blondertongue10k.htm
FORM
10-K
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
[X]
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ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007, OR
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[ ]
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TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ___________________ to
_________________
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Commission
file number: 1-14120
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES,
INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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52-1611421
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(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
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(I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.)
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One
Jake Brown Road, Old Bridge, New Jersey
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08857
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(Address
of principal executive offices)
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(Zip
Code)
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Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code: (732) 679-4000
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title
of each class
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Name
of Exchange on which registered
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Common
Stock, Par Value $.001
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American
Stock Exchange
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Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes No
X
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes No
X
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days. Yes X No
Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best
of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [ ]
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting
company. See definition of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated
filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act. (Check one)
Large
accelerated filer __
Non-accelerated
filer __
(do
not check if a smaller reporting company)
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Accelerated
filer __
Smaller
reporting company X
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Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes No X
The
aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant
as of June 30, 2007: $6,302,376
Number of
shares of common stock, par value $.001, outstanding as of March 20, 2008:
6,222,252.
Documents
incorporated by reference:
Certain
portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting
of Stockholders to be held on May 21, 2008 (which is expected to be filed with
the Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the registrant’s last
fiscal year) are incorporated by reference into Part III of this
report.
Forward-Looking
Statements
In
addition to historical information, this Annual Report of Blonder Tongue
Laboratories, Inc. (“Blonder
Tongue” or the “Company”) contains
forward-looking statements relating to such matters as anticipated financial
performance, business prospects, technological developments, new products,
research and development activities and similar matters. The Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for
forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe
harbor, the Company notes that a variety of factors could cause the Company’s
actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results
or other expectations expressed in the Company’s forward-looking
statements. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the
operation, performance, development and results of the Company’s business
include, but are not limited to, those matters discussed herein in the sections
entitled Item 1 - Business, Item 1A - Risk Factors, Item 3 - Legal Proceedings
and Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations. The words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”,
“project” and similar expressions identify forward-looking
statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s analysis only as of
the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly
revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that
arise after the date hereof. Readers should carefully review the risk
factors described herein and in other documents the Company files from time to
time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
PART
I
ITEM
1. BUSINESS
Introduction
Overview
Since
it’s founding in 1950, Blonder Tongue has been an innovative designer and
manufacturer of products for the cable television industry, primarily focused on
the development of technology for niche cable television
applications. This focus has given the Company a leading position in
the private cable market. During the past several years the
differentiation between the franchised and private cable markets has blurred due
to the consumer’s increased expectations for cutting edge services such as
high-speed data, telephony and digital video offerings. In response,
the Company has expanded its strategic thrust to accommodate both the franchised
and private cable markets and is a provider of integrated network solutions to
all of the cable markets that the Company serves, including the multi-dwelling
unit (“MDU”) market, the
lodging/hospitality market and the institutional market which includes
hospitals, prisons and schools.
The cable
market has reacted quickly to consumer demands for additional services by
integrating multiple technologies into their existing networks to provide
consumers high-speed data and telephony in addition to video
offerings. Telephone companies have also entered this competitive
arena by upgrading their existing distribution networks, enabling them to be
able to provide video and high-speed data in addition to telephony
offerings. As a result of these market forces, the lodging and
institutional markets are now playing catch up in order to meet consumers’
expectations that these services be available, and are installing new
infrastructure and upgrading existing networks. This is a significant area of
opportunity for the Company to market and sell it’s core product
line.
Most of
the changes in the market segments that the Company serves have recently been
focused on the transition to digital technologies. One of the most
promising areas is Internet Protocol Television (“IPTV”), an emerging technology
that allows viewers to access broadcast network channels, subscriber services
and movies-on-demand. This technology is already experiencing full
scale commercialization in international markets such as Hong Kong, Italy and
France. The worldwide market projections are impressive with an estimated 62
million subscribers subscribing to IPTV services by 2010. The Company
has negotiated license agreements that will provide entry into this promising
market, and is currently developing products to meet the needs of customers in
the markets that it serves.
Recent
Developments
During
2007 the Company continued to advance the implementation of its current
strategic plan in an effort to maximize shareholder value. The
Company’s strategic plan consists of the following:
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focusing
on the efficient operation of its core
business,
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realigning
its leadership structure, and
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implementation
of an initiative to have high volume products manufactured in the People’s
Republic of China (“PRC”) in order to
substantially reduce the Company’s manufacturing costs, obtain competitive
advantage in the markets served and facilitate a more aggressive marketing
program.
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The
Company’s manufacturing initiative in the PRC entails a combination of contract
manufacturing agreements and purchasing agreements with key Chinese
manufacturers that can most fully meet the Company’s needs. The
Company has entered into a manufacturing agreement with a major contract
manufacturer in the PRC that will govern the terms of its manufacture of certain
of the Company’s high volume and complex products upon a purchase order being
submitted by the Company. The Company is also negotiating with other
PRC-based contract manufacturers with respect to other products. It
is anticipated this transition will relate to products representing a
significant portion of the Company’s net sales and is being implemented in
phases over the next several years, with the first products already transitioned
during the fourth quarter of 2007.
In
December 2007, the Company entered into an agreement to provide manufacturing,
research and development and product support to Buffalo City Center Leasing, LLC
(“Buffalo City”) for an
electronic on-board recorder that Buffalo City is producing for Turnpike Global
Technologies, LLC. Although this agreement has not yet contributed
significantly to the Company’s revenues, it is anticipated that this three-year
agreement will provide up to $4 million in revenue for the Company. A
director of the Company is also the managing member and vice president of
Buffalo City and may be deemed to control the entity which owns fifty percent
(50%) of the membership interests of Buffalo City.
On
December 15, 2006, the Company completed the divesture of its wholly-owned
subsidiary, BDR Broadband, LLC (“BDR”) through the sale of all
of the issued and outstanding membership interests of BDR to DirecPath Holdings,
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("DirecPath"), which is a joint
venture between Hicks Holdings LLC and The DIRECTV Group, Inc. The
aggregate sale price was approximately $3.1 million resulting in a gain of
approximately $880,000 on the sale, after certain post-closing
adjustments.
In
addition, in connection with the divestiture transaction, on December 15, 2006,
the Company entered into a Purchase and Supply Agreement with DirecPath, LLC, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of DirecPath ("DPLLC"), pursuant to which
DPLLC will purchase $1,630,000 of products from the Company, subject to certain
adjustments, over a period of three years. DPLLC purchased $404,000
of equipment from the Company in 2007. It is also anticipated that
the Company will provide DirecPath with certain systems engineering and
technical services.
BDR
commenced operations in June 2002, when it acquired certain rights-of-entry for
MDU cable television and high-speed data systems (the “Systems”) from Verizon Media
Ventures, Inc. and GTE Southwest Incorporated. As a result of BDR
acquiring additional rights-of-entry, at the time of the divesture, BDR owned
Systems for approximately 25 MDU properties in the State of Texas, representing
approximately 3,300 MDU cable television subscribers and 8,400
passings. The Systems were upgraded with approximately $81,000 and
$799,000 of interdiction and other products of the Company during 2006 and 2005,
respectively. During 2004, two Systems located outside of Texas were
sold. While the Company continued to invest in and expand BDR’s
business, in August 2006 the Company determined to seek a buyer for BDR and exit
the business of operating Systems in Texas to allow the Company to pursue
alternative strategic opportunities. In October 2006, several months
prior to the divestiture of BDR, the Company acquired (for nominal
consideration) the 10% minority interest that had been owned by Priority
Systems, LLC.
On
December 14, 2006, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Blonder Tongue
Investment Company, completed the sale of selected patents, patent applications,
provisional patent applications and related foreign patents and applications
(“Patents”) to Moonbeam
L.L.C. for net proceeds of $2,000,000. In connection with the sale,
the Company has retained a non-exclusive, royalty free, non-sublicenseable,
worldwide right and license to use the Patents to continue to develop,
manufacture, use, sell, distribute and otherwise exploit all of the Company’s
products currently protected under the Patents. These products
include some of the Company’s interdiction lines in the Addressable Subscriber
category of equipment.
On June
30, 2006, the Company completed the divesture of its 50% ownership interest in
Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC (“BTT”). Under the
terms of a Share Exchange and Settlement Agreement ("Share Exchange Agreement")
with BTT and certain related parties of BTT, the Company transferred to BTT its
49 membership shares of BTT in exchange for BTT transferring back to the Company
the 500,000 shares of the Company's
common
stock that were previously contributed by the Company to the capital of
BTT. Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, the Company granted
BTT a non-transferable equipment purchase credit in the aggregate amount of
$400,000 (subject to certain off-sets), which was exercised in full by September
30, 2006. BTT agreed to change its corporate name within 90 days
after closing and cease using any intellectual property of the Company,
including the names “Blonder,” “Blonder Tongue” or “BT.” As part of
the transaction, certain other non-material agreements among BTT and the Company
were also terminated.
The
Company acquired its 50% ownership interest in BTT as part of a series of
agreements entered into in March 2003 and September 2003. Through its
ownership interest in BTT, the Company was involved in providing a proprietary
telephone system suited to MDU development and was entitled to receive
incremental revenues associated with direct sales of telephony products,
however, revenues derived from sales of such telephony products and services
were not material. In addition to the Company’s interest in BTT, the
Company also acquired a 50% economic interest in NetLinc Communications, LLC
(“NetLinc”) as part of
the same series of agreements. The Company continues to hold its
interest in NetLinc, which owns patents, proprietary technology and know-how for
certain telephony products that allow Competitive Local Exchange Carriers
(“CLECs”) to
competitively provide voice service to MDUs. While NetLinc’s
intellectual property could be further developed and used in the future to
manufacture and sell telephony products, the Company has no present intention to
do so.
On
February 27, 2006 (the “Effective Date”), the Company
entered into a series of agreements related to its MegaPort™ line
of high-speed data communications products. As a result of these
agreements, the Company has expanded its distribution territory, favorably
amended certain pricing and volume provisions and extended by 10 years the term
of the distribution agreement for its MegaPort™ product
line. These agreements also require the Company to guaranty payment
due by Shenzhen Junao Technology Company Ltd. (“Shenzhen”), an affiliate of
Master Gain (as defined below) to Octalica, Ltd. (“Octalica”) in connection with
Shenzhen’s purchase of T.M.T.-Third Millennium Technology Limited (“TMT”) from
Octalica. In exchange for this guaranty, MegaPort Technology, LLC
(“MegaPort”), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, obtained an assignable option (the
“Option”) to acquire
substantially all of the assets and assume certain liabilities of TMT on
substantially the same terms as the acquisition of TMT by Shenzhen from
Octalica. The purchase price for TMT and, therefore, the amount and
payment terms guaranteed by the Company is the sum of $383,150 plus an
earn-out. The earn-out will not exceed 4.5% of the net revenues
derived from the sale of certain products during a period of 36 months
commencing after the sale of certain specified quantities of TMT inventory
following the Effective Date. The cash portion of the purchase price
was payable (i) $22,100 on the 120th day
following the Effective Date, (ii) $22,100 on the last day of the twenty-fourth
month following the Effective Date, and (iii) $338,950 commencing upon the later
of (A) the second anniversary of the Effective Date and (B) the date after which
certain volume sales targets for each of the MegaPort™
products have been met, and then only as and to the extent that revenues
are derived from sales of such products. As of the date of the filing
of this report, none of the volume sales targets for these MegaPort products
have been met and, accordingly, no further purchase price payments have been
made. In February 2007, MegaPort sent notice to TMT and Shenzhen of
its election to exercise the Option to acquire substantially all of the assets
of TMT. Shenzhen has not responded to MegaPort’s notice of exercise
of the Option. MegaPort has engaged legal representation in Israel to
explore its options in connection with enforcement of its contractual rights,
but no decisions with respect thereto have been made. Upon
consummation of the acquisition, MegaPort, or its assignee, will pay Shenzhen,
in the same manner and at the same times, cash payments equal to the purchase
price payments due from Shenzhen to Octalica and will assume certain liabilities
of TMT.
On
November 11, 2005, the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Blonder Tongue
Far East, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, entered into a joint
venture agreement (“JV
Agreement”) with Master Gain International Industrial Limited, a Hong
Kong corporation (“Master
Gain”), intending to manufacture products in the PRC. This
joint venture was formed to compete with Far East manufactured products and to
expand market coverage outside North America. On June 9, 2006, the
Company terminated the JV Agreement due to the joint venture's failure to meet
certain quarterly financial milestones as set forth in the JV
Agreement. The inability to meet such financial milestones was caused
by the failure of Master Gain to contribute the $5,850,000 of capital to the
joint venture as required by the JV Agreement and the joint venture's failure to
obtain certain governmental approvals and licenses necessary for the operation
of the joint venture. Following the termination of the JV Agreement,
the Company restructured its strategy for the transition of manufacturing
certain of its products to the PRC, which has resulted in the current contract
manufacturing initiative with certain key Chinese manufacturers as described
above.
The
Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in November
1988 and completed its initial public offering in December 1995.
Strategy
It is a
constant challenge for the Company to stay at the forefront of the technological
requirements of the cable markets that the Company serves, including the MDU,
lodging and institutional markets. Changes and developments in the
manner in which information (whether video, voice or data) is transmitted as
well as the use of alternative compression technologies all require the Company
to continue to develop innovative new products. The Company has added
and intends to continue to add new and innovative products to respond to the
migration from analog to digital signal transmission. In order to
provide products and services that allow integrators and operators to deploy
triple play services of voice, high-speed data and video (both analog and
digital), the Company has added new products to the Digital Video Headend,
High-speed Data and Fiber Optic product lines. These key product
lines are more thoroughly discussed under “Business – Products” beginning on
page 7 below. This evolution of the Company’s product lines will
focus on the increased needs created in the digital space by IPTV, Digital Video
and HDTV signals and integrating these signals into the optical networks of the
future.
In
response to the market pressure to compete with Far East manufactured products
and to expand its market coverage outside North America, the Company has already
entered into a manufacturing agreement with a major contract manufacturer in the
PRC for certain of its high volume and complex products and is seeking
additional strategic contract manufacturing relationships in that country and
elsewhere. The Company believes that this initiative will reduce the
manufacturing costs of its products, with resultant improvement in gross profit
margins. The Company commenced production of products in the PRC
during the fourth quarter of 2007.
The
Company’s principal end-use customers are:
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Cable System Operators (both
franchise and private, as well as cable contractors) that
design, package, install and in most instances operate, upgrade and
maintain the systems they build,
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Lodging
/ Hospitality video and high speed data system operators that specialize
in the Lodging/Hospitality Markets,
and
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Institutional
System Operators that operate, upgrade and maintain the systems that are
in their facilities, or Contractors that install, upgrade and
maintain these systems.
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A key
component of the Company’s strategy is to leverage its reputation across a broad
product line, offering one-stop shop convenience to the cable market customers
it serves and delivering products having a high performance-to-cost
ratio. The Company has historically enjoyed, and continues to enjoy,
a leading market position in the private cable industry, while progressively
making inroads into the franchise cable market. The Company provides
integrated network solutions for the MDU market, the lodging/hospitality market
and the institutional market. As the Company has expanded its market
coverage, however, the distinctions between private cable and franchise cable
have become blurred. For example, the most efficient, highest
revenue-producing private cable systems and small franchise cable systems are
built with the same electronic building blocks. Most of the
electronics required for these systems are available from Blonder
Tongue.
The
Company’s product lines (headend and distribution) must continue to evolve to
maintain the ability to provide all of the electronic equipment necessary to
build small cable systems and much of the equipment needed in larger systems for
the most efficient operation and highest profitability in high density
applications.
Markets
Overview
The
broadband signal distribution industry (involving the high-speed transmission of
television, telephony and internet signals) has been dominated by franchise
cable television and multiple system cable operators (“MSOs”). The
penetration of wireless, direct-broadcast satellite (“DBS”), such as DIRECTV™ and
DISH Network™, in the TV market continues to grow with a combined subscriber
count in excess of 29 million. The Regional Bell Operating Companies
(i.e. Verizon and AT&T) (“RBOC’s”) also compete with the
MSO’s for high-speed data services and are building fiber optic networks, on a
national level, capable of delivering triple play services direct to the home or
to the curb utilizing packet-based, Internet Protocol technology (“IP”). The MSO’s
are
deploying IP for their Video on Demand (“VOD”) services and continue to
expand the reach of fiber optic networks in order to maintain their dominant
position.
The long
term result of these activities will be increased competition for the provision
of all three services and a trend toward delivery of these services through
fiber using IP technology. This major market transition has resulted in
increased consumer expectations, placing the lodging and institutional
markets under pressure to install new infrastructure and upgrade existing
networks. It is not known how long this transition will take but to
remain competitive, the Company must continue to increase its product offerings
for fiber transmission, digital television, IP encoding and decoding and digital
applications.
Cable
Television
Most
cable television operators, both large and small, have built fiber optic
networks with various combinations of fiber optic and coaxial cable to deliver
television signal programming, data and phone services on one drop
cable. Cable television deployment of fiber optic trunk has been
completed in most existing systems. The system architecture being
employed to accomplish the provision of analog video, digital video, HDTV,
high-speed data, VOD and telephone service is a hybrid fiber coaxial (“HFC”) network. In
an HFC network, fiber optic trunk lines connect to nodes which typically feed 50
to 250 subscribers, using coaxial cable.
The
Company believes that most major metropolitan areas will eventually have complex
networks of two or more independent operators interconnecting homes and
multi-dwelling complexes. All of these networks are potential users
of Blonder Tongue’s Analog Video Headend, Digital Video Headend, Fiber Optic and
Addressable products.
Lodging
Competition
among cable operators serving the lodging market to provide more channels, VOD
and enhanced interactivity, has resulted in increased demand for analog, digital
and high definition television system electronics. These systems have
been and continue to be well received in the market, as property owners have
sought additional revenue streams and guests have demanded increased in-room
technology services. The leading system integrators in this market
rely upon outside suppliers for their system electronics and most are Blonder
Tongue customers. These companies and others offer lodging
establishments systems that provide VOD movies with a large selection of
titles. The typical lodging system headend will include as many as 20
to 40 receivers and as many as 60 to 80 modulators, and will be capable of
providing guests with more free channels, VOD for a broad selection of movie
titles, and interactive services.
Most of
the systems with VOD service were initially in large hotels, where the economics
of high channel capacity systems are more easily justified. The
conversion of hotel pay-per-view systems into video-on-demand is
increasing. Smaller hotels and motels are being provided with
video-on-demand as enhanced technology results in reduced headend costs, keeping
the market growth reasonably steady. A current trend in lodging is to
furnish “plug-and-play” high-speed data service to customers and Blonder
Tongue’s MegaPort™ high-speed data product provides the solution for hotel/motel
high-speed data deployment.
Institutional
The
Company identifies the Institutional market as: education campus environments,
correctional facilities and short or long term health service
environments. What all of these seemingly unrelated facilities have
in common is that they all contain private networks that are dependant on either
locally generated or externally sourced video and/or data content. As the
advanced technologies of VOD, HDTV and IPTV permeate the market, these
facilities are embracing these technologies to achieve site specific
goals. The Company has traditionally benefited from a very strong
share of this market with its Analog Video Headend and Distribution
Products. We anticipate that this trend will continue and evolve into
firm adoption of our Digital Video Headend Products, which include HDTV and
Digital Video solutions and our upcoming IPTV platforms.
International
Cable
television service for much of the world is expanding as technological
advancement reduces the cost to consumers. In addition, economic
development in Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe has allowed
construction
of integrated delivery systems that utilize a variety of electronics and
broadband hardware. The pace of growth is difficult to predict, but
as more alternatives become available and television service becomes
increasingly affordable, it is anticipated that more equipment will be placed in
the field. The Company utilizes several distributors in Florida and
within Latin America to serve the Latin American market, although during the
last several years international sales have not materially contributed to the
Company’s revenue base. The Company’s initiative to manufacture
products in the PRC will expand the Company’s capability to manufacture core
products at a more competitive cost and also could lead to the development of
new markets for product sales in the Far East. In connection with any
expansion, however, there are inherent risks of international operations in
general, and operating in the PRC in particular. These risks are
described in more detail under “Risk Factors” below.
Additional
Considerations
The
technological revolution with respect to video, data and voice services
continues at a rapid pace. Cable TV’s QAM video is competing with
DIRECTV™ and EchoStar’s DBS service and cable modems compete with DSL offered by
the RBOC’s. RBOC’s are building national fiber networks and are now
delivering video, data and voice services directly to the home over fiber optic
cable, and voice over IP (“VOIP”) is being offered by
cable companies and others in competition with traditional phone
companies. The Company is also beginning to see the convergence of
data and video communications, wherein computer and television systems
merge. While it is not possible to predict with certainty which
technology will be dominant at any particular point in time, the Company
believes that delivery of services using IP technology will eventually dominate
the delivery systems of the future and the tremendous bandwidth available
through the use of fiber optic cable will eventually be the dominant carrier of
video, voice and data communications signals.
Since the
installed base of United States television sets are for the most part analog
(not digital), direct satellite television, digitally compressed programming and
IP delivery requires headend products or set-top decoding receivers or
converters to convert the transmitted signals back to analog. The
replacement of all television sets with digital sets will be costly and take
many years to complete. The Company believes that for many years to
come, program providers will deliver an analog television signal on standard
channels to subscribers’ television sets using headend products at some
distribution point in their networks or employ decoding receivers at each
television set.
Products
Blonder
Tongue’s products can be separated, according to function, into the several
categories described below:
• Analog Video Headend Products
used by a system operator for signal acquisition, processing and manipulation
for further transmission. Among the products offered by the Company
in this category are satellite receivers, integrated receiver/decoders,
demodulators, modulators, antennas and antenna mounts, amplifiers, equalizers
and processors. The headend is the “brain” of a television signal
distribution system. It is the central location where the
multi-channel signal is initially received, converted and allocated to specific
channels for analog distribution. In some cases, where the signal is
transmitted in encrypted form or digitized and compressed, a receiver will also
be required to decode the signal. Blonder Tongue is a licensee of Motorola,
Inc.’s (“Motorola”)
VideoCipher® and DigiCipher® encryption technologies and integrates their
decoders into integrated receiver/decoder products, where
required. The Company estimates that Analog Video Headend Products
accounted for approximately 49% of the Company’s revenues in each of the three
years 2007, 2006 and 2005.
• Digital Video Headend Products
used by a system operator for acquisition, processing and manipulation of
digital video signals. Blonder Tongue is constantly expanding its
Digital Products offering, which currently includes the QTM line of Transcoders,
Digital QAM Up-converters for data-over-cable applications, Digital High
Definition Television Processors for delivery of HDTV programming and QAM
Modulators. The QTM line is used for economically deploying or adding a
satellite based digital programming tier of standard digital or HDTV digital
programming. The unit transcodes a satellite signal’s modulation from
Quadrature Phase Shift Key (“QPSK”) to Quadrature Amplitude
Modulation (“QAM”) or
from 8PSK (HDTV Format) to QAM for signals received from a satellite
transponder. Since QPSK and 8PSK are optimum for satellite transmission and QAM
is optimum for fiber/coaxial distribution, precious system bandwidth is saved
while the signal maintains its digital form. Building upon the
innovative design
work that
brought about the QTM Transcoders, QAM Up-converters and HDTV Processors, the
Company launched the AQD Series of Agile QAM Demodulators. The AQD
Series allows for the reception and demodulation of QAM digital, Off-air
Standard Digital or Off-air HDTV signals. This enables system
operators in all of the Company’s primary market to benefit from digital
transmission, while preserving their analog distribution networks and viewing
sites long after the FCC mandatory transition in 2009. Digital Video Headend
Products continue to expand in all of the Company’s primary markets, bringing
more advanced technology to consumers and operators, and it is expected that
this area will evolve into a major element of the Company’s business in the
future. The Company estimates that Digital Video Headend Products
accounted for approximately 18% of the Company’s revenues in 2007, 16% in 2006
and 13% in 2005.
• Fiber Products used to
transmit the output of a cable system headend to multiple locations using fiber
optic cable. Among the products offered are optical transmitters,
receivers, couplers and splitters. These products convert RF
frequencies to light (or infrared) frequencies and launch them on optical
fiber. At each receiver site, an optical receiver is used to convert
the signals back to normal VHF frequencies for distribution to
subscribers. While sales of products in this category have not
historically contributed significantly to the Company’s revenues, they are
expected to increase due to new product innovations that the Company will be
bringing to market in 2008.
• Distribution Products used to
permit signals to travel from the headend to their ultimate destination in a
home, apartment unit, hotel room, office or other terminal location along a
distribution network of fiber optic or coaxial cable. Among the
products offered by the Company in this category are line extenders, broadband
amplifiers, directional taps, splitters and wall taps. In cable
television systems, the distribution products are either mounted on exterior
telephone poles or encased in pedestals, vaults or other security
devices. In private cable systems the distribution system is
typically enclosed within the walls of the building (if a single structure) or
added to an existing structure using various techniques to hide the coaxial
cable and devices. The non-passive devices within this category are
designed to ensure that the signal distributed from the headend is of sufficient
strength when it arrives at its final destination to provide high quality
audio/video images. The Company estimates that distribution products
accounted for approximately 20% of the Company’s revenues in 2007, 19% in 2006
and 20% in 2005.
• Addressable Products used to
control access to programming at the subscriber’s location. The
products offered in this category are Interdiction and Addressable Multi-Tap
(AMT) products. Interdiction products limit the availability of
programs to subscribers through jamming of particular channels. In
2006, the Company introduced a consumer version of this product, the TV Channel
Blocker Parental Control, which provides local (at the consumer level) control
of the full analog block of channels. AMT products remotely control all access
to programming for a particular subscriber. Sales of these products
have not contributed significantly to the Company’s revenues.
• High-speed Data Products used to provide
Internet access and transfer data over a hybrid fiber/coaxial cable
system. Products in this category include standard DOCSIS cable
modems, DOCSIS/Euro DOCSIS cable modem termination system (“CMTS”), and the MegaPort™
solution for providing broadband Internet access to hospitality environments
& MDUs. The MegaPort™ solution consists of two main components, the Gateway
and the Intelligent Outlets. The Gateway is a broadband Ethernet router or
bridge that establishes a network within a building or community over the
existing coaxial cable system. The Intelligent Outlet serves as the modem, but
is permanently installed in the location to eliminate loss of equipment
associated with churn. Each Gateway can accommodate 64 enabled Outlets and with
a software upgrade, up to 250 outlets. On February 13, 2007, the
Company entered in to a non-exclusive distribution agreement with Motorola, Inc.
for the sales and distribution of Motorola's Connected Home Solutions voice and
data products to the private cable, lodging and institutional markets in the
United States. Products feature the industry leading Motorola SurfBoard® 5101
cable modem and the BSR2000 (Broadband Services Router) compact CMTS featuring
DOCSIS® 2.0 qualification. The BSR2000 is a compact, high-performance CMTS with
1 downstream and 4 upstream channels that is ideal for small or medium sized
distribution systems. The unit offers advanced functionality,
allowing smaller cable operators to efficiently migrate to DOCSIS or EuroDOCSIS
2.0 while simultaneously increasing the performance of their existing base of
DOCSIS 1.0 and 1.1 cable modems. This is a relatively new category of
products for the Company and has not as yet contributed significantly to the
Company’s revenues.
• Telephony Products used to
provide expanded telephone service to MDU subscribers. These products are
designed to offer carrier class telephone service to residences using existing
twisted pair wires. Service will be fully transparent to subscribers with
advanced calling features such as 911, Caller ID, Call Waiting Plus, and
Three-way Calling available and bundled at a flat rate to subscribers. The
existing twisted-pair telephone wiring infrastructure is utilized to provide
dial tone at a resident’s premises using any standard telephone. The Company
does not have a significant history of sales of telephony products, having only
acquired the distribution rights in 2003 in connection with its past venture
efforts in BTT. Sales volume has been lower than originally
anticipated and the recent divesture by the Company of its interest in BTT is
likely to further diminish the Company’s sales prospects for these
products. It is not presently anticipated that sales of telephony
products will become a significant source of revenue for the
Company.
• Microwave Products used to
transmit voice, analog video, digital video and data signals to multiple
locations using point-to-point communication links in the 18 GHz range of
frequencies. The company offers the full line of products required to
construct and maintain these point-to-point, 18 GHz communication
links. While microwave products will continue to be sold to maintain
existing systems, the Company does not anticipate that these products will
contribute significantly to the Company’s revenues.
• Test Products used for
measuring signals in the Headend and Distribution. Among the products
offered by the Company in this category are Analog and Digital QPSK Analyzers,
Palm Tops Analog and Digital Analyzers and Signal Level Meters. While
the Company expects to continue selling test products to meet the needs of
customers, the Company does not anticipate that these products will contribute
significantly to the Company’s revenues.
The
Company will modify its products to meet specific customer
requirements. Typically, these modifications are minor and do not
materially alter the functionality of the products. Thus, the
inability of a customer to accept such products does not generally result in the
Company being otherwise unable to sell such products to other
customers.
Research
and Product Development
The
markets served by Blonder Tongue are characterized by technological change, new
product introductions, and evolving industry standards. To compete
effectively in this environment, the Company must engage in ongoing research and
development in order to (i) create new products, (ii) expand the frequency range
of existing products in order to accommodate customer demand for greater channel
capacity, (iii) license new technology, and (iv) acquire products incorporating
technology that could not otherwise be developed quickly enough using internal
resources. Research and development projects are often initially
undertaken at the request of and in an effort to address the particular needs of
the Company’s customers and customer prospects with the expectation or promise
of substantial future orders from such customers or customer
prospects. In the new product development process, the vast
experience of the Company’s Technical Services Group is leveraged to ensure the
highest level of suitability and widest acceptance in the
marketplace. Products tend to be developed in a functional building
block approach that allows for different combinations of blocks to generate new
relevant products as changes in the market demand. Additional research and
development efforts are also continuously underway for the purpose of enhancing
product quality and engineering lower production costs. For the
acquisition of new technologies, the Company may rely upon technology licenses
from third parties. The Company will also license technology if it can obtain
technology quicker, or more cost-effectively from third parties than it could
otherwise develop on its own, or if the desired technology is proprietary to a
third party. There were 16 employees in the research and development
department of the Company at December 31, 2007. The Company spent
$1,797,000, $1,634,000 and $1,552,000 on research and development expenses for
the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
Marketing
and Sales
Blonder
Tongue markets and sells its products worldwide primarily to the following
markets: the MDU market, the lodging market and the institutional
market. Sales are made directly to customers by the Company’s
internal sales force, as well as through a few domestic stocking distributors
(which accounted for approximately 54% of the Company’s revenues for fiscal
2007). These distributors serve multiple markets. Direct
sales to cable operators and system integrators accounted for approximately 22%
of the Company’s revenues for fiscal 2007.
The
Company’s sales and marketing function is predominantly performed by its
internal sales force. Should it be deemed necessary, the Company may
retain independent sales representatives in particular geographic areas or
targeted to specific customer prospects or target market
opportunities. The Company’s internal sales force consists of 22
employees, which currently includes 10 salespersons in Old Bridge, New Jersey,
one salesperson in each of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Cudahy,
Wisconsin, and Austin, TX and 9 sales-support personnel at the Company
headquarters in Old Bridge, New Jersey.
The
Company’s standard customer payment terms are 2%-10, net 30
days. From time to time, when circumstances warrant, such as a
commitment to a large blanket purchase order, the Company will extend payment
terms beyond its standard payment terms.
The
Company has several marketing programs to support the sale and distribution of
its products. Blonder Tongue participates in industry trade shows and
conferences. The Company also publishes technical articles in trade
and technical journals, distributes sales and product literature and has an
active public relations plan to ensure complete coverage of Blonder Tongue’s
products and technology by editors of trade journals. The Company
provides system design engineering for its customers, maintains extensive
ongoing communications with many original equipment manufacturer customers and
provides one-on-one demonstrations and technical seminars to potential new
customers. Blonder Tongue supplies sales and applications support,
product literature and training to its sales representatives and
distributors. The management of the Company travels extensively,
identifying customer needs and meeting potential customers.
Customers
Blonder
Tongue has a broad customer base, which in 2007 consisted of approximately 467
active accounts. Approximately 58%, 50%, and 48% of the Company’s
revenues in fiscal years 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively, were derived from
sales of products to the Company’s five largest customers. In 2007,
2006 and 2005, sales to Toner Cable Equipment, Inc. accounted for approximately
23%, 20% and 17% respectively of the Company’s revenues. There can be
no assurance that any sales to these entities, individually or as a group, will
reach or exceed historical levels in any future period. However, the
Company anticipates that these customers will continue to account for a
significant portion of the Company’s revenues in future periods, although none
of them is obligated to purchase any specified amount of products or to provide
the Company with binding forecasts of product purchases for any future
period.
The
complement of leading customers tends to vary over time as the most efficient
and better financed integrators grow more rapidly than others. The
Company believes that many integrators will grow rapidly, and as such the
Company’s success will depend in part on the viability of those customers and on
the Company’s ability to maintain its position in the overall marketplace by
shifting its emphasis to those customers with the greatest growth and growth
prospects. Any substantial decrease or delay in sales to one or more
of the Company’s leading customers, the financial failure of any of these
entities, or the Company’s inability to develop and maintain solid relationships
with the integrators which may replace the present leading customers, would have
a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial
condition.
The
Company’s revenues are derived primarily from customers in the continental
United States, however, the Company also derives revenues from customers outside
the continental United States, primarily in Canada and to a more limited extent,
in underdeveloped countries. Television service is less developed in
many international markets, particularly Latin America, Eastern Europe and Asia,
creating opportunity for those participants who offer quality products at a
competitive price. Sales to customers outside of the United States
represented approximately 2%, 6% and 6% of the Company’s revenues in fiscal
years 2007, 2006 and 2005 respectively. All of the Company’s
transactions with customers located outside of the continental United States are
denominated in U.S. dollars, therefore, the Company has no material foreign
currency transactions. In connection with the Company’s initiatives
in the PRC, the Company may have foreign currency transactions and may be
subject to various currency exchange control programs related to its PRC
operations. See Risk Factors below for more detail on the risk of
foreign operations.
Manufacturing
and Suppliers
Blonder
Tongue’s manufacturing operations are presently located at the Company’s
headquarters in Old Bridge, New Jersey. The Company’s manufacturing
operations are vertically integrated and consist principally of
the
assembly and testing of electronic assemblies built from fabricated parts,
printed circuit boards and electronic devices and the fabrication from raw sheet
metal of chassis and cabinets for such assemblies. Management
continues to implement improvements to the manufacturing process to increase
production volume and reduce product cost, including logistics modifications on
the factory floor, an increased use of surface mount, axial lead and radial lead
robotics to place electronic components on printed circuit boards, a continuing
program of circuit board redesign to make more products compatible with robotic
insertion equipment and an increased integration in machining and
fabrication. All of these efforts are consistent with and part of the
Company’s strategy to provide its customers with high performance-to-cost ratio
products. The Company has also entered into a manufacturing agreement
with a major contract manufacturer in the PRC that governs the terms of its
manufacture of certain of the Company’s high volume and complex products upon a
purchase order being submitted by the Company. The Company is also
negotiating with other PRC-based contract manufacturers with respect to other
products. The Company commenced production of certain products in the
PRC during the fourth quarter of 2007. If successful, the Company may
shift a material portion of its manufacturing operations to the PRC in order to
maximize manufacturing and operational efficiencies.
Outside
contractors supply standard components, etch-printed circuit boards and
electronic subassemblies to the Company’s specifications. While the
Company generally purchases electronic parts which do not have a unique source,
certain electronic component parts used within the Company’s products are
available from a limited number of suppliers and can be subject to temporary
shortages because of general economic conditions and the demand and supply for
such component parts. If the Company were to experience a temporary
shortage of any given electronic part, the Company believes that alternative
parts could be obtained or system design changes
implemented. However, in such situations the Company may experience
temporary reductions in its ability to ship products affected by the component
shortage. On an as-needed basis, the Company purchases several
products from sole suppliers for which alternative sources are not available,
such as the DigiCipher® encryption systems manufactured by Motorola, which are
standard encryption methodologies employed on U.S. C-Band and Ku-Band
transponders, EchoStar digital receivers for delivery of DISH Network™
programming, and Hughes digital satellite receivers for delivery of DIRECTV™
programming. An inability to timely obtain sufficient quantities of certain of
these components would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operating
results. The Company does not have an agreement with any sole source
supplier requiring the supplier to sell a specified volume of components to the
Company.
Blonder
Tongue maintains a quality assurance program which tests samples of component
parts purchased, as well as its finished products, on an ongoing
basis. The Company also tests component and sub-assembly boards
throughout the manufacturing process using commercially available and in-house
built testing systems that incorporate proprietary procedures. The
highest level of quality assurance is maintained through out all aspects of the
design and manufacturing process because of the in-house calibration
program. This program ensures that all test and measurement equipment
that is used in the manufacturing process is calibrated to the same in-house
reference standard on a consistent basis. When all test and
measurement devices are calibrated in this manner, discrepancies are eliminated
between the engineering, manufacturing and quality control departments, thus
increasing operational efficiency and ensuring a high level of product
quality. Blonder Tongue performs final product tests prior to
shipment to customers.
Competition
All
aspects of the Company’s business are highly competitive. The Company
competes with national, regional and local manufacturers and distributors,
including companies larger than Blonder Tongue which have substantially greater
resources. Various manufacturers who are suppliers to the Company
sell directly as well as through distributors into the franchise and private
cable marketplaces. Because of the convergence of the cable,
telecommunications and computer industries and rapid technological development,
new competitors may seek to enter the principal markets served by the
Company. Many of these potential competitors have significantly
greater financial, technical, manufacturing, marketing, sales and other
resources than Blonder Tongue. The Company expects that direct and
indirect competition will increase in the future. Additional
competition could result in price reductions, loss of market share and delays in
the timing of customer orders. The principal methods of competition
are product differentiation, performance, quality, price, terms, service,
technical support and administrative support. The Company believes it
differentiates itself from competitors by continuously offering innovative
products, providing excellent technical service support and delivering a high
performance-to-cost ratio.
Intellectual
Property
The
Company currently holds 11 United States patents and 4 foreign patents none of
which are considered material to the Company’s present operations because they
do not relate to high volume applications. In December 2006, the
Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Blonder Tongue Investment Company, completed
the sale to Moonbeam L.L.C. of a portfolio of selected patents, patent
applications, provisional patent applications and related foreign patents and
applications (“Patents”)
originally acquired in the Company’s acquisition of Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.’s
interdiction business in 1998. Blonder Tongue retained a
non-exclusive, royalty free, non-sublicenseable, worldwide right and license to
use the Patents to continue to develop, manufacture, use, sell, distribute and
otherwise exploit all of the Company’s products currently protected under the
Patents. Because of the rapidly evolving nature of the cable television
industry, the Company believes that its market position as a supplier to cable
integrators derives primarily from its ability to develop a continuous stream of
new products which are designed to meet its customers’ needs and which have a
high performance-to-cost ratio.
The
Company has a registered trademark on “Blonder Tongue®” and also on a “BT®”
logo. In connection with the transactions pursuant to which the
Company acquired an ownership interest in NetLinc and BTT, the Company granted
BTT a non-exclusive, revocable and royalty-free license to use these trademarks
and certain variations of such names. This license was terminated as
part of the 2006 transaction in which the Company divested its interest in
BTT.
The
Company is a licensee of Philips Electronics North America Corporation and its
affiliate, Philips Broadband Networks, Inc., Motorola, Hughes and several
smaller software development companies.
Under the
Philips License Agreements, the Company is granted a non-exclusive license for a
term which expires in 2010, concurrently with the last to expire of the relevant
patents. The Philips License Agreements provide for the payment by
the Company of a one-time license fee and for the payment by the Company of
royalties based upon unit sales of licensed products.
The
Company is a licensee of Motorola relating to Motorola’s VideoCipher® encryption
technology and is also a party to a private label agreement with Motorola
relating to its DigiCipher® technology. Under the VideoCipher®
license agreement, the Company is granted a non-exclusive license under certain
proprietary know-how, to design and manufacture certain licensed products to be
compatible with the VideoCipher® commercial descrambler module. The
VideoCipher® license agreement provides for the payment by the Company of a
one-time license fee for the Company’s first model of licensed product and
additional one-time license fees for each additional model of licensed
product. The VideoCipher® license agreement also provides for the
payment by the Company of royalties based upon unit sales of licensed
products. Under the DigiCipher® private label agreement, the Company
is granted the non-exclusive right to sell DigiCipher® II integrated receiver
decoders bearing the Blonder Tongue name for use in the commercial
market. The DigiCipher® private label agreement provides for the
payment by the Company of a one-time license fee for the Company’s first model
of licensed product and additional one-time license fees for each additional
model of licensed product.
During
1996, the Company entered into several software development and license
agreements for specifically designed controller and interface software necessary
for the operation of the Company’s Video Central™ remote interdiction control
system, which is used for remote operation of VideoMask™ signal jammers
installed at subscriber locations. These licenses are perpetual and
require the payment of a one-time license fee and in one case additional
payments, the aggregate of which are not material.
The
Company relies on a combination of contractual rights and trade secret laws to
protect its proprietary technologies and know-how. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to protect its technologies and know-how
or that third parties will not be able to develop similar technologies and
know-how independently. Therefore, existing and potential competitors
may be able to develop products that are competitive with the Company’s products
and such competition could adversely affect the prices for the Company’s
products or the Company’s market share. The Company also believes
that factors such as the technological and creative skills of its personnel, new
product developments, frequent product enhancements, name recognition and
reliable product maintenance are essential to establishing and maintaining its
competitive position.
Regulation
Private
cable, while in some cases subject to certain FCC licensing requirements, is not
presently burdened with extensive government regulations. Franchise
cable operators had been subject to extensive government regulation pursuant to
the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992, which
among other things provided for rate rollbacks for basic tier cable service,
further rate reductions under certain circumstances and limitations on future
rate increases. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 deregulated many
aspects of franchise cable system operation and opened the door to competition
among cable operators and telephone companies in each of their respective
industries.
In June,
2000, the FCC adopted and issued a Final Rule and Order relating to the
re-designation of portions of the 18GHz-frequency band among the various
currently allocated services. The Final Rules regarding this issue provided for
the grandfathering, for a period of ten years, of certain pre-existing
(installed) terrestrial fixed service operators (“TFSOs”) and TFSOs that had
made application for a license prior to a certain date. In November
2002, the FCC issued a Second Order on Reconsideration (the “Second Order”), which
redefined the use of the 18 GHz microwave band. As a result of the
Second Order, the Company’s existing microwave inventory would have to be
modified to function within the new frequency band. In addition, on
April 19, 2004, the FCC International Bureau released a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (“NPRM”),
Docket 04-143, which among other things, proposes channelization changes for the
18GHz band to further reduce the usable band. The uncertainty
associated with these regulatory issues, coupled with the expanding use of fiber
optic cable due to its inherently superior bandwidth, have resulted in a
significant shift away from microwave products. These products are
not anticipated to be a material portion of the Company’s future
sales.
Environmental
Regulations
The
Company is subject to a variety of Federal, state and local governmental
regulations related to the storage, use, discharge and disposal of toxic,
volatile or otherwise hazardous chemicals used in its manufacturing
processes. The Company did not incur in 2007 and does not anticipate
incurring in 2008 material capital expenditures for compliance with Federal,
state and local environmental laws and regulations. There can be no
assurance, however, that changes in environmental regulations will not result in
the need for additional capital expenditures or otherwise impose additional
financial burdens on the Company. Further, such regulations could
restrict the Company’s ability to expand its operations. Any failure
by the Company to obtain required permits for, control the use of, or adequately
restrict the discharge of, hazardous substances under present or future
regulations could subject the Company to substantial liability or could cause
its manufacturing operations to be suspended.
The
Company has authorization under the New Jersey Pollution Discharge Elimination
System/Discharge to Surface Waters General Industrial Stormwater Permit, Permit
No. NJ0088315. This permit will expire May 31, 2012.
Employees
As of January 10, 2008, the Company
employed approximately 232 people, including 162 in manufacturing, 16 in
research and development, 11 in quality assurance, 22 in sales and marketing,
and 21 in a general and administrative capacity. 109 of the Company’s
employees are members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Union, Local 2066, which has a three year labor agreement with the Company
expiring in February, 2009. The Company considers its relations with
its employees to be good.
The
Company’s business operates in a rapidly changing environment that involves
numerous risks, some of which are beyond the Company’s control. The
following “Risk Factors” highlights some of these risks. Additional
risks not currently known to the Company or that the Company now deems
immaterial may also affect the Company and the value of its common
stock. The risks described below, together with all of the other
information included in this report, should be carefully considered in
evaluating our business and prospects. The occurrence of any of the
following risks could harm the Company’s business, financial condition or
results of operations. Solely for purposes
of the
risk factors in this Item 1A, the terms “we”, “our” and “us” refer to Blonder
Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Any
substantial decrease in sales to our largest customer may adversely affect our
results of operations or financial condition.
In 2007,
2006 and 2005, sales to Toner Cable Equipment, Inc. accounted for approximately
23%, 20% and 17%, respectively, of our revenues. There can be no
assurance that any sales to this customer will reach or exceed historical levels
in any future period. However, we anticipate that this customer will
continue to account for a significant portion of our revenues in future periods,
although it is not obligated to purchase any specified amount of products
(beyond outstanding purchase orders) or to provide us with binding forecasts of
product purchases for any future period.
The
complement of leading customers tends to vary over time as the most efficient
and better-financed integrators grow more rapidly than others. We
believe that many integrators will grow rapidly, and, as such, our success will
depend in part on:
•
|
the
viability of those customers;
|
•
|
our
ability to identify those customers with the greatest growth and growth
prospects; and
|
•
|
our
ability to maintain our position in the overall marketplace by shifting
our emphasis to such customers.
|
Any
substantial decrease or delay in sales to one or more of our leading customers,
the financial failure of any of these entities, or our inability to develop
solid relationships with the integrators which may replace the present leading
customers, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and
financial condition.
An
inability to reduce expenses or increase revenues may cause continued net
losses.
We have
had net losses from continuing operations each year since 2002. While
management believes its plans to reduce expenses and increase revenues will
return us to profitability, there can be no assurance that these actions will be
successful. Failure to reduce expenses or increase revenues could
have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial
condition.
A
significant increase to inventory reserves due to inadequate reserves in a prior
period or to an increase in excess or obsolete inventories may adversely affect
our results of operations and financial condition.
We
continually analyze our slow-moving, excess and obsolete
inventories. Based on historical and projected sales volumes and
anticipated selling prices, we establish reserves. If we do not meet
our sales expectations, these reserves are increased. Products that
are determined to be obsolete are written down to net realizable
value. We recorded an increase to our reserve of $314,000, $114,000
and $4,372,000 during 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Although we
believe reserves are adequate and inventories are reflected at net realizable
value, there can be no assurance that we will not have to record additional
inventory reserves in the future. Significant increases to inventory
reserves could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and
financial condition.
An
inability to develop, or acquire the rights to, technology, products or
applications in response to changes in industry standards or customer needs may
reduce our sales and profitability.
Both the
private cable and franchised cable industries are characterized by the
continuing advancement of technology, evolving industry standards and changing
customer needs. To be successful, we must anticipate the evolution of
industry standards and changes in customer needs, through the timely development
and introduction of new products, enhancement of existing products and licensing
of new technology from third parties. Although we depend primarily on
our own research and development efforts to develop new products and
enhancements to our existing products, we have and may continue to seek licenses
for new technology from third parties when we believe that we can obtain such
technology more quickly and/or cost-effectively from such third parties than we
could otherwise develop on our own, or when the desired technology has already
been patented by a third party. There can, however, be no assurance
that new technology or such licenses will be available on terms acceptable to
us. There can be no assurance that:
•
|
we
will be able to anticipate the evolution of industry standards in the
cable television or the communications industry
generally;
|
•
|
we
will be able to anticipate changes in the market and customer
needs;
|
•
|
technologies
and applications under development by us will be successfully developed;
or
|
•
|
successfully
developed technologies and applications will achieve market
acceptance.
|
If we are
unable for technological or other reasons to develop and introduce products and
applications or to obtain licenses for new technologies from third parties in a
timely manner in response to changing market conditions or customer
requirements, our results of operations and financial condition would be
materially adversely affected.
Anticipated
increases in direct and indirect competition with us may have an adverse effect
on our results of operations and financial condition.
All
aspects of our business are highly competitive. We compete with
national, regional and local manufacturers and distributors, including companies
larger than us, which have substantially greater resources. Various
manufacturers who are suppliers to us sell directly as well as through
distributors into the cable television marketplace. Because of the
convergence of the cable, telecommunications and computer industries and rapid
technological development, new competitors may seek to enter the principal
markets served by us. Many of these potential competitors have
significantly greater financial, technical, manufacturing, marketing, sales and
other resources than we have. We expect that direct and indirect
competition will increase in the future. Additional competition could
have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial
condition through:
•
|
delays
in the timing of customer orders;
and
|
•
|
an
inability to increase our penetration into the cable television
market.
|
Our
sales and profitability may suffer due to any substantial decrease or delay in
capital spending by the cable infrastructure operators that we serve in the MDU,
lodging and institutional cable markets.
The vast
majority of our revenues in fiscal years 2007, 2006 and 2005 came from sales of
our products for use by cable infrastructure operators. Demand for
our products depends to a large extent upon capital spending on private cable
systems and specifically by private cable operators for constructing,
rebuilding, maintaining or upgrading their systems. Capital spending
by private cable operators and, therefore, our sales and profitability, are
dependent on a variety of factors, including
•
|
access
by private cable operators to financing for capital
expenditures;
|
•
|
demand
for their cable services;
|
•
|
availability
of alternative video delivery technologies;
and
|
•
|
general
economic conditions.
|
In
addition, our sales and profitability may in the future be more dependent on
capital spending by traditional franchise cable system operators as well as by
new entrants to this market planning to over-build existing cable system
infrastructures, or constructing, rebuilding, maintaining and upgrading their
systems. There can be no assurance that system operators in private
cable or franchise cable will continue capital spending for constructing,
rebuilding, maintaining, or upgrading their systems. Any substantial
decrease or delay in capital spending by private cable or franchise cable
operators would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and
financial condition.
Any
significant casualty to our facility in Old Bridge, New Jersey may cause a
lengthy interruption to our business operations.
We
operate out of one manufacturing facility in Old Bridge, New Jersey (the “Old Bridge
Facility”). While we maintain a limited amount of business
interruption insurance, a casualty that results in a lengthy
interruption
of the ability to manufacture at, or otherwise use, that facility would have a
material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial
condition.
Our
dependence on certain third party suppliers could create an inability for us to
obtain component products not otherwise available or to do so only at increased
prices.
We
purchase several products from sole suppliers for which alternative sources are
not available, such as certain components of EchoStar’s digital satellite
receiver decoders, which are specifically designed to work with the DISH
Network™, and certain components of Hughes Network Systems digital satellite
receivers which are specifically designed to work with DIRECTV®
programming. Our results of operations and financial condition could
be materially adversely affected by:
•
|
an
inability to obtain sufficient quantities of these
components;
|
•
|
our
receipt of a significant number of defective
components;
|
•
|
an
increase in component prices; or
|
•
|
our
inability to obtain lower component prices in response to competitive
pressures on the pricing of our
products.
|
Our
existing and proposed international sales and operations subject us to the risks
of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, changes in foreign
telecommunications standards, and unfavorable political, regulatory, labor and
tax conditions in other countries.
Sales to
customers outside of the United States represented approximately 2%, 6% and 6%
of our revenues in fiscal years 2007, 2006 and 2005,
respectively. Such sales are subject to certain risks such
as:
•
|
changes
in foreign government regulations and telecommunications
standards;
|
•
|
export
license requirements;
|
•
|
capital
and exchange control programs;
|
•
|
fluctuations
in foreign currency exchange rates;
|
•
|
difficulties
in staffing and managing foreign operations;
and
|
•
|
political
and economic instability.
|
Fluctuations
in currency exchange rates could cause our products to become relatively more
expensive to customers in a particular country, leading to a reduction in sales
or profitability in that country. There can be no assurance that
sales to customers outside the United States will reach or exceed historical
levels in the future, or that international markets will continue to develop or
that we will receive additional contracts to supply our products for use in
systems and equipment in international markets. Our results of
operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected if
international markets do not continue to develop, we do not continue to receive
additional contracts to supply our products for use in systems and equipment in
international markets or our international sales are affected by the other risks
of international operations.
Our
contract manufacturing in the PRC may subject us to the risks of unfavorable
political, regulatory, legal and labor conditions in the PRC.
During
the fourth quarter of 2007, we began manufacturing and assembling some of our
products in the People’s Republic of China, or PRC, under a contract
manufacturing arrangement with a certain key Chinese manufacturer. In
addition, we may increase the amount of revenues we derive from sales to
customers outside the United States, including sales in the PRC. Our
future operations and earnings may be adversely affected by the risks related
to, or any other problems arising from, having our products manufactured in the
PRC, including those risks described in the preceding risk
factor. Although the PRC has a large and growing economy, its
potential economic, political, legal and labor developments entail uncertainties
and risks. In the event of any changes that adversely
affect
our ability to manufacture in the PRC after products have been successfully
transitioned out of the United States, our business will suffer.
Shifting
our operations between regions may entail considerable expense.
Over time
we may shift a material portion of our manufacturing operations to the PRC in
order to maximize manufacturing and operational efficiency. This
could result in reducing our domestic operations in the future, which in turn
could entail significant one-time earnings charges to account for severance,
equipment write-offs or write downs and moving expenses.
Competitors
may develop products that are similar to, and compete with, our products due to
our limited proprietary protection.
We
possess limited patent or registered intellectual property rights with respect
to our technology. We rely on a combination of contractual rights and
trade secret laws to protect our proprietary technology and
know-how. There can be no assurance that we will be able to protect
our technology and know-how or that third parties will not be able to develop
similar technology independently. Therefore, existing and potential
competitors may be able to develop similar products which compete with our
products. Such competition could adversely affect the prices for our
products or our market share and could have a material adverse effect upon our
results of operations and financial condition.
Patent
infringement claims against us or our customers, whether or not successful, may
cause us to incur significant costs.
While we
do not believe that our products (including products and technologies licensed
from others) infringe the proprietary rights of any third parties, there can be
no assurance that infringement or invalidity claims (or claims for
indemnification resulting from infringement claims) will not be asserted against
us or our customers. Damages for violation of third party proprietary
rights could be substantial, in some instances damages are trebled, and could
have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results
of operation. Regardless of the validity or the successful assertion
of any such claims, we would incur significant costs and diversion of resources
with respect to the defense thereof which could have a material adverse effect
on our financial condition and results of operations. If we are
unsuccessful in defending any claims or actions that are asserted against us or
our customers, we may seek to obtain a license under a third party’s
intellectual property rights. There can be no assurance, however,
that under such circumstances, a license would be available under reasonable
terms or at all. The failure to obtain a license to a third party’s
intellectual property rights on commercially reasonable terms could have a
material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial
condition.
Any
increase in governmental regulation of the cable markets that we serve,
including the MDU, lodging and institutional markets, may have an adverse effect
on our results of operations and financial condition.
The MDU,
lodging and institutional markets within the cable industry, which represents
the vast majority of our business, while in some cases subject to certain FCC
licensing requirements, is not presently burdened with extensive government
regulations. It is possible, however, that regulations could be
adopted in the future which impose burdensome restrictions on these cable
markets resulting in, among other things, barriers to the entry of new
competitors or limitations on capital expenditures. Any such
regulations, if adopted, could have a material adverse effect on our results of
operations and financial condition.
Private
cable system operation is not presently burdened with significant government
regulation, other than, in some cases, certain FCC licensing
requirements. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 deregulated many
aspects of franchise cable system operation and opened the door to competition
among cable operators and telephone companies in each of their respective
industries. It is possible, however, that regulations could be
adopted which would re-impose burdensome restrictions on franchise cable
operators resulting in, among other things, the grant of exclusive rights or
franchises within certain geographical areas. In addition, certain
rules adopted by the FCC in June, 2000 (as further revised in 2002 and 2004)
provide for the re-designation of portions of the 18GHz-frequency band among the
various currently allocated services, which rules have shifted demand away from
our microwave products. Any increased regulation of franchise cable
could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial
condition.
Any
increase in governmental environmental regulations or our inability or failure
to comply with existing environmental regulations may cause an adverse effect on
our results of operations or financial condition.
We are
subject to a variety of federal, state and local governmental regulations
related to the storage, use, discharge and disposal of toxic, volatile or
otherwise hazardous chemicals used in our manufacturing processes. We
do not anticipate material capital expenditures during the fiscal year ending
2008 for compliance with federal, state and local environmental laws and
regulations. There can be no assurance, however, that changes in
environmental regulations will not result in the need for additional capital
expenditures or otherwise impose additional financial burdens on
us. Further, such regulations could restrict our ability to expand
our operations. Any failure by us to obtain required permits for,
control the use of, or adequately restrict the discharge of, hazardous
substances under present or future regulations could subject us to substantial
liability or could cause our manufacturing operations to be
suspended. Such liability or suspension of manufacturing operations
could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial
condition.
Losing
the services of our executive officers or our other highly qualified and
experienced employees, or our inability to continue to attract and retain highly
qualified and experienced employees, could adversely affect our
business.
Our
future success depends in large part on the continued service of our key
executives and technical and management personnel, including James A. Luksch,
Chief Executive Officer, and Robert J. Pallé, President and Chief Operating
Officer. Our future success also depends on our ability to continue
to attract and retain highly skilled engineering, manufacturing, marketing and
managerial personnel. The competition for such personnel is intense,
and the loss of key employees, in particular the principal members of our
management and technical staff, could have a material adverse effect on our
results of operations and financial condition.
Our
organizational documents and Delaware state law contain provisions that could
discourage or prevent a potential takeover or change in control of our company
or prevent our stockholders from receiving a premium for their shares of our
Common Stock.
Our board
of directors has the authority to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of undesignated
Preferred Stock, to determine the powers, preferences and rights and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions granted to or imposed upon any
unissued series of undesignated Preferred Stock and to fix the number of shares
constituting any series and the designation of such series, without any further
vote or action by our stockholders. The Preferred Stock could be
issued with voting, liquidation, dividend and other rights superior to the
rights of the Common Stock. Furthermore, such Preferred Stock may
have other rights, including economic rights, senior to the Common Stock, and as
a result, the issuance of such stock could have a material adverse effect on the
market value of the Common Stock. In addition, our Restated
Certificate of Incorporation:
•
|
eliminates
the right of our stockholders to act without a
meeting;
|
•
|
does
not provide cumulative voting for the election of
directors;
|
•
|
does
not provide our stockholders with the right to call special
meetings;
|
•
|
provides
for a classified board of directors;
and
|
•
|
imposes
various procedural requirements which could make it difficult for our
stockholders to affect certain corporate
actions.
|
These
provisions and the Board’s ability to issue Preferred Stock may have the effect
of deterring hostile takeovers or offers from third parties to acquire our
company, preventing our stockholders from receiving a premium for their shares
of our Common Stock, or delaying or preventing changes in control or management
of our company. We are also afforded the protection of Section 203 of
the Delaware General Corporation Law, which could:
•
|
delay
or prevent a change in control of our
company;
|
•
|
impede
a merger, consolidation or other business combination involving us;
or
|
•
|
discourage
a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to
obtain control of our company.
|
Any of
these provisions which may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in
control of our company or could have a material adverse effect on the market
value of our Common Stock.
It
is unlikely that we will pay dividends on our Common Stock.
We intend
to retain all earnings to finance the growth of our business and therefore do
not intend to pay dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable
future. Moreover, our loan agreement with National City Business
Credit prohibits the payment of cash dividends by us on our Common
Stock.
Potential
fluctuations in the stock price for our Common Stock may adversely affect the
market price for our Common Stock.
Factors
such as:
•
|
announcements
of technological innovations or new products by us, our competitors or
third parties;
|
•
|
quarterly
variations in our actual or anticipated results of
operations;
|
•
|
failure
of revenues or earnings in any quarter to meet the investment community’s
expectations; and
|
•
|
market
conditions for cable industry stocks in
general;
|
may cause
the market price of our Common Stock to fluctuate significantly. The
stock price may also be affected by broader market trends unrelated to our
performance. These fluctuations may adversely affect the market price
of our Common Stock.
Delays
or difficulties in negotiating a labor agreement may cause an adverse effect on
our manufacturing and business operations.
All of
our direct labor employees are members of the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers Union, Local 2066, under a collective bargaining agreement,
which expires in February 2009. Delays or difficulties in negotiating
and executing a new agreement, which may result in work stoppages, could have a
material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial
condition.
The
Company’s principal manufacturing, engineering, sales and administrative
facilities consist of one building totaling approximately 130,000 square feet
located on approximately 20 acres of land in Old Bridge, New Jersey (the “Old Bridge Facility”) which is
owned by the Company. The Old Bridge Facility is encumbered by a
mortgage held by National City Business Credit, Inc. in the principal amount of
$1,534,000 as of December 31, 2007. Management believes that the Old
Bridge Facility is adequate to support the Company’s anticipated needs in
2008.
ITEM
3.
|
LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS
|
The
Company is a party to certain proceedings incidental to the ordinary course of
its business, none of which, in the current opinion of management, is likely to
have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition,
results of operations or cash flows.
ITEM
4.
|
SUBMISSION
OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY
HOLDERS
|
No
matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter
ended December 31, 2007, through the solicitation of proxies or
otherwise.
PART
II
ITEM
5.
|
MARKET
FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS
|
The
Company’s Common Stock has been traded on the American Stock Exchange since the
Company’s initial public offering on December 14, 1995. The following
table sets forth for the fiscal quarters indicated, the high and low sale prices
for the Company’s Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange.
Market
Information
Fiscal
Year Ended December 31, 2007:
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
First
Quarter
|
|
$ |
2.78 |
|
|
$ |
1.71 |
|
Second
Quarter
|
|
|
2.36 |
|
|
|
1.45 |
|
Third
Quarter
|
|
|
1.79 |
|
|
|
1.12 |
|
Fourth
Quarter
|
|
|
2.45 |
|
|
|
1.05 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal
Year Ended December 31, 2006:
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
First
Quarter
|
|
$ |
2.29 |
|
|
$ |
1.80 |
|
Second
Quarter
|
|
|
2.90 |
|
|
|
1.40 |
|
Third
Quarter
|
|
|
1.85 |
|
|
|
.95 |
|
Fourth
Quarter
|
|
|
1.90 |
|
|
|
1.16 |
|
The
Company’s Common Stock is traded on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol
“BDR”.
Holders
As of
March 28, 2008, the Company had approximately 56 holders of record of the Common
Stock. Since a portion of the Company’s common stock is held in
“street” or nominee name, the Company is unable to determine the exact number of
beneficial holders.
Dividends
The
Company currently anticipates that it will retain all of its earnings to finance
the operation and expansion of its business, and therefore does not intend to
pay dividends on its Common Stock in the foreseeable future. Since
its initial public offering, the Company has never declared or paid any cash
dividends on its Common Stock. Any determination to pay dividends in
the future is at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will
depend upon the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, capital
requirements, limitations contained in loan agreements and such other factors as
the Board of Directors deems relevant. The Company’s credit agreement
with National City Business Credit, Inc. prohibits the payment of cash dividends
by the Company on its Common Stock.
ITEM
6.
|
SELECTED
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
|
The
selected consolidated statement of operations data presented below for each of
the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, and the selected consolidated
balance sheet data as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, are derived from, and are
qualified by reference to, the audited consolidated financial statements of the
Company and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The
selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December
31, 2004 and 2003 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of
December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 are derived from audited consolidated
financial statements not included herein. The data set forth below is
qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with,
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations” and the consolidated financial statements, notes thereto and other
financial and statistical information appearing elsewhere herein.
On December 15, 2006, the Company sold
BDR Broadband, LLC. The amounts previously reported below in the
consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2005,
2004, and 2003 have been changed to reflect BDR Broadband, LLC as a discontinued
operation.
Certain
amounts previously reported for the year ended December 31, 2003 have been
restated.
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands, except per share data)
|
|
Consolidated
Statement of Operations Data:
Net
sales
|
|
$ |
33,159 |
|
|
$ |
35,775 |
|
|
$ |
34,730 |
|
|
$ |
37,783 |
|
|
$ |
34,343 |
|
Cost
of goods sold (1)
|
|
|
21,850 |
|
|
|
23,409 |
|
|
|
27,399 |
|
|
|
26,104 |
|
|
|
25,629 |
|
Gross
profit
|
|
|
11,309 |
|
|
|
12,366 |
|
|
|
7,331 |
|
|
|
11,679 |
|
|
|
8,714 |
|
Operating
expenses:
Selling,
general and administrative
|
|
|
9,548 |
|
|
|
10,396 |
|
|
|
9,503 |
|
|
|
8,888 |
|
|
|
8,631 |
|
Research
and
development
|
|
|
1,797 |
|
|
|
1,634 |
|
|
|
1,552 |
|
|
|
1,549 |
|
|
|
1,833 |
|
Total
operating
expenses
|
|
|
11,345 |
|
|
|
12,030 |
|
|
|
11,055 |
|
|
|
10,437 |
|
|
|
10,464 |
|
Earnings
(loss) from operations (1)
|
|
|
(36 |
) |
|
|
336 |
|
|
|
(3,724 |
) |
|
|
1,242 |
|
|
|
(1,750 |
) |
Interest
and other
income
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
386 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
357 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
(466 |
) |
|
|
(711 |
) |
|
|
(796 |
) |
|
|
(903 |
) |
|
|
(1,105 |
) |
Equity
in loss of Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(107 |
) |
|
|
(437 |
) |
|
|
(613 |
) |
|
|
(154 |
) |
Earnings
(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes (1)
|
|
|
(502 |
) |
|
|
(96 |
) |
|
|
(4,956 |
) |
|
|
83 |
|
|
|
(3,009 |
) |
Provision
(benefit) for income taxes (1)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2,826 |
|
|
|
(318 |
) |
Loss
before discontinued operations………………..
|
|
|
(502 |
) |
|
|
(96 |
) |
|
|
(4,956 |
) |
|
|
(2,743 |
) |
|
|
(2,691 |
) |
Loss
from discontinued operations (net of tax)..
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(500 |
) |
|
|
(544 |
) |
|
|
(379 |
) |
|
|
(431 |
) |
Gain
(loss) on disposal of subsidiary………………….
|
|
|
(59 |
) |
|
|
938 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Net
(loss) earnings (1)
|
|
$ |
(561 |
) |
|
$ |
342 |
|
|
$ |
(5,500 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,122 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,122 |
) |
Basic
and diluted income (loss) per share (1)
|
|
$ |
(0.09 |
) |
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
|
$ |
(0.69 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.39 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.41 |
) |
Basic and
diluted weighted average shares outstanding
|
|
|
6,222 |
|
|
|
7,592 |
|
|
|
8,015 |
|
|
|
8,001 |
|
|
|
7,654 |
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheet Data:
Working
capital (1)
|
|
$ |
7,902 |
|
|
$ |
9,511 |
|
|
$ |
7,108 |
|
|
$ |
10,603 |
|
|
$ |
11,591 |
|
Total
assets (1)
|
|
|
25,949 |
|
|
|
27,222 |
|
|
|
32,864 |
|
|
|
38,156 |
|
|
|
47,990 |
|
Long-term
debt (including
current
maturities)
|
|
|
2,574
|
|
|
|
4,028
|
|
|
|
7,578 |
|
|
|
8,513 |
|
|
|
12,946 |
|
Stockholders’
equity (1)
|
|
|
20,677 |
|
|
|
20,232 |
|
|
|
21,499 |
|
|
|
26,923 |
|
|
|
30,885 |
|
__________________
(1)
|
Amounts
previously reported for the year ended December 31, 2003 have been
restated.
|
ITEM
7.
|
MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
|
The
following discussion and analysis of the Company’s historical results of
operations and liquidity and capital resources should be read in conjunction
with “Selected Consolidated Financial Data” and the consolidated financial
statements of the Company and notes thereto appearing elsewhere
herein. The following discussion and analysis also contains
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our
actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these
forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. See
“Forward Looking Statements” that precedes Item 1 above.
Overview
The
Company was incorporated in November, 1988, under the laws of Delaware as GPS
Acquisition Corp. for the purpose of acquiring the business of Blonder-Tongue
Laboratories, Inc., a New Jersey corporation which was founded in 1950 by Ben H.
Tongue and Isaac S. Blonder to design, manufacture and supply a line of
electronics and systems equipment principally for the private cable
industry. Following the acquisition, the Company changed its name to
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. The Company completed the initial
public offering of its shares of Common Stock in December, 1995.
The
Company is principally a designer, manufacturer and supplier of a comprehensive
line of electronics and systems equipment, primarily for the cable television
industry (both franchise and private cable). Over the past few years,
the Company has also introduced equipment and innovative solutions for the
high-speed transmission of data and the provision of telephony services in
multiple dwelling unit applications. The Company’s products are used
to acquire, distribute and protect the broad range of communications signals
carried on fiber optic, twisted pair, coaxial cable and wireless distribution
systems. These products are sold to customers providing an array of
communications services, including television, high-speed data (Internet) and
telephony, to single family dwellings, multiple dwelling units (“MDUs”), the lodging industry
and institutions such as hospitals, prisons, schools and marinas. The
Company’s principal customers are cable system operators (both franchise and
private cable), as well as contractors that design, package, install and in most
instances operate, upgrade and maintain the systems they build, including
institutional and lodging/hospitality operators.
A key
component of the Company’s strategy is to leverage its reputation across a broad
product line, offering one-stop shop convenience to private cable and franchise
cable system operators and delivering products having a high performance-to-cost
ratio. The Company continues to expand its core product lines
(headend and distribution), to maintain its ability to provide all of the
electronic equipment necessary to build small cable systems and much of the
equipment needed in larger systems for the most efficient operation and highest
profitability in high density applications. The Company has also
divested its interests in certain non-core business as part of its strategy to
focus on the efficient operation of its core businesses.
During
2002 and 2003, the Company expanded beyond its core business by acquiring a
private cable television system (BDR Broadband, LLC), and also acquiring an
interest in a company offering a private telephone program for multiple dwelling
unit applications (Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC). However, as part
of its strategy to focus on its core business, the Company sold its interests in
these businesses during 2006. The results of operations from BDR
Broadband, LLC, as well as the gain due to its sale, are reflected as
discontinued operations in the consolidated statement of operations included in
this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These acquisitions and related
dispositions are described in more detail below, along with other recent
transactions affecting the Company in recent years.
On
December 15, 2006, the Company completed the divesture of its wholly-owned
subsidiary, BDR Broadband, LLC (“BDR”) through the sale of all
of the issued and outstanding membership interests of BDR to DirecPath Holdings,
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("DirecPath"), which is a joint
venture between Hicks Holdings LLC and The DIRECTV Group, Inc. This
sale took place pursuant to a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement ("Purchase
Agreement"). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, DirecPath
paid the Company an aggregate purchase price of approximately $3,130,000 in
cash, resulting in a gain of approximately $880,000 on the sale, after certain
post-closing adjustments. A portion of the purchase price, $465,000 is being
held in an escrow account, and is included as part of the prepaid and other
current assets, pursuant to an Escrow Agreement dated December 15, 2006, among
the Company, DirecPath and U.S. Bank National Association, to secure the
Company’s indemnification obligations under the Purchase Agreement.
In
addition, in connection with the divestiture transaction, on December 15, 2006,
the Company entered into a Purchase and Supply Agreement with DirecPath, LLC, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of DirecPath ("DPLLC"), pursuant to which
DPLLC will purchase $1,630,000 of products from the Company, subject to certain
adjustments, over a period of three years. DPLLC purchased $404,000
of equipment from the Company in 2007. It is also anticipated that
the Company will provide DirecPath with certain systems engineering and
technical services.
BDR
commenced operations in June 2002, when it acquired certain rights-of-entry for
MDU cable television and high-speed data systems (the “Systems”) from Verizon Media
Ventures, Inc. and GTE Southwest Incorporated. At the time of the
divesture, BDR owned Systems for approximately 25 MDU properties in the State of
Texas, representing approximately 3,300 MDU cable television subscribers and
8,400 passings. The loss from operations of BDR was $500,000 and
$544,000 during 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Systems were
upgraded with approximately $81,000 and $799,000 of interdiction and other
products of the Company during 2006 and 2005, respectively. While the
Company continued to invest in and expand BDR’s business, in August 2006 the
Company determined to seek a buyer for BDR and exit the business of operating
Systems in Texas to allow the Company to pursue alternative strategic
opportunities. In October 2006, several months prior to the
divestiture of BDR, the Company (for nominal consideration) acquired the 10%
minority interest that had been owned by Priority Systems, LLC.
During
2003, the Company entered into a series of agreements pursuant to which the
Company ultimately acquired a 50% economic ownership interest in NetLinc
Communications, LLC (“NetLinc”) and Blonder Tongue
Telephone, LLC (“BTT”)
(to which the Company had licensed its name). The aggregate purchase
price consisted of (i) the cash portion of $1,166,667 plus (ii) 500,000 shares
of the Company’s common stock. BTT had an obligation to redeem the
$1,166,667 cash component of the purchase price to the Company via preferential
distributions of cash flow under BTT’s limited liability company operating
agreement. In addition, of the 500,000 shares of common stock issued
to BTT as the non-cash component of the purchase price (fair valued at
$1,030,000), one-half (250,000 shares) were pledged to the Company as
collateral.
Through
its ownership interest in BTT, the Company was involved in providing a
proprietary telephone system suited to MDU development and was entitled to
receive incremental revenues associated with direct sales of telephony products,
however, revenues derived from sales of such telephony products and services
were not material. NetLinc owns patents, proprietary technology and
know-how for certain telephony products that allow Competitive Local Exchange
Carriers (“CLECs”) to
competitively provide voice service to MDUs. While NetLinc’s
intellectual property could be further developed and used in the future to
manufacture and sell telephony products, the Company has no present intention to
do so.
On June
30, 2006, the Company entered into a Share Exchange and Settlement Agreement
("Share Exchange
Agreement") with BTT and certain related parties of BTT, pursuant to
which the Company transferred to BTT its 49 membership shares of BTT,
representing the Company's 50% ownership interest in BTT. In
exchange, BTT transferred back to the Company the 500,000 shares of the
Company's common stock that were previously contributed by the Company to the
capital of BTT. Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, the Company
granted BTT a non-transferable equipment purchase credit in the aggregate amount
of $400,000 (subject to certain off-sets), which was exercised in full by
September 30, 2006. The Company’s equity in loss of BTT was
approximately $107,000 and $437,000 for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006
and 2005, respectively. The Company continues to hold its interest in
NetLinc.
As a
result of and following the transactions contemplated by the Share Exchange
Agreement, sales of telephony equipment have continued to
decline. While the Company presently intends to continue to
independently pursue its existing and hereafter-developed leads for the sale of
telephony equipment, it has ceased to pursue leads for the provision of
telephony services and anticipates that over the next year, sales derived from
this business will not be a significant source of revenues for the
Company.
On
December 14, 2006, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Blonder Tongue
Investment Company, completed the sale of selected patents, patent applications,
provisional patent applications and related foreign patents and applications to
Moonbeam L.L.C. for net proceeds of $2,000,000. In connection with
the sale, the Company has retained a non-exclusive, royalty free, worldwide
right and license to use these patents to continue to develop, manufacture, use,
sell, distribute and otherwise exploit all of the Company’s products currently
protected under the patents. These products include some of the
interdiction lines in the Addressable Subscriber category of equipment, some of
which were part of the interdiction business acquired from Scientific-Atlanta,
Inc. (“Scientific”) in
1998.
One of
the Company’s recent initiatives is to manufacture products in the People’s
Republic of China (“PRC”) in order to reduce the
Company’s manufacturing costs and facilitate a more aggressive marketing program
in the private cable market. Towards this end, on November 11, 2005,
the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Blonder Tongue Far East, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company, entered into a joint venture agreement
(“JV Agreement”) with
Master Gain International Industrial Limited, a Hong Kong corporation (“Master Gain”), intending to
manufacture products in the PRC. This joint venture was formed to
compete with Far East manufactured products and to expand market coverage
outside North America. On June 9, 2006, the Company terminated the JV
Agreement due to the joint venture's failure to meet certain quarterly financial
milestones as set forth in the JV Agreement. The inability to meet
such financial milestones was caused by the failure of Master Gain to contribute
the $5,850,000 of capital to the joint venture as required by the JV Agreement
and the joint venture's failure to obtain certain governmental approvals and
licenses necessary for the operation of the joint venture.
Following
the termination of the JV Agreement, the Company began to explore alternative
means of obtaining the benefits of offshore manufacturing and procurement of
certain of its high volume products. Although the termination of the
JV Agreement resulted in a delay in the Company's efforts to move production of
its products to the Far East, the Company continues to believe that shifting
production to the Far East is in the best interests of the
Company. The Company’s present strategy to exploit manufacturing
opportunities in the PRC has shifted to entail a combination of contract
manufacturing agreements and purchasing agreements with key PRC manufacturers
that can most fully meet the Company’s needs. In early 2007, the
Company entered into a manufacturing agreement with a core contract manufacturer
in the PRC that will govern its production of the Company’s high volume and
complex products upon the receipt of purchase orders from the
Company. This ongoing transition relates to products representing a
significant portion of the Company’s net sales and is being implemented in
phases over the next several years, with the first products already transitioned
during the fourth quarter of 2007.
On
February 27, 2006 (the “Effective Date”), the Company
entered into a series of agreements related to its MegaPort™ line of
high-speed data communications products. As a result of these
agreements, the Company has expanded its distribution territory, favorably
amended certain pricing and volume provisions and extended by 10 years the term
of the distribution agreement for its MegaPort™ product
line. These agreements also require the Company to guaranty payment
due by Shenzhen Junao Technology Company Ltd. (“Shenzhen”) to Octalica, Ltd.
(“Octalica”), in
connection with Shenzhen’s purchase of T.M.T.-Third Millennium Technology
Limited (“TMT”) from
Octalica. Shenzhen is an affiliate of Master Gain. In
exchange for this guaranty, MegaPort Technology, LLC (“MegaPort”), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company, obtained an assignable option (the “Option”) to acquire
substantially all of the assets and assume certain liabilities of TMT on
substantially the same terms as the acquisition of TMT by Shenzhen from
Octalica. The purchase price for TMT and, therefore, the amount and
payment terms guaranteed by the Company is the sum of $383,150 plus an
earn-out. The earn-out will not exceed 4.5% of the net revenues
derived from the sale of certain products during a period of 36 months
commencing after the sale of certain specified quantities of TMT inventory
following the Effective Date. The cash portion of the purchase price
was payable (i) $22,100 on the 120th day
following the Effective Date, (ii) $22,100 on the last day of the twenty-fourth
month following the Effective Date, and (iii) $338,950 commencing upon the later
of (A) the second anniversary of the Effective Date and (B) the date after which
certain volume sales targets for each of the MegaPort™
products have been met, and then only as and to the extent that revenues
are derived from sales of such products. As of the date of the filing
of this report, none of the volume sales targets for these MegaPort products
have been met and, accordingly, no further purchase price payments have been
made. In February 2007, MegaPort sent notice to TMT and Shenzhen of
its election to exercise the Option to acquire substantially all of the assets
of TMT. Shenzhen has not responded to MegaPort’s notice of exercise
of the Option. MegaPort has engaged legal representation in Israel to
explore its options in connection with enforcement of its contractual rights,
but no decisions with respect thereto have been made. Upon
consummation of the acquisition, MegaPort, or its assignee, will pay Shenzhen,
in the same manner and at the same times, cash payments equal to the purchase
price payments due from Shenzhen to Octalica and will assume certain liabilities
of TMT.
In
December 2007, the Company entered into an agreement to provide manufacturing,
research and development and product support to Buffalo City Center Leasing, LLC
(“Buffalo City”) for an
electronic on-board recorder that Buffalo City is producing for Turnpike Global
Technologies, LLC. Although not yet significant, the three-year
agreement is anticipated to provide up to $4,000,000 in revenue to the
Company. A director of the Company is also the managing member and a
vice president of Buffalo City and may be deemed to control the entity which
owns fifty percent (50%) of the membership interests of Buffalo
City.
Results
of Operations
The
following table sets forth, for the fiscal periods indicated, certain
consolidated statement of earnings data from continuing operations as a
percentage of net sales. On December 15, 2006, the Company sold BDR
Broadband, LLC. The amounts previously reported below in the results of
operations for the year ended December 31, 2005 has been changed to reflect BDR
Broadband, LLC as a discontinued operation.
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
Net
sales
|
100.0%
|
|
100.0%
|
|
100.0%
|
Costs
of goods
sold
|
65.9
|
|
65.4
|
|
78.9
|
Gross
profit
|
34.1
|
|
34.6
|
|
21.1
|
Selling
expenses
|
14.3
|
|
13.2
|
|
12.9
|
General
and administrative
expenses
|
14.5
|
|
15.8
|
|
14.4
|
Research
and development
expenses
|
5.4
|
|
4.6
|
|
4.5
|
Earnings
(loss) from
operations
|
(0.1)
|
|
1.0
|
|
(10.7)
|
Other
expense,
net
|
1.4
|
|
1.2
|
|
3.6
|
Loss
from continuing operations before income taxes
|
(1.5)
|
|
(0.2)
|
|
(14.3)
|
Provision
(benefit) for income
taxes
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
2007
Compared with 2006
Net sales. Net sales
decreased $2,616,000 or 7.3% to $33,159,000 in 2007 from $35,775,000 in 2006.
The decrease is primarily attributed to a decrease in sales of interdiction and
analog headend products. Interdiction sales were $862,000 and
$1,835,000 and analog headend sales were $16,170,000 and $17,506,000 in 2007 and
2006, respectively.
Cost of Goods Sold. Costs of
goods sold decreased to $21,850,000 for 2007 from $23,409,000 in 2006 but
increased as a percentage of sales to 65.9% from 65.4%. The decrease is
primarily attributed to a decrease in net sales. The increase as a
percentage of sales is primarily attributed to an increase in the inventory
reserve of $314,000 in 2007 as compared to an increase in the inventory reserve
of $114,000 in 2006. The change in the inventory reserve is primarily attributed
to fully reserving items for which there was no usage in 2007.
Selling Expenses. Selling
expenses increased to $4,751,000 for 2007 from $4,738,000 in 2006 and increased
as a percentage of sales to 14.3% for 2007 from 13.2% for 2006. This $13,000
increase is primarily attributable to an increase in consulting fees of $231,000
offset by a decrease in salaries of $222,000 due to reduced head
count.
General and Administrative
Expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased to $4,797,000 in
2007 from $5,658,000 for 2006 and decreased as a percentage of sales to 14.5%
for 2007 from 15.8% in 2006. This $861,000 decrease is primarily attributable to
a decrease in patent amortization of $323,000 due to selling of certain patents,
a decrease in legal fees of $273,000 and a decrease in bad debt expense of
$323,000.
Research and Development
Expense. Research and development expenses increased to $1,797,000 in
2007 from $1,634,000 in 2006 and increased as a percentage of sales to 5.4% in
2007 from 4.6% in 2006. This $163,000 increase is primarily attributable to an
increase in salaries of $158,000 due to increased head count.
Operating Income (Loss).
Operating loss of $36,000 for 2007 represents a decrease of $372,000 from a
operating income of $336,000 in 2006. Operating income (loss) as a percentage of
sales decreased to (0.1)% in 2007 from 1.0% in 2006.
Interest expense. Interest
expense decreased to $466,000 in 2007 from $711,000 in 2006. The decrease is the
result of lower average borrowings.
Income Taxes. The provision
for income taxes remained at zero for 2007 and 2006. The provision is zero as a
result of an increase in the deferred tax assets due to net operating loss carry
forwards being offset by an increase in the valuation allowance of $297,000 and
$502,000 in 2007 and 2006, respectively, since the realization of the deferred
tax benefit is not considered more likely than not. The Company believes its
current projected taxable income over the next five years as well as certain tax
strategies are adequate to the realization of the remaining deferred tax
benefit.
2006
Compared with 2005
Net sales. Net sales
increased $1,045,000 or 3.0% to $35,775,000 in 2006 from $34,730,000 in 2005.
The increase is primarily attributed to an increase in sales of digital headend
products and fiber products offset by decreases in sales of interdiction and
analog headend products. Digital headend sales were $5,715,000 and
$4,725,000, fiber sales were $1,731,000 and $1,027,000, interdiction sales were
$1,835,000 and $2,054,000 and analog headend sales were $17,506,000 and
$17,901,000 in 2006 and 2005, respectively.
Cost of Goods Sold. Costs of
goods sold decreased to $23,409,000 for 2006 from $27,399,000 in 2005 and
decreased as a percentage of sales to 65.4% from 78.9%. The decrease is
primarily attributed to an increase in the inventory reserve of $114,000 in 2006
as compared to an increase in the inventory reserve of $4,373,000 in 2005. The
change in the inventory reserve is primarily attributed to fully reserving items
for which there was no usage in 2005.
Selling Expenses. Selling
expenses increased to $4,738,000 for 2006 from $4,481,000 in 2005 and increased
as a percentage of sales to 13.2% for 2006 from 12.9% for 2005. This $257,000
increase is primarily attributable to an increase in travel and entertainment of
$101,000 and an increase in freight expense of $102,000 due to increased
shipping and handling costs.
General and Administrative
Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased to $5,658,000 in
2006 from $5,022,000 for 2005 and increased as a percentage of sales to 15.8%
for 2006 from 14.4% in 2005. This $636,000 increase is primarily attributable to
an increase in salaries and fringes of $422,000 due to increased head count and
an increase in executive bonuses, as well as an increase in professional fees of
$215,000.
Research and Development
Expense. Research and development expenses increased to $1,634,000 in
2006 from $1,552,000 in 2005 and increased as a percentage of sales to 4.6% in
2006 from 4.5% in 2005. This $82,000 increase is primarily attributable to an
increase in consulting fees of $76,000.
Operating Income (Loss).
Operating income of $336,000 for 2006 represents an increase of $4,060,000 from
an operating loss of $3,724,000 in 2005. Operating income (loss) as a percentage
of sales increased to 1.0% in 2006 from (10.7%) in 2005.
Interest expense. Interest
expense decreased to $711,000 in 2006 from $796,000 in 2005. The decrease is the
result of lower average borrowings.
Income Taxes. The provision
for income taxes remained at zero for 2006 and 2005. The provision is zero as a
result of an increase in the deferred tax assets due to net operating loss carry
forwards being offset by an increase in the valuation allowance of $502,000 and
$1,959,000 in 2006 and 2005, respectively, since the realization of the deferred
tax benefit is not considered more likely than not. The Company believes its
current projected taxable income over the next five years as well as certain tax
strategies are adequate to the realization of the remaining deferred tax
benefit.
Inflation
and Seasonality
Inflation
and seasonality have not had a material impact on the results of operations of
the Company. Fourth quarter sales in 2007 as compared to other
quarters were slightly impacted by fewer production days. The Company
expects sales each year in the fourth quarter to be impacted by fewer production
days.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
As of
December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company’s working capital was $7,902,000 and
$9,511,000, respectively. The decrease in working capital is
attributable primarily to a decline in sales volume.
The
Company’s net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December
31, 2007 was $2,095,000 primarily due to a decrease in accounts receivable of
$1,251,000 compared to net cash provided by operating activities for the year
ended December 31, 2006 of $72,000.
Cash used
in investing activities was $455,000, which was attributable primarily to
capital expenditures of $455,000.
Cash used
in financing activities was $1,454,000 for the period ended December 31, 2007,
comprised of repayment of debt of $34,444,000 offset by $32,990,000 in
additional borrowings of debt.
On
December 29, 2005 the Company entered into a Credit and Security Agreement
(“Credit Agreement”) with National City
Business Credit, Inc. (“NCBC”) and National City Bank
(the “Bank”). The Credit
Agreement initially provided for (i) a $10,000,000 asset based revolving credit
facility (“Revolving
Loan”) and (ii) a $3,500,000 term loan facility (“Term Loan”), both of which
have a three year term. The amounts which may be borrowed under the
Revolving Loan are based on certain percentages of Eligible Receivables and
Eligible Inventory, as such terms are defined in the Credit
Agreement. The obligations of the Company under the Credit Agreement
are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company.
In March
2006, the Credit Agreement was amended to (i) modify certain financial covenants
as defined under the Credit Agreement, (ii) increase the applicable interest
rates for the Revolving Loan and Term Loan thereunder by 25 basis points until
such time as the Company had met certain financial covenants for two consecutive
fiscal quarters and (iii) impose an availability block of $500,000 under the
Company’s borrowing base until such time as the Company had met certain
financial covenants for two consecutive fiscal quarters. The increase
in interest rates and availability block were released as of November 14,
2006.
On
December 15, 2006, the Company and BDR, as Borrowers, and Blonder Tongue
Investment Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, as Guarantor,
entered into a Second Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement (the “Amendment”) with NCBC and the
Bank. Incident to the Company’s divestiture of BDR, the Amendment
removed BDR as a “Borrower” under the Credit Agreement as amended and included
other modifications and amendments to the Credit Agreement and related ancillary
agreements necessitated by the removal of BDR as a Borrower. These
other modifications and amendments included a reduction of approximately
$1,400,000 to the maximum amount of advances that NCBC will make to the Company
under the Revolving Loan, due to the release from collateral of the
rights-of-entry owned by BDR.
As of the
end of each fiscal quarter during 2007, the Company was in violation of a
certain financial covenant, compliance with which was waived by the Bank
effective as of each such date.
On August
8, 2007, the Credit Agreement was amended to (i) reduce the maximum revolving
advance amount by $2,500,000 to $7,500,000; (ii) increase by 100 basis points,
the applicable interest rate margin for the Revolving Loan and Term Loan
thereunder priced against the lender’s “prime” or “base” rate; (iii) eliminate
the Company’s option to pay interest on its loans based upon the LIBOR rate plus
an applicable margin; (iv) add a covenant requiring the Company to meet certain
levels of EBITDA for the calendar months of July through September 2007; and (v)
add a covenant requiring the Company to maintain certain minimum levels of
undrawn availability under the Revolving Loan.
On
November 7, 2007, the Credit Agreement was amended to (i) increase by 0.25% the
applicable interest rate margin for the Revolving Loan and Term Loan thereunder
priced against the lender’s “prime” or “base” rate; and (ii) add a covenant
requiring the Company to meet certain levels of EBITDA for the calendar months
of October through December 2007.
On March
28, 2008, the Credit Agreement was amended to (i) increase by 0.25% the
applicable interest rate margin for the Revolving Loan and Term Loan thereunder
priced against the lender’s “prime” or “base” rate;
and (ii)
add a covenant requiring the Company to meet certain levels of EBITDA for the
calendar months of January through March 2008.
Under the
Credit Agreement, as amended, the Revolving Loan bears interest at a rate per
annum equal to the “Alternate Base Rate,” being the higher of (i) the prime
lending rate announced from time to time by the Bank plus 1.50% or (ii) the
Federal Funds Effective Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus
1.50%. The Term Loan bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the
Alternate Base Rate plus 1.50%. In connection with the Term Loan, the
Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement (“Swap Agreement”) with the Bank
which exchanges the variable interest rate of the Term Loan for a fixed interest
rate of 5.13% per annum effective January 10, 2006 through the maturity of the
Term Loan.
The
Revolving Loan terminates on December 28, 2008, at which time all outstanding
borrowings under the Revolving Loan are due. The Term Loan requires
equal monthly principal payments of $19,000 each, plus interest, with the
remaining balance due at maturity.
The
Credit Agreement contains customary representations and warranties as well as
affirmative and negative covenants, including certain financial
covenants. The Credit Agreement contains customary events of default,
including, among others, non-payment of principal, interest or other amounts
when due.
Proceeds
from the Credit Agreement were used to refinance the Company’s former credit
facility with Commerce Bank, N.A., to pay transaction costs, to provide working
capital and for other general corporate purposes.
At
December 31, 2007, there was $1,014,000 outstanding under the NCBC Revolving
Loan. The Company has the ability to borrow $6,486,000 under its line
of credit, however only $2,217,000 was available at December 31, 2007, based on
the Company’s current collateral.
The
average amount outstanding on the Company’s line of credit during 2007 was
$2,062,000 at a weighted average interest rate of 10.8%. The maximum
amount outstanding on the lines of credit during 2007 was
$3,319,000.
The
Company anticipates that the cash generated from operations, existing cash
balances and amounts available under its credit facility with NCBC, will be
sufficient to satisfy its foreseeable working capital needs. Although
the Credit Agreement expires in December 2008, the Company believes that a new
credit facility will be entered into with another bank prior to
expiration.
Critical
Accounting Estimates
The
Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States. Preparing
financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts
of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The following
paragraphs include a discussion of some critical areas where estimates are
required. You should also review Note 1 to the financial statements
for further discussion of significant accounting policies.
Revenue
Recognition
The
Company records revenue when products are shipped. Legal title and
risk of loss with respect to the products pass to customers at the point of
shipment. Customers do not have a right to return products
shipped. Products carry a three year warranty, which amount is not
material to the Company’s operations.
Inventory
and Obsolescence
The
Company periodically analyzes anticipated product sales based on historical
results, current backlog and marketing plans. Based on these
analyses, the Company anticipates that certain products will not be sold during
the next twelve months. Inventories that are not anticipated to be
sold in the next twelve months, have been
classified
as non-current. This procedure has been applied to the December 31,
2007 and 2006 inventories and, accordingly, $5,868,000 and $5,052,000,
respectively, have been classified to non-current assets.
Over 60%
of the non-current inventories are comprised of raw materials. The
Company has established a program to use interchangeable parts in its various
product offerings and to modify certain of its finished goods to better match
customer demands. In addition, the Company has instituted additional
marketing programs to dispose of the slower moving inventories.
The
Company continually analyzes its slow-moving, excess and obsolete
inventories. Based on historical and projected sales volumes for
finished goods, historical and projected usage of raw materials, and anticipated
selling prices, the Company establishes reserves. If the Company does
not meet its sales expectations these reserves are
increased. Products that are determined to be obsolete are written
down to net realizable value. During 2007 and 2006, the Company
recorded an increase to its reserve of $314,000 and $114,000,
respectively. The increases in the inventory reserve during 2007 and
2006 were primarily the result of an increase in certain obsolete raw
materials. The Company believes reserves are adequate and inventories
are reflected at net realizable value.
Accounts
Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Management
periodically performs a detailed review of amounts due from customers to
determine if accounts receivable balances are impaired based on factors
affecting the collectibility of those balances. Management’s
estimates of the allowance for doubtful accounts requires management to exercise
significant judgment about the timing, frequency and severity of collection
losses, which affects the allowances and net earnings. As these
factors are difficult to predict and are subject to future events that may alter
management assumptions, these allowances may need to be adjusted in the
future.
Long-Lived
Assets
On a
periodic basis, management assesses whether there are any indicators that the
value of the Company’s long-lived assets may be impaired. An asset’s
value may be impaired only if management’s estimate of the aggregate future cash
flows, on an undiscounted basis, to be generated by the asset are less than the
carrying value of the asset.
If
impairment has occurred, the loss shall be measured as the excess of the
carrying amount of the asset over the fair value of the long-lived
asset. The Company’s estimates of aggregate future cash flows
expected to be generated by each long-lived asset are based on a number of
assumptions that are subject to economic and market uncertainties. As
these factors are difficult to predict and are subject to future events that may
alter management’s assumptions, the future cash flows estimated by management in
their impairment analyses may not be achieved.
Valuation
of Deferred Tax Assets
Management
periodically evaluates its ability to recover the reported amount of its
deferred income tax assets considering several factors, including the estimate
of the likelihood that it will generate sufficient taxable income in future
years in which temporary differences reverse. Due to the uncertainties related
to, among other things, the extent and timing of future taxable income, which
indicated that it was more likely than not that the Company would not realize
the benefits related to the deferred tax assets, the Company recorded a
valuation allowance equal to a significant portion of the net deferred tax
assets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006.
New
Accounting Pronouncements
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements - An Amendment of ARB No, 51” (“SFAS No.
160”). SFAS No. 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards
for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary (previously referred to as
minority interests). SFAS No. 160 also requires that a retained
noncontrolling interest upon the deconsolidation of a subsidiary be initially
measured at its fair value. Upon adoption of SFAS No. 160, the
Company would be required to report any noncontrolling interests as a separate
component of consolidated stockholders’ equity. The Company would
also be required to present any net income allocable to noncontrolling interests
and net income attributable to the stockholders of the Company separately in its
consolidated statements of operations. SFAS No. 160 is effective for
fiscal years, and interim period within those fiscal years, beginning on or
after January 1, 2009. SFAS No. 160
requires
retroactive adoption of the presentation and disclosure requirements for
existing minority interests. All other requirements of SFAS No. 160
shall be applied prospectively. SFAS No. 160 would have an impact on
the presentation and disclosure of the noncontrolling interests of any non
wholly-owned business acquired in the future.
Effective
January 1, 2007, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board
(“FASB”) Interpretation
Number 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of
FASB Statement No. 109,” (“FIN
No. 48”), which prescribes a single, comprehensive model for how a
company should recognize, measure, present and disclose in its financial
statements uncertain tax positions that the company has taken or expects to take
on its tax returns. Upon adoption of FIN No. 48, the Company
recognized a decrease of approximately $401,000 in the liability for
unrecognized tax benefits, which was accounted for as an increase to retained
earnings of $401,000 as of January 1, 2007.
As of
January 1, 2007, after the implementation of FIN No. 48, the Company’s amount of
unrecognized tax benefits is $55,000. The amount of unrecognized tax
benefits, if recognized, would not have a material impact on the Company’s
effective tax rate. The Company files income tax returns in the
United States (federal) and in various state jurisdictions. The
Company is no longer subject to federal and state income tax examinations by tax
authorities for years prior to 2003.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
("SFAS") No. 141R,
"Business Combinations" ("SFAS
141R"), which replaces SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations." SFAS 141R
establishes principles and requirements for determining how an enterprise
recognizes and measures the fair value of certain assets and liabilities
acquired in a business combination, including noncontrolling interests,
contingent consideration, and certain acquired contingencies. SFAS 141R also
requires acquisition-related transaction expenses and restructuring costs be
expensed as incurred rather than capitalized as a component of the business
combination. SFAS 141R will be applicable prospectively to business combinations
for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual
reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. SFAS 141R would have
an impact on accounting for any businesses acquired after the effective date of
this pronouncement.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS
159 provides companies with an option to report selected financial assets and
liabilities at a fair value. The objective of SFAS 159 is to reduce
both complexity in accounting for financial instruments and the volatility in
earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities
differently. Generally accepted accounting principles have required
different measurement attributes for different assets and liabilities that can
create artificial volatility in earnings. The FASB has indicated it
believes that SFAS 159 helps to mitigate this type of accounting-induced
volatility by enabling companies to report related assets and liabilities at
fair value, which would likely reduce the need for companies to comply with
detailed rules for hedge accounting. SFAS 159 also establishes
presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons
between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types
of assets and liabilities. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years
beginning after November 15, 2007. Management is in the process of
evaluating this pronouncement.
In
September 2006, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulleting (“SAB”) No. 108, Considering the
Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current
Year Financial Statements ("SAB
108”). SAB 108 was issued in order to reduce the diversity in
practice in how public companies quantify misstatements of financial statements,
including misstatements that were not material to prior years’ financial
statements. SAB 108 is effective for fiscal year 2007. The
adoption of this pronouncement did not have an impact on the Company’s financial
position, results of operations or cash flows.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employer’s Accounting
for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans.” Among other items,
SFAS No. 158 requires recognition of the overfunded or underfunded status
of an entity’s defined benefit postretirement plan as an asset or liability in
the financial statements, requires the measurement of defined benefit
postretirement plan assets and obligations as of the end of the employer’s
fiscal year, and requires recognition of the funded status of defined benefit
postretirement plans in other comprehensive income. SFAS No. 158 is
effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2006. The Company
adopted SFAS 158 in the fourth quarter of 2006 on a prospective basis and this
adoption did not have a material impact on its consolidated results of operation
or financial position.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Accounting for Fair Value
Measurements.” SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, and establishes a
framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles
and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is
effective for the Company for financial statements issued subsequent to November
15, 2007. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 did not have a material impact on
the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash
flows.
In May
2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, a
replacement of APB Opinion No. 20, Accounting Changes and FASB Statement No. 3"
which, among other things, changes the accounting and reporting requirements for
a change in accounting principle and provides guidance on error
corrections. SFAS No. 154 requires retrospective application to prior
period financial statements of a voluntary change in accounting principle unless
impracticable to determine the period-specific effects or cumulative effect of
the change, and restatement with respect to the reporting of error
corrections. SFAS No. 154 applies to all voluntary changes in
accounting principles, and to changes required by an accounting pronouncement in
the unusual instance that the pronouncement does not include specific transition
provisions. SFAS No. 154 also requires that a change in method of
depreciation or amortization for long-lived, non-financial assets be accounted
for as a change in accounting estimate that is effected by a change in
accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 is effective for accounting changes and
corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15,
2005. Adoption of SFAS No. 154 has not had a significant impact on
the Company's financial statements or results of operations.
In March
2005, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 47, “Accounting for
Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations - An Interpretation of FASB Statement
No. 143” (“FIN 47”),
which will result in (a) more consistent recognition of liabilities relating to
asset retirement obligations, (b) more information about expected future cash
outflows associated with those obligations, and (c) more information about
investment in long-lived assets because additional asset retirement costs will
be recognized as part of the carrying amounts of the assets. FIN 47
clarifies that the term conditional asset retirement obligation as used in SFAS
No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” refers to a legal
obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and/or
method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be
within the control of the entity. The obligation to perform the asset
retirement activity is unconditional even though uncertainty exists about the
timing and/or method of settlement. Uncertainty about the timing
and/or method of settlement of a conditional asset retirement obligation should
be factored into the measurement of the liability when sufficient information
exists. FIN 47 also clarifies when an entity would have sufficient
information to reasonably estimate the fair value of an asset retirement
obligation. FIN 47 is effective no later than the end of fiscal years
ending after December 15, 2005. The Company adopted FIN 47 at the end
of its 2005 fiscal year and the adoption has not had a significant impact on its
consolidated results of operations or financial position.
The FASB,
the Emerging Issues Task Force and the SEC have issued certain other accounting
pronouncements and regulations as of December 31, 2007 that will become
effective in subsequent periods; however, management of the Company does not
believe that any of those pronouncements would have significantly affected the
Company’s financial accounting measures or disclosures had they been in effect
during 2007, 2006 or 2005, and it does not believe that any of those
pronouncements will have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated
financial statements at the time they become effective.
ITEM
8.
|
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
|
Incorporated
by reference from the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of the
Company, which are attached hereto beginning on page 40.
ITEM
9.
|
CHANGES
IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
|
Not
applicable.
ITEM
9A. CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure
Controls and Procedures
The
Company maintains a system of disclosure controls and procedures designed to
provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the
Company’s reports filed or submitted pursuant to the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the
rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Disclosure
controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures
designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the
Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure. The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision
and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer, of the design and operation of the Company’s
disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this
report. Based on this evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and
procedures were effective at December 31, 2007.
Internal
Control Over Financial Reporting
The
management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining
adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f)
of the Exchange Act. The Company’s 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 accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America.
All
internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent
limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can
provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement
preparation and presentation.
The
Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. In making this
assessment, it used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control—Integrated
Framework. Based on this assessment the Company believes that,
as of December 31, 2007, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting
is effective based on those criteria.
This
annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company's registered
public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial
reporting. Management's report was not subject to attestation by the
Company's registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of
the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only
management's report in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
During
the quarter ended December 31, 2007, there have been no changes in the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are
reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting.
ITEM
9B. OTHER
INFORMATION
The
Company, NCBC and the Bank entered into a Fifth Amendment to Credit and Security
Agreement, dated March 28, 2008, pursuant to which the Credit Agreement was
amended to (i) increase by 0.25% the applicable interest rate margin for the
Revolving Loan and Term Loan thereunder priced against the lender’s “prime” or
“base” rate; and (ii) add a covenant requiring the Company to meet certain
levels of EBITDA for the calendar months of January through March
2008. The description above is qualified in its entirety by reference
to the full text of the Fifth Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement
included in Exhibit 10.34 to this Form 10-K.
PART
III
ITEM
10. DIRECTORS
AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
The
information about the Company’s directors and executive officers, its Audit
Committee, the Audit Committee’s “audit committee financial expert,” and the
procedures by which nominees are recommended to the Board, is incorporated by
reference from the discussion under the heading “Directors and Executive
Officers” in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2008 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. Information about compliance with Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is incorporated by reference from the discussion
under the heading “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in
the Company’s proxy statement for its 2008 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
Each of
the Company’s directors, officers and employee are required to comply with the
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. Code of Ethics adopted by the
Company. The Code of Ethics sets forth policies covering a broad
range of subjects and requires strict adherence to laws and regulations
applicable to the Company’s business. The Code of Ethics is available
on the Company’s website at www.blondertongue.com, under the “Investor
Relations-Code of Ethics” captions. The Company will post to its
website any amendments to the Code of Ethics, or waiver from the provisions
thereof for executive officers or directors, under the “Investor Relations-Code
of Ethics” caption.
ITEM
11. EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Information
about director and executive officer compensation is incorporated by reference
from the discussion under the headings “Directors’ Compensation” and “Executive
Compensation” in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2008 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
ITEM
12.
|
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
|
Information
about security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is
incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading “Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in the Company’s proxy
statement for its 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
|
EQUITY
COMPENSATION PLANS
|
The
following table provides certain summary information as of December 31, 2007
concerning our compensation plans (including individual compensation
arrangements) under which shares of our Common Stock may be issued.
Plan
Category
|
|
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
The First Column)(#)
|
|
Equity
Compensation Plans Approved By Security Holders
|
|
|
1,618,500 |
(1) |
|
$ |
3.13 |
|
|
|
461,750 |
(2) |
Equity
Compensation Plans Not Approved By Security Holders
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Total
|
|
|
1,618,500 |
|
|
$ |
3.13 |
|
|
|
461,750 |
|
(1) Includes
shares of our Common Stock which may be issued upon the exercise of options or
rights granted under the 1994 Incentive Stock Option Plan, as amended, which
expired by its terms on March 13, 2004, the 1995 Long Term Incentive Plan, as
amended, which expired by its terms on November 30, 2005, the 2005 Employee
Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, the Amended and Restated 1996 Director Option
Plan, which expired by its terms on January 2, 2006, and the 2005 Director
Equity Incentive Plan.
(2) Includes
341,750 shares of our Common Stock available for issuance as stock option
grants, stock appreciation rights, restricted or unrestricted stock
awards or performance based stock awards under the 2005 Employee Equity
Incentive Plan, as amended. Includes 120,000 shares of our Common Stock
available for issuance as stock option grants, stock appreciation rights, or
restricted or unrestricted stock awards under the 2005 Director Equity Incentive
Plan.
ITEM
13. CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Information
about certain relationships and transactions with related parties is
incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading “Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions” in the Company’s proxy
statement
for its 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Information about the
independence of each director or nominee for director of the Company during 2007
is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading “Directors
and Executive Officers” in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2008 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders.
ITEM
14. PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Information
about procedures related to the engagement of the independent registered public
accountants and fees and services paid to the independent registered public
accountants is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the headings
“Audit and Other Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accountants” and
“Pre-Approval Policy for Services by Independent Registered Public Accountants”
in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2008 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
PART
IV
ITEM
15.
|
EXHIBITS
AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
|
(a)(1)
|
Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data.
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and
2005
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2007,
2006 and 2005
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and
2005
|
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
|
(a)(2) Financial
Statement Schedules.
Included in Part IV of this
report:
Schedule II. Valuation and Qualifying
Accounts and Reserves
All other
schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the applicable
instructions or are inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.
(a)(3) Exhibits.
The
exhibits are listed in the Index to Exhibits appearing below and are filed
herewith or are incorporated by reference to exhibits previously filed with the
Commission.
(b)
Index to Exhibits:
Exhibit #
|
Description
|
|
Location
|
3.1
|
Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of Blonder Tongue Laboratories,
Inc.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement
No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended.
|
3.2
|
Restated
Bylaws of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc., as amended.
|
|
|
Exhibit #
|
Description
|
|
Location
|
4.1
|
Specimen
of stock certificate.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement
No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended.
|
10.1
|
Consulting
Agreement, dated January 1, 1995, between Blonder Tongue Laboratories,
Inc. and James H. Williams.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.3 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement
No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended.
|
10.2
|
1994
Incentive Stock Option Plan.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.5 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement
No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended.
|
10.3
|
1995
Long Term Incentive Plan.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.6 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement
No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended.
|
10.4
|
First
Amendment to the 1995 Plan.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.5(a) to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1997.
|
10.5
|
Second
Amendment to the 1995 Plan.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 4.3 to S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-52519
originally filed on May 13, 1998.
|
10.6
|
Third
Amendment to the 1995 Plan.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 4.4 to S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-37670,
originally filed May 23, 2000.
|
10.7
|
Fourth
Amendment to the 1995 Plan.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 4.5 to S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-96993,
originally filed July 24, 2002.
|
10.8
|
Amended
and Restated 1996 Director Option Plan.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Appendix B to Registrant’s Proxy Statement for its 1998
Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed March 27, 1998.
|
10.9
|
First
Amendment to the Amended and Restated 1996 Director Option
Plan.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 4.2 to S-8 Registration Statement No.
333-111367, originally filed on December 19, 2003.
|
10.10
|
Form
of Indemnification Agreement entered into by Blonder Tongue Laboratories,
Inc. in favor of each of its Directors and Officers.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.10 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement
No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended.
|
10.11
|
VideoCipher®
IICM Commercial Descrambler Module Master Purchase and License Agreement,
dated August 23, 1990, between Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and
Cable/Home Communication Corp.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.11 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement
No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended.
|
†10.12
|
Patent
License Agreement, dated August 21, 1995, between Blonder Tongue
Laboratories, Inc. and Philips Electronics North America
Corporation.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.12 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement
No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended.
|
†10.13
|
Interdiction
Technology License Agreement, dated August 21, 1995, between Blonder
Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and Philips Broadband Networks,
Inc.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.13 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement
No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as
amended.
|
Exhibit #
|
Description
|
|
Location
|
10.14
|
Bargaining
Unit Pension Plan.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.22 to S-1 Registration Statement No.
33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended.
|
10.15
|
Executive
Officer Bonus Plan.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.3 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1997, filed May 13,
1997.
|
10.16
|
Second
Amendment to Consulting and Non-Competition Agreement between Registrant
and James H. Williams, dated as of June 30, 2000.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2000, filed August 14,
2000.
|
10.17
|
Blonder
Tongue Laboratories, Inc. 2005 Employee Equity Incentive
Plan
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Appendix A to the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement
for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 24,
2005.
|
10.18
|
Blonder
Tongue Laboratories, Inc. 2005 Director Equity Incentive
Plan
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Appendix B to the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement
for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 24,
2005.
|
10.19
|
Credit
and Security Agreement dated December 29, 2005 between Blonder Tongue
Laboratories, Inc., BDR Broadband, LLC, Blonder Tongue Investment Company,
National City Business Credit, Inc., and National City
Bank.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 99.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K
dated December 29, 2005, filed January 5, 2006.
|
10.20
|
Interest
Rate Swap Agreement dated December 21, 2005 between Blonder Tongue
Laboratories, Inc. and National City Bank.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 99.2 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K
dated December 29, 2005, filed January 5, 2006.
|
10.21
|
Form
of Option Agreement under the 1995 Long Term Incentive
Plan.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.33 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the period ending December 31, 2004, filed April 15,
2005.
|
10.22
|
Form
of Option Agreement under the 1996 Director Option Plan.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.34 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the period ending December 31, 2004, filed April 15,
2005.
|
10.23
|
Form
of Option Agreement under the 2005 Employee Equity Incentive
Plan.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.3 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the period ending June 30, 2005, filed August 15,
2005.
|
10.24
|
Form
of Option Agreement under the 2005 Director Equity Incentive
Plan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.25
|
First
Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement dated March 29, 2006 among
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc., BDR Broadband, LLC, Blonder Tongue
Investment Company, National City Business Credit, Inc. and National City
Bank.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of Registrant’s Quarterly Report in Form
10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2006, filed May 12,
2006.
|
Exhibit #
|
Description
|
|
Location
|
10.26
|
Share
Exchange and Settlement Agreement dated June 30, 2006 among Blonder Tongue
Laboratories, Inc., Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC, Resource Investment
Group, LLC, Broadstar South, LLC, H. Tyler Bell and Douglas
Bell.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 99.1 to Registrant’s Current Report in Form 8-K
dated June 30, 2006, filed June 7, 2006.
|
10.27
|
Patent
Purchase Agreement dated September 12, 2006 between Blonder Tongue
Investment Company and Moonbeam L.L.C.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 99.1 to Registrant’s Current Report in Form 8-K
dated September 12, 2006, filed September 18, 2006.
|
10.28
|
Stock
Purchase Agreement dated November 14, 2006 between Blonder Tongue
Laboratories, Inc. and Ferris, Baker, Watts Incorporated.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 99.1 to Registrant’s Current Report in Form 8-K
dated November 14, 2006, filed November 20, 2006.
|
10.29
|
Second
Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement dated December 14, 2006 among
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc., BDR Broadband, LLC, Blonder Tongue
Investment Company, National City Business Credit, Inc. and National City
Bank.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.2 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K
dated December 15, 2006, filed December 21, 2006.
|
10.30
|
Membership
Interest Purchase Agreement dated December 15, 2006 among Blonder Tongue
Laboratories, Inc., BDR Broadband, LLC and DirecPath Holdings,
LLC.
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form
8-K dated December 15, 2006, filed December 21, 2006.
|
10.31
|
Third
Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement dated August 8, 2007 among
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc., Blonder Tongue Investment Company,
National City Business Credit, Inc. and National City Bank
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Form 10-Q filed August 10,
2007.
|
10.32
|
Description
of Compensatory Arrangement between Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and
Peter Daly, Senior Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, approved October
4, 2007
|
|
|
10.33
|
Fourth
Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement dated November 8, 2007 among
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc., Blonder Tongue Investment Company,
National City Business Credit, Inc. and National City Bank
|
|
Incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.2 to Registrant’s Form 10-Q filed November
13, 2007.
|
10.34
|
Fifth
Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement dated March 28, 2008 among
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc., Blonder Tongue Investment Company,
National City Business Credit, Inc. and National City Bank
|
|
|
10.35
|
First
Amendment to Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. 2005 Employee Equity
Incentive Plan |
|
Incorporated
by reference from Appendix B to the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement
for its 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 23,
2007. |
21
|
Subsidiaries
of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc.
|
|
|
23.1
|
Consent
of Marcum & Kliegman LLP.
|
|
|
31.1
|
Certification
of James A. Luksch pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
|
|
Exhibit #
|
Description
|
|
Location
|
31.2
|
Certification
of Eric Skolnik pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
|
|
32.1
|
Certification
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
|
|
†
Certain portions of exhibit have been afforded confidential treatment by
the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
|
Exhibits
10.1 – 10.9, 10.15 - 10.18, 10.21 – 10.24, 10.32 and 10.35 represent
management contracts or compensation plans or arrangements.
(c) Financial
Statement Schedules:
Report of
Marcum & Kliegman LLP on financial statement schedule is included on page 65
of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The
following financial statement schedule is included on page 66 of this Annual
Report on Form 10-K:
Schedule
II. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves.
All other
schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the applicable
instructions or are inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.
BLONDER
TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
Page
|
|
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2007 and
2006
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and
2005
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2007,
2006 and 2005..
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and
2005
|
|
|
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial
Statements
|
|
REPORT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the
Audit Committee of
Blonder
Tongue Laboratories, Inc.
Old
Bridge, New Jersey
We have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Blonder Tongue
Laboratories, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and the
related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, stockholders’
equity and cash flows for each of the three years ended December 31,
2007. These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
these financial statements based on our audits.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require
that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether
the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The
Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its
internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included
consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for
designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, 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. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements,
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
In our
opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc.
and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for the three years ended December 31, 2007 in
conformity with United States generally accepted accounting
principles.
/s/
Marcum & Kliegman LLP
Marcum
& Kliegman LLP
New York,
New York
March 28,
2008
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets (Note
4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
$ |
270 |
|
|
$ |
84 |
|
Accounts receivable, net of
allowance for doubtful
accounts of $349 and $652
respectively (Note
8)
|
|
|
2,926 |
|
|
|
3,874 |
|
Inventories (Note
2)
|
|
|
8,572 |
|
|
|
9,708 |
|
Prepaid and other current
assets
|
|
|
939 |
|
|
|
708 |
|
Deferred income taxes (Note
12)
|
|
|
453 |
|
|
|
568 |
|
Total current
assets
|
|
|
13,160 |
|
|
|
14,942 |
|
Inventories,
net non-current (Note 2)
|
|
|
5,868 |
|
|
|
5,052 |
|
Property,
plant and equipment, net of accumulated
depreciation and amortization
(Notes 3 and 5)
|
|
|
4,530 |
|
|
|
4,537 |
|
Patents,
net
|
|
|
74 |
|
|
|
107 |
|
Other
assets, net (Note
7)
|
|
|
414 |
|
|
|
796 |
|
Deferred
income taxes (Note
12)
|
|
|
1,903 |
|
|
|
1,788 |
|
|
|
$ |
25,949 |
|
|
$ |
27,222 |
|
Liabilities and Stockholders’
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current portion of long-term debt
(Note
4)
|
|
$ |
2,560 |
|
|
$ |
2,469 |
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
|
1,779 |
|
|
|
1,397 |
|
Accrued
compensation
|
|
|
524 |
|
|
|
742 |
|
Accrued benefit liability (Note
6)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
103 |
|
Income taxes
payable
|
|
|
49 |
|
|
|
461 |
|
Other accrued
expenses
|
|
|
346 |
|
|
|
259 |
|
Total current
liabilities
|
|
|
5,258 |
|
|
|
5,431 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term
debt (Note
4)
|
|
|
14 |
|
|
|
1,559 |
|
Commitments
and contingencies (Notes 5, 6 and
7)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Stockholders’
equity (Notes 6, 9 and 11):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, $.001 par value;
authorized 5,000 shares;
no shares
outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, $.001 par value;
authorized 25,000 shares, 8,465 shares Issued
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
Paid-in
capital
|
|
|
24,887 |
|
|
|
24,454 |
|
Retained
earnings
|
|
|
3,747 |
|
|
|
3,907 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive
loss
|
|
|
(654 |
) |
|
|
(826 |
) |
Treasury stock, at cost, 2,242
shares
|
|
|
(7,311 |
) |
|
|
(7,311 |
) |
Total stockholders’
equity
|
|
|
20,677 |
|
|
|
20,232 |
|
|
|
$ |
25,949 |
|
|
$ |
27,222 |
|
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In
thousands, except per share data)
|
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
sales (Note 8)
|
|
$ |
33,159 |
|
|
$ |
35,775 |
|
|
$ |
34,730 |
|
Cost
of goods sold
|
|
|
21,850 |
|
|
|
23,409 |
|
|
|
27,399 |
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
11,309 |
|
|
|
12,366 |
|
|
|
7,331 |
|
Operating
expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling
expenses
|
|
|
4,751 |
|
|
|
4,738 |
|
|
|
4,481 |
|
General and administrative
(Notes 5, 6, and 7)
|
|
|
4,797 |
|
|
|
5,658 |
|
|
|
5,022 |
|
Research and
development
|
|
|
1,797 |
|
|
|
1,634 |
|
|
|
1,552 |
|
|
|
|
11,345 |
|
|
|
12,030 |
|
|
|
11,055 |
|
Earnings
(loss) from operations
|
|
|
(36 |
) |
|
|
336 |
|
|
|
(3,724 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
(466 |
) |
|
|
(711 |
) |
|
|
(796 |
) |
Interest and other income (Note
14)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
386 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Equity in loss of Blonder
Tongue Telephone, LLC (Note 13)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(107 |
) |
|
|
(437 |
) |
|
|
|
(466 |
) |
|
|
(432 |
) |
|
|
(1,232 |
) |
Loss
from continuing operations before income taxes
|
|
|
(502 |
) |
|
|
(96 |
) |
|
|
(4,956 |
) |
Provision
(benefit) for income taxes (Note 12)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Loss
from continuing operations after income taxes
|
|
|
(502 |
) |
|
|
(96 |
) |
|
|
(4,956 |
) |
Discontinued
operations: (Note 13)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
from discontinued operations (net of tax)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(500 |
) |
|
|
(544 |
) |
Gain
(loss) on disposal of subsidiary
|
|
|
(59 |
) |
|
|
938 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$ |
(561 |
) |
|
$ |
342 |
|
|
$ |
(5,500 |
) |
Basic
and diluted loss per share from continuing operations
|
|
$ |
(0.08 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.62 |
) |
Basic
and diluted loss per share from discontinued operations
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
(0.06 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.07 |
) |
Basic
and diluted gain per share on disposal
|
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
|
$ |
0.12 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Basic
and diluted income (loss) per share
|
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
|
$ |
0.06 |
|
|
$ |
(0.07 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(0.09 |
) |
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
|
$ |
(0.69 |
) |
Basic
and diluted weighted average shares outstanding
|
|
|
6,222 |
|
|
|
7,592 |
|
|
|
8,015 |
|
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In
thousands)
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
|
|
Paid-in
Capital
|
|
|
|
Retained
Earnings
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Loss
|
|
|
|
Treasury
Stock
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at January 1, 2005
|
|
|
8,465 |
|
|
$ |
8 |
|
|
$ |
24,202 |
|
|
$ |
9,065 |
|
|
$ |
(897 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,455 |
) |
|
$ |
26,923 |
|
Net
loss
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(5,500 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(5,500 |
) |
Recognized
pension expense, net of taxes
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
76 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
76 |
|
Comprehensive
loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,424 |
) |
Balance
at December 31, 2005
|
|
|
8,465 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
24,202 |
|
|
|
3,565 |
|
|
|
(821 |
) |
|
|
(5,455 |
) |
|
|
21,499 |
|
Net
income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
342 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
342 |
|
Recognized
pension expense, net of taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5 |
) |
Comprehensive
loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
337 |
|
Stock-based
Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
252 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
252 |
|
Acquisition
of treasury stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,856 |
) |
|
|
(1,856 |
) |
Balance
at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
8,465 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
24,454 |
|
|
|
3,907 |
|
|
|
(826 |
) |
|
|
(7,311 |
) |
|
|
20,232 |
|
Net
loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(561 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(561 |
) |
Recognized
pension expense, net of taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
172 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
172 |
|
Comprehensive
loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(389 |
) |
FIN
48 adjustment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
401 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
401 |
|
Stock-based
Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
433 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
433 |
|
Balance
at December 31, 2007
|
|
|
8,465 |
|
|
$ |
8 |
|
|
$ |
24,887 |
|
|
$ |
3,747 |
|
|
$ |
(654 |
) |
|
$ |
(7,311 |
) |
|
$ |
20,677 |
|
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In
thousands)
|
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
Flows From Operating Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
(loss) )
|
|
$ |
(561 |
) |
|
$ |
342 |
|
|
$ |
(5,500 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net
income (loss) to cash
provided by operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity in loss from Blonder
Tongue Telephone, LLC
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
107 |
|
|
|
437 |
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
462 |
|
|
|
986 |
|
|
|
1,021 |
|
Amortization
|
|
|
33 |
|
|
|
629 |
|
|
|
636 |
|
Stock-based
compensation expense
|
|
|
433 |
|
|
|
252 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Gain
on sale of BDR Broadband, LLC
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(938 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Gain
on sale of patents
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(386 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Provision for inventory
reserves
|
|
|
314 |
|
|
|
114 |
|
|
|
4,372 |
|
Provision for doubtful
accounts
|
|
|
(303 |
) |
|
|
(181 |
) |
|
|
256 |
|
Changes in operating assets and
liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable
|
|
|
1,251 |
|
|
|
(316 |
) |
|
|
(130 |
) |
Inventories
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
(359 |
) |
|
|
390 |
|
Prepaid and other current
assets
|
|
|
(40 |
) |
|
|
272 |
|
|
|
164 |
|
Other assets
|
|
|
382 |
|
|
|
299 |
|
|
|
(463 |
) |
Income taxes
|
|
|
(11 |
) |
|
|
(30 |
) |
|
|
811 |
|
Accounts payable, accrued
expenses and accrued compensation
|
|
|
129 |
|
|
|
(719 |
) |
|
|
652 |
|
Net cash provided by operating
activities
|
|
|
2,095 |
|
|
|
72 |
|
|
|
2,646 |
|
Cash
Flows From Investing Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital
expenditures
|
|
|
(455 |
) |
|
|
(398 |
) |
|
|
(991 |
) |
Acquisition of rights of
entry
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(91 |
) |
|
|
(3 |
) |
Proceeds
from sale of BDR Broadband, LLC
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2,234 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Proceeds
from sale of patents
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Net cash provided by (used in)
investing activities
|
|
|
(455 |
) |
|
|
3,745 |
|
|
|
(994 |
) |
Cash
Flows From Financing Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Repayments of
debt
|
|
|
(34,444 |
) |
|
|
(40,635 |
) |
|
|
(23,197 |
) |
Borrowings of
debt
|
|
|
32,990 |
|
|
|
37,085 |
|
|
|
22,262 |
|
Acquisition of treasury
stock
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(970 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Net cash used in financing
activities
|
|
|
(1,454 |
) |
|
|
(4,520 |
) |
|
|
(935 |
) |
Net
increase (decrease) in cash
|
|
|
186 |
|
|
|
(703 |
) |
|
|
717 |
|
Cash,
beginning of year
|
|
|
84 |
|
|
|
787 |
|
|
|
70 |
|
Cash,
end of year
|
|
$ |
270 |
|
|
$ |
84 |
|
|
$ |
787 |
|
Supplemental
Cash Flow Information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for
interest
|
|
$ |
485 |
|
|
$ |
674 |
|
|
$ |
791 |
|
Cash paid for income
taxes
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Non-cash
investing and financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition of treasury stock for
transfer of equity interest in Blonder Tongue
Telephone,
LLC
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
886 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a) Company
and Basis of Presentation
Blonder
Tongue Laboratories, Inc. (the “Company”) is a designer,
manufacturer and supplier of electronics and systems equipment for the cable
television industry, primarily throughout the United States. The
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Blonder Tongue
Laboratories, Inc. and subsidiaries (including BDR Broadband, LLC “BDR”). Significant
intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in
consolidation.
The
Company’s investment in Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC (“BTT”) and NetLinc
Communications, LLC (“NetLinc”) were accounted for
on the equity method since the Company did not have control over these entities.
On June 30, 2006, the Company sold its ownership interest in BTT. See Note
13.
The
Company does not have substantive participating rights in the day-to-day
operations of NetLinc. NetLinc is managed by a Board of Mangers
consisting of two Managers, one of whom is a controlling member of the sole
other member of NetLinc and the other is an officer of the
Company. However, the Managers have delegated general and active
management of NetLinc to a President, who is also in a control position with
respect to such other member. Although the Company owns a 50% equity
and voting interest in NetLinc, all decisions of the members, including the
election of Managers, require a vote of at least 51% of the voting
interests. In addition, each action of the Board of Managers,
including the election and removal of the President, requires a majority vote of
the Managers. The Company, therefore, does not control the election
of the Managers or the President of NetLinc, and does not have the power to
remove the President. Accordingly, the other member of NetLinc
possesses substantive participating rights through its common affiliation with
the President. The Company does possess certain protective rights in
connection with certain actions by NetLinc which require the unanimous approval
of all members, including the creation of a new class of membership interest,
approving a change of control, and approving a change in the nature of its
business.
On
November 11, 2005, the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Blonder Tongue
Far East, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, entered into a joint
venture agreement with Master Gain International Industrial Limited, a Hong Kong
corporation, to manufacture products in the People’s Republic of
China. This joint venture was formed to compete with Far East
manufactured products and to expand market coverage outside North
America. On June 9, 2006, the Company terminated the JV Agreement due
to the joint venture's failure to meet certain quarterly financial milestones as
set forth in the JV Agreement. The inability to meet such financial
milestones was caused, in part, by the failure of Master Gain to contribute the
$5,850 of capital to the joint venture as required by the JV Agreement and the
joint venture's failure to obtain certain governmental approvals and licenses
necessary for the operation of the joint venture.
(b) Accounts
Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful accounts
Accounts
receivable are customer obligations due under normal trade terms. The
Company sells its products primarily to distributors and private cable
operators. The Company performs continuing credit evaluations of its
customers’ financial condition and although the Company generally does not
require collateral, letters of credit may be required from its customers in
certain circumstances.
Senior
management reviews accounts receivable on a monthly basis to determine if any
receivables will potentially be uncollectible. The Company includes
any accounts receivable balances that are determined to be uncollectible, along
with a general reserve based on historical experience, in its overall allowance
for doubtful accounts. After all attempts to collect a receivable
have failed, the receivable is written off against the
allowance. Based on the information available, the Company believes
its allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2007 is adequate;
however, actual write-offs might exceed the recorded allowance.
(c) Inventories
Inventories
are stated at the lower of cost, determined by the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method, or
market.
The
Company periodically analyzes anticipated product sales based on historical
results, current backlog and marketing plans. Based on these
analyses, the Company anticipates that certain products will not be sold during
the next
twelve
months. Inventories that are not anticipated to be sold in the next
twelve months, have been classified as non-current.
The
Company continually analyzes its slow-moving, excess and obsolete
inventories. Based on historical and projected sales volumes and
anticipated selling prices, the Company establishes reserves. If the
Company does not meet its sales expectations, these reserves are
increased. Products that are determined to be obsolete are written
down to net realizable value. During 2005, the Company reserved 100%
of all items for which there was no usage over the previous twelve months and
100% of the value of closeout products. The Company recorded an
increase to its reserve of $314, $114 and $4,372 during 2007, 2006 and 2005,
respectively. The Company believes reserves are adequate and
inventories are reflected at net realizable value.
(d) Property,
Plant and Equipment
Property,
plant and equipment are stated at cost. The Company provides for depreciation
generally on the straight-line method based upon estimated useful lives of 3 to
5 years for office equipment, 5 to 7 years for furniture and fixtures, 6 to 10
years for machinery and equipment, 10 to 15 years for building improvements, 5
to 7 years for cable systems, and 40 years for the manufacturing and
administrative office facility.
(e) Income
Taxes
The
Company accounts for income taxes under the provisions of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” and FASB
Interpretation No 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty In Income Taxes- An
Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”). Deferred
income taxes are provided for temporary differences in the recognition of
certain income and expenses for financial and tax reporting
purposes. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to
reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
Effective
January 1, 2007, the Company adopted FIN 48, which prescribes a single,
comprehensive model for how a company should recognize, measure, present and
disclose in its financial statements uncertain tax positions that the Company
has taken or expects to take on its tax returns. Upon adoption of FIN
48, the Company recognized a decrease of approximately $401 in the liability for
unrecognized tax benefits, which was accounted for as an increase to retained
earnings of $401 as of January 1, 2007.
As of
January 1, 2007, after the implementation of FIN 48, the Company’s amount of
unrecognized tax benefits is $55. The amount of unrecognized tax
benefits, if recognized, would not have a material impact on the Company’s
effective tax rate. The Company files income tax returns in the
United States (federal) and in the state of New Jersey and various state
jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to federal and state
income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2003.
Under FIN
48, the impact of an uncertain income tax position(s) on the income tax return
must be recognized at the largest amount that is more-likely-than-not to be
sustained upon an audit by the relevant taxing authority. An
uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50%
likelihood of being sustained.
The
Company will classify as income tax expense any interest and penalties
recognized in accordance with FIN 48.
(f) Intangible
Assets
Intangible
assets consist of acquired patents and rights-of-entry, and are carried at cost
less accumulated amortization. Amortization is computed utilizing the
straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the respective asset, 12
years for acquired patents and 5 years for rights-of-entry. The
Company sold its rights-of-entry during the year ended December 31, 2006 (See
Note 13).
The
components of intangible assets consisting entirely of acquired patents at
December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 are as follows:
|
|
December
31, 2007
|
|
|
December
31, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired
patents
|
|
$ |
1,390 |
|
|
$ |
1,390 |
|
Accumulated
amortization
|
|
$ |
1,316 |
|
|
$ |
1,283 |
|
|
|
$ |
74 |
|
|
$ |
107 |
|
The
Company continues to amortize its patents over their estimated useful lives with
no significant residual value. Amortization expense for intangible
assets, including rights-of-entry, was $33, $629 and $636 for the years ending
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Intangible asset
amortization is projected to be approximately $33 per year for the years ending
December 31, 2008 and 2009 and $8 for the year ending December 31,
2010.
(g) Long-Lived
Assets
The
Company follows Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting
for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (“FAS 144”). FAS 144
standardized the accounting practices for the recognition and measurement of
impairment losses on certain long-lived assets based on non-discounted cash
flows. No impairment losses have been recorded through December 31,
2007.
(h) Cash
and Cash Equivalents
The
Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with a maturity of less
than three months at purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company did
not have any cash equivalents at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.
(i) Research
and Development
Research
and development expenditures for the Company’s projects are expensed as
incurred.
(j) Revenue
Recognition
The
Company records revenues when products are shipped and the amount of revenue is
determinable and collection is reasonably assured. Customers do not
have a right of return. The Company provides a three year warranty on
most products. Warranty expense was not deemed material in the three
year period ended December 31, 2007.
(k) Earnings
(loss) Per Share
Earnings
(loss) per share are calculated in accordance with FAS 128, which provides for
the calculation of “basic” and “diluted” earnings (loss) per
share. Basic earnings (loss) per share includes no dilution and is
computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of common
shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share
reflect, in periods in which they have a dilutive effect, the effect of common
shares issuable upon exercise of stock options. The diluted share
base excludes incremental shares of 1,902, 1,527 and 1,282 related to stock
options for December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 respectively. These
shares were excluded due to their antidilutive effect.
(l) Treasury
Stock
Treasury
Stock is recorded at cost. Gains and losses on disposition are
recorded as increases or decreases to additional paid-in capital with losses in
excess of previously recorded gains charged directly to retained
earnings.
(m) Derivative
Financial Instruments
The
Company utilizes interest rate swaps at times to manage interest rate
exposures. The Company specifically designates interest rate swaps as
hedges of debt instruments and recognizes interest differentials as adjustments
to interest expense in the period they occur. The Company does not
hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes. Although
the Company held an interest rate swap at December 31, 2007 and 2006, the effect
on the balance sheet was not deemed material.
(n) Significant
Risks and Uncertainties
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and
the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting
period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
Approximately
47% of the Company’s employees are covered by a three year collective bargaining
agreement, which expires in February 2009.
The
Company estimates that analog headend products accounted for approximately
49% of the Company’s revenues in each of the three year period ending December
31, 2007. Any substantial decrease in sales of headend products could
have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial
condition and cash flows.
(o) Stock
Options
The
Company implemented SFAS No. 123(R), “Accounting for Share-Based Payment,” in
the first quarter of 2006. The statement requires companies to
expense the value of employee stock options and similar awards. Under
FAS 123(R) share-based payment awards result in a cost that will be measured at
fair value on the awards’ grant date based on the estimated number of awards
that are expected to vest. Compensation cost for awards that vest
will not be reversed if the awards expire without being
exercised. Stock compensation expense under FAS 123(R) was $433 and
$252 for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
The
Company estimates the fair value of each stock option grant by using the
Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average
assumptions used for grants: expected lives of 6.5, 6.3 and 9.5 years; no
dividend yield; volatility at 70%, 72% and 73%; and risk free interest rate of
4.93%, 4.65% and 3.2% for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
Under
accounting provisions of FAS 123, the Company’s net income (loss) to common
shareholders and net income (loss) per common share would have been adjusted to
the pro forma amounts indicated below (in thousands, except per share
data):
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
2005
|
|
Net
loss as
reported
|
|
$ |
(5,500
|
) |
Adjustment
for fair value of stock options
|
|
|
647 |
|
Pro
forma
|
|
|
(6,147 |
) |
Net
loss per share basic and diluted:
|
|
|
|
|
As
reported
|
|
$ |
(0.69 |
) |
Pro
forma
|
|
$ |
(0.77 |
) |
(p) New Accounting
Pronouncements
requires
that a retained noncontrolling interest upon the deconsolidation of a subsidiary
be initially measured at its fair value. Upon adoption of SFAS No.
160, the Company would be required to report any noncontrolling interests as a
separate component of consolidated stockholders’ equity. The Company
would also be required to present any net income allocable to noncontrolling
interests and net income attributable to the stockholders of the Company
separately in its consolidated statements of operations. SFAS No. 160
is effective for fiscal years, and interim period within those fiscal years,
beginning on or after January 1, 2009. SFAS No. 160 requires
retroactive adoption of the presentation and disclosure requirements for
existing minority interests. All other requirements of SFAS No. 160
shall be applied prospectively. SFAS No. 160 would have an impact on
the presentation and disclosure of the noncontrolling interests of any non
wholly-owned business acquired in the future.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
("SFAS") No. 141R,
"Business Combinations" ("SFAS
141R"), which replaces SFAS 141, "Business Combinations." SFAS
141R establishes principles and requirements for determining how an enterprise
recognizes and measures the fair value of certain assets and liabilities
acquired in a business combination, including noncontrolling interests,
contingent consideration, and certain acquired contingencies. SFAS 141R also
requires acquisition-related transaction expenses and restructuring costs be
expensed as incurred rather than capitalized as a component of the business
combination. SFAS 141R will be applicable prospectively to business combinations
for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual
reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. SFAS 141R would have
an impact on accounting for any businesses acquired after the effective date of
this pronouncement.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS
159 provides companies with an option to report selected financial assets and
liabilities at fair value. The objective of SFAS 159 is to reduce
both complexity in accounting for financial instruments and the volatility in
earning caused by measuring related assets and liabilities
differently. Generally accepted accounting principles have required
different measurement attributes for different assets and liabilities that can
create artificial volatility in earnings. The FASB has indicated it
believes that SFAS 159 helps to mitigate this type of accounting-induced
volatility be enabling companies to report related assets and liabilities at
fair value, which would likely reduce the need for companies to comply with
detailed rules for hedge accounting. SFAS 159 also establishes presentation and
disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between companies
that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and
liabilities. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2007. Management is in the process of evaluating this
pronouncement.
In
September 2006, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulleting (“SAB”) No. 108, Considering the
Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current
Year Financial Statements (“SAB
108”). SAB 108 was issued in order to reduce the diversity in
practice in how public companies quantify misstatements of financial statements,
including misstatement that were not material to prior years’ financial
statements. SAB 108 is effective for fiscal year 2007. The
adoption of this pronouncement did not have an impact on the Company’s financial
position, results of operations or cash flows.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employer’s Accounting for Defined
Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans.” Among other items, SFAS No. 158
requires recognition of the overfunded or underfunded status of an entity’s
defined benefit postretirement plan as an asset or liability in the financial
statements, requires the measurement of defined benefit postretirement plan
assets and obligations as of the end of the employer’s fiscal year, and requires
recognition of the funded status of defined benefit postretirement plans in
other comprehensive income. SFAS No. 158 is effective for fiscal years
ending after December 15, 2006. The Company adopted SFAS 158 in the fourth
quarter of 2006 on a prospective basis and the adoption did not have a material
impact on its consolidated results of operation or financial
position.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Accounting for Fair Value
Measurements.” SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, and establishes a framework for
measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands
disclosure about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective
for the Company for financial statements issued subsequent to November 15,
2007. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 did not have a material impact on
the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash
flows.
In May
2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, a
replacement of APB Opinion No. 20, Accounting Changes and FASB Statement No. 3"
which, among other things,
changes
the accounting and reporting requirements for a change in accounting principle
and provides guidance on error corrections. SFAS No. 154 requires
retrospective application to prior period financial statements of a voluntary
change in accounting principle unless impracticable to determine the
period-specific effects or cumulative effect of the change, and restatement with
respect to the reporting of error corrections. SFAS No. 154 applies
to all voluntary changes in accounting principles, and to changes required by an
accounting pronouncement in the unusual instance that the pronouncement does not
include specific transition provisions. SFAS No. 154 also requires
that a change in method of depreciation or amortization for long-lived,
non-financial assets be accounted for as a change in accounting estimate that is
effected by a change in accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 is effective for
accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 2005. Adoption of SFAS No. 154 has not had a
significant impact on the Company's financial statements or results of
operations.
In March
2005, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 47, “Accounting for
Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations - An Interpretation of FASB Statement
No. 143” (“FIN 47”),
which will result in (a) more consistent recognition of liabilities relating to
asset retirement obligations, (b) more information about expected future cash
outflows associated with those obligations, and (c) more information about
investment in long-lived assets because additional asset retirement costs will
be recognized as part of the carrying amounts of the assets. FIN 47
clarifies that the term conditional asset retirement obligation as used in SFAS
No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” refers to a legal
obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and/or
method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be
within the control of the entity. The obligation to perform the asset
retirement activity is unconditional even though uncertainty exists about the
timing and/or method of settlement. Uncertainty about the timing
and/or method of settlement of a conditional asset retirement obligation should
be factored into the measurement of the liability when sufficient information
exists. FIN 47 also clarifies when an entity would have sufficient
information to reasonably estimate the fair value of an asset retirement
obligation. FIN 47 is effective no later than the end of fiscal years
ending after December 15, 2005. The Company adopted FIN 47 at the end
of its 2005 fiscal year and the adoption has not had a significant impact on its
consolidated results of operations or financial position.
The FASB,
the Emerging Issues Task Force and the SEC have issued certain other accounting
pronouncements and regulations as of December 31, 2007 that will become
effective in subsequent periods; however, management of the Company does not
believe that any of those pronouncements would have significantly affected the
Company’s financial accounting measures or disclosures had they been in effect
during 2007, 2006 or 2005, and it does not believe that any of those
pronouncements will have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated
financial statements at the time they become effective.
(r) Royalty
and License Expense
The Company records royalty expense, as
applicable, when the related products are sold. Royalty expense is
recorded as a component of selling expenses. The Company amortizes
license fees over the life of the relevant contract.
(s) Foreign
Exchange
The
Company uses the United States dollar as its functional and reporting currency
since the majority of the Company’s revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities
are in the United States and the focus of the Company’s operations is in that
country. Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are translated using the
exchange rate at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at
average rates of exchange during the year. Gains and losses from foreign
currency transactions and translation for the years ended December 31, 2007,
2006 and 2005 and cumulative translation gains and losses as of December 31,
2007, 2006 and 2005 were not material.
Note
2 – Inventories
Inventories,
net of reserves, are summarized as follows:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
Raw
materials
|
|
$ |
9,169 |
|
|
$ |
8,564 |
|
Work
in
process
|
|
|
1,592 |
|
|
|
1,864 |
|
Finished
goods
|
|
|
10,823 |
|
|
|
11,162 |
|
|
|
|
21,584 |
|
|
|
21,590 |
|
Less
current
inventory
|
|
|
(8,572 |
) |
|
|
(9,708 |
) |
|
|
|
13,012 |
|
|
|
11,882 |
|
Less
reserve for slow moving and obsolete inventory
|
|
|
(7,144 |
) |
|
|
(6,830 |
) |
|
|
$ |
5,868 |
|
|
$ |
5,052 |
|
The
Company recorded a $314, $114 and $4,372 provision for slow moving and obsolete
inventory during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005,
respectively. In 2006, the Company wrote off fully reserved
inventories of approximately $2,000.
Note
3 - Property, Plant and Equipment
Property,
plant and equipment are summarized as follows:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
Land
|
|
$ |
1,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,000 |
|
Building
|
|
|
3,361 |
|
|
|
3,361 |
|
Machinery
and
equipment
|
|
|
8,355 |
|
|
|
8,078 |
|
Cable
systems (See Note 13)
|
|
|
452 |
|
|
|
546 |
|
Furniture
and
fixtures
|
|
|
404 |
|
|
|
403 |
|
Office
equipment
|
|
|
2,038 |
|
|
|
2,017 |
|
Building
improvements
|
|
|
967 |
|
|
|
717 |
|
|
|
|
16,577 |
|
|
|
16,122 |
|
Less: Accumulated
depreciation and
amortization
|
|
|
(12,047 |
) |
|
|
(11,585 |
) |
|
|
$ |
4,530 |
|
|
$ |
4,537 |
|
Depreciation
expense amounted to approximately $462, $986 and $1,021 during the years ended
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
Note
4 – Debt
On
December 29, 2005 the Company entered into a Credit and Security Agreement
(“Credit Agreement”) with National City
Business Credit, Inc. (“NCBC”) and National City Bank
(the “Bank”). The Credit
Agreement initially provided for (i) a $10,000 asset based revolving credit
facility (“Revolving
Loan”) and (ii) a $3,500 term loan facility (“Term Loan”), both of which
have a three year term. The amounts which may be borrowed under the
Revolving Loan are based on certain percentages of Eligible Receivables and
Eligible Inventory, as such terms are defined in the Credit
Agreement. The obligations of the Company under the Credit Agreement
are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company.
In March
2006, the Credit Agreement was amended to (i) modify certain financial covenants
as defined under the Credit Agreement, (ii) increase the applicable interest
rates for the Revolving Loan and Term Loan thereunder by 25 basis points until
such time as the Company had met certain financial covenants for two consecutive
fiscal quarters and (iii) impose an availability block of $500 under the
Company’s borrowing base until such time as the Company had met certain
financial covenants for two consecutive fiscal quarters. The increase
in interest rates and availability block were released as of November 14,
2006.
On
December 15, 2006, the Company and BDR, as Borrowers, and Blonder Tongue
Investment Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, as Guarantor,
entered into a Second Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement (the “Amendment”) with NCBC and the
Bank. Incident to the Company’s divestiture of BDR, the Amendment
removed BDR as a “Borrower” under the Credit Agreement as amended and included
other modifications and amendments to the Credit Agreement and related ancillary
agreements necessitated by the removal of BDR as a Borrower. These
other modifications and amendments included a reduction of approximately $1,400
to the maximum
amount of
advances that NCBC will make to the Company under the Revolving Loan, due to the
release from collateral of the rights-of-entry owned by BDR.
As of the
end of each fiscal quarter during 2007, the Company was in violation of a
certain financial covenant, compliance with which was waived by the Bank
effective as of each such date.
On August
8, 2007, the Credit Agreement was amended to (i) reduce the maximum revolving
advance amount by $2,500 to $7,500; (ii) increase by one percent (1.0%), the
applicable interest rate margin for the Revolving Loan and Term Loan thereunder
priced against the lender’s “prime” or “base” rate; (iii) eliminate the
Company’s option to pay interest on its loans based upon the LIBOR rate plus an
applicable margin; (iv) add a covenant requiring the Company to meet certain
levels of EBITDA for the calendar months of July through September 2007; and (v)
add a covenant requiring the Company to maintain certain minimum levels of
undrawn availability under the Revolving Loan.
On
November 7, 2007, the Credit Agreement was amended to (i) increase by 0.25% the
applicable interest rate margin for the Revolving Loan and Term Loan thereunder
priced against the lender’s “prime” or “base” rate; and (ii) add a covenant
requiring the Company to meet certain levels of EBITDA for the calendar months
of October through December 2007.
On March
28, 2008, the Credit Agreement was amended to (i) increase by 0.25% the
applicable interest rate margin for the Revolving Loan and Term Loan thereunder
priced against the lender’s “prime” or “base” rate; and (ii) add a covenant
requiring the Company to meet certain levels of EBITDA for the calendar months
of January through March 2008.
Under the
Credit Agreement, as amended, the Revolving Loan bears interest at a rate per
annum equal to the “Alternate Base Rate,” being the higher of (i) the prime
lending rate announced from time to time by the Bank plus 1.50% or (ii) the
Federal Funds Effective Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus
1.50%. The Term Loan bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the
Alternate Base Rate plus 1.50%. In connection with the Term Loan, the
Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement (“Swap Agreement”) with the Bank
which exchanges the variable interest rate of the Term Loan for a fixed interest
rate of 5.13% per annum effective January 10, 2006 through the maturity of the
Term Loan. The impact of the Swap Agreement on the 2007 and 2006
consolidated financial statements was not material.
The
Revolving Loan terminates on December 28, 2008, at which time all outstanding
borrowings under the Revolving Loan are due. The Term Loan matures on
December 28, 2008 and requires equal monthly principal payments of $19 each,
plus interest, with the remaining balance due at maturity.
The
Credit Agreement contains customary representations and warranties as well as
affirmative and negative covenants, including certain financial
covenants. The Credit Agreement contains customary events of default,
including, among others, non-payment of principal, interest or other amounts
when due.
The fair
value of the debt approximates the recorded value based on the borrowing rates
currently available to the Company for loans with similar terms and
maturities.
Long-term
debt consists of the following:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
Revolving
loan
|
|
$ |
1,014 |
|
|
$ |
2,199 |
|
Term
loan
|
|
|
1,534 |
|
|
|
1,767 |
|
Capital
leases (Note
5)
|
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
62 |
|
|
|
|
2,574 |
|
|
|
4,028 |
|
Less: Current
portion
|
|
|
(2,560 |
) |
|
|
(2,469 |
) |
|
|
$ |
14 |
|
|
$ |
1,559 |
|
Annual
maturities of long term debt at December 31, 2007 are $2,560 in 2008 and $14 in
2009.
The
average amount outstanding on the Company’s lines of credit during 2007 and 2006
was $2,062 and $3,522, respectively. The maximum amount outstanding
on the lines of credit during 2007 and 2006 was $3,319 and $4,558,
respectively. The weighted average interest rate at December 31,
2007, 2006 and 2005 was 10.8%, 8.9% and 8.4%, respectively.
Note
5 – Commitments and Contingencies
Leases
The
Company leases certain factory, office and automotive equipment under
noncancellable operating leases and equipment under capital leases expiring at
various dates through December, 2012.
Future
minimum rental payments, required for all noncancellable leases are as
follows:
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Operating
|
|
2008
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
$ |
148 |
|
2009
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
110 |
|
2010
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
53 |
|
2011
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
16 |
|
2012
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Thereafter
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Total
future minimum lease payments
|
|
|
31 |
|
|
$ |
330 |
|
Less: amounts
representing interest
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
Present
value of minimum lease payments
|
|
$ |
26 |
|
|
|
|
|
Property,
plant and equipment included capitalized leases of $2,724 at December 31, 2007
and 2006, less accumulated amortization of $2,703 and $2,644 at December 31,
2007 and 2006, respectively.
Rent
expense was $190, $137 and $164 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and
2005, respectively.
Litigation
The
Company is a party to certain proceedings incidental to the ordinary course of
its business, none of which, in the current opinion of management, is likely to
have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition,
results of operations or cash flows.
Note
6 – Benefit Plans
Defined
Contribution Plan
The
Company has a defined contribution plan covering all full time employees
qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, in which the
Company matches a portion of an employee’s salary deferral. The
Company’s contributions to this plan were $240, $189 and $180, for the years
ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
Defined
Benefit Pension Plan
Substantially
all union employees who meet certain requirements of age, length of service and
hours worked per year were covered by a Company sponsored non-contributory
defined benefit pension plan. Benefits paid to retirees are based upon age at
retirement and years of credited service. On August 1, 2006, the plan
was frozen.
The
following table sets forth the change in projected benefit obligation, change in
plan assets and funded status of the defined benefit pension plan:
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
Change
in Benefit Obligation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benefit
obligation at beginning of year
|
|
$ |
2,757 |
|
|
$ |
2,633 |
|
|
$ |
2,616 |
|
Service
cost
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
64 |
|
|
|
103 |
|
Interest
cost
|
|
|
160 |
|
|
|
163 |
|
|
|
150 |
|
Plan
participants’ contributions
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Amendments
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Actuarial
loss (gain)
|
|
|
(180 |
) |
|
|
121 |
|
|
|
(92 |
) |
Business
combinations
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Divestitures
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Curtailments
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
(34 |
) |
|
|
0 |
|
Settlements
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Special
termination benefits
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Benefits
paid
|
|
|
(207 |
) |
|
|
(189 |
) |
|
|
(144 |
) |
Currency
translation adjustment
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Benefit
obligation at end of year
|
|
$ |
2,530 |
|
|
$ |
2,757 |
|
|
$ |
2,633 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change
in Plan Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair
value of plan assets at beginning of year
|
|
$ |
2,654 |
|
|
$ |
2,408 |
|
|
$ |
2,240 |
|
Actual
return on plan assets
|
|
|
124 |
|
|
|
235 |
|
|
|
114 |
|
Employer
contribution
|
|
|
150 |
|
|
|
200 |
|
|
|
200 |
|
Business
combinations
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Divestitures
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Settlements
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Plan
participants’ contributions
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Benefits
paid
|
|
|
(207 |
) |
|
|
(189 |
) |
|
|
(144 |
) |
Administrative
Expenses Paid
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Currency
Translation Adjustment
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Fair
value of plan assets at end of year
|
|
$ |
2,721 |
|
|
$ |
2,654 |
|
|
$ |
2,409 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funded
status
|
|
$ |
191 |
|
|
$ |
(103 |
) |
|
$ |
(224 |
) |
Unrecognized
actuarial loss (gain)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
871 |
|
Unrecognized
prior service cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33 |
|
Unrecognized
net initial obligation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(10 |
) |
Net
amount recognized
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
670 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amounts
Recognized in the Statement of Financial Position consists
of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before
Adoption of FAS 158
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepaid
benefit cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Accrued
benefit liability
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(103 |
) |
|
|
(185 |
) |
Intangible
asset
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
33 |
|
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
826 |
|
|
|
821 |
|
Net
amount recognized
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
723 |
|
|
$ |
670 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After
adoption of FAS 158
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Noncurrent
assets
|
|
$ |
191 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Current
liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Noncurrent
liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(103 |
) |
|
|
0 |
|
Net
amount recognized
|
|
$ |
191 |
|
|
$ |
(103 |
) |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change
in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Due to Adoption of FAS 158
(before tax effects)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amounts
Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income consist
of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
actuarial loss (gain)
|
|
$ |
654 |
|
|
$ |
826 |
|
|
|
|
|
Prior
service cost (credit)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Unrecognized
net initial obligation (asset)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total
(before tax effects)
|
|
$ |
654 |
|
|
$ |
826 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
benefit Obligation End of Year
|
|
$ |
2,530 |
|
|
$ |
2,757 |
|
|
$ |
2,593 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Information
for Pension Plans with an Accumulated Benefit Obligation in excess of Plan
Assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Projected
benefit of obligation
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
2,757 |
|
|
$ |
2,633 |
|
Accumulated
benefit obligation
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
2,757 |
|
|
$ |
2,593 |
|
Fair
value of plan assets
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
2,654 |
|
|
$ |
2,409 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-Average
Assumptions Used to Determine Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan
Assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Discount
Rate
|
|
|
6.50 |
% |
|
|
6.00 |
% |
|
|
6.00 |
% |
Salary
Scale
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Components
of Net Periodic Benefit Cost and Other Amounts Recognized in Other
Comprehensive Income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
periodic cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service
cost
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
64 |
|
|
$ |
103 |
|
Interest
cost
|
|
|
160 |
|
|
|
163 |
|
|
|
150 |
|
Expected
return on plan assets
|
|
|
(186 |
) |
|
|
(170 |
) |
|
|
(160 |
) |
Recognized
prior service cost (credit)
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
Recognized
actuarial (gain) loss
|
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
66 |
|
|
|
63 |
|
Recognized
net initial obligation (asset)
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
(10 |
) |
|
|
(10 |
) |
Recognized
actuarial (gain) loss due to curtailments
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
31 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Recognized
actuarial (gain) loss due to settlements
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Recognized
actuarial (gain) loss due to special termination benefits
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Net
periodic benefit cost
|
|
$ |
28 |
|
|
$ |
147 |
|
|
$ |
150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other
comprehensive Income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
actuarial loss (gain)
|
|
$ |
(117 |
) |
|
$ |
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
Recognized
actuarial loss (gain)
|
|
|
(55 |
) |
|
|
(66 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Prior
service cost (credit)
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Recognized
prior service cost (credit)
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
(33 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Total
net obligation
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total
recognized in other comprehensive income (before tax
effects)
|
|
$ |
(172 |
) |
|
$ |
(68 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income
(before tax effects)
|
|
$ |
(144 |
) |
|
$ |
79 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
Amounts
Expected to be Recognized in Net Periodic Cost in the Coming
Year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Gain)/loss
recognition
|
|
|
$ |
38 |
|
|
$ |
54 |
|
|
|
|
Prior
service cost recognition
|
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
|
Net
initial obligations/(asset) recognition
|
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-Average
Assumptions Used to Determine Net Periodic Cost for Fiscal Periods Ending
as of December 31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Discount
rate
|
|
|
|
6.00 |
% |
|
|
6.00 |
% |
|
|
6.00 |
% |
Expected
asset return
|
|
|
|
7.00 |
% |
|
|
7.00 |
% |
|
|
7.00 |
% |
Salary
Scale
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plan
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asset
Category
|
|
Expected
Long-Term Return
|
|
|
Target
Allocation
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
Equity
securities
|
|
|
8.50 |
% |
|
|
55 |
% |
|
|
58 |
% |
|
|
54 |
% |
|
|
55 |
% |
Debt
securities
|
|
|
5.50 |
% |
|
|
45 |
% |
|
|
42 |
% |
|
|
46 |
% |
|
|
45 |
% |
Total
|
|
|
7.00 |
% |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated
Future Benefit Payments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expected
company contributions in the following fiscal year
|
|
|
$ |
200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expected
Benefit Payments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In
the first year following the disclosure date
|
|
|
$ |
128 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In
the second year following the disclosure date
|
|
|
$ |
111 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In
the third year following the disclosure date
|
|
|
$ |
115 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In
the fourth year following the disclosure date
|
|
|
$ |
160 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In
the fifth year following the disclosure date
|
|
|
$ |
101 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In
the sixth year following the disclosure date
|
|
|
$ |
794 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note
7 - Related Party Transactions
On
January 1, 1995, the Company entered into a consulting and non-competition
agreement with James H. Williams who was a director of the Company until May 24,
2006 and who was also the largest stockholder until November 14,
2006. Under the agreement, Mr. Williams provides consulting services
on various operational and financial issues and is currently paid at an annual
rate of $186 but in no event is such annual rate permitted to exceed
$200. Mr. Williams also agreed to keep all Company information
confidential and not to compete directly or indirectly with the Company for the
term of the agreement and for a period of two years thereafter. The
initial term of this agreement expired on December 31, 2004 and automatically
renews thereafter for successive one-year terms (subject to termination at the
end of the initial term or any renewal term on at least 90 days’
notice). This agreement automatically renewed for a one-year
extension until December 31, 2008. On November 14, 2006, the Company
repurchased 1,293 shares of its common stock from Mr. Williams in a private
off-market block transaction for $0.75 per share, for an aggregate purchase
price of $970.
As of
December 31, 2007 the Chief Executive Officer was indebted to the Company in the
amount of $153, for which no interest has been charged. This
indebtedness arose from a series of cash advances, the latest of which was
advanced in February 2002 and is included in other assets at December 31, 2007
and 2006.
In
December 2007, the Company entered into an agreement to
provide manufacturing, research and development and product support
to Buffalo City Center Leasing, LLC (“Buffalo City”) for an
electronic on-board recorder that Buffalo City is producing for Turnpike Global
Technologies, LLC. Although not yet significant, the three-year
agreement is anticipated to provide up to $4,000 in revenue to the
Company. A director of the Company is also the
managing
member and a vice president of Buffalo City and may be deemed to control the
entity which owns fifty percent (50%) of the membership interests of Buffalo
City.
As
described in Note 13, the Company entered into a series of agreements in 2003
pursuant to which it acquired a 50% economic ownership interest in NetLinc
Communications, LLC (“NetLinc”) and Blonder Tongue
Telephone, LLC (“BTT”). As the
non-cash component of the purchase price, the Company issued 500 shares of its
common stock to BTT, resulting in BTT becoming the owner of greater than 5% of
the outstanding common stock of the Company. As further described in
Note 13, on June 30, 2006 the Company entered into the Share Exchange Agreement
with BTT and certain related parties pursuant to which, among other things, the
Company received back these 500 shares in exchange for the Company's membership
interest in BTT and the grant to BTT of an equipment purchase credit of $400,
which was exercised in 2006. The Company will continue to pay future
royalties to NetLinc upon the sale of certain telephony products.
Note
8 - Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial
instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations
of credit risk consist principally of cash deposits and trade accounts
receivable.
The
Company maintains cash balances at several banks located in the northeastern
United States of which, at times, may exceed insurance limits and expose the
Company to credit risk. As part of its cash management process, the
Company periodically reviews the relative credit standing of these
banks.
Credit
risk with respect to trade accounts receivable was concentrated with one of the
Company’s customers in 2007 and two customers in 2006. These customers accounted
for approximately 30% and 40% of the Company’s outstanding trade accounts
receivable at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. These
customers are distributors of telecommunications and private cable television
components, and providers of franchise and private cable television service. The
Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial
condition, uses credit insurance and requires collateral, such as letters of
credit, to mitigate its credit risk. The deterioration of the financial
condition of one or more of its major customers could adversely impact the
Company’s operations. From time to time where the Company determines
that circumstances warrant, such as when a customer agrees to commit to a large
blanket purchase order, the Company extends payment terms beyond its standard
payment terms.
The
Company’s largest customer accounted for approximately 23%, 20% and 17% of the
Company’s sales in each of the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005,
respectively. This customer accounted for approximately 30% and 24%
of the Company’s outstanding trade accounts receivable at December 31, 2007 and
2006, respectively. A second customer accounted for approximately 11%
of the Company’s sales for the year ended December 31, 2007. A third
customer accounted for 14% of the Company’s trade accounts receivable at
December 31, 2006. The Company had sales outside the United States in
each of the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 of 2%, 6% and 6%,
respectively.
Note
9 – Stock Repurchase Program
On July
24, 2002, the Company commenced a stock repurchase program to acquire up to $300
of its outstanding common stock. The stock repurchase was funded by a
combination of the Company’s cash on hand and borrowings against its revolving
line of credit. The Company repurchased 70 shares during
2003. On June 30, 2006, the Company reacquired 500 shares of stock at
a basis of $886 in connection with its sale of its ownership interest in BTT
(see Note 13). On November 14, 2006, the Company repurchased 1,293
shares of its common stock for $970 from a former director in a private off
market block transaction.
Note
10 – Preferred Stock
The
Company is authorized to issue 5,000 shares of preferred stock with such
designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from
time to time by the Board of Directors. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, there
were no outstanding preferred shares.
Note
11 – Stock Option Plans
In 1994,
the Company established the 1994 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the “1994 Plan”). The 1994 Plan
provided for the granting of Incentive Stock Options to purchase shares of the
Company’s common stock to officers and key employees at a price not less than
the fair market value at the date of grant as determined by the compensation
committee of the Board of Directors. The maximum number of shares
available for issuance under the plan was 298. Options became
exercisable as determined by the compensation committee of the Board of
Directors at the date of grant. Options expire ten years from the
date of grant. The 1994 Plan expired by its terms on March 13,
2004.
In
October, 1995, the Company’s Board of Directors and stockholders approved the
1995 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “1995 Plan”). The
1995 Plan provided for grants of “incentive stock options” or nonqualified stock
options, and awards of restricted stock, to executives and key employees,
including officers and employee Directors. The 1995 Plan is
administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, which
determines the optionees and the terms of the options granted under the 1995
Plan, including the exercise price, number of shares subject to the option and
the exercisability thereof, as well as the recipients and number of shares
awarded for restricted stock awards; provided, however, that no employee may
receive stock options or restricted stock awards which would result, separately
or in combination, in the acquisition of more than 100 shares of Common Stock of
the Company under the 1995 Plan. The exercise price of incentive
stock options granted under the 1995 Plan must be equal to at least the fair
market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. With respect
to any optionee who owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of
all classes of the Company’s outstanding capital stock, the exercise price of
any incentive stock option must be equal to at least 110% of the fair market
value of the Common Stock on the date of grant, and the term of the option may
not exceed five years. The term of all other incentive stock options
granted under the 1995 Plan may not exceed ten years. The aggregate
fair market value of Common Stock (determined as of the date of the option
grant) for which an incentive stock option may for the first time become
exercisable in any calendar year may not exceed $100. The exercise
price for nonqualified stock options is established by the Compensation
Committee, and may be more or less than the fair market value of the Common
Stock on the date of grant.
Stockholders
have previously approved a total of 1,150 shares of common stock for issuance
under the 1995 Plan, as amended to date. The 1995 Plan expired by its
terms on November 30, 2005.
In May,
1998, the stockholders of the Company approved the Amended and Restated 1996
Director Option Plan (the “Amended 1996
Plan”). Under the plan, Directors who are not currently
employed by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company and have not been so
employed within the preceding six months are eligible to receive options from
time to time to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock determined by the
Board in its discretion; provided, however, that no Director is permitted to
receive options to purchase more than 5 shares of Common Stock in any one
calendar year. The exercise price for such shares is the fair market
value thereof on the date of grant, and the options vest as determined in each
case by the Board of Directors. Options granted under the Amended
1996 Plan must be exercised within 10 years from the date of grant. A
maximum of 200 shares of Common Stock are subject to issuance under the Amended
1996 Plan, as amended. The plan is administered by the Board of
Directors. The Amended 1996 Plan expired by its terms on January 2,
2006.
In 1996,
the Board of Directors granted a non-plan, non-qualified option for 10 shares to
an individual, who was not an employee or director of the Company at the time of
the grant. The option was originally exercisable at $10.25 per share
and expired in 2006. This option was repriced to $6.88 per share on
September 17, 1998.
In May
2005, the stockholders of the Company approved the 2005 Employee Equity
Incentive Plan (the “Employee
Plan”). The Employee Plan authorizes the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) to grant a maximum
of 500 shares of equity based and other performance based awards to executive
officers and other key employees of the Company. The Committee
determines the optionees and the terms of the awards granted under the Employee
Plan, including the type of awards, exercise price, number of shares subject to
the award and the exercisability thereof. In May 2007, the
stockholders of the Company approved an amendment to the Employee Plan to
increase the maximum number of equity based and other performance awards to
1,100.
In May
2005, the stockholders of the Company approved the 2005 Director Equity
Incentive Plan (the “Director
Plan”). The Director Plan authorizes the Board of Directors
(the “Board”) to grant a
maximum of 200 shares of equity based and other performance based awards to non
employee directors of the Company. The Board determines the optionees
and the terms of the awards granted under the Director Plan, including the type
of awards, exercise price, number of shares subject to the award and the
exercisability thereof.
The following tables summarize
information about stock options outstanding for each of the three years ended
December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007:
|
|
1994
Plan
(#)
|
|
|
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
($)
|
|
|
1995
Plan
(#)
|
|
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise
Price
($)
|
|
|
1996
Plan
(#)
|
|
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price ($)
|
|
|
2005
Employee Plan (#)
|
|
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price ($)
|
|
|
2005
Director Plan (#)
|
|
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price ($)
|
|
Shares
under option:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options
outstanding at January 1, 2005
|
|
|
54 |
|
|
|
3.85 |
|
|
|
989 |
|
|
|
5.35 |
|
|
|
128 |
|
|
|
4.37 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Granted
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
76 |
|
|
|
3.84 |
|
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
3.85 |
|
|
|
80 |
|
|
|
3.76 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Exercised
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(31 |
) |
|
|
4.33 |
|
|
|
(39 |
) |
|
|
5.43 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Options
outstanding at December 31, 2005
|
|
|
23 |
|
|
|
3.40 |
|
|
|
1,026 |
|
|
|
5.24 |
|
|
|
153 |
|
|
|
4.28 |
|
|
|
80 |
|
|
|
3.76 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Granted
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
327 |
|
|
|
1.99 |
|
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
1.91 |
|
Exercised
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(6 |
) |
|
|
6.88 |
|
|
|
(107 |
) |
|
|
6.88 |
|
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
4.30 |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
3.76 |
|
|
|
(10 |
) |
|
|
1.91 |
|
Options
outstanding at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
2.88 |
|
|
|
919 |
|
|
|
5.08 |
|
|
|
148 |
|
|
|
4.30 |
|
|
|
403 |
|
|
|
2.32 |
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
1.91 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
354 |
|
|
|
1.98 |
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
1.98 |
|
Exercised
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(312 |
) |
|
|
6.88 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(9 |
) |
|
|
3.76 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Options
outstanding at December 31, 2007
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
2.88 |
|
|
|
607 |
|
|
|
4.21 |
|
|
|
148 |
|
|
|
4.30 |
|
|
|
748 |
|
|
|
2.15 |
|
|
|
80 |
|
|
|
1.94 |
|
Options
exercisable at December 31, 2007
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
2.88 |
|
|
|
607 |
|
|
|
4.21 |
|
|
|
148 |
|
|
|
4.30 |
|
|
|
179 |
|
|
|
1.99 |
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
1.91 |
|
Weighted-average
fair value of options granted during:
2005
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3.84 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3.85
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3.76
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1.99 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1.91
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1.36 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1.36 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total
options available for grant were 465 and 257 at December 31, 2007 and December
31, 2006, respectively.
|
|
Options
Outstanding
|
|
|
|
Options
Exercisable
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Range
of Exercise Prices ($)
|
|
Number
of Options Outstanding at 12/31/07
|
|
Weighted-Average
Remaining Contractual Life
|
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price ($)
|
|
Number
Exercisable at 12/31/07
|
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price ($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1994
Plan: 2.88
|
17
|
3.1
|
2.88
|
17
|
2.88
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1995
Plan: 2.88 to 7.38
|
607
|
4.1
|
4.21
|
607
|
4.21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1996
Plan: 2.05 to 7.03
|
148
|
4.1
|
4.30
|
148
|
4.30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005
Employee Plan: 1.91 to 3.84
|
|
748
|
|
8.6
|
|
2.15
|
|
179
|
|
2.68
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005
Director Plan:
1.91
to 2.98
|
|
80
|
|
8.8
|
|
1.94
|
|
40
|
|
1.91
|
The
exercisable options under each of the Plans at December 31, 2007 had an
intrinsic value of $0.
Note
12 - Income Taxes
The
following summarizes the provision (benefit) for income taxes:
|
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
Current:
Federal
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
State and local
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
Deferred:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
|
|
(252 |
) |
|
|
(427 |
) |
|
|
(1,606 |
) |
State and local
|
|
|
(45 |
) |
|
|
(75 |
) |
|
|
(353 |
) |
|
|
|
(297 |
) |
|
|
(502 |
) |
|
|
(1,959 |
) |
Valuation
allowance
|
|
|
297 |
|
|
|
502 |
|
|
|
1,959 |
|
Provision
(benefit) for income
taxes
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
The
provision (benefit) for income taxes differs from the amounts computed by
applying the applicable Federal statutory rates due to the
following:
|
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
Provision
(benefit) for Federal income taxes at the statutory rate
|
|
$ |
(170 |
) |
|
$ |
130 |
|
|
$ |
(1,824 |
) |
State
and local income taxes, net of Federal benefit
|
|
|
(20 |
) |
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
(248 |
) |
Other,
net
|
|
|
(107 |
) |
|
|
(650 |
) |
|
|
113 |
|
Change
in valuation allowance
|
|
|
297 |
|
|
|
502 |
|
|
$ |
1,959 |
|
Provision
(benefit) for income taxes
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
Significant
components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as
follows:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
Deferred
tax assets:
Allowance for doubtful
accounts
|
|
$ |
133 |
|
|
$ |
248 |
|
Inventories
|
|
|
3,036 |
|
|
|
2,916 |
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
1,892 |
|
|
|
2,258 |
|
Net operating loss carry
forward
|
|
|
3,346 |
|
|
|
3,275 |
|
Total deferred tax
assets
|
|
|
8,407 |
|
|
|
8,697 |
|
Deferred
tax liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
(10 |
) |
|
|
(3 |
) |
Total deferred tax
liabilities
|
|
|
(10 |
) |
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
8,397 |
|
|
|
8,694 |
|
Valuation
allowance
|
|
|
(6,041 |
) |
|
|
(6,338 |
) |
Net
|
|
$ |
2,356 |
|
|
$ |
2,356 |
|
The
Company has recorded $453 and $1,903 of short term and long term deferred tax
assets, respectively, as of December 31, 2007, since it projects recovering
these benefits over the next three to five years. The Company also
considered various tax strategies in arriving at the carrying amount of deferred
tax assets. A valuation allowance has been recorded against the
balance of the long-term deferred tax benefits since management does not believe
the realization of these benefits is more likely than not. As of
December 31, 2007, the Company had federal net operating loss carry forwards and
state net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $8,447 and $6,590,
which will begin to expire in the year 2023 and 2013, respectively.
Note
13 – Discontinued Operations and Sale of BTT (Subscribers and passings in whole
numbers)
In June
2002 the Company acquired its initial ownership interest in BDR Broadband, LLC
and in October 2006 acquired the 10% minority interest that had been owned by
Priority Systems, LLC for nominal consideration. In June 2002, BDR
acquired certain rights-of-entry for multiple dwelling unit cable television and
high-speed data systems (the “Systems”). As a
result of BDR acquiring additional rights-of-entry, at the time of divesture in
December 2006, BDR owned Systems for approximately 25 MDU properties in the
State of Texas, representing approximately 3,300 MDU cable television
subscribers and 8,400 passings. The Systems were upgraded with
approximately $81 and $799 of interdiction and other products of the Company
during 2006 and 2005, respectively. During 2004, two Systems located
outside of Texas were sold.
On
December 15, 2006, the Company and BDR entered into a Membership Interest
Purchase Agreement ("Purchase
Agreement") with DirecPath Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company ("DirecPath")
pursuant
to which
and on such date, the Company sold all of the issued and outstanding membership
interests of BDR to DirecPath.
Pursuant
to the Purchase Agreement, DirecPath paid the Company an aggregate purchase
price of $3,130 in cash, resulting in a gain of approximately $880 on
the sale, after certain post-closing adjustments, including an adjustment for
cash, an adjustment for working capital and adjustments related to
the number
of subscribers for certain types of
services, all as of the closing date and as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
A portion of the purchase price, $465, is being held in an escrow account, and
is included as part of the prepaid and other current assets, pursuant to an
Escrow Agreement dated December 15, 2006, among the Company, DirecPath and U.S.
Bank National Association, to secure the Company’s indemnification obligations
under the Purchase Agreement.
In
addition, in connection with the divestiture transaction, on December 15, 2006,
the Company entered into a Purchase and Supply Agreement with DirecPath, LLC, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of DirecPath ("DPLLC"), pursuant to which
DPLLC will purchase $1,630 of products from the Company, subject to certain
adjustments, over a period of three (3) years. DPLLC purchased $404
of equipment from the Company in 2007.
The
period in which DPLLC is required to satisfy the purchase commitment may be
extended upon the occurrence of certain events, including if the Company is
unable to deliver the products required by DPLLC. The Purchase
Agreement includes customary representations and warranties and post-closing
covenants, including indemnification obligations, subject to certain
limitations, on behalf of the parties with respect to their representations,
warranties and agreements made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. In
addition, except for certain activities by Hybrid Networks, LLC, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company, the Company agreed, for a period of two (2) years,
not to engage in any business that competes with BDR.
In
connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Company also entered into a
Transition Services Agreement with DirecPath, pursuant to which the Company will
provide certain administrative and other services to DirecPath
during a ninety-day transition period, which was extended and
completed in April, 2007.
As a
result of the above, the Company reflected the sale of BDR as a discontinued
operation. Components of the loss from discontinued operations are as
follows:
|
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
Net
Sales
|
|
$ |
1,846 |
|
|
$ |
1,738 |
|
Cost
of goods sold
|
|
|
624 |
|
|
|
765 |
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
1,222 |
|
|
|
973 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General
and administrative
|
|
|
1,722 |
|
|
|
1,520 |
|
Other
income
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
$ |
(500 |
) |
|
$ |
(544 |
) |
During
2003, the Company entered into a series of agreements pursuant to which the
Company ultimately acquired a 50% economic ownership interest in NetLinc
Communications, LLC (“NetLinc”) and Blonder Tongue
Telephone, LLC (“BTT”)
(to which the Company had licensed its name). The aggregate purchase
price consisted of (i) the cash portion of $1,167, plus (ii) 500 shares of the
Company’s common stock. BTT had an obligation to redeem the $1,167
cash component of the purchase price to the Company via preferential
distributions of cash flow under BTT’s limited liability company operating
agreement. In addition, of the 500 shares of common stock issued to
BTT as the non-cash component of the purchase price (fair valued at $1,030),
one-half (250 shares) were pledged to the Company as collateral.
NetLinc
owns patents, proprietary technology and know-how for certain telephony products
that allow Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (“CLECs”) to competitively
provide voice service to multiple dwelling units (“MDUs”). BTT
partnered with CLECs to offer primary voice service to MDUs, receiving a portion
of the line charges due from the CLECs’ telephone customers, and the Company
offered for sale a line of telephony equipment to complement the voice service.
Certain distributorship agreements were entered into among NetLinc, BTT
and the Company pursuant to which the Company acquired the right to distribute
NetLinc's telephony products in certain markets. The Company
also purchased similar telephony products from third party suppliers other than
NetLinc and, in connection with the sales of such third-party products, incurred
royalty obligations to NetLinc and BTT. While the distributorship
agreements among NetLinc, BTT and the Company have not been terminated, the
Company does not presently anticipate purchasing products from
NetLinc. NetLinc, however, continues to own intellectual property,
which could be further developed and used in the future to manufacture and sell
telephony products under the distributorship agreements, although the Company
has no present intention to do so. The Company accounts for its
investments in NetLinc and BTT using the equity method.
On June
30, 2006, the Company entered into a Share Exchange and Settlement Agreement
("Share Exchange
Agreement") with BTT and certain related parties of
BTT. Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, in exchange for all of
the membership shares of BTT owned by the Company (the "BTT Shares"), BTT transferred
back to the Company the 500 shares of the Company's common stock that were
previously contributed by the Company to the capital of BTT (the "Company Common Stock"). Under
the terms of the Share Exchange Agreement, the parties also agreed to the
following:
·
|
the
Company granted BTT a non-transferable equipment purchase credit in the
aggregate amount of $400 (subject to certain off-sets as set forth in the
Share Exchange Agreement); two-thirds (2/3rds) of which ($270) had to be
used solely for the purchase of telephony equipment and the remaining
one-third (1/3rd) of which ($130) could be used for either video/data
equipment or telephony equipment;
|
·
|
the
equipment credit would have expired automatically on December 31, 2006,
but it was exercised in full by September 30,
2006;
|
·
|
certain
non-material agreements were terminated, including the Amended and
Restated Operating Agreement of BTT among the Company, BTT and remaining
member of BTT, the Joint Venture Agreement among the Company, BTT, and
certain related parties, the Royalty Agreement between the Company and
BTT, and the Stock Pledge Agreement between the Company and BTT, each
dated September 11, 2003 (collectively, the "Prior
Agreements");
|
·
|
BTT
agreed, within ninety (90) days, to change its corporate name and cease
using any intellectual property of the Company, including, without
limitation, the names "Blonder", "Blonder Tongue" or "BT";
and
|
·
|
the
mutual release among the parties of all claims related to (i) the
ownership, purchase, sale or transfer of the BTT Shares or the Company
Common Stock, (ii) the Joint Venture (as defined in the Joint Venture
Agreement) and (iii) the Prior
Agreements.
|
Note
14 – Other Income
During
September 2006, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Blonder Tongue investment
Company, signed an agreement to sell selected patents to Moonbeam, LLC, for net
proceeds of approximately $2,000. In connection with the sale, the Company
retained a non-exclusive, royalty free, worldwide license to continue to
develop, manufacture, use, sell, distribute and otherwise exploit all of the
Company’s products currently protected under there patents. The
Company recognized a $386 gain in connection with the sale which
is included in other income for the year ended December 31,
2006.
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the
Audit Committee of
the Board
of Directors and Stockholders of
Blonder
Tongue Laboratories, Inc.
Old
Bridge, New Jersey
The
audits referred to in our report dated March 28, 2008 relating to the
consolidated financial statements of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and
Subsidiaries, which is contained in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, included the
audits of the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying
index. This financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the
Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
this financial statement schedule based upon our audits.
In our
opinion, such financial statement schedule presents fairly, in all material
respects, the information set forth therein.
/s/
Marcum and Kliegman, LLP
Marcum
and Kliegman, LLP
New York,
New York
March 28,
2008
BLONDER
TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE
II. VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
for
the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(Dollars
in thousands)
Column A
|
|
Column B
|
|
|
Column C
Additions
|
|
|
Column D
|
|
|
Column E
|
|
Allowance
for Doubtful
Accounts
|
|
Balance
at
Beginning
of Year
|
|
|
Charged
to
Expenses
|
|
|
Charged
to
Other
Accounts
|
|
|
Deductions
Write-Offs
|
|
|
Balance
at
End of Year
|
|
Year
ended December 31, 2007:
|
|
$ |
652 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(303 |
) |
|
$ |
349 |
|
Year
ended December 31, 2006:
|
|
$ |
863 |
|
|
$ |
110 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(321 |
)(1) |
|
$ |
652 |
|
Year
ended December 31, 2005:
|
|
$ |
607 |
|
|
$ |
256 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
863 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred
Tax Asset
Valuation Allowance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year
ended December 31, 2007:
|
|
$ |
6,338 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(297 |
) |
|
$ |
6,041 |
|
Year
ended December 31, 2006:
|
|
$ |
5,836 |
|
|
$ |
502 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
6,338 |
|
Year
ended December 31, 2005:
|
|
$ |
3,877 |
|
|
$ |
1,959 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
5,836 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inventory Reserve
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year
ended December 31, 2007:
|
|
$ |
6,830 |
|
|
$ |
314 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
7,144 |
|
Year
ended December 31, 2006:
|
|
$ |
8,716 |
|
|
$ |
114 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(2,000 |
)(2) |
|
$ |
6,830 |
|
Year
ended December 31, 2005:
|
|
$ |
4,344 |
|
|
$ |
4,372 |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
8,716 |
|
(1) Write
off of uncollectible accounts.
(2) Disposal
of fully reserved inventory.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
|
BLONDER
TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: March
31, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/ James A. Luksch
|
|
|
James
A. Luksch
|
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Eric Skolnik
|
|
|
Eric
Skolnik
|
|
|
Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been
signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ James A.
Luksch
James
A. Luksch
|
|
Director
and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
|
|
March
31, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Eric Skolnik
Eric
Skolnik
|
|
Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer
and Principal Accounting Officer)
|
|
March
31, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Robert J. Palle, Jr.
Robert
J. Pallé, Jr.
|
|
Director,
President, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary
|
|
March
31, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Anthony Bruno
Anthony
Bruno
|
|
Director
|
|
March
31, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ James F. Williams
James
F. Williams
|
|
Director
|
|
March
31, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Robert B.
Mayer
Robert
B. Mayer
|
|
Director
|
|
March
31, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Gary P.
Scharmett
Gary
P. Scharmett
|
|
Director
|
|
March
31, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Robert E. Heaton
Robert
E. Heaton
|
|
Director
|
|
March 31,
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
67