Form 10-K
Table of Contents

 

 

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 10-K

 

 

 

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

For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2007

OR

 

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

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number 0-8796

 

 

Spectrum Control, Inc.

 

 

(a Pennsylvania Corporation)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No. 25-1196447)

8031 Avonia Road, Fairview, Pennsylvania 16415

Telephone 814-474-2207

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

None

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

 

Title of each class

  

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock - No Par Value

   The Nasdaq Stock Market

 

 

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, 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 the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K  x.

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

Large accelerated filer  ¨    Accelerated filer  x    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

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

At May 31, 2007, the aggregate market value of voting Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant based on a closing price of $14.44 was $176,134,947. Shares of Common Stock held by each officer and director and by each person who owns 10% or more of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company have been excluded because such persons may be deemed to be affiliates.

As of January 31, 2008, the registrant had outstanding 13,265,576 shares of Common Stock, no par value.

Documents incorporated by reference

Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for the annual meeting of shareholders to be held April 7, 2008 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Table of Contents

 

          Page
PART I      
Item 1.    Business    3
Item 1A.    Risk Factors    18
Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments    18
Item 2.    Properties    19
Item 3.    Legal Proceedings    20
Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    20
PART II      
Item 5.    Market for Registrant’s Common Stock, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities    20
Item 6.    Selected Financial Data    22
Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    23
Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    32
Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    36
Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    65
Item 9A.    Controls and Procedures    65
Item 9B.    Other Information    66
PART III      
Item 10.    Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant    66
Item 11.    Executive Compensation    67
Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters    67
Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions    67
Item 14.    Principal Accountant Fees and Services    67
PART IV      
Item 15.    Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K    68
   Signatures    70
   Schedule    71
   Exhibits    72

 

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PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Except for the historical information contained herein, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company intends these forward-looking statements to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, descriptions of management’s expectations regarding the future markets for the Company’s products, future operating performance, and other future plans and objectives. Words such as “expect”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “intend”, and variations of such words identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results or events may differ materially from historical results or those suggested by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed herein under Item 1, Item 1A “Risk Factors”, as well as Item 7 entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this report.

GENERAL

Spectrum Control, Inc. and its subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to as “we”, “us”, “our”, or the “Company”) design, manufacture and market a broad line of control products and systems used to condition, regulate, transmit, receive, or govern electronic performance. The Company was founded as a solutions-oriented company, designing and manufacturing products to suppress or eliminate electromagnetic interference (“EMI”). Over the past several years, we have leveraged our core EMI filtering expertise to offer our customers a diverse line of control products and systems. The Company’s current operations are conducted in four reportable segments: signal and power integrity components; microwave components and systems; power management systems; and sensors and controls. The Company’s Signal and Power Integrity Components Business designs and manufactures a broad range of products including low pass EMI filters, filter plates, filtered connectors, specialty ceramic capacitors, power entry modules, power line filters, and our motor line feed thru (“MLFT”) filters. Our Microwave Components and Systems Business designs and manufactures microwave filters, waveguides, amplifiers, frequency mixers, oscillators, synthesizers, multiple channel filter banks, and related products and integrated assemblies. The Power Management Systems Business designs and manufactures breaker and fuse interface panels, custom power outlet strips, and our Smart Start power management systems. Our Sensors and Controls Business designs and manufactures rotary and linear positioning sensors, temperature sensing probes, thermistors, resistance temperature detector sensors, and related assemblies.

The need for EMI products results from the increasing dependency of our society on electronic equipment of various kinds, including wireless communication systems. This equipment both emits, and is sensitive to, random electromagnetic waves over a broad spectrum of wave lengths, which can interfere with and degrade the performance of other electronic equipment. The Company’s EMI products are designed to suppress the emission of unwanted waves or to reduce their strength to an innocuous level, by reflecting them from one component to another in series or by converting their energy into heat which is then dissipated.

Spectrum Control, Inc. (the “Parent company”) was incorporated in Pennsylvania in 1968. The Parent company currently operates manufacturing facilities in Fairview, Pennsylvania; State College, Pennsylvania; and Wesson, Mississippi. Operations in Fairview include the design and manufacture of certain signal and power integrity products used primarily in military and defense applications. In State College, the Parent company’s operations include the design and manufacture of power management systems. Operations in Wesson principally consist of metal fabrication manufacturing in support of our power integrity and power management systems product offerings. The Parent company’s executive offices are located in Fairview, Pennsylvania.

Spectrum Control Technology, Inc. (“Spec Tech”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent company. Historically, Spec Tech operated a facility in New Orleans, Louisiana, with advanced manufacturing equipment used in the production of ceramic capacitors, resonators, patch antennas, and specialty ceramic products. As part of the New Orleans operation, Spec Tech manufactured substantially all of the ceramic discoidal and tubular capacitors used in the Company’s EMI filter products. In late August of 2005, the New Orleans’ facility was virtually destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. To address our ongoing ceramic component needs and re-establish our own ceramic manufacturing capabilities, we acquired in December 2005 a ceramic manufacturing facility in State College, Pennsylvania. The acquired facility has become the design and manufacturing center for our ceramic products, replacing the operations previously conducted in New Orleans.

Other wholly-owned operating subsidiaries of the Parent company include: Spectrum Microwave, Inc.; Spectrum SEI Microwave, Inc.; Spectrum FSY Microwave, Inc.; Spectrum Sensors and Controls, Inc. (CA Corp); Spectrum Sensors and Controls, Inc. (PA Corp.); Spectrum Control, GmbH; Spectrum Control de Mexico; and Spectrum Control (Hong Kong) Limited.

 

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Spectrum Microwave, Inc. (“Spec Microwave”), designs and manufactures various radio frequency (“RF”) and microwave products. These high-end components and integrated assemblies include amplifiers, frequency mixers, and various types of oscillators (voltage control, dielectric resonator, and digitally tuned). Currently, Spec Microwave operates facilities in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Palm Bay, Florida; as well as a portion of our recently acquired facility in State College, Pennsylvania.

Spectrum SEI Microwave, Inc. (“SEI”), located in Delmar, Delaware, designs and manufactures RF and microwave components and integrated assemblies. SEI’s products include complex systems such as microwave synthesizers, multiple channel filter banks and preselectors.

Spectrum FSY Microwave, Inc., located in Columbia, Maryland, designs and manufactures certain RF and microwave filters, and related products and systems.

Spectrum Sensors and Controls, Inc. (CA Corp.), located in Grass Valley, California, designs and manufactures precision co-molded conductive position sensors and related assemblies.

Spectrum Sensors and Controls, Inc. (PA Corp.), was formerly known as Advanced Thermal Products, Inc. (“ATP”). In 2006, we acquired all of the outstanding stock of ATP and, concurrent with the acquisition, changed its corporation name. The company designs and manufactures a broad line of custom temperature sensors including temperature sensing probes and assemblies, positive and negative temperature coefficient thermistors, and resistance temperature detector sensors and related assemblies.

Spectrum Control, GmbH, located in Schwabach, Germany, acts as a distributor for the Company’s products in the European market.

Spectrum Control de Mexico, located in Juarez, Mexico, commenced operations in June 2000 as the Company’s low-cost manufacturing center for North America. Currently, this subsidiary manufactures various signal and power integrity components, microwave components and systems, and certain sensor products, for use in numerous commercial applications.

Spectrum Control (Hong Kong) Limited (“Spec HK”), currently operates as a logistics center for our sales in Asia.

Spectrum Control Electronics (Dongguan) Co. Ltd. (“Spec China”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spec HK, located in Qiao Tou Town, China, commenced operations in 2003 as the Company’s low-cost manufacturing center for Asia. Currently, Spec China primarily manufactures certain signal and power integrity products, and power management systems, for our China telecom equipment customers.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

ACQUISITION

On January 26, 2007, we acquired substantially all of the assets and assumed certain liabilities of EMF Systems, Inc. (“EMF”). EMF, based in State College, Pennsylvania, designs and manufactures custom oscillator-based products. In addition to a broad line of oscillator components, EMF primarily designs and manufactures integrated microwave assemblies (“IMA”), including synthesizers and phase-locked oscillators. These IMA products are used in numerous military and commercial applications such as military radar systems, secure communications, and commercial weather radar. We believe that the IMA product offerings and oscillator components included with this acquisition are a natural complement and extension to our existing Microwave Components and Systems business segment. We also believe that our vertical manufacturing processes, low-cost manufacturing capabilities, and established military sales channels will provide additional revenue opportunities and improved profitability for EMF products. The aggregate cash purchase price for EMF was $2.4 million.

The aggregate cash purchase price was primarily funded by existing cash reserves. The results of operations of the acquired business have been included in our financial statements since the acquisition date. Accordingly, EMF net sales of $3.2 million have been included in our consolidated net sales for the year ended November 30, 2007, with EMF activities reported within our Microwave Components and Systems business for operating segment purposes.

ASSET IMPAIRMENT LOSS

On August 30, 2005, Hurricane Katrina, (the “Hurricane”) hit the gulf coast of the United States. The Hurricane and related flooding virtually destroyed our 100,000 square foot ceramic manufacturing facility in New Orleans, Louisiana. As a result, we recorded net asset impairment losses and related expenses of $274,000 in the year ended November 30, 2005. This amount, which was included in our general and administrative expense in fiscal 2005, consisted of the following: inventory losses of $1.0 million; building and equipment losses of $3.6 million including the reduction of the affected land and building to its estimated fair value of $450,000; direct clean-up, asset assessment, and repair costs of $1.7 million; less expected insurance proceeds of $6.0 million.

 

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In March 2006, we sold the land and building in New Orleans at a net selling price of $246,000. As a result, we recorded an additional asset impairment loss of $204,000, representing the difference between the net selling price and the property’s previously estimated fair value of $450,000. In 2006, we also incurred final clean-up and asset assessment costs of $183,000. Accordingly, an asset impairment loss in the aggregate amount of $387,000 has been included in general and administrative expense in our statement of income for the year ended November 30, 2006.

As of November 30, 2006, we had received $4.5 million of insurance proceeds for our Hurricane-related claims, and we had recorded an insurance recovery receivable of $1.5 million for expected additional insurance proceeds. In January 2007, we received insurance proceeds of $1.748 million upon the final settlement of all related claims. Accordingly, $248,000 was credited against our general and administrative expense in the year ended November 30, 2007, representing the excess of the final insurance proceeds received over the previously recorded insurance recovery receivable.

MARKETS

Although our components and systems are used in many industries worldwide, our largest markets are communications equipment and military/defense which collectively represented approximately 68% of our fiscal year 2007 sales. In communications, our products are used in numerous systems including wireless base stations and towers, broadband switching equipment, global positioning systems, Wi-Fi, optical networks, and Internet servers. Military/defense applications for our products include secure communications, smart weapons and munitions, countermeasures for improvised explosive devices, radar systems, military vehicles, aircraft, missile defense systems, and simulation equipment. Other significant markets for our products include medical equipment, industrial instrumentation, and commercial aerospace. Automotive represents and emerging market for our products, with significant applications in DC motors, telematics, and electronic safety controls.

COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT

Several years ago, the communications equipment industry experienced a severe slowdown. Recently, market conditions in the industry have remained unpredictable and somewhat volatile. Beyond the current economic uncertainty in the communications equipment market, we believe the factors fostering long-term market growth remain in place. Prior to 2001, the communications industry experienced significant worldwide growth. This growth primarily resulted from increased business and consumer demand for wireless communication services and Internet access. Cost reductions and performance improvements in such wireless communication products as cellular, personal communication services (“PCS”), and satellite-based voice and data systems also contributed to this growth. As demand for wireless communication services continue to grow, and industry-wide excess inventory levels are consumed, service providers will need to make substantial investments in new equipment and infrastructure. Wireless communication systems can offer the functional advantages of wired communication systems without the costly and time consuming development of an extensive wired infrastructure. The relative advantages of wireless and wired communication systems with respect to cost, transmission quality, reliability and other factors depend on the specific applications for which such systems are used and the existence of a wired or wireless infrastructure already in place. The factors responsible for the market’s long-term growth, coupled with regulatory changes in the United States and abroad as well as advances in wireless communication technology, have led to significant growth in existing wireless telecommunication systems and the emergence of new wireless applications.

The products designed and manufactured by the Company support a wide range of digital wireless communication protocols, systems and standards including PCS, Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”), Global System for Mobile Communications (“GSM”), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (“EDGE”), Local Multipoint Distribution System (“LMDS”), Multi-Channel Multipoint Distribution System (“MMDS”), Third Generation Wireless (“3G”, “3.5G”, and “3.9G”), Bluetooth, and Voice over Internet (“VoIP”).

Worldwide demand for integrated voice, data and video communication services is also growing rapidly. The volume of high-speed data traffic across global communications networks has grown dramatically as the public Internet and private business intranets have become essential for daily communications and electronic commerce. The number of persons using the Internet to buy and sell goods and services continues to grow rapidly. Servicing the increasing demand for higher bandwidth content and applications requires cost-effective and high-speed connections, which are often unavailable or inadequate over existing wire-based networks. For many users, wireless communications provide an advantageous access solution for high-speed Internet multimedia services. This is underscored by the increasing number of wireless subscribers worldwide.

 

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A typical mobile or fixed wireless communications system comprises a geographic region containing a number of cells, each of which contains one or more base stations, which are linked in a network to form a service provider’s coverage area. Each base station houses the equipment that receives incoming telephone calls from the switching offices of the local wire-based telephone company and broadcasts calls to the wireless users within the cell. A base station can process a fixed number of radio channels through the use of multiple transceivers, power amplifiers and tunable filters, along with an antenna to transmit and receive signals to and from the wireless user. The Company provides discrete EMI filters, filtered arrays, filtered connectors, power integrity products, low phase noise amplifiers, and power management systems to original equipment manufacturers (“OEM’s”) of base station equipment. In addition, the Company’s products are used in numerous other telecommunication applications including optical networks and switching equipment, wireless modems and local area networks (“LANs”), Internet servers and global positioning systems. Using our solutions-oriented approach, we provide our OEM customers with products tailored to their specific transmission needs, anticipating and solving system architecture and performance.

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (“WiMAX”) is a technology aimed at providing wireless data over long distances in a variety of ways, from point-to-point links to full mobile cellular-type access. There is currently increasing amounts of development activity in the industry aimed at this emerging technology. The Company has and continues to develop infrastructure-related products for this application.

Approximately 20% of the Company’s total revenue during fiscal year 2007 was derived from sales of its products to OEM customers in the communications equipment industry. Most of these products are custom designed not only to conform to the specifications and requirements of the particular customer, but also to meet the performance and quality standards set by the agency or other governmental body whose regulations are applicable to the specific equipment or usage involved. A significant reduction in orders from such customers would have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s business.

MILITARY/DEFENSE

Military forces worldwide are dependent on sophisticated electronic equipment. Military aircraft and naval vessels generally contain extensive communication equipment, electronic countermeasure equipment for defense against enemy weapons, smart weapons and munitions (such as AMRAAM and JDAM), and radar systems. The Company provides low pass filters, multisection assemblies, custom position sensors, and various microwave components and subsystems to major equipment manufacturers for installation into these systems. The Company’s customers, in turn, sell their equipment to major defense manufacturers or directly to governments.

Military/defense sales were approximately $65.5 million in 2007 or 48% of our sales, compared to $59.1 million in 2006 or 47% of total sales. Demand for military/defense products may be impacted by numerous economic, technological and political factors. Accordingly, while the Company has developed and will continue to develop products for military/defense programs, there can be no assurance that sales to such customers will not decrease in the future.

OUR SOLUTION

We believe we are well positioned to capitalize on our long-term market opportunities. We combine engineering expertise, design and testing capabilities and vertically integrated and flexible manufacturing processes to provide custom solutions to our customers’ control products and systems needs.

We Offer Integrated Design, Development and Testing Services. We provide an integrated approach to problem solving by offering our customers consulting, diagnostic testing and design services. We believe that our testing facilities and capabilities exceed those of our major competitors and, accordingly, may give us a competitive advantage. Our engineers typically work closely with customers to develop a product or system design. Although our customers generally provide the initial engineering guidelines for a particular product, our design engineers are often called upon to work together with a customer’s design team to develop a solution. An important part of our solution is ensuring at an early stage, before time and money are spent on manufacturing, that the product design will meet all performance specifications and can be produced efficiently and cost-effectively. Our design engineers include EMI, power, microwave, and sensor specialists. We believe that by integrating our product design and development efforts with those of our customers, we create increased reliance on us and increased incentives to utilize us as a single source strategic supplier.

 

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We Offer Flexible, Low-Cost Production Capabilities. Once a design is completed, we apply our vertically integrated manufacturing processes to produce a solution that meets our customers’ functionality and cost objectives. We currently maintain a state-of-the-art ceramic production facility in State College, Pennsylvania, with advanced manufacturing equipment primarily designed for the production of specialty ceramic capacitors. These ceramic products are critical components of our signal integrity products. Our State College facility, along with our extensive ceramic expertise, enables us to maintain short lead times for our signal product prototyping and production orders. We also maintain a metal fabrication facility with computer numerically controlled (“CNC”) equipment to manufacture the metal utilized in many of our power integrity and power management systems product offerings. By performing the metal fabrication in-house, we are able to shorten the lead time for these product offerings and reduce our overall material costs. Our philosophy of vertical integration, along with utilizing demand flow manufacturing processes, enables us to meet the growing OEM customer demands for flexible production schedules and just-in-time inventories.

We Offer High Quality, High Performance Products. Our customers demand a high level of quality and performance. We believe we meet our customers’ requirements for high quality products manufactured to increasingly exacting specifications, including performance and quality standards that are set by agencies and other governmental bodies whose regulations may apply to specific telecommunications or other equipment. We emphasize a quality culture, driving continuous product improvement and a company-wide commitment to quality. As part of our commitment to high quality manufacturing, all of our domestic and foreign manufacturing facilities have achieved and maintain ISO 9001 certification, and we have been approved by defense customers under the requirements of the U.S. military quality system. Most of our manufacturing facilities also have achieved and maintain the automotive industry quality standard of QS 9000.

 

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OUR STRATEGY

Our goal is to increase sales and profits by expanding in our existing markets and by entering new markets where we can apply our design and manufacturing capabilities. Key elements of our strategy for achieving this goal include:

Leveraging Our Status as a Strategic Supplier to our OEM Customers. Our status as a strategic supplier to many of our OEM customers presents us with opportunities to develop and design new products for these customers on a collaborative, solutions-oriented basis giving us an advantage over our competitors. We use our position as a strategic supplier to these OEM customers to accelerate the introduction of new, more complex electronic control products and systems at higher profit margins. We seek to solidify our status as a strategic supplier to our OEM customers by continuing to provide:

 

   

High levels of service;

 

   

Extensive product lines;

 

   

Custom and collaborative product design and manufacturing capabilities;

 

   

Product delivery flexibility and reliability; and

 

   

High quality products

Introducing New Signal and Power Integrity Product Lines. We are broadening our product lines to include a more comprehensive range of signal and power integrity products. For example, our product development efforts recently enabled us to introduce a complete line of surface mount filter solutions for addressing EMI at the printed circuit board (“PCB”) level. This new line of surface mount inductors, low pass filters, high frequency filters, and power EMI filters is designed to offer high performance EMI filtering in a minimal PCB footprint. These new products are ideal for applications where smaller size is critical, including certain digital equipment, wireless base stations, modems, digital subscriber line (“DSL”) equipment, global positioning systems (“GPS”), and LAN networking equipment. Other recently developed products include circular connectors (used in numerous military/defense applications) and antenna assemblies. On an ongoing basis, our primary focus is on new higher-margin products to exploit the long-term expected growth in wireless devices, optical networks, medical equipment, and defense applications. Our customers increasingly look for greater capability to produce value-added systems integrating our existing signal and power integrity products. To respond to our customers’ needs, we intend increasingly to design and manufacture more sophisticated electronic control systems and assemblies.

Expanding in Markets for Higher Margin Power Management Systems. We continue to develop and expand our advanced systems product offerings to leverage our core competencies in design, manufacturing and assembly to become a diversified provider of higher margin power management systems. We have successfully introduced our SMART start and SMART start Jr. products. These multifunctional units direct and manage power to connected servers and networking equipment, while providing remote operational flexibility and control. More recently, we have expanded our product offerings to include a broad line of AC configured power distribution units (metered and non-metered). We intend to develop and introduce additional higher-margin advanced product offerings in the future.

Pursuing Acquisitions that Enhance Our Product Offerings. We continue to pursue acquisitions complementary to our core businesses. In addition to our recent acquisitions of EMF and ATP, we acquired JDK Controls, Inc. (“JDK”) in October 2005. With the acquisition of JDK, we expanded our product offerings to include position sensor and control products, including various potentiometers. Potentiometers (electro-mechanical control devices, converting rotary or linear motion) and other custom position sensors represent an entirely new product area for us with expanded market opportunities. With ATP’s temperature sensing products added to JDK’s custom precision sensors, we have established Sensors and Controls as the fourth major business segment for our Company. In recent years, we have also made several acquisitions which have significantly expanded our microwave product offerings and capabilities. With these acquisitions, we can now offer our customers a much broader line of microwave products and custom engineered wireless solutions. Microwave products represent a significant growth opportunity for us, with a total world market much larger than our traditional EMI filter market.

With OEM’s increasingly demanding higher levels of service and lower overall product costs from their electronic component and systems suppliers, we believe that additional acquisition opportunities will emerge as smaller suppliers with insufficient technical and design expertise and limited access to capital choose to sell to larger organizations with greater technical and financial resources. We also expect to see acquisition opportunities from large manufacturers as they seek to focus their product offerings on those fully utilizing their core competencies.

 

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Remaining a Low-Cost, Efficient Producer. Our customers are under worldwide competitive pressure to reduce their product costs and these pressures are passed along to component and systems manufacturers. We are constantly seeking to reduce our material and labor costs, develop cost-efficient manufacturing equipment and processes, and design our manufacturing plants for efficient production. We have been able to reduce the manufacturing cost for many of our products by increasing materials efficiency, improving production yields, and utilizing in-house metal fabrication capabilities. In addition, we have taken steps to reduce assembly direct labor costs by locating plants in areas with relatively low-cost labor, such as Juarez, Mexico and Qiao Tou Town, China (located in the Guangdong province of southern China). In addition to supplying product to our telecom customers in China, we expect our China manufacturing operation to ultimately enable us to participate in new Asian markets and become a low-cost center capable of competing in highly cost competitive industries, such as automotive.

PRODUCTS

The Company’s product offerings include various signal and power integrity components, microwave components and systems, power management systems, and sensors and controls.

SIGNAL INTEGRITY COMPONENTS

Control of unwanted electromagnetic waves is accomplished through various combinations of EMI suppression devices. The EMI suppression devices produced by the Company include those that are utilized as circuit components and whose function is to permit the desired frequencies to pass through a circuit while rejecting or preventing the unwanted signals. The majority of these products are composed of either reactive (reflecting energy) or loss (dissipating energy) elements or at times, combinations of the two. These products can be utilized as individual components or combined in various configurations to provide the amount of EMI control needed. Currently, the Company’s primary signal integrity product offerings include low pass EMI filters, filtered arrays, filtered connectors, and specialty ceramic products.

LOW PASS EMI FILTERS

The Company’s low pass EMI filter offerings include hermetically sealed and resin sealed/solder-in filters and capacitors. The Company’s hermetically sealed filters are primarily used in military/secure communications, smart weapons and munitions, aerospace, power supplies, signal lines, and certain medical equipment. Resin sealed/solder-in filters are used in a wide range of products including communications equipment, transceivers, and industrial control systems.

FILTERED ARRAYS

The Company’s filtered array products consist of various filter plate assemblies. Filter plates are predominantly utilized in communications equipment including wireless base stations, linear power amplifiers, and wireless microcell repeaters. This product offering often provides an economical method of meeting electromagnetic compatibility (“EMC”) requirements.

FILTERED CONNECTORS

The Company offers a range of custom connectors, datacomm interconnects, and D-Subminiature Connectors. These filtered connectors are used in numerous applications including communications equipment, wireless base stations, industrial process equipment, and certain personal computers. Additionally, the Company designs and manufactures various circular connectors used in numerous military applications.

SPECIALTY CERAMIC PRODUCTS

The Company sells a broad range of specialty ceramic products including miniature discoidal capacitors used in medical implantibles, and patch antenna elements and assemblies used in global positioning systems.

POWER INTEGRITY COMPONENTS

The Company’s power product offerings currently include commercial custom assemblies, multisection filters, power line filters, power entry modules, and power terminal blocks. The Company’s multisection products primarily serve the military/defense market with applications in satellite communications, electronic warfare, and ground/air weapons systems. Other power products are principally used in communications equipment, including telecommunication racks, wireless base stations, Internet servers, and networks.

During the year ended November 30, 2007, approximately 44% of the Company’s total revenue was generated from the sale of signal and power integrity components.

 

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MICROWAVE COMPONENTS AND SYSTEMS

The Company manufactures and sells a wide range of RF and microwave products, including the following:

RF and Microwave Amplifiers: These products (which include low phase noise amplifiers, high and low power amplifiers, high reverse isolation amplifiers, and ultra-high linearity amplifiers) are primarily used in wireless base stations and other telecommunications infrastructure equipment.

RF and Microwave Mixers: These multioctave, narrowband, and ultra-broadband mixers are predominately used in various broadband telecommunications equipment and CATV.

Voltage Controlled Oscillators (“VCO”) and Dielectric Resonator Oscillators (“DRO”): Applications for these VCO, DRO, and frequency control products include weapons guidance systems, communication jamming systems, and other military electronic countermeasures.

RF and Microwave Filters: These components (which include bandpass filters, duplexers, lumped element filters, waveguides, and cavity filters) are used in wireless base stations, as well as numerous military, aerospace and medical applications.

RF and Microwave Systems and Assemblies: These complex systems, which include multiple channel filter banks and synthesizers, are principally used in radar systems and other military and aerospace applications.

During the year ended November 30, 2007, approximately 35% of the Company’s total revenue was generated from the sale of microwave components and systems.

POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

The Company’s advanced systems product offerings currently include power distribution units, fuse and breaker interface panels, and remote power management systems. Our power management systems include a line of digital radio-frequency control equipment designed to monitor various functions and equipment and provide automatic management, as well as remote management, through wireless or external communication links. These remote management systems incorporate highly flexible software that enable our customers to control and monitor their systems from remote locations. The primary markets for these systems include optical equipment, data centers, wireless base stations, IT hubs, and various military applications such as secure communications, simulators and unmanned remote vehicles.

During the year ended November 30, 2007, approximately 6% of the Company’s total revenue was generated from the sale of power management systems.

SENSORS AND CONTROLS

With the acquisitions of ATP and JDK, the Company now designs and manufactures a broad range of precision position sensors, transducers, temperature sensors, and thermal products. Our position sensor products include motorized potentiometers, fader and hollow shaft potentiometers, element segments and wiper assemblies. Our advanced thermal products consist of temperature sensing probes and assemblies, resistance temperature detector probes and assemblies, and positive and negative temperature coefficient thermistors. Major applications for our sensors and controls product offerings include military/defense aircraft and vehicles, commercial aerospace, medical equipment, wind instruments, HVAC, industrial automation, and commercial food equipment.

During the year ended November 30, 2007, approximately 15% of the Company’s total revenue was generated from the sale of sensors and controls.

REPORTABLE OPERATING SEGMENTS

The Company was founded as a solutions-oriented company, designing and manufacturing products to suppress or eliminate EMI. In recent years, the Company has broadened its focus and product lines to become a control products and systems company, providing a wide range of components and systems used to condition, regulate, transmit, receive, or govern electronic performance.

 

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The Company’s current operations are conducted in four reportable segments: signal and power integrity components, microwave components and systems, power management systems, and sensors and controls. The reportable segments are each managed separately because they manufacture and sell distinct products with different production processes.

The Company evaluates performance and allocates resources to its reportable segments based upon numerous factors, including segment income before income taxes. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those utilized in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. However, substantially all of the Company’s general and administrative expenses, and nonoperating expenses, are not allocated to the Company’s reportable operating segments and, accordingly, these expenses are not deducted in arriving at segment income. Segment reportable assets are comprised of certain tangible assets (property, plant, equipment, and inventories) and goodwill.

Prior period amounts in the following tables have been restated to correspond with the current business segment presentation. For each period presented, the accounting policies and procedures used to determine segment income have been consistently applied. For the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005, reportable segment information is as follows (in thousands):

 

2007

   Signal
and Power
Integrity
Components
   Microwave
Components
And Systems
   Power
Management
Systems
   Sensors
And
Controls
   Total

Revenue from unaffiliated customers

   $ 60,713    $ 47,748    $ 7,586    $ 20,492    $ 136,539

Depreciation and amortization expense

     1,924      2,041      205      523      4,693

Segment income

     11,314      8,791      1,338      2,815      24,258

Segment assets

              

Tangible assets

     22,030      16,100      2,903      5,946      46,979

Goodwill

     14,243      13,720      —        7,706      35,669

Capital expenditures

     1,999      1,524      372      1,892      5,787

2006

                        

Revenue from unaffiliated customers

     58,472      48,716      6,657      11,827      125,672

Depreciation and amortization expense

     1,739      1,709      109      330      3,887

Segment income

     3,754      9,511      2,012      1,407      16,684

Segment assets

              

Tangible assets

     21,986      14,076      1,190      3,921      41,173

Goodwill

     14,243      12,559      —        7,706      34,508

Capital expenditures

     6,337      1,189      749      256      8,531

2005

                        

Revenue from unaffiliated customers

     52,236      38,399      7,080      639      98,354

Depreciation and amortization expense

     2,415      1,124      167      14      3,720

Segment income

     4,290      6,018      2,547      41      12,896

Segment assets

              

Tangible assets

     14,290      15,527      611      827      31,255

Goodwill

     14,243      12,559      —        1,559      28,361

Capital expenditures

     1,753      1,459      —        69      3,281

 

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For the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005, reconciliations of reportable segment information to the Company’s consolidated financial statements are as follows (in thousands):

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

   2007     2006     2005  

Total depreciation and amortization expense for reportable segments

   $ 4,693     $ 3,887     $ 3,720  

Unallocated amounts:

      

Depreciation and amortization expense related to general and administrative activities

     130       224       90  
                        

Consolidated depreciation and amortization expense

   $ 4,823     $ 4,111     $ 3,810  
                        

Income before provision for income taxes

   2007     2006     2005  

Total income for reportable segments

   $ 24,258     $ 16,684     $ 12,896  

Unallocated amounts:

      

General and administrative expense

     (6,394 )     (7,370 )     (5,762 )

Interest expense

     (561 )     (545 )     (110 )

Other income

     255       270       299  
                        

Consolidated income before provision for income taxes

   $ 17,558     $ 9,039     $ 7,323  
                        

Assets

   2007     2006     2005  

Total assets for reportable segments

   $ 82,648     $ 75,681     $ 59,616  

Unallocated amounts:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

     5,183       3,501       8,386  

Accounts receivable

     25,461       22,676       16,188  

Insurance recovery receivable

     —         1,500       5,000  

Other assets

     13,627       15,849       8,812  
                        

Total consolidated assets

   $ 126,919     $ 119,207     $ 98,002  
                        

Capital expenditures

   2007     2006     2005  

Total capital expenditures for reportable segments

   $ 5,787     $ 8,531     $ 3,281  

Unallocated amounts:

      

Capital expenditures related to general and administrative activities

     23       23       43  
                        

Total consolidated capital expenditures

   $ 5,810     $ 8,554     $ 3,324  
                        

 

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The Company has operations in the United States, Mexico, Germany and China. Sales are attributed to individual countries based on the location of the customer. The geographic distribution of sales and long-lived assets for 2007, 2006, and 2005 is as follows (in thousands):

 

2007

   United
States
   Mexico    Germany    China    All
Other
Countries
   Total

Revenue from unaffiliated customers

   $ 107,740    $ 735    $ 5,726    $ 5,398    $ 16,940    $ 136,539

Long-lived assets:

                 

Property, plant and equipment

     24,607      95      30      1,445      —        26,177

2006

                             

Revenue from unaffiliated customers

     99,403      1,376      5,327      3,710      15,856      125,672

Long-lived assets:

                 

Property, plant and equipment

     22,682      93      27      1,434      —        24,236

2005

                             

Revenue from unaffiliated customers

     71,931      1,425      4,678      3,568      16,752      98,354

Long-lived assets:

                 

Property, plant and equipment

     14,507      113      31      833      —        15,484

The Company expects that international sales will continue to account for a significant portion of its total sales. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will be able to maintain or increase international demand for the Company’s products or that the Company will be able to effectively meet that demand. The Company’s international sales are denominated in several different currencies including U.S. Dollars, British Pounds Sterling, and the Euro. An increase in the value of these currencies relative to other foreign currencies could make the Company’s products more expensive and, therefore, potentially less competitive in those markets. Additional risks inherent in the Company’s international business activities include potentially adverse tax consequences, repatriation of earnings, and the burdens of complying with a variety of foreign laws. There can be no assurance that such factors will not have an adverse effect on the Company’s future results of operations.

In 2007, sales to the Company’s largest single customer (a distributor of electronic components) represented 5% of the Company’s total consolidated net sales. Sales to this major customer principally consisted of signal and power integrity components.

In 2006, sales to the Company’s largest single customer (a prime supplier to the military/defense industry) represented 7% of the Company’s total consolidated net sales. Sales to this major customer primarily consisted of microwave components and systems.

In 2005, the Company’s largest single customer (an original equipment manufacturer of communications equipment) represented 5% of total consolidated net sales. Sales to this major customer primarily consisted of signal and power integrity components.

 

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PRODUCTION

The Company substantially relies on its internal manufacturing capabilities for production of its control products and systems. At its new facility in State College, Pennsylvania, the Company designs and manufactures various ceramic components including tubular capacitors, discoidal capacitors, and resonators. Tubular and discoidal capacitors are primarily utilized in the manufacture of signal integrity products at the Company’s facility in Fairview, Pennsylvania and its low-cost manufacturing center in Juarez, Mexico. Coaxial ceramic dielectric resonators are principally used in the manufacture of bandpass filters and duplexers at the Company’s facility in Juarez, Mexico.

The Company designs and manufactures its microwave products in several locations including: Philadelphia and State College, Pennsylvania; Delmar, Delaware; Palm Bay, Florida; and Columbia, Maryland. Manufacturing at these facilities primarily relates to military products and certain low-volume commercial components. Many of the Company’s commercial microwave products are manufactured at our facility in Juarez, Mexico. The design and manufacture of most of our sensors and control products occur in Grass Valley, California (position sensors) and St. Marys, Pennsylvania (temperature sensors). Our power management systems are designed in State College, Pennsylvania. Manufacturing of these products for military and defense applications occur in State College, while most commercial applications for these systems are manufactured at our facility in Qiao Tou Town, China. The design of our power integrity components is currently performed at our facility in Fairview, Pennsylvania, with the manufacturing of these products conducted at our facilities in Juarez, Mexico; Wesson, Mississippi; Qiao Tou Town, China; and Fairview, Pennsylvania. Although the Company produces a standardized line of products for sale from inventory or through distributors, most orders require relatively short production runs of custom designed components.

The Company purchases brass bushings, castings, miniature metal stampings, as well as other hardware used in the assembly and production of its products. These items are available from numerous sources. The principal raw materials used by the Company in the manufacture of ceramic capacitors and resonators are barium titanate ceramic, silver, palladium, and platinum. Precious metals are available from many sources; however, their prices may be subject to significant fluctuations and such fluctuations may have a material and adverse affect on the Company’s operating results.

The Company’s customers demand a high level of quality. As a result, the Company maintains an extensive quality control system designed to meet the requirements of sophisticated defense and commercial communications products. The Company has been approved by defense customers under the requirements of the U.S. military quality system, which approval is also often accepted by commercial customers. In addition, all of the Company’s facilities have achieved and maintain ISO 9001 certification, and most of the Company’s North American facilities have achieved and maintain the automotive industry quality standard of QS 9000.

In recent years, a majority of the Company’s capital investment has been expended to establish new production lines and improve manufacturing processes. There can be no assurance that the Company can continue to make such investments in a timely manner so as to take advantage of market demand.

SALES AND DISTRIBUTION

The Company sells its products through a combination of manufacturers’ representatives, internal sales force, and distribution. The Company maintains representatives throughout North America and Europe, and portions of South America, Asia and the Middle East. The Company’s internal sales organization includes employees dedicated to certain microwave product sales, new business development, and distribution sales management. In fiscal 2007, approximately 15% of the Company’s consolidated sales was through distribution. Domestic distribution is done through various national and regional distributors. International distribution is done through the Company’s wholly-owned German subsidiary, Spectrum Control GmbH.

During fiscal year 2007, the Company sold its products to approximately 1,800 accounts. Sales of products to the Company’s top ten customers represented 27% ($36.7 million) of total consolidated net sales in 2007. The top ten customers primarily consist of distributors, military/defense prime contractors, and original equipment manufacturers of communications equipment. All of the Company’s major customers are unaffiliated with Spectrum Control, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Shipments are made by common carrier. Most of the Company’s signal integrity, sensors, and microwave products are either small or miniaturized and light weight. Accordingly, shipping charges for these products are not significant to the Company’s business. However, transportation costs for the Company’s power integrity products and power management systems may be significant. Accordingly, shipping charges and delivery time for these products may affect the Company’s ability to compete for business, particularly in international markets.

 

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No material portion of the Company’s business is subject to renegotiation of profits or termination of contracts or sub-contracts at the election of the U.S. Government.

BACKLOG

The Company’s backlog, which consists of purchase orders by customers, totaled approximately $48.1 million at November 30, 2007 and $48.6 million at November 30, 2006. It is anticipated that approximately 90% of the Company’s backlog as of November 30, 2007 will be shipped within one year. Annual requirement contracts are taken into backlog only to the extent that orders are actually released thereunder. Although the terms and conditions contained in the Company’s quotation forms place certain restrictions on a customer’s right to cancel, purchase orders generally provide for cancellation. In practice, the Company negotiates each cancellation and schedule change based on the cost it has incurred prior to such occurrence. The Company expects to continually reduce its average lead time (the length of time from the receipt of a customer order to shipment of finished product to the customer). As a result, the Company’s backlog may decrease in the future due to reduced lead times.

EMPLOYEES

As of November 30, 2007, the Company had a total of 1,607 employees, including 69 in sales, marketing and customer support; 140 in engineering, product development and technical support; 1,360 in manufacturing; and 38 in finance, accounting and administration. The Company’s future success depends in significant part upon the continued service of its key technical and senior management personnel and its continued ability to attract and retain highly qualified technical and managerial personnel. Competition for such personnel is intense, and there can be no assurance that the Company can retain its key managerial and technical employees or that it can attract, assimilate, or retain other highly qualified technical and managerial personnel in the future. None of the Company’s employees is represented by a labor union. The Company has not experienced any work stoppages and considers its relations with its employees to be good.

PROPRIETARY RIGHTS

The Company relies on trade secrets, know-how, and to a lesser extent patents, to establish and protect proprietary rights to technologies and products. Trade secrets and know-how are protected through confidentiality agreements and internal procedures. In connection with the manufacture and sale of control products and systems, the Company owns numerous United States and foreign patents and has certain patents pending. None of these patents and patent applications are critical to the Company’s business. The Company’s policy is to file patent applications to protect proprietary technology, inventions and improvements. There can be no assurance that patents will issue from any of the Company’s pending applications or that any claims allowed from existing or pending patents will be sufficiently broad to protect the Company’s technology. While the Company intends to protect its intellectual property rights vigorously, there can be no assurance that any patents held by the Company will not be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, or the rights granted thereunder will provide competitive advantages to the Company.

The Company currently holds four (4) United States patents relating to polymer multilayer technology. The Company has entered into several agreements regarding licensing the technology covered by these patents. However, it is not known what commercial value, if any, these patents and related licenses may have.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

On December 30, 2005, we acquired certain land and ceramic manufacturing facilities in State College, Pennsylvania. The property, which was acquired from Murata Electronics North America (“Murata”), consists of approximately 53 acres of land and 250,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities. The acquired facilities have become the design and manufacturing center for our ceramic operations, replacing the ceramic operations previously conducted in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The purchase price for the acquired property consisted of: (a) $1.00, plus (b) closing costs of $695,000 including realtor commissions, transfer taxes, and legal fees; plus (c) the assumption of, and indemnification of Murata against, all environmental liabilities related to the property. The acquired property has known environmental conditions that require remediation, and certain hazardous materials previously used on the property have migrated into neighboring third party areas. These environmental issues arose from the use of chlorinated organic solvents including tetrachloroethylene (“PCE”) and trichloroethylene (“TCE”). As a condition to the purchase, we entered into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“PADEP”) pursuant to which: (a) we agreed to remediate all known environmental conditions relating to the property to a specified industrial standard, with our costs for remediating such conditions being capped at $4.0 million; (b) PADEP released Murata from further claims by Pennsylvania under specified state laws for the known environmental condition; and (c) we purchased an insurance policy providing clean-up cost cap coverage (for known and unknown pollutants) with a combined coverage limit of approximately $8.2 million, and pollution legal liability coverage (for possible third party claims) with

 

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an aggregate coverage limit of $25.0 million. The total premium cost for the insurance policy, which has a ten year term and an aggregate deductible of $650,000, was $4.8 million. The cost of the insurance associated with the environmental clean-up ($3.6 million) is being charged to general and administrative expense in direct proportion to the actual remediation costs incurred. The cost of the insurance associated with the pollution legal liability coverage ($1.2 million) is being charged to general and administrative expense on a pro rata basis over the ten year policy term.

Based upon our environmental review of the property, we recorded a liability of $2.9 million to cover probable future environmental expenditures related to the remediation, the cost of which is expected to be entirely covered by the insurance policy. As of November 30, 2007, remediation expenditures of $1.2 million have been incurred and charged against the environmental liability, with all such expenditures being reimbursed by the insurance carrier. The remaining aggregate undiscounted expenditures of $1.7 million, which are anticipated to be incurred over the next eight years, principally consist of: (a) continued operation and monitoring of the existing on-site groundwater extraction, treatment, and recharge system; (b) implementation of a chemical oxidation system, subject to the results of a laboratory treatability study; (c) completion of soil investigations to determine the extent of potential soil contamination; (d) excavation and off-site disposal of soil containing contaminates above acceptable standards; and (e) implementation of soil vapor extraction systems in certain areas. Depending upon the results of future environmental testing and remediation actions, it is possible that the ultimate costs incurred could exceed the current aggregate estimate of $2.9 million. We expect such increase, if any, to be entirely covered by the insurance policy. Insurance recoveries for actual environmental remediation costs incurred are recorded when it is probably that such insurance reimbursement will be received and the related amounts are determinable. Such insurance recoveries are credited to our general and administrative expense. Based on the current remediation plan, $356,000 of the total remediation costs is expected to be incurred during the next twelve months.

We are subject to various laws and governmental regulations concerning environmental matters and employee safety and health in the United States and other countries. U.S. federal environmental legislation having particular impact on us includes the Toxic Substances Control Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; the Clean Air Act; the Clean Water Act; and the Safe Drinking Water Act. We also are subject to regulation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) concerning employee safety and health matters. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), OSHA, and other federal agencies have the authority to promulgate regulations that have an impact on our operations.

In addition to these federal agencies, various states have been delegated certain authority under the aforementioned federal statutes. Many state and local governments have adopted environmental and employee safety and health laws and regulations, some of which are similar to federal requirements. State and federal authorities may seek fines and penalties for violation of these laws and regulations. As part of our continuing environmental program, we have been able to comply with such proceedings and orders without any materially adverse effect on our business. We are not currently involved in any significant legal proceedings involving environmental matters.

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

The Company’s products are incorporated into communications systems which are subject to various FCC regulations. Regulatory changes, including changes in the allocation of available frequency spectrum, could significantly impact the Company’s operations by restricting development efforts by the Company’s customers, obsoleting current products or increasing the opportunity for additional competition. Changes in, or the failure by the Company to comply with, applicable domestic and international regulations could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, operating results and financial condition. In addition, the increasing demand for wireless communications has exerted pressure on regulatory bodies worldwide to adopt new standards for such products and services, generally following extensive investigation of and deliberation over competing technologies. The delays inherent in this government approval process may cause the cancellation, postponement or rescheduling of the installation of communications systems by the Company’s customers, which in turn may have a material adverse effect on the sale of products by the Company to such customers.

In order to qualify as an approved supplier of products for use in equipment purchased by the military services or aerospace programs, the Company is required to meet the applicable portions of the quality specifications and performance standards designed by the Air Force, the Army, and the Navy. The Company’s products must also conform to the specifications of the Defense Electronic Supply Center for replacement parts supplied to the military. To the extent required, the Company meets or exceeds all of these specifications.

 

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COMPETITION

The markets for the Company’s products are intensely competitive and are characterized by technological change and product obsolescence. The principal competitors of our Signal Integrity Components Business include Amphenol Corporation, Conec Corporation, ITT Canon, an ITT Industries Company, and Tusonix, Inc. The primary competitors of our Power Integrity Components Business include Corcom, a Tyco Electronics company, Delta Group Electronics, Inc., Schaffner Holder AG, and Captor Corporation. The major competitors of our Power Management Systems include Astec America, Inc., Peco II, Inc., Dataprobe, Inc., Western Telematic, Inc. and Dantel, Inc. Major competitors for our Microwave Products include K&L Microwave, a Dover company, Lorch Microwave, Teledyne Cougar, M/A Com, a Tyco Electronics Company, and Murata Manufacturing Company. Competition for our Sensors and Controls Business comes from many sources including Betatronix, Inc., BetaTHERM Corporation, Honeywell Sensing and Controls, Thermalogic Corporation, and Smith Systems, Inc. Many of the Company’s current and potential competitors have significantly greater financial, technical, manufacturing, and marketing resources than the Company. These competitors may be able to engage in sustained price reductions in the Company’s primary markets to gain market share. Furthermore, the Company currently supplies control products and systems to large OEM customers that are continuously evaluating whether to manufacture their own products and systems or purchase them from outside sources.

The Company believes that its ability to compete in its current markets depends on factors both within and outside the Company’s control, including the timing and success of new product introductions by the Company and its competitors, availability of ceramic and assembly manufacturing capability, the Company’s ability to support decreases in selling price through operating cost reductions, adequate sources of raw materials, product quality, and general economic conditions. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete successfully in the future.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The Company’s position as a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of control products and systems is largely the result of a long history of technological innovation. The Company’s research and development efforts are focused on expanding the Company’s materials technology, improving existing product offerings, developing new product offerings, and designing specialized production equipment to improve manufacturing efficiencies. As of November 30, 2007 the Company employed 140 individuals in engineering, technical support, and product development. In addition to their design and development activities, the engineering staff participates with the Company’s marketing department in proposal preparation and applications support for customers. Research and development expense was $3.5 million in 2007, $3.1 million in 2006, and $2.4 million in 2005.

WEBSITE ACCESS TO COMPANY REPORTS AND GOVERANCE DOCUMENTS

The Company’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports are available free of charge on the Company’s website at www.spectrumcontrol.com as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of the Company’s annual report are also available, free of charge, upon written request. Charters of the Company’s Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Goverance Committee, along with the Company’s Code of Ethics and other goverance documents, are available for viewing on the Company’s website.

OTHER MATTERS

The business of the Company is not subject to any significant seasonal fluctuations.

The Company does not believe that it has any special practices or special conditions affecting working capital items that are significant for an understanding of its business.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

The markets in which we compete are characterized by rapidly changing technologies, evolving industry standards and frequent improvements in products and services. If technologies supported by our products become obsolete or fail to gain widespread acceptance, as a result of a change in the industry standards or otherwise, our business could be harmed. Our future success will depend in part on factors including our ability to establish close working relationships with major customers for the design of their new systems and products; our ability to identify, develop and achieve market acceptance of new products that address technologies and meet our customer needs; our ability to continue to apply our expertise and technologies to existing and emerging markets; and our ability to achieve acceptable product costs on new products.

We must also continue to make significant investments in research and development efforts in order to develop necessary product enhancements, new designs and technologies. We may not be able to obtain a sufficient number of engineers, or other technical support staff, or the funds necessary to support our research and development efforts when needed. In addition, our research and development efforts may not be successful, and our new products may not achieve market acceptance. Current technologies are complex and new products and enhancements developed by our customers can in turn require long development periods for our new products, or for enhancement or adaptation of our existing products. If we are unable to develop and introduce new products or enhancements in a timely manner in response to changing market conditions or customer requirements, or if our new products do not achieve market acceptance, our business, financial condition and operating results could suffer.

Other risk factors applicable to the Company are discussed under the heading “Risk Factors That May Affect Future Results” included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations as set forth herein.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None

 

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The Company’s principal manufacturing and office facilities as of November 30, 2007 are as follows:

 

LOCATION

   FUNCTION    APPROXIMATE
SQUARE FEET
OF FLOOR AREA
   OWNERSHIP    PRINCIPAL
BALANCE
OUTSTANDING
AT 11/30/07
ON RELATED
MORTGAGE

8061 Avonia Road

Fairview, PA

   Manufacturing,
EMI Testing
   40,000    Owned    N/A

1900 West College Ave.

State College, PA

   Manufacturing    250,000    Owned    N/A

7100 Gateway Drive

Columbia, MD

   Design Center    7,000    Rented    N/A

3053 Hwy. 51N

Wesson, MS

   Manufacturing    50,000    Owned    $665,000

38166 Old Stage Road

Delmar, DE

   Manufacturing    15,000    Owned    N/A

2144 Franklin Drive NE

Palm Bay, FL

   Manufacturing    53,000    Owned    N/A

2707 Black Lake Place

Philadelphia, PA

   Manufacturing    20,000    Owned    N/A

424 Crown Point Circle

Grass Valley, CA

   Manufacturing    17,000    Rented    N/A

328 State Street

St. Marys, PA

   Manufacturing    22,000    Owned    N/A

Boulevard Zaragoza 2910

Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

   Manufacturing    50,000    Rented    N/A

2nd Industrial Area

North Ling Tou Industrial Rd.

Qiao Tou Town

Dong Guan City

Guang Dong Province China

   Manufacturing    75,000    Rented    N/A

8031 Avonia Road

Fairview, PA

   Corporate Offices    10,000    Owned    $466,000

 

(1) The Company’s manufacturing and office space are considered adequate for its existing requirements and its projected business needs.
(2) In addition to the facilities described above, the Company leases certain sales office and warehousing space.

 

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is subject to certain legal proceedings and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the amount of any ultimate liability with respect to these actions will not materially affect the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

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

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the quarter ended November 30, 2007.

PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON STOCK, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The Company’s Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol SPEC. The high and low sales prices for the Common Stock for each quarter during fiscal years 2007 and 2006 are set forth below.

 

     High    Low

Fiscal 2007

     

First quarter

   $ 12.15    $ 8.77

Second quarter

     15.50      10.25

Third quarter

     17.78      12.62

Fourth quarter

     17.27      13.82
     High    Low

Fiscal 2006

     

First quarter

   $ 7.45    $ 6.14

Second quarter

     9.33      7.10

Third quarter

     10.55      6.86

Fourth quarter

     10.50      8.61

At January 31, 2008, the Company had 13,265,576 shares of Common Stock outstanding, which were held by approximately 1,200 registered stockholders. In recent years, the Company has not paid cash dividends on its Common Stock. While subject to periodic review, the current policy of the Board of Directors is to retain all earnings to provide funds for the future growth of the Company.

 

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The following table sets forth information as of November 30, 2007 with respect to compensation plans under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance.

 

     (I)    (II)    (III)

Plan Category

   Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options
   Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options
   Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under plans
(excluding securities
listed in Column (I))

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

   1,065,967    $ 6.93    1,193,599

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

   —        —      —  
                

Total

   1,065,967    $ 6.93    1,193,599
                

From time to time, the Company repurchases shares of its Common Stock on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, however, the Company did not repurchase any of its outstanding shares.

The following table shows the Company’s total return to shareholders compared to the S&P 500 Index, the NASDAQ U.S. Index, and the NASDAQ Electronic Components Stock Index over the five year period from 2003 through 2007. The table assumes that $100 was invested on December 1, 2002, in the Company’s Common Stock and in each of the other indices.

 

     2002    2003    2004    2005    2006    2007

Spectrum

   $ 100    $ 116    $ 120    $ 102    $ 142    $ 239

S&P 500

   $ 100    $ 115    $ 130    $ 138    $ 155    $ 164

NASDAQ U.S.

   $ 100    $ 132    $ 141    $ 152    $ 166    $ 179

NASDAQ Electronic

                 

Components Stock Index

   $ 100    $ 155    $ 117    $ 124    $ 135    $ 147

 

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ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data

 

     Years Ended November 30
     (Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Data )
     2007    2006    2005    2004    2003

Operations

              

Net sales

   $ 136,539    $ 125,672    $ 98,354    $ 80,477    $ 62,985

Gross margin

     36,363      28,780      25,775      22,549      13,899

Income from operations

     17,864      9,314      7,134      6,705      1,230

Interest expense

     561      545      110      112      136

Income before provision for income taxes

     17,558      9,039      7,323      6,777      1,413

Net income

     11,141      5,871      4,605      4,167      854

Earnings per common share :

              

Basic

   $ 0.83    $ 0.45    $ 0.35    $ 0.32    $ 0.07

Diluted

   $ 0.81    $ 0.44    $ 0.35    $ 0.32    $ 0.07

Weighted average common shares outstanding :

              

Basic

     13,359      13,127      13,054      13,012      12,937

Diluted

     13,798      13,381      13,160      13,162      13,004

Financial Position

              

Working capital

   $ 43,277    $ 31,808    $ 39,470    $ 42,291    $ 46,542

Total assets

     126,919      119,207      98,002      91,349      83,371

Long-term debt

     1,031      1,131      1,426      1,716      2,106

Stockholders’ equity

     101,868      88,599      81,361      76,842      72,044

This table should be read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements; notes to consolidated financial statements, and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this annual report. All references to “we”, “us”, “our”, or “the Company” in the following discussion and analysis mean Spectrum Control, Inc. and its Subsidiaries.

Overview

We were founded as a solutions-oriented company, designing and manufacturing products to suppress or eliminate electromagnetic interference (“EMI”). In recent years, we broadened our focus and product lines to become a control products and systems company, providing a wide range of components and systems used to condition, regulate, transmit, receive, or govern electronic performance. Although our components and systems are used in many industries worldwide, our largest individual markets are military/defense and communications equipment which represented 48.0% and 20.0%, respectively, of our fiscal 2007 sales. Military/defense applications for our products include secure communications, smart weapons and munitions, countermeasures for improvised explosive devices, and simulation equipment. In communications, our products are used in numerous systems including wireless base stations, broadband switching equipment, global positioning systems, and optical networks. Automotive represents an emerging market for our products, with significant applications in DC motors, telematics, and electronic safety controls. Other markets for our products include medical instrumentation, industrial equipment, computers, and storage devices.

Our operations are currently conducted in four reportable segments: signal and power integrity components; microwave components and systems; power management systems; and sensors and controls. Our Signal and Power Integrity Components Business designs and manufactures a broad range of products including low pass EMI filters, filter plates, filtered connectors, specialty ceramic capacitors, power entry modules, power line filters, and our motor line feed thru (“MLFT”) filters. Our Microwave Components and Systems Business designs and manufactures microwave filters, waveguides, amplifiers, frequency mixers, oscillators, synthesizers, multiple channel filter banks, and related products and integrated assemblies. The Power Management Systems Business designs and manufactures breaker and fuse interface panels, custom power outlet strips, and our Smart Start power management systems. Our Sensors and Controls Business designs and manufactures rotary and linear precision sensors, temperature sensing probes, thermistors, resistance temperature detector sensors, and related assemblies.

We recognize revenue when all significant contractual obligations have been met, the sales price is fixed and determinable, and the collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. As a result, product sales are generally recorded at the time of shipment when title passes under the terms FOB shipping point. Payments received from customers in advance of products shipped are recorded as deferred revenue until earned.

Acquisitions

On January 26, 2007, we acquired substantially all of the assets and assumed certain liabilities of EMF Systems, Inc. (“EMF”). EMF, based in State College, Pennsylvania, designs and manufactures custom oscillator-based products. In addition to a broad line of oscillator components, EMF primarily designs and manufactures integrated microwave assemblies (“IMA”), including synthesizers and phase-locked oscillators. These IMA products are used in numerous military and commercial applications such as military radar systems, secure communications, and commercial weather radar. The aggregate cash purchase price for EMF was $2.4 million.

On July 14, 2006, we acquired all of the outstanding common stock of Advanced Thermal Products, Inc. (“ATP”). ATP, based in St. Marys, Pennsylvania, designs and manufactures a broad line of custom temperature sensors. ATP’s products include temperature sensing probes and assemblies, positive and negative temperature coefficient thermistors, and resistance temperature detector sensors and related assemblies. These products are used in numerous applications within the heating and air conditioning industry, consumer electronics, energy management, food service and electronic controls market. The aggregate cash purchase price for ATP was $9.5 million.

On October 31, 2005, we acquired all of the outstanding common stock of JDK Controls, Inc. (“JDK”). JDK, based in Grass Valley, California, designs and manufactures precision co-molded conductive plastic sensors and assemblies. JDK’s products are used in various commercial, aerospace and military markets, with major applications in medical and meteorological instruments, animatronics and robotics, aircraft flap position actuators, cockpit instrumentation, missile programs, military vehicles, fighter aircraft, and various automotive controls. The aggregate cash purchase price for JDK was $4.1 million.

 

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

 

For each of these acquisitions, the purchase price was entirely funded through our available cash reserves, except the acquisition of ATP which was primarily funded by borrowings under our domestic line of credit. The results of operations of the acquired businesses have been included in the accompanying financial statements since their respective acquisition dates. Accordingly, our consolidated net sales for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005 include the following amounts related to these acquired businesses (in thousands):

 

     2007    2006    2005

EMF

   $ 3,164    $ —      $ —  

ATP

     9,080      3,561      —  

JDK

     11,412      8,266      639

For operating segment purposes, EMF is reported within our Microwave Components and Systems business segment. ATP and JDK comprise our recently created Sensors and Controls business segment.

Asset Impairment Loss

In August 2005, our 100,000 square foot ceramic manufacturing facility in New Orleans, Louisiana, was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina and related flooding (the “Hurricane”). As a result of the Hurricane, we recorded net asset impairment losses and related expenses of $274,000 in the year ended November 30, 2005. This amount, which has been included in general and administrative expense in fiscal 2005, consists of the following: inventory losses of $1.0 million; building and equipment losses of $3.6 million including the reduction of the affected land and building to its estimated fair value of $450,000; direct clean-up, asset assessment, and repair costs of $1.7 million; less expected insurance proceeds of $6.0 million.

In March 2006, we sold the land and building in New Orleans at a net selling price of $246,000. As a result, we recorded an additional asset impairment loss of $204,000, representing the difference between the net selling price and the property’s previously estimated fair value of $450,000. In 2006, we also incurred final clean-up and asset assessment costs of $183,000. Accordingly, an asset impairment loss in the aggregate amount of $387,000 has been included in general and administrative expense in our consolidated statement of income for the year ended November 30, 2006.

As of November 30, 2006, we had received $4.5 million of insurance proceeds for our Hurricane-related claims, and we had recorded an insurance recovery receivable of $1.5 million for expected additional insurance proceeds. In January 2007, we received insurance proceeds of $1.748 million upon the final settlement of all related claims. Accordingly, $248,000 was credited against our general and administrative expense in the year ended November 30, 2007, representing the excess of the final insurance proceeds received over the previously recorded insurance recovery receivable.

Forward-Looking Information

The following discussion includes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding: (1) our belief as to future market conditions and sales growth rates for our products, (2) our projected capital expenditures, (3) our anticipated research and development expenses, and (4) our expected future operating requirements and financing needs. The words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include those discussed in “Risk Factors That May Affect Future Results”, as well as those discussed elsewhere herein. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

 

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

 

Executive Summary

During 2007, our consolidated net sales increased by $10.9 million or 8.6% from 2006. This increase was principally driven by our recent business acquisitions. Sales of our sensors and controls grew to $20.5 million, an increase of $8.7 million or 73.3% from the preceding year. In addition to ATP product sales increases of $5.5 million, the current year sales growth for these products reflects increased shipments of our custom position sensors and related assemblies, which are used in numerous military and commercial applications. Including EMF product sales of $3.2 million, sales of our microwave components and systems were down slightly at $47.7 million in 2007 and $48.7 million in 2006, as certain major military/defense programs were going through a transition period of renewal or replacement. During the second half of fiscal 2008, we expect our microwave products to resume their historical positive growth rate. Sales of our signal and power integrity products were $60.7 million in 2007, up $2.2 million or 3.8% from a year ago, primarily reflecting improved overall market conditions. Also, early in fiscal 2006, our signal integrity product sales were negatively impacted by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and our inability to obtain the ceramic components necessary to complete certain signal product orders. Total consolidated customer orders received in fiscal 2007 were $139.6 million, an increase of $14.9 million or 12.0% from fiscal 2006.

Our gross margin was $36.4 million or 26.6% of sales in 2007, compared to $28.8 million or 22.9% of sales in 2006. Our improved gross margin percentage primarily reflects reduced ceramic component costs. After losing our New Orleans ceramic manufacturing facility to Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005, we began purchasing ceramic components from third party suppliers at prices significantly greater than our previous manufactured costs. As a result, our material costs increased and our gross margin, as a percentage of sales, decreased below historical levels. To re-establish our own ceramic manufacturing capabilities, and replace the operations previously conducted in New Orleans, we acquired in December 2005 a facility in State College, Pennsylvania. In June 2006, limited ceramic component production commenced at our new State College operations with additional production being systematically increased thereafter. During the second quarter of fiscal 2007, full ceramic production was achieved and substantially all purchases of specialty ceramic components from third party suppliers were eliminated. Accordingly, as a percentage of sales, our gross margin in the second half of fiscal 2007 returned to a more normalized level of 27.5% to 28.0% of sales.

With our greater sales volume and improved gross margin, our overall profitability significantly increased. Net income was $11.1 million or 81 cents per share (diluted) in 2007, compared to $5.9 million or 44 cents per share (diluted) in 2006. As a result of our enhanced profitability, net cash provided by operating activities grew to $13.6 million in fiscal 2007. In addition to this positive operating cash flow, we received $1.2 million in cash from the exercise of employee stock options and $1.7 million upon the final settlement of all insurance claims related to Hurricane Katrina. This aggregate cash generation enabled us to repay $7.0 million of borrowings under our domestic line of credit, expend $5.8 million for capital equipment and improvements, as well as fund the $2.4 million cash purchase price for EMF.

At November 30, 2007, our cash and cash equivalents were $5.2 million, our current ratio was 3.87 to 1.00, and our total debt to equity was 0.25 to 1.00.

 

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

 

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth certain financial data, as a percentage of net sales, for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005:

 

     2007     2006     2005  

Net sales

     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %

Cost of products sold

     73.4       77.1       73.8  
                        

Gross margin

     26.6       22.9       26.2  

Selling, general and administrative expense

     13.5       15.5       19.0  
                        

Income from operations

     13.1       7.4       7.2  

Other income (expense)

      

Interest expense

     (0.4 )     (0.4 )     (0.1 )

Other income and expense, net

     0.2       0.2       0.3  
                        

Income before provision for income taxes

     12.9       7.2       7.4  

Provision for income taxes

     4.7       2.5       2.7  
                        

Net income

     8.2 %     4.7 %     4.7 %
                        

The following table sets forth our net sales by reportable operating segments for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005 (in thousands):

  

     2007     2006     2005  

Signal and power integrity components

   $ 60,713     $ 58,472     $ 52,236  

Microwave components and systems

     47,748       48,716       38,399  

Power management systems

     7,586       6,657       7,080  

Sensors and controls

     20,492       11,827       639  
                        
   $ 136,539     $ 125,672     $ 98,354  
                        

2007 Compared to 2006

Net Sales

In 2007, our net sales increased by $10.9 million or 8.6%, with consolidated sales of $136.5 million in 2007 and $125.6 million in 2006. Of this $10.9 million increase, $8.7 million relates to our acquisitions of EMF and ATP. The remaining $2.2 million increase reflects additional shipments of signal and power integrity components, power management systems, and sensors and controls, which were partially offset by reduced shipments of microwave products.

Sales of our signal and power integrity products were $60.7 million in fiscal 2007, up $2.2 million from a year ago, primarily reflecting improved overall market conditions. Additionally, early in fiscal 2006, our signal integrity product sales were negatively impacted by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and our inability to obtain the ceramic components necessary to complete certain signal product orders. Sales of our sensors and controls were $20.5 million in fiscal 2007, an increase of $8.7 million from fiscal 2006. In addition to ATP product sales increases of $5.5 million, the current year growth in sensor sales principally reflects increased shipments of our custom position sensors used in various medical, commercial weather instruments, and military applications. Sales of our power management systems increased by $929,000, with sales of $7.6 million in 2007 and $6.7 million in 2006. We continue to be optimistic about the long-term growth potential of these advanced systems, which are used in various infrastructure equipment including voice-over-internet protocol (“VoIP”) equipment, data storage, unmanned military transport equipment, wireless base stations, and switching gear.

 

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

 

Including EMF product sales of $3.2 million, fiscal year 2007 sales of our microwave components and systems were down from a year ago ($47.7 million in 2007 versus $48.7 million in 2006) as certain major military-related programs were winding down and not yet fully renewed or replaced with the next generation of products. We currently believe this program transition period will be completed by the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2008. Accordingly, we expect our microwave components and systems to resume their positive historical growth rate during the second half of next year.

Total customer orders received in 2007 amounted to $139.6 million, an increase of $14.9 million or 12.0% from the preceding year. At November 30, 2007, our sales order backlog was $48.1 million.

Overall, average selling prices remained relatively stable in 2007 for all of our major product lines.

Gross Margin

Our gross margin in fiscal 2007 was $36.4 million or 26.6% of sales, compared to $28.8 million or 22.9% of sales a year ago. This increase in gross margin percentage principally reflects reduced material costs from the resumption of internal ceramic manufacturing. Total material costs (including ceramic components) amounted to $35.2 million or 25.8% of sales in fiscal 2007, compared to $38.6 million or 30.7% of sales in fiscal 2006.

Prior to its destruction by Hurricane Katrina in late August of 2005, our New Orleans operations designed and manufactured specialty ceramic capacitors. These custom ceramic components are an essential element of our signal integrity products. With this disruption to our internal ceramic manufacturing capabilities, we began purchasing these ceramic components from third party suppliers at prices significantly greater than our previous manufactured costs. To address our ongoing ceramic component needs and to re-establish our own ceramic manufacturing capabilities, we acquired in December 2005 a ceramic manufacturing facility in State College, Pennsylvania. The acquired facility has become the design and manufacturing center for our ceramic products, replacing the operations previously conducted in New Orleans. In June 2006, limited production commenced at our new State College operations with additional production being systematically increased thereafter. During the second quarter of fiscal 2007, full ceramic production was achieved and substantially all purchases of specialty ceramic components from third party suppliers were eliminated. Accordingly, as a percentage of sales, our gross margin in the second half of fiscal 2007 returned to a more normalized level of 27.5% to 28.0% of sales.

Total labor costs were $16.4 million or 12.0% of sales in 2007, compared to $14.0 million or 11.2% of sales in 2006. In addition to greater sales volume and changes in product mix, the increase in labor costs primarily reflects our resumption of internal ceramic production. As a percentage of sales, manufacturing overhead remained relatively stable throughout the period. Aggregate manufacturing overhead was $48.6 million or 35.6% of sales in fiscal 2007, versus $44.3 million or 35.2% of sales in fiscal 2006.

At November 30, 2007, we had a total workforce of 1,607 employees, up 3.8% from a year ago. We expect to continuously review our organization and cost structure to enhance operating efficiencies, while maintaining flexibility for future capacity expansion.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense

In fiscal 2007, selling expense amounted to $10.5 million or 7.7% of sales, compared to $10.4 million or 8.3% of sales in fiscal 2006. The decrease in selling expense, as a percentage of sales, principally reflects the impact of higher sales volume and certain fixed selling expenses. General and administrative expense was $8.0 million in 2007 versus $9.0 million in 2006. This decrease in general and administrative expense was driven by numerous factors, including the following: (1) $635,000 associated with asset impairments from Hurricane Katrina, reflecting the difference between the aggregate asset impairment loss of $387,000 recorded in fiscal 2006 and the $248,000 credit to general and administrative expense realized in fiscal 2007 upon the settlement of all related insurance claims; (2) Pre-production start-up costs of $254,000 recognized in 2006 in connection with our State College facility; and (3) $179,000 of additional equity-based compensation expense recorded in 2006 from our adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”). These decreases to general and administrative expense were partially offset in 2007 by additional professional fees of $145,000 associated with our initial-year compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

 

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $561,000 in fiscal 2007 and $545,000 in fiscal 2006. During the year ended November 30, 2007, weighted average borrowings under our domestic line of credit amounted to $6.0 million, with an average interest rate of 6.61% and maximum month-end borrowings of $9.0 million. During the year ended November 30, 2006, weighted average borrowings under the domestic line of credit were $6.4 million, with an average interest rate of 6.43% and maximum month-end borrowings of $14.0 million.

Other Income and Expense

We hold several United States and foreign patents relating to polymer multilayer (“PML”) technology, and we have granted several licenses to other entities for the use of PML technology. In connection with our PML technology, we received license fee and royalty income of $93,000 in 2007 and $114,000 in 2006. It is not known what remaining commercial value, if any, our PML licenses may have.

Our wholly-owned foreign subsidiaries transact business with certain customers and vendors in currencies other than their local currency. As a result, we recognize gains and losses on foreign currency transactions. Foreign currency transaction net losses of $6,000 in 2007 and net gains of $23,000 in 2006 were recognized and included in nonoperating income and expense.

We realized interest income of $168,000 in 2007 and $133,000 in 2006 from temporary cash investments.

Income Taxes

Our effective income tax rate was 36.5% in 2007 and 35.0% in 2006, compared to an applicable federal and state statutory income tax rate of approximately 40.0%. Differences between the effective tax rate and statutory tax rate primarily arise from state tax provisions, foreign income tax rates, changes in estimated tax rates applied to temporary differences, and the U.S. domestic manufacturers deduction.

At November 30, 2007, we had recorded certain deferred tax assets. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, we consider whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which the temporary differences become deductible. We consider the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based upon our level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income, we believe it is more likely than not that the benefits of the deferred tax assets will be realized. Accordingly, no deferred tax asset valuation allowance was recorded at November 30, 2007.

2006 Compared to 2005

Net Sales

In 2006, our net sales increased by $27.3 million or 27.8% from 2005. Of this $27.3 million increase, $11.2 million was in sensors and control products, reflecting our recent acquisitions of ATP and JDK. Sales of microwave components and systems grew by $10.3 million in fiscal 2006, primarily arising from increased shipments for products used in numerous military applications including counter electronic devices, military aircraft and vehicles, and secure communications. Sales of our signal and power integrity components were $58.5 million in fiscal year 2006, up $6.2 million from the preceding year, reflecting improved overall market conditions throughout the passive electronic components industry. In addition, as a result of Hurricane Katrina and its related disruption of our internally manufactured ceramic components, approximately $2.1 million of signal product shipments were delayed as of the end of fiscal 2005. Sales of our power management systems declined by $423,000 in fiscal 2006, as certain of our communication equipment customers worked through excess inventories.

 

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

 

Total customer orders received in fiscal 2006 amounted to $124.6 million, an increase of $19.0 million or 18.0% from the preceding year. At November 30, 2006, our sales order backlog was $48.6 million, up $1.4 million or 3.0% from the end of fiscal 2005.

Overall, average selling prices remained relatively stable in 2006 for all of our major product lines.

Gross Margin

After losing our New Orleans ceramic manufacturing facility to Hurricane Katrina, we had to purchase specialty ceramic components from third party suppliers throughout fiscal 2006. The purchase cost of these ceramic components was significantly greater than our previous manufactured cost. As a result of these higher material costs, our gross margin declined as a percentage of sales. In fiscal 2006, our gross margin was $28.8 million or 22.9% of sales, compared to $25.8 million or 26.2% of sales in fiscal 2005. Total material costs (including ceramic components) amounted to $38.6 million or 30.7% of sales in 2006, compared to $26.2 million or 26.7% of sales in 2005.

As a percentage of sales, labor and manufacturing overhead declined slightly in fiscal 2006. Aggregate labor and manufacturing overhead expenses were 46.4% of sales in 2006, versus 47.1% of sales in 2005, principally reflecting economies of scale achieved with higher sales volume. At November 30, 2006, we had a total workforce of 1,548 employees, up 375 from the end of fiscal year 2005.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense

Selling expense amounted to $10.4 million or 8.3% of sales in fiscal 2006, compared to $10.6 million or 10.8% of sales in fiscal 2005. The decrease in selling expense primarily arises from reductions in advertising and other discretionary expenditures. As a percentage of sales, the decline in selling expense principally reflects the impact of leveraging certain fixed selling expenses over higher sales volume. General and administrative expense was $9.0 million in 2006, versus $8.0 million in 2005. This increase of $1.0 million includes: (1) Pre-production start-up costs of $254,000 associated with our recently acquired State College facility, (2) $208,000 of equity-based compensation expense from our adoption of SFAS No. 123R, and (3) Asset impairment losses of $113,000 associated with our former New Orleans ceramic facility, in excess of losses recorded in fiscal year 2005. The balance of the 2006 increase in general and administrative expense reflects various expenditures related to our greater business activity.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $545,000 in fiscal 2006, up $435,000 from fiscal 2005. This increase primarily reflects our 2006 short-term borrowings. During the year ended November 30, 2006, weighted average borrowings under our domestic line of credit amounted to $6.4 million, with an average interest rate of 6.43% and maximum month-end borrowings of $14.0 million. These borrowings substantially financed our acquisition of ATP, as well as certain working capital requirements. Throughout 2005, no borrowings were outstanding under our domestic line of credit arrangement.

Other Income and Expense

In 2006, other income and expense consists of interest income from short-term investments of $133,000, PML license and royalty fee income of $114,000, and net gains on foreign currency transactions of $23,000. In 2005, other income and expense reflects $275,000 of interest income, $62,000 of PML license and royalty fee income, and net losses on foreign currency transactions of $38,000.

 

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

 

Income Taxes

Our effective income tax rate was 35.0% in 2006 and 37.1% in 2005, compared to an applicable federal and state statutory income tax rate of approximately 40.0%. Differences between the effective tax rate and statutory tax rate primarily arise from state tax provisions, foreign income tax rates, and the U.S. domestic manufacturers deduction.

At November 30, 2006, we had recorded certain deferred tax assets. Based upon our level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income, we believe it is more likely than not that the benefits of the deferred tax assets will be realized. Accordingly, no deferred tax asset valuation allowance was recorded at November 30, 2006.

Risk Factors That May Affect Future Results

Military aircraft, naval vessels, and certain military vehicles contain extensive communications equipment, electronic countermeasure equipment for defense against enemy weapons, smart weapons and munitions, and radar systems. We provide low pass filters, multisection assemblies, and various microwave components and integrated assemblies to major equipment manufacturers for installation into these systems. In addition, our precision position sensors are used in numerous military vehicles and aircraft. In 2007, military/defense sales were approximately 48.0% of our total consolidated sales. In recent years, demand for our products has been favorably impacted by an upward trend in U.S. defense spending. Future defense budgets, however, may be impacted by numerous economic and political factors. In addition, the specific programs in which we participate, or in which we may seek to participate in the future, must compete with other programs for consideration during the budget formulation and appropriation processes. While we believe many of our products are used in high priority military/defense programs, one or more of the programs that we currently serve could be phased-out or terminated. Reductions in these existing programs, unless offset by other programs and opportunities, would adversely affect our future revenues and profitability.

In fiscal year 2007, approximately 20.0% of our sales were to customers in the communications equipment industry. Our five largest customers in this sector, original equipment manufacturers of communications equipment, represented 7.0% of our total consolidated net sales in 2007. Several years ago, capital expenditures for wireless infrastructure equipment by service providers declined dramatically. Market conditions in the industry remain unpredictable and overall capital spending for wireless infrastructure equipment is still volatile. If the current market conditions deteriorate, it will have a material negative impact on our future operating performance.

Raw materials used in the manufacture of certain ceramic capacitors include silver, palladium, and platinum. Precious metals are available from many sources; however, their prices may be subject to significant fluctuations and such fluctuations may have a material and adverse affect on our operating results.

In addition, our results of operations may be negatively affected in the future by a variety of other factors including: time delays and cost overages in conducting specialty ceramic capacitor manufacturing at our new State College facilities; competitive pricing pressures; new technologies which decrease the demand for our products; new product offerings by our competitors; product cost changes; changes in the overall economic climate; cancellation of existing customer order backlog; unanticipated impairment of assets; difficulties in integrating acquired businesses and product lines; and changes in product mix.

 

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

 

Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financial Condition

We maintain a domestic line of credit with our principal lending institution, PNC Bank, N.A. of Erie, Pennsylvania (the “Bank”), in the aggregate amount of $25.0 million, with an additional $10.0 million expansion feature. Borrowings under the line of credit are secured by substantially all of our tangible and intangible personal property, and bear interest at rates below the prevailing prime rate. At November 30, 2007, $2.0 million was outstanding under this line of credit arrangement. The line of credit agreement contains certain covenants, the most restrictive of which require us to maintain designated minimum levels of net worth and profitability, and impose certain restrictions on us regarding additional indebtedness. At November 30, 2007, we were in compliance with all debt covenants. The current line of credit agreement expires in December 2010. Our ability to borrow in the future under this Bank credit facility is dependent on our ongoing compliance with the restrictive covenants. Whether we continue to comply with these covenants is largely dependent on our ability to attain certain levels of operating performance and profitability in the future, for which there can be no assurance.

Our wholly-owned German subsidiary maintains an unsecured Euro line of credit with a German financial institution aggregating approximately $1.5 million (Euro 1.0 million). At November 30, 2007, no borrowings were outstanding under this line of credit. Future borrowings, if any, will bear interest at rates below the prevailing prime rate and will be payable upon demand.

At November 30, 2007, we had net working capital of $43.3 million, compared to $31.8 million at November 30, 2006 and $39.5 million at November 30, 2005. At November 30, 2007, current assets were 3.87 times current liabilities, compared to 2.54 at the end of fiscal 2006 and 4.86 at the end of fiscal 2005. The increase in our working capital and current ratio in 2007 was primarily driven by growth in our accounts receivable and inventories (from additional sales volume and production requirements), as well as a reduction of $7.0 million in our short-term bank borrowings. In 2006, the reduction in our working capital and current ratio principally reflects $9.0 million of net cash purchase price for our acquisition of ATP, which was substantially funded through borrowings under our domestic line of credit. Our net working capital and current ratio also decreased in 2006 because of the cash requirements associated with the acquisition of land, building and equipment in connection with our new ceramic manufacturing facility in State College, Pennsylvania. Our working capital and current ratio decreased in 2005, primarily reflecting the impact of acquiring businesses (and their related long-lived assets) by utilizing some of our cash reserves.

Our capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment were $5.8 million in 2007, including $1.3 million for the acquisition of a machining center used in our sensors and controls business. The balance of our 2007 capital expenditures primarily relate to manufacturing capacity expansion and building improvements at our State College operations. Excluding the assets acquired from ATP, our capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment amounted to $8.6 million in 2006. Of these capital expenditures, $5.1 million relate to our State College operations with the remaining capital expenditures principally supporting manufacturing capacity expansion in our microwave business. Aggregate capital expenditures were $3.3 million in fiscal 2005, primarily related to building improvements and production equipment for our China manufacturing operations, as well as expanding capacity and improving efficiencies in our microwave business.

In connection with the fixed assets destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Katrina, we received insurance proceeds of $1.7 million in 2007 and $2.5 million in 2006. At November 30, 2007, we had not entered into any material commitments for additional capital expenditures.

In January 2007, we acquired substantially all of the assets and assumed certain liabilities of EMF. The net cash purchase price for EMF was $2.4 million, which was primarily funded by existing cash reserves. In July 2006, we acquired all of the outstanding common stock of ATP, with the net cash purchase price of $9.0 million being substantially funded by borrowings under our domestic line of credit. In fiscal year 2005, we consummated two business acquisitions. We acquired all of the outstanding common stock of JDK in October 2005. In addition, early in 2005, we acquired substantially all of the assets and assumed certain liabilities of Amplifonix, Inc. (a designer and manufacturer of microwave components and systems). The total net cash purchase price for these fiscal 2005 acquired businesses was $14.5 million, which was entirely funded through available cash reserves.

We have adopted a stock repurchase program. Under this program, we may repurchase up to $6.0 million of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock. Acquired shares are to be purchased in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions at prevailing market prices. Funding for these repurchases is expected to come from available cash reserves and borrowings under our revolving line of credit facility. The amount and timing of the shares repurchased are based on our ongoing assessment of the Company’s capital structure, liquidity, and the market price of the Company’s Common Stock. The repurchased shares are held as treasury stock. No shares were repurchased in fiscal 2007, 2006 or 2005. Since the inception of the stock repurchase program, 676,000 shares have been repurchased at a total cost of $3.6 million.

 

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

 

Research and development expenditures, which encompass the personnel and related expenses devoted to developing new products and processes, amounted to $3.5 million in 2007, $3.1 million in 2006, and $2.4 million in 2005. We expect to continue our investment in research and development in 2008, as we continuously enhance existing product lines, design new products and processes, and increase our participation in emerging markets.

Income taxes paid during the fiscal years ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005 amounted to $3.5 million, $2.3 million, and $1.7 million, respectively. As a result of certain temporary differences, we expect cash outlays for income taxes to be less than income tax expense for fiscal 2008.

As of November 30, 2007, our obligations and firm commitments are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Payments Due by Period

Contractual obligations

   Total    2008    2009    2010    2011    2012    Thereafter

Long-term debt

   $ 1,131    $ 100    $ 487    $ 65    $ 70    $ 75    $ 334

Operating leases

     3,408      1,212      1,193      922      81      —        —  

Current financial resources, including working capital and existing lines of credit, and anticipated funds from operations are expected to be sufficient to meet operating cash requirements throughout fiscal year 2008, including scheduled long-term debt repayment, lease commitments, planned capital expenditures, research and development expenses, and possible stock repurchases. There can be no assurance, however, that unplanned capital replacement or other future events will not require us to seek additional debt or equity financing and, if so required, that it will be available on terms acceptable to us.

Primarily driven by our enhanced profitability, net cash provided by operating activities grew to $13.6 million in fiscal 2007. During the year ended November 30, 2007, accounts receivable and inventory turnover rates decreased slightly. Net cash generated by operating activities was $403,000 in 2006, down $8.5 million from the preceding year. With sales volume and production requirements significantly growing, accounts receivable and inventories increased in 2006 by $4.9 million and $2.7 million, respectively. Operating cash flow in 2006 also reflects the payment of a ten year insurance premium in the amount of $4.8 million. The related insurance policy provides environmental clean-up cost cap coverage and pollution legal liability coverage for our recently acquired State College facility. Net cash generated by operating activities was $8.9 million in fiscal 2005. Accounts receivable turnover rates improved in 2005, primarily reflecting the successful integration of collection efforts for our acquired businesses.

At November 30, 2007, goodwill represented 28.1% of our total assets and 35.0% of our stockholders’ equity. In addition to a total of $8.9 million of goodwill recognized in connection with our recent acquisitions of EMF, ATP, and JDK, another $26.8 million of goodwill was realized in earlier acquisitions. In accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, we have performed the required annual impairment tests of goodwill (as of September 1 of each fiscal year) and determined that no impairment loss need be recognized in the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005.

Quantitati ve and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Foreign Currency

Certain of our European sales and related selling expenses are denominated in Euros, British Pounds Sterling, and other local currencies. In addition, certain of our operating expenses are denominated in Mexican Pesos and Chinese Yuan. As a result, fluctuations in currency exchange rates may affect our operating results and cash flows. To manage our exposure to the Euro and British Pound Sterling, we occasionally enter into forward currency exchange contracts. At November 30, 2007, we did not have any forward currency exchange contracts outstanding. For each of the three years ended November 30, 2007, currency exchange rate gains and losses were not material.

 

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

 

Interest Rate Exposure

We have market risk exposure relating to possible fluctuations in interest rates. From time to time, we utilize interest rate swap agreements to minimize the risks and costs associated with variable rate debt. We do not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The interest rate swap agreements are entered into with major financial institutions thereby minimizing the risk of credit loss. At November 30, 2007, no interest rate swap agreements were outstanding.

Environmental Matters

On December 30, 2005, we acquired certain land and ceramic manufacturing facilities in State College, Pennsylvania. The property, which was acquired from Murata Electronics North America (“Murata”), consists of approximately 53 acres of land and 250,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities. Among other uses, the acquired facilities have become the design and manufacturing center for our ceramic operations, replacing the ceramic operations previously conducted in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The purchase price for the acquired property consisted of: (a) $1.00, plus (b) closing costs of $695,000 including realtor commissions, transfer taxes, and legal fees; plus (c) the assumption of, and indemnification of Murata against, all environmental liabilities related to the property. The acquired property has known environmental conditions that require remediation, and certain hazardous materials previously used on the property have migrated into neighboring third party areas. These environmental issues arose from the use of chlorinated organic solvents including tetrachloroethylene (“PCE”) and trichloroethylene (“TCE”). As a condition to the purchase, we entered into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“PADEP”) pursuant to which: (a) we agreed to remediate all known environmental conditions relating to the property to a specified industrial standard, with our costs for remediating such conditions being capped at $4.0 million; (b) PADEP released Murata from further claims by Pennsylvania under specified state laws for the known environmental conditions; and (c) we purchased an insurance policy providing clean-up cost cap coverage (for known and unknown pollutants) with a combined coverage limit of approximately $8.2 million, and pollution legal liability coverage (for possible third party claims) with an aggregate coverage limit of $25.0 million. The total premium cost for the insurance policy, which has a ten year term and an aggregate deductible of $650,000, was $4.8 million. The cost of the insurance associated with the environmental clean-up ($3.6 million) is being charged to general and administrative expense in direct proportion to the actual remediation costs incurred. The cost of the insurance associated with the pollution legal liability coverage ($1.2 million) is being charged to general and administrative expense on a pro rata basis over the ten year policy term.

Based upon our environmental review of the property, we recorded a liability of $2.9 million to cover probable future environmental expenditures related to the remediation, the cost of which is expected to be entirely covered by the insurance policy. As of November 30, 2007, remediation expenditures of $1.2 million have been incurred and charged against the environmental liability, with all such expenditures being reimbursed by the insurance carrier. The remaining aggregate undiscounted expenditures of $1.7 million, which are anticipated to be incurred over the next eight years, principally consist of: (a) continued operation and monitoring of the existing on-site groundwater extraction, treatment, and recharge system; (b) implementation of a chemical oxidation system, subject to the results of a laboratory treatability study; (c) completion of soil investigations to determine the extent of potential soil contamination; (d) excavation and off-site disposal of soil containing contaminates above acceptable standards; and (e) implementation of soil vapor extraction systems in certain areas. Depending upon the results of future environmental testing and remediation actions, it is possible that the ultimate costs incurred could exceed the current aggregate estimate of $2.9 million. We expect such increase, if any, to be entirely covered by the insurance policy. Insurance recoveries for actual environmental remediation costs incurred are recorded when it is probable that such insurance reimbursement will be received and the related amounts are determinable. Such insurance recoveries are credited to the Company’s general and administrative expense. Based on the current remediation plan, $356,000 of the total remediation costs are expected to be incurred during the next twelve months.

We are subject to various laws and governmental regulations concerning environmental matters and employee safety and health in the United States and other countries. U.S. federal environmental legislation having particular impact on us includes the Toxic Substances Control Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; the Clean Air Act; the Clean Water Act; and the Safe Drinking Water Act. We also are subject to regulation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) concerning employee safety and health matters. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), OSHA, and other federal agencies have the authority to promulgate regulations that have an impact on our operations.

 

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

 

In addition to these federal agencies, various states have been delegated certain authority under the aforementioned federal statutes. Many state and local governments have adopted environmental and employee safety and health laws and regulations, some of which are similar to federal requirements. State and federal authorities may seek fines and penalties for violation of these laws and regulations. As part of our continuing environmental program, we have been able to comply with such proceedings and orders without any materially adverse effect on our business. We are not currently involved in any legal proceedings involving environmental matters.

Impact of Inflation

In recent years, inflation has not had a significant impact on our operations. However, we continuously monitor operating price increases, particularly in connection with the supply of precious metals used in our manufacturing of certain ceramic capacitors. To the extent permitted by competition, we pass increased costs on to our customers by increasing sales price over time. Sales price increases, however, were not significant in any of the years presented herein.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”. FIN 48 prescribes a minimum recognition threshold and measurement attributes for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 (the Company’s 2008 fiscal year).

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS No. 157”). SFAS No. 157, defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Prior to this Statement, there were different definitions of fair value and limited guidance for applying those definitions in GAAP. SFAS No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, the FASB having previously concluded in those accounting pronouncements that fair value is the relevant measurement attribute. Accordingly, this Statement does not require any new fair value measurements. However, for some entities, the application of SFAS No. 157 will change current practice. This Statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years (the Company’s 2008 fiscal year).

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS No. 159”). SFAS No. 159 provides the option to report certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value, with the intent to mitigate volatility in financial reporting that can occur when related assets and liabilities are recorded on different bases. This Statement is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007 (the Company’s 2008 fiscal year).

We do not expect the adoption of FIN 48, SFAS No. 157, or SFAS No. 159 to have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Critical Accounting Policies

The methods, estimates and judgments we use in applying our most critical accounting policies have a significant impact on the results we report in our financial statements. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has defined the most critical accounting policies as the ones that are most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results, and require us to make our most difficult and subjective judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain. Based on this definition, we believe our most critical accounting policies relate to the valuation and carrying amounts of accounts receivable, inventories, long-lived assets, and deferred tax assets.

 

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)

 

We evaluate the collectibility of our accounts receivable based on a combination of factors including an assessment of the customer’s financial condition and the length of time a receivable is past due. At November 30, 2007, our allowance for doubtful accounts was $971,000 or approximately 3.7% of our aggregate accounts receivable. In determining the adequacy of this allowance, we have assumed that market conditions in the communications equipment industry will improve during fiscal 2008. If this improvement does not occur, or if current market conditions deteriorate, our customers may not be able to meet their financial obligations to us. Accordingly, our estimate of the recoverability of amounts due us could be reduced by a material amount.

At November 30, 2007, we had recorded inventory reserves in the aggregate amount of $1.2 million for excess and slow-moving items. In determining the adequacy of these reserves, we considered numerous factors including current customer forecasts and estimated usage. Should these forecasts and estimates change due to market, technological or other factors, the net realizable value of our inventories may be materially less than our current carrying values.

We review goodwill for possible impairment at least annually. Impairment losses are recognized when the implied fair value of goodwill is less than its carrying value. The implied fair value of goodwill is contingent upon many factors, including estimates of future discounted operating cash flows. Long-lived assets other than goodwill are reviewed for impairment whenever indicators of possible impairment exist. Impairments are recognized when the expected future operating cash flows derived from such assets are less than their carrying values. No impairment losses (other than losses for certain tangible assets damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina) have been recognized in any of the periods presented herein. However, our future cash flow expectations assume that market conditions throughout the communications equipment industry will improve and conditions throughout the military/defense sector will continue to be strong. If long-term market conditions do not improve, or in fact deteriorate, our long-lived assets may become materially impaired.

We record valuation allowances to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion of the asset may not be realized. Presently, we believe that all deferred tax assets will more likely than not be realized and a valuation allowance is not required. We evaluate the need for valuation allowances on a regular basis and make adjustments as needed. These adjustments, when made, may have a materially negative impact on our financial statements.

 

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The following consolidated financial statements of Spectrum Control, Inc. and subsidiaries are included herein:

 

     Page
Number

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   37

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of November 30, 2007 and 2006

   38

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005

   39

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005

   40

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005

   41

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   42-64

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Spectrum Control, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Spectrum Control, Inc. and subsidiaries as of November 30, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended November 30, 2007. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a). These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule 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. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Spectrum Control, Inc. and subsidiaries at November 30, 2007 and 2006, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended November 30, 2007, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Spectrum Control, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of November 30, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 11, 2008, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

February 11, 2008

 

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SPECTRUM CONTROL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

NOVEMBER 30, 2007 AND 2006

(Dollar Amounts in Thousands)

 

     2007     2006  

Assets

    

Current assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 5,183     $ 3,501  

Accounts receivable, less allowances of $ 971 in 2007 and $ 851 in 2006

     25,461       22,676  

Insurance recovery receivable

     —         1,500  

Inventories

     25,458       21,754  

Deferred income taxes

     1,332       1,253  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     911       1,778  
                

Total current assets

     58,345       52,462  
                

Property, plant and equipment, net

     26,177       24,236  

Other assets

    

Goodwill

     35,669       34,508  

Other noncurrent assets

     6,728       8,001  
                

Total other assets

     42,397       42,509  
                

Total assets

   $ 126,919     $ 119,207  
                

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities

    

Short-term debt

   $ 2,000     $ 9,000  

Accounts payable

     6,764       7,227  

Income taxes payable

     1,391       71  

Accrued liabilities

     4,813       4,061  

Current portion of long-term debt

     100       295  
                

Total other assets

     15,068       20,654  
                

Long-term debt

     1,031       1,131  

Other liabilities

     1,370       2,013  

Deferred income taxes

     7,582       6,810  

Stockholders’ equity

    

Common stock, no par value, authorized 25,000,000 shares, issued 14,128,914 shares in 2007 and 13,874,767 shares in 2006

     46,950       45,361  

Retained earnings

     57,753       46,612  

Treasury stock, 676,000 shares in 2007 and 2006, at cost

     (3,628 )     (3,628 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     793       254  
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     101,868       88,599  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 126,919     $ 119,207  
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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SPECTRUM CONTROL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

FOR THE YEARS ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2007, 2006 AND 2005

(Amounts in Thousands Except Per Share Data)

 

     2007     2006     2005  

Net sales

   $ 136,539     $ 125,672     $ 98,354  

Cost of products sold

     100,176       96,892       72,579  
                        

Gross margin

     36,363       28,780       25,775  

Selling, general and administrative expense

     18,499       19,466       18,641  
                        

Income from operations

     17,864       9,314       7,134  

Other income (expense):

      

Interest expense

     (561 )     (545 )     (110 )

Other income and expense, net

     255       270       299  
                        
     (306 )     (275 )     189  
                        

Income before provision for income taxes

     17,558       9,039       7,323  

Provision for income taxes

     6,417       3,168       2,718  
                        

Net income

   $ 11,141     $ 5,871     $ 4,605  
                        

Earnings per common share:

      

Basic

   $ 0.83     $ 0.45     $ 0.35  
                        

Diluted

   $ 0.81     $ 0.44     $ 0.35  
                        

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

      

Basic

     13,359       13,127       13,054  
                        

Diluted

     13,798       13,381       13,160  
                        

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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SPECTRUM CONTROL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2007, 2006 AND 2005

(Dollar Amounts in Thousands)

 

     Common Stock     Retained
Earnings
   Treasury
Stock
     Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income

(Loss)
     Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 
   Shares     Amount             

Balance—November 30, 2004

   13,705,552     $ 44,207     $ 36,136    $ (3,628 )    $ 127      $ 76,842  

Net income

   —         —         4,605      —          —          4,605  

Foreign currency translation adjustments

   —         —         —        —          (255 )      (255 )
                     

Comprehensive income

   —         —         —        —          —          4,350  
                     

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of employee stock options

   32,266       167       —        —          —          167  

Tax benefits from exercise of stock options

   —         2       —        —          —          2  
                                               

Balance—November 30, 2005

   13,737,818       44,376       40,741      (3,628 )      (128 )      81,361  

Net income

   —         —         5,871      —          —          5,871  

Foreign currency translation adjustments

   —         —         —        —          382        382  
                     

Comprehensive income

   —         —         —        —          —          6,253  
                     

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of employee stock options

   186,467       1,073       —        —          —          1,073  

Purchase and retirement of common stock

   (49,518 )     (419 )     —        —          —          (419 )

Tax benefits from exercise of stock options

   —         123       —        —          —          123  

Equity-based compensation

   —         208       —        —          —          208  
                                               

Balance—November 30, 2006

   13,874,767       45,361       46,612      (3,628 )      254        88,599  

Net income

   —         —         11,141      —          —          11,141  

Foreign currency translation adjustments

   —         —         —        —          539        539  
                     

Comprehensive income

   —         —         —        —          —          11,680  
                     

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of employee stock options

   308,167       1,922       —        —          —          1,922  

Purchase and retirement of common stock

   (54,020 )     (718 )     —        —          —          (718 )

Tax benefits from exercise of stock options

   —         356       —        —          —          356  

Equity-based compensation

   —         29       —        —          —          29  
                                               

Balance—November 30, 2007

   14,128,914     $ 46,950     $ 57,753    $ (3,628 )    $ 793      $ 101,868  
                                               

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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SPECTRUM CONTROL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2007, 2006 AND 2005

(Dollar Amounts in Thousands)

 

     2007     2006     2005  

Cash Flows From Operating Activities :

      

Net income

   $ 11,141     $ 5,871     $ 4,605  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities :

      

Depreciation

     3,925       3,258       3,184  

Amortization

     898       853       626  

Deferred income taxes

     693       1,532       328  

Equity-based compensation

     29       208       —    

Tax benefits from exercise of stock options

     (356 )     (123 )     2  

Loss ( gain ) on sale of property, plant and equipment

     —         204       (47 )

Non-cash insurance recoveries

     (743 )     (418 )     —    

Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding effects of business acquisitions :

      

Accounts receivable

     (2,156 )     (4,950 )     1,224  

Inventories

     (3,270 )     (2,652 )     (2,153 )

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     1,522       (3,822 )     483  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     1,906       442       681  
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     13,589       403       8,933  
                        

Cash Flows From Investing Activities :

      

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

     —         246       47  

Insurance proceeds related to property, plant and equipment

     1,748       2,500       —    

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

     (5,810 )     (8,554 )     (3,324 )

Payments for acquired businesses, net of cash received

     (2,365 )     (9,006 )     (14,586 )
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (6,427 )     (14,814 )     (17,863 )
                        

Cash Flows From Financing Activities :

      

Net proceeds ( repayments ) of short-term borrowings

     (7,000 )     9,000       —    

Repayment of long-term debt

     (295 )     (290 )     (390 )

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock

     1,204       654       167  

Tax benefits from exercise of stock options

     356       123       —    
                        

Net cash provided by ( used in ) financing activities

     (5,735 )     9,487       (223 )
                        

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     255       39       4  
                        

Net increase ( decrease ) in cash and cash equivalents

     1,682       (4,885 )     (9,149 )

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

     3,501       8,386       17,535  
                        

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

   $ 5,183     $ 3,501     $ 8,386  
                        

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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SPECTRUM CONTROL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Spectrum Control, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). All significant intercompany accounts are eliminated upon consolidation.

Nature of Operations

The Company designs and manufactures electronic control components and systems and has operations in the United States, Mexico, China and Germany. The Company offers a broad line of signal, power, microwave and sensor products that are used to condition, regulate, transmit, receive, or govern electronic performance. Although its products are used in many industries worldwide, the Company’s largest markets are military/defense and communications equipment.

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid money market instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. An allowance for doubtful accounts is maintained for potential credit losses based upon the expected collectibility of all accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on an evaluation of numerous factors, including historical write-off experience and current economic conditions. On a monthly basis, all significant customer balances over 90 days past due are reviewed individually for collectibility. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all reasonable means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The Company does not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to its customers.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company occasionally enters into forward currency exchange contracts in the regular course of business to manage its exposure against foreign currency fluctuations on sales denominated in foreign currencies. The terms of the forward currency exchange contracts are generally nine months or less. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, and its related amendments, these contracts are considered derivatives and are recognized on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not hedges are adjusted to fair value through income. If the derivative is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are either offset against the change in fair value of assets, liabilities, or firm commitments through earnings or recognized in other comprehensive income or loss until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market, with cost for raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods at standard cost, which approximates the first-in, first-out basis.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed over the estimated useful lives of the assets using the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives are generally 20 years for land improvements, 15 to 30 years for buildings and improvements, and 3 to 8 years for machinery and equipment. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged against earnings in the year incurred; major replacements, renewals and betterments are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. The cost and accumulated depreciation of assets sold or retired are removed from the respective accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in earnings.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of acquired businesses. At least annually, goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value. Fair value is primarily determined by computing the future discounted cash flows expected to be generated by the reporting unit. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, goodwill may be impaired. If this occurs, the fair value of the reporting unit is then allocated to its assets and liabilities in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation in order to determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill. This implied fair value is then compared with the carrying amount of the reporting unit goodwill, and if it is less, the Company would then recognize an impairment loss.

No goodwill impairment losses have been recognized in any of the periods presented herein.

Other Assets

Customer-related intangible assets (principally consisting of customer lists, sales order backlogs, and noncontractual customer relationships) acquired in business combinations are amortized to expense on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives ranging from 3 to 10 years. Patents and patent rights are amortized to expense on a straight-line basis over periods not exceeding 17 years. The carrying value of these long-lived assets is periodically reviewed by the Company and impairments are recognized when the expected future operating cash flows derived from such intangible assets is less than their carrying value. No impairment losses have been recognized in any of the periods presented herein.

Debt issuance costs are amortized to expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the related indebtedness, which does not differ materially from the interest method.

Income Taxes

The Company uses the asset and liability method in accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements, using statutory tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the results of operations in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets unless it is more likely than not that such assets will be realized.

Foreign Currency Translation

The assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars at year-end exchange rates. Revenue and expense accounts of these operations are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the year. These translation adjustments are accumulated in a separate component of stockholders’ equity and other comprehensive income or loss.

Foreign Currency Transactions

Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in determining net income for the year in which the exchange rate changes.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when all significant contractual obligations have been met, the sales price is fixed and determinable, and collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. Product sales are generally recorded at the time of shipment when title passes under the terms FOB shipping point. Payments received from customers in advance of products shipped are recorded as deferred revenue until earned. Sales of consigned inventories are recorded when the customer has taken title and assumed the risks and rewards of ownership as specified in the customer’s purchase order or sales agreement. Sales to third party distributors are made under contractual agreements that allow for limited rights of return and replacement. The contractual agreements do not provide any price protection for unsold inventory held by the distributor. Service revenues are recorded when the related services are performed. Patent licensing fees are recorded when the related technology rights are transferred.

The Company’s contracts and customer purchase orders do not include any customer acceptance clauses. In addition, the Company does not normally offer or grant any discounts. The Company’s product warranties generally extend for one year, and are limited to the repair and replacement value of the product. The Company does not have any other post shipment obligations. Sales returns and warranty expense are recorded as incurred and were not material in any of the periods presented herein.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of products sold.

Advertising and Promotion

Advertising and promotion costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising and promotion expense amounted to $781,000 in 2007, $795,000 in 2006, and $924,000 in 2005.

Research and Development

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expense amounted to $3,477,000 in 2007, $3,078,000 in 2006, and $2,440,000 in 2005.

Equity—Based Compensation

Effective December 1, 2005, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”), which requires all companies to measure compensation cost for all share-based payments (including employee stock options) at fair value. SFAS No. 123R applies to all awards granted after the effective date; to awards modified, repurchased, or cancelled after that date; and all nonvested options outstanding as of the effective date.

The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123R using a modified version of prospective application. Under this transition method, compensation cost is recognized from the effective date on the portion of outstanding awards for which the requisite service has not yet been rendered. The compensation cost for these awards is determined based on their grant date fair value previously calculated for pro forma disclosures under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure”.

For the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, total equity-based compensation expense of $29,000 and $208,000, respectively, was included in general and administrative expense and deducted in arriving at income before income taxes. As a result, net income was reduced by $23,000 (less than $0.01 per share) in fiscal 2007 and $174,000 ($0.01 per share) in fiscal year 2006. This equity-based compensation expense all relates to stock options previously granted under the Company’s two stock option plans.

Prior to adopting SFAS No. 123R on December 1, 2005, the Company’s equity-based employee compensation expense was accounted for under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”), and related Interpretations. The exercise price of the Company’s employee stock options equals the market price of the underlying stock on the date of option grant. Once granted, an option’s exercise price and number of shares to be issued remain fixed throughout the option term. Accordingly, in accordance with APB 25, no equity-based compensation expense was recognized in the Company’s financial statements for the year ended November 30, 2005.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123R to equity-based employee compensation for the year ended November 30, 2005 (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     2005

Net income, as reported

   $ 4,605

Less: Stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value method, net of related tax effect

     1,722
      

Pro forma net income

   $ 2,883
      

Earnings per common share:

  

Basic, as reported

   $ 0.35

Basic, pro forma

     0.22

Diluted, as reported

     0.35

Diluted, pro forma

     0.22

The fair value of each option granted under the Company’s stock option plans is estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions for the year ended November 30, 2005:

 

     2005  

Expected volatility

   20.00 %

Risk-free interest rate

   2.46 %

Expected dividend yield

   0.00 %

Expected option life in years

   5.00  

In applying the Black-Scholes model, the Company’s determination of expected volatility is based upon the historical volatility of the Company’s stock; estimated option exercises and employee terminations are based upon historical data; and risk-free interest rates within the contractual life of the options are based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

During the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, no options were granted under the Company’s two stock option plans. At November 30, 2007, all outstanding stock options were fully vested and, accordingly, there is no additional equity-based compensation expense to be recognized in future periods for these outstanding options.

Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period and the effect of all dilutive common stock options. The treasury stock method is used to calculate the effect of dilutive shares, which reduces the gross number of dilutive shares by the number of shares that could be repurchased from the proceeds of the options assumed to be exercised.

Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”. FIN 48 prescribes a minimum recognition threshold and measurement attributes for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 (the Company’s 2008 fiscal year).

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS No. 157”). SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Prior to this Statement, there were different definitions of fair value and limited guidance for applying those definitions in GAAP. SFAS No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, the FASB having previously concluded in those accounting pronouncements that fair value is the relevant measurement attribute. Accordingly, this Statement does not require any new fair value measurements. However, for some entities, the application of SFAS No. 157 will change current practice. This Statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years (the Company’s 2008 fiscal year).

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS No. 159”). SFAS No. 159 provides the option to report certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value, with the intent to mitigate volatility in financial reporting that can occur when related assets and liabilities are recorded on different bases. This Statement is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007 (the Company’s 2008 fiscal year).

The Company does not expect the adoption of FIN 48, SFAS No. 157, or SFAS No. 159 to have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

2. Acquisitions

On January 26, 2007, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets and assumed certain liabilities of EMF Systems, Inc. (“EMF”). EMF, based in State College, Pennsylvania, designs and manufactures custom oscillator-based products. In addition to a broad line of oscillator components, EMF primarily designs and manufactures integrated microwave assemblies (“IMA”), including synthesizers and phase-locked oscillators. These products are used in numerous military and commercial applications such as military radar systems, secure communications, and commercial weather radar. The Company believes that the IMA product offerings and oscillator components included with this acquisition are a natural complement and extension to its existing Microwave Components and Systems business segment. The Company also believes that its vertical manufacturing processes, low-cost manufacturing capabilities, and established military sales channels will provide additional revenue opportunities and improved profitability for EMF products. These factors contributed to a purchase price resulting in the recognition of goodwill.

The aggregate cash purchase price for EMF was $2,365,000. The purchase price has been allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their respective fair market values. Machinery and equipment values were determined by reference to undepreciated cost as of the date of acquisition, which approximates fair value. The fair market values of identifiable intangible assets were determined by estimating the present value of future cash flows. The excess of the aggregate purchase price over the fair values of the net assets acquired was recognized as goodwill. The aggregate cash purchase price, which includes legal fees and other costs directly related to the acquisition of $26,000, was primarily funded by existing cash reserves.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

The allocation of the purchase price to the EMF assets acquired and liabilities assumed is as follows (in thousands):

 

Accounts receivable

   $ 352  

Inventories

     388  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     2  

Machinery and equipment

     52  

Identifiable intangible assets

     514  

Accounts payable

     (11 )

Accrued liabilities

     (93 )

Goodwill

     1,161  
        
   $ 2,365  
        

The identifiable intangible assets (consisting of customer-related intangible assets such as customer lists, sales order backlog, and noncontractual customer relationships) will be amortized to expense over estimated useful lives ranging from 3 to 10 years, with a weighted average amortization period of 7.1 years. The EMF goodwill acquired has been assigned to the Company’s Microwave Components and Systems reportable operating segment. For tax purposes, the Company will amortize the acquired goodwill ratably over a 15 year period.

The results of operations of the EMF business have been included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements since the date of acquisition. The following unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information for the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, has been prepared as if the EMF acquisition had occurred on December 1, 2005 (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     2007    2006

Net sales

   $ 137,025    $ 128,684

Net income

     11,170      6,038

Earnings per common share:

     

Basic

     0.84      0.46

Diluted

     0.81      0.45

Pro forma amounts are based upon certain assumptions and estimates, and do not reflect any benefits from economies which might be achieved from combined operations. The pro forma information does not necessarily represent results which would have occurred if the acquisition had taken place on the basis assumed above, nor are they necessarily indicative of the results of future combined operations.

On July 14, 2006, the Company acquired all of the outstanding common stock of Advanced Thermal Products, Inc. (“ATP”). ATP, based in St Marys, Pennsylvania, designs and manufactures a broad line of custom temperature sensors. ATP’s products include temperature sensing probes and assemblies, positive and negative temperature coefficient thermistors, and resistance temperature detector sensors and related assemblies. These products are used in numerous applications within the heating and air conditioning industry, consumer electronics, energy management, food service, and electronic controls market. The aggregate cash purchase price for ATP was $9,507,000, which was primarily funded by borrowings under the Company’s domestic line of credit.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

The results of operations of the ATP business have been included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements since the date of acquisition. The following unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information for the years ended November 30, 2006 and 2005, has been prepared as if the ATP acquisition had occurred on December 1, 2004 (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     2006    2005

Net sales

   $ 130,872    $ 106,001

Net income

     5,514      5,046

Earnings per common share:

     

Basic

     0.42      0.39

Diluted

     0.41      0.38

On October 31, 2005, the Company acquired all of the outstanding common stock of JDK Controls, Inc. (“JDK”). JDK, based in Grass Valley, California, designs and manufactures precision co-molded conductive plastic position sensors and related assemblies. JDK’s products are used in various commercial, aerospace and military markets, with major applications in medical and meteorological instruments, animatronics and robotics, aircraft flap position actuators, cockpit instrumentation, missile programs, military vehicles, fighter aircraft, and various automotive controls. The aggregate cash purchase price for JDK was $4,110,000.

On February 11, 2005, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets and assumed certain liabilities of Amplifonix, Inc. (“Amplifonix”). Amplifonix, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, designs and manufactures radio frequency (“RF”) and microwave amplifiers, switches, detectors, integrated assemblies, and voltage controlled oscillators. These products are primarily used in military and aerospace applications including military aircraft, secure communications, missiles, radar, and defense systems. The aggregate cash purchase price for Amplifonix was $10,360,000.

For each of these fiscal year 2005 acquisitions, the purchase price was entirely funded through our available cash reserves. The results of operations of the JDK and Amplifonix businesses have been included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements since their respective dates of acquisition. The following unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information for the years ended November 30, 2005 and 2004, has been prepared as if the JDK and Amplifonix acquisitions had occurred on December 1, 2003 (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     2005    2004

Net sales

   $ 107,614    $ 96,740

Net income

     4,752      4,736

Earnings per common share:

     

Basic

     0.36      0.36

Diluted

     0.36      0.36

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

3. Asset Impairment Loss

In August 2005, the Company’s ceramic manufacturing operations in New Orleans, Louisiana, were severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina and related flooding (the “Hurricane”). As a result of the Hurricane, the Company recorded net asset impairment losses and related expenses of $274,000 in the year ended November 30, 2005. This amount, which has been included in general and administrative expense in fiscal 2005, consists of the following: inventory losses of $1,028,000; building and equipment losses of $3,596,000 including the reduction of the affected land and building to its estimated fair value of $450,000; direct clean-up, asset assessment, and repair costs of $1,650,000; less expected insurance proceeds of $6,000,000.

In March 2006, the Company sold its land and building in New Orleans at a net selling price of $246,000. As a result, the Company recorded an additional asset impairment loss of $204,000, representing the difference between the net selling price and the property’s previously estimated fair value of $450,000. In 2006, the Company also incurred final clean-up and asset assessment costs of $183,000. Accordingly, an asset impairment loss in the aggregate amount of $387,000 has been included in general and administrative expense in the Company’s statement of income for the year ended November 30, 2006.

As of November 30, 2006, the Company had received $4,500,000 of insurance proceeds for its Hurricane-related claims, and the Company had recorded an insurance recovery receivable of $1,500,000 for expected additional insurance proceeds. In January 2007, the Company received insurance proceeds of $1,748,000 upon the final settlement of all related claims. Accordingly, $248,000 was credited against the Company’s general and administrative expense in the year ended November 30, 2007, representing the excess of the final insurance proceeds received over the previously recorded insurance recovery receivable.

4. Inventories

Inventories by major classification are as follows:

 

     November 30
     2007    2006
     (in thousands)

Finished goods

   $ 3,084    $ 2,419

Work-in-process

     7,741      6,586

Raw materials

     14,633      12,749
             
   $ 25,458    $ 21,754
             

At November 30, 2007 and 2006, inventories are presented net of inventory reserves of $1,228,000 and $1,341,000, respectively.

5. Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:

 

     November 30
     2007    2006
     (in thousands)

Land and improvements

   $ 2,252    $ 2,190

Buildings and improvements

     15,765      15,035

Machinery and equipment

     37,109      32,030
             
     55,126      49,255

Less accumulated depreciation

     28,949      25,019
             
   $ 26,177    $ 24,236
             

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

6. Goodwill

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, in total and for each reportable segment, are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

     2007    2006

Goodwill, beginning of year

   $ 34,508    $ 28,361

Goodwill acquired

     1,161      6,147
             

Goodwill, end of year

   $ 35,669    $ 34,508
             

 

     Signal
and Power
Integrity
Components
   Microwave
Components
and Systems
   Sensors
and
Controls

2007

        

Goodwill, beginning of year

   $ 14,243    $ 12,559    $ 7,706

Goodwill acquired

     —        1,161      —  
                    

Goodwill, end of year

   $ 14,243    $ 13,720    $ 7,706
                    

2006

        

Goodwill, beginning of year

   $ 14,243    $ 12,559    $ 1,559

Goodwill acquired

     —        —        6,147
                    

Goodwill, end of year

   $ 14,243    $ 12,559    $ 7,706
                    

During the year ended November 30,2007, the Company recorded $1,161,000 of goodwill in connection with its acquisition of EMF. During the year ended November 30, 2006, the Company recorded $5,776,000 of goodwill associated with its acquisition of ATP. Additionally, in connection with its 2005 acquisition of JDK, the Company finalized the allocation of the JDK purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. As a result of this final allocation, additional goodwill of $371,000 was recorded in fiscal 2006 along with a deferred income tax liability of the same amount.

7. Other Noncurrent Assets

Other noncurrent assets consist of the following:

 

     November 30
     2007    2006
     (in thousands)

Amortizable assets:

     

Customer-related intangibles

   $ 5,798    $ 5,284

Patents and patent rights

     280      278

Debt issuance costs

     205      205
             
     6,283      5,767

Less accumulated amortization

     2,651      1,794
             
     3,632      3,973

Other assets:

     

Prepaid environmental liability insurance (see Note 11)

     2,994      3,850

Deferred charges

     102      178
             

Other noncurrent assets

   $ 6,728    $ 8,001
             

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

During each of the five years ending November 30, 2012, amortization expense is expected to approximate $699,000, $570,000, $479,000, $430,000 and $430,000, respectively.

8. Short-Term Debt

Short-term debt consists of the following:

 

     November 30
   2007    2006
   (in thousands)

Notes payable – domestic line of credit (1)

   $ 2,000    $ 9,000

Notes payable – foreign line of credit (2)

     —        —  
             
   $ 2,000    $ 9,000
             

 

(1) The Company maintains a domestic line of credit with its principal lending institution (the “Bank”) in the aggregate amount of $25,000,000, with an additional $10,000,000 expansion feature. Borrowings under the line of credit are secured by substantially all of the Company’s tangible and intangible personal property, and bear interest at rates below the prevailing prime rate. During the year ended November 30, 2007, weighted average borrowings under the revolving line of credit amounted to $5,984,000, with an average interest rate of 6.61%, and maximum month-end borrowings of $9,000,000. During the year ended November 30, 2006, weighted average borrowings were $6,384,000, with an average interest rate of 6.43%, and maximum month-end borrowings of $14,000,000. The line of credit agreement contains certain covenants, the most restrictive of which require the Company to maintain designated minimum levels of net worth and profitability, and impose certain restrictions on the Company regarding additional indebtedness. At November 30, 2007, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants. The current line of credit agreement expires in December 2010.
(2) The Company’s wholly-owned German subsidiary maintains an unsecured Euro line of credit with a German financial institution aggregating $1,477,000 (Euro 1,000,000). During the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, no borrowings were outstanding under this line of credit arrangement. Future borrowings, if any, will bear interest at rates below the prevailing prime rate and will be payable upon demand.

9. Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consist of the following:

 

     November 30
     2007    2006
     (in thousands)

Accrued salaries and wages

   $ 3,771    $ 3,209

Accrued environmental remediation costs (see Note 11)

     356      456

Accrued interest

     109      151

Accrued other expenses

     577      245
             
   $ 4,813    $ 4,061
             

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

10. Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following:

 

     November 30
   2007    2006
   (in thousands)

Industrial revenue bonds at an interest rate of 5.36% (1)

   $ 665    $ 720

Mortgage note payable to bank at an interest rate of 8.50% (2)

     466      506

Industrial revenue bonds at variable interest rate (3.63% at November 30, 2006)

     —        200
             

Total

     1,131      1,426

Less current portion

     100      295
             

Long-term debt

   $ 1,031    $ 1,131
             

 

(1) The industrial revenue bonds are collateralized by certain land and building and an irrevocable letter of credit issued by the Company, through its principal lending institution. The bonds require annual principal payments ranging from $40,000 to $90,000 through the year 2015.
(2) The mortgage note payable is collateralized by certain land and building and requires monthly principal payments of approximately $3,000 through July 2009, with a final principal payment of $400,000 due in August 2009.

The aggregate maturities of all long-term debt during each of the five years ending November 30, 2012, are $100,000 in 2008, $487,000 in 2009, $65,000 in 2010, $70,000 in 2011, and $75,000 in 2012.

11. Other Liabilities

Other liabilities consists of the following:

 

     November 30
   2007    2006
   (in thousands)

Accrued environmental remediation costs

   $ 1,726    $ 2,469

Less current portion

     356      456
             
   $ 1,370    $ 2,013
             

In December 2005, the Company acquired certain land and manufacturing facilities in State College, Pennsylvania. The property, which was acquired from Murata Electronics North America (“Murata”), consists of approximately 53 acres of land and 250,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities. Among other uses, the acquired facilities have become the design and manufacturing center for the Company’s ceramic operations, replacing the ceramic operations previously conducted by the Company in New Orleans, Louisiana.

 

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The purchase price for the acquired property consisted of: (a) $1.00, plus (b) closing costs of $695,000 including realtor commissions, transfer taxes, and legal fees; plus (c) the assumption of, and indemnification of Murata against, all environmental liabilities related to the property. The acquired property has known environmental conditions that require remediation, and certain hazardous materials previously used on the property have migrated into neighboring third party areas. These environmental issues arose from the use of chlorinated organic solvents including tetrachloroethylene (“PCE”) and trichloroethylene (“TCE”). As a condition to the purchase, the Company entered into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“PADEP”) pursuant to which: (a) the Company agreed to remediate all known environmental conditions relating to the property to a specified industrial standard, with the Company’s costs for remediating such conditions being capped at $4,000,000; (b) PADEP released Murata from further claims by Pennsylvania under specified state laws for the known environmental conditions; and (c) the Company purchased an insurance policy providing clean-up cost cap coverage (for known and unknown pollutants) with a combined coverage limit of approximately $8,200,000, and pollution legal liability coverage (for possible third party claims) with an aggregate coverage limit of $25,000,000. The total premium cost for the insurance policy, which has a ten year term and an aggregate deductible of $650,000, was $4,762,000. The cost of the insurance associated with the environmental clean-up ($3,604,000) is being charged to general and administrative expense in direct proportion to the actual remediation costs incurred. The cost of the insurance associated with the pollution legal liability coverage ($1,158,000) is being charged to general and administrative expense on a pro rata basis over the ten year policy term.

Based upon its environmental review of the property, the Company recorded a liability of $2,888,000 to cover probable future environmental expenditures related to the remediation, the cost of which is expected to be entirely covered by the insurance policy. As of November 30, 2007, remediation expenditures of $1,162,000 have been incurred and charged against the environmental liability, with all such expenditures being reimbursed by the insurance carrier. The remaining aggregate undiscounted expenditures of $1,726,000, which are anticipated to be incurred over the next eight years, principally consist of: (a) continued operation and monitoring of the existing on-site groundwater extraction, treatment, and recharge system; (b) implementation of a chemical oxidation system, subject to the results of a laboratory treatability study; (c) completion of soil investigations to determine the extent of potential soil contamination; (d) excavation and off-site disposal of soil containing contaminates above acceptable standards; and (e) implementation of soil vapor extraction systems in certain areas. Depending upon the results of future environmental testing and remediation actions, it is possible that the ultimate costs incurred could exceed the current aggregate estimate of $2,888,000. The Company expects such increase, if any, to be entirely covered by the insurance policy. Insurance recoveries for actual environmental remediation costs incurred are recorded when it is probable that such insurance reimbursement will be received and the related amounts are determinable. Such insurance recoveries are credited to the Company’s general and administrative expense.

Based on the Company’s current remediation plan, $356,000 of the total remediation costs are expected to be incurred during the next twelve months.

12. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term maturities of these assets and liabilities. The carrying amounts of the Company’s long-term debt approximate fair value, based on borrowing rates currently available for debt of similar terms and maturities. The Company utilizes letters of credit to collateralize certain long-term borrowings. The letters of credit reflect fair value as a condition of their underlying purpose and are subject to fees competitively determined in the marketplace.

To protect against the reduction in value of forecasted foreign currency cash flows resulting from export sales, the Company maintains a foreign currency cash flow hedging program. The Company hedges portions of its forecasted revenue denominated in foreign currencies with forward contracts. When the dollar strengthens significantly against the foreign currencies (primarily the Euro and British Pound Sterling), the decline in value of future foreign currency revenue is offset by gains in the value of the forward contracts designated as hedges. Conversely, when the dollar weakens, the increase in the value of future foreign currency cash flows is offset by losses in the value of the forward contracts. At November 30, 2007 and 2006, the Company did not have any material forward currency exchange contracts outstanding. Hedging ineffectiveness during the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was not material.

 

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13. Treasury Stock

The Board of Directors has authorized the Company to repurchase up to $6,000,000 of the Company’s Common Stock at market prices. The amount and timing of the shares to be repurchased are at the discretion of management. Through November 30, 2007, the Company had repurchased 676,000 shares at an aggregate cost of $3,628,000. The repurchased shares are held as treasury stock.

14. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustments
 

Balance – November 30, 2004

   $ 127  

2005 Foreign currency translation adjustments

     (255 )
        

Balance – November 30, 2005

     (128 )

2006 Foreign currency translation adjustments

     382  
        

Balance – November 30, 2006

     254  

2007 Foreign currency translation adjustments

     539  
        

Balance – November 30, 2007

   $ 793  
        

15. Other Income and Expense

Other income and expense for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005 consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     2007     2006    2005  

Investment income

   $ 168     $ 133    $ 275  

Patent licensing fees

     93       114      62  

Gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions

     (6 )     23      (38 )
                       
   $ 255     $ 270    $ 299  
                       

 

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16. Income Taxes

For the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005, income before income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):

 

     2007    2006    2005

U.S. operations

   $ 16,697    $ 8,677    $ 7,064

Foreign operations

     861      362      259
                    
   $ 17,558    $ 9,039    $ 7,323
                    

For the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005, the provision for income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):

 

     2007    2006    2005

Current

        

U.S. Federal

   $ 5,004    $ 1,371    $ 2,201

Foreign

     112      66      25

State

     608      199      164

Deferred

        

U.S. Federal

     617      1,291      193

State

     76      241      135
                    
   $ 6,417    $ 3,168    $ 2,718
                    

The difference between the provision for income taxes and the amount computed by applying the U.S. federal income tax rate in effect for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005 (35% in 2007; 34% in 2006 and 2005) consists of the following (in thousands):

 

     2007     2006     2005  

Statutory federal income tax

   $ 6,145     $ 3,073     $ 2,490  

State income taxes, net of federal tax effect

     445       290       198  

Tax rate changes on existing temporary differences

     127       —         —    

Repatriation of foreign earnings

     —         —         113  

Foreign tax rates

     (190 )     (56 )     (63 )

Other items

     (110 )     (139 )     (20 )
                        
   $ 6,417     $ 3,168     $ 2,718  
                        

Tax benefits realized upon the exercise of non-qualified stock options and disqualified incentive stock options are credited directly to stockholders’ equity. For the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005, these tax benefits and related credits to stockholders equity amounted to $356,000, $123,000, and $2,000, respectively.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Significant components of the Company’s net deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

 

     November 30  
     2007     2006  
     (in thousands)  

Deferred tax assets:

    

Accrued compensation

   $ 570     $ 484  

Inventory valuation

     428       497  

Amortization of intangible assets

     359       270  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     345       304  

Other

     —         14  
                

Deferred tax assets

     1,702       1,569  
                

Deferred tax liabilities:

    

Amortization of intangible assets

     3,793       3,172  

Depreciation of plant and equipment

     2,234       2,235  

Investment in subsidiaries

     1,914       1,687  

Other

     11       32  
                

Deferred tax liabilities

     7,952       7,126  
                

Net deferred tax liabilities

   $ (6,250 )   $ (5,557 )
                
     November 30  
     2007     2006  
     (in thousands)  

Net deferred tax assets:

    

Current

   $ 1,332     $ 1,253  

Net deferred tax liabilities:

    

Noncurrent

     (7,582 )     (6,810 )
                
   $ (6,250 )   $ (5,557 )
                

For computing deferred tax assets and liabilities, the Company revised its estimated effective U.S. federal income tax rate from 34% to 35% in fiscal 2007. This increase in tax rate reflects the Company’s current level of taxable income and management’s projections for future profitability. The impact of this tax rate change was to increase the Company’s income tax expense by $127,000 for the year ended November 30, 2007.

In October 2004, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the “Act”) was signed into law. Among other provisions, the Act included a special one-time dividends received deduction on the repatriation of certain foreign earnings to a U.S. parent company, provided various criteria were met. In 2005, the Company adopted and executed a formal plan under which accumulated foreign earnings of $1,078,000 from the Company’s German subsidiary were distributed to the U.S. parent company. The tax impact of distributing these earnings, for which the Company had not previously recorded a deferred tax liability, was to increase the Company’s income tax expense by $113,000 for the year ended November 30, 2005.

The Company has not recorded deferred income taxes on the remaining undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries because of management’s intent to indefinitely reinvest such earnings. At November 30, 2007, the aggregate undistributed earnings of the foreign subsidiaries amounted to $4,471,000. Upon distribution of these earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company may be subject to U.S. income taxes and foreign withholding taxes. It is not practical, however, to estimate the amount of taxes that may be payable on the eventual remittance of these earnings.

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which the temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income, management believes it is more likely than not the Company will realize the benefits of the deferred tax assets. Accordingly, no deferred tax asset valuation allowance was recorded at November 30, 2007 or 2006.

 

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17. Earnings Per Common Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share:

 

     2007    2006    2005

Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per common share (in thousands):

        

Net income

   $ 11,141    $ 5,871    $ 4,605
                    

Denominator for basic earnings per common share (in thousands):

        

Weighted average shares outstanding

     13,359      13,127      13,054
                    

Denominator for diluted earnings per common share (in thousands):

        

Weighted average shares outstanding

     13,359      13,127      13,054

Effect of dilutive stock options

     439      254      106
                    
     13,798      13,381      13,160
                    

Earnings per common share:

        

Basic

   $ 0.83    $ 0.45    $ 0.35
                    

Diluted

   $ 0.81    $ 0.44    $ 0.35
                    

In 2005, options to purchase 802,150 shares of Common Stock, at a weighted average exercise price of $8.12 per share, were outstanding but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would be antidilutive.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

18. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

Supplemental cash flow information for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005 consists of the following (in thousands):

 

     2007    2006    2005

Cash paid during the year for:

        

Interest

   $ 603    $ 446    $ 121

Income taxes

     3,548      2,284      1,745

Liabilities assumed in connection with:

        

Purchase of land and buildings

     —        2,888      —  

Business acquisitions

     104      758      1,097

19. Common Stock Options

The Company has two plans that provide for granting to officers, directors, employees and advisors options to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Under the plans, option prices are not less than the market price of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of the grant. The options become exercisable at varying dates and generally expire five years from the date of grant. At November 30, 2007, options to purchase 1,193,599 shares of Common Stock were available for grant under the Company’s stock option plans.

A summary of the Company’s stock option activity for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005 is as follows:

 

     Number
of Shares
Under
Option
    Option Price  
     Per
Share
   Weighted
Average
   Aggregate  

Outstanding – November 30, 2004

   1,185,617     $ 5.05 – 11.25    $ 7.49    $ 8,877,000  

Granted during the year

   748,900       6.31 – 7.60      6.75      5,052,000  

Exercised during the year

   (32,266 )     5.05 – 5.27      5.18      (167,000 )

Forfeitures and expirations

   (180,300 )     5.25 – 11.25      10.69      (1,928,000 )
                            

Outstanding – November 30, 2005

   1,721,951       5.05 – 10.06      6.87      11,834,000  

Granted during the year

   —         —        —        —    

Exercised during the year

   (186,467 )     5.05 – 7.00      5.75      (1,073,000 )

Forfeitures and expirations

   (157,950 )     5.25 – 10.06      9.06      (1,430,000 )
                            

Outstanding – November 30, 2006

   1,377,534       5.05 – 8.68      6.77      9,331,000  

Granted during the year

   —         —        —        —    

Exercised during the year

   (308,167 )     5.05 – 8.68      6.24      (1,922,000 )

Forfeitures and expirations

   (3,400 )     5.25 – 6.05      5.52      19,000 )
                            

Outstanding – November 30, 2007

   1,065,967     $ 5.05 – 8.68    $ 6.93    $ 7,390,000  
                            

Exercisable:

          

November 30, 2007

   483,031     $ 5.05 – 8.68    $ 6.83    $ 3,300,000  
                            

November 30, 2006

   382,935     $ 5.05 – 8.68    $ 6.34    $ 2,426,000  
                            

November 30, 2005

   457,512     $ 5.05 –10.06    $ 6.97    $ 3,189,000  
                            

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

The following table summarizes significant ranges of outstanding and exercisable stock options at November 30, 2007:

 

Option Price

Range

Per Share

   Number of Shares Under Option
   Outstanding    Exercisable
$5.05 – 6.00    138,400    138,400
  6.01 –8.00    712,567    207,965
  8.01 –8.68    215,000    136,666
         
   1,065,967    483,031
         

At November 30, 2007, the weighted average remaining contractual life of outstanding options was 2.5 years. During the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, no options were granted under the Company’s two stock option plans. During the year ended November 30, 2005, the weighted average fair value of options granted was $1.55 per share.

In June 2005, the Company accelerated the vesting of certain unvested and “out-of-the-money” stock options previously awarded to employees, officers and directors of the Company under its stock option plans. An option was considered “out-of-the-money” if the stated exercise price was greater than $6.94, the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on June 20, 2005. With this action, options to purchase 544,900 shares of the Company’s Common Stock that would otherwise have vested at various times within the following four years became fully vested. As a result of accelerating the vesting of these “out-of-the-money” stock options, all of the Company’s outstanding options at November 30, 2007 are fully vested.

At November 30, 2007, the aggregate intrinsic value of all outstanding stock options was $8,450,000, including an aggregate intrinsic value of $3,878,000 for all exercisable stock options. During the year ended November 30, 2007, stock options were exercised for 308,167 shares, which had an aggregate intrinsic value of $2,143,000. During the year ended November 30, 2006, stock options were exercised for 186,467 shares, which had an aggregate intrinsic value of $576,000.

20. Employee Savings Plan

The Company has a savings plan, available to substantially all U.S. employees, which permits participants to make contributions by salary reduction pursuant to Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Company matches employee contributions up to a maximum of 2.5% of compensation and may, at its discretion, make additional contributions to the plan. The Company’s aggregate contribution to the plan was $552,000 in 2007, $493,000 in 2006, and $387,000 in 2005.

21. Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk principally consist of cash equivalents, forward currency exchange contracts, and trade receivables.

The Company places its temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions which invest primarily in U.S. Government instruments, commercial paper of prime quality, certificates of deposit, and guaranteed bankers’ acceptances. The Company has never experienced any material losses on its temporary cash investments.

The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by counterparties on foreign exchange contracts used in hedging activities. The counterparties to the Company’s forward currency exchange contracts are major financial institutions and the Company has never experienced nonperformance by any of its counterparties.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Although its products are used in many industries, the Company’s largest markets are military/defense and communications equipment. Accounts receivable from military/defense customers represented approximately 49% of total accounts receivable at November 30, 2007 and 54% at November 30, 2006. At November 30, 2007 and 2006, approximately 20% and 24%, respectively, of the Company’s accounts receivable were from customers in the communications equipment industry. To reduce credit risk, the Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers, but does not generally require advance payments or collateral. The Company maintains a provision for potential credit losses based upon the expected collectibility of all accounts receivable.

22. Reportable Operating Segments

The Company was founded as a solutions-oriented company, designing and manufacturing products to suppress or eliminate electromagnetic interference (“EMI”). In recent years, the Company has broadened its focus and product lines to become a control products and systems company, providing a wide range of components and systems used to condition, regulate, transmit, receive, or govern electronic performance.

The Company’s current operations are conducted in four reportable segments: signal and power integrity components; microwave components and systems; power management systems; and sensors and controls. The Company’s Signal and Power Integrity Components Business designs and manufactures a broad range of products including low pass EMI filters, filter plates, filtered connectors, specialty ceramic capacitors, power entry modules, power line filters, and our motor line feed thru (“MLFT”) filters. Our Microwave Components and Systems Business designs and manufactures microwave filters, waveguides, amplifiers, frequency mixers, oscillators, synthesizers, multiple channel filter banks, and related products and integrated assemblies. The Power Management Systems Business designs and manufactures breaker and fuse interface panels, custom power outlet strips, and our Smart Start power management systems. Our Sensors and Controls Business designs and manufactures rotary and linear positioning sensors, temperature sensing probes, thermistors, resistance temperature detector sensors, and related assemblies. The reportable segments are each managed separately because they manufacture and sell distinct products with different production processes.

The Company evaluates performance and allocates resources to its reportable segments based upon numerous factors, including segment income before income taxes. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those utilized in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. However, substantially all of the Company’s general and administrative expenses, and nonoperating expenses, are not allocated to the Company’s reportable operating segments and, accordingly, these expenses are not deducted in arriving at segment income. Segment reportable assets are comprised of certain tangible assets (property, plant, equipment, and inventories) and goodwill.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Prior period amounts in the following tables have been restated to correspond with the current business segment presentation. For each period presented, the accounting policies and procedures used to determine segment income have been consistently applied. For the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005, reportable segment information is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Signal
and Power
Integrity
Components
   Microwave
Components
and
Systems
   Power
Management
Systems
   Sensors
And
Controls
   Total

2007

              

Revenue from unaffiliated customers

   $ 60,713    $ 47,748    $ 7,586    $ 20,492    $ 136,539

Depreciation and amortization expense

     1,924      2,041      205      523      4,693

Segment income

     11,314      8,791      1,338      2,815      24,258

Segment assets

              

Tangible assets

     22,030      16,100      2,903      5,946      46,979

Goodwill

     14,243      13,720      —        7,706      35,669

Capital expenditures

     1,999      1,524      372      1,892      5,787

2006

              

Revenue from unaffiliated customers

     58,472      48,716      6,657      11,827      125,672

Depreciation and amortization expense

     1,739      1,709      109      330      3,887

Segment income

     3,754      9,511      2,012      1,407      16,684

Segment assets

              

Tangible assets

     21,986      14,076      1,190      3,921      41,173

Goodwill

     14,243      12,559      —        7,706      34,508

Capital expenditures

     6,337      1,189      749      256      8,531

2005

              

Revenue from unaffiliated customers

     52,236      38,399      7,080      639      98,354

Depreciation and amortization expense

     2,415      1,124      167      14      3,720

Segment income

     4,290      6,018      2,547      41      12,896

Segment assets

              

Tangible assets

     14,290      15,527      611      827      31,255

Goodwill

     14,243      12,559      —        1,559      28,361

Capital expenditures

     1,753      1,459      —        69      3,281

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

For the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005, reconciliations of reportable segment information to the Company’s consolidated financial statements are as follows (in thousands):

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

   2007     2006     2005  

Total depreciation and amortization expense for reportable segments

   $ 4,693     $ 3,887     $ 3,720  

Unallocated amounts:

      

Depreciation and amortization expense related to general and administrative activities

     130       224       90  
                        

Consolidated depreciation and amortization expense

   $ 4,823     $ 4,111     $ 3,810  
                        

Income before provision for income taxes

   2007     2006     2005  

Total income for reportable segments

   $ 24,258     $ 16,684     $ 12,896  

Unallocated amounts:

      

General and administrative expense

     (6,394 )     (7,370 )     (5,762 )

Interest expense

     (561 )     (545 )     (110 )

Other income

     255       270       299  
                        

Consolidated income before provision for income taxes

   $ 17,558     $ 9,039     $ 7,323  
                        

Assets

   2007     2006     2005  

Total assets for reportable segments

   $ 82,648     $ 75,681     $ 59,616  

Unallocated amounts:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

     5,183       3,501       8,386  

Accounts receivable

     25,461       22,676       16,188  

Insurance recovery receivable

     —         1,500       5,000  

Other assets

     13,627       15,849       8,812  
                        

Total consolidated assets

   $ 126,919     $ 119,207     $ 98,002  
                        

Capital expenditures

   2007     2006     2005  

Total capital expenditures for reportable segments

   $ 5,787     $ 8,531     $ 3,281  

Unallocated amounts:

      

Capital expenditures related to general and administrative activities

     23       23       43  
                        

Total consolidated capital expenditures

   $ 5,810     $ 8,554     $ 3,324  
                        

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

The Company has operations in the United States, Mexico, China and Germany. Sales are attributed to individual countries based on the location of the customer. The geographic distribution of sales and long-lived assets for 2007, 2006, and 2005 is as follows (in thousands):

 

2007

   United
States
   Mexico    China    Germany    All Other
Countries
   Total

Revenue from unaffiliated customers

   $ 107,740    $ 735    $ 5,398    $ 5,726    $ 16,940    $ 136,539

Long-lived assets:

                 

Property, plant and equipment

     24,607      95      1,445      30      —        26,177

2006

                             

Revenue from unaffiliated customers

     99,403      1,376      3,710      5,327      15,856      125,672

Long-lived assets:

                 

Property, plant and equipment

     22,682      93      1,434      27      —        24,236

2005

                             

Revenue from unaffiliated customers

     71,931      1,425      3,568      4,6781      16,752      98,354

Long-lived assets:

                 

Property, plant and equipment

     14,507      113      833      31      —        15,484

In 2007, sales to the Company’s largest single customer (a distributor of electronic components) represented 5% of the Company’s total consolidated net sales. Sales to this major customer principally consisted of signal and power integrity components.

In 2006, sales to the Company’s largest single customer (a prime supplier to the military/defense industry) represented 7% of the Company’s total consolidated net sales. Sales to this major customer primarily consisted of microwave components and systems.

In 2005, the Company’s largest single customer (an original equipment manufacturer of communications equipment) represented 5% of total consolidated net sales. Sales to this major customer primarily consisted of signal and power integrity components.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

23. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

 

     Year Ended November 30, 2007
   First    Second    Third    Fourth
   (in thousands, except per share data)

Net sales

   $ 32,887    $ 33,558    $ 35,418    $ 34,676

Gross margin

     7,802      9,133      10,098      9,330

Net income

     2,119      2,750      3,081      3,191

Earnings per common share:

           

Basic

     0.16      0.21      0.23      0.24

Diluted

     0.16      0.20      0.22      0.23
     Year Ended November 30, 2006
   First    Second    Third    Fourth
   (in thousands, except per share data)

Net sales

   $ 25,560    $ 31,884    $ 33,232    $ 34,996

Gross margin

     5,220      7,810      7,483      8,267

Net income

     290      1,729      1,852      2,000

Earnings per common share:

           

Basic

     0.02      0.13      0.14      0.15

Diluted

     0.02      0.13      0.14      0.15

Earnings per common share are computed independently for each of the quarters presented. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly earnings per share may not equal the total computed for the year.

24. Contingencies

The Company is subject to certain legal proceedings and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the amount of any ultimate liability with respect to these actions will not materially affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

25. Operating Leases

The Company has entered into several operating lease agreements, primarily relating to certain manufacturing facilities, computer equipment, and sales offices. These leases are noncancelable and expire on various dates through 2011. Leases that expire generally are expected to be renewed or replaced by other leases. Future minimum rental payments for all operating leases having initial or remaining noncancelable terms in excess of one year are as follow (in thousands):

 

2008

   $ 1,212

2009

     1,193

2010

     922

2011

     81
      
   $ 3,408
      

Total rent expense under all operating leases amounted to $2,362,000 in 2007, $2,237,000 in 2006, and $1,384,000 in 2005.

 

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None

 

ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of November 30, 2007. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms.

(b) Management’s Annual Report on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting of Spectrum Control, Inc., as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Office and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of Spectrum Control, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework, management has concluded that Spectrum Control, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of November 30, 2007.

Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that also audited the Company’s consolidated financial statements, has issued an attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and their report appears below.

(d) Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Spectrum Control, Inc.

We have audited Spectrum Control, Inc. and subsidiaries internal control over financial reporting as of November 30, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Spectrum Control, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, as stated in their report which is included herein. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit 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 effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A 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 generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

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

In our opinion, Spectrum Control, Inc. and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of November 30, 2007, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Spectrum Control, Inc. and subsidiaries as of November 30, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended November 30, 2007 of Spectrum Control, Inc. and our report dated February 11, 2008, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

February 11, 2008

(e) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no material changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007.

 

ITEM 9B. Other Information

None

PART III

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

The information set forth under “Election of Directors” and “Directors of the Company” on pages 3 through 5 of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for the annual meeting of shareholders to be held April 7, 2008 (the “Proxy Statement”) is incorporated herein by reference.

Current members of the Company’s Audit Committee are: John M. Petersen, Chairman; Paul S. Bates; J. Thomas Gruenwald; and Gerald A. Ryan. All of the committee members are independent directors. The Company has determined that Mr. Petersen and Mr. Bates are “financial experts”, as that term has been defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all of its directors, officers (including its chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, controller and any person performing similar functions) and employees. The Code of Ethics is available on the Company’s website at www.spectrumcontrol.com.

The following information is provided with respect to the executive officers of the Company:

 

Name of Officer

   Age   

Position

John P. Freeman    53    Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Lawrence G. Howanitz    55   

Senior Vice President, Signal and Power Integrity Products

Robert J. McKenna    54   

Senior Vice President, New Business and Resource Development

Richard A. Southworth    65   

President, Chief Executive Officer

James F. Toohey    73    Secretary
Brian F. Ward    48    Senior Vice President, Sensors and Controls

 

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Mr. Freeman is a graduate of Gannon University in Accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant. He joined the Company in 1988 as Controller. Prior to that time, he was a principal in a public accounting firm. In 1990, he was named Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In December of 2000, he was named Senior Vice President.

Mr. Howanitz is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a bachelors degree in Business Administration. Since joining the Company in 1984, he has held several management positions including General Manager of the Company’s Interconnect Products Division, Vice President of the Company’s Signal Integrity Products Group, and Senior Vice President of Signal and Power Integrity Products. In his current position, Mr. Howanitz is responsible for the Company’s EMI filter, components and power integrity products business.

Mr. McKenna is a graduate of Gannon University with a bachelors degree in General Science. Since joining the Company in 1991, he has held several positions including Business Unit Leader and Distribution Sales Manager. In 2002, Mr. McKenna was named Vice President of New Business and Resource Development. In 2004, he was named Senior Vice President.

Mr. Southworth is a graduate of Gannon University in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics. He joined the Company in 1991 as Vice President and General Manager. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Southworth held executive positions with National Water Specialties, Philips Components, Murata Electronics North America, and Erie Technological Products. In 1997, Mr. Southworth was named President and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Toohey is a graduate of Gannon University and Dickinson School of Law and is a practicing member of the Erie County Bar Association. He is a member of the law firm of Quinn, Buseck, Leemhuis, Toohey & Kroto, Inc., general counsel to the Company, and has been a Director and Secretary of the Company since its organization.

Mr. Ward is a Marketing graduate of Franklin Pearce College of Business. He joined the Company in 1994 as Director of Marketing and in 1997 was named Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In December of 2000, he was named Senior Vice President. In his current position, Mr. Ward is responsible for the Company’s newly created sensors and controls business. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Ward held managerial positions in Engineering and Marketing with Clarostat Manufacturing Co. and Oak Grigsby, Inc.

All executive officers are elected by the Board of Directors and serve at the discretion of the Board.

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information set forth under “Executive Compensation” and “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” on pages 9 through 25 of the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

The information set forth under “Securities Ownership” on pages 7 and 8 of the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

The information set forth under “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” on page 9 of the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The information set forth under “Appointment of the Company’s Auditors for the Fiscal Year 2008” on page 26 of the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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PART IV

 

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

 

(a) Financial Statements and Schedules

 

  (1) Financial Statements—The following consolidated financial statements of Spectrum Control, Inc. and subsidiaries are included in Part II, Item 8:

 

     Page
No.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   37

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of November 30, 2007 and 2006

   38

Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005

   39

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005

   40

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended November 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005

   41

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   42-64

 

  (2) Financial Statement Schedules—The following financial statement schedule is submitted herewith for the periods indicated therein.

Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

   71

All other schedules are not submitted because they are not required or are not applicable, or the required information is shown in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto. Columns omitted from the schedule filed have been omitted because the information is not applicable.

 

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(3) Exhibits—The following is the index to exhibits for Spectrum Control, Inc. and subsidiaries.

 

Description of Exhibit

  

Page No.

Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, previously filed on February 25, 1981, as Exhibit 3.1 to Form S-1 registration and incorporated herein by reference   
By-laws of the Company, as amended, previously filed on February 25, 1981, as Exhibit 3.2 to Form S-1 registration and incorporated herein by reference   
Stock Option Plan of 1995, previously filed under Form S-8 on January 22, 1996, and incorporated herein by reference   
1996 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan, previously filed under Form S-8 on July 16, 1996, and incorporated herein by reference   
Asset Purchase Agreement dated October 15, 2004, by and between Spectrum Control, Inc. and REMEC Inc., previously filed on October 15, 2004, as Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference   
Asset Purchase Agreement dated February 11, 2005, by and among Spectrum Microwave, Inc., Amplifonix, Inc., R. Lake Associates and Dr. Arthur Riben, previously filed on February 11, 2005, as Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference   
Subsidiaries of the Company (21.1)    72-73
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (23.1)    74
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a – 14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended (31.1)   

75

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a – 14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended (31.2)   

76

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (32.1)   

77

 

(b) Reports on Form 8-K

None

 

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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.

 

   Spectrum Control, Inc.
   By:  

/s/ Richard A. Southworth

February 13, 2008      Richard A. Southworth
     President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

/s/ Paul S. Bates

   Director   February 13, 2008

/s/ Edwin R. Bindseil

   Director   February 13, 2008

/s/ John P. Freeman

   Director,   February 13, 2008
   Chief Financial Officer, and Principal Accounting Officer  

/s/ J. Thomas Gruenwald

   Director   February 13, 2008

/s/ Scott D. Krentzman

   Director   February 13, 2008

/s/ Melvin Kutchin

   Director   February 13, 2008

/s/ John M. Petersen

   Director   February 13, 2008

/s/ Gerald A. Ryan

   Director   February 13, 2008

/s/ James F. Toohey

   Director   February 13, 2008

 

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Spectrum Control, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

For the Three Years Ended November 30, 2007

(Amounts in Thousands)

 

Column A

   Column B    Column C     Column D     Column E

Description

   Balance at
Beginning
of Year
   Additions
Charged to
(Credited Against)
Costs and
Expenses
    Deductions     Balance
at End
of Year

Year ended November 30, 2005

         

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   $ 985    $ 307     $ 260 (1)   $ 1,032
                             

Reserve for excess and slow-moving inventories

   $ 1,457    $ 1,539     $ 486 (2)   $ 2,510
                             

Year ended November 30, 2006:

         

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   $ 1,032    $ 266     $ 447 (1)   $ 851
                             

Reserve for excess and slow-moving inventories

   $ 2,510    $ 1,005     $ 2,174 (2)   $ 1,341
                             

Year ended November 30, 2007:

         

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   $ 851    $ (89 )   $ (209 )(1)   $ 971
                             

Reserve for excess and slow-moving inventories

   $ 1,341    $ 1,303     $ 1,416 (2)   $ 1,228
                             

 

(1) Uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries
(2) Inventories physically scrapped

 

71