to our Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Employees

 

On December 31, 2017, we had a total of 82 full-time employees and consultants. At that date, 56 were located in Milpitas, California, and the rest were based out of regional offices.

 

Seasonality and Customer Concentration

 

The demand for monitoring devices and other products we manufacture is typically not seasonal. There were no customers to whom sales exceeded 10% of our net sales during 2017, or 2016. Factors affecting specific industries, such as telecommunications, building automation or petro-chemical processing, could affect our sales within any of those industries. Those factors may include, but are not limited to, a general economic downturn, labor problems, and rapid shifts in technology or introduction of competing products at lower prices.

 

Backlog

 

The commercial order backlog for our products at December 31, 2017 was approximately $4,943,137 compared to approximately $4,647,653 at December 31, 2016. The backlog includes orders for which we have not yet received engineering release from the customer. Since we generally ship many of our products within the same quarter that we receive a purchase order and engineering release from the customer, we believe that our backlog at any particular time is generally not indicative of the level of future sales.

 

 

Competition

 

The facility management market for automation and safety applications is highly competitive and generally price sensitive. The solutions that address this market compete on reliability, ease of use, product support, price, and increasingly, the ability to enable the IIoT vision.

 

Our FieldServer family of protocol gateway products competes in the building or industrial automation industries with products or alternate methods and technologies offered by, among others, Honeywell Tridium, Contemporary Controls, HMS, Control Solutions Inc., Loytec Electronics, and in some cases protocol gateway functionality developed in-house by device or system OEMs. In application areas outside of building and industrial automation where multi-protocol translation requirements are fewer, FieldServer protocol gateways may compete with gateways provided by companies such as Dell and Advantech. Our FieldPoP device cloud may compete with cloud-based platform offerings from companies such as PTC/ThingWorx, Amazon AWS IoT, Microsoft Azure IoT, Google Cloud, and other IoT startup companies.

 

Our flame and gas detection products compete with systems offered by Draeger Safety Inc., Mine Safety Appliance Company, Honeywell Life Safety, TYCO, and the Detector Electronics division of UTC. Most of these competitors in the fire and gas detection area offer broad product lines including items that do not compete with our products and have greater financial, marketing and manufacturing resources than we do.

 

Manufacturing and Suppliers

 

We purchase materials and components for use in manufacturing our products. The majority of the materials and components used in our products are standard items which can be purchased from multiple distributors or fabricated by multiple custom fabrication vendors. Components which are generally purchased from sole sources are those which require a specific consistent quality such as gas sensors. Our principal suppliers of gas sensors are City Technology, Dynament and E2V Technologies. We anticipate that the majority of components and materials used in products to be developed by us will be readily available. However, there is no assurance that the current availability of these materials will continue in the future, or if available, will be procurable at favorable prices.

 

Environmental Regulation

 

We have no significant costs associated with compliance with environmental regulations. However, there can be no assurance that we will not incur such costs in the future.

 

Major Customers

 

Two customers exceeded 10% of the Company’s accounts receivable during the year ended December 31, 2017, but no customers exceeded 10% of the Company’s accounts receivable during the year ended December 31, 2016. Further, no customers exceeded 10% of the Company’s sales during the years ended December 31, 2017 or December 31, 2016.

 

Available Information

 

We file with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and proxy and information statements and amendments to reports filed or furnished pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The public may read and copy these materials at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding us and other companies that file materials with the SEC electronically. You may also obtain copies of reports filed with the SEC, free of charge, on our website at http://www.investor.sierramonitor.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K unless expressly noted. Our headquarters are located at 1991 Tarob Court, Milpitas, CA 95035. Our phone number at that address is (408) 262-6611 and our email address is sierra@sierramonitor.com.

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors.

 

We operate in a rapidly changing environment that involves numerous risks and uncertainties. The following section lists some, but not all, of these risks and uncertainties that may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operation.

 

Economic Conditions: Continuing uncertainty about the global economy and political landscape increases the challenges and the financial risks facing us. These risks include potential postponement of spending by commercial, industrial and municipal customers; the loss of major customers; fluctuations in currency markets; product delays and costs from increasing lead times or material prices from suppliers; and inability of customers, including commercial contractors, to obtain credit to finance projects requiring our products. Additionally, low oil prices are negatively impacting construction of new oil and gas extraction, processing, and delivery facilities, slowing down large alternative fuel projects and resulting in cautious capital spending on fire and gas solutions, and putting pressure on product margin as suppliers seek to reduce total solution costs. These risks could have a material negative effect on the demand for our products and services.

 

Competitive Industry: The industry in which we compete is highly competitive and we expect such competition to continue in the future. Many of our competitors are larger than us and have substantially greater financial, technical, marketing and manufacturing resources. While the IIoT represents an opportunity for innovation and differentiation, it also implies a greater rate of change and the possibility of new competitors, ranging from venture capital backed startups to established technology companies. Even though we continue to invest in new products, there can be no assurance that there will be adequate demand or that certain of our products will not be rendered non-competitive or obsolete by our competitors or by the emergence of alternative approaches. Further, there is no guarantee that our research and development efforts or the associated costs will lead to increased sales or additional customers, or prevent erosion of competitive position of our products. In addition, our OEM customers may “design out” our FieldServer gateway products, replacing them with internally-designed technology. In order to maintain and grow the sales of our FieldServer products, we must maintain a new design-win rate that is in excess of the design-out rate. Our business and financial results may be adversely affected if our offerings do not keep pace with the rapidly changing IIoT landscape, if we are unable to compete with alternative third-party or internally-developed products, and if we are faced with pricing pressure in international markets.

 

Concentrated Operations: Our operations are concentrated in a two-building complex in Milpitas, California. Our operations could be interrupted by fire, earthquake, power loss, telecommunications failure and other events beyond our control. We do not have a detailed disaster recovery plan. In addition, we do not carry sufficient business interruption insurance to compensate us for all losses that may occur and any losses or damages incurred by us could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results.

 

Strategic Transactions: We may acquire businesses and technologies, which may divert the attention of management and cause us to incur various expenses in identifying, investigating and pursuing suitable acquisitions, whether or not the acquisitions are completed. We have limited experience in acquiring other businesses, and if we acquire additional businesses, we may not be able to successfully integrate the acquired personnel, operations and technologies, or effectively manage the combined business following the acquisition. We may not be able to find and identify desirable acquisition targets or be successful in entering into an agreement with any particular target. Acquisitions could also result in dilutive issuances of equity securities or the incurrence of debt, which could adversely affect our operating results. In addition, if an acquired business fails to meet our expectations or if we are unable to successfully integrate it, our business and financial results may suffer.

 

Item 2.

Properties.

 

Our principal executive, administrative, manufacturing and engineering operations are located in two buildings totaling approximately 28,000 square feet in Milpitas, California under a lease scheduled to expire on April 30, 2023.

 

Management considers that our current facilities are in good operating condition, are adequate for the present level of operations, and are adequately covered by insurance and that additional office and factory space is available in the immediate vicinity, if required.

 

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings.

 

We may be involved from time to time in various claims, lawsuits, and disputes with third parties, actions involving allegations of discrimination or breach of contract actions incidental to the normal course of business operations. We are currently not involved in any such litigation or any pending legal proceedings that management believes could have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

 

 

PART II

 

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

(a) Market Information. Our common stock is quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol “SRMC.” There is not an active market for our common stock and there is only infrequent trading in limited volume. The high and low closing sales price, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board system, of our common stock during each fiscal quarter for our last two fiscal years were as follows:

 

Common Stock Prices		High				Low
Quarter ended December 31, 2017		$	1.50			$	1.15
Quarter ended September 30, 2017		$	1.51			$	1.18
Quarter ended June 30, 2017		$	1.65			$	1.30
Quarter ended March 31, 2017		$	1.70			$	1.20
Quarter ended December 31, 2016		$	1.85			$	1.38
Quarter ended September 30, 2016		$	1.75			$	1.40
Quarter ended June 30, 2016		$	1.55			$	1.22
Quarter ended March 31, 2016		$	2.00			$	1.35

 

These quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail markup, markdown or commission, and may not represent actual transactions.

 

(b) Holders. As of March 26, 2018, there were approximately 121 shareholders of record of our common stock and the closing price of our common stock was $1.35. This figure does not include beneficial holders or common stock held in street names, as we cannot accurately estimate the number of these beneficial holders.

 

(c) Dividends. We adopted a dividend policy authorizing a quarterly cash dividend of $0.01 per share of common stock. Under this dividend policy, we have paid twenty-two consecutive quarterly dividends of $0.01 per share of common stock. The last quarterly dividend was paid on February 15, 2018 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 1, 2018. This dividend represented a quarterly payout of $102,040 in aggregate, based on 10,203,995 shares outstanding. The cash dividend policy and payment of any future quarterly cash dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will be dependent upon Sierra Monitor’s financial position, results of operations, available cash, cash flow, capital requirements and other factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors.

 

Penny Stock

 

Unless and until our shares of common stock qualify for inclusion in the NASDAQ system, the public trading, if any, of our common stock will be on the OTC Bulletin Board. As a result, an investor may find it more difficult to dispose of or to obtain accurate quotations as to the price of our common stock. Our common stock is subject to provisions of Section 15(h) and Rule 15g-9 of the Exchange Act, commonly referred to as the “penny stock rule.” Section 15(h) sets forth certain requirements for transactions in penny stocks, and Rule 15g-9(d) incorporates the definition of “penny stock” that is found in Rule 3a51-1 of the Exchange Act. The SEC generally defines “penny stock” to be any equity security that has a market price less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. If our common stock is deemed to be penny stock, trading in such shares will be subject to additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell penny stock to persons other than established customers and accredited investors. “Accredited investors” are generally persons with assets in excess of $1,000,000 or annual income exceeding $200,000, or $300,000 together with their spouse and certain entities with assets in excess of pre-determined amounts. For transactions covered by these rules, broker-dealers must make a special suitability determination for the purchase of such security and must have the purchaser’s written consent to the transaction prior to the purchase. Additionally, for any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the rules require the delivery, prior to the first transaction, of a risk disclosure document, prepared by the SEC, relating to the penny stock market. A broker-dealer also must disclose the commissions payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered representative, and current quotations for the securities. Finally, monthly statements must be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stocks held in an account and information on the limited market in penny stocks. Consequently, these rules may restrict the ability of a broker-dealer to trade and/or maintain a market in our common stock and may affect the ability of our shareholders to sell their shares.

 

Stock Option Plan

 

In April 2016 and in May 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors and the Company’s shareholders, respectively, approved the Company’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Stock Plan”) and reserved a total of (i) 279,680 shares, plus (ii) 2,550,320 shares that remained available for issuance under the 2006 Stock Plan immediately prior to its expiration, plus (iii) any shares subject to stock options or restricted stock granted under the 2006 Stock Plan that, on or after the date the 2016 Stock Plan became effective, expired or otherwise terminated without having been exercised in full, or were forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, with the maximum number of shares to be added to the 2016 Stock Plan pursuant to clauses (ii) and (iii) equal to 2,668,320. Options granted under our 2006 Stock Plan and 2016 Stock Plan are at the fair market value of our common stock at the grant date, typically vest ratably over 4 years, and expire 10 years from the grant date. On December 31, 2017, a total of 887,500 shares were available for grant.

 

 

Item 7.

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

 

Results of Operations - Fiscal 2017 vs. Fiscal 2016

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, our net sales were $19,770,158 compared to net sales of $19,184,442 in the prior fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. Net sales increased approximately 3.1% in 2017 compared to the prior year. Our loss from operations before interest income and income tax was $339,382 in 2017, compared to operating income before interest income and income tax expenses of $75,100 in 2016. Net loss in 2017 was $377,596, or $(0.04) per share, compared to net loss of $90,932, or $(0.01) per share, in 2016.

 

Sales of our FieldServer products decreased approximately 4% in 2017 compared to 2016. FieldServer products are primarily sold to OEMs who develop a broad range of products relevant to facility automation, such as boilers, chillers, air handlers, lighting controls, generator sets, electric sub-meters, etc. FieldServer products are also bought by system integrators looking to connect various discrete automation sub-systems to a common facility management system. The decline in our FieldServer sales was attributable to increased competition that impacted our solution. Primarily, this took the form of a large OEM customer designing out our gateway for their own “on board” solution. We believe that the high value-added services included in our SMCCloud offer will allow us to provide additional SaaS solutions to these customers. In addition, we are re-designing our FieldServer product line to allow for modular growth and ease of embedded integration into OEM’s products to mitigate this issue in the future. In 2017, revenue from FieldServer products was approximately 51% of our sales compared to approximately 54% in 2016.

 

Our sales of flame and gas detection products, including sales to the military, remain constant in 2017 compared to 2016. Flame and gas products are generally sold to engineering and installation firms who utilize the products as part of larger fire and safety projects in a variety of facilities, such as oil, gas and chemical processing plants, wastewater treatment facilities, alternate fuel vehicle maintenance garages, and other sites where hazardous gases are used or produced. Revenue from gas detection products was approximately 43% of our sales in 2017 and 2016.

 

We also sell environment control products for high-value remote telecommunications buildings, including cell towers and underground vaults. Sales of environment control products for telecommunications buildings increased by approximately 110% in 2017 compared to 2016. Sales of our products to telecommunications buildings are primarily a result of replacement and repair cycles at existing sites. Revenue from all products sold to the telecommunications industry was approximately 6% of our sales in 2017, compared to 3% in 2016.

 

Gross profit as a percent of sales was approximately 60% in 2017 and 59% in 2016. Our gross margins vary by product mix and channel of distribution. We did not experience any significant increase in costs for materials including electronic components, fabricated materials and contract assembly in 2017 compared to 2016. The 59% gross profit experienced in 2017 is more reflective of our regular gross profit percent while the 2016 gross profit was impacted slightly by an increase in warranty costs.

 

Research and development expenses, which include new product development and support for existing products, were $3,073,087 or 16% of net sales in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, compared to $2,950,651 or 15% of net sales in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. The growth in R&D spending in 2017 was primarily driven by continued efforts to develop IIoT-specific initiatives such as our SMCCloud offering.

 

Selling and marketing expenses were $5,165,931 or 26% of net sales in 2017 compared to $4,899,882 or 26% of net sales in the prior year. The increase in sales and marketing expenses was driven by increases in the sales team to expand regional coverage as well as increased investment in marketing designed to drive our messaging to the market.

 

 

General and administrative expenses, which include professional fees and product and general liability insurance incurred by the company, were $3,277,760 or 17% of net sales in 2017, compared to $3,106,265 or 16% of net sales in 2016. Our IT spending increased as we continue to invest in updated software for our systems. Additionally, professional fees increased as we reviewed strategic alternatives for the company.

 

Our financial results reflect a revenue increase of $585,716 and a decrease in (loss) income from operations of $414,482 over the prior year due primarily to one-time special, non-recurring expense for separation packages for our two former senior executives. All of our current deferred income tax benefits have been utilized. We are currently accruing income taxes at the maximum corporate rate.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our working capital at December 31, 2017 was $8,457,600 compared to working capital of $8,829,381 at December 31, 2016. We undertook no significant equity or long-term debt transactions in 2017.

 

Inventories on hand at December 31, 2017 were $3,138,261, an increase of $694,487 compared to December 31, 2016. Inventory levels have increased as we position ourselves to be more responsive to customer needs.

 

Our net trade receivables at December 31, 2017 were $3,254,681 compared to $2,502,601 at December 31, 2016. The increase was primarily due to approximately $464,00 increase in December, 2017 sales compared to December, 2106 sales. Trade receivables, measured by days of sales outstanding, increased to 53 days at December 31, 2017 compared to 48 days at December 31, 2016.

 

On December 31, 2017, our balance sheet reflected $3,191,722 of cash on hand compared to $4,692,999 at December 31, 2016. The decrease in cash is due primarily to an increase in trade receivables of $752,080 and an increase in inventory of $694,487. Income taxes paid totaled $2,192 during 2017 compared with $243,573 during 2016.

 

As of December 31, 2017, the Company has a $2,000,000 line of credit, secured by substantially all assets of the Company and bears interest at the bank’s prime rate (3.25% at December 31, 2017) less 0.5% or LIBOR plus 2.5%. The line of credit matures on August 1, 2018 and requires compliance with certain financial covenants including the requirement to maintain a quick ratio of 1.3:1.0 and a quarterly profitability test. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants and the line of credit had no outstanding balance.

 

We believe that our present resources, including cash and accounts receivable, are sufficient to fund our anticipated level of operations for the next twelve months. There are no current plans for significant capital equipment expenditures.

 

Inflation

 

We believe that inflation will not have a direct material effect on our results of operations.

 

The economic factors that could adversely impact our business in 2017 include, but are not limited to, currency fluctuations as we buy materials and sell products internationally and also fluctuations in materials prices.

 

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make judgments, assumptions and estimates that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. The amounts of assets and liabilities reported on our balance sheet and the amounts of revenues and expenses reported for each of our fiscal periods are affected by estimates and assumptions, which are used for, but not limited to, the accounting for revenue recognition, accounts receivable, doubtful accounts and inventories. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The following critical accounting policies are significantly affected by judgments, assumptions and estimates used in the preparation of the financial statements:

 

Revenue Recognition

 

A detailed discussion of our revenue recognition policies is contained in Note 1 (Summary of the Company and Significant Accounting Policies) of the Notes to Financial Statements. That discussion is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Our domestic sales are generally made on an open account basis unless specific experience or knowledge of the customer’s potential inability or unwillingness to meet the payment terms dictate secured payments. Our international sales are generally made based on secure payments, including cash wire advance payments and letters of credit. International sales are made on open account terms only where sufficient historical experience justifies the credit risks involved. In many of our larger sales, the customers are frequently construction contractors who need our start-up services to complete their work and obtain payment. Management’s ability to manage the credit terms and leverage the need for our services is critical to the effective application of credit terms and minimization of accounts receivable losses.

 

We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts which is analyzed on a periodic basis to ensure that it is adequate to the best of management’s knowledge. We believe that we have demonstrated the ability to make reasonable and reliable estimates of product returns and of allowances for doubtful accounts based on significant historical experience. Trends of sales returns, exchanges and warranty repairs are tracked as a management review item in our International Organization for Standardization quality program, and data generated from that program forms a basis for the reserve management.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, cost being determined on the first-in, first-out method. We use an Enterprise Requirements Planning (“ERP”) software system which provides data upon which management can rely to determine inventory trends and identify excesses. We consider it necessary to maintain an elevated inventory level of critical components and low inventory turns compared to typical industry benchmarks in order to mitigate potential supply disruptions and to respond to orders in a timely manner. Write-downs of slow moving and obsolete inventories are determined based on historical experience and current product demand. We evaluate the inventory for excess or obsolescence on a quarterly basis. The ultimate write-down is dependent upon management’s ability to forecast demands accurately, manage product changes efficiently, and interpret the data provided by the ERP system.

 

The market cost of our inventory is equal to the realizable value which is based on management’s forecast for sales of our products in the ensuing years. The industry in which we operate is characterized by technological advancements and change. Should demand for our products prove to be significantly less than anticipated, the ultimate realizable value of our inventory could be substantially less than the amount shown on the accompanying balance sheet.

 

 

Determination of Applicability of Valuation Allowance for Deferred Tax Assets

 

We determine the applicability of a valuation allowance against the accrued tax benefit by evaluating recent trends including sales levels, changes in backlog and fixed expenses. We also consider our plans for the current twelve-month period regarding activities that would change the level of expenses relative to historical trends.

 

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, we determined that, despite the minor loss, the Company’s profitable history and full utilization of the available deferred tax benefits, no valuation allowance was required against the remaining deferred tax asset.

 

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

Reference is made to the financial statements, including the notes thereto, together with the report thereon of Squar Milner LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, attached to this Annual Report on Form 10-K as a separate section beginning on page F-1.

 

Item 9.

Changes In and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

 

There have been no disagreements with Squar Milner LLP of the type required to be reported under this Item 9 since the date of their engagement.

 

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures.

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, our management, with the participation of Jeffrey Brown, our principal executive officer and Tamara Allen, our principal financial officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e), which includes inquiries made to certain other employees. Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2017, our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) were effective.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over our financial reporting as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP), and includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.

 

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in its report, Internal Control-Integrated Framework (1992). No material weaknesses were identified and management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2017 based on the criteria set forth in COSO’s report Internal Control-Integrated Framework (1992).

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting as such report is not required for non-accelerated filers such as us.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended December 31, 2017 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B.

Other Information.

 

There were no items required to be disclosed in a Form 8-K during the quarter ended December 31, 2017 that were not disclosed.

 

 

PART III

 

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers, Corporate Governance.

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the directors and executive officers of the Company as of December 31, 2017, based upon information furnished by such persons:

 

						Director or
Name		Principal Occupation or Employment		Age		Officer Since
Gordon R. Arnold		Director of the Company;		72		1984
		Executive Advisor and Secretary
Jeffrey Brown		Director of the Company; President and
		Chief Executive Officer		58		2017
Tamara S. Allen		Chief Financial Officer		51		2014
Michael C. Farr		Vice President of Operations		60		1986
C. Richard Kramlich		Director of the Company		82		1980
Robert C. Marshall		Director of the Company		86		1998
Jim Norrod		Director of the Company		70		2017

 

All officers of the Company serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

Gordon R. Arnold joined Sierra Monitor Corporation, a California corporation (“Old Sierra”), in December 1979 as Operations Manager and Vice President. He became President in 1984 and Chief Executive Officer in 1985. In September 1989, Old Sierra merged into UMF Systems, Inc., a California corporation (“UMF”), and UMF changed its name to “Sierra Monitor Corporation.” Mr. Arnold served as the Company’s President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and as the Company’s Secretary until July 2014. Mr. Arnold has served as a Director and Chairman of the Board since 1984 and he became Executive Chairman in July 2014. He is a past Chairman of the Measurement Control and Automation Association. Mr. Arnold’s specific qualifications and experience to serve as a member of our Board of Directors include his business management education, more than forty years of direct industry experience and over thirty-five years of full-time employment as an executive of the Company.

 

Jeffrey Brown joined Sierra Monitor Corporation as President and Chief Executive Officer in October 2017. Mr. Brown joins the company from Accuris Networks where he was the President and CEO from September 2014 to July 2017. He led Accuris’ pivot to a SaaS model and deployed a worldwide cloud solution for some of the largest wireless service providers. From May 2009 to July 2014 Mr. Brown served as President and CEO for Kineto Wireless until it was sold to Taqua. Mr. Brown holds a BA Degree from University of California at Berkeley and an MBA from Golden Gate University. His business administration education and more than thirty years of industry experience qualify him to serve as CEO and as a member of our Board of Directors.

 

Tamara S. Allen has served as our Chief Financial Officer since April 2014 and has been our Controller since March 2005. Ms. Allen joined Sierra Monitor Corporation in January 1996. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from University of Wisconsin with an emphasis in Financial Management. Prior to joining us, Ms. Allen held various finance and accounting positions at Philips Semiconductors and served on the board of directors for Horizon West Federal Credit Union. Ms. Allen’s experience and expertise in GAAP practice, financial SEC reporting, Sarbanes-Oxley, COSO, and board level financial reporting and analysis qualify her to serve as an officer of the Company.

 

 

Michael C. Farr has served as Vice President of Operations at Sierra Monitor Corporation since 1986, having joined the company in 1983 as Operations Manager. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles. Prior to joining us, Mr. Farr held operations management positions in Signetics Semiconductor Co. and Advanced Micro Devices. He is APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (“CPIM”). His strong production control and operations management background resulted in our attainment of ISO-9001 registration for our quality system and has supported our growth through multiple transitions of our supply chain process, partners, and systems. Mr. Farr’s extensive operations management experience and knowledge of our products, services and processes qualify him to serve as an officer of the Company.

 

C. Richard Kramlich has been a Director of the Company since 1980. Mr. Kramlich, who has more than forty years of venture capital experience, is a co-founder of New Enterprise Associates, a venture capital firm. He received a Master’s in Business Administration from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in History from Northwestern University. Mr. Kramlich’s specific qualifications and experience to serve as a member of our Board of Directors include over thirty years as managing general partner of a highly successful venture capital company, his membership on numerous boards of private and public companies, and over thirty years of participation on our Board of Directors.

 

Robert C. Marshall has been a Director of the Company since 1998. Since 1997, Mr. Marshall has been the Managing General Partner of Selby Venture Partners, a venture capital firm. Mr. Marshall received a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Heald Engineering and an MBA from Pepperdine University. Mr. Marshall’s specific qualifications and experience to serve as a member of our Board of Directors include his participation in the founding of the first redundant computer manufacturing company, his founding of a highly successful venture capital company, his involvement in the management and turn-around of various electronic companies and his eighteen years of participation on our Board of Directors.

 

Mr. James D. Norrod, joined Sierra Monitor Corporation in October 2017 as a Director of the Company. Since October 2017, Mr. Norrod currently serves as the President and CEO of Tellabs, Inc. Prior to that, he served as President and CEO of Zhone Technologies from July 2014 to September 2017 leading the successful merger of Zhone Technologies into DASAN Zhone Solutions Inc. In May 2013 thru May 2014, Mr. Norrod served as the Executive Chairman of GreenBytes until it was acquired by Oracle. Beginning in December 2010, Mr. Norrod served as Chairman and CEO of Infinite Power Solutions until it was acquired in February 2013. Mr. Norrod holds a BS in Economics from Oakland University and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Detroit. Mr. Norrod’s specific qualifications and experience to serve as a member of our Board of Directors include his education and his membership on numerous boards of private and public companies.

 

Family Relationships

 

There are no family relationships between or among the directors, executive officers or persons nominated or charged by the Company to become directors or executive officers.

 

 

Involvement in Legal Proceedings

 

To our knowledge, during the past ten years, no event specified in Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K occurred with respect to a present or former director or executive officer of the Company.

 

With respect to the other information required by this Item 10, the sections entitled “Election of Directors Nominees”, “Information About Our Board of Directors – Corporate Governance” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” of our Proxy Statement for our 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on or about May 10, 2018 are incorporated by reference herein.

 

The information required by this Item 10 regarding our code of business conduct is incorporated by reference herein from our Proxy Statement for our 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on or about May 10, 2018 under the section entitled “Corporate Governance.”

 

Item 11.

Executive Compensation.

 

The information required by this Item 11 is incorporated by reference herein from our Proxy Statement for our 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on or about May 10, 2018 under the sections entitled “Compensation of Executive Officers” and “Compensation of Directors”.

 

Item 12.

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

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans.

 

The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2017 with respect to compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance, aggregated as follows:

 

i. All compensation plans previously approved by security holders; and

 

ii. All compensation plans not previously approved by security holders.

 

		Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights				Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights				Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
Plan Category		(a)				(b)				(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders			1,847,157			$	1.41				887,500
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders			-				-				-
Total			1,847,157			$	1.41				887,500

 

 

The other information required by this Item 12 is incorporated by reference herein from our Proxy Statement for our 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on or about May 10, 2018 under the section entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.”

 

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

 

The information required by this Item 13 is incorporated by reference herein from our Proxy Statement for our 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on or about May 10, 2018 under the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.”

 

Item 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

 

The information required by this Item 14 is incorporated by reference herein from our Proxy Statement for our 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on or about May 10, 2018 under the section entitled “Principal Accountant Fees and Services”.

 

 

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

 

Financial Statements.

 

See Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Schedules.

 

Not applicable.

 

Index to Exhibits

 

Exhibit Number		Description
3.1(1)		Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant.
3.2(2)		Bylaws of the Registrant.
4.1(3)		Specimen Common Stock Certificate of the Registrant.
10.2(4)		2006 Stock Plan of Registrant.
10.3(5)		Standard Industrial Lease dated April 4, 2003, by and between Sierra Monitor and Geomax.
10.4(6)		Form of Retention Agreement by and between Sierra Monitor and certain of its executive officers.
10.5(7)		Separation Agreement by and between Sierra Monitor and Anders B. Axelsson, dated May 5, 2017.
10.6(7)		Separation Agreement by and between Sierra Monitor and Varun Nagaraj, dated May 5, 2017.
10.7(2)		Transition Agreement by and between Sierra Monitor and Gordon R. Arnold, dated October 16, 2017.
10.8(2)		Employment Offer Letter by and between Sierra Monitor and Jeffrey Brown, dated October 16, 2017.
10.9(8)		Form of Indemnification Agreement by and between Sierra Monitor and its directors and certain of its executive officers.
10.10(9)		Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement.
10.11(10)		Sierra Monitor Corporation 2016 Equity Incentive Plan and forms of award agreements thereunder.
23.1		Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
31.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS		XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH		XBRL Taxonomy Schema.
101.CAL		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.
101.DEF		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.
101.LAB		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase.
101.PRE		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase.

 

(1)	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1989 filed with the SEC on March 23, 1990.
(2)	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 18, 2017.
(3)	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 filed with the SEC on March 27, 2003.
(4)	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 2000.
(5)	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 13, 2012.
(6)	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017 filed with the SEC on August 14, 2017.
(7)	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 16, 2014.
(8)	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2016.
(9)	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 20, 2016.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

		SIERRA MONITOR CORPORATION
Date: March 30, 2018	By:	/s/ Jeffrey Brown
		Jeffrey Brown
		Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Date		Title			Signature
March 30, 2018		Chief Executive Officer		By:	/s/ Jeffrey Brown
					Jeffrey Brown
March 30, 2018		Chief Financial Officer		By:	/s/ Tamara S. Allen
					Tamara S. Allen
March 30, 2018		Director		By:	/s/ Gordon R. Arnold
					Gordon R. Arnold
March 30, 2018		Director		By:	/s/ C. Richard Kramlich
					C. Richard Kramlich
March 30, 2018		Director		By:	/s/ Robert C. Marshall
					Robert C. Marshall
March 30, 2018		Director		By:	/s/ James Norrod
					James Norrod

 

 

SIERRA MONITOR CORPORATION

 

Financial Statements

 

 

SIERRA MONITOR CORPORATION

 

Index to Financial Statements

 

		Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		F-1
Balance Sheets		F-2
Statements of Operations		F-3
Statements of Shareholders’ Equity		F-4
Statements of Cash Flows		F-5
Notes to Financial Statements		F-6
Exhibit 23.1		1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Sierra Monitor Corporation

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Sierra Monitor Corporation (the Company) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/ Squar Milner LLP

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2002.

 

Newport Beach, California

 

March 30, 2018

 

 

SIERRA MONITOR CORPORATION

Balance Sheets

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

		2017				2016
Assets
Current assets:
Cash		$	3,191,722			$	4,692,999
Trade receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of approximately $75,000 in 2017 and 2016, respectively			3,254,681				2,502,601
Inventories, net			3,138,261				2,443,774
Prepaid expenses			559,368				575,177
Income tax deposit			44,771				68,949
Total current assets			10,188,803				10,283,500
Property and equipment, net			252,143				167,831
Deferred income taxes			126,323				249,967
Other assets			83,153				202,875
Total assets		$	10,650,422			$	10,904,173
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	976,092			$	824,951
Accrued compensation expenses			555,714				460,584
Other current liabilities			199,397				168,584
Total current liabilities			1,731,203				1,454,119
Deferred tax liability			-				88,802
Total liabilities			1,731,203				1,542,921
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 10,203,995 and 10,171,551 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively			10,204				10,172
Additional paid-in capital			4,482,403				4,139,527
Retained earnings			4,426,612				5,211,553
Total shareholders’ equity			8,919,219				9,361,252
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$	10,650,422			$	10,904,173

 

See accompanying notes to these financial statements.

 

 

SIERRA MONITOR CORPORATION

Statements of Operations

For the Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

		2017				2016
Net sales		$	19,770,158			$	19,184,442
Cost of goods sold			8,012,337				8,152,544
Gross profit			11,757,821				11,031,898
Operating expenses:
Research and development			3,073,087				2,950,651
Selling and marketing			5,165,931				4,899,882
General and administrative			3,277,760				3,106,265
Non-recurring expense			580,425				-
			12,097,203				10,956,798
(Loss) income from operations			(339,382	)			75,100
Interest income			481				621
(Loss) income before income tax expense			(338,901	)			75,721
Income tax expense			38,695				166,653
Net loss		$	(377,596	)		$	(90,932	)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders per common share:
Basic		$	(0.04	)		$	(0.01	)
Diluted		$	(0.04	)		$	(0.01	)
Weighted-average number of shares used in per share computations:
Basic			10,186,215				10,147,430
Diluted			10,186,215				10,147,430

 

See accompanying notes to these financial statements.

 

 

SIERRA MONITOR CORPORATION

Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

For the Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

										Additional								Total
		Common Stock								Paid-in				Retained				Shareholders’
		Shares				Amount				Capital				Earnings				Equity
Balance as of January 1, 2016			10,145,862			$	10,146			$	3,772,435			$	5,708,383			$	9,490,964
Stock options exercised			6,272				6				5,843				–				5,849
Stock-based compensation			–				–				375,857				–				375,857
Restricted stock vested			19,417				20				(14,608	)							(14,588	)
Dividends paid			–				–				–				(405,898	)			(405,898	)
Net loss			–				–				–				(90,932	)			(90,932	)
Balance as of December 31, 2016			10,171,551				10,172				4,139,527				5,211,553				9,361,252
Stock options exercised			10,002				10				3,740				–				3,750
Stock-based compensation			–				–				299,665				–				299,665
Restricted stock vested			22,442				22				39,471				–				39,493
Dividends paid			–				–				–				(407,345	)			(407,345	)
Net loss			–				–				–				(377,596	)			(377,596	)
Balance as of December 31, 2017			10,203,995			$	10,204			$	4,482,403			$	4,426,612			$	8,919,219

 

See accompanying notes to these financial statements.

 

 

SIERRA MONITOR CORPORATION

Statements of Cash Flows

For the Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

		2017				2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss		$	(377,596	)		$	(90,932	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation			126,172				157,017
Amortization			137,934				184,985
Bad debt expense			-				(3,827	)
Provision for inventory losses			(97,109	)			(463	)
Stock-based compensation expense			299,665				375,857
Loss on disposal of fixed asset			8,594				-
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade receivables			(752,080	)			83,890
Inventories			(597,378	)			399,138
Prepaid expenses			15,809				(359,771	)
Income tax deposit			24,178				(57,062	)
Deferred taxes			34,842				(17,020	)
Accounts payable			151,141				(153,887	)
Accrued compensation expenses			95,130				(194,025	)
Other current liabilities			30,813				20,223
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(899,885	)			344,123
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(210,484	)			(97,960	)
Purchases of other assets			(26,806	)			(21,900	)
Net cash used in investing activities			(237,290	)			(119,860	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of dividends			(407,345	)			(405,898	)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			43,243				5,849
Payment of minimum tax withholdings on net share settlement of restricted stock			-				(14,588	)
Net cash used in financing activities			(364,102	)			(414,637	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(1,501,277	)			(190,374	)
Cash – beginning of year			4,692,999				4,883,373
Cash – end of year		$	3,191,722			$	4,692,999
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the year for income taxes		$	2,192			$	243,573

 

See accompanying notes to these financial statements.

 

 

SIERRA MONITOR CORPORATION

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

Note 1 - Summary of the Company and Significant Accounting Policies

 

The Company

 

Sierra Monitor Corporation (the “Company”) was incorporated in 1978. The Company addresses the industrial and commercial facilities management market with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions that connect and protect high-value infrastructure assets. The Company’s primary product lines include the FieldServer protocols gateways and the Sentry IT flame and gas detection systems. The Company’s headquarters are located in Milpitas, California. The Company’s stock is quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol “SRMC.”

 

Risks and Uncertainties

 

The Company operates in a highly competitive industry that is subject to intense competition, government regulation and rapid technological change. The Company’s operations are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including financial, operational, technological, regulatory and other business risks associated with such a company.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates made by management are, among others, the allowance for bad debts on trade receivables, net realization of inventory, realizability of long-lived assets, provision for warranty returns and deferred income tax asset valuation.

 

Concentrations

 

We currently maintain substantially all of our day to day operating cash with a major financial institution. At times cash balances may be in excess of the amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Cash balances of approximately $2,691,722 and $4,331,389 were in excess of such insured amounts at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

The Company grants credit to customers within the United States of America and generally does not require collateral. We have international sales (see Note 8) that are generally prepaid or paid through a letter of credit. Our ability to collect receivables is affected by economic fluctuations in the industrial and geographic areas served by us. Reserves for uncollectible amounts are provided, based on past experience and a specific analysis of the accounts, which management believes is sufficient. Although management expects to collect amounts due, actual collections may differ from the estimated amounts.

 

Two customers exceeded 10% of the Company’s accounts receivable for the year ended December 31, 2017 and no customers exceeded 10% of the Company’s accounts receivable for the year ended December 31, 2016. No customers exceeded 10% of the Company’s sales during the years ended December 31, 2017 or 2016.

 

 

Accounts Receivable

 

We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts which is analyzed on a periodic basis to ensure that it is adequate to the best of management’s knowledge. We believe that we have demonstrated reliable estimates of product returns and of allowances for doubtful accounts based on significant historical experience. Trends of sales returns, exchanges and warranty repairs are tracked by management as part of its review of the Company’s ISO (International Organization for Standardization) quality program and data generated from that process forms a basis for the reserve management.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market. Cost is determined on a standard cost basis that approximates the first-in, first-out method. Market is determined by comparison with recent sales or net realizable value.

 

The net realizable value is based on management’s forecasts for sales of the Company’s products or services in the ensuing years. The industry in which the Company operates is characterized by technological advancement, change and certain regulations. Should the demand for the Company’s products prove to be significantly less than anticipated, the ultimate realizable value of the Company’s inventories could be substantially less than amounts shown in the accompanying balance sheets. Management analyzes the inventory for slow-moving and obsolete parts and maintains an obsolescence reserve sufficient to cover them (see Note 2).

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, generally two to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the related asset. Betterments, renewals, and extraordinary repairs that extend the lives of the assets are capitalized and other repairs and maintenance charges are expensed as incurred. The cost and related accumulated depreciation applicable to assets sold or retired are removed from the accounts, and the gain or loss on disposition is recognized in current operations.

 

Research and Development

 

Research and development are primarily comprised of engineering salaries, new product development costs, software development and maintenance costs and certain other general costs, such as depreciation on engineering equipment and sustaining engineering activities. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. All software development and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

 

Long-Lived Assets

 

In accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 360-10, Property, Plant and Equipment (“ASC 360-10”), long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. If the cost basis of a long-lived asset is greater than the projected future undiscounted net cash flows from such asset (excluding interest), an impairment loss is recognized. Impairment losses are calculated as the difference between the cost basis of an asset and its estimated fair value. ASC 360-10 also requires companies to separately report discontinued operations and extends that reporting to a component of an entity that either has been disposed of (by sale, abandonment, or in a distribution to shareholders) or is classified as held for sale. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, management has determined that there were no indicators requiring review for impairment and therefore no adjustments have been made to the carrying values of long-lived assets. Also, no long-lived assets are held for sale. There can be no assurance, however, that market conditions will not change or demand for the Company’s products or services will continue, which could result in impairment of long-lived assets in the future.

 

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company recognizes revenues when all of the following conditions exist: a) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists in the form of an accepted purchase order; b) delivery has occurred, based on shipping terms, or services have been rendered; c) the Company’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, as documented on the accepted purchase order; and d) collectability is reasonably assured. By product and service type, revenues are recognized when the following specific conditions are met:

 

Gas Detection and Environment Control Products

 

Gas Detection and Environment Control products are sold as off-the-shelf products with prices fixed at the time of order. Orders delivered to the Company by phone, fax, mail or email are considered valid purchase orders and once accepted by the Company are deemed to be the final understanding between us and our customer as to the specific nature and terms of the agreed-upon sale transaction. Products are shipped and are considered delivered when (a) for FOB factory orders they leave our shipping dock or (b) for FOB customer dock orders upon confirmation of delivery. The creditworthiness of customers is generally assessed prior to the Company accepting a customer’s first order. Additionally, international customers and customers who have developed a history of payment problems are generally required to prepay or pay through a letter-of-credit.

 

Gas Detection and Environment Control Services

 

Gas Detection and Environment Control Services consist of field service orders (technical support) and training, which are provided separately from product orders. Orders are accepted in the same forms as discussed for Gas Detection and Environment Control Products above with hourly prices fixed at the time of order. Revenue recognition occurs only when the service activity is completed. Such services are provided to current and prior customers, and, as noted above, creditworthiness has generally already been assessed. In cases where the probability of receiving payment is low, a credit card number is collected for immediate processing.

 

FieldServer Products

 

FieldServer products are sold in the same manner as Gas Detection and Environment Control products (as discussed above). The software embedded in FieldServer products includes two items:  (a) a compiled program containing (i) the basic operating system for FieldServers, which is common to every unit, and (ii) the correct set of protocol drivers based on the customer order (see FieldServer Services below for more information); and (b) a configuration file that identifies and links each data point as identified by the customer. The Company does not deem the hardware, operating systems with protocol drivers and configuration files to be separate units of accounting because the Company does not believe that they have value on a stand-alone basis. The hardware is useless without the software, and the software is only intended to be used in FieldServer hardware. Additionally, the software included in each sale is deemed to not require significant production, modification or customization and, therefore, the Company recognizes revenues upon the shipment or delivery of products (depending on shipping terms), as described in Gas Detection and Environment Control Products above.

 

FieldServer Services

 

FieldServer services consist of orders for custom development of protocol drivers.  Generally customers place orders for FieldServer products concurrently with their order for protocol drivers. However, if custom development of the protocol driver is required, the product order is not processed until development of the protocol driver is complete. Orders are received in the same manner as described in FieldServer Products above, but due to the non-recurring engineering aspect of the customized driver development, the Company is more likely to have a written evidence trail of a quotation and a hard copy order.  The driver development involves further research after receipt of order, preparation of a scope document to be approved by the customer and then engineering time to write, test and release the driver program.  When development of the driver is complete, the customer is notified and can proceed with a FieldServer product (see FieldServer Products above).  Revenues for driver development are billed and recognized upon shipment or delivery of the related product that includes the developed protocol drivers (as noted in FieldServer Products above). Collectability is reasonably assured as described in FieldServer Products above.

 

 

Discounts and Allowances

 

Discounts are applied at time of order entry and sales are processed at net pricing. No allowances are offered to customers.

 

Deferred Revenue

 

When advance payments are received from customers, they are recorded as deferred revenue until the product is shipped. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had received approximately $62,000 and $58,000 respectively, of such advance payments which are included in other current liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets.

 

Employee Stock-Based Compensation

 

All share-based payments to employees are recognized in the financial statements based on their fair values at the date of grant. The calculated fair value is recognized as expense (net of any capitalization) over the requisite service period, net of estimated forfeitures. The Company considers many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards, employee class and historical experience.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company’s statements of operations reflected a salaries and benefits expense of $299,665 and $375,857, respectively, with a corresponding decrease in the Company’s loss from continuing operations, loss before provision for income taxes and net loss resulting from the recognition of compensation expense associated with employee stock-based compensation. There was no material impact on the Company’s basic and diluted net loss per share.

 

Compensation expense associated with stock options is recognized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the vesting period or the minimum required service period. At December 31, 2017, there was $1,154,302 of total compensation expense related to non-vested stock options, which is expected to be recognized over the next four years.

 

Compensation expense associated with restricted stock is recognized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the vesting period or the minimum required service period. On December 21, 2015 the Company issued 118,000 restricted shares with a 4-year vesting schedule. On October 16, 2017, the Company issued 150,000 restricted shares with a 4-year vesting schedule. A total of 63,843 shares were vested as of December 31, 2017 and, accordingly, $54,680 in compensation expense associated with the restricted stock was recorded in 2017 and is included in stock-based compensation expense in the accompanying statement of operations. A total of 14,531 shares were forfeited in 2017, leaving 39,626 shares unvested. There was $53,891 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock, which is expected to be recognized over the next four years.

 

Warranty

 

The Company provides a warranty on all electronics sold for a period of two years after the date of shipment. Warranty issues are usually resolved with repair or replacement of the product. Trends of sales returns, exchanges and warranty repairs are tracked as part of a management review item in the Company’s ISO (International Organization for Standardization) quality program and data generated from that program forms a basis for the reserve that management records in our financial statements. Estimated future warranty obligations related to certain products and services are provided by charges to operations in the period in which the related revenue is recognized. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, warranty reserve approximated $72,330, and is included in other current liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets.

 

 

Advertising Programs

 

The Company expenses the cost of advertising when incurred as selling and marketing expense in the accompanying statements of operations. Advertising expenses were approximately $146,000 and $140,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

 

Shipping and Handling Costs

 

Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of goods sold in the accompanying statements of operations in accordance with ASC 605-45, Revenue Recognition.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is established when management estimates that future taxable income will not fully utilize deferred tax assets. No valuation allowance was deemed necessary as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.

 

Earnings Per Share

 

Under ASC 260-10, Earnings Per Share, basic earnings (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period of computation. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is computed similar to basic earnings (loss) per share except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding, using the treasury stock method, if the potential common shares had been issued and if the additional common shares were dilutive.

 

The following is a reconciliation of the shares used in the computation of basic and diluted loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively:

 

		2017				2016
Basic earnings (loss) per share – weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding			10,186,215				10,147,430
Effect of dilutive stock options			—				—
Diluted earnings (loss) per share – dilutive potential common shares			10,186,215				10,147,430

 

For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, all employee stock options to purchase shares of common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share as their effect would be anti-dilutive.

 

Segments of Business

 

ASC 280-10, Segment Reporting requires entity-wide disclosures about the products and services that an entity provides, the material countries in which it holds assets and reports revenues and its major customers. The Company currently operates in one segment, as disclosed in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) reviews financial information on an entity level (see Note 8).

 

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Certain Other Assets/Liabilities

 

ASC 825-10, Financial Instruments, requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments when it is practicable to estimate that value. The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash, trade receivables, accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities approximate their estimated fair values due to the short-term maturities of those financial instruments.

 

The Company does not have any assets or liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and, during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, did not have any assets or liabilities that were measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.

 

Subsequent Events

 

Management has evaluated events subsequent to December 31, 2017 through the date that the accompanying financial statements were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for transactions and other events which may require adjustment of and/or disclosure in such financial statements.

 

Significant Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, issued as a new Topic, ASC Topic 606 (ASU 2014-09). The new revenue recognition standard provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The premise of the standard is that a Company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 can be adopted by the Company either retrospectively or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption.

 

The Company has elected to adopt the guidance beginning in fiscal 2018 using the full retrospective approach, which applies the standard to all periods presented. The Company hired an outside subject matter expert to assist management with an assessment of the impact of adoption of this guidance, including required disclosures. Although our evaluation is not yet finalized, we believe that the impact of adopting the standard on our financial statements and related disclosures will not be material.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-2, “Leases” (Topic 842), which is intended to improve financial reporting for lease transactions. This ASU will require organizations that lease assets, such as real estate, airplanes and manufacturing equipment, to recognize on their balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights to use those assets for the lease term and obligations to make lease payments created by those leases that have terms of greater than 12 months. The recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on its classification as finance or operating lease. This ASU will also require disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount and timing of cash flows arising from leases. These disclosures will include qualitative and quantitative requirements, providing additional information about the amounts recorded in the financial statements. The ASU is effective for the Company for the year ending December 31, 2019 and interim reporting periods within that year, and early adoption is permitted. Management has not yet determined the effect of this ASU on the Company’s financial statements.

 

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (“ASU 2015-17”), which simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes. ASU 2015-17 requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. ASU 2015-17 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 (and interim periods within those fiscal years) with early adoption permitted. ASU 2015-17 may be either applied prospectively to all deferred tax assets and liabilities or retrospectively to all periods presented. We adopted ASU 2015-17 during our first quarter of fiscal year 2017 on a retrospective basis. Accordingly, we reclassified the current deferred taxes to noncurrent on the Company’s December 31, 2016 balance sheet, which increased noncurrent deferred tax assets to $249,967.

 

Note 2 – Inventories

 

A summary of inventories as of December 31 is as follows:

 

		2017				2016
Raw materials		$	1,517,932			$	1,421,004
Work in process			1,415,763				954,010
Finished goods			304,566				265,869
			3,238,261				2,640,883
Obsolescence reserve			(100,000	)			(197,109	)
		$	3,138,261			$	2,443,774

 

Note 3 - Property and Equipment

 

A summary of property and equipment as of December 31 is as follows:

 

		2017				2016
Machinery and equipment		$	716,325			$	722,435
Furniture, fixtures, and leasehold improvements			1,248,755				1,162,125
			1,965,080				1,884,560
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization			(1,712,937	)			(1,716,729	)
		$	252,143			$	167,831

 

Note 4 - Employee Stock Compensation Plan

 

In April 2016 and in May 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors and the Company’s shareholders, respectively, approved the Company’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Stock Plan”) and reserved a total of (i) 279,680 shares, plus (ii) 2,550,320 shares that remained available for issuance under the 2006 Stock Plan immediately prior to its expiration, plus (iii) any shares subject to stock options or restricted stock granted under the 2006 Stock Plan that, on or after the date the 2016 Stock Plan became effective, expired or otherwise terminated without having been exercised in full, or were forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, with the maximum number of shares to be added to the 2016 Stock Plan pursuant to clauses (ii) and (iii) equal to 2,668,320. Options granted under our 2006 Stock Plan and 2016 Stock Plan are at the fair market value of our common stock at the grant date, typically vest ratably over four years, and expire ten years from the grant date. On December 31, 2017, a total of 887,500 shares were available for grant.

 

 

A summary of stock option transactions for the two years ended December 31, 2017 is as follows:

 

										Weighted-
						Range of				Average
		Options				prices				exercise price
Balance as of January 1, 2016			1,830,000				0.60 – 2.65				1.78
Granted			-				-
Exercised			(14,500	)			1.30				1.30
Forfeited or expired			(38,500	)			1.52 - 1.65				1.67
Balance as of December 31, 2016			1,777,000								1.78
Granted			1,113,000				1.20 - 1.48				1.27
Exercised			(135,000	)			1.50				1.50
Forfeited or expired			(1,112,000	)			1.50 - 1.95				1.84
Balance as of December 31, 2017			1,643,000								1.42

 

Options outstanding that have vested and are expected to vest as of December 31, 2017 are as follows:

 

		Number of Shares				Weighted Average Exercise Price				Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term in Years
Vested			488,698			$	1.75				5.1
Expected to vest			1,154,302				1.27				9.7
Total			1,643,000				1.42				8.3

 

Options outstanding that are expected to vest are net of estimated future forfeitures in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718 which are estimated when compensation costs are recognized.

 

The following table summarizes information about the Company’s stock options outstanding under the 2006 Stock Plan and 2016 Stock Plan as of December 31, 2017:

 

				Options Outstanding												Options exercisable
		Exercise prices		Number outstanding				Weighted-average remaining contractual life (years)				Weighted-average exercise price				Number exercisable				Weighted-average exercise price
2006 Plan		$1.45 - $2.65			530,000				5.1			$	1.73				488,698			$	1.75
2016 Plan		$1.20 - $1.48			1,113,000				9.7			$	1.27				-
					1,643,000				8.3			$	1.42

 

 

The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2017 and 2016 approximated $0.00 and $0.67 per share respectively. The weighted average grant date fair values of options granted during the year ended December 31, 2017 was $1.27 per share. There were no options granted during the year ended December 31, 2016. Such fair values were estimated using the Black-Scholes stock option pricing model and the following weighted average assumptions.

 

		2017				2016
Expected life			8.0				-
Estimated volatility			57	%			-
Risk-free interest rate			1.94	%			-
Dividends		$	0.04				-

 

The expected life assumption is based on the average historical life of outstanding options; the expected volatility is based on the historical volatility. The expected life of options granted is based on changes in the vesting terms and the contractual life of current option grants compared to the Company’s historical grants; and the risk-free interest rate is based on the rate for U.S. Treasury bonds with similar terms as the options.

 

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during 2017 and 2016 was $12,150 and $4,060, respectively.

 

Note 5 - Commitments and Contingencies

 

Operating Leases

 

The Company leases its facilities under non-cancelable operating lease agreements that expire at various dates through 2023. Certain leases require the payment of property taxes, utilities and insurance, and provide options to extend the lease term.

 

Our principal executive, administrative, manufacturing and engineering operations are located in a 15,800 square foot leased facility in Milpitas, California under a lease scheduled to expire on April 30, 2023. An additional 12,600 square feet are leased for warehouse, office and expansion space in an adjacent building included in this same lease.

 

As of December 31, 2017, future minimum lease payments are as follows:

 

Year ending
December 31,
2018			321,028
2019			347,139
2020			357,553
2021			368,279
2022			379,328
2023			127,682
		$	1,901,009

 

Rent expense was approximately $384,000 in 2017 and $375,000 in 2016, which is apportioned to the various departments in the accompanying statements of operations.

 

Legal

 

The Company may be involved from time to time in various claims, lawsuits, disputes with third parties, actions involving allegations or discrimination or breach of contracts actions incidental to the normal course of operations. The Company is currently not involved in any such litigation that management believes could have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations.

 

Note 6 – Line-of-Credit

 

As of December 31, 2017, the Company has a $2,000,000 line of credit, secured by substantially all assets of the Company, and bears interest at the bank’s prime rate (3.25% at December 31, 2017) less 0.5% or LIBOR plus 2.5%. The line of credit matures on August 1, 2018 and requires compliance with certain financial covenants including the requirement to maintain a quick ratio of 1.3:1.0 and to satisfy quarterly profitability test. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants and the line of credit had no outstanding balance.

 

 

Note 7 - Income Taxes

 

The components of income tax expense consist of the following for the years ended December 31:

 

		2017				2016
Current:
Federal		$	-			$	128,926
State			3,853				54,747
Total current			3,853				183,673
Deferred:
Federal			43,567				(9,471	)
State			(8,725	)			(7,549	)
Total deferred			34,842				(17,020	)
Total Income Tax		$	38,695			$	166,653

 

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had no federal or state net operating loss carry-forwards.

 

The tax effects of temporary differences that gave rise to significant portions of net deferred tax assets at December 31, 2017 and 2016 are as follows:

 

		2017				2016
Accruals and reserves		$	144,160			$	233,398
State taxes			1,288				16,569
NOL and Credit Carrybacks			17,190				-
Property, plant and equipment			(36,315	)			(88,802	)
Deferred Tax Assets, net			126,323				161,165

 

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which temporary differences become deductible or includable in taxable income. Management considers projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based upon the level of historical income and projections for future taxable income over the periods to which the deferred tax assets are applicable, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of these deductible differences.

 

The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions as required by FASB ASC Topic 740. FASB ASC Topic 740 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements by defining the criterion that an individual tax position must meet for any part of the benefit of that position to be recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements. The accounting standard prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return as well as guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. No significant income tax uncertainties have been identified by the Company and, therefore, the Company recognized no adjustment for unrecognized income tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

 

 

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”) that instituted fundamental changes to the taxation of multinational corporations. The Tax Act includes changes to the taxation of foreign earnings by implementing a dividend exemption system, expansion of the current anti-deferral rules, a minimum tax on low-taxed foreign earnings and new measures to deter base erosion. The Tax Act also includes a permanent reduction in the corporate tax rate to 21%, repeal of the corporate alternative minimum tax, expensing of capital investment, and limitation of the deduction for interest expense. Furthermore, as part of the transition to the new tax system, a one-time transition tax is imposed on a U.S. shareholder’s historical undistributed earnings of foreign affiliates. Although the Tax Act is generally effective January 1, 2018, GAAP requires recognition of the tax effects of new legislation during the reporting period that includes the enactment date, which was December 22, 2017.

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to reverse. As a result of the reduction in the U.S. corporate income tax rate, we revalued our ending deferred tax assets at December 31, 2017. This revaluation resulted in additional expense of approximately $42,000 to income tax expense and a corresponding reduction in the deferred tax asset. The other provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

  

The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examination for years before 2013 and state and local tax examinations before 2012. However, to the extent allowed by law, the tax authorities may have the right to examine prior periods where net operating losses were generated and carried forward, and make adjustments up to the amount of the net operating loss carry-forward amount.

 

The total income tax expense differs from the amounts computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 34% as follows:

 

		2017				2016
Computed tax (benefit) expense		$	(115,227	)		$	25,746
Nondeductible items and other			118,860				110,277
Current and deferred state taxes, net of federal benefit			(6,957	)			30,630
Remeasurement of deferred taxes - TCJ Act			42,019				—
Total Income Tax Expense		$	38,695			$	166,653

 

Note 8 - Segment Reporting

 

The Company’s chief operating decision-maker is the Company’s CEO. The CEO reviews financial information presented on an entity-level basis for purposes of making operating decisions and assessing financial performance. The entity-level financial information is identical to the information presented in the accompanying statements of operations. Therefore, the Company has determined that it operates in a single operating segment: Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions.

 

In addition, the CEO reviews the following information on revenues by product category.

 

		2016				2016
Gas detection devices		$	8,459,065			$	8,159,916
Environmental controllers			1,261,812				599,492
FieldServers			10,049,281				10,425,034
		$	19,770,158			$	19,184,442

 

The Company sells its products to companies located primarily in the United States. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, sales to international customers were 21% and 24%, respectively.