sutron10q063012.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
FORM 10-Q
 
 
x           QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2012
 
Commission file number: 0-12227

SUTRON CORPORATION
(Name of small business issuer as specified in its charter)
 
VIRGINIA
54-1006352
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   
 
22400 Davis Drive, Sterling, Virginia 20164
(Address of principal executive offices)

703-406-2800
(Issuer's telephone number)

Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, $.01 par value
 
Check whether the issuer: (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports); and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  þ No  o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  þ Yes  o No
 
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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one).
 
Large accelerated filer                                            o                                           Accelerated filer                                           o
Non-accelerated filer                                              o                                           Smaller reporting company                         þ
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).   Yes  o No  þ
 
There were 4,724,632 outstanding shares of the issuer's only class of common equity, Common Stock, $0.01 par value, on August 14, 2012.
 
 
 

SUTRON CORPORATION
FORM 10-Q QUARTERLY REPORT
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
Part I      Financial Information  
     
Item 1.
3
     
 
3
     
 
4
     
 
5
     
 
6
     
 
7
     
Item 2.
12
     
Item 3.
17
     
Item 4T.
17
     
Part II     Other Information  
     
Item 1.
18
     
Item 6.
18
     
19


 
 

 
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.    Financial statements
 

SUTRON CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

   
(Unaudited)
    
(Audited)
  
   
June 30,
    
December 31,
  
 
2012
    
2011
  
             
ASSETS
            
Current Assets:
            
     Cash and cash equivalents
   $ 4,813,154     $ 8,737,543  
     Restricted cash and cash equivalents
     891,588       760,037  
     Certificates of deposit
     926,227       924,294  
     Accounts receivable, net
     6,430,900       6,754,434  
     Inventory
     4,159,747       3,520,530  
     Prepaid items and other assets
     475,522       322,369  
     Income taxes receivable
     326,181       383,943  
     Deferred income taxes
     585,000       481,000  
          Total Current Assets
     18,608,319       21,884,150  
                 
Property and Equipment, Net
     1,721,323       1,524,880  
Other Assets
                
     Goodwill
     4,628,435       570,150  
     Other Assets
     98,498       103,591  
         Total Assets
   $ 25,056,575     $ 24,082,771  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                
Current Liabilities:
                
     Accounts payable
   $ 743,436     $ 799,007  
     Accrued payroll
     326,368       337,563  
     Other accrued expenses
     1,825,313       1,573,409  
     Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings
     483,587       201,015  
          Total Current Liabilities
     3,378,704       2,910,994  
Long-Term Liabilities
                
     Deferred rent
     1,025,757       1,127,860  
     Deferred income taxes
     76,000       69,000  
          Total Long-term Liabilities
     1,101,757       1,196,860  
          Total Liabilities
     4,480,461       4,107,854  
Stockholders’ Equity
                
     Common stock, 12,000,000 shares authorized;
         4,724,632 and 4,704,632 issued and outstanding
     47,247       47,047  
     Additional paid-in capital
     4,316,865       4,173,828  
     Retained earnings
     16,406,112       15,930,551  
     Accumulated other comprehensive loss
     (194,110 )     (176,509 )
         Total Stockholders’ Equity
     20,576,114       19,974,917  
         Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
   $ 25,056,575     $ 24,082,771  


See accompanying notes.
 
 
3
 
SUTRON CORPORTION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited)
 
 
   
Three Months Ended June 30,
  
   
2012
    
2011
  
             
Net sales and revenues
  
$
6,804,168
    
$
3,848,508
  
                 
Cost of sales and revenues
    
4,027,666
      
2,468,422
  
     Gross profit
    
2,776,502
      
1,380,086
  
                 
Operating expenses:
                
  Selling, general and administrative expenses
    
1,347,544
      
929,092
  
  Research and development expenses
    
627,633
      
524,208
  
     Total operating expenses
    
1,975,177
      
1,453,300
  
                 
     Operating income
    
801,325
      
(73,214
)
                 
Financing income, net
    
15,345
      
24,842
  
                 
     Income (loss) before income taxes
    
816,670
      
(48,372
)
                 
Income tax expense (benefit)
    
265,000
      
(27,000
)
Net income (loss)
  
$
551,670
    
$
(21,372
)
                 
Net income per share:
                
                 
     Basic income per share
  
$
0.12
    
$
-
  
                 
     Diluted income per share
  
$
0.11
    
$
-
  
                 
Comprehensive income (loss) :
                
                 
     Net income (loss)
  
$
551,670
    
$
(21,372
)
                 
     Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax
    
(35,952
)
    
(416
)
                 
Comprehensive income (loss)
  
$
515,718
    
$
(21,788
)
 
 
See accompanying notes.
 
 
4
 
SUTRON CORPORTION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)


   
Six Months Ended June 30,
  
   
2012
    
2011
  
             
Net sales and revenues
   $ 10,541,349     $ 8,729,127  
                 
Cost of sales and revenues
     6,338,255       5,500,416  
     Gross profit
     4,203,094       3,228,711  
                 
Operating expenses:
                
  Selling, general and administrative expenses
     2,352,360       1,848,697  
  Research and development expenses
     1,180,901       998,776  
     Total operating expenses
     3,533,261       2,847,473  
                 
     Operating income
     669,833       381,238  
                 
Financing income, net
     26,728       42,967  
                 
     Income before income taxes
     696,561       424,205  
                 
Income tax expense
     221,000       144,000  
                 
Net income
   $ 475,561     $ 280,205  
                 
Net income per share:
                
                 
     Basic income per share
   $ 0.10     $ 0.06  
                 
     Diluted income per share
   $ 0.09     $ 0.06  
                 
Comprehensive income :
                
                 
     Net income
     475,561       280,205  
                 
     Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax
     (12,017 )     3,398  
                 
Comprehensive income
   $ 463,544     $ 283,603  
 
 
See accompanying notes.
 
 
5
 
SUTRON CORPORTION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
 
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
  
   
2012
    
2011
  
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
            
Net income
  
$
475,561
    
$
280,205
  
Noncash items included in net income:
                
    Depreciation and amortization
    
143,365
      
142,262
  
    Deferred income taxes
    
(32,134
)
    
(17,000
)
    Stock based compensation
    
44,364
      
45,529
  
    (Gain) loss on disposal of property
    
-
      
(400
)
    Tax benefit from stock options exercised
    
(9,873
)
    
(9,610
)
Change in current assets and liabilities:
                
    Accounts receivable
    
323,534
      
359,414
  
    Inventory
    
(639,217
)
    
(52,510
)
    Prepaid items and other assets
    
(153,153
)
    
(279,282
)
    Income taxes receivable
    
67,636
      
-
  
   Accounts payable
    
(55,571
)
    
(186,659
)
   Accrued expenses
    
49,927
      
(314,461
)
   Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings
    
282,572
      
(42,692
)
   Deferred rent
    
(102,103
)
    
(69,543
)
Net Cash Provided (Used) by Operating Activities
    
394,908
      
(144,747
)
                 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
                
   Restricted cash and cash equivalents
    
(131,551
)
    
(258,808
)
   Purchase of property and equipment
    
(30,264
)
    
(59,988
)
   Certificate of deposit
    
(1,933
)
    
(2,734
)
   Other assets
    
5,093
      
4,354
  
   Acquisition and goodwill
    
(4,241,914
)
    
-
  
   Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment
    
-
      
400
  
Net Cash Provided (Used) by Investing Activities
    
(4,400,569
)
    
(316,776
)
                 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
                
   Tax benefit from stock options exercised
    
9,873
      
10,788
  
   Proceeds from stock options exercised
    
89,000
      
35,600
  
Net Cash Provided (Used) by Financing Activities
    
98,873
      
46,388
  
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    
(17,601
)
    
5,145
  
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    
(3,924,389
)
    
(409,991
)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of year
    
8,737,543
      
8,708,831
  
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of year
  
$
4,813,154
    
$
8,298,840
  
 

See accompanying notes.

 
6
 
SUTRON CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Sutron Corporation (the “Company”) was incorporated on December 30, 1975, under the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The Company operates from its headquarters located in Sterling, Virginia.  The Company has several branch offices located throughout the United States, a branch office in India and a wholly owned subsidiary in India. The Company is a leading provider of real-time data collection and control products, systems software and professional services in the hydrological, meteorological and oceanic monitoring markets.  The Company’s principal products include data loggers, satellite transmitters/loggers, water level and meteorological sensors, tides systems and system and application software.  Customers consist of a diversified base of Federal, state, local and foreign government agencies, universities, engineering firms, hydropower companies and other commercial enterprises.
 
The financial statements included herein have been prepared, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and disclosures included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2011 was derived from the audited financial statements for the year then ended.

In the opinion of the Company, all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company and the results of its operations and its cash flows have been included in the accompanying financial statements. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the expected results for the full year.

We recommend that you read the unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2012.

2.  Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These judgments are difficult as matters that are inherently uncertain directly impact their valuation and accounting. Actual results may vary from management’s estimates and assumptions. The Company’s significant accounting policies are disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Recent Accounting Standards

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) – Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.”  This ASU is the result of joint efforts by the FASB and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to develop a single, converged fair value framework on how (not when) to measure fair value and what disclosures to provide about fair value measurements.  The ASU is largely consistent with existing fair value measurement principles in U.S. GAAP (Topic 820), with many of the amendments made to eliminate unnecessary wording differences between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).  The amendments are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 with prospective application.  Early application is not permitted.  The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 
 
 
7
 
In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) – Presentation of Comprehensive Income.”  The objective of this ASU is to improve the comparability, consistency and transparency of financial reporting and to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by eliminating the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity.  The amendments require that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements.  The single statement of comprehensive income should include the components of net income, a total for net income, the components of other comprehensive income, a total for other comprehensive income, and a total for comprehensive income.  In the two-statement approach, the first statement should present total net income and its components followed consecutively by a second statement that should present all the components of other comprehensive income, a total for other comprehensive income, and a total for comprehensive income.  The amendments do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income, the option for an entity to present components of other comprehensive income either net of related tax effects or before related tax effects, or the calculation or reporting of earnings per share.  The amendments in this ASU should be applied retrospectively. The amendments are effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2011.  Early adoption is permitted because compliance with the amendments is already permitted. The amendments do not require transition disclosures.  As the guidance only amends the presentation of the components of comprehensive income, the adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-08, “Intangible – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) – Testing Goodwill for Impairment.”  The amendments in this ASU permit an entity to first assess qualitative factors related to goodwill to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill test described in Topic 350.  The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent.  Under the amendments in this ASU, an entity is not required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount.  The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted, including for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed as of a date before September 15, 2011, if an entity’s financial statements for the most recent annual or interim period have not yet been issued.  The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, “Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.”  This ASU requires entities to disclose both gross information and net information about both instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the balance sheet and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. An entity is required to apply the amendments for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. An entity should provide the disclosures required by those amendments retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The company is currently assessing the impact that ASU 2011-11 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 
 
In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) – Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05.”  The amendments are being made to allow the Board time to redeliberate whether to present on the face of the financial statements the effects of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the components of net income and other comprehensive income for all periods presented. While the Board is considering the operational concerns about the presentation requirements for reclassification adjustments and the needs of financial statement users for additional information about reclassification adjustments, entities should continue to report reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income consistent with the presentation requirements in effect before ASU 2011-05.  All other requirements in ASU 2011-05 are not affected by ASU 2011-12, including the requirement to report comprehensive income either in a single continuous financial statement or in two separate but consecutive financial statements. Public entities should apply these requirements for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011.   The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 
 
 
8
 
3. Stock-Based Compensation

The Company’s Amended and Restated 1996, 1997 and 2002 Stock Option Plans (the “Stock Option Plans”) provide for the issuance of non-qualified stock options to employees, officers and directors. The Company’s 2010 Equity Incentive Plan provides for the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock units, unrestricted stock, dividend equivalent rights and cash awards.  All plans are currently administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board with regard to the selection of persons to receive awards and and the determination of the number of shares subject to each award and the terms, conditions, performance measures and other provisions of the award, subject to review and approval of certain actions by the Board of Directors.
 
The Company has granted stock options under the Stock Option Plans to key employees and directors for valuable services provided to the Company.  Under the 1996 Plan, the Company authorized 260,000 shares, 259,000 of which have been granted.   The Company authorized 60,000 shares under the 1997 Plan, all of which have been granted.  Under the 2002 Stock Option Plan, the Company authorized 650,000 shares, 599,059 of which have been granted.  The 1996, 1997 and 2002 Plans remain in effect until such time as no shares of Stock remain available for issuance under the Plans and the Company and the person awarded options have no further rights or obligations under the Plans.  Under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, the Company authorized 500,000 shares, 67,500 of which have been granted as restricted stock units.  The ability to make awards under the 2010 Plan will terminate in May 2020.  Shares under all of the plans may be granted at not less than 100 percent of the fair market value at the grant date.  All options have a ten-year term from the date of grant.  Cancelled or expired options and restricted stock units can be reissued.
 
The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all stock-based payments at fair value. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the option vesting term. Stock based compensation expense relating to stock option awards for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was $36,958 and $45,529, respectively. Stock based compensation expense relating to restricted stock units (RSU’s) for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was $7,406 and $0, respectively. These expenses were included in the cost of sales and selling, general and administrative lines of the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Unamortized stock compensation expense as of June 30, 2012 relating to stock options totaled approximately $34,158 and these costs will be expensed over a weighted average period of 2.9 years. Unamortized stock compensation expense as of June 30, 2012 relating to RSU’s totaled approximately $263,876 and these costs will be expensed over a weighted average period of 3.4 years. There were no stock options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2012.  There were 67,500 RSU’s granted during the six months ended June 30, 2012.

The following table summarizes stock option activity under the Stock Option Plans for the six months ended June 30, 2012:

   
2012
  
   
Number of Shares
    
Weighted Average Exercise Price
    
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)
    
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
  
Outstanding at beginning of period
     492,978     $ 2.61       2.93     $ 1,925,176  
Granted
     -       -       -       -  
Exercised
     20,000       4.45       -       24,681  
Forfeited or expired
     -       -       -       -  
Outstanding at end of period
     472,978     $ 2.54       2.26     $ 1,595,397  
Exercisable at end of period
     451,978     $ 2.35       2.00     $ 1,595,397  
Nonvested at end of period
     21,000     $ 6.47       7.89     $ -  
 
 
9

 
The following table summarizes RSU activity under the Stock Option Plans for the six months ended June 30, 2012:
 
   
Number of Shares
    
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
  
Unvested restricted stock units at January 1, 2012
     -     $ 0  
Granted
     67,500       4.02  
Forfeited
     -       -  
Vested
     -       -  
Unvested restricted stock units at June 30, 2012
     67,500     $ 4.02  

4.           Earnings Per Share

The following table shows the weighted average number of shares used in computing earnings per share and the effect on weighted average number of shares of potential dilutive common stock.

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
  
   
2012
    
2011
  
             
Net income (loss)
   $ 551,670     $ (21,372 )
Shares used in calculation of income per share:
                
     Basic
     4,717,654       4,579,951  
          Effect of dilutive options
     357,127       -  
     Diluted
     5,074,781       4,579,951  
Net income per share:
                
     Basic
   $ 0.12     $ (0.00 )
     Diluted
   $ 0.11     $ (0.00 )
 
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
  
      2012       2011  
                 
Net income
   $ 475,561     $ 280,205  
Shares used in calculation of income per share:
                
     Basic
     4,711,390       4,578,201  
          Effect of dilutive options
     357,127       426,308  
     Diluted
     5,068,517       5,004,509  
Net income per share:
                
     Basic
   $ 0.10     $ 0.06  
     Diluted
   $ 0.09     $ 0.06  

 
10

5.           Completed Acquisition

On May 23, 2012 the Company completed its acquisition of substantially all of the commercial and operating assets of IPS Meteostar (“IPSM”). IPSM provides products and services to a global customer base with applications for aviation, hydrology, weather, transportation, power/energy, research, and the military.  IPSM's LEADS™ (Leading Environmental Analysis and Display System) software has become the leading weather software in the world, providing integrated professional weather capabilities.  The acquisition of IPSM was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting and, accordingly, assets acquired, liabilities assumed and consideration paid were recorded at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date.
 
In connection with acquisition, the consideration paid was $4,241,914.  Fixed assets purchased totaled $309,545.  A deferred asset of $64,866 was recognized.  Accrued vacation assumed totaled $190,782.  The excess of consideration paid over the fair value of net assets and liabilities assumed was $4,058,285, which is classified as goodwill and will not be amortized however it will be reviewed annually for impairment.  The fair values shown above are preliminary estimates and subject to adjustment.  Intangible assets will be reviewed and may be established.  Any material adjustments to the estimates will be reflected, retroactively, as of the date of the acquisition including valuation of any intangible assets that have not yet been reviewed.
 
 
Item 2.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Statements made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including without limitation this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Operations, other than statements of historical information, are forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may sometimes be identified by such words as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate" and "continue" or similar words. We believe that it is important to communicate our future expectations to investors. However, these forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties including those identified in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.  Our actual results could differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors.  We are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to conform these statements to actual results.
 
Overview

Our primary focus is to provide real-time systems solutions, including equipment and software, and services to our customers in the areas of hydrological, meteorological and oceanic monitoring.  We design, manufacture, market and sell these products and services to a diversified customer base consisting of federal, state, local and foreign governments, engineering firms, universities and hydropower companies.  Our products, systems and services enable these entities to monitor and collect hydrological, meteorological and oceanic data for the management of critical water resources, for early warning of potentially disastrous floods, storms or tsunamis, for the optimization of hydropower plants and for providing real-time weather conditions at airports.

Our key products are the SatLink2 Transmitter/Logger, the Xpert/XLite dataloggers, the Accububble Self-Contained Bubbler, the Accubar Pressure Sensor, and Tempest and XConnect systems software.  These are the essential components of most systems and are provided to customers as off-the-shelf equipment or as part of a custom system.  The SatLink2 is a key product because it functions both as a transmitter and logger.  The Xpert and XLite are more powerful dataloggers that have significant more logging capability and communications options than the SatLink2.  Our Tempest and XConnect systems software allow us to provide turn-key systems solutions to our customers.

We are beginning fiscal year 2012 with a backlog of approximately $9,599,000 as compared to beginning fiscal year 2011 with a backlog of approximately $11,748,000.  We estimate that approximately 85% of our December 31, 2011 backlog will convert to revenue in 2012.  We anticipate that we will continue to experience significant quarterly fluctuations in our sales and revenues in 2012.  Operating results will depend upon the product mix and upon the timing and execution of project awards.

International sales, which totaled 53% of revenues for 2011, are a significant portion of our revenues.  We believe that international revenues will grow as a percentage of our total business as we plan to develop stronger international partnerships and expand our international sales opportunities. International sales are however difficult to forecast because they are frequently delayed due to the different governmental procurement and approval processes. Our domestic business is highly dependent upon government business.  Contracts and purchase orders with Federal, state and local government agencies represented approximately 34% of our 2011 revenues.

We are committed in our ongoing sales, marketing and research and development activities to sustain and grow our sales and revenues from our products and services.  We expect our sales and marketing, research and development and general and administrative expenses to increase moderately in 2012 as compared to 2011 due to planned spending on sales and marketing activities and on the development of new products and applications.
 
 
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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The Company's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon the financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as recognized in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires that we make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Our estimates include those related to revenue recognition, the valuation of inventory, and valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, warranty obligations and accruals. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. For a complete description of accounting policies, see Note 2 to our financial statements included in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. There were no significant changes in critical accounting estimates in the first quarter of 2012.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the percentage of total revenues represented by certain items reflected in our statements of operations:

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
  
   
2012
    
2011
  
             
Net sales and revenues
     100.0 %     100.0 %
Cost of sales and revenues
     59.2       64.1  
Gross profit
     40.8       35.9  
                 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
     19.8       24.2  
Research and Development expenses
     9.2       13.6  
Operating income
     11.8       (1.9 )
Interest and other income
     0.2       0.6  
Income before  income taxes
     12.0       (1.3 )
Income taxes (benefit)
     3.9       (0.7 )
Net income
     8.1 %     (0.6 ) %

Three months ended June 30, 2012 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2011

Net Sales and Revenues
 
Revenues for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012 increased 77% to $6,804,168 from $3,848,508 in 2011.  Net sales and revenues are broken down between sales of standard products and sales of systems and services.  Standard products had a net sales and revenue decrease of 11% to $1,607,404 in 2012 from $1,798,705 in 2011 due to decreased sales to federal agencies.  Net sales and revenues for systems and services increased 154% to $5,196,764 in the second quarter of 2012 from $2,049,803 in 2011.  The increase is attributed to an increased project backlog and activity in 2012 as compared to 2011 and to approximately $511,000 of post-acquisition revenues relating to our new MeteoStar Division.
 
Overall domestic revenues increased 18% to $2,246,134 in the second quarter of 2012 versus $1,898,335 in 2011 while international revenues increased 134% to $4,558,034 in the second quarter of 2012 versus $1,950,173 in the same period in 2011.  The increase in domestic revenues is primarily due to post-acquisition revenues relating to our new MeteoStar Division.  The Company recognized revenues of approximately $1,433,000 on its contract to provide dam safety monitoring to the Nuozhadu Hydropower Station in Yunnan Province, China.  This contract was the main driver of international revenues for the quarter.
 
 
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Customer orders or bookings in the second quarter of 2012 increased 161% to approximately $7,557,000 as compared to approximately $2,900,000 in the second quarter of 2011.  Several large project awards were received in the second quarter of 2012 while no similarly sized awards were received in the second quarter of 2011 and bookings relating to the new MeteoStar Division totaled approximately $2,639,000 in the second quarter.

Cost of Sales and Revenues
 
Cost of sales as a percentage of revenues was 59% and 64%, respectively, for the second quarter of 2012 and 2011.   Standard product cost of sales was approximately 55% in the second quarter of 2012 as compared to 63% in 2011.  The decrease in cost of sales is attributed to increased sales volume that resulted in higher absorption of fixed manufacturing costs and changes in the mix of products sold.  Cost of sales for systems and services was 61% in the second quarter of 2012 as compared to 66% in the second quarter of 2011.  The decrease was primarily due to shipment of higher margin systems.
 
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $1,347,544 for the second quarter of 2012 from $929,092 for the same period in 2011.   The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter was primarily due to acquisition related fees totaling approximately $160,000, an increase of $163,000 in agent commissions and increased expenses of approximately $100,000 due to the addition of MeteoStar.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses increased to $627,633 for the second quarter of 2012 from $524,208 for the same period in 2011.  MeteoStar Division research and development activities accounted for approximately $116,000 of the increase. Our development efforts were focused on IridiumLink and GPRSLink.  These are integrated logger/telemetry products that provide low cost, two-way communication.   Significant effort was spent on the 8310 datalogger for enhancements to perform dam safety monitoring.  We continued our development of SUTRONWIN which provides a complete system software package including webhosting, real-time data storage for one year, data analysis and complete data management.

Interest and Other Income, Net

Due to our cash position, we did not use our line of credit during the second quarter of 2012.  We had interest income for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 of $15,345 as compared to net interest income of $24,842 for the quarter ended June 30, 2011.

Income Taxes

We recorded an income tax expense of $265,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2012.  We received an income tax benefit of $27,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. The provision for income taxes in 2012 represents an effective income tax rate of 32%. The income tax benefit in 2011 represents an effective tax benefit rate of 56% due to several tax credits.
 
 
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Six months ended June 30, 2012 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2011

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the percentage of total revenues represented by certain items reflected in our statements of operations:

   
Six Months Ended June 30,
  
   
2012
    
2011
  
             
Net sales and revenues
     100.0 %     100.0 %
Cost of sales and revenues
     60.1       63.0  
Gross profit
     39.9       37.0  
                 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
     22.3       21.2  
Research and Development expenses
     11.2       11.4  
Operating income
     6.4       4.4  
Interest and other income
     0.2       0.5  
Income before  income taxes
     6.6       4.9  
Income taxes (benefit)
     2.1       1.6  
Net income
     4.5 %     3.3 %
 
Net Sales and Revenues
 
Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2012 increased 21% to $10,541,349 from $8,729,127 in 2011.  Net sales and revenues are broken down between sales of standard products and sales of systems and services.  Standard products had a net sales and revenue decrease in 2012 of 2% to $4,024,379 from $4,087,328 in 2011 due to decreased sales to federal customers.  Net sales and revenues for systems and services increased 40% to $6,516,970 from $4,641,799 in 2011 primarily due to increased backlog and project activity.
 
Overall domestic revenues increased 3% to $4,154,916 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 versus $4,034,621 in 2011 due primarily to increased project activity from the MeteoStar acquisition.  International revenues increased 36% to $6,386,433 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 versus $4,694,506 in 2011. The increase is attributed to an increase in the backlog and increased project activity.
 
Customer orders or bookings for the six months ended June 30, 2012 were approximately $14,092,000 as compared to approximately $6,379,000 in 2011, an increase of 121%.  Several large project awards were received in the six months ended June 30, 2012 while no similarly sized awards were received in the six months ended June 30, 2011.

Cost of Sales and Revenues
 
Cost of sales as a percentage of revenues was 60% and 63%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.   Standard product cost of sales as a percentage of standard product revenues was approximately 53% and 56%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.  Cost of sales for systems and services as a percentage of systems and services revenues was 65% for the six months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to 69% for the six months ended June 30, 2011.
 
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $2,352,360 in 2012 as compared to $1,848,697 in 2011, an increase of $503,663 or 27%. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues increased to 22% for the six months ended June 30, 2012 from 21% in 2011.  The increase in expenses is primarily attributed to $180,000 of acquisition related expenses, increased agent commissions of $155,000 and increased expenses of approximately $100,000 due to the addition of MeteoStar.
 
 
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Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses increased to $1,180,901 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 from $998,776 in 2011, an increase of $182,125 or 18%.  MeteoStar Division research and development activities accounted for approximately $116,000 of the increase. Our development efforts were focused on IridiumLink and GPRSLink.  These are integrated logger/telemetry products that provide low cost, two-way communication.   Significant effort was spent on the 8310 datalogger for enhancements to perform dam safety monitoring.  We continued our development of SUTRONWIN which provides a complete system software package including webhosting, real-time data storage for one year, data analysis and complete data management.

Interest and Other Income, Net

Due to the Company's cash position, the Company did not use its line of credit during the six months ended June 30, 2012.  The Company had net interest income in 2012 of $26,728 as compared to net interest income of $42,967 in 2011.

Income Taxes

Income taxes increased 53% in 2012 to $221,000 from $144,000 in 2011.  The provisions for income taxes represent an effective income tax rate of 32% in 2012 and 34% in 2011.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash and cash equivalents were $4,813,154 at June 30, 2012 compared to $8,737,543 at December 31, 2011.  Working capital decreased to $15,229,615 at June 30, 2012 compared with $18,973,156 at December 31, 2011.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $394,908 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to net cash used by operating activities of $144,747 for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The increase was primarily due to an increase in net income, a reduction in accounts receivable and an increase in  billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings.

Net cash used by investing activities was $4,400,569 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to net cash used by investing activities of $316,776 for the six months ended June 30, 2011.  The increase is primarily due to the acquisition of MeteoStar.

Net cash provided by financing activities was $98,873 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $46,388 for the six months ended June 30, 2011.  The increase in cash provided in 2012 was primarily due to proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options.

We have a revolving credit facility of $3,000,000 with Branch Banking & Trust.  We are permitted to borrow based on accounts receivable and inventory according to pre-established criteria. The credit facility expires on September 5, 2013 and is secured by substantially all assets of the Company.  Borrowings bear interest at the bank’s prime rate.  During the second quarter of 2012, there were no borrowings on the line of credit.

We frequently bid on and enter into international contracts that require bid and performance bonds.  At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, a commercial bank had issued standby letters of credit in the amount of $1,017,409 and $898,013 that served as either a bid or performance bond.  The amount available to borrow under the line of credit was reduced by this amount.
 
Management believes that its existing cash resources, cash flow from operations and short-term borrowings on the existing credit line will provide adequate resources for supporting operations during fiscal 2012.  Although there can be no assurance that our revolving credit facility will be renewed, management believes that, if needed, it would be able under current circumstances to find alternative sources of funds on commercially acceptable terms.
 
 
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Item 3.     Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

For quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk, see Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. The Company’s exposure to market risk has not changed materially since December 31, 2011.

Item 4T.  Controls and Procedures

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
Our management (with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer) evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), as of June 30, 2012, the end of the fiscal period covered by this report on Form 10-Q.  The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Securities Exchange Act of 1934 reports are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on this evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.

(b) Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
 
There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.
 
 
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.     Legal Proceedings
 
Various legal claims can arise from time to time in the normal course of business which, in the opinion of management, will have no material effect on our financial statements.

Item 6.     Exhibits
 
31.1
   
31.2
   
32
   
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
   
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
   
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
   
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
   
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
   
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document

 

 
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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.
 
 
Sutron Corporation
(Registrant)
  
       
August 13, 2012
By:
/s/ Raul S. McQuivey  
    Raul S. McQuivey  
   
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
  
       
 
 
 
August 13, 2012
By:
/s/ Sidney C. Hooper  
    Sidney C. Hooper  
   
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
 (Principal Accounting Officer)
  
       
 
 
 
 
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