Item 1. Business.
Introduction
Electro-Sensors, Inc. (“we”, “us”, “our”, the “Company” or “ESI”) is engaged in two distinct operating segments: (1) the manufacture and distribution of industrial production monitoring and process control systems through our Production Monitoring Division, and (2) the development and distribution of PC-based software for both automated survey processing and hand printed character recognition through our AutoData Systems Division. The operating segments are based on the markets that we serve and the products that we provide to those markets.
In addition, through our subsidiary ESI Investment Company, we periodically make strategic investments in other businesses and companies, primarily when we believe that such investments will facilitate development of technology complementary to our existing products. Although we invest in other businesses and companies through our subsidiary ESI Investment Company, we do not intend to become an investment company and intend to remain primarily an operating company. Our primary investments are 343,267 shares of Rudolph Technologies, Inc. and 551,759 shares of PPT Vision, Inc. The Rudolph Technologies, Inc. investment is accounted for using the available-for-sale method. The PPT Vision investment is accounted for under the equity method of accounting.
Unless indicated otherwise, the terms “Company” and “ESI” when used herein, includes Electro-Sensors, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2008, ESI had two consolidated subsidiaries: ESI Investment Company and Senstar Corporation. Senstar Corporation does not have any business operations.
ESI, incorporated in Minnesota in July 1968, has executive offices located at 6111 Blue Circle Drive, Minnetonka, Minnesota, 55343 and telephone number (952) 930-0100.
Operating Segments/Principal Products/Markets
We have three reportable operating segments based on the nature of our product lines: Production Monitoring, AutoData Systems Division (formerly referred to as “Character Recognition”), and Investments. Detailed financial results and segment information are provided below in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 11, Segment Information.
Production Monitoring Division
Our Production Monitoring Division manufactures and sells several different types of monitoring systems that measure actual machine production and operation rates, as well as systems that regulate the speed of related machines in production processes.
Speed Monitoring Systems. Our original products, speed monitoring systems, compare machine revolutions per minute or speed against acceptable rates as determined by the customer. The monitors generally have the same relative operating principle and use a non-contacting sensing head that translates the speed of a rotating shaft into analog readouts. The systems include a signal-generating pulser disc or wrap that attaches to a rotating shaft, the sensing device, and a control unit. The systems vary in complexity, from a simple system that detects slow-downs or stoppages, to more sophisticated systems that warn of deviations from precise tolerances and that permit various subsidiary operations to be determined through monitoring the shaft speed.
The speed monitoring systems include a line of digital products that translate sensor impulses from its production monitoring systems into digital readouts indicating production counts or rates, such as parts, gallons, or board feet. The speed monitoring systems also include alarm systems, tachometers, and other devices that translate impulses from the sensors into alarm signals, computer inputs, or digital displays that are usable by the customer.
Three production monitoring devices that do not operate by measuring shaft speeds are also in the speed monitoring systems product line. These devices are the tilt switch, vibration monitor, and slide gate position monitor. A tilt switch is designed to alert the operator when a storage bin or production system reaches a certain capacity (e.g., when grain fills a silo). A vibration monitor will alert an operator when the vibration of a machine in a production system exceeds or is below a specified level. The slide gate position monitor is used in plant operations to provide feedback of the position of a slide gate. As part of our Electro-Sentry Hazard Monitoring system, we also have temperature sensors that are used to monitor bearing temperature and belt misalignment.
Drive Control Systems. In 1987, we expanded our speed monitoring systems product line to include products that regulate and synchronize machine speeds. Drive control system products not only monitor machine operation levels, but also regulate the speed of motors on related machines in a production sequence to ensure that the performances of various operations are coordinated. In the past, these distinct features allowed us to market these products under the Drive Control Systems name. The product line consists of a line of digital control products for motors that require a complete closed loop PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) control. The closed loop controllers coordinate production speed among process motors and reduce waste.
In 1988, we entered into a sales agreement with Motrona GmbH (formerly MKS Maschinen Kontroll Systeme GmbH), the West German manufacturer of a Synchronous Drive Controller (“SDC”) product line, giving us rights to distribute in the United States the drive control products manufactured by Motrona GmbH. The SDC product line manufactured by Motrona GmbH coordinates motors in a production machine with other parts of the machine process. The SDC products were designed as a precision speed reference for use with variable speed drives and to enable manufacturers to match speed/velocity and phase/position of independently driven machines so they operate together. Applications include synchronizing overhead and floor conveyors and load sharing of multiple motors.
We believe that manufacturing companies can achieve significant savings in both time and materials by adding drive control technology to existing manufacturing processes to coordinate operation of related machines. We intend to continue to market our products to this “retro-fit” market and also to companies building new manufacturing machinery or processing systems.
In 2008, we introduced our Electro-Sentry Hazard Monitoring System which integrates our sensors for bearing temperature, belt misalignment, and shaft speed with a programmable logic controller and touch screen interface to create a complete system for hazard monitoring. By doing this, we are enabling our customer to locate which part of the material handling system is operating incorrectly, typically in under ten seconds. This is done by using visual diagrams on the touch screen.
We expect to continue to expend resources in development and marketing of our various Production Monitoring Systems throughout 2009.
AutoData Systems Division
We initially began development of the AutoData Systems Division (“AutoData”) as a development project chartered to create opportunities using proprietary pattern recognition technology. The current outcome of the project is two Microsoft® Windows®-based software programs that automate the collection of data from surveys and other forms. AutoData software reads hand-printed characters, checkmarks, and barcodes from images of scanned forms or from forms filled out online.
By automatically extracting information from paper forms and converting it into a format compatible with most computer databases, AutoData offers an alternative to manual data entry. This intelligent data entry alternative saves time, strain, and money compared to the manual method of data entry. The basis of the handprint reading capability is Associative Pattern Memory™ (APM), a patented pattern recognition algorithm. APM is a trainable, neural network-based memory that was incorporated in a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) and is used in the products currently sold by AutoData. The APM patent is owned by PPT Vision and AutoData has been granted an exclusive open-ended license to use the patent.
AutoData became an operating segment in January 1993. The first software package, AutoData® Pro™, was released in May 1993. This software package was designed for the end user. AutoData Pro served as a utility software package designed to process only checkmark and handprint information from scanned forms. The software allowed the user to export the data in an ASCII file format.
In September 1993, AutoData Pro II™ was released as an upgrade, along with AutoData SDK™. The SDK allowed Windows developers to embed the AutoData DLL into their applications in order to provide automated data collection from scanned or faxed forms. Pro II software evolved into the AutoData PRO™ product.
In 1996, AutoData Survey™ was released. Survey was AutoData’s first software package to include an analysis and report generation feature, greatly enhancing the salability of AutoData technology. This product was directed at the healthcare market, where it gained a foothold in patient satisfaction measurement. AutoData released two upgrades to the original Survey software, AutoData Survey Plus™ and AutoData Survey Plus 2000™.
AutoData released AutoData Scannable Office™ software in March 2000. Scannable Office was the product replacement for PRO and provided an upgrade path for PRO customers. Scannable Office offered a key enhancement: integration with the Microsoft Office Suite. Scannable Office allows the user to create scannable forms in Microsoft Word. The software reads data from images of completed forms and automatically places the extracted data directly into Microsoft® Excel, Access, or any ODBC-compliant database, setting data up for analysis. Scannable Office has the widest recognition capabilities of the AutoData end-user products; it contains hand print (ICR), optical character (OCR), optical mark (OMR) and barcode recognition engines, and image capture capability.
In December 2002, we released AutoData ExpertScan™. ExpertScan has hand print (ICR), optical mark (OMR) and barcode recognition engines, and image capture capability. Like Survey Plus 2000, ExpertScan automates survey and form processing, as well as tabulation of results. The product offers several form design and reporting enhancements. It has also been sold as an upgrade to Survey Plus 2000, which was retired in January 2005. ExpertScan provides a mid-range option for AutoData prospects, and the most recent software, NetE-nable™, a web add-on to ExpertScan released in August 2007, rounds out the Company’s product offerings. Prospective customers frequently call AutoData in search of a single software program that combines both paper and web data collection, while existing ExpertScan customers have expressed a desire for web functionality. ExpertScan with NetE-nable fulfills both of these needs, and provides a single database (paper and web data combined) from which ExpertScan creates reports and analysis. ExpertScan with NetE-nable continues to be a successful addition to the AutoData product line.
NetE-nable offers a more convenient way for people to respond on a survey or form to what an organization needs to know, in ways the customer or respondent might not if provided with only paper forms.
A major advantage of this new product is that it allows data from both paper and electronic forms to be collected by the same software in one easy-to-use package. Another big advantage is that no additional hardware is needed. Online forms are stored on the NetE-nable server in a secure environment along with any data that is collected.
The NetE-nable Wizard permits the user to transform any survey or form already created in ExpertScan into an online form. It only takes about seven clicks of the mouse to complete the process of publishing a form or survey to the Web. In four clicks, NetE-nable retrieves the data from the online form into the Access database that ExpertScan built automatically when the form was originally designed. Paper and Web form data automatically populates the same Access database, and the ExpertScan reports generator analyzes that data and creates a variety of reports.
The typical customer for NetE-nable is any current ExpertScan customer, as well as any future customers of ExpertScan software, which is a prerequisite for purchasing NetE-nable.
Marketing and Distribution
Production Monitoring Division. The Production Monitoring Division sells its products primarily through home office sales people who deal directly with customers and a number of manufacturer’s representatives with exclusive territories and non-exclusive distributors located throughout the United States, Mexico, China, Korea, Canada, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Thailand, Israel, Malaysia, Singapore, Great Britain, and South Africa. The sensing and control units are sold under the Electro-Sensors, Inc. brand as a range of products from simple sensors to complex motor speed controllers. These products are sold to businesses in all major standard industrial classifications, including grain, feed, biofuels, food processing, chemicals, agricultural, mining, utility, forest products, steel, tire, glass and electronics. Any business that uses machinery with a rotating shaft is a potential customer.
We advertise in national industrial periodicals that cover a wide range of industrial products and attend several national and international tradeshows designated for the industry throughout the year. A corporate website and other related industry websites are also used for advertising and marketing purposes. We expect to continue to market our products in this and related markets.
AutoData Systems Division. The AutoData Systems Division markets its products primarily through home office sales personnel who deal directly with end-users and a limited number of Value-Added Resellers (VARs). This division primarily sells in the United States, Canada and Western Europe, and currently actively markets only in the U.S.
Competition
Production Monitoring Division. Competition for our monitoring products arises from a broad range of industrial and commercial businesses. Design, quality and multiplicity of application, rather than price, are the focus of competition in selling these products. We have substantial competition for our production monitoring systems. Many of these competitors are well established and larger than us in terms of total sales volume. Among our larger competitors are: Danaher Controls, Red Lion Controls, Control Concepts, 4B Elevator Components Ltd., Durant Corporation, and Contrex, Inc. We believe our competitive advantages include that our products are sold as ready-to-install units and that our products have a wide range of applications. Our major disadvantages include the fact that our major competitors are much larger, have a broader variety of sensing instruments, and have larger sales forces and established names.
AutoData Systems Division. Competition for the market segment primarily ranges from substitute products such as Data Entry suppliers, to directly competitive software suppliers, and more recently, suppliers of web-based survey software and services. We believe that few direct competitors have as sophisticated recognition capabilities as our products. However, our products face direct competition from both ends of the spectrum: larger competitors offering a broader array of software products and services, and firms similar in size that offer a low-priced, more limited product.
The market is segmented based primarily on price and capabilities, with the larger firms, notably Cardiff Software and Captiva Software, offering enterprise-wide systems with broad information capture capabilities. Our products are focused on desktop, rather than enterprise-wide, solutions, positioning our products as most appropriate to small offices and departments of larger organizations.
Because price is a primary competitive factor, we are subject to increasing pressures to make price adjustments to remain competitive. Such downward price adjustments, if any, may have an adverse impact on our results of operations if not offset by an increase in revenues and/or a reduction in expenses.
Suppliers
Production Monitoring Division. The Production Monitoring Division purchases parts and materials for its production monitoring systems from various manufacturers and distributors. In some instances, these materials are manufactured in accordance with proprietary designs. Multiple sources of these supplies and materials are readily available, and the Controls Division is not dependent on any single source for these supplies and materials. This Division has not experienced any problem of short supply or delays from its suppliers.
AutoData Systems Division. The AutoData Systems Division purchases a variety of supplies and materials from various vendors and is not dependent upon any one source.
We purchase a variety of parts, components, and other supplies from a variety of vendors for both of our operating divisions. While we usually have more than a single source of supply for those various parts, components and supplies, it is possible occasionally that there will be only one supplier for any single part, component or supply. Should a supplier be unwilling or unable to supply such an item in a timely manner, our business could be materially adversely affected.
Customers
We are not dependent upon a single or a few customers for a material (10% or more) portion of our sales in any of our operating divisions.
Patents, Trademarks and Licenses
The names “Electro-Sensors” and “AutoData” are trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, respectively as Reg. No. 1,142,310 and Reg. No. 1,874,543. We believe our trademarks have been and will continue to be useful in developing and protecting market recognition for our products.
We hold four patents relating to our Production Monitoring Systems, and have obtained six patents related to our character recognition technology. We have also entered into an open-ended license agreement with Motrona GmbH, a manufacturer of a Synchronous Drive Controller (“SDC”) product line, which grants us rights to distribute in the United States the drive control products manufactured by Motrona GmbH.
PPT Vision, Inc. has granted us an exclusive open-ended license that allows us to incorporate a patented neural network algorithm in our products. AutoData Systems Division uses this algorithm in its character recognition technology.
Governmental Approvals
We are not required to obtain governmental approval of our products.
Effect of Governmental Regulations
We do not believe that any existing or proposed governmental regulations will have a material effect on our business.
Research and Development
We invest in research and development programs to develop new products in related markets and to integrate state of the art technology into existing products.
Research and development expense (by division) during the past two fiscal years was:
Production Monitoring Division:
2008: $431,000
2007: $370,000
Our development projects for this division are undertaken based upon the identified specific needs of our customer base.
AutoData Systems Division:
2008: $199,000
2007: $202,000
We have continued to fund the AutoData Systems Division’s development activities. The goal is to create low-cost software-based systems that enable accurate reading of hand-printed characters and other form elements used on paper forms, as well as software that allows creation of forms that are completed online when participants click on a URL generated by the software, with storing of the form data on an AutoData secure server and retrieval by the software to a database for built-in reports and analysis.
Our future success is dependent in part upon our ability to develop new products in our varying segments. Difficulties or delays in our ability to develop, produce, test and market new products could have a material adverse effect on future sales growth.
Compliance with Environmental Laws
Compliance with federal, state and local environmental provisions has only a nominal effect on current or anticipated capital expenditures and has had no material effect on earnings or on our competitive position.
Employees
As of March 4, 2009, we had 32 employees, of which 31 are full-time and one is part-time. We believe that our relations with our employees are good.
Our ability to maintain a competitive position and to continue to develop and market new products depends, in part, on our ability to retain key employees and qualified personnel. If we are unable to retain and/or recruit key employees, product development, marketing and sales could be negatively impacted.
Fluctuations in Operating Results. We have experienced fluctuations in our operating results in the past, and may experience fluctuations in the future, which may affect the market price of our Common Stock. Sales can fluctuate as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. Some of theses factors are: product competition and acceptance, timing of customer orders, cancellation of orders, the mix of products sold, downturns in the market and economic disruptions. Because fluctuations can happen, we caution investors that results of our operations for preceding periods may not be indicative of how we will perform in the future. There can be no assurance that we will experience continued earnings growth.
Further, investments held by our subsidiary, ESI Investment Company, are subject to significant positive and negative changes in value. In particular, significant investments in PPT Vision, Inc. and Rudolph Technologies, Inc. have experienced substantial value fluctuations, both negative and positive, which are expected to continue. Our current intention is to continue to gradually liquidate our investment securities to finance our working capital needs as required.
Expending Funds for Changes in Industry Standards, Customer Preferences or Technology. Our business depends upon periodically introducing new and enhanced products and solutions for customer needs. The development of products requires us to commit financial resources, personnel and time, usually in advance of significant market demand for such products. In order to compete, we must anticipate both future demand and the technology available to meet that demand. There can be no assurance that our research and development efforts will lead to new products or product innovations that can be made available to or will be accepted by the market.
Cautionary Statements
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. We have made, and may continue to make, forward-looking statements with respect to our business and financial matters, including statements contained in this document, other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and reports to shareholders. Forward-looking statements generally include discussion of current expectations or forecasts of future events and can be identified by the use of terminology such as “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “could,” “will,” and similar words or expressions. Any statement that does not relate solely to historical fact should be considered forward-looking. Our forward-looking statements generally relate to our growth strategy, future financial results, product development and sales efforts. Forward-looking statements are made throughout this Annual Report, but primarily in this Item 1 and Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and include statements relating to management’s intentions that we not become an investment company, our expectations and intentions with respect to growth, statements relating to management’s beliefs with respect to the spending slowdown in our market segments, marketing and product development, our expectations and beliefs with respect to the value of our intellectual property, our intention with respect to gradually liquidating our investment securities to finance working capital needs, our expectations and beliefs with respect to the future performance of our investment securities, the adequacy of our facilities, expansion of the number of our manufacturer’s representatives and exclusive distributors, our intention to develop new products, the possibility of acquiring compatible businesses as part of our growth strategy, our expectations with respect to our cash requirements and use of cash, and our expectations with respect to the continuance of our quarterly dividend payments. Forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed and actual results may vary materially due to the uncertainties and risks, known and unknown, associated with such statements, including our ability to successfully develop new products and manage our cash requirements. We undertake no obligations to update any forward-looking statements. We wish to caution investors that the following important factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect our actual results of operations and cause such results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements made in this document and elsewhere by us or on our behalf. It is not possible to foresee or identify all factors that could cause actual results to differ from expected or historical results. As such, investors should not consider any list of such factors to be an exhaustive statement of all risks, uncertainties or potentially inaccurate assumptions. These factors include:
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our ability to successfully develop new products;
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our ability to quickly and successfully adapt to changing industry technological standards;
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our ability to comply with existing and changing industry regulations;
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our ability to manage cash requirements;
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our ability to attract and retain new manufacturer’s representatives and exclusive distributors;
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our ability to attract and retain key personnel, including senior management;
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our ability to adapt to changing economic conditions and manage downturns in the economy in general; and
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our ability to keep pace with competitors, some of whom are much larger and have substantially greater resources than us.
Item 1A.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
We were not the subject of any legal proceedings as of the date of this filing. We are not aware of any threatened litigation.
Item 4.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the last quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Our Common Stock trades on the Nasdaq Capital Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market® under the symbol “ELSE”. The following table sets forth the quarterly high and low reported last sales prices for our Common Stock for each period indicated as reported on the Nasdaq system.
Based on data provided by our transfer agent, management believes that as of March 9, 2009, the number of share owner accounts of record was approximately 120.
We paid cash dividends on our Common Stock of $0.16 per share in 2008 and 2007.
From time to time, we may be required to repurchase some of our securities as a result of obligations described in Note 9 to our 2008 consolidated financial statements. We did not repurchase any equity securities during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.
Item 6.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
Not applicable.
Item 7.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make decisions based upon estimates, assumptions, and factors it considers relevant to the circumstances. Such decisions include the selection of applicable accounting principles and the use of judgment in their application, the results of which impact reported amounts and disclosures. Changes in economic conditions or other business circumstances may affect the outcomes of management’s estimates and assumptions.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Comparison of Fiscal Year 2008 vs. Fiscal Year 2007
Net Revenues
Net revenues for fiscal year 2008 decreased $363,000 to $6,729,000, or 5.1%, when compared to net revenues for fiscal year 2007.
Net revenues for the Production Monitoring Division decreased to $6,193,000, a decrease of $301,000, or 4.6%, when comparing fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2007. The Production Monitoring Division experienced a decrease in net sales for the year ended December 31, 2008 due in large part to fluctuations of commodity grain and feed product prices worldwide, which has decreased the demand for biofuels. We have also been impacted by a slowing of capital spending on plant construction and expansion projects in 2008, which has affected all product categories. The recent economic turmoil has resulted in a slowdown in spending across all of our major market segments, which management expects to continue into 2009. In 2008, two new exclusive distributors were added internationally and, effective January 1, 2009, a new manufacturer’s representative was added and assigned two states to continue to develop our sales and marketing channel. We have continued to expand the joint sales calls and training with all of our partners in order to increase their knowledge and effectiveness. Throughout 2009, we expect to continue to expand the number of manufacturer’s representatives and exclusive distributors. Our corporate web sites provide significant information and product application knowledge to prospects and customers and also direct knowledge to our sales partners. New products developed and added to the product line in 2008 include the Electro-Sentry system, shaft tach speed sensor, rub block inspection doors, and new versions of several sensors for hazardous location installations. The Electro Sentry system integrates a touch screen and programmable logic controller with our sensors to allow users to very quickly identify where a problem is occurring in the customer’s production systems.
We will continue to develop new products that broaden the line and provide complete monitoring solutions to our customers. The customers for our Production Monitoring Division have diverse applications for our products in the grain, feed, biofuels, power generation, mining, chemical, and other processing areas. We are continuing to look for new industries to expand sales for our Production Monitoring Division. We may also consider acquiring compatible businesses as part of our growth strategy.
Net revenues for the AutoData Systems Division decreased to $536,000, a decrease of $62,000, or 10.4%, when comparing fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2007. This decrease is primarily due to decreased sales of the ExpertScan and Scannable Office software products and related hardware needs.
NetE-nable, the web add-on to ExpertScan software, was released at the end of August 2007. ExpertScan with NetE-nable makes automated data collection faster, easier and more cost-effective. Because of a number of established online form competitors, sales of NetE-nable began slowly during the last four months of 2007 and sales remained steady throughout 2008. However, NetE-nable has the competitive advantage of offering one software program for both paper and electronic forms, and AutoData expects additional revenue from sales of NetE-nable to gradually increase during 2009, augmenting revenue from the ExpertScan and Scannable Office software programs.
Cost of Sales
Our cost of sales decreased from $2,569,000 to $2,546,000, a difference of $23,000, or 0.9%, when comparing fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2007. This decrease was primarily a result of decreased sales offset by an increase in material costs and the additional development costs for the Electro Sentry systems. We continue our efforts to maintain or reduce production costs by manufacturing products in the most cost effective manner. We continually look for lower cost sources of raw materials and outsource PC Board assembly when appropriate.
Gross Margins
Gross margin for the fiscal year 2008 was 62.2% versus 63.8% for the prior fiscal year. This slight decrease in margin was due to higher material and shipping costs. Gross margin for the Production Monitoring Division for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008 and 2007 was 59.8% and 62.5%, respectively. The primary cause of the decrease in the gross margin was due to the new Electro Sentry systems, which contained a significant amount of costs related to customer training and internal staff development. The remaining variances were due to raw material expenses rising slightly faster than sales. Gross margin for the AutoData Systems Division for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008 and 2007 was 89.1% and 77.6%, respectively. The increase was due to a smaller hardware sales dollar volume in fiscal year 2008. Gross margins on hardware are smaller than the gross margins on software.
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses increased by $93,000, or 2.9%, when comparing fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2007. Of this increase, the Production Monitoring Division contributed an increase in operating expenses of $145,000, or 5.4%, when comparing fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2007. The AutoData Systems Division had a decrease in operating expenses of $52,000, or 10.5%, when comparing fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2007.
Selling and marketing costs increased by $91,000, or 6.6%, when comparing fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2007. Of this increase, the Production Monitoring Division had an increase of $101,000, or 8.4%. The AutoData Systems Division had a decrease of $10,000, or 5.6%. The increase from the Production Monitoring Division was due to an increase in salaries and wages and benefit expense because of a new hire and increased efforts in marketing our products through manufacturer’s representatives, additional advertising in trade publications and websites, and trade shows and related marketing. We increased the number of sales trips to customers, including outside sales representatives when possible. We continue to grow our email product update notification in order to generate awareness and interest. The decrease from the AutoData Systems Division was due to decreases in salaries and wages and benefit expense due to a decrease in personnel in marketing.
General and administrative costs decreased by $56,000, or 4.6%, in fiscal year 2008 compared to fiscal year 2007. Of this decrease, the Production Monitoring Division had a decrease of $18,000, or 1.6%. This decrease was primarily due to contractor expenses (which were replaced by new hires), recruitment expenses, and accounting and other professional fees, including fees associated with Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 documentation and testing. This was offset by increases in wages and benefits because of a new hire, depreciation expense on the upgrade of the enterprise software and related hardware, and computer maintenance and supplies. The AutoData Systems Division had a decrease of $38,000, or 33.9%. The decrease for the AutoData Systems Division was due to decreased use of contract personnel, accounting and other professional fees, including fees associated with Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 documentation and testing and a decline in the allowance for doubtful accounts, offset by an increase in computer supplies and maintenance.
Research and development costs increased $58,000, or 10.1%, in fiscal year 2008 when compared with fiscal year 2007. The Production Monitoring Division research and development costs increased $62,000, or 16.8%, and AutoData Systems Division had a decrease of $4,000, or 2.0%. The increase in research and development costs in the Production Monitoring Division was due to additional product prototypes, mainly for the Electro Sentry system, wage and benefit increases in the engineering department, and legal fees related to patents. The decrease in the AutoData Systems Division was due to a decrease in computer maintenance and supplies.
Operating Income (Loss)
Operating income for fiscal year 2008 was $918,000, compared to last year’s operating income of $1,351,000, a decrease of $433,000 or 32.1%.
The Production Monitoring Division had operating income of $882,000 compared to operating income of $1,380,000 in 2007, a decrease of $498,000, or 36.1%. The decrease in operating income was mainly due to a decrease in net sales (due in large part to fluctuations of commodity grain and feed product prices worldwide), a decrease in the gross margin (from 62.5% to 59.8%, primarily due to the new Electro Sentry systems), and an increase in the percentage of operating expenses to net sales (from 41.3% of net sales in 2007 to 45.6% of net sales in 2008).
The AutoData Systems Division had 2008 operating income of $36,000 compared to an operating loss of $29,000 for 2007, an increase of $65,000, or 224.1%. This increase in operating income was due primarily to an increase in the gross margin percentage due to increased sales of software and support and decreased sales of hardware.
Non-Operating Income
ESI Investment Company continues to provide us with an alternative source of earnings through investments in available-for-sale securities; however, our intent is to remain an operations-based company. Our investments in available-for-sale securities are subject to significant positive and negative changes in value. In addition to income from the sale of investments, we also realize interest income from our short-term holdings.
Investment income for fiscal year 2008 decreased by $178,000 to $72,000. The decrease was driven by a decrease in interest income and the recognized loss on a $35,000 investment in Minn Shares, Inc, (MSHS). Minn Shares, Inc. has been liquidated and we do not believe that we will receive any additional return of our investment. The decrease of 60.8% or $146,000 in interest income earned on temporary cash investments was a result of decreased interest rates on Treasury Bills, which were 4.89% in January 2007 and 0.06% in December 2008.
Available-for-sale securities are stated at fair value, and unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related deferred tax effect, are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Dividends on marketable equity securities are recognized in income when declared. Investments in unregistered securities are reported at original cost.
Realized gains and losses, including losses from declines in value of specific securities determined by management to be other-than-temporary, are included in income. Realized gains and losses are determined on the basis of the specific securities sold.
Net Income After Tax
We reported net income after tax for fiscal year 2008 of $606,000, as compared to net income of $1,196,000 in 2007, a decrease of $590,000, or 49.3%. Income per share was $0.18 in 2008 compared to earnings per share of $0.36 in 2007.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We are not a party to any off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements or obligations that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a material effect on our financial condition, changes in the financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The net decrease in our cash and cash equivalents was $250,000 during fiscal year 2008.
Cash from operating activities of $278,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 was primarily a result of our net income adjusted for depreciation expense on capital assets, accounts receivable, inventories, accrued expenses, income tax activity and realized loss on an investment. Cash from operating activities decreased $810,000 for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2008 when compared to the twelve month ended December 31, 2007 due to a decrease of $590,000 in net income and a $518,000 decrease in accrued income taxes, offset by a $473,000 increase in trade receivables.
Cash provided by investing activities was $5,000 for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2008 compared to cash used in investing activities of $269,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. Cash used for capital expenditures was $269,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2007. There were no capital expenditures during the twelve months ended December 31, 2008.
Cash used in financing activities was $533,000 and $491,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, we paid aggregate dividends of $539,000 and $538,000, respectively. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, we had $6,000, each year, in stock purchases under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Also, in the year ended December 31, 2007, $41,000 in stock options were exercised.
Our ongoing cash requirements will be primarily for capital expenditures, acquisitions, research and development in both the Production Monitoring and AutoData divisions, and working capital. Management believes that cash on hand and any cash provided by operations will be sufficient to meet our cash requirements through at least the next 12 months.
Our primary investments are 343,267 shares of Rudolph Technologies, Inc. (“Rudolph”), listed on the Nasdaq stock market and 551,759 shares of PPT Vision, Inc (“PPT”), listed on the Pink Sheets. The Rudolph investment is accounted for using the available-for-sale method. The PPT investment is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The fair value of the Rudolph investment totaled $1,212,000 and $3,886,000 as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The fair value of the PPT investment totaled $33,000 and $66,000 as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. These stocks are subject to fluctuations in price and could have a negative effect on our liquidity. Liquid securities are periodically sold as deemed appropriate by management. The market value of PPT and Rudolph stock as of February 27, 2009 was $28,000 and $930,000, respectively.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Management uses estimates and assumptions in preparing our financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. These estimates affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported revenues and expenses. As described in the notes to the financial statements, significant accounting estimates which are critical at this time are the economic lives of property and equipment, realizability of accounts receivable, valuation of deferred tax assets/liabilities, valuation of inventory and valuation of investments.
Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Not applicable.
Item 8.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Registered Independent Public Accounting Firm
Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheet
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholder’s Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors
Electro-Sensors, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Minnetonka, Minnesota
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Electro-Sensors, Inc. as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purposes of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. 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 consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Electro-Sensors, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ Boulay, Heutmaker, Zibell & Co. P.L.L.P.
Certified Public Accountants
Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 23, 2009
ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1. Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of business:
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Electro-Sensors, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, ESI Investment Company and Senstar Corporation. Senstar has no operations. Intercompany accounts, transactions and earnings have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated entity is referred to as “the Company” or “ESI”.
Electro-Sensors, Inc. operates two distinct businesses. The first is the Production Monitoring Division, which manufactures and markets a complete line of speed monitoring and motor control systems for industrial machinery. The division utilizes leading-edge technology to continuously improve its products and make them easier to use. The division’s goal is to manufacture the industry-preferred product for every market served. These products are sold through an internal sales staff, manufacturer’s representatives, and distributors to a wide variety of manufacturers, OEM’s and processors to monitor process machinery operations. The division markets its products to a number of different industries located throughout the United States and abroad.
The second business is the AutoData Systems Division (“AutoData”). AutoData designs and markets desktop software based systems that read handprinted characters, checkmarks and bar code information from scanned or faxed forms, in addition to collecting and reporting data from web forms. AutoData products are designed to provide capabilities to automate data collection and are sold by internal sales staff to end users, resellers and developers in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.
In addition, through its subsidiary ESI Investment Company, the Company periodically makes strategic investments in other businesses and companies, primarily when the Company believes that such investments will facilitate development of technology complementary to the Company’s products. Although ESI, through its subsidiary ESI Investment Company, invests in other businesses or companies, ESI does not intend to become an investment company and intends to remain primarily an operating company. The Company’s primary investments are 343,267 shares of Rudolph Technologies, Inc. (“Rudolph”) and 551,759 shares of PPT Vision, Inc (“PPT”). The Rudolph investment is accounted for using the available-for-sale method. The PPT investment is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. See Note 2 for additional information regarding its investments. The Company’s investments in securities are subject to normal market risks.
Significant accounting policies of the Company are summarized below:
Use of estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements, in accordance with generally accepted principles in the United States of America, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates, including the underlying assumptions, consist of the economic lives of property and equipment, realizability of accounts receivable, valuation of deferred tax assets/liabilities, valuation of inventory and valuation of investments. It is at least reasonably possible that these estimates may change in the near term.
Cash and cash equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash Equivalents are invested in money market accounts and Treasury Bills. Cash equivalents are carried at cost plus accrued interest which approximates fair value.
The Company maintains its cash in bank deposit accounts, which, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses on such accounts. The Company believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash.
Trade receivables and credit policies
Accounts receivable are uncollateralized customer obligations due under normal trade terms requiring payment within 30 days from the invoice date. Accounts receivables are stated at the amount billed to the customer. Customer account balances with invoices over 90 days are considered delinquent. The Company does not accrue interest on delinquent accounts receivable.
Payments of accounts receivable are allocated to the specific invoices identified on the customer’s remittance advice or, if unspecified, are applied to the earliest unpaid invoices.
The carrying amount of accounts receivable is reduced by an allowance for doubtful accounts that reflects management’s best estimate of the amounts that will not be collected. Management individually reviews all accounts receivable balances that exceed 90 days from the invoice date and based on an assessment of current creditworthiness, estimates the portion, if any, of the balance that will not be collected. Management uses this information to estimate the allowance.
Available-for-sale securities
The Company’s investments consist of marketable equity securities, primarily common stocks, government debt securities, money market funds, and unregistered equity securities. The estimated fair value of marketable equity securities is based on quoted market prices and therefore subject to the inherent risk of market fluctuations.
Management determines the appropriate classification of securities at the date individual investments are acquired, and evaluates the appropriateness of such classification at each balance sheet date.
Since the Company does not buy and sell investments with the objective of generating profits on short-term fluctuations in market price, the investments in marketable equity securities have been classified as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are stated at fair value, and unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related deferred tax effect, are reported as separate component of stockholders’ equity. Dividends on marketable equity securities are recognized in income when declared. Investments in unregistered securities are reported at original cost.
Realized gains and losses, including losses from declines in value of specific securities determined by management to be other-than-temporary, are included in income. Realized gains and losses are determined on the basis of the specific securities sold.
Inventories
Inventories include material, labor and overhead and are valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market.
Fair value of financial instruments
The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, investments, short-term trade receivables and payables for which current carrying amounts approximate fair market value.
Property and equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided over estimated useful lives by use of the straight line method. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Major improvements and betterments are capitalized.
Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If circumstances require a long-lived asset be tested for possible impairment, the Company first compares undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by an asset to the carrying value of the asset. If the carrying value of the long-lived asset is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, impairment is recognized to the extent that the carrying value exceeds its fair value. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques including, but not limited to, discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and third-party independent appraisals.
Software costs
The Company capitalizes software production costs after technological feasibility has been established and prior to general release to clients. Annual amortization of capitalized software will be based on the greater amount computed using the straight-line method over the estimated 36-month economic product life or using the ratio that current gross revenue for the software product bears to the total of current and anticipated future gross revenues for that product. Software maintenance and modification costs are expensed as incurred.
Revenue recognition
In recognizing revenue, the Company applies the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 101 (as amended by SAB No. 104), Revenue Recognition. In some situations, the Company receives advance payments from its customers. Revenue associated with these advance payments is deferred until the product is shipped.
Revenue recognition of production monitoring equipment
The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of its production monitoring equipment when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the product has been delivered, the fee is fixed and determinable and collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. The Company may offer discounts to its distributors or quantity discounts that are recorded at the time of sale. The Company recognizes revenue on products sold to customers and distributors upon shipment because the contracts do not include post-shipment obligations. In addition to exchanges and warranty returns, customers have refund rights. Our standard products are used in a wide variety of industries, returns for a refund are minimal and immaterial to the financial statements (currently approximately .7% of net sales) and are recognized when the returned product is received by the Company.
Software revenue recognition
The Company recognizes revenue upon shipment of its automated data collection software. The product is sold to the end user and risk of loss is transferred, and the Company has no continuing obligations, once its products are delivered to the shipper. To recognize revenue, it must also be probable that the Company will collect the accounts receivable from its customers. AutoData customers pay an annual maintenance fee for software support, which is recognized as deferred revenue on the balance sheet and is recognized in income, on a monthly basis, over the life of the contract.
Advertising costs
The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Total advertising expense was $233,000 and $201,000 for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Research and development
Expenditures for research and development are expensed as incurred.
Depreciation
The cost of property and equipment is depreciated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives.
Estimated useful lives are as follows
Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $122,000 and $82,000, respectively.
Income taxes
Deferred income taxes are provided on an asset and liability approach to financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. The difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities is determined annually. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for those differences that have future tax consequences using the currently enacted tax laws and rates that apply to the periods in which they are expected to affect taxable income. Income tax expense is the current tax payable or refundable for the period plus or minus the net change in the deferred tax assets and liabilities, excluding the portion of the deferred liability allocated to other comprehensive income. Deferred taxes are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent that realization of the related deferred tax asset is not assured.
Net income per common share
EPS excludes dilution and is determined by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities and other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock.
The following information presents the Company’s computations of basic and diluted EPS for the periods presented in the statements of operations.
Comprehensive income (loss)
Comprehensive income includes the Company’s net income plus other comprehensive income (loss) items that are excluded from net income. The Company’s other comprehensive income consists of unrealized gains (losses), net of income taxes and reclassification adjustments for gains and losses included in net income.
The Company does not have any additional transactions or other economic events that qualify as comprehensive income as defined under SFAS No. 130.
Stock Compensation
On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004) (“SFAS No. 123R”), Share-Based Payment, which addresses the accounting for stock-based payment transactions in which an enterprise receives employee services in exchange for (a) equity instruments of the enterprise or (b) liabilities that are based on the fair value of the enterprise’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of such equity instruments. In January 2005, the SEC issued SAB No. 107, which provides supplemental implementation guidance for SFAS No. 123R. SFAS No. 123R eliminates the ability to account for stock-based compensation transactions using the intrinsic value method under Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and instead generally requires that such transactions be accounted for using a fair-value-based method. In accordance with the modified-prospective transition method, the Company’s financial statements for prior periods have not been restated to reflect the impact of SFAS No. 123R. The Company uses the Black-Scholes-Merton (“BSM”) option-pricing model to determine the fair-value of stock-based awards.
The Company records compensation expense for employee stock options based on the estimated fair value of the options on the date of grant using the BSM model with the assumptions included in the table below. The Company uses historical data among other factors to estimate the expected price volatility, the expected option life and the expected forfeiture rate. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the estimated life of the option. At December 31, 2008, the Company had one stock-based employee compensation plan. There were no option grants during 2008. During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company issued 5,000 common share options.
The assumptions made in estimating the fair value of the options on the grant date based upon the BSM option-pricing model are as follows for 2007:
Dividend yield
0.00%
Expected volatility
36.74%
Risk free interest rate
4.93%
Expected lives
10 years
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 160 (“SFAS 160”), Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an Amendment of ARB No. 51. SFAS 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. Among other requirements, SFAS 160 clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary, which is sometimes referred to as minority interest, is to be reported as a separate component of equity in the consolidated financial statements. SFAS 160 also requires consolidated net income to include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interest and to disclose those amounts on the face of the consolidated statement of income. SFAS 160 must be applied prospectively for fiscal years, and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements, which will be applied retrospectively for all periods presented. As the provisions of SFAS 160 are applied prospectively, the impact cannot be determined until a transaction occurs, if any.
Note 2. Investments
The cost and estimated fair value of the investments (other than an investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting) are as follows:
Realized gains and losses on investments are as follows:
At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company’s significant investment in equity securities is 343,267 shares of Rudolph, accounted for under the available-for-sale method. As of December 31, 2008, the aggregate value of the Company’s Rudolph shares as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange was approximately $1,212,000 with an approximate cost of $45,000.
Investment Reported on Equity Method
At December 31, 2008, the Company owned 551,759 shares of PPT, which is 2.0% of PPT’s outstanding common stock. The fair value of its holdings based on the quoted market price at December 31, 2008 was approximately $33,000 with an approximate cost of $2,434,000.
Since the Company owns approximately 2.0% of PPT’s outstanding stock and the Company’s Secretary owns a controlling interest in PPT, it has been determined that the Company has “significant influence” over the operations of PPT, and as a result its ownership interest should be reported using the equity method of accounting for investments.
Under the equity method of accounting, the Company’s proportionate share of PPT’s net loss would ordinarily be directly reflected on the Company’s income statement, along with a corresponding reduction in the PPT investment account on the Company’s balance sheet. However, where net losses exceed the value of the initial investment, these losses are no longer recognized in the financial statements, but rather are suspended and applied against the investor’s proportionate share in any future net earnings for the investee. Accordingly, since the Company’s proportionate share of PPT’s previous net losses have already reduced the PPT investment account on its balance sheet to $0, the Company’s proportionate share of PPT’s net loss through December 31, 2008 has not been recognized on its current financial statements. At December 31, 2008, the Company had approximately $1,499,000 in suspended losses from its investment in PPT that will be used to offset future recognition of equity method earnings from the investment.
Note 3. Fair Value Measurements
Effective January 1, 2008, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (SFAS 157), as it applies to our financial instruments, and Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (SFAS 159). SFAS 157 defines fair value, outlines a framework for measuring fair value, and details the required disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 159 permits companies to irrevocably choose to measure certain financial instruments and other items at fair value. SFAS 159 also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparison between entities that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities.
Under SFAS 157, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date in the principal or most advantageous market. SFAS 157 establishes a hierarchy in determining the fair value of an asset or liability. The fair value hierarchy has three levels of inputs, both observable and unobservable. SFAS 157 requires the utilization of the lowest possible level of input to determine fair value. Level 1 inputs include quoted market prices in an active market for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are market data, other than Level 1, that are observable either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted market prices in an inactive market, and other observable information that can be corroborated by market data. Level 3 inputs are unobservable and corroborated by little or no market data.
Except for those assets and liabilities which are required by authoritative accounting guidance to be recorded at fair value in our Consolidated Balance Sheets, we have elected not to record any other assets or liabilities at fair value, as permitted by SFAS 159. No events occurred during the year ended December 31, 2008 which would require adjustment to the recognized balances of assets or liabilities which are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.
The following table provides information on those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
The fair value of the money market funds and treasury bills are based on quoted market prices in an active market. Investments include equity securities that are traded in an active market. Closing stock prices are readily available from active markets and are used as being representative of fair value. The Company classifies these securities as level 1.
Note 4. Inventories
Inventories used in the determination of cost of goods sold are as follows:
Note 5. Property and Equipment
The following is a summary of property and equipment:
Note 6. Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses include the following:
Note 7. Commitments
Lease commitments
The Company is leasing office equipment under operating leases expiring at various dates through 2010.
Minimum lease payments required under non-cancelable operating leases are as follows:
Rental expense charged to operations was $32,000 annually for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.
Note 8. Common Stock Options and Stock Purchase Plan
Stock-based compensation
The Company has a stock option plan and an employee stock purchase and bonus plan. Under the 1997 Stock Option Plan, the Company is authorized to grant up to 450,000 shares of its Common Stock. The Company granted one stock option, to a director, for 5,000 shares under this plan during 2007, and at December 31, 2008, 30,780 shares were granted and exercisable under this plan. Under the Employee Stock Purchase and Bonus Plan, the Company is authorized to sell and issue up to 150,000 shares of its Common Stock to its full-time employees. During 2008 and 2007, shares of 1,417 and 1,374 respectively, were issued under this plan. At December 31, 2008, shares of 86,488 were available for future issuance.
Stock options
The 1997 Stock Option Plan includes both nonqualified and incentive stock options. Payment for the shares may be made in cash, shares of the Company’s Common Stock or a combination thereof. Under the terms of the plan, incentive stock options are granted at 100% of fair market value on the date of grant and may be exercised at various times depending upon the terms of the option. The nonqualified stock options were granted to directors to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock. All existing options expire 10 years from the date of grant or one year from the date of death.
The following table summarizes the activity for outstanding incentive stock options:
(1)
The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as approximately the difference between the weighted average exercise price of the underlying awards and the Company’s estimated current fair market value at December 31, 2008.
The following table summarizes the activity for outstanding director stock options:
(1) The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as approximately the difference between the weighted average exercise price of the underlying awards and the Company’s estimated current fair market value at December 31, 2008.
The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of approximately $9,000 during the year ending December 31, 2007 as a result of the adoption of SFAS No. 123R. As of December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options that is expected to be recognized over a period of 1-2 years. To the extent the forfeiture rate is different than we have anticipated, stock-based compensation related to these awards will be different from our expectations.
Stock purchase plan
The Employee Stock Purchase and Bonus Plan (the “Employee Stock Plan”) allows employees to set aside up to 10% of their earnings for the purchase of shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The purchase price is the lower of 85% of the market value at the date of the grant or the exercise date, which is six months from the date of the grant.
Note 9. Benefit Plans
Employee stock ownership plan
The Company sponsors an employee stock ownership plan (“ESOP”) that covers substantially all employees who work 1,000 or more hours during the year. The ESOP has, at various times, secured financing from the Company to purchase the Company’s shares on the open market. When the Plan purchases shares with the proceeds of the Company loans, the shares are pledged as collateral for its debt. The shares are maintained in a suspense account until released and allocated to participant accounts. The Plan owns 148,088 shares of the Company’s stock at December 31, 2008. All shares held by the Plan have been released and allocated. The dividends paid by the Company on shares held by the Plan are allocated to the participant accounts. The Plan had no debt to the Company at December 31, 2008.
ESOP compensation expense was $0 and $18,000 for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
In the event a terminated ESOP participant desires to sell his or her shares of the Company’s stock and the shares are not readily tradable, the Company may be required to purchase the shares from the participant at their fair market value. At December 31, 2008, 148,088 shares of the Company’s stock, with an aggregate fair market value of approximately $474,000, are held by ESOP participants who, if terminated, would be subject to the repurchase requirement.
Profit sharing plan and savings plan
The Company has a salary reduction and profit sharing plan which conforms to IRS provisions for 401(k) plans. The Company may make profit sharing contributions with the approval of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors decided to make no contribution for the years 2008 and 2007 other than its matching of 401(k) salary reductions, which totaled $59,000 and $52,000 for 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Note 10. Income Taxes
The components of the income tax provision for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 are as follows:
The provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 differs from the amount obtained by applying the U.S. federal income tax rate to pretax income due to the following:
The components of the net deferred tax asset (liability) consist of:
In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the requirements of SFAS 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, relating to the recognition of income tax benefits. FIN 48 provides a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring tax benefits when realization of the benefits is uncertain. The first step is to determine whether the benefit meets the more-likely-than-not condition for recognition and the second step is to determine the amount to be recognized based on the cumulative probability that exceeds 50%.
On January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48, which requires that the Company recognize in its consolidated financial statements only those tax positions that are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained as of the adoption date, based on the technical merits of the position. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company performed a comprehensive review of its material tax positions in accordance with recognition and measurement standards established by FIN 48.
The Company is subject to the following material taxing jurisdictions: U.S. and Minnesota. The tax years that remain open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service are 2005 through 2008. The tax years that remain open to examination by the Minnesota Department of Revenue are 2004 through 2008. Our policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax benefits in income tax expense. We have no accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions as of January 1, 2007 or December 31, 2008.
Note 11. Segment Information
The Company has three reportable operating segments based on the nature of its product lines: Production Monitoring, AutoData Sytems, and Investments. The Production Monitoring Division manufactures and markets a complete line of speed monitoring and motor control systems for industrial machinery. The AutoData Systems Division designs and markets desktop software based systems that read handprinted characters, checkmarks and bar code information from scanned or faxed forms, in addition to collecting and reporting data from web forms. Sales of these systems include software and can include hardware. ESI Investment Company holds investments in marketable and non-marketable securities.
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 1. In evaluating segment performance, management focuses on sales and income before taxes. The Company has no inter-segment sales.
The following is financial information relating to the continuing operating segments:
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A(T).
Item 9A(T). Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The person serving as our principal executive officer and principal financial officer evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). Based on this evaluation, the person serving as the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer has concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2008 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, our management is required to assess the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of the end of each fiscal year and report, based on that assessment, whether the Company's internal control over financial reporting is effective.
Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Company's internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance as to the reliability of the Company's financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Internal control over financial reporting, no matter how well designed, has inherent limitations. Therefore, internal control over financial reporting determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Moreover, 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.
The Company's management has assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008. In making this assessment, the Company used the criteria established by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework.” These criteria are in the areas of control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, and monitoring. The Company's assessment included extensive documenting, evaluating and testing the design and operating effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting. Based on this evaluation, the person serving as the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer has concluded that the Company’s internal controls were effective as of December 31, 2008.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to the attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the SEC that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of 2008, which were identified in connection with management’s evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
PART III
Certain information required by Part III is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A (the “Proxy Statement”) for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held April 22, 2009 (“Annual Meeting”).
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The information required by Item 10 is incorporated herein by reference to the sections entitled “Election of Directors,” “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” “Corporate Governance - Code of Ethics and Business Conduct” and “Corporate Governance - Audit Committee” that appear in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting. Information concerning executive officers Bradley D. Slye and Peter R. Peterson is included in the sections referred to above.
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The information required by Item 11 is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled “Executive Compensation” that appears in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The information required by Item 12 relating to security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” that appears in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting.
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2008 about the Company’s equity compensation plans.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
Weighted average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
Number of securities remaining
available for future issuance under
equity compensation plans
(excluding securities reflected in
column (a))
(a)
(b)
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
30,780
$3.54
102,990(1)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
-
-
-
Total
30,780
$3.54
102,990(1)
(1) Includes 10,250 shares issuable pursuant to the 1997 Stock Option Plan and 92,740 shares issuable pursuant to the 1996 Employee Stock Option Plan.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
The information required by Item 13 is incorporated herein by reference to the sections entitled “Corporate Governance - Independence,” “Election of Directors” and “Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons” that appear in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
The information required by Item 14 relating to principal accounting fees and services is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled “Disclosure of Fees Paid to Independent Auditors” that appears in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
Financial Statements.
Reference is made to the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing on Page 13 hereof.
Financial Statement Schedules.
The Financial Statement Schedules have been omitted either because they are not required or because the information has been included in the financial statements or the notes thereto included in this Annual Report.
Exhibits.
See “Exhibit Index” on the page following the signatures.
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.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
(Power of Attorney)
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints BRADLEY D. SLYE and PETER R. PETERSON as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Bradley D. Slye
Chairman, President and Director (CEO and CFO)
March 23, 2009
/s/ Peter R. Peterson
Director and Secretary
March 23, 2009
/s/ Joseph A. Marino
Director
March 23, 2009
/s/ Geoffrey W. Miller
Director
March 23, 2009
/s/ Robert W. Heller
Director
March 23, 2009
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
EXHIBIT INDEX TO FORM 10-K
For the Fiscal Year Ended
December 31, 2008
Commission File No. 0-9587
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit Description
^3.1
Registrant’s Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended-incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s 1991 Form 10-KSB
^3.2
Registrant’s Bylaws, as amended to date-incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s 1997 Form 10-KSB
^*10.1
Electro-Sensors, Inc.’s 1987 Stock Option Plan-incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the Company’s Proxy Statement dated April 21, 1987 for the Company’s 1987 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
^*10.2
Electro-Sensors, Inc.’s 1997 Stock Option Plan and forms of Incentive and Nonqualified Stock Option Agreements thereunder-incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s 1997 Form 10-KSB
*10.3
Summary of Compensation Arrangements with Directors
*10.4
Summary of Compensation Arrangements with Executive Officers
Subsidiaries of Registrant (Name and State of Incorporation):
ESI Investment Company-Minnesota
Senstar Corporation-Minnesota
24.1
Power of Attorney (see Signature page)
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.1
Letter to Shareholders dated March 4, 2009
99.2
Investor Information
^
Incorporated by reference to a previously filed report or document-SEC File No. 0-9587
*
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement