-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, WnQegS9b9aooo5pKSmWusWLLGk0OCoYPWPwEPBbAsSgVj6TLkfRtCV+0Z+2th2v8 ATy09uITPuW5Hr5VoTbmVA== 0001193125-04-190413.txt : 20041109 0001193125-04-190413.hdr.sgml : 20041109 20041109083244 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-04-190413 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20040930 FILED AS OF DATE: 20041109 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20041109 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: STONERIDGE INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001043337 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES [3714] IRS NUMBER: 341598949 STATE OF INCORPORATION: OH FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-13337 FILM NUMBER: 041127473 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 9400 EAST MARKET ST CITY: WARREN STATE: OH ZIP: 44484 BUSINESS PHONE: 3308562443 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 9400 EAST MARKET ST CITY: WARREN STATE: OH ZIP: 44484 10-Q 1 d10q.htm QUARTERLY REPORT Quarterly Report
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004   Commission file number 001-13337

 


 

STONERIDGE, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 


 

Ohio   34-1598949

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

9400 East Market Street, Warren, Ohio   44484
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(330) 856-2443

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

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

 

The number of Common Shares, without par value, outstanding as of October 28, 2004 was 22,760,666.

 



Table of Contents

STONERIDGE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

INDEX

 

     Page No.

Part I Financial Information

    
     Item 1. Financial Statements     
     Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003    2
     Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003    3
     Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003    4
     Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements    5
     Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    17
     Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk    21
     Item 4. Controls and Procedures    22

Part II Other Information

   23

Signatures

   25

Exhibit Index

   26

 

1


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

STONERIDGE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

(in thousands)

 

     September 30,
2004


   December 31,
2003


     (Unaudited)    (Audited)

ASSETS

             

CURRENT ASSETS:

             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 32,145    $ 24,142

Accounts receivable, net

     118,579      89,161

Inventories, net

     58,992      48,047

Prepaid expenses and other

     13,845      10,420

Deferred income taxes

     9,763      7,856
    

  

Total current assets

     233,324      179,626
    

  

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net

     112,933      116,262

OTHER ASSETS:

             

Goodwill

     255,292      255,292

Investments and other, net

     29,202      28,487
    

  

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 630,751    $ 579,667
    

  

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

             

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

             

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 38    $ 417

Accounts payable

     64,474      53,594

Accrued expenses and other

     65,585      54,569
    

  

Total current liabilities

     130,097      108,580
    

  

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:

             

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     200,149      200,245

Deferred income taxes

     30,143      25,288

Other liabilities

     2,623      2,148
    

  

Total long-term liabilities

     232,915      227,681
    

  

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

             

Preferred shares, without par value, 5,000 authorized, none issued

     —        —  

Common shares, without par value, 60,000 authorized, 22,759 (net of 7 treasury shares) and 22,459 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively, with no stated value

     —        —  

Additional paid-in capital

     145,125      143,535

Retained earnings

     121,179      98,758

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     1,435      1,113
    

  

Total shareholders’ equity

     267,739      243,406
    

  

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 630,751    $ 579,667
    

  

 

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

 

2


Table of Contents

STONERIDGE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

(in thousands except for per share data)

 

     For the three months
ended September 30,


    For the nine months
ended September 30,


 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

NET SALES

   $ 164,286     $ 140,832     $ 518,365     $ 455,416  

COSTS AND EXPENSES:

                                

Cost of goods sold

     124,836       106,462       385,676       339,796  

Selling, general and administrative

     28,877       23,273       82,785       71,277  
    


 


 


 


OPERATING INCOME

     10,573       11,097       49,904       44,343  

Interest expense, net

     6,031       6,805       18,528       20,558  

Other income, net

     (358 )     (187 )     (757 )     (180 )
    


 


 


 


INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     4,900       4,479       32,133       23,965  

Provision for income taxes

     979       1,378       9,712       7,667  
    


 


 


 


NET INCOME

   $ 3,921     $ 3,101     $ 22,421     $ 16,298  
    


 


 


 


BASIC NET INCOME PER SHARE

   $ 0.17     $ 0.14     $ 0.99     $ 0.73  
    


 


 


 


BASIC WEIGHTED-AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING

     22,630       22,410       22,605       22,410  
    


 


 


 


DILUTED NET INCOME PER SHARE

   $ 0.17     $ 0.14     $ 0.98     $ 0.72  
    


 


 


 


DILUTED WEIGHTED-AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING

     22,925       22,758       22,863       22,676  
    


 


 


 


 

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

 

3


Table of Contents

STONERIDGE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

(in thousands)

 

     For the nine months ended
September 30,


 
     2004

    2003

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

                

Net income

   $ 22,421     $ 16,298  

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

                

Depreciation and amortization

     19,791       18,325  

Deferred income taxes

     2,866       10,585  

Equity earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries

     (1,350 )     (1,013 )

Loss on sale of fixed assets

     166       346  

Share based compensation

     994       376  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities-

                

Accounts receivable, net

     (29,457 )     (14,075 )

Inventories

     (10,247 )     3,469  

Prepaid expenses and other

     (3,945 )     1,487  

Other assets

     393       (19 )

Accounts payable

     10,814       7,834  

Accrued expenses and other

     14,421       7,424  
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     26,867       51,037  
    


 


INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

                

Capital expenditures

     (18,108 )     (11,615 )

Proceeds from sale of fixed assets

     16       832  

Business acquisitions and other

     (714 )     (3 )
    


 


Net cash used by investing activities

     (18,806 )     (10,786 )
    


 


FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

                

Repayments of long-term debt

     (359 )     (22,355 )

Net repayments under revolving credit facilities

     —         (715 )

Proceeds from exercise of share options

     376       258  

Other financing costs

     (134 )     —    
    


 


Net cash used by financing activities

     (117 )     (22,812 )
    


 


EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     59       730  
    


 


NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     8,003       18,169  

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD

     24,142       27,235  
    


 


CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

   $ 32,145     $ 45,404  
    


 


 

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

 

4


Table of Contents

STONERIDGE, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

(in thousands, except for per share data, unless otherwise indicated)

 

1. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by Stoneridge, Inc. (the Company), without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission). The information furnished in the condensed consolidated financial statements includes normal recurring accruals and adjustments and reflects all adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of such financial statements. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the Commission’s rules and regulations. Although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, it is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

 

2. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method for approximately 70% and 68% of the Company’s inventories at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively, and by the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method for all other inventories. Inventory cost includes material, labor and overhead. Inventories consist of the following:

 

    

September 30,

2004


   

December 31,

2003


 

Raw materials

   $ 32,885     $ 25,035  

Work in progress

     10,125       10,414  

Finished goods

     17,026       13,308  
    


 


       60,036       48,757  

Less: LIFO reserve

     (1,044 )     (710 )
    


 


Total

   $ 58,992     $ 48,047  
    


 


 

3. A financial instrument is cash or a contract that imposes an obligation to deliver, or conveys a right to receive cash or another financial instrument. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are considered to be representative of fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. The estimated fair value of the Company’s senior notes (fixed rate debt) at September 30, 2004, per quoted market sources, was $225.3 million and the carrying value was $200.0 million.

 

The Company uses derivative financial instruments to reduce exposure to market risks resulting from fluctuations in interest rates (swaps) and currency rates (forward contracts). The Company does not enter into financial instruments for trading purposes. Management believes that its use of these instruments to reduce risk is in the Company’s best interest. At September 30, 2004, the Company had no outstanding interest rate swaps.

 

The Company has entered into a foreign currency forward purchase contract with a notional value of 58.4 million of Swedish krona to reduce exposure related to the Company’s krona denominated receivables. The estimated fair value of this forward contract at September 30, 2004, per quoted market sources, was $(0.3) million. The contract is marked to market, with gains and losses recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. The Company’s foreign currency forward purchase contract substantially offsets losses and gains on the underlying foreign denominated receivables.

 

5


Table of Contents

STONERIDGE, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

(in thousands, except for per share data, unless otherwise indicated)

 

4. Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” goodwill is subject to at least an annual assessment for impairment by applying a fair value-based test. The Company performed an annual impairment test of goodwill as of October 1, 2003 and no impairment was recognized. There was no change in the carrying value of goodwill by reportable operating segment during the first nine months of 2004. The Company is currently in the process of completing this year’s annual impairment test of goodwill, as of October 1, 2004.

 

5. In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued interpretation (FIN) 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities – an Interpretation of ARB No. 51.” FIN 46 requires unconsolidated variable interest entities to be consolidated by their primary beneficiaries if the entities do not effectively disperse the risks and rewards of ownership among their owners and other parties involved. The provisions of FIN 46 were applicable immediately to all variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003. In December 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46R, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities – an Interpretation of ARB No. 51 (revised December 2003),” which includes significant amendments to previously issued FIN 46. Among other things, FIN 46R includes revised transition dates for public entities, which required the Company to adopt the provisions of FIN 46 as of March 31, 2004. The adoption of this interpretation did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

6. The Company has two share-based compensation plans. One plan is for employees and one plan is for non-employee directors. Effective January 1, 2003, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” prospectively to all employee and director awards granted, modified or settled after January 1, 2003, under the provisions of SFAS 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure – an amendment of SFAS 123.” Awards under the Company’s plans vest over periods ranging from one to five years, and compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis. Because the Company adopted the fair value method on a prospective basis, the cost related to share-based compensation recognized during the three and nine month period ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 is less than that which would have been recognized if the fair value method had been applied to all awards granted since the original effective date of SFAS 123. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and net income per share if the fair value method had been applied to all outstanding and unvested awards in each period.

 

     Three months ended
September 30,


    Nine months ended
September 30,


 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

Net income, as reported

   $ 3,921     $ 3,101     $ 22,421     $ 16,298  

Add: Share-based employee compensation expense included in reported net income, net of related tax effects

     202       96       621       235  

Deduct: Total share-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value method for all awards, net of related tax effects

     (286 )     (219 )     (664 )     (609 )
    


 


 


 


Pro forma net income

   $ 3,837     $ 2,978     $ 22,378     $ 15,924  
    


 


 


 


 

6


Table of Contents

STONERIDGE, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

(in thousands, except for per share data, unless otherwise indicated)

 

     Three months ended
September 30,


   Nine months ended
September 30,


     2004

   2003

   2004

   2003

Net income per share:

                           

Basic – as reported

   $ 0.17    $ 0.14    $ 0.99    $ 0.73
    

  

  

  

Basic – pro forma

   $ 0.17    $ 0.13    $ 0.99    $ 0.71
    

  

  

  

Diluted – as reported

   $ 0.17    $ 0.14    $ 0.98    $ 0.72
    

  

  

  

Diluted – pro forma

   $ 0.17    $ 0.13    $ 0.98    $ 0.70
    

  

  

  

 

Because the Company adopted the fair value method of SFAS 123 during the fourth quarter of 2003, but it was effective as of January 1, 2003, net income for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003 was restated as follows:

 

    

Three Months

Ended
September 30,
2003


    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2003


 

Net income, as originally reported

   $ 3,197     $ 16,533  

Share-based employee compensation expense

     (96 )     (235 )
    


 


Net income, as restated

   $ 3,101     $ 16,298  
    


 


Basic net income per share, as originally reported

   $ 0.14     $ 0.74  
    


 


Basic net income per share, as restated

   $ 0.14     $ 0.73  
    


 


Diluted net income per share, as originally reported

   $ 0.14     $ 0.73  
    


 


Diluted net income per share, as restated

   $ 0.14     $ 0.72  
    


 


 

7. Other comprehensive income (loss) includes foreign currency translation adjustments and gains and losses from certain foreign currency transactions, minimum pension liability adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale marketable securities, and the effective portion of gains and losses on certain hedging activities. All portions of other comprehensive income (loss) are recorded net of related taxes. Comprehensive income consists of the following:

 

     Three months ended
September 30,


    Nine months ended
September 30,


 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

Net income

   $ 3,921     $ 3,101     $ 22,421     $ 16,298  

Other comprehensive income (loss):

                                

Currency translation adjustments

     1,251       (227 )     363       1,324  

Minimum pension liability adjustments

     2       (5 )     (18 )     (27 )

Unrealized gain on marketable securities

     (41 )     34       (23 )     80  

Amortization of terminated derivatives

     —         155       —         465  
    


 


 


 


       1,212       (43 )     322       1,842  
    


 


 


 


Comprehensive income

   $ 5,133     $ 3,058     $ 22,743     $ 18,140  
    


 


 


 


 

8. On May 1, 2002, the Company issued $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes. The $200.0 million notes bear interest at an annual rate of 11.50% and mature on May 1, 2012. Interest is payable on May 1 and November 1 of each year. The Company registered the notes under the Securities Act of 1933 on May 17, 2002. On July 1, 2002, the Company completed an

 

7


Table of Contents

STONERIDGE, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

(in thousands, except for per share data, unless otherwise indicated)

 

exchange offer of the senior notes for substantially identical notes registered under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

In conjunction with the issuance of the senior notes, the Company also entered into a new $200.0 million credit agreement with a bank group. The credit agreement had the following components: a $100.0 million revolving facility (of which $96.2 million was available at September 30, 2004), which includes a $10.0 million swing line facility, and a $100.0 million term facility. The revolving facility expires on April 30, 2008 and requires a commitment fee of 0.375% to 0.500% on the unused balance. The revolving facility permits the Company to borrow up to half its borrowings in specified foreign currencies. Interest is payable quarterly at either (i) the prime rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 1.25% or (ii) LIBOR plus a margin of 1.75% to 2.75%, depending upon the Company’s ratio of consolidated total debt to consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), as defined. Interest on the swing line facility is payable monthly at the quoted overnight borrowing rate plus a margin of 1.75% to 2.75%, depending upon the Company’s ratio of consolidated total debt to consolidated EBITDA, as defined. The Company prepaid the entire outstanding balance of the term facility during 2003.

 

Long-term debt consists of the following:

 

    

September 30,

2004


   

December 31,

2003


 

11 1/2% Senior notes, due 2012

   $ 200,000     $ 200,000  

Other

     187       662  
    


 


       200,187       200,662  

Less: Current portion

     (38 )     (417 )
    


 


     $ 200,149     $ 200,245  
    


 


 

9. For the three-month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, the Company’s effective tax rate decreased to 20.0% from 31.0%. For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, the Company’s effective tax rate decreased to 30.2% from 32.0%. This decrease was attributable to a higher proportion of non-U.S. pre-tax income to global pre-tax income in 2004, as well as to the settlement of certain state refund claims. In general the Company’s operations outside of the U.S. are taxed at a lower effective tax rate than the domestic operations in the U.S. The tax decreases were partially offset by the legislative expiration of certain U.S. tax credits in the third quarter of 2004, which were legislatively reinstated in the fourth quarter.

 

10. The Company presents basic and diluted net income per share in accordance with SFAS 128, “Earnings Per Share,” which requires the presentation of basic net income per share and diluted net income per share. Basic net income per share was computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for each respective period. Diluted net income per share was calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average of all potentially dilutive common shares that were outstanding during the periods presented. Actual weighted-average shares outstanding used in calculating basic and diluted net income per share were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


   Nine Months Ended
September 30,


     2004

   2003

   2004

   2003

Basic weighted-average shares outstanding

   22,630    22,410    22,605    22,410

Effect of dilutive securities

   295    348    258    266
    
  
  
  

Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding

   22,925    22,758    22,863    22,676
    
  
  
  

 

Options to purchase 475 and 415 common shares at an average price of $16.56 and $16.97 per share were outstanding during the third quarter of 2004 and 2003, respectively, and options to purchase 475

 

8


Table of Contents

STONERIDGE, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

(in thousands, except for per share data, unless otherwise indicated)

 

and 488 common shares at an average price of $16.56 and $16.22 per share were outstanding during the first nine months of 2004 and 2003, respectively. These outstanding options were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their respective exercise prices were greater than the average market price of common shares and, therefore, their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

 

11. In the ordinary course of business, the Company is involved in various legal proceedings, workers’ compensation and product liability disputes. The Company is of the opinion that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the results of operations, cash flows or the financial position of the Company.

 

On January 15, 2004, a judgment was entered against the Company in the District Court (365th Judicial District) in Maverick County, Texas. The plaintiffs alleged in their complaint that a Stoneridge fuel valve installed as a replacement part on a truck caused a fire after an accident resulting in a death. The plaintiffs are the parents of the decedent. The judgment entered against the Company was approximately $36.5 million. The Company denies its fuel valve contributed to the fire. The trial court denied a motion for a new trial and other relief. An appeal of this judgment has been filed. The Company believes that there are valid grounds to reverse the judgment on appeal. If successful, the appeal may alter or eliminate the amount of the existing judgment. While legal proceedings are subject to inherent uncertainty, the Company believes that it is reasonably possible that this award will be substantially altered or eliminated by the appellate court. Consequently, in the opinion of management and the Company’s legal counsel, it is not possible to estimate the outcome of such uncertainty at this time. The Company will record a provision for any liability in this case, if and at the time that management and counsel conclude a loss is probable. Based upon advice received from the Company’s legal counsel, the Company believes a loss resulting from this matter is not probable as of September 30, 2004. Even at full judgment, however, the Company’s exposure is significantly less than the $36.5 million mentioned above, as it has been mitigated with appropriate levels of insurance.

 

12. SFAS 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,” established standards for reporting information about operating segments in financial statements. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise that are evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the Chief Executive Officer.

 

The Company has two reportable operating segments: Vehicle Management & Power Distribution and Control Devices. These reportable operating segments were determined based on the differences in the nature of the products offered. The Vehicle Management & Power Distribution operating segment produces electronic instrument clusters, electronic control units, driver information systems and electrical distribution systems, primarily wiring harnesses and connectors for electrical power and signal distribution. The Control Devices operating segment produces electronic and electromechanical switches, control actuation devices and sensors.

 

The accounting policies of the Company’s operating segments are the same as those described in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” of the Company’s December 31, 2003 Form 10-K. The Company evaluates the performance of its operating segments based primarily on revenues from external customers, net income and capital expenditures. Intersegment sales are accounted for on terms similar to those to third parties and are eliminated upon consolidation.

 

9


Table of Contents

STONERIDGE, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

(in thousands, except for per share data, unless otherwise indicated)

 

A summary of financial information by reportable operating segment is as follows:

 

     For the three months ended September 30, 2004

     Vehicle
Management
& Power
Distribution


   Control
Devices


    Eliminations

    Consolidated

Sales from external customers

   $ 88,554    $ 75,732     $ —       $ 164,286

Intersegment sales

     3,789      721       (4,510 )     —  
    

  


 


 

Total net sales

   $ 92,343    $ 76,453     $ (4,510 )   $ 164,286

Net income (loss)

   $ 5,047    $ (1,126 )   $ —       $ 3,921

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 2,018    $ 4,215     $ —       $ 6,233

Interest expense, net

   $ 723    $ 5,308     $ —       $ 6,031

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

   $ 1,796    $ (817 )   $ —       $ 979

Capital expenditures

   $ 2,248    $ 4,432     $ —       $ 6,680

 

     For the three months ended September 30, 2003

     Vehicle
Management
& Power
Distribution


   Control
Devices


   Eliminations

    Consolidated

Sales from external customers

   $ 64,755    $ 76,077    $ —       $ 140,832

Intersegment sales

     3,452      619      (4,071 )     —  
    

  

  


 

Total net sales

   $ 68,207    $ 76,696    $ (4,071 )   $ 140,832

Net income

   $ 1,266    $ 1,835    $ —       $ 3,101

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 2,056    $ 3,658    $ —       $ 5,714

Interest expense, net

   $ 850    $ 5,955    $ —       $ 6,805

Provision for income taxes

   $ 564    $ 814    $ —       $ 1,378

Capital expenditures

   $ 1,712    $ 2,498    $ —       $ 4,210

 

     For the nine months ended September 30, 2004

     Vehicle
Management
& Power
Distribution


   Control
Devices


   Eliminations

    Consolidated

Sales from external customers

   $ 266,818    $ 251,547    $ —       $ 518,365

Intersegment sales

     12,100      2,025      (14,125 )     —  
    

  

  


 

Total net sales

   $ 278,918    $ 253,572    $ (14,125 )   $ 518,365

Net income

   $ 16,331    $ 6,090    $ —       $ 22,421

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 6,432    $ 12,326    $ —       $ 18,758

Interest expense, net

   $ 2,265    $ 16,263    $ —       $ 18,528

Provision for income taxes

   $ 7,074    $ 2,638    $ —       $ 9,712

Capital expenditures

   $ 6,977    $ 11,131    $ —       $ 18,108

 

10


Table of Contents

STONERIDGE, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

(in thousands, except for per share data, unless otherwise indicated)

 

     For the nine months ended September 30, 2003

     Vehicle
Management
& Power
Distribution


   Control
Devices


   Eliminations

    Consolidated

Sales from external customers

   $ 204,665    $ 250,751    $ —       $ 455,416

Intersegment sales

     10,307      1,602      (11,909 )     —  
    

  

  


 

Total net sales

   $ 214,972    $ 252,353    $ (11,909 )   $ 455,416

Net income

   $ 4,336    $ 11,962    $ —       $ 16,298

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 6,216    $ 10,241    $ —       $ 16,457

Interest expense, net

   $ 2,715    $ 17,843    $ —       $ 20,558

Provision for income taxes

   $ 2,039    $ 5,628    $ —       $ 7,667

Capital expenditures

   $ 4,935    $ 6,680    $ —       $ 11,615

 

The following table presents net sales and non-current assets for each of the geographic areas in which the Company operates:

 

    

Three months

ended September 30,


  

Nine months

ended September 30,


     2004

   2003

   2004

   2003

Net Sales:

                           

North America

   $  135,680    $  116,731    $  421,759    $  369,804

Europe and other

     28,606      24,101      96,606      85,612
    

  

  

  

Total

   $ 164,286    $ 140,832    $ 518,365    $ 455,416
    

  

  

  

 

    

September 30,

2004


  

December 31,

2003


Non-Current Assets:

             

North America

   $ 346,641    $ 346,994

Europe and other

     50,786      53,047
    

  

Total

   $ 397,427    $ 400,041
    

  

 

11


Table of Contents

STONERIDGE, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

(in thousands, except for per share data, unless otherwise indicated)

 

13. The senior notes and the credit facility are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by each of the Company’s existing and future domestic wholly-owned subsidiaries (Guarantor Subsidiaries). The Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries are not guaranteeing the senior notes and the credit facility (Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries).

 

Presented below are summarized condensed consolidating financial statements of the Parent (which includes certain of the Company’s operating units), the Guarantor Subsidiaries, the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries and the Company on a consolidated basis, as of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003.

 

These summarized condensed consolidating financial statements are prepared on the equity method. Separate financial statements for the Guarantor Subsidiaries are not presented based on management’s determination that they do not provide additional information that is material to investors. Therefore, the Guarantor Subsidiaries are combined in the presentation below.

 

     September 30, 2004

     Parent

    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


   Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Consolidated

ASSETS

                                     

CURRENT ASSETS:

                                     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 10,492     $ 18    $ 21,635     $ —       $ 32,145

Accounts receivable, net

     56,880       41,994      24,258       (4,553 )     118,579

Inventories, net

     26,607       14,705      17,680       —         58,992

Prepaid expenses, intercompany and other

     (254,260 )     235,261      32,844       —         13,845

Deferred income taxes

     6,094       3,092      577       —         9,763
    


 

  


 


 

Total current assets

   $ (154,187 )   $ 295,070    $ 96,994     $ (4,553 )   $ 233,324
    


 

  


 


 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net

     59,360       32,141      21,432       —         112,933

OTHER ASSETS:

                                     

Goodwill

     234,701       20,591      —         —         255,292

Investments and other, net

     35,486       440      10,773       (17,497 )     29,202

Investment in subsidiaries

     365,801       —        —         (365,801 )     —  
    


 

  


 


 

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 541,161     $ 348,242    $ 129,199     $ (387,851 )   $ 630,751
    


 

  


 


 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                                     

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

                                     

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ —       $ —      $ 38     $ —       $ 38

Accounts payable

     26,954       23,894      18,139       (4,513 )     64,474

Accrued expenses and other

     18,701       26,614      20,310       (40 )     65,585
    


 

  


 


 

Total current liabilities

     45,655       50,508      38,487       (4,553 )     130,097
    


 

  


 


 

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:

                                     

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     200,000       —        17,646       (17,497 )     200,149

Deferred income taxes

     27,640       3,356      (853 )     —         30,143

Other liabilities

     127       —        2,496       —         2,623
    


 

  


 


 

Total long-term liabilities

     227,767       3,356      19,289       (17,497 )     232,915
    


 

  


 


 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     267,739       294,378      71,423       (365,801 )     267,739
    


 

  


 


 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 541,161     $ 348,242    $ 129,199     $ (387,851 )   $ 630,751
    


 

  


 


 

 

12


Table of Contents

STONERIDGE, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

(in thousands, except for per share data, unless otherwise indicated)

 

Supplemental condensed consolidating financial statements (continued):

 

     December 31, 2003

     Parent

    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


   Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Consolidated

ASSETS

                                     

CURRENT ASSETS:

                                     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 14,660     $ 26    $ 9,456     $ —       $ 24,142

Accounts receivable, net

     42,585       28,595      21,324       (3,343 )     89,161

Inventories, net

     22,193       10,432      15,422       —         48,047

Prepaid expenses, intercompany and other

     (234,958 )     215,982      29,396       —         10,420

Deferred income taxes

     4,659       2,620      577       —         7,856
    


 

  


 


 

Total current assets

     (150,861 )     257,655      76,175       (3,343 )     179,626
    


 

  


 


 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET

     61,042       31,390      23,830       —         116,262

OTHER ASSETS:

                                     

Goodwill

     234,701       20,591      —         —         255,292

Investments and other, net

     34,628       548      1,128       (7,817 )     28,487

Investment in subsidiaries

     333,606       —        —         (333,606 )     —  
    


 

  


 


 

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 513,116     $ 310,184    $ 101,133     $ (344,766 )   $ 579,667
    


 

  


 


 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                                     

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

                                     

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ —       $ —      $ 417     $ —       $ 417

Accounts payable

     24,920       16,194      15,779       (3,299 )     53,594

Accrued expenses and other

     13,735       20,930      19,948       (44 )     54,569
    


 

  


 


 

Total current liabilities

     38,655       37,124      36,144       (3,343 )     108,580
    


 

  


 


 

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:

                                     

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     207,301       —        761       (7,817 )     200,245

Deferred income taxes

     23,393       3,082      (1,187 )     —         25,288

Other liabilities

     361       —        1,787       —         2,148
    


 

  


 


 

Total long-term liabilities

     231,055       3,082      1,361       (7,817 )     227,681
    


 

  


 


 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     243,406       269,978      63,628       (333,606 )     243,406
    


 

  


 


 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 513,116     $ 310,184    $ 101,133     $ (344,766 )   $ 579,667
    


 

  


 


 

 

13


Table of Contents

STONERIDGE, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

(in thousands, except for per share data, unless otherwise indicated)

 

Supplemental condensed consolidating financial statements (continued):

 

     For the three months ended September 30, 2004

 
     Parent

    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


   Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Consolidated

 

NET SALES

   $ 77,568     $ 55,883    $ 38,538     $ (7,703 )   $ 164,286  

COSTS AND EXPENSES:

                                       

Cost of goods sold

     63,422       38,455      30,662       (7,703 )     124,836  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     12,894       8,879      7,104       —         28,877  
    


 

  


 


 


OPERATING INCOME

     1,252       8,549      772       —         10,573  

Interest expense (income), net

     6,090       —        (59 )     —         6,031  

Other (income) expense, net

     (1,482 )     890      234       —         (358 )

Equity earnings from subsidiaries

     (6,785 )     —        —         6,785       —    
    


 

  


 


 


INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     3,429       7,659      597       (6,785 )     4,900  

(Benefit) Provision for income taxes

     (492 )     1,532      (61 )     —         979  
    


 

  


 


 


NET INCOME

   $ 3,921     $ 6,127    $ 658     $ (6,785 )   $ 3,921  
    


 

  


 


 


     For the three months ended September 30, 2003

 
     Parent

    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


   Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Consolidated

 

NET SALES

   $ 65,359     $ 48,298    $ 32,979     $ (5,804 )   $ 140,832  

COSTS AND EXPENSES:

                                       

Cost of goods sold

     50,616       34,560      27,090       (5,804 )     106,462  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     9,623       7,774      5,876       —         23,273  
    


 

  


 


 


OPERATING INCOME

     5,120       5,964      13       —         11,097  

Interest expense (income), net

     6,810       —        (5 )     —         6,805  

Other (income) expense, net

     (592 )     863      (458 )     —         (187 )

Equity earnings from subsidiaries

     (3,991 )     —        —         3,991       —    
    


 

  


 


 


INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     2,893       5,101      476       (3,991 )     4,479  

(Benefit) Provision for income taxes

     (208 )     1,530      56       —         1,378  
    


 

  


 


 


NET INCOME

   $ 3,101     $ 3,571    $ 420     $ (3,991 )   $ 3,101  
    


 

  


 


 


 

14


Table of Contents

STONERIDGE, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

(in thousands, except for per share data, unless otherwise indicated)

 

Supplemental condensed consolidating financial statements (continued):

 

     For the nine months ended September 30, 2004

 
     Parent

    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


   Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Consolidated

 

NET SALES

   $ 240,319     $ 170,824    $ 130,436     $ (23,214 )   $ 518,365  

COSTS AND EXPENSES:

                                       

Cost of goods sold

     192,713       116,971      99,206       (23,214 )     385,676  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     34,592       26,920      21,273       —         82,785  
    


 

  


 


 


OPERATING INCOME

     13,014       26,933      9,957       —         49,904  

Interest expense (income), net

     18,631       —        (103 )     —         18,528  

Other (income) expense, net

     (3,576 )     2,680      139       —         (757 )

Equity earnings from subsidiaries

     (24,430 )     —        —         24,430       —    
    


 

  


 


 


INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     22,389       24,253      9,921       (24,430 )     32,133  

(Benefit) Provision for income taxes

     (32 )     7,324      2,420       —         9,712  
    


 

  


 


 


NET INCOME

   $ 22,421     $ 16,929    $ 7,501     $ (24,430 )   $ 22,421  
    


 

  


 


 


     For the nine months ended September 30, 2003

 
     Parent

    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


   Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Consolidated

 

NET SALES

   $ 205,140     $ 155,883    $ 111,435     $ (17,042 )   $ 455,416  

COSTS AND EXPENSES:

                                       

Cost of goods sold

     160,694       111,156      84,988       (17,042 )     339,796  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     29,783       22,826      18,668       —         71,277  
    


 

  


 


 


OPERATING INCOME

     14,663       21,901      7,779       —         44,343  

Interest expense, net

     20,456       —        102       —         20,558  

Other (income) expense, net

     (1,881 )     2,505      (804 )     —         (180 )

Equity earnings from subsidiaries

     (19,130 )     —        —         19,130       —    
    


 

  


 


 


INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     15,218       19,396      8,481       (19,130 )     23,965  

(Benefit) Provision for income taxes

     (1,080 )     6,207      2,540       —         7,667  
    


 

  


 


 


NET INCOME

   $ 16,298     $ 13,189    $ 5,941     $ (19,130 )   $ 16,298  
    


 

  


 


 


 

15


Table of Contents

STONERIDGE, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

(in thousands, except for per share data, unless otherwise indicated)

 

Supplemental condensed consolidating financial statements (continued):

 

     For the nine months ended September 30, 2004

 
     Parent

    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Consolidated

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 12,354     $ 6,404     $ (1,571 )   $ 9,680     $ 26,867  

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

                                        

Capital expenditures

     (8,614 )     (6,491 )     (3,003 )     —         (18,108 )

Proceeds from sale of fixed assets

     2       —         14       —         16  

Business acquisitions and other

     (757 )     —         43       —         (714 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash used by investing activities

     (9,369 )     (6,491 )     (2,946 )     —         (18,806 )
    


 


 


 


 


FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

                                        

Repayments of long-term debt

     (7,300 )     —         16,621       (9,680 )     (359 )

Proceeds from exercise of share options

     283       79       14       —         376  

Other financing costs

     (134 )     —         —         —         (134 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash used by financing activities

     (7,151 )     79       16,635       (9,680 )     (117 )
    


 


 


 


 


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (2 )     —         61       —         59  
    


 


 


 


 


Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     (4,168 )     (8 )     12,179       —         8,003  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     14,660       26       9,456       —         24,142  
    


 


 


 


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 10,492     $ 18     $ 21,635     $ —       $ 32,145  
    


 


 


 


 


     For the nine months ended September 30, 2003

 
     Parent

    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Consolidated

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 40,201     $ 3,163     $ 12,072     $ (4,399 )   $ 51,037  

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

                                        

Capital expenditures

     (4,439 )     (3,300 )     (3,876 )     —         (11,615 )

Proceeds from sale of fixed assets

     12       —         820       —         832  

Other

     (15 )     —         12       —         (3 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash used by investing activities

     (4,442 )     (3,300 )     (3,044 )     —         (10,786 )
    


 


 


 


 


FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

                                        

Repayments of long-term debt

     (20,053 )     —         (6,701 )     4,399       (22,355 )

Net repayments under revolving credit facilities

     —         —         (715 )     —         (715 )

Proceeds from exercise of share options

     258       —         —         —         258  
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash used by financing activities

     (19,795 )     —         (7,416 )     4,399       (22,812 )
    


 


 


 


 


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     —         —         730       —         730  
    


 


 


 


 


Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     15,964       (137 )     2,342       —         18,169  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     18,698       167       8,370       —         27,235  
    


 


 


 


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 34,662     $ 30     $ 10,712     $ —       $ 45,404  
    


 


 


 


 


 

14. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to their 2003 presentation in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

16


Table of Contents

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Results of Operations

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 Compared To Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003

 

Net Sales. Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 increased by $63.0 million, or 13.8%, to $518.4 million from $455.4 million for the corresponding period in 2003. The increase in sales was primarily due to an increase in North American commercial vehicle production partially offset by a decline in traditional domestic North American light vehicle production. The Company’s sales were also impacted by favorable foreign currency exchange rates.

 

Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 for North America increased $52.0 million to $421.8 million from $369.8 million for the corresponding period in 2003. This increase was primarily due to increased sales to the commercial vehicle market. North American net sales accounted for 81.4% of total net sales for the first nine months of 2004 compared with 81.2% for the corresponding period in 2003. Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 outside North America increased $11.0 million to $96.6 million from $85.6 million for the corresponding period in 2003. The increase in net sales outside North America was primarily attributable to increased commercial vehicle production and also to favorable currency exchange rates. Net sales outside North America accounted for 18.6% of total net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 compared with 18.8% for the corresponding period in 2003.

 

Sales for the Vehicle Management & Power Distribution operating segment, net of intercompany sales, were $266.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 as compared to $204.7 million for the corresponding period in 2003. The increase in sales was primarily attributable to an increase in commercial vehicle volume and, to a much lesser extent, favorable currency exchange rates. Sales for the Control Devices operating segment, net of intercompany sales, were $251.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 as compared to $250.7 million for the corresponding period in 2003. The increase in sales was attributable to increased commercial vehicle production and favorable foreign currency exchange rates partially offset by lower North American light vehicle production.

 

Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold for the first nine months of 2004 increased by $45.9 million, or 13.5%, to $385.7 million from $339.8 million in the first nine months of 2003. As a percentage of sales, cost of goods sold decreased to 74.4% from 74.6% for the first nine months of 2004 and 2003, respectively. This decrease as a percentage of sales was due to a combination of higher production volumes and the Company’s continued focus on Lean Manufacturing utilizing Six Sigma principles, offset by a shift in product mix, price reductions and higher raw material costs.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 increased by $11.5 million to $82.8 million from $71.3 million in the first nine months of 2003. Included in SG&A expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 were product development expenses of $25.6 million and $20.7 million, respectively. The increase in SG&A expenses reflects increased investment in the Company’s product development activities, which are focused on occupant safety, chassis, driveline and instrument cluster products, and increased sales and marketing efforts. Sarbanes-Oxley implementation and severance related costs also impacted SG&A during 2004. As a percentage of sales, SG&A expenses increased to 16.0% for the first nine months of 2004 from 15.7 % for the corresponding period in 2003.

 

Interest Expense, net. Net interest expense for the first nine months of 2004 decreased by $2.1 million to $18.5 million in 2004 from $20.6 million in 2003. Average outstanding indebtedness was $200.3 million and $234.5 million for the first nine months of 2004 and 2003, respectively. The decrease in interest expense reflects the Company’s lower debt balance as well as interest income received during the second quarter of 2004 related to a tax refund.

 

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Other income, net. Other income, which primarily represented equity earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries and effects of foreign exchange, was $0.8 million and $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Income Before Income Taxes. As a result of the foregoing, income before income taxes increased by $8.1 million for the first nine months of 2004 to $32.1 million from $24.0 million in 2003. Income before income taxes for the first nine months of 2004 for North America increased by $7.0 million to $25.6 million from $18.6 million for the corresponding period in 2003. Income before income taxes for the first nine months of 2004 outside North America increased by $1.1 million to $6.5 million from $5.4 million for the corresponding period in 2003.

 

Provision for Income Taxes. The Company recognized provisions for income taxes of $9.7 million, or 30.2% of pre-tax income, and $7.7 million, or 32.0% of pre-tax income, for federal, state and foreign income taxes for the first nine months of 2004 and 2003, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily attributable to a higher proportion of non-U.S. pre-tax income to global pre-tax income in 2004, as well as to the settlement of certain state refund claims. In general, the Company’s operations outside of the U.S. are taxed at a lower effective tax rate than the domestic operations in the U.S. The tax decreases were partially offset by the legislative expiration of certain U.S. tax credits in the third quarter of 2004, which were legislatively reinstated in the fourth quarter.

 

Net Income. As a result of the foregoing, net income increased by $6.1 million to $22.4 million for the first nine months of 2004 from $16.3 million in 2003.

 

Net income for the Vehicle Management & Power Distribution operating segment was $15.6 million and $4.3 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. This increase was primarily attributable to increased commercial vehicle production, offset by a decrease in passenger vehicle and light truck production and higher commodity costs. This increase also includes a benefit due to favorable currency exchange rates. Net income for the Control Devices operating segment was $6.8 million and $12.0 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in passenger car and light truck production as well as price reductions, higher commodity costs, higher depreciation, launch costs and increased product development activities.

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2004 Compared To Three Months Ended September 30, 2003

 

Net Sales. Net sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 increased by $23.5 million, or 16.7%, to $164.3 million from $140.8 million for the corresponding period in 2003. The increase in sales was primarily due to an increase in North American commercial vehicle production partially offset by a decline in traditional domestic North American light vehicle production. The Company’s sales were also impacted by favorable foreign currency exchange rates.

 

Net sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 for North America increased $19.0 million to $135.7 million from $116.7 million for the corresponding period in 2003. This increase was primarily due to an increase in sales to the commercial vehicle market. North American net sales accounted for 82.6% of total net sales for the third quarter ended September 30, 2004 compared with 82.9% for the corresponding period in 2003. Net sales for the third quarter of 2004 outside North America increased by $4.5 million to $28.6 million from $24.1 million for the corresponding period in 2003. This increase was primarily due to an increase in commercial vehicle volume as well as to favorable foreign currency exchange rates. Net sales outside North America accounted for 17.4% of total net sales for the third quarter of 2004 compared with 17.1% for the corresponding period in 2003.

 

Sales for the Vehicle Management & Power Distribution operating segment, net of intercompany sales, were $88.6 million for the third quarter of 2004 as compared to $64.7 million for the corresponding period in 2003. Increased commercial vehicle production and, to a much lesser extent, favorable currency

 

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exchange rates, were the primary drivers behind this increase. Sales for the Control Devices operating segment, net of intercompany sales, were $75.7 million for the third quarter of 2004 as compared to $76.1 million for the corresponding period in 2003.

 

Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 increased by $18.3 million, or 17.2%, to $124.8 million from $106.5 million for the corresponding period in 2003. As a percentage of sales, cost of goods sold increased to 76.0% from 75.6% for the third quarter of 2004 and 2003, respectively. The increase as a percent of sales was primarily attributable to a change in product mix, price reductions and higher raw material costs, partially offset by a combination of higher production volumes and the Company’s continued focus on Lean Manufacturing utilizing Six Sigma principles.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. SG&A expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 increased by $5.6 million to $28.9 million from $23.3 million in the third quarter of 2003. Included in SG&A expenses for the quarters ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 were product development expenses of $8.8 million and $6.8 million, respectively. As a percentage of sales, SG&A expenses increased to 17.6% for the third quarter of 2004 from 16.5% for the corresponding period in 2003. The increase in SG&A expenses reflects increased investment in the Company’s product development activities, which are focused on occupant safety, chassis, driveline and instrument cluster products, and increased sales and marketing efforts. Sarbanes-Oxley implementation and severance related costs also impacted SG&A during the third quarter of 2004.

 

Interest Expense, net. Net interest expense for the third quarter of 2004 decreased by $0.8 million to $6.0 million from $6.8 million in 2003. Average outstanding indebtedness was $200.2 million and $229.5 million for the third quarter of 2004 and 2003, respectively. The decrease in interest expense reflects the Company’s lower debt balance.

 

Other income, net. Other income, which primarily represented equity earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries and effects of foreign exchange, was $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2004 and $0.2 million for the corresponding period in 2003.

 

Income Before Income Taxes. As a result of the foregoing, income before income taxes increased $0.4 million for the third quarter of 2004 to $4.9 million from $4.5 million in 2003. Income before income taxes for the third quarter of 2004 for North America increased by $0.7 million to $5.3 million from $4.6 million for the corresponding period in 2003. Loss before income taxes for the third quarter of 2004 outside North America increased by $0.3 million to $0.4 million from $0.1 million for the corresponding period in 2003.

 

Provision for Income Taxes. The Company recognized provisions for income taxes of $1.0 million, or 20.0% of pre-tax income, and $1.4 million, or 31.0% of pre-tax income, for federal, state and foreign income taxes for the third quarter of 2004 and 2003, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate was attributable to a higher proportion of non-U.S. pre-tax income to global pre-tax income in 2004, as well as to the settlement of certain state refund claims. In general, the Company’s operations outside of the U.S. are taxed at a lower effective tax rate than the domestic operations in the U.S. The tax decreases were partially offset by the legislative expiration of certain U.S. tax credits in the third quarter of 2004, which were legislatively reinstated in the fourth quarter.

 

Net Income. As a result of the foregoing, net income increased by $0.8 million to $3.9 million for the third quarter of 2004 from $3.1 million in 2003.

 

Net income for the Vehicle Management & Power Distribution operating segment was $5.3 million and $1.3 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. This increase was primarily attributable to increased commercial vehicle production, offset by a decrease in passenger vehicle and light truck production and higher commodity costs. This increase also includes a benefit due to favorable currency exchange rates. Net (loss) income for the Control Devices operating segment was $(1.4) million and $1.8 million for the three month period ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in passenger car and light truck production as

 

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well as price reductions, higher commodity costs, higher depreciation, launch costs and increased product development activities.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Net cash provided by operating activities was $26.9 million and $51.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The decrease in net cash from operating activities of $24.1 million was primarily attributable to higher levels of working capital (principally accounts receivable, inventory and accounts payable) to support higher sales volumes.

 

Net cash used by investing activities was $18.8 million and $10.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The increase in net cash used by investing activities of $8.0 million was primarily attributable to capital expenditures and also to the Company’s investment in an Indian joint venture.

 

Net cash used by financing activities was $0.1 million and $22.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Cash flows from operations for the first nine months of 2003 were used primarily to pay down outstanding debt.

 

The Company has entered into a foreign currency forward purchase contract with a notional value of 58.4 million of Swedish krona to reduce exposure related to the Company’s krona denominated receivables. The estimated fair value of this forward contract at September 30, 2004, per quoted market sources, was $(0.3) million. This forward contract is marked to market, with gains and losses recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. The Company’s foreign currency forward purchase contract substantially offsets losses and gains on the underlying foreign denominated receivables. The Company does not use derivatives for speculative or profit-motivated purposes.

 

As disclosed in Note 11 to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements, a judgment was entered against the Company on January 15, 2004 whereby the plaintiffs alleged in their complaint that a Stoneridge fuel valve installed as a replacement part on a truck caused a fire after an accident resulting in a death. The Company denies its fuel valve contributed to the fire. The judgment entered against the Company was approximately $36.5 million. An appeal of this judgment has been filed. While legal proceedings are subject to inherent uncertainty, the Company believes that it is reasonably possible that this award will be substantially altered or eliminated by the appellate court. Even at full judgment, however, the Company’s exposure is significantly less than the $36.5 million mentioned above, as it has been mitigated with appropriate levels of insurance.

 

Management believes that cash flows from operations and the availability of funds from the Company’s credit facilities and senior notes will provide sufficient liquidity to meet the Company’s growth and operating needs. As outlined in Note 8 to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company has a revolving credit facility of which $96.2 million was available at September 30, 2004. The Company also has $32.1 million in available cash, and believes it will have access to the debt and equity markets should the need arise.

 

Inflation and International Presence

 

Management believes that the Company’s operations have not historically been adversely affected by inflation; however, given the current economic climate and recent increases in certain commodity prices, management believes that a continuation of such price increases could significantly impact their profitability. By operating internationally, the Company is affected by the economic conditions of certain countries. Based on the current economic conditions in these countries, management believes they are not significantly exposed to adverse economic conditions.

 

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Forward-Looking Statements

 

Portions of this report may contain “forward-looking statements” under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements appear in a number of places in this report and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things, the Company’s (i) future product and facility expansion, (ii) acquisition strategy, (iii) investments and new product development, and (iv) growth opportunities related to awarded business. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words “will,” “may,” “designed to,” “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “continue,” and similar words and expressions. The forward-looking statements in this report are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other factors:

 

  the loss of a major customer;

 

  a significant change in automotive, medium- and heavy-duty truck, agricultural or off-highway vehicle production;

 

  a significant change in general economic conditions in any of the various countries in which the Company operates;

 

  labor disruptions at the Company’s facilities or at any of the Company’s significant customers or suppliers;

 

  the ability of the Company’s suppliers to supply it with parts and components at competitive prices on a timely basis;

 

  the amount of debt and the restrictive covenants contained in the Company’s credit facility;

 

  customer acceptance of new products;

 

  capital availability or costs, including changes in interest rates or market perceptions of the Company;

 

  changes by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or the Securities and Exchange Commission of authoritative generally accepted accounting principles or policies;

 

  the successful integration of any acquired businesses;

 

  the impact of laws and regulations, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and environmental laws and regulations; and

 

  the occurrence or non-occurrence of circumstances beyond the Company’s control.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

From time to time, the Company is exposed to certain market risks, primarily resulting from the effects of changes in interest rates. At September 30, 2004, however, substantially all of the Company’s debt was fixed rate debt.

 

Commodity Price Risk

 

The Company’s risk related to commodity prices has historically not been material; however, given the current economic climate and the recent increases in certain commodity costs, the Company has determined that it currently is experiencing an increased risk particularly with respect to the purchase of copper, steel and resins. The Company is managing this risk through a combination of fixed price agreements, staggered short-term contract maturities and commercial negotiations with its suppliers. The Company may also consider pursuing alternative commodities or alternative suppliers to mitigate this risk over a period of time. At this time, the Company does not intend to use financial instruments to mitigate this risk. The recent increases in certain commodity costs have negatively impacted the Company’s operating results, and a continuation of such price increases could significantly impact its profitability.

 

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Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

 

The Company’s risks related to foreign currency exchange rates have historically not been material; however, given the current economic climate, the Company is monitoring this risk. The Company does not expect the effects of this risk to be material in the future based on the current operating and economic conditions in the countries in which it operates. Therefore, a 10.0% change in the value of the U.S. dollar would not significantly affect the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

 

There have been no material changes to the Company’s exposures to market risk, except for commodity price risk, since December 31, 2003, as reported in the 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

As of September 30, 2004, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2004.

 

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2004 that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is involved in various legal proceedings, workers’ compensation and product liability disputes. The Company is of the opinion that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or the financial position of the Company.

 

On January 15, 2004, a judgment was entered against the Company in the District Court (365th Judicial District) in Maverick County, Texas. The plaintiffs alleged in their complaint that a Stoneridge fuel valve installed as a replacement part on a truck caused a fire after an accident resulting in a death. The plaintiffs are the parents of the decedent. The judgment entered against the Company was approximately $36.5 million. The Company denies its fuel valve contributed to the fire. The trial court denied a motion for a new trial and other relief. An appeal of this judgment has been filed. The Company believes that there are valid grounds to reverse the judgment on appeal. If successful, the appeal may alter or eliminate the amount of the existing judgment. While legal proceedings are subject to inherent uncertainty, the Company believes that it is reasonably possible that this award will be substantially altered or eliminated by the appellate court. Consequently, in the opinion of management and the Company’s legal counsel, it is not possible to estimate the outcome of such uncertainty at this time. The Company will record a provision for any liability in this case, if and at the time that management and counsel conclude a loss is probable. Based upon advice received from the Company’s counsel, the Company believes a loss resulting from this matter is not probable as of September 30, 2004. Even at full judgment, however, the Company’s exposure is significantly less than the $36.5 million mentioned above, as it has been mitigated with appropriate levels of insurance.

 

ITEM 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

None.

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

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

 

None.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

(a) Exhibits

 

10.1   Amendment No. 2 dated as of August 6, 2004 to Credit Agreement dated as of May 1, 2002 among Stoneridge, Inc. as Borrower, the Lending Institutions Named Therein, as Lenders, National City Bank, as Administrative Agent, a Joint Lead Arranger and Collateral Agent, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as a Joint Lead Arranger, Comerica Bank and PNC Bank, National Association, as the Co-Documentation Agents, filed herewith.
10.2   Severance Agreement and Release between the Company and Kevin P. Bagby, dated August 31, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 7, 2004).
31.1   Chief Executive Officer certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
31.2   Chief Financial Officer certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
32.1   Chief Executive Officer certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
32.2   Chief Financial Officer certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.

 

(b) Reports on Form 8-K

 

      1.   On July 22, 2004, the Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K for a press release announcing second quarter 2004 earnings.
2.   On September 7, 2004, the Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K for a press release announcing the resignation of Kevin Bagby and the appointment of Joseph Mallak as the Company’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

 

   

STONERIDGE, INC.

Date: November 9, 2004

 

/s/ Gerald V. Pisani


   

Gerald V. Pisani

   

President and Chief Executive Officer

   

(Principal Executive Officer)

Date: November 9, 2004

 

/s/ Joseph M. Mallak


   

Joseph M. Mallak

   

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

   

(Principal Financial and Chief

Accounting Officer)

 

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STONERIDGE, INC.

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number


 

Exhibit


10.1   Amendment No. 2 dated as of August 6, 2004 to Credit Agreement dated as of May 1, 2002 among Stoneridge, Inc. as Borrower, the Lending Institutions Named Therein, as Lenders, National City Bank, as Administrative Agent, a Joint Lead Arranger and Collateral Agent, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as a Joint Lead Arranger, Comerica Bank and PNC Bank, National Association, as the Co-Documentation Agents, filed herewith.
10.2   Severance Agreement and Release between the Company and Kevin P. Bagby, dated August 31, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 7, 2004).
31.1   Chief Executive Officer certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
31.2   Chief Financial Officer certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
32.1   Chief Executive Officer certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
32.2   Chief Financial Officer certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.

 

26

EX-10.1 2 dex101.htm AMENDMENT NO. 2 DATED AS OF AUGUST 6, 2004 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT Amendment No. 2 dated as of August 6, 2004 to Credit Agreement

EXHIBIT 10.1

 


 

STONERIDGE, INC.

as a Borrower

 

THE FOREIGN SUBSIDIARY BORROWERS

party thereto

 

THE LENDERS NAMED THEREIN

as Lenders

 

NATIONAL CITY BANK

as a Lender, a Joint Lead Arranger

the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent

 

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES, INC.

as a Joint Lead Arranger

 

COMERICA BANK and

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as the Co-Documentation Agents

 


 

AMENDMENT NO. 2

dated as of August 6, 2004

to

the CREDIT AGREEMENT,

 

dated as of

 

May 1, 2002

 


 



AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT, is dated as of August 6, 2004 (this “Amendment”), among the following:

 

(i) STONERIDGE, INC., an Ohio corporation (herein, together with its successors and assigns, the “Company”);

 

(ii) the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers party to the Credit Agreement, as hereinafter defined;

 

(iii) the Lenders party to the Credit Agreement; and

 

(iv) NATIONAL CITY BANK, a national banking association, as a Lender, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement (in such latter capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS:

 

(1) The Company, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent are parties to the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2002 (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein having the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement).

 

(2) The parties hereto desire to modify certain terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement, all as more fully set forth below.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1 Amendments.

 

1.1 Amendment to Section 1.1 - Certain Defined Terms. Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the defined terms “Applicable Utilization Fee Rate” and “Utilization Fee”.

 

1.2 Amendment to Section 1.1 - Certain Defined Terms. Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by amending and restating in their entirety the following definitions:

 

Cash Equivalents” shall mean any of the following:

 

(i) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition;

 

(ii) Dollar denominated time deposits, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances of (x) any Lender or (y) any bank whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof or from Moody’s is at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof (any such bank, an “Approved Bank”), in each case with maturities of not more than nine months from the date of acquisition;

 

(iii) commercial paper issued by any Lender or Approved Bank or by the parent company of any Lender or Approved Bank and commercial paper issued by, or guaranteed by, any industrial or financial company with a short- term commercial paper rating of at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof by S&P or at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s, or guaranteed by any industrial company with a


long term unsecured debt rating of at least A or A2, or the equivalent of each thereof, from S&P or Moody’s, as the case may be, and in each case maturing within 270 days after the date of acquisition;

 

(iv) fully collateralized repurchase agreements entered into with any Lender or Approved Bank having a term of not more than 30 days and covering securities described in clause (i) above;

 

(v) investments in money market funds substantially all the assets of which are comprised of securities of the types described in clauses (i) through (iv) above;

 

(vi) investments in money market funds access to which is provided as part of “sweep” accounts maintained with a Lender or an Approved Bank;

 

(vii) investments in industrial development revenue bonds and taxable variable rate bonds, which, in each case (i) “re-set” interest rates not less frequently than quarterly, (ii) are entitled to the benefit of a remarketing arrangement with an established broker dealer, and (iii) are supported by a direct pay letter of credit covering principal and accrued interest which is issued by an Approved Bank; and

 

(viii) investments in pooled funds or investment accounts consisting of investments of the nature described in the foregoing clause (vii).

 

Leverage Ratio” shall mean, for any Testing Period, on a Consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt less the excess of (i) all domestic cash and Cash Equivalents calculated as of such date over (ii) $5,000,000 to (b) Consolidated EBITDA; provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Leverage Ratio for any such period shall be computed by giving effect to (i) the inclusion of the appropriate financial items for any Person or business unit that shall have been acquired by the Company or its Subsidiaries for any portion of such period prior to the date of acquisition, and (ii) the exclusion of the appropriate financial items for any Person or business unit that shall have been disposed of by the Company or its Subsidiaries, for the portion of such period prior to the date of disposition.

 

Revolving Maturity Date” shall mean April 30, 2008, or such earlier date on which the Total Revolving Commitment is terminated.

 

Swing Line Maturity Date” shall mean April 30, 2008, or such earlier date on which the Swing Line Commitment is terminated.

 

1.3 Amendment to Pricing Grid Table. The Pricing Grid Table appearing at the end of Section 2.7(h)(ii)(E) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

PRICING GRID TABLE

(expressed in basis points)

 

Leverage Ratio


  

Applicable

Prime Rate
Margin


  

Applicable
Eurocurrency

Margin


  

Applicable

Commitment
Fee Rate


> 3.50 to 1.00

   125.00    275.00    50.00

> 3.00 to 1.00 and £ 3.50 to 1.00

   100.00    250.00    50.00

> 2.50 to 1.00 and £ 3.00 to 1.00

   75.00    225.00    50.00

> 2.00 to 1.00 and £ 2.50 to 1.00

   50.00    200.00    37.50

£ 2.00 to 1.00

   25.00    175.00    37.50

 

The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that from the Amendment Effective Date until changed in accordance with Section 2.7(h) of the Credit Agreement, the Applicable Prime Rate Margin shall be 50.00 basis points, the


Applicable Eurocurrency Margin shall be 200.00 basis points and the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate shall be 37.50 basis points.

 

1.4 Amendment to Section 4.1 - Fees. Section 4.1(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

(a) Commitment Fees.

 

(i) The Company agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent fees (“Commitment Fees”) for the account of each Non-Defaulting Lender which has a Revolving Commitment for the period from and including the Effective Date to, but not including, the Revolving Maturity Date or, if earlier, the date upon which the Total Revolving Commitment has been terminated, computed for each day at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate for such day on the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Facility Percentage of the Unutilized Total Revolving Commitment for such day. Commitment Fees shall be due and payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and on the Revolving Maturity Date or, if earlier, the date upon which the Total Revolving Commitment has been terminated.

 

(ii) As used herein the term “Applicable Commitment Fee Rate” shall mean the particular rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the Pricing Grid Table which appears in section 2.7(h), based on the Company’s Leverage Ratio and such Pricing Grid Table, and the following provisions:

 

(1) Initially, from May 1, 2002 until changed hereunder in accordance with the following provisions, the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate will be 50 basis points per annum.

 

(2) Commencing with the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended on or nearest to September 30, 2002, and continuing with each fiscal quarter thereafter, the Administrative Agent will determine the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate in accordance with the Pricing Grid Table, based on the Company’s Leverage Ratio for the Testing Period ended on the last day of the fiscal quarter and identified in such Pricing Grid Table. Changes in the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate based upon changes in such ratio shall become effective on the first day of the month following the receipt by the Administrative Agent pursuant to section 8.1(a) or (b) of the financial statements of the Company, accompanied by the certificate and calculations referred to in section 8.1(c), demonstrating the computation of such ratio, based upon the ratio in effect at the end of the applicable period covered (in whole or in part) by such financial statements.

 

(3) Notwithstanding the above provisions, in no event shall there be any reduction during the period of six months following the Closing Date in the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate.

 

(4) Notwithstanding the above provisions, during any period when (1) the Borrower has failed to timely deliver its consolidated financial statements referred to in section 8.1(a) or (b), accompanied by the certificate and calculations referred to in section 8.1(c), (2) a Default under section 10.1(a) has occurred and is continuing, or (3) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate shall be the highest rate per annum indicated therefor in the Pricing Grid Table, regardless of the Company’s Leverage Ratio at such time, provided that in the case of clause (1) above, the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of this section 4.1(a) upon the delivery of such financial statements and certificates.


(5) Any changes in the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the above provisions and the Administrative Agent will promptly provide notice of such determinations to the Company and the Lenders. Any such determination by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this section 4.1(a)(ii) shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error.

 

1.5 Amendment to Section 8.10 - Hedge Agreements, etc. Paragraph (a) of Section 8.10 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries may enter into Hedge Agreements in its reasonable business judgment (including fixed to floating rate interest rate swap agreements), but without exposing the Company or its Subsidiaries to predominantly speculative risks unrelated to the amount of assets, Indebtedness or other liabilities intended to be subject to coverage on a notional basis under all such Hedge Agreements; provided that, in the case of any Hedge Agreement entered into after the Effective Date, (i) the Hedge Agreement is entered into in the ordinary course of business; (ii) the institution providing such protection is a reputable financial institution, and (iii) the Borrower has given the Administrative Agent prior notice of the Hedge Agreement if the Hedge Agreement is material.

 

1.6 Amendment to Section 9.8 - Interest Coverage Ratio. Section 9.8 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

9.8 Interest Coverage Ratio. The Company will not permit its Interest Coverage Ratio for any Testing Period to be less than the ratio specified below:

 

Testing Period


   Ratio

June 30, 2002

   1.65 to 1.00

September 30, 2002

   1.65 to 1.00

December 31, 2002

   1.75 to 1.00

March 31, 2003

   1.75 to 1.00

June 30, 2003

   2.00 to 1.00

September 30, 2003

   2.00 to 1.00

December 31, 2003

   2.25 to 1.00

March 31, 2004

   2.25 to 1.00

June 30, 2004

   2.50 to 1.00

September 30, 2004 through and including December 31, 2005

   2.75 to 1.00

Thereafter

   3.00 to 1.00

 

1.7 Amendment to Section 9.10 - Minimum Consolidated EBITDA. Section 9.10 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

10.10 [Reserved.]

 

1.8 Amendment to Section 9.14 - Prepayments and Refinancing of Other Debt, etc. Section 9.14 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

9.14 Prepayments and Refinancings of Other Debt, etc. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make (or give any notice in respect thereof) any voluntary or optional prepayment or redemption or acquisition for value of (including, without limitation, by way of depositing with the trustee with respect thereto money or securities before due for the purpose of paying when due) or exchange of, or refinance or refund, any Indebtedness of the Company or its Subsidiaries which has an outstanding principal balance (or Capitalized Lease Obligation, in the case of a Capital Lease) greater than $3,000,000


(other than the Obligations and intercompany loans and advances among the Company and its Subsidiaries); provided that (i) the Company or any Subsidiary may prepay any such Indebtedness which is Existing Indebtedness in connection with a refinancing thereof effected in accordance with section 9.4(c), (ii) any Foreign Subsidiary may prepay any such Indebtedness owed by it to banks or other financial institutions in connection with a refinancing thereof effected with other banks or financial institutions in accordance with section 9.4(d) and (iii) the Company may repay, prepay, redeem or acquire for value any of its Public Notes, provided that before and after giving effect thereto (x) the Company shall be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Sections 9.7, 9.8 and 9.9 of this Agreement, (y) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (z) the Company shall have at least $50,000,000 of availability under the Revolving Facility.

 

Section 2 Representations and Warranties.

 

The Company represents and warrants as follows:

 

2.1 Authorization and Validity of Amendment. This Amendment has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, has been duly executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company, and constitutes the valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

 

2.2 Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Credit Parties contained in the Credit Agreement or in the other Credit Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Amendment Effective Date, as though made on and as of the Amendment Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier specified date, in which case such representations and warranties are hereby reaffirmed as true and correct in all material respects as of the date when made.

 

2.3 No Event of Default. Upon giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default exists or hereafter will begin to exist.

 

2.4 Compliance. Each Credit Party is in full compliance with all covenants and agreements contained in the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party.

 

2.5 No Claims. No Credit Party is aware of any claim or offset against, or defense or counterclaim to, any of its obligations or liabilities under the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document.

 

Section 3 Ratifications.

 

Except as expressly modified and superseded by this Amendment, the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement are ratified and confirmed and shall continue in full force and effect.

 

Section 4 Binding Effect.

 

This Amendment shall become effective on the date first set forth above (the “Amendment Effective Date”), subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a) the Company, each other Borrower (if any), the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall have delivered an executed counterpart of this Amendment to the Administrative Agent;

 

(b) the Company shall have caused each Subsidiary Guarantor to consent and agree to and acknowledge the terms of this Amendment;

 

(c) the Company shall have paid all reasonable legal fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent in connection with this Amendment and the documents executed in connection therewith; and


(d) the Company shall have paid to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and the Lenders an amendment fee of 12.5 basis points on the Total Revolving Commitment.

 

(e) the Company shall have provided such other items and shall have satisfied such other conditions as may be reasonably required by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

 

Section 5 Miscellaneous.

 

5.1 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made in this Amendment shall survive the execution and delivery of this Amendment, and no investigation by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any subsequent Loan or other Credit Event shall affect the representations and warranties or the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to rely upon them.

 

5.2 Reference to Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement and any and all other agreements, instruments or documentation now or hereafter executed and delivered pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement as amended hereby, are hereby amended so that any reference therein to the Credit Agreement shall mean a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

 

5.3 Acknowledgement. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that there are no Term Loans outstanding as of the date hereof and that the Total Term Commitment has expired.

 

5.4 Severability. Any term or provision of this Amendment held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable shall not impair or invalidate the remainder of this Amendment and the effect thereof shall be confined to the term or provision so held to be invalid or unenforceable.

 

5.5 Applicable Law. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal substantive laws of the State of Ohio without regard to conflicts of law provisions.

 

5.6 Headings. The headings, captions and arrangements used in this Amendment are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Amendment.

 

5.7 Entire Agreement. This Amendment is specifically limited to the matters expressly set forth herein. This Amendment and all other instruments, agreements and documentation executed and delivered in connection with this Amendment embody the final, entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all prior commitments, agreements, representations and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to the matters covered by this Amendment, and may not be contradicted or varied by evidence of prior, contemporaneous or subsequent oral agreements or discussions of the parties hereto. There are no oral agreements among the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof or any other subject matter relating to the Credit Agreement. Except as set forth herein, the Credit Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and be unaffected hereby.

 

5.8 Waiver of Claims. The Company, by signing below, hereby waives and releases Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders and their respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys, affiliates and subsidiaries from any and all claims, offsets, defenses and counterclaims of which the Company is aware, such waiver and release being with full knowledge and understanding of the circumstances and effect thereof and after having consulted legal counsel with respect thereto.

 

5.9 Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed by the parties hereto separately in one or more counterparts and by facsimile signature, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]


5.10 JURY TRIAL WAIVER. EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AMENDMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT, THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AMENDMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

STONERIDGE, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Kevin P. Bagby


Name:

 

Kevin P. Bagby

Title:

 

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

NATIONAL CITY BANK,
as a Lender and the Administrative Agent

By:

 

/s/ Patrick M. Pastore


Name:

 

Patrick M. Pastore

Title:

 

Senior Vice President

 

[ADDITIONAL SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]


Signature Page to Amendment No. 2

 

U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

By:

 

/s/ Christine C. Gencer


Name:

 

Christine C. Gencer

Title:

 

Vice President

 

U.S. Bank, National Association

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

the Credit Agreement dated as of May 1, 2002,

by and among

Stoneridge, Inc.,

the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers,

the Lenders party thereto,

and National City Bank, as the Administrative Agent


Signature Page to Amendment No. 2

 

FIFTH THIRD BANK

By:

 

/s/ Thomas P. Murray


Name:

 

Thomas P. Murray

Title:

 

Vice President

 

Fifth Third Bank

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

the Credit Agreement dated as of May 1, 2002,

by and among

Stoneridge, Inc.,

the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers,

the Lenders party thereto,

and National City Bank, as the Administrative Agent


Signature Page to Amendment No. 2

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY

AMERICAS

By:

 

/s/ Mary Kay Coyle


Name:

 

Mary Kay Coyle

Title:

 

Managing Director

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

the Credit Agreement dated as of May 1, 2002,

by and among

Stoneridge, Inc.,

the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers,

the Lenders party thereto,

and National City Bank, as the Administrative Agent


Signature Page to Amendment No. 2

 

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

By:

 

/s/ Joseph G. Moran


Name:

 

Joseph G. Moran

Title:

 

Managing Director

 

PNC Bank, N.A.

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

the Credit Agreement dated as of May 1, 2002,

by and among

Stoneridge, Inc.,

the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers,

the Lenders party thereto,

and National City Bank, as the Administrative Agent

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2


Signature Page to Amendment No. 2

 

GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION

By:

 

/s/ George Neamonitis


Name:

 

George Neamonitis

Title:

 

Managing Director

 

PNC Bank, N.A.

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

the Credit Agreement dated as of May 1, 2002,

by and among

Stoneridge, Inc.,

the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers,

the Lenders party thereto,

and National City Bank, as the Administrative Agent


Signature Page to Amendment No. 2

 

COMERICA BANK

By:

 

/s/ Chris Stergiadis


Name:

 

Chris Stergiadis

Title:

 

Assistant Vice President

 

Comerica Bank

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

the Credit Agreement dated as of May 1, 2002,

by and among

Stoneridge, Inc.,

the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers,

the Lenders party thereto,

and National City Bank, as the Administrative Agent


GUARANTOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT

 

Each of the undersigned consents and agrees to and acknowledges the terms of the foregoing Amendment No. 2 to the Credit Agreement. Each of the undersigned specifically agrees to the waivers set forth in such agreement, including, but not limited to, the jury trial waiver. Each of the undersigned further agrees that the obligations of the each of the undersigned pursuant to the Subsidiary Guaranty executed by each of the undersigned shall remain in full force and effect and be unaffected hereby.

 

Each of the undersigned hereby waives and releases the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and the respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys, affiliates and subsidiaries of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders from any and all claims, offsets, defenses and counterclaims of which the undersigned is aware, such waiver and release being with full knowledge and understanding of the circumstances and effect thereof and after having consulted legal counsel with respect thereto.

 

STONERIDGE CONTROL DEVICES, INC.

 

STONERIDGE ELECTRONICS, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Kevin P. Bagby


 

By:

 

/s/ Kevin P. Bagby


Name:

 

Kevin P. Bagby

 

Name:

 

Kevin P. Bagby

Title:

 

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Title:

 

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-31.1 3 dex311.htm SECTION 302 CEO CERTIFICATION Section 302 CEO Certification

EXHIBIT 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES–OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Gerald V. Pisani, President and Chief Executive Officer, of Stoneridge, Inc. (the “Company”), certify that:

 

(1) I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of the Company;

 

(2) Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

 

(3) Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

 

(4) The Company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and we have:

 

  (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

 

  (b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report based on such evaluation; and

 

  (c) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

(5) The Company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors:

 

  (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

/S/ Gerald V. Pisani


Gerald V. Pisani, President and Chief Executive Officer
November 9, 2004
EX-31.2 4 dex312.htm SECTION 302 CFO CERTIFICATION Section 302 CFO Certification

EXHIBIT 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES–OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Joseph M. Mallak, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of Stoneridge, Inc. (the “Company”), certify that:

 

(1) I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of the Company;

 

(2) Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

 

(3) Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

 

(4) The Company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and we have:

 

  (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

 

  (b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report based on such evaluation; and

 

  (c) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

(5) The Company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors:

 

  (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

/S/ Joseph M. Mallak


Joseph M. Mallak, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
November 9, 2004
EX-32.1 5 dex321.htm SECTION 906 CEO CERTIFICATION Section 906 CEO Certification

EXHIBIT 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Gerald V. Pisani, President and Chief Executive Officer, of Stoneridge, Inc. (the “Company”), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

(1) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 (“the Report”) which this certification accompanies fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d)); and

 

(2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

/S/ Gerald V. Pisani


Gerald V. Pisani, President and Chief Executive Officer
November 9, 2004

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

EX-32.2 6 dex322.htm SECTION 906 CFO CERTIFICATION Section 906 CFO Certification

EXHIBIT 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Joseph M. Mallak, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of Stoneridge, Inc. (the “Company”), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

(1) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 (“the Report”) which this certification accompanies fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d)); and

 

(2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

/S/ Joseph M. Mallak


Joseph M. Mallak, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
November 9, 2004

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

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