-----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, QY4aDFH0b8SazrWANC18+Z6KqNJEqyN1fBeI7zJWs2T4zmuT+uKSuRBm8wm5KAje ustgbRA3/I0K5CdGxYxQYw== 0001104659-02-000766.txt : 20020415 0001104659-02-000766.hdr.sgml : 20020415 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-02-000766 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20011231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20020318 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000206030 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS & LENSES [3827] IRS NUMBER: 111962029 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1228 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-16182 FILM NUMBER: 02578089 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 175 CAPITAL BLVD SUITE 103 CITY: ROCKY HILL STATE: CT ZIP: 06067 BUSINESS PHONE: 2018711500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 175 CAPITAL BLVD SUITE 103 CITY: ROCKY HILL STATE: CT ZIP: 06067 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: VERNITRON CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 10-K 1 j2953_10k.htm 10-K

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

ý

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

 

For the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2001

OR

 

o

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

 

For the transition period from              to          

 

Commission File No.: 0-16182

 

AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

11-1962029

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

 

 

175 Capital Boulevard, Suite 103

 

 

Rocky Hill, Connecticut

 

06067

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

 

 

(860) 257-0200

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

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

 

Common Stock, par value $.01 per share

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

 

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 ý  No  o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K o.

 

Aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of the close of business March 1, 2002, $22,411,414.

 

Common Stock outstanding at March 1, 2002: 4,698,498 shares.

 

 

Documents Incorporated by Reference

 

Document

 

Form 10-K Reference

Portion of Axsys Technologies, Inc. Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement.

 

Part III, Items 10-13

 


 

PART I

 

Item 1.  BUSINESS

 

Axsys Technologies, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, unless the context suggests otherwise, "Axsys" or "we") is a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance custom nano-positioning components, subsystems and systems.  We also design and manufacture precision optical components for internal consumption as well as for sales to third parties.  In addition, we distribute precision ball bearings for use in a variety of industrial and commercial applications.

 

Axsys is incorporated in Delaware, and our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol "AXYS."

 

We sell our components, subsystems and bearings to a variety of original equipment manufacturers ("OEM"s), serving the following markets:

 

                  Aerospace and defense

                  Semiconductor, data storage, and related capital equipment

                  High-performance graphic art capital equipment

                  Industrial automation OEM and maintenance repair operations ("MRO")

 

We sell semi and fully automated development, inspection and production systems, utilizing our nano-positioning capabilities and proprietary software controls, integrated with other third party products. These are sold to end-users that manufacture semiconductor, photonic, and other high technology components.

 

We are organized into three groups:

                  Precision Components Group

                  Automation Group

                  Distributed Products Group

 

The Precision Components Group designs, manufactures and sells high-end components such as precision position sensors, high-performance motors, precision metal optics, and laser-based airbearing scanners and opto-mechanical and electro-mechanical subassemblies.  Our products enable OEMs to improve measurement precision, imaging, positional performance (accuracy, resolution, speed and power), and weight requirements in their systems.  Principal markets for our products include OEMs serving the aerospace, defense, high-end graphic arts, semiconductor, photonic, and other related electronics capital equipment markets.  The Precision Components Group is comprised of:

 

                  Axsys Technologies – Motion Control Division in San Diego, California

                  Axsys Technologies – Precision Machined Products in Cullman, Alabama

                  Axsys Technologies – Imaging Systems in Rochester Hills, Michigan

 

The Automation Group designs, manufactures and sells automated production and test systems and nano-positioning subsystems to high technology customers that produce semiconductor, data storage and photonic components and other high technology products.  These production and test systems integrate the group's precision optical and positioning components and subsystems with vision systems, robotics and electronic controls produced by third party companies.  This integration is accomplished using our proprietary FlexAutoTM and ControLight software. These tools are designed to enable our customers to accurately and repeatedly produce their component products, thereby increasing the yield and throughput of the inspection and production processes.  The Automation Group is comprised of:

 

                  Axsys Technologies – Integrated Systems in Santa Barbara, California

                  Axsys Technologies – Fiber Automation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

                  Axsys Technologies – Axsys Automation Engineering in Wilmington, Massachusetts

 

The Distributed Products Group distributes precision ball bearings, acquired from various domestic and international sources, to OEMs and MRO distributors.  The ball bearings are used in a variety of industrial automation and commercial markets.  Additionally, our Distributed Products Group designs, manufactures and sells mechanical-bearing subassemblies for a variety of customers.  The Distributed Products group is comprised of AST Bearings division located in Montville, New Jersey with a distribution center in Irvine, California.

 

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Market Overview

 

Axsys' products are sold to OEM and end user customers in a variety of markets, which demand the precision and performance of our products and capabilities.

 

Aerospace and defense. The aerospace and defense market principally consists of OEMs that manufacture weapon subsystems (for example, night vision and targeting pods and flight control systems) and complete systems (for example, aircraft air-to-air missiles and reconnaissance satellites).  In general, these OEMs are designing leading-edge products, the performance of which is enhanced through the use of three of our critical capabilities:

 

                  precision positioning;

                  highly accurate reflective optics; and

                  light-weight, high strength structural components.

 

The market for our products also includes direct sales to the U.S. and foreign defense agencies for spares requirements. Despite a decline in overall defense spending over the past decade, the defense budget for upgrading existing platforms, including the development of  "smart weapons," as well as missile defense programs, has grown substantially.  Upgrade programs include state-of-the-art electronics, enhanced night vision systems, radar and guidance systems, missile seeker technologies and fly-by-wire systems.  All of these programs incorporate high-performance components provided by suppliers like Axsys, such as precision metal optics, high performance motors and sensors and precision-machined structures.  Our advanced capabilities are also utilized in certain missile defense programs that are based on measuring and seeking the thermal signature of an incoming missile.

 

High-performance graphic art capital equipment.  The high-performance graphic art capital equipment market for our products consists of OEMs who manufacture sophisticated equipment used to electronically image photo-sensitive media for, among others, graphic arts and newspaper plate markets.  Electronic imaging involves controlling the position of a modulated laser beam to expose photosensitive media.  The position of this beam can be controlled by rotating a reflective optic by use of a high speed airbearing scanner under the laser beam or by precisely positioning the laser beam or the media under one another with an X-Y micro-positioning stage. In recent years, our customers have demanded increased resolution and throughput capabilities in these high-end systems.  With a view to achieving these capabilities, we use reflective optics, high-speed motors, airbearings and sophisticated electronic controls.

 

Semiconductor, data storage and related capital equipment.  We sell products to OEMs in the semiconductor and related electronics capital equipment markets that produce fabricating and test equipment for integrated circuits, reticles, flat panel displays and electronic components including printed circuit boards.  Our customers require accurate, precise and repeatable positioning of these devices for their equipment.  We believe that as the density of circuits has increased, there has been increased requirement for the airbearing and direct drive positioning technology produced by Axsys.  We also supply a variety of critical components and subsystems to these markets, including:

 

                  direct drive rotary motors;

                  precision optics;

                  high speed rotary airbearing scanners and imaging engines;

                  laser interferometers; and

                  integrated nano-positioning stages.

 

In addition, Axsys designs, manufactures and sells nano-positioning spin stands used for testing the electrical properties of read/write heads used in the data storage industry.

 

Photonics component manufacturing.  We sell semi-automated and fully automated development, inspection and production equipment to manufacturers of photonics components.  This equipment is designed to assist these manufacturers to quickly and cost-effectively develop their products and manufacturing processes and increase the yield and throughput of their inspection and production processes.

 

3



 

Industrial Automation.  We sell our products to a wide range of applications in industrial and commercial markets,including machine tools, motion control components and many types of automation equipment.  We also sell to MRO distributors who supply replacement parts for older equipment.  Our OEM and MRO customers principally purchase precision bearings and assemblies that require short lead-times.

 

Business Strategy

 

We are a vertically integrated supplier of precision components, subsystems and systems for high-technology applications. We design and manufacture components and subassemblies for OEMs of aerospace guidance, thermal imaging, graphic arts electronic imaging and semiconductor and related capital equipment.  Our products increase the accuracy and throughput of equipment produced by OEMs.  We also provide sophisticated development, inspection and production equipment that increases the yield and throughput of the semiconductor, photonics component and other high technology manufacturing processes.  A focus of our business strategy is to utilize our vertically integrated component manufacturing experience and resources, our systems integration capabilities and our process know-how in the design of higher-level subsystems as well as automation production and test systems that employ our nano-positioning and precision optical technologies.  Other key elements of this business strategy include the following:

 

We plan to use our vertically integrated position to grow our subsystems business.  Our strategy is to continue to develop subsystems by integrating our core component technologies with our electro-mechanical and opto-mechanical integration capabilities.  This strategy is designed to enable us to provide our customers with high performance systems at competitive prices.  We are currently investigating providing integration services for several of our OEM customers in other markets, including:

 

                  integration of our metal optics, motion control components and beryllium structures for next generation defense forward looking infrared (FLIR) applications;

                  integration of our metal optics, motors and sophisticated electronic controls for beam stabilization and control in a telecommunications free space optics applications;

                  integration of our direct drive motors, interferometers and precision-machined airbearings for various process equipment applications; and

                  development of airbearing stages.

 

We plan to continue to develop our offerings in the photonics automated production and inspection systems markets.  In 2000, we identified a new market opportunity to produce automated production and test equipment to support the fiber optics components market.  In October 2000, we started up our Fiber Automation Division in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to develop ultra-compact mechanical nano-positioning stages focused on the fiber automation market.  Also in October 2000, Axsys merged with Automation Engineering Inc. ("AEI") to obtain know-how in designing fiber automation systems as well as their advanced integration software – FlexAuto™  Axsys continued to invest in new product and process development in 2001.  These investments have enabled Axsys to develop technology in the field of fiber alignment and attachment as well as device inspection and characterization.  We have also invested in expanding our sales and marketing infrastructure in order to increase Axsys' brand recognition in the marketplace.

 

We will continue to focus on improving operating efficiencies.  We are starting our third year on the continuous improvement process of implementing "Lean" techniques throughout the organization.  The concept of Lean is based on eliminating waste in all aspects of the organization, measured in reduced cycle time, material costs, scrap and rework. By implementing this process, we have reduced, and expect to continue to reduce, our design and manufacturing lead times as well as manufacturing costs in order to become more competitive in the marketplace.

 

We continue to invest in information technologies to enhance our efficiency and responsiveness in serving our markets. In order to increase our efficiency and market responsiveness, we continue to invest in information technology across all aspects of our organization.  In 2001, we implemented customer relationship management (CRM) software in our Precision Components and Automation groups.  This system has enabled us to improve the tracking of customer opportunities as well as measure the effectiveness of our organization.  We added video conferencing to our corporate offices and largest manufacturing facilities.  This investment has enabled us to dramatically reduce travel expenses, while increasing the frequency of inter-company interaction.  Lastly, we implemented enterprise resource planning (ERP) software in our Automation Group to enhance our management reporting systems in this new group.

 

4



 

We expect to enhance our market position through acquisitions and strategic alliances and divestures of non-core businesses.  We have historically expanded our market presence and capabilities through acquisitions.  We have also divested operations that were not part of our core businesses.

 

                  On March 17, 2000, we sold substantially all of the assets of our Beau Interconnect division, a non-core business, to Molex Industrial Ventures Inc., a subsidiary of Molex Incorporated, for $31.8 million.  Beau Interconnect designs and manufactures electrical interconnect devices, barrier terminal blocks and connectors.

 

                  On October 4, 2000, we acquired the assets of Westlake Technology Corporation of Newbury Park, California, a supplier of high speed electronics used to test magnetic disk drive head gimbal assemblies (HGA) and head stack assemblies (HSA).  This followed our August 1997 announcement that we had entered into a strategic alliance with Westlake.

 

                  On October 18, 2000, Axsys completed a merger with AEI to increase our capabilities and market position in the fiber automation market.  The merger with AEI provided us with extensive experience and know-how in automating fiber optic component manufacturing and testing, engineering capabilities in seamlessly integrating sophisticated motion control and vision systems into an automated tool and access to AEI's proprietary FlexAuto™ software, which is critical to the integration process.

 

We review and consider possible acquisitions on an ongoing basis; however, no specific acquisitions are being negotiated as of the date of this report.

 

Technologies, Products, and Capabilities

 

We utilize several key manufacturing technologies and have acquired or developed software and systems integration capabilities that enable us to design and manufacture a wide variety of high-performance precision optical and micro-positioning components, subsystems and automation systems.  These core competencies include:

 

Magnetics. We design, manufacture and sell high-performance motors and precision resolvers using state-of-the-art magnetic technologies and materials.  Applications for these high-performance components include precision nano-positioning systems for semiconductor processing and inspection equipment, pick and place robotic handlers, missile seeker systems, guidance systems and satellite actuators.

 

Precision Machining.  Axsys manufactures precision-machined components made from beryllium, beryllium alloys and other specialty materials.  Applications include precision optics, airbearings, heat sinks, structural housings and gimbals.  Our airbearings provide high-speed precision positioning and are used in high-speed scanners for digital imaging and weapons guidance systems.  Our heat sinks are used to dissipate heat in high-performance avionics and satellite electronics, and our gimbals are used in various applications, including positioning optical sensors in FLIR night vision systems.  We also manufacture optical substrates used internally and by our customers in a variety of precision metal optical applications such as weapon fire control systems and space-borne instruments.

 

Optics.  We design and manufacture a broad range of precision metal optical components.  Our precision optics are generally made from beryllium or aluminum and are used in applications where performance requirements cannot be met with glass optics.  The advantages of our optics include lighter weight, thermal stability and ease of mechanical interface with housing and actuation devices.  We sell our precision metal optical components for use in high speed electro-mechanical scanners, weapons fire control systems, FLIR night vision weapons systems and high-performance space-borne instruments used on weather, mapping and scientific satellites.

 

Electronics.  Axsys designs and manufactures several key electronic components for the electronics capital equipment and high-end digital imaging markets including laser interferometers and electronic controllers and drives. Our electronics components control the speed and position of electro-mechanical systems, such as precision motors, actuators, X-Y positioning stages and laser scanners.  Laser interferometers, which are designed to permit precise linear position sensing, are sold to customers principally in the electronics capital equipment market. Electronic controllers coordinate the positioning and speed of electro-mechanical systems by interfacing with other motion control components.  Drives provide power to a motor based on input from the controller in order to achieve a designated position or to achieve a specific speed.

 

5



 

The following table summarizes the component products and services manufactured by Axsys, by the technologies they incorporate:

 

Core Manufacturing Technologies

 

MAGNETICS

 

PRECISION MACHINING

 

PRECISION OPTICS

 

ELECTRONICS

 

•  AC Motors

•  Brush and Brushless

DC  Motors:

– Torque 

– Servo 

– Limited Angle

•  Resolvers 

•  Synchros

 

•  Airbearing Components

•  Optical Substrates

•  Structural Housings

•  Gimbals and Yokes 

•  Heat Sinks

 

•  Scanning Optics

– Polygon Mirrors

– Monogon Mirrors

•  Flat Optics

– Head Mirrors

– Fold Mirrors

•  Aspherics

– Telescopes

– Collimators

 

•  Laser Interferometers

•  AC and DC motor speed controls

•  Custom DSP Motion Controllers

•  Motor Drives

 

 

Integration Capabilities. We have introduced products integrating our core technologies and integration capabilities to provide high-performance electro-mechanical and opto-mechanical subsystems for our customers.  Our precision subsystems include X-Y nano-positioning stages and rotary positioning subsystems such as actuators, opto-mechanical laser scanners and imaging subsystems.  We also produce laser tracking autofocus subsystems that employ our motion control or optics technologies.  The X-Y nano-positioning stage subsystems are used in high-precision or high-performance applications, such as semiconductor alignment positioning subsystems for use in manufacturing or inspection.  The rotary positioning subsystems are used in applications such as night vision systems for defense contractors and cluster tool robotics in electronics capital equipment.  Graphic art equipment manufacturers and semiconductor inspection equipment manufacturers use laser scanning and imaging subsystems.  The laser autofocus is used to automatically focus a microscope, and is sold to OEMs that manufacture automated optical inspection machines used in the electronics capital equipment market.

 

6



 

The following table illustrates how our technologies, products and capabilities are integrated to develop subsystems and systems:

 

TECHNOLOGIES AND CAPABILITIES

 

SUBSYSTEMS

 

OPTICS

 

PRECISION MACHINING

 

MAGNETICS

 

ELECTRONICS

Laser Scanner

 

  Scanning Optics

 

  Airbearing

 

  Brushless DC Servo Motor

 

  Speed Control

  Motor Drive

Laser Imager

 

  Scanning and Flat Optics

 

  Airbearing

 

  Brushless DC Servo Motor

 

  Speed Control

  Motor Drive

Laser Autofocus

 

 

 

 

 

  Brushless DC Servo Motor

 

  Position Controller

  Motor Drive

Rotary Positioning Actuator

 

 

 

 

 

  Brushless DC Servo Motor

  Resolver

 

  Position Controller

  Motor Drive

Nano-Positioning

X-Y Stage

 

  Flat Optics

 

  Airbearing

 

 

 

  Laser Interferometer

  Position Controller

  Motor Drive

HGA/HSA Testers

 

 

 

  Airbearing

 

  Brushless DC Limited Angle Motor

 

  Laser Interferometer

  Position Controller

  Motor Drive

 

Software. Through our merger with AEI, we acquired advanced systems integration software called FlexAuto™This software is designed to permit the integration of different motion platforms and machine vision technologies in automated production and test systems.  FlexAuto™ is open architecture by design and supports a wide range of motion control and machine vision hardware.  The use of FlexAuto™ is designed to allow us, and our customers, to quickly and efficiently configure and deploy the software necessary to control all aspects of an automation system.  We believe that automation systems designed with FlexAuto™ can be developed in a shorter period of time than those from competitors, and can be easily customized and modified for existing and new applications.  In addition, as part of our focus on the photonics market, we developed several software algorithms including ControLight, a software package that permits alignment of fiber optics to photonic devices for attach operations as well as for inspecting and characterizing the devices for use in both process development and production.

 

Systems Integration.  We have directed systems integration capabilities toward the development of semi and fully automated development, inspection and production systems.  These systems utilize our nano-positioning capabilities and proprietary software controls, integrated with other third party products, and are sold to end-users that manufacture semiconductor, photonic, and other high technology components.  During 2001, we developed a family of automation systems used in process development, low rate production and high volume production to align and inspect photonic components.  These products include:

 

                  FAST 6 nano-positioning stage

 

                  Lab 60 process development tool

 

                  Lab 60 PLC and FA characterization and inspection tools

 

                  FAST 30/300 automated align and laser attach tool

 

                  FAST 60/600 automated align and epoxy attach tool

 

                  FBG 200 fiber Bragg grating writing system

 

                  FAST 100 hybrid alignment and assembly tool

 

7



 

Precision Ball Bearings. We distribute a wide range of precision ball bearings varying in size, precision tolerance, lubrication and price. We also provide certain value-added services, such as bearing subassemblies, bearing relubrication, clean room handling of products and engineering consultation.

 

Competition

 

The markets for our products are competitive.  We compete primarily on the basis of our ability to design and engineer products to meet performance specifications set by our customers.  Most of our customers are OEMs that purchase component parts or subsystems which they incorporate into their end products.  Product pricing, quality, customer support, experience, reputation and financial stability are also important competitive factors.  We compete for automation systems based on our ability to develop products that meet our customers' performance requirements.  Our competitive position is enhanced by our process know-how, use of our FlexAuto™ and ControLight software in automation applications, and our ability to internally supply key micro-positioning capabilities such as motors and mechanical and airbearing stages.

 

There are a limited number of competitors in each of the markets for the various types of precision optical and positioning components and subsystems that we manufacture and sell.  Our competitors, especially those in the precision optical and positioning product lines, typically sell a smaller number of products than we do and are often well entrenched.  Some of these competitors have substantially greater resources than we do.  We believe that the breadth of our technologies and product offerings provides us with a competitive advantage over certain manufacturers that supply only discrete components or are not vertically integrated with enabling technologies.

 

There are numerous competitors in markets to which we distribute our precision ball bearings.  These competitors vary in size and include other bearing manufacturers and distributors.  We believe that our product breadth and availability, combined with the value-added services we supply, provide competitive advantages.

 

We expect our competitors to continue to improve the design and performance of their products.  We cannot assure you that our competitors will not develop enhancements to, or future generations of, competitive products that will offer superior price or performance features or that new processes or technologies will not emerge that render our products less competitive or obsolete.  Increased competitive pressure could lead to lower prices for Axsys' products, thereby adversely affecting our business, financial condition and results of operations. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete successfully in the future.

 

Customers

 

Our customers include OEMs and end-users that design or utilize high-precision, performance and throughput equipment.  We sell our products primarily to OEM customers in the aerospace and defense, high-end graphic art and electronics capital equipment markets, and industrial automation markets.  Our end user customers are primarily in the semiconductor, data storage and photonics components markets.

 

There is no customer or group of affiliated customers for whom sales during 2001 were in the aggregate 10% or more of consolidated net sales, and, in our opinion, there is no customer, the loss of which would have a material adverse effect on our operations taken as a whole.

 

In 2001 and 2000, Axsys had aggregate sales, both military and non-military, directly to the U.S. Government, including its agencies and departments, of approximately $3.0 million and $1.9 million, respectively. These sales accounted for approximately 3.2% of total net sales in 2001 and 2.1% in 2000.  Approximately 29.8% of net sales in 2001 and 25.1% in 2000 were derived from subcontracts with U.S. Government contractors.  The majority of these contracts may be subject to termination at the convenience of the U.S. Government, and certain contracts may also be subject to renegotiation.  Currently, we are not aware of any proposed termination or renegotiation of such contracts that would have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

8



 

Because a substantial part of our business is derived directly from contracts with the U.S. Government, or agencies or departments thereof, or indirectly through subcontracts with U.S. Government contractors, our results of operations could be materially affected by changes in U.S. Government expenditures for products using component parts that Axsys produces.  However, we believe that the broad number and diversity of our product applications and the strength of our engineering capabilities may lessen our exposure to such risk.

 

Sales, Marketing and Customer Support

 

As of December 31, 2001, we employed 68 sales, marketing and customer support personnel throughout our organization, compared to 67 employees in similar functions at the end of 2000.  We organize our sales staff by market segments with a view to building on existing customer relationships and improving cross-selling opportunities.  We utilize two OEM components sales organizations, one focused on aerospace and defense customers and the other focused on high-performance commercial customers.  We have a separate distributed products sales force that is focused on selling ball bearings and assemblies, principally to commercial and industrial oriented OEMs as well as MRO distributors.  Our newly created Automation Group sales force sells to manufacturers of semiconductor, data storage and fiber optics/photonics components.

 

As of December 31, 2001, our direct sales organization included 16 direct sales field personnel, most of whom have engineering backgrounds, with the remainder involved in inside sales, customer service, program management, contract administration and applications engineering.  We believe that our sales effort is enhanced by having engineering-trained sales personnel available to meet with customers' engineering personnel.  Our application and design engineers are also involved in the sales process.

 

We also sell our products through a significant number of manufacturer's sales representatives and agents.  Although we believe that we have satisfactory relationships with these sales representatives and agents, we cannot assure you that these relationships will continue to be satisfactory or will continue at all.

 

Domestic and Foreign Sales

 

For information concerning our domestic and foreign net sales and identifiable assets from continuing operations, see Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Engineering, Research and Development

 

We seek to develop new component products, subsystems and systems and improve existing products in order to keep pace with the increasing performance requirements of our customers.  We devote significant resources, a portion of which is reimbursed by customers, to development programs directed at creating new products and product enhancements, as well as developing new applications for existing products.  Because we believe that our ability to compete effectively depends in part on maintaining and enhancing our expertise in applying new technologies and developing new products, we dedicate substantial resources to engineering, research and development.  At December 31, 2001, we employed 88 individuals in engineering, research and development functions.  We cannot assure you that our product development efforts will be successful in producing products that respond to technological changes or new products introduced by others.

 

Our costs associated with engineering, research and development were $6.3 million in 2001, $5.4 million in 2000, and $4.7 million in 1999.  Research and development expenses were $3.6 million in 2001, $3.5 million in 2000, and $3.3 million in 1999.  These amounts are net of cost reimbursements from our customers that were not material in relation to engineering, research and development expenditures in any period.  We intend to direct our research and development activities toward integrating our various technologies and continuing to develop subsystems and systems.

 

Raw Materials; Suppliers

 

The raw materials and components that we purchase are generally available from multiple suppliers.  However, beryllium, a material used extensively by the Precision Machined Products operation of our Precision Components Group, is only available from Brush Wellman, Inc. ("Brush Wellman"), the sole U.S. supplier.  Historically, we have had an excellent relationship with Brush Wellman and have not encountered problems in obtaining our supply requirements.  However, the partial or complete loss of Brush Wellman as a supplier of beryllium, or production shortfalls or interruptions that otherwise impair the supply of beryllium to Axsys, would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial

 

9



 

condition and results of operations.  If such conditions were to occur, it is uncertain whether alternative sources could be developed.  In addition, we purchase a substantial amount of ball bearings that we distribute from two foreign suppliers.  While we believe that we could obtain alternate sources of supply, any interruption in the flow of products from these suppliers, or significant increases in the cost of these products, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Patents and Trademarks

 

We are not dependent upon any single patent or trademark.  We have a combination of patents, trademarks and trade secrets, non-disclosure agreements and other forms of intellectual property protection covering our proprietary technology, and we have patent applications pending or under evaluation.  Although we believe that our patents and trademarks may have value, we believe that our future success will depend primarily on the innovation, technical expertise, manufacturing and marketing abilities of our personnel. We cannot assure you as to the degree of protection offered by our patents or as to the likelihood that patents will be issued for pending applications. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain the confidentiality of our trade secrets or that our non-disclosure agreements will provide meaningful protection of our trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information in the event of any unauthorized use, misappropriation or other disclosure.

 

Competitors in the United States and foreign countries, many of which have substantially greater resources, may have applied for or obtained, or may in the future apply for and obtain, patents that will prevent, limit or interfere with our ability to make and sell some of our products.  Although we believe that our products do not infringe on the patents or other proprietary rights of third parties, we cannot assure you that third parties will not assert infringement claims against us or that such claims will not be successful.

 

Environmental Regulation

 

We believe that we are currently in compliance in all material respects with federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, and that any non-compliance with such laws will not have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition, results of operations, capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position. We cannot assure you, however, (i) that changes in federal, state or local laws, regulations or regulatory policy, or the discovery of unknown problems or conditions will not in the future require substantial expenditures, or (ii) as to the extent of our liabilities, if any, for past failures, if any, to comply with applicable environmental laws, regulations and permits, any of which also could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Axsys has been identified as a potentially responsible party ("PRP") under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA") with respect to three third-party waste disposal sites.  Although liability under CERCLA is joint and several, meaning that liability can exceed a PRP's pro rata share of cleanup costs, based on currently available information, we believe that costs associated with these sites will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Pursuant to a remedial plan approved by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency ("Ohio EPA") in 1993, we are continuing a process of investigating soils and groundwater at a site formerly owned by a division of Axsys, and we have conducted certain remedial work at this site.  Costs to date have not been material. We are pursuing an alternate closure plan related to this site.  This plan is subject to the approval of the Ohio EPA.  Based on the advice of our consultants, we increased our accrued liabilities relating to this site to approximately $744,000, with a resulting charge to discontinued operations in 2000 of $601,000, before a tax benefit of $235,000.  Based on the advice of our environmental consultants, we believe that the Ohio EPA is likely to allow use of our proposed alternate plan.  We anticipate receiving approval of the plan from the Ohio EPA in mid-2002 and will reassess the estimated costs of remediation of the site upon such approval.  We cannot assure you that the Ohio EPA will approve the alternate plan.  If such approval were not received, costs to Axsys would increase substantially. In addition, even if approval is received, the costs actually incurred may exceed the accruals established.  We anticipate that actual expenditures will be incurred over a period of several years.

 

During 1999, we sold the land and building of our previously discontinued Sensor Systems division in St. Petersburg, Florida.  We have conducted investigations of soil and groundwater at the former facility and received approval of our investigation plan from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.  We will continue to conduct additional soil and groundwater investigations at the site.  Based on the advice of our consultants, we increased our accrued liabilities

 

10



 

relating to this site to approximately $854,000, with a resulting charge to discontinued operations in 2000 of $657,000, before a tax benefit of $257,000.

 

On December 21, 2001, we received a letter from the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") notifying us that we are considered to be a potentially responsible party at a site located in Prospect, Connecticut, which until 1978 was owned by a former subsidiary. The letter also demands payment of approximately $25,000 in past response costs and unspecified future costs.  Although we may be obligated under CERCLA for contributions towards response costs incurred as a result of alleged releases of hazardous substances at the site, we are still investigating our prior connection to the site.  In addition, it is our policy to accrue environmental cleanup related costs when those costs are believed to be probable and can be reasonably estimated.  The quantification of environmental exposure with respect to this site, if any, requires an assessment of many factors, including the quality of information available, the assessment stage of each investigation, preliminary findings and the length of time involved in remediation. Currently, it is not possible for us to estimate a meaningful range of exposure based on the limited amount of information received.  We are in the process of deciding how we will respond to the EPA's demand.

 

We use or generate certain hazardous substances in our manufacturing and engineering facilities.  We believe that our handling of such substances is in compliance with applicable local, state and federal environmental, safety and health regulations at each operating location.  We invest in proper protective equipment, process controls and specialized training to minimize risks to employees, surrounding communities and the environment due to the presence and handling of such hazardous substances.  We periodically conduct employee physical examinations and workplace air monitoring regarding such substances.  When exposure problems or potential have been indicated, corrective actions have been implemented and re-occurrence has been minimal or non-existent.  We do not carry environmental impairment insurance.

 

Employees

 

As of December 31, 2001, we employed 602 persons, including 383 in manufacturing, 68 in sales, 88 in engineering and 63 in administration.  Axsys considers its relations with its employees to be satisfactory.  There has been no significant interruption of operations due to labor disputes.

 

11



 

Item 2.  PROPERTIES

 

Axsys leases its executive office, located at 175 Capital Boulevard in Rocky Hill, Connecticut.  The principal plants and other significant properties at February 1, 2002 are:

 

Location

 

Type of Facility

 

Square Footage

 

Leased/Owned; Expiration

 

Cullman, AL

 

Manufacturing, Engineering

 

100,000

 

Owned

 

San Diego, CA

 

Manufacturing, Engineering

 

64,800

 

Leased; 2010

 

Montville, NJ

 

Distribution

 

34,400

 

Leased; 2009

 

Rochester Hills, MI

 

Manufacturing, Engineering

 

29,000

 

Leased; 2003

 

Wilmington, MA

 

Manufacturing, Engineering

 

23,000

 

Leased; 2006

 

Santa Barbara, CA

 

Manufacturing, Engineering

 

13,800

 

Leased; 2002

 

Pittsburgh, PA

 

Manufacturing, Engineering

 

12,600

 

Leased; 2006

 

Irvine, CA

 

Distribution

 

7,800

 

Leased; 2005

 

Manchester, CT

 

Office space

 

7,000

 

Leased; 2005

 

Dallas, TX

 

Distribution

 

2,950

 

Leased; 2002

 

 

Management believes that Axsys' facilities are generally sufficient to meet its current and reasonably anticipated manufacturing, distribution and related requirements.  Management, however, periodically reviews space requirements to ascertain whether Axsys' facilities are sufficient to meet its needs.

 

Item 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Axsys is a defendant in various lawsuits, none of which is expected to have a material adverse effect on Axsys' business, financial position, or results of operations.  See "Business—Environmental Regulations."

 

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

 

None during the quarter ended December 31, 2001.

 

PART II

 

Item 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Axsys' common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the Symbol "AXYS". The following table sets forth the range of high and low sales prices as reported by The NASDAQ Stock Market:

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

 

 

High

 

Low

 

High

 

Low

 

Fiscal Years Ended December 31:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Quarter

 

$

35.875

 

$

15.938

 

$

15.000

 

$

11.750

 

Second Quarter

 

21.700

 

10.100

 

17.000

 

11.875

 

Third Quarter

 

12.750

 

8.880

 

36.500

 

17.000

 

Fourth Quarter

 

11.230

 

7.150

 

49.875

 

18.875

 

 

On March 1, 2002, the high and low sales price were $6.95 and $6.76, respectively.

 

On March 1, 2002, the approximate number of holders of record of Axsys' common stock was 500.

 

Dividend Policy

 

Axsys has applied and currently intends to continue to apply its retained and current earnings toward the development of its business and to finance its growth.  Axsys did not pay dividends on its common stock during the three years ended December 31, 2001, and does not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

 

12



 

Item 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following selected financial data for the five fiscal years presented below is derived from Axsys' audited Consolidated Financial Statements as adjusted to reflect the discontinuance of the Beau Interconnect and Sensor Systems business segments in 1999 and 1998, respectively.  The data should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Notes thereto included elsewhere herein.

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31, (3)

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

1998

 

1997

 

 

 

 

 

(1) (2) (3)

 

(4)

 

 

 

(5)

 

 

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

Statement of Operations Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

89,210

 

$

91,841

 

$

85,418

 

$

98,559

 

$

99,793

 

Gross profit

 

14,073

 

19,663

 

21,005

 

28,977

 

30,191

 

(Loss) income from continuing operations before discontinued operations

 

(11,353

)

(4,304

)

(9,203

)

6,311

 

3,892

 

Net (loss) income

 

(11,353

)

9,523

 

(7,122

)

6,099

 

5,134

 

Preferred stock dividends

 

 

 

 

 

102

 

Net income (loss) applicable to common  shareholders

 

(11,353

)

9,523

 

(7,122

)

6,099

 

5,032

 

Basic net (loss) income per share from  continuing operations before discontinued operations

 

$

(1.53

)

$

(0.92

)

$

(1.95

)

$

1.30

 

$

0.93

 

Basic net income (loss) per share applicable to common shareholders

 

$

(1.53

)

$

2.05

 

$

(1.51

)

$

1.26

 

$

1.20

 

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

 

4,688

 

4,657

 

4,715

 

4,848

 

4,176

 

Diluted net (loss) income per share from  continuing operations before discontinued operations

 

$

(1.53

)

$

(0.92

)

$

(1.95

)

$

1.29

 

$

0.92

 

Diluted net (loss) income per share applicable to common shareholders

 

$

(1.53

)

$

2.05

 

$

(1.51

)

$

1.25

 

$

1.19

 

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

4,688

 

4,715

 

4,715

 

4,888

 

4,236

 

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

1998

 

1997

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Balance Sheet Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working capital

 

$

35,379

 

$

41,520

 

$

31,395

 

$

28,471

 

$

2,869

 

Total assets

 

67,281

 

73,592

 

64,150

 

72,514

 

74,364

 

Long-term capital lease obligations(less current portion)

 

1,392

 

1,485

 

1,793

 

3,794

 

6,226

 

Shareholders' equity

 

46,440

 

53,421

 

43,299

 

52,128

 

47,317

 

 


(1)          In October 2000, Axsys merged with Automation Engineering, Inc.  This merger was accounted for under the pooling of interests method of accounting and, accordingly, the results of Axsys' Consolidated Statements of Operations have been restated to include the accounts and operations of AEI.  The operating results for AEI were not material to the combined results of Axsys for periods prior to 2000, and therefore, results for those periods have not been restated.

 

(2)          In September 2000, Axsys acquired the stock of Westlake Technology Corporation.  This acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting and, accordingly, the results of Westlake's operations have been included in Axsys' Consolidated Statements of Operations since the date of acquisition.  See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

13



 

(3)          In March 2000, we sold the Beau Interconnect division. Accordingly, Beau has been accounted for as a discontinued operation and the related net assets and operating results have been reported separately from continuing operations in all years presented.  Revenues applicable to this discontinued operation were $846,000 during 2000 and $19.3 million during 1999. The net assets of Beau at December 31, 1999 have been included in current assets.  All prior periods have been restated to reflect the divestiture.

 

(4)          Includes the effects of a pre-tax special charge of $784,000 and an impairment of assets charge of $8,993,000 in 1999.

 

(5)          In May 1997, Axsys acquired the stock of Teletrac, Inc. This acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting and, accordingly, the results of Teletrac's operations have been included in Axsys' Consolidated Statements of Operations since the date of acquisition.  See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Item 7.           MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Results of Operations

 

On March 17, 2000, Axsys sold the net assets of the Beau Interconnect division for $31.8 million in cash and recorded an after-tax gain of approximately $14.1 million in the first quarter of 2000.  Beau designed and manufactured interconnect devices, barrier terminal blocks and connectors.  Accordingly, Beau has been accounted for as a discontinued operation and the related net assets and operating results have been reported separately from continuing operations in all years presented.  Revenues applicable to this discontinued operation during 2000 and 1999 were $846,000 and $19.3 million, respectively.  The net assets of Beau at December 31, 1999 have been included in current assets.

 

On September 30, 2000, we acquired Westlake Technology Corporation.  This acquisition has been accounted for using the purchase accounting method.  Accordingly, the results of Westlake have been included in Axsys' Consolidated Statement of Operations since the date of acquisition.

 

On October 18, 2000, Axsys merged with AEI.  This merger has been accounted for using the pooling of interests method of accounting.  Accordingly, the full year 2000 results of operations of AEI have been included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.  The operating results for AEI were not material to the combined results of Axsys for all periods prior to 2000, and, therefore, the results for those periods have not been restated.

 

14



 

The following table sets forth certain financial data as a percentage of net sales for each of the past three years in the period ended December 31, 2001.

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Precision Components Group

 

62.7

%

54.4

%

60.3

%

Automation Group

 

11.5

 

11.6

 

9.1

 

Distributed Products Group

 

25.8

 

34.0

 

30.6

 

 

 

100.0

 

100.0

 

100.0

 

Cost of sales

 

84.2

 

78.6

 

75.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

15.8

 

21.4

 

24.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

23.4

 

23.8

 

20.1

 

Research and development expenses

 

4.0

 

3.8

 

3.9

 

Restructuring charges

 

1.5

 

1.8

 

 

Nonrecurring merger-related charges

 

 

0.5

 

 

Impairment of assets

 

 

 

10.5

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

0.1

 

0.5

 

Operating (loss)

 

(13.1

)

(8.6

)

(10.4

)

Interest income (expense), net

 

0.2

 

0.5

 

(0.5

)

Special charge

 

 

 

(0.9

)

Other income

 

0.2

 

0.4

 

 

 

 

0.4

 

0.9

 

(1.4

)

Loss from continuing operations before taxes and discontinued items

 

(12.7

)

(7.7

)

(11.8

)

Benefit for taxes

 

4.7

 

3.0

 

1.0

 

Loss from continuing operations before discontinued items

 

(8.0

)

(4.7

)

(10.8

)

Income/(loss) on discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

15.1

 

2.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income/(loss)

 

(8.0

)%

10.4

%

(8.3

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit (as a percentage of related net sales) (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Precision Components Group

 

22.5

%

17.6

%

20.3

%

Automation Group

 

19.1

 

31.8

 

31.1

 

Distributed Products Group

 

31.3

 

32.2

 

31.1

 

 


(1)          Gross profit by segment is before restructuring charges of $7.7 million in 2001 and $2.6 million in 2000.

 

15



 

Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2000

 

Net sales.  Net sales in 2001 were $89.2 million, a decrease of 3 percent, or $2.6 million, from sales of $91.8 million in 2000. Sales of the Precision Components Group were $55.9 million in 2001 compared to $49.9 million in 2000. The 12 percent increase in sales was largely due to improved sales of motion control components and precision machined products to aerospace and defense markets.  Aerospace and defense sales increased over the prior year due to a strong backlog of orders gained in the second half of 2000, which were shipped in 2001.  Sales to the electronic capital equipment market and the graphic arts market were lower by 55 percent and 11 percent, respectively in 2001 compared to 2000. The Distributed Products Group reported sales of $23.0 million in 2001 compared to sales of $31.3 million in 2000, a decrease of 26 percent or $8.3 million. Conditions were very weak in the industrial automation and commercial markets for our precision ball bearings, including lower sales to electronics capital equipment markets, which were particularly strong in 2000. Sales of the Automation Group were $10.3 million in 2001 compared to $10.6 million in 2000.  The $0.3 million, or 3 percent decrease was due to substantially lower sales of precision measurement and test equipment sold to semiconductor and data storage markets, offset by increased shipments of automation products for photonics applications and other commercial markets.

 

Gross profit.  Our gross profit was $14.1 million in 2001 compared to $19.7 million in 2000.  Included in both periods are restructuring charges (See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements) related to a reduction in facilities and personnel, as well as charges to inventory obsolescence reserves. These charges amounted to $7.7 million in 2001 and $2.6 million in 2000. Excluding these charges, gross margin as a percent of sales was 24.4 percent in 2001, compared to 24.2 percent in 2000.  Margins in 2001 were positively impacted by the implementation of a cost reduction plan adopted in the second quarter of 2001 ("Cost Reduction Plan"), which reduced manufacturing costs by an estimated $650 thousand. (See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.)

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses.  Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses were $20.9 million in 2001 compared to $21.8 million in 2000, a net decrease of $0.9 million. Net costs associated with restructuring of operations were $1.0 million lower in 2001 than in 2000 as we absorbed  $0.2 million of SG&A expenses directly attributable to the Cost Reduction Plan in 2001, compared to expenses of $1.2 million in 2000 related to the Strategic Realignment of our business.  (See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.)  A result of the Cost Reduction Plan was lower overall spending.  A savings of $0.6 million in 2001 was directly attributable to the efforts of this plan.  Additionally, incentive payments were lower by $0.9 million mainly as a result of lower sales volume.  Travel expenses were reduced by $0.3 million in 2001 due to the increased usage of videoconferencing equipment.  These favorable savings were partially offset by $1.9 million of spending for our Automation Group infrastructure during 2001.

 

Research and development expenses.  Research and development ("R&D") expenses were $3.6 million in 2001 compared to $3.5 million in 2000.  Expenses in the Automation Group increased by $0.8 million to $1.5 million largely related to the development of new product offerings for precision automation applications, primarily for the photonics markets. Net R&D spending in the Precision Components Group declined by $0.7 million in 2001 compared to 2000 as a result of the Cost Reduction Plan, which reduced R&D spending for products targeted at lower growth markets.

 

Restructuring charges.  Costs categorized as restructuring charges were $1.4 million in 2001 and $1.6 million in 2000 including severance costs and costs to close certain facilities.  We discuss these costs in more detail in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Nonrecurring merger-related charges.  We recorded $0.5 million of professional fees and expenses related to the merger with AEI in the fourth quarter of 2000.  We expensed these costs according to generally accepted accounting principles for a pooling of interests merger.

 

Operating loss.  We recorded a pre-tax operating loss of  $11.7 million in 2001, a decrease of $3.8 million, from an operating loss of $7.9 million in 2000.  The Precision Components Group recorded a profit of $3.0 million in 2001 compared to a loss of $2.5 million in 2000, as a result of improved sales to the aerospace and defense market and the implementation of lean manufacturing and cost reductions.  The Automation Group recorded losses of $3.8 million in 2001 a decline of $4.0 million from a profit of $0.2 million in 2000.  Despite slight growth in revenues, our increased investment in developing the photonic assembly and test equipment business had a significant impact on earnings.  Our Distributed Products Group had a dramatic reduction in sales that resulted in lowering our operating profit from the group to $2.6 million in 2001 from $4.8 million in 2000.   Non-allocated charges for corporate support were $4.3 million in 2001 compared to $4.6 million in 2000. The reduction in corporate overhead is a result of savings from the Cost Reduction Plan

 

16



 

offset by increased depreciation and professional fees.  The Cost Reduction Plan resulted in non-recurring charges of $9.2 million compared to $5.8 million of non-recurring charges in 2000 from the Strategic Realignment and the acquisition of Automation Engineering, Inc.

 

Interest income, net.  Net interest income was $0.2 million in 2001 compared to net interest income of $0.5 million in 2000. Interest income declined in 2001 from the previous year due to lower prevailing interest rates and a lower average investment balance for the year.  In addition, interest income of $64 thousand in 2001 compared to $92 thousand was recorded on a note received from the 1998 sale of Sensor Systems.

 

Taxes.  Our effective rate for federal and state income taxes was 37.0 percent in 2001 compared to 39.1 percent in 2000. The reduction in the income tax benefit rate was made after a review of our overall business and tax exposures early in 2001.

 

Discontinued operations.  In March 2000, we sold the Beau Interconnect division.  Results of operations from the discontinued business have been reported separately from continuing operations in all periods presented.  The sale of Beau resulted in a gain of $22.5 million before a tax provision of $8.4 million.  We also recorded a charge of $1.3 million, before a tax benefit of $0.5 million, to increase environmental accruals for the remediation of two former operating sites.  During 2000, our environmental consultants advised us to increase these accruals to better reflect the ongoing costs to complete the remediation of these sites.  (See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2000 and December 31, 1999

 

Net sales.  Net sales in 2000 were $91.8 million, an increase of 7.5 percent, or $6.4 million, over sales of $85.4 million in 1999. Sales of the Precision Components Group were $49.9 million in 2000 compared to $51.5 million in 1999. The 3 percent decrease in sales was caused by a combination of lower sales to aerospace and defense markets offset by improved markets for digital imaging scanners and print engines.  Aerospace and defense sales were lower primarily due to relatively weak bookings during mid-1999. The recovery in aerospace and defense bookings that began late in 1999 and continued throughout 2000 resulted in a gradual increase in revenues over the course of 2000, although total year over year sales ended up modestly lower. Sales to worldwide digital imaging markets increased by 20 percent in 2000 versus 1999, as product introductions and general market conditions both improved.  The Distributed Products Group reported record sales of $31.3 million in 2000 compared to $26.2 million in 1999, an increase of 19.4 percent or $5.1 million.  Business conditions were very strong for precision ball bearings and assemblies sold to industrial automation and electronics capital equipment markets.  Sales of the Automation Group were $10.6 million in 2000 compared to $7.7 million in 1999.  The $2.9 million, or 37.7 percent increase, was due to internal growth in sales of precision components for semiconductor production and inspection applications and the merger with AEI, accounted for as a pooling of interests, which increased sales by $1.4 million in 2000.

 

Gross profit.  Our gross profit was $19.7 million in 2000 compared to $21.0 million in 1999.  As a percent of sales, gross margin was 21.4 percent in 2000, compared to 24.6 percent in 1999.  Margins in 2000 showed steady improvement over the full year, rising from a low of 4 percent in the first quarter to 29.3 percent in the fourth quarter.  One-time costs recorded in the first quarter related to the Strategic Realignment reduced gross margins by $2.5 million as we evaluated slow-moving and potentially obsolete inventories. Beginning in the second quarter in 2000, margins increased due to higher sales volume and improved operating efficiencies, including substantially reduced product returns and warranty claims.  We began the implementation of Lean initiatives in 2000.  When we introduced this program, initially there were incremental costs to reconfigure production processes and train employees.  These costs began to be offset by improvements in throughput and lower scrap rates later in the year.  In addition to benefits from Lean, gross margins in the fourth quarter in 2000 were unusually high due to a very favorable product mix.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses.  SG&A expenses were $21.8 million in 2000 compared to $17.2 million in 1999. The $4.6 million increase in 2000 includes $1.2 million of costs directly attributable to the Strategic Realignment and the one-time costs to implement that program.  Selling expenses increased by $1.2 million as we invested in marketing and sales personnel supporting commercial markets.  Administrative costs rose by $2.3 million including $0.9 million of salaries and expenses to support the initial training and implementation of lean initiatives and a substantial investment in telecommunications infrastructure.  Incremental expenses in the Automation Group were $0.4 million to support the operations of AEI and the Fiber Automation Division.  The balance of the increase in SG&A expenses was due to increased salaries, recruiting costs, incentive compensation expenses and legal expenses.

 

17



 

Research and development expenses.  R&D expenses were $3.5 million in 2000 compared to $3.3 million in 1999.  For the first three quarters of the year, a higher allocation of development engineering resources were charged to cost of sales for production programs.  In the fourth quarter alone, R&D investment increased by approximately $0.3 million to $1.0 million, versus $0.7 million in the comparable quarter of 1999.  The change was substantially due to increased expenses in the Automation Group.

 

Impairment of assets.  Late in 1999, we evaluated our strategic direction and long-range planning, including the recoverability of long-lived assets.  In 1999, Axsys recorded a $7.1 million charge to write down the carrying value of goodwill related to the Teletrac acquisition and $1.9 million to write-off a note from Westlake Technology Corporation.  (See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

Restructuring charges.  Costs categorized as restructuring charges were $1.6 million in 2000 including severance costs and costs to close certain facilities.  We discuss these costs in more detail in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Nonrecurring merger-related charges.  We recorded $0.5 million of professional fees and expenses related to the merger with AEI in the fourth quarter of 2000.  We expensed these costs according to generally accepted accounting principles for a pooling of interests merger.

 

Operating loss.  We recorded a pre-tax operating loss of  $7.9 million in 2000, an improvement of $1.0 million, from an operating loss of $8.9 million in 1999.  The Precision Components Group recorded a loss of $2.5 million in 2000 compared to a loss of $0.1 million in 1999, as a result of decreased sales and our investment in lean manufacturing processes.  The Automation Group recorded profit of $0.3 million in 2000, a slight increase from a profit of $0.1 million in 1999 as a result of increased revenues and the acquisition of AEI.  Our Distributed Products Group had a significant increase in sales that resulted in higher operating profits of $4.8 million in 2000 from $3.7 million in 1999.  Non-allocated charges for corporate support were $4.7 million in 2000 compared to $3.6 million in 1999. The increase in corporate overhead is a result of our investment in lean manufacturing and office relocation expenses. The Strategic Realignment resulted in non-recurring charges of $5.8 million compared to $9.0 million of non-recurring charges in 2000 from the impairment of goodwill in connection with the acquisition of Teletrac and the note from Westlake Technology Corporation.

 

Interest income, net.  Net interest income was $0.5 million in 2000 compared to net interest expense of $0.4 million in 1999.  The proceeds from the divestment of the Beau Interconnect division in March 2000, after repaying outstanding bank debt and income taxes, provided investment income for most of the year.  In addition, interest income of $92 thousand was recorded on a note received from the 1998 sale of Sensor Systems.

 

Special charge.  In 1999, we recorded a pre-tax special charge of $0.8 million for expenses related to the process of exploring the potential sale of the Company.  We discontinued this process during the second quarter of 1999.  (See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

Taxes.  Our effective rate for federal and state income taxes was 39.1 percent in 2000 compared to 8.4 percent in 1999. In 1999, we reversed $0.2 million of the tax valuation allowance against the discontinued operations of the Beau Interconnect division.  As of December 31, 1999, the tax valuation allowance was $0.7 million.  The decrease in the effective tax benefit rate in 1999 was primarily due to the non-deductibility of the goodwill that was carried on the balance sheet related to Teletrac and written down in the fourth quarter of 1999.

 

Discontinued operations.  In March 2000, we sold the Beau Interconnect division.  Results of operations from the discontinued business have been reported separately from continuing operations in all periods presented.  The sale of Beau resulted in a gain of $22.5 million before a tax provision of $8.4 million.  We also recorded a charge of $1.3 million, before a tax benefit of $0.5 million, to increase environmental accruals for the remediation of two former operating sites.  During 2000, our environmental consultants advised us to increase these accruals to better reflect the ongoing costs to complete the remediation of these sites.  (See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Axsys funds its operations primarily from cash flow generated by operations and cash on hand as a result of the divestment of Beau in the first quarter of 2000.

 

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Net cash used in operations was $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2001, and $8.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2000.  In 2001, Axsys' net loss of $7.2 million was offset by depreciation and amortization of $3.1 million as well as working capital changes.  Accounts receivable declined by $3.1 million, reflecting lower fourth quarter sales in 2001 compared to 2000, as well as lower days of sales outstanding, which were at 50 days at year end compared to 55 days at the end of 2000.  Inventory levels declined by $2.8 million, including the effects of inventory write-downs taken with the Cost Reduction Plan.  Other current assets increased by $3.7 million, due to a significant tax asset expected to be realized in 2002 for net operating losses generated in 2001.  Trade accounts payable declined by $2.2 million in response to lower production volume and reduced year-end capital spending compared to the prior year.  Net cash used in operations for the year ended December 31, 2000 exclude the non-operating gain on the divestment of Beau of $13.8 million.  Included in that year's increase in current liabilities are income tax payments of $4.9 million caused by the Beau gain.  Excluding income tax payments on the Beau gain, cash used in operating activities in 2000 was $3.9 million.  The decrease in cash was largely caused by the $4.3 million loss from continuing operations, including the effects of restructuring charges recorded and paid through the end of the year.  Accounts receivable balances increased due to higher billings at the end of the fourth quarter in 2000.  This effect was offset by a decrease in inventories and other assets, and the effects of non-cash depreciation and amortization charges.

 

Net cash (used in) or provided by investing activities was ($3.7) million for the year ended December 31, 2001 and $27.4 for the year ended December 31, 2000.  Investing activities in 2001 were principally related to capital spending of $3.9 million, which was equal to spending levels in 2000.  Significant investments in 2001 were focused on upgrading precision machining capabilities, test and measurement equipment for imaging and motion control products, as well as design and testing equipment for photonics productsIn 2000, the major source of funds was the $31.2 million in gross proceeds from the divestment of Beau in March 2000.  Capital spending in 2000 included an investment of $1.3 million to expand the Motion Control manufacturing facility as well as investments in telecommunications infrastructure.

 

Net cash (used in) financing activities was ($25) thousand for the year ended December 31, 2001 and ($4.1 million) for the year ended December 31, 2000.  In 2000, Axsys repaid the outstanding balance of $4.6 million on borrowings under an $11.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility in conjunction with the sale of Beau on March 17, 2000. The credit facility was subsequently terminated.

 

As of December 31, 2001, Axsys had no significant obligations or commitments for capital expenditures other than those arising in the ordinary course of business.  We believe that cash on hand, cash generated from operations, proceeds from a $3.0 million capital lease facility expiring in September 2002 with $2.2 million of unused capacity remaining at December 31, 2001, and an expected refund of federal income taxes caused by 2001 tax net operating losses, will be sufficient to finance capital expenditures, working capital requirements and operations for the next year.  There are no business acquisitions planned as of March 14, 2002.

 

The following table reflects a summary of our contractual cash obligations and other commercial commitments as of December 31, 2001:

 

 

 

PAYMENTS DUE BY PERIOD

 

CONTRACTUAL CASH OBLIGATIONS

 

TOTAL

 

LESS THAN 1 YEAR

 

1 to 3 YEARS

 

4 to 5 YEARS

 

AFTER 5 YEARS

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

Operating leases (1)

 

$

8,524

 

$

1,423

 

$

2,745

 

$

2,145

 

$

2,211

 

Capital leases

 

2,239

 

847

 

1,210

 

182

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

10,763

 

$

2,270

 

$

3,955

 

$

2,327

 

$

2,211

 

 


(1)     Included are two security deposits in the form of letters of credit for two facility leases which are renewed annually for the term of the lease.  One in the amount of $217,000 and relates to the building lease in Wilmington, Massachusetts. The other is in the amount of $14,000 and relates to the building lease in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Both building leases expire in 2006.

 

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Backlog

 

A substantial portion of our business is of a build-to-order nature requiring various engineering, manufacturing, testing and other processes to be performed prior to shipment.  As a result, we generally have a significant backlog of orders to be shipped.  Our backlog of orders decreased by 22 percent or $14.5 million, to $50.3 million at December 31, 2001 from $64.9 million at December 31, 2000. This decrease was caused by lower bookings in each operating segment and shipment of overdue backlog in the Precision Components Group.  The largest decrease was recorded in the digital imaging market, which management believes was driven more by the timing of long-term volume purchase agreements than by any fundamental change in the market for our products.  We believe that a substantial portion of our backlog of orders at December 31, 2001 will be shipped over the next twelve months.

 

Significant Accounting Policies

 

Our significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements are described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.  The following is a brief discussion of the more significant accounting policies and methods used by us.

 

General. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.  The most significant estimates and assumptions related to inventories and the adequacy of allowances for warranties and doubtful accounts.  Actual amounts could differ significantly from these estimates.

 

Revenue Recognition.  We recognize revenue in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101.  SAB 101 requires that four basic criteria must be met before revenue can be recognized:  (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred or services rendered; (3) the fee is fixed and determinable; and (4) collectibility is reasonably assured.  Determination of criteria (3) and (4) are based on management's judgments regarding the fixed nature of the fee charged for products delivered and the collectibility of those fees.  Should changes in conditions cause management to determine these criteria are not met for future transactions, revenue recognized for any reporting period could be adversely affected.

 

Two long-term contracts are covered by a loss contract reserve.  We accrued for these contracts based on the contract price and the current cost structure.  To the extent future costs to manufacture these products change, our loss contract reserves will be impacted.

 

Inventories.  We value our inventory at the lower of the actual cost to purchase and/or manufacture the inventory or the current estimated market value of the inventory.  We regularly review inventory quantities on hand and record a provision for excess or obsolete inventory.  As demonstrated during 2001, demand for our products can fluctuate.  A significant increase in the demand for our products could result in a short-term increase in the cost of inventory purchases while a significant decrease in demand could result in an increase in the amount of excess or obsolete inventory quantities on hand.  In addition, some of our industries are characterized by rapid technological change or frequent new product development that could result in an increase in the amount of obsolete inventory on hand.  Additionally, our estimates of future product demand may prove to be inaccurate, in which case we may have understated or overstated the provision required for excess or obsolete inventory.  In the future, if our inventory were determined to be overvalued, we would be required to recognize such costs in our cost of goods sold at the time of such determination.  Likewise, if our inventory is undervalued, we may have over-reported our costs of goods sold in previous periods and would be required to recognize such additional operating income at the time of sale.  Therefore, although we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our forecasts of future product demand, any significant unanticipated changes in demand or technological developments could have a significant impact on the value of our inventory and our reported operating results.

 

Environmental contingencies.  We are currently involved in several environmental remediation projects.  We accrue for environmental contingencies when (1) responsibility for clean-up is determined and (2) costs are probable and reasonably estimable.  When costs are not probable and reasonably estimable, no accrual is made.  As discussed in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, we have accrued our estimate of the probable costs for the resolution of these claims.  These estimates have been developed in consultation with outside environmental consultants handling these matters and are based upon an analysis of the anticipated remediation plans.  We do not anticipate these projects will have a material adverse effect on our

 

20



 

consolidated financial position. It is possible, however, that future results of operations could be materially affected by changes in our assumptions.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets", was issued in August 2001.  SFAS No. 144 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. The Company has not yet determined the impact, if any, this new standard will have on its reported results of operations and cash flows.

 

SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations", was issued in August 2001.  SFAS No. 143 is effective in 2003. It requires the recording of an asset and a liability equal to the present value of the estimated costs associated with the retirement of long-lived assets where a legal or contractual obligation exists.  The asset is required to be depreciated over the life of the related equipment or facility, and the liability accreted each year based on a present value interest rate.  Axsys has not yet evaluated the impact of adopting SFAS No. 143 on its consolidated position or results of operations.

 

SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets", was issued in June 2001.  It changes the accounting for goodwill by eliminating goodwill amortization beginning in 2002.  It will also require at least an annual assessment of goodwill impairment.  The initial test for impairment must be completed by December 31, 2002, but any impairment would be reflected as an accounting change recorded retroactively in the first quarter of 2002.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS No. 142.  Goodwill amortization, which amounted to $140 thousand offset by negative amortization of $143 thousand in 2001, will no longer be recorded in 2002, thus increasing earnings, but with no impact on cash flow.  The Company has not completed impairment testing and therefore cannot quantify the statement's impact on its consolidated financial statements.  It is possible that some goodwill will be required to be written off in 2002. The Company's negative goodwill of $535 thousand as of December 31, 2001 will be reversed as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in the first quarter of 2002.

 

SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations", was issued on June 30, 2001.  The statement requires that all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 be accounted for using the purchase accounting method, eliminating the use of the pooling-of-interest method.  It also specifies that the purchase price must first be allocated to specific tangible and intangible assets before determination.

 

SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities", was issued in June 1998.  SFAS No. 133, as amended by SFAS No. 138, was effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000.  The Company did not use derivative instruments during 2001.  As a result, the implementation of the Statement did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial position or consolidated results of the Company.  Axsys adopted the standard on January 1, 2001.

 

Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results

 

This filing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, without limitation, statements regarding our ability to reduce design and manufacturing lead times and manufacturing costs, our ability to integrate existing technologies, our ability to implement our strategy to develop and sell, among other things, higher level subsystems and automation production and test systems, the ability to sell to new customers and markets and to increase the level of value added we provide to customers, the receipt and shipment of orders by Axsys, the changes to be achieved from our Cost Reduction Plan, our objective to grow through strategic acquisitions and anticipated expenditures for environmental remediation.  One can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of the words such as "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "may," "will," "estimate" or other similar expressions.  Discussion containing such forward-looking statements is found in the material set forth under "Business" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," as well as within the filing generally.  One should understand that many factors could cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.  These factors include those discussed below as well as inaccurate assumptions.  Axsys cautions the reader, however, that this list of factors may not be exhaustive.

 

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Risk Factors

 

The following risk factors should be considered carefully in addition to the other information contained in this filing.

 

Our operating results may vary substantially due to factors that are difficult to forecast.  Factors such as announcements of technological innovations or new products by Axsys or our competitors, domestic and foreign general economic conditions and the cyclical nature of the industries that we serve could cause substantial variations in our operating results.  The defense, aerospace, high-end digital imaging, electronics capital equipment, semi-conductor and photonics markets, each of which represents a significant market for our products, have historically been subject to substantial economic fluctuations due to changing demands for their products and services, introduction of new products and product obsolescence. Any future fluctuations arising from these or other conditions could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.  We have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, significant fluctuations in our quarterly and annual operating results due to a variety of factors, including:

 

                                          market acceptance of new and enhanced versions of our products

                                          timing and shipment of significant orders

                                          mix of products sold

                                          length of sales cycles

                                          plant openings and closings

                                          the timing of acquisitions or dispositions

                                          delays in raw materials shipments, as well as other manufacturing delays and disruptions;

                                          completion of large projects

                                          the level of backlog of orders

                                          domestic and foreign general economic conditions, and

                                          demand in the markets that we serve.

 

To some extent, our net sales and operating results for a specific quarter will depend upon generating orders to be shipped in the same quarter in which the order is received.  The failure to receive anticipated orders or delays in shipments near the end of a particular quarter, due, for example, to unanticipated rescheduling or cancellations of shipments by our customers or unexpected manufacturing difficulties, may cause our net sales in a particular quarter to fall significantly below expectations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations for such quarter.

 

The rapid pace of technological change will require continuous new product development.  Our success will continue to depend in substantial part upon our ability to introduce new products that keep pace with technological developments and evolving industry standards and to apply appropriate levels of engineering, research and development resources necessary to keep pace with such developments.  In addition, our success will depend on how well we respond to changes in customer requirements and achieve market acceptance for our products and capabilities.  Any failure by Axsys to anticipate or respond adequately to technological developments and customer requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  In order to develop new products successfully, we are dependent upon close relationships with our customers and their willingness to share proprietary information about their requirements and participate in collaborative efforts with us.  We cannot assure you that our customers will continue to provide us with timely access to such information or that we will be successful in developing and marketing new products and services or their enhancements.  In addition, we cannot assure you that the new products and services or their enhancements, if any, that we develop, will achieve market acceptance.

 

Our business is concentrated in two major industries that are subject to economic cycles.  A significant portion of our business and business development efforts is concentrated in the defense and, to a lesser extent, electronics capital equipment industries.  Our business depends, in significant part, upon the U.S. Government's continued demand in the area of defense for high-end, high performance components and subsystems of the type that we manufacture.  Approximately 33.0% of our net sales in 2001 and 27.2% of net sales in 2000 were derived directly from contracts with the U.S. Government, or agencies or departments thereof, or indirectly from subcontracts with U.S. Government contractors.  The majority of these Government contracts are subject to termination and renegotiation.  As a result, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially affected by changes in U.S. Government expenditures for defense.

 

22



 

Additionally, we currently intend to continue to develop the portion of our business dependent upon manufacturers in the electronics capital equipment industry that provide equipment used in the semiconductor, mass data storage and flat panel display industries.  This business development will depend, in part, upon capital expenditures by manufacturers of electronics capital equipment, which in turn depend upon the current and anticipated market demand for semiconductor, mass data storage and flat panel display devices.  The semiconductor, mass data storage and flat panel display industries have been highly volatile and historically have experienced periods of oversupply, resulting in significantly reduced demand for capital equipment.  This volatility could have a material adverse effect on our business in the electronics capital equipment industry.

 

Our markets are extremely competitive.  We compete primarily on the basis of our ability to design and engineer our products to meet performance specifications set by our customers, most of whom are OEMs who purchase component parts or subsystems for inclusion in their end products.  Product pricing and quality, customer support, experience, reputation and financial stability are also important competitive factors.

 

There are a limited number of competitors in each of the markets for the various types of precision optical and positioning components and subsystems that we sell.  Our competitors, especially those in the precision optical and positioning product lines, are typically focused on a smaller number of product offerings than we are, and they are often well entrenched.  Some of our competitors have substantially greater resources than we do.  Our competitors could develop enhancements to or future generations of competitive products that will offer superior price or performance features to ours.  In addition, new processes or technologies could emerge that render our products less competitive or obsolete.

 

In addition, a substantial investment is required by an existing or potential customer to integrate capital equipment into a production line, or to integrate components and subsystems into their product design.  We believe that once a customer has selected certain capital equipment or certain components or subsystems from a particular vendor, the customer generally relies upon that vendor to provide equipment for the specific production line or product application and may seek to rely upon that vendor to meet other capital equipment or component or subsystem requirements.  Accordingly, Axsys may be at a competitive disadvantage with respect to a prospective customer that chooses to utilize a competitor's manufacturing equipment or components or subsystems.

 

Further, there are numerous competitors in markets to which we distribute precision ball bearings.  Our competitors, who vary in size, include other ball bearings distributors as well as ball bearing manufacturers.

 

The bases of competition in the industries in which we compete could shift and we may not be able to compete successfully.

 

Sales of our products are dependent on capital spending patterns by our customers, which are cyclical.  Our products can range in price from several hundred dollars per component to upwards of one million dollars or more for an integrated system.  These products can represent significant capital expenditures for our customers and are subject to their capital budgeting and approval processes.  Our customer's capital budgets may be subject to fluctuations due to general economic conditions domestically and overseas, industry economic cycles and customer specific circumstances.  Semiconductor, data storage, and related capital equipment markets can be subjected to sudden and extreme variations in supply and demand for products, including our own.  Any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

We are developing advanced automation systems for the photonics industry and our products may not achieve broad market acceptance.  Our engineered subsystems and automated production and test systems are sold to end-users that manufacture fiber optics/photonic components.  These production and test systems integrate many of our precision optical and positioning components and subsystems with vision systems, robotics and electronic controls produced by third party companies.  We may not be able to successfully integrate all of these technologies into the advanced systems that we believe that this market will eventually demand.  We also may not be able to accurately assess the requirements of our customers and design effective solutions.  Axsys plans to continue to invest in engineering resources and manufacturing capacity for this market.  Our ability to recover this investment and the potential demand for our products is largely dependent upon photonics companies deciding to adopt advanced, automated systems.  We have no control over those decisions. Any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

23



 

Our levels of international sales and purchases could pose risks to our operating results.  Our international sales from continuing operations accounted for approximately 20.3% of net sales in 2001, 19.4% in 2000, and 15.0% in 1999.  In addition, certain of our products are sold to domestic customers who use them in products they sell to international markets. Also, we purchase a substantial portion of our ball bearing products from two foreign suppliers and certain other products from other foreign suppliers.  Our international sales and purchases are subject to a number of risks generally associated with international operations, including general economic conditions, import and export duties and restrictions, currency fluctuations, changes in regulatory requirements, tariffs and other barriers, political and economic instability and potentially adverse tax consequences.  Any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We may not be able to successfully manage expanded operations and acquisitions.  Over the years, we have made several acquisitions of complementary businesses, which we continue to integrate.  This integration strategy includes combining sales channels and customer service operations of these companies as well as integrating their engineering and manufacturing resources to develop value-added systems incorporating our technological capabilities.  We cannot assure you that we will be successful in the integration process.

 

In addition, as part of our business development strategy, we plan to pursue further acquisitions in order to expand our product offerings, add to or enhance our base of technical and sales personnel or provide desirable customer relationships.  This growth could result in a significant strain on our managerial, financial, engineering and other resources.  The rate of our future expansion, if any, in combination with the complexity of the technologies involved in our businesses, may demand an unusually high level of managerial effectiveness in anticipating, planning, coordinating and meeting our operational needs as well as the needs of our customers.  Additionally, we cannot assure you that Axsys will be able to acquire complementary businesses on a cost-effective basis, integrate acquired operations into our organization effectively, retain and motivate key personnel, or retain customers of acquired firms.  We compete for attractive acquisition candidates with other companies or investors, and that competition could increase the cost of pursuing our acquisition strategy or reduce the number of attractive candidates to be acquired. Although Axsys reviews and considers possible acquisitions on an on-going basis, no specific acquisitions are being negotiated or planned as of the date of this report.

 

Many key product components come from single source suppliers.  A significant portion of our precision machining business depends on the adequate supply of specialty metals, such as beryllium, at competitive prices and on reasonable terms. We currently procure all of our beryllium from Brush Wellman, the sole U.S. supplier, and expect to continue to rely on Brush Wellman for beryllium for the foreseeable future.  Although we have not experienced significant problems with our supplier in the past, we cannot assure you that such relationship will continue or that we will continue to obtain such supplies at cost levels that would not adversely affect our gross margins.  The partial or complete loss of Brush Wellman as a supplier of beryllium, or production shortfalls or interruptions that otherwise impair our supply of beryllium, would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  It is uncertain whether alternative sources of supply could be developed without a material disruption in our ability to provide beryllium products to our customers.

 

Although we have not experienced significant problems with our other suppliers in the past, we cannot assure you that such relationships will continue or that, in the event of a termination of our relationships with those other suppliers, we would be able to obtain alternative sources of supply without a material disruption in our ability to provide products to our customers.  In addition, we purchase a substantial amount of ball bearings that we distribute from two foreign suppliers.  Any material disruption in our supply of products would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Our future success depends on our ability to retain key personnel.  Axsys' success depends to a significant extent on the continued services of our key executive officers and senior management personnel.  The loss of the services of one or more of these individuals may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  We do not maintain key man life insurance on our executive officers.  In addition, since our continued success is largely dependent upon our ability to design, manufacture and sell high-performance components and subsystems for the high-performance technology market, we are particularly dependent upon our ability to identify, attract, motivate and retain qualified technical personnel, including engineers and skilled machinists, with the requisite educational background and industry experience.  Our employees may voluntarily terminate their employment with us at any time, and competition for personnel is intense.  Accordingly, we cannot assure that we will be successful in retaining our existing personnel.  The loss of the services of a significant number of our technical or skilled personnel, or the future inability to attract technical or skilled personnel, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

24



 

We must protect our intellectual property rights.  The patents of competitors could impact our business.  Our ability to compete effectively with other companies will depend, in part, on our ability to maintain the proprietary nature of our technology.  We rely upon a combination of patents, trademarks and trade secrets, non-disclosure agreements and other forms of intellectual property protection to safeguard our proprietary technology.  We cannot assure you as to the degree of protection offered by these patents or as to the likelihood that patents will be issued for pending applications.  We also cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain the confidentiality of our trade secrets or that our non-disclosure agreements will provide meaningful protection of our trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information in the event of any unauthorized use, misappropriation or disclosure of such trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information.

 

Competitors in the United States and foreign countries, many of which have substantially greater resources than we do and have made substantial investments in competing technologies, may have applied for or obtained, or may in the future apply for and obtain, patents that will prevent, limit or interfere with our ability to make and sell some of our products.  Although we believe that our existing products do not infringe on the patents or other proprietary rights of third parties, third parties could assert infringement claims against us and such claims could be successful.

 

We must comply with strict environmental regulations; both compliance and non-compliance could result in material liabilities or costs.  We are subject to a variety of federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations relating to the use, storage, discharge and disposal of hazardous chemicals used during our engineering, research and development and manufacturing activities.  Failure to comply with applicable environmental requirements could result in substantial liability to Axsys, suspension or cessation of our operations, restrictions on our ability to expand our operations or requirements for the acquisition of additional equipment or other significant expense, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  In addition, we cannot assure you  (a) that changes in federal, state or local laws, regulations or regulatory policy, or the discovery of unknown problems or conditions, will not in the future require substantial expenditures, or (b) as to the extent of our liabilities, if any, for past failures, if any, to comply with applicable environmental laws, regulations and permits, any of which also could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

During 2000, Axsys recorded a charge to discontinued operations of $1.3 million, before a tax benefit of $0.5 million, relating to increases in reserves for certain environmental costs associated with formerly owned properties.  The current accruals of $1.6 million associated with these sites assume that certain approvals will be received from state regulatory authorities. However, we cannot assure you that we will receive these approvals.  If these approvals are not received, our costs could increase substantially.  In addition, even if such approvals are received, the costs actually incurred may exceed the reserves established.

 

During December 2001, we received a letter from the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") notifying us that we are considered to be a potentially responsible party at a site located in Prospect, Connecticut, which until 1978 was owned by a former subsidiary.  It is our policy to accrue environmental cleanup related costs only when those costs are believed to be probable and can be reasonably estimated.  The quantification of environmental exposure with respect to this site, if any, requires an assessment of many factors, including the quality of information available, the assessment stage of each investigation, preliminary findings and the length of time involved in remediation. Currently, it is not possible for us to estimate a meaningful range of exposure based on the limited amount of information received.

 

We have made and continue to make investments in protective equipment, process controls, manufacturing procedures and training in order to minimize the risks to our employees, surrounding communities and the environment due to the presence and handling of hazardous materials.  The failure to properly handle these materials could lead to harmful exposure for employees or to the discharge of certain hazardous waste materials. Since Axsys does not carry environmental impairment insurance, such a failure could lead to a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, environmental problems could develop in the future which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We must continue to invest significant resources to maintain and upgrade our manufacturing capabilities.  We have invested, and intend to continue to invest, in state-of-the-art equipment in order to increase, expand, update or relocate our manufacturing capabilities and facilities.  Changes in technology or sales growth beyond currently established manufacturing capabilities would require that we make further investment.  We cannot assure you that we will generate sufficient funds from operations to finance any required investment or that other sources of funding will be available on

 

25



 

terms acceptable to us, if at all.  Furthermore, any further expansion could negatively impact our business, financial condition or results and operations.

 

One shareholder controls a significant block of Axsys stock and this concentration could affect important operating decisions.  The Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Axsys owns approximately 27% of the outstanding common stock as of December 31, 2001.  As a result, he will have the ability to exert influence with respect to corporate actions, including the election of directors and certain sales or mergers and acquisitions.

 

Our stock price has been volatile and may continue to fluctuate substantially.  The price of our common stock may be subject to significant fluctuations.  That price volatility may be attributable, at least in part, to the limited number of shares generally available for sale in the public market.  In addition, factors, such as, actual or anticipated quarterly fluctuations in our financial results, changes in recommendations or earnings estimates by securities analysts, announcements of technological innovations or new commercial products or services and the timing of announcements of acquisitions or dispositions by Axsys or our competitors, as well as conditions in our markets generally, may have a significant adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.  Furthermore, the stock market historically has experienced volatility which has particularly affected the market prices of securities of many technology companies and which sometimes has been unrelated to the operating performances of such companies.

 

Certain anti-takeover provisions could cause harm to our shareholders.  Our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the "Certificate of Incorporation"), our By-Laws (the "By-Laws") and the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") contain certain provisions which could delay or impede the removal of incumbent directors and could make a merger, tender offer or proxy contest involving Axsys more difficult, even if such a transaction would be beneficial to the interests of the shareholders, or could discourage a third party from attempting to acquire control of Axsys.

 

We have authorized 4,000,000 shares of our preferred stock, none of which is currently outstanding, and which we could issue without further shareholder approval and upon terms and conditions, and having rights, privileges and preferences, as the Board of Directors may determine.  We have no current plans to issue any preferred stock.

 

The By-Laws include provisions establishing advance notice procedures with respect to shareholder proposals and director nominations, and permitting the calling of special shareholder meetings only by the written consent of three-quarters of the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board.  The Certificate of Incorporation provides that in lieu of a meeting, action may be taken by written consent of our shareholders only by unanimous consent.  These provisions could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control of Axsys, and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of holders of common stock.

 

In addition, we are subject to section 203 of the DGCL, which, among other things and subject to certain exceptions, restricts certain business transactions between a corporation and a shareholder owning 15% or more of the corporation's outstanding voting stock (an "interested shareholder") for a period of three years from the date the shareholder becomes an interested shareholder.  These provisions may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of Axsys without action by the shareholders and, therefore, could adversely affect the price of our common stock.  In the event of a change of control of Axsys, the vesting of outstanding options issued under our long-term stock incentive plan may be accelerated at the discretion of the committee administering the plan or may be required to be accelerated under certain circumstances provided for in each incentive agreement.

 

Absence of Dividends on Common Stock.  Axsys does not anticipate paying dividends on its common stock in the foreseeable future.

 

Item 7a.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Axsys' market risk sensitive instruments do not subject Axsys to material market risk exposures.

 

 

26



Item 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

The response to this Item is included in Item 14(a) of this Report.

 

Item 9.  DISAGREEMENTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

PART III

 

The information required by Part III is incorporated by reference to Axsys' definitive proxy statement for its 2002 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days following the end of Axsys' fiscal year ended December 31, 2001.  If such proxy statement is not so filed, such information will be filed as an amendment to this Form 10-K within 120 days following the end of Axsys' fiscal year ended December 31, 2001.

 

27



 

PART IV

 

Item 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

(a)(1) and (2) and (d) Financial Statements

 

See accompanying index to consolidated financial statements and schedule.

 

(a)(3) Exhibits

 

Exhibit Number

 

Description

 

 

 

3(1)

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3(4) to the Company’s Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, dated October 17, 1997 (File No. 333-36027) (the “Form S-1”) and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

3(2)

 

By-Laws of the Company (filed as Exhibit 2 to the Form 8-A dated August 8, 1991 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10(1)

 

Severance Agreement between the Company and Kenneth F. Stern dated as of June 10, 1996 (filed as Exhibit 10(16) to the Form S-1 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10(2)

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement, dated as of September 30, 1991 (filed as Exhibit 10(17) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 1991 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10(3)

 

Summary of Annual Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10(22) to the Form S-1 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10(4)

 

Supplemental Revenue Growth Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10(23) to the Form S-1 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10(5)

 

Axsys Technologies, Inc. Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit C to the Company’s Proxy Statement dated September 23, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10(6)

 

Resolution approved on November 8, 1999 amending Section 2(l) of the Long Term Stock Incentive Plan.  (filed as Exhibit 10(12) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference.)

 

 

 

10 (7)

 

Severance Protection Agreement between the Company and Stephen W. Bershad dated as of February 11, 1999 (filed as Exhibit 10(1) to the Company’s Form 10-Q, dated May 11, 1999, for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 1999 (the “March 31, 1999 Form 10-Q”) and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10 (8)

 

Severance Protection Agreement between the Company and Kenneth F. Stern dated as of February 11, 1999 (filed as Exhibit 10(4) to the March 31, 1999 Form 10-Q and incorporated herein by reference).

10 (9)

 

Letter Agreement between Mark J. Bonney and the Company dated as of August 1, 1999 (filed as Exhibit 10(4) to the September 30, 1999 Form 10-Q and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10 (10)

 

Severance Protection Agreement between the Company and Mark J. Bonney dated as of August 30, 1999 (filed as Exhibit 10(5) to the September 30, 1999 Form 10-Q and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10 (11)

 

Amendment to Axsys Technologies, Inc. Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit A to the Company’s Proxy Statement dated April 24, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10 (12)

 

Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2000, between the Company, and Westlake Technology Company.

 

 

 

10 (13)

 

Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2000, between the Company, and Automation Engineering, Inc.

 

 

 

10 (14)

 

Compensation Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2000, between the Company, and Stephen W. Bershad.

 

 

 

10 (15)

 

Letter Agreement between John E. Hanley and the Company dated as of March 8, 2000 (filed as Exhibit 10(28) to the March 31, 2001 Form 10-Q and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10 (16)

 

Letter Agreement between Stephen W. Bershad and the Company dated October 4, 2001, extending term of initial period of the Employment Agreement.

 

 

 

10 (17)

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement for all Directors and Officers of the Company.

 

 

 

10 (18)

 

Letter Agreement between David A. Almeida and the Company dates as of November 14, 2001.

 

 

 

21

 

Subsidiaries of the Registrant

 

 

 

22

 

Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

 

(b)      Reports on Form 8-K

 

None during the quarter ended December 31, 2001.

 

28


 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated:

March 18, 2002

 

AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

By

/s/ STEPHEN W. BERSHAD

 

 

Stephen W. Bershad

 

Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated this the 18th day of March 2002.

 

 

/s/ Stephen W. Bershad

 

Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer

 

Stephen W. Bershad

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Mark J. Bonney

 

President, Chief Operating Officer & Director

 

Mark J. Bonney

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ David A. Almeida

 

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer & Secretary

 

David A. Almeida

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Anthony J. Fiorelli, Jr.

 

Director

 

Anthony J. Fiorelli, Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Eliot M. Fried

 

Director

 

Eliot M. Fried

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Richard F. Hamm, Jr.

 

Director

 

Richard F. Hamm, Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Robert G. McConnell

 

Director

 

Robert G. McConnell

 

 

29



 

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

 

ITEM 8, ITEM 14(a)(1) and (2) and ITEM 14(d)

 

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001

 

AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 



 

FORM 10-K — ITEM 14(a)(1) and (2) and Item 14(d)

 

AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

 

The following consolidated financial statements of Axsys Technologies, Inc. are included in Item 8:

 

Report of Independent Public Accountants

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets — December 31, 2001 and 2000

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations — For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows — For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999

 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity — For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999

 

Notes to consolidated financial statements

 

The following consolidated financial statement schedule of Axsys Technologies, Inc., is included in Item 14(d):

 

Schedule II — Valuation and qualifying accounts

 

All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and, therefore, have been omitted.

 

F-2



 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

 

To the Shareholders of

Axsys Technologies, Inc.:

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Axsys Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2001.  These financial statements and the schedule referred to below are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Axsys Technologies, Inc. and subsidiaries, as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2001 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

 

Our audits were made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole.  The schedule listed in the index to financial statements and financial statement schedule is presented for purposes of complying with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and is not part of the basic financial statements.  This schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, fairly states in all material respects the financial data required to be set forth therein in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

 

ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

 

New York, New York

February 8, 2002

 

F-3



 

AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

9,906

 

$

14,850

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $663 in 2001 and $527 in 2000

 

10,861

 

13,937

 

Inventories

 

22,610

 

25,435

 

Income tax receivable

 

3,633

 

 

Deferred tax asset

 

2,411

 

2,581

 

Other current assets

 

779

 

712

 

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

 

50,200

 

57,515

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net

 

13,417

 

12,816

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXCESS OF COST OVER NET ASSETS ACQUIRED, net of accumulated amortization of $1,135 in 2001 and $1,138 in 2000

 

3,065

 

3,062

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS

 

599

 

199

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

67,281

 

$

73,592

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

4,853

 

$

7,009

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

9,121

 

8,172

 

Current portion of long-term capital lease obligations

 

847

 

814

 

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

14,821

 

15,995

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAPITAL LEASES, less current portion

 

1,392

 

1,485

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

 

4,628

 

2,691

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMON STOCK, $.01 PAR VALUE: authorized 30,000,000 shares, issued 4,792,674 at December 31, 2001 and 2000

 

47

 

47

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAPITAL IN EXCESS OF PAR

 

39,621

 

39,675

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RETAINED EARNINGS

 

7,813

 

14,965

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TREASURY STOCK, at cost, 96,876 at December 31, 2001 and 108,553 shares at December 31, 2000

 

(1,041

)

(1,266

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

46,440

 

53,421

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

$

67,281

 

$

73,592

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-4



 

AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

NET SALES

 

$

89,210

 

$

91,841

 

$

85,418

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

75,137

 

72,178

 

64,413

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

20,878

 

21,847

 

17,188

 

Research and development expenses

 

3,551

 

3,484

 

3,350

 

Restructuring charges

 

1,360

 

1,655

 

 

Nonrecurring merger-related charges

 

 

460

 

 

Impairment of assets

 

 

 

8,993

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

(3

)

105

 

400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING LOSS

 

(11,713

)

(7,888

)

(8,926

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income/(expense), net

 

153

 

496

 

(376

)

Special charge

 

 

 

(784

)

Other income

 

207

 

324

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TAXES AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

(11,353

)

(7,068

)

(10,057

)

Benefit from income taxes

 

4,201

 

2,764

 

854

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

(7,152

)

(4,304

)

(9,203

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discontinued Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations, net of tax expense of $333 in 2000 and $866 in 1999

 

 

513

 

2,081

 

Gain on disposal, net of tax provision of $7,947 in 2000

 

 

13,314

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, net of tax

 

 

13,827

 

2,081

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET (LOSS)/INCOME

 

$

(7,152

)

$

9,523

 

$

(7,122

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BASIC (LOSS)/EARNINGS PER SHARE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations

 

$

(1.53

)

$

(0.92

)

$

(1.95

)

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

2.97

 

0.44

 

 

 

$

(1.53

$

2.05

 

$

(1.51

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average basic common shares outstanding

 

4,688,307

 

4,656,581

 

4,714,997

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DILUTED (LOSS)/EARNINGS PER SHARE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations

 

$

(1.53

)

$

(0.92

)

(1.95

)

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

2.97

 

0.44

 

Total

 

$

(1.53

)

$

2.05

 

$

(1.51

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding

 

4,688,307

 

4,656,581

 

4,714,997

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-5



 

AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income/(loss)

 

$

(7,152

)

$

9,523

 

$

(7,122

)

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to cash (used in)/provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes

 

 

(13,776

)

 

Impairment of assets

 

 

 

8,993

 

Deferred income taxes – net

 

(740

)

585

 

(568

)

Depreciation and amortization

 

3,083

 

3,108

 

2,992

 

Change in net assets of discontinued operations

 

 

(9,915

)

(1,829

)

Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable

 

3,076

 

(2,386

)

3,300

 

Decrease (increase) in inventories

 

2,825

 

889

 

(819

)

Increase in current income tax receivable

 

(3,633

)

 

 

(Increase) decrease in other current assets

 

(67

)

(264

)

275

 

(Decrease) increase in accounts payable

 

(2,156

)

802

 

(1,040

)

Increase (decrease) current accrued liabilities

 

(411

)

1,089

 

(964

)

Increase (decrease) in long-term liabilities

 

2,371

 

(492

)

(333

)

Restructuring charge

 

1,360

 

1,655

 

 

Other-net

 

212

 

365

 

66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET CASH (USED IN)/PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

(1,232

)

(8,817

)

2,951

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(3,948

)

(3,947

)

(3,659

)

Disposal of capital equipment

 

261

 

76

 

 

Net proceeds from sale of discontinued operations

 

 

31,223

 

975

 

Advance to third party

 

 

 

(804

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET CASH PROVIDED BY/(USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

(3,687

)

27,352

 

(3,488

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from borrowings

 

762

 

490

 

3,276

 

Repayment of borrowings

 

(822

)

(5,109

)

(1,008

)

Purchases of treasury stock

 

 

 

(1,434

)

Other

 

35

 

549

 

19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET CASH (USED IN)/PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

(25

)

(4,070

)

853

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

(4,944

)

14,465

 

316

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR

 

14,850

 

385

 

69

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR

 

$

9,906

 

$

14,850

 

$

385

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-6



 

AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Capital in

 

Retained

 

Treasury

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Excess Of Par

 

Earnings

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Balance at December 31, 1998

 

4,789,434

 

$

47

 

$

40,755

 

$

12,564

 

(117,750

)

$

(1,640

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

(7,122

)

 

 

Treasury stock acquired

 

 

 

 

 

(142,700

)

(1,434

)

Contribution to 401(k) plan

 

 

 

7

 

 

8,419

 

105

 

Common stock issued for

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teletrac 1997 acquisition

 

 

 

(1,286

)

 

95,493

 

1,286

 

Other

 

 

 

(28

)

 

4,200

 

45

 

Balance at December 31, 1999

 

4,789,434

 

$

47

 

$

39,448

 

$

5,442

 

(152,338

)

$

(1,638

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

9,523

 

 

 

Treasury stock issued

 

 

 

227

 

 

39,086

 

322

 

Common stock issued

 

3,240

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contribution to 401(k) plan

 

 

 

 

 

4,699

 

50

 

Balance at December 31, 2000

 

4,792,674

 

$

47

 

$

39,675

 

$

14,965

 

(108,553

)

$

(1,266

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

(7,152

)

 

 

Treasury stock issued

 

 

 

(54

)

 

8,400

 

189

 

Treasury stock repurchased

 

 

 

 

 

(3,304

)

(35

)

Contribution to 401(k) plan

 

 

 

 

 

6,581

 

71

 

Balance at December 31, 2001

 

4,792,674

 

$

47

 

$

39,621

 

$

7,813

 

(96,876

)

$

(1,041

)

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-7



 

AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands)

 

December 31, 2001

 

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Axsys Technologies, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively “Axsys” or the “Company”).  All material inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Axsys is a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance custom nano-positioning components, subsystems and systems.  The Company also designs and manufactures precision optical components for internal consumption as well as for sales to third parties.  In addition, Axsys distributes precision ball bearings for use in a variety of industrial and commercial applications. The components, subsystems and bearings are sold to a variety of original equipment manufacturers (“OEM”s), serving the following markets:

 

      Aerospace and defense

      Semiconductor, data storage, and related capital equipment

      High-performance graphic art capital equipment

      Industrial automation OEM and maintenance repair operations (“MRO”)

 

Axsys sells semi and fully automated development, inspection and production systems, utilizing its nano-positioning capabilities and proprietary software controls, integrated with other third party products. These are sold to end-users that manufacture semiconductor, photonic, and other high technology components.

 

Revenue is recognized in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulleting No. 101.  SAB 101 requires that four basic criteria must be met before revenue can be recognized:  (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred or services rendered; (3) the fee is fixed and determinable; and (4) collectibility is reasonably assured.  Shipping & handling costs, such as freight to customers, are classified in cost of sales.  These costs, when included in the sales price charged for products, are recognized in net sales.

 

Revenue under most government long-term fixed-price contracts is recognized as deliveries are made.  Provisions for estimated losses on contracts are recorded when losses become evident.

 

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” was issued in August 2001.  SFAS No. 144 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001.  The Company has not yet determined the impact, if any, this new standard will have on its reported results of operations and cash flows.

 

SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations”, was issued in August 2001.  SFAS No. 143 is effective in 2003.  It requires the recording of an asset and a liability equal to the present value of the estimated costs associated with the retirement of long-lived assets where a legal or contractual obligation exists.  The asset is required to be depreciated over the life of the related equipment or facility, and the liability accreted each year based on a present value interest rate.  Axsys has not yet evaluated the impact of adopting SFAS No. 143 on its consolidated position or results of operations.

 

F-8



 

SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, was issued in June 2001.  It changes the accounting for goodwill by eliminating goodwill amortization beginning in 2002.  It will also require at least an annual assessment of goodwill impairment.  The initial test for impairment must be completed by December 31, 2002, but any impairment would be reflected as an accounting change recorded retroactively in the first quarter of 2002.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS No. 142.  Goodwill amortization, which amounted to $140 offset by negative amortization of $143 in 2001, will no longer be an expense in 2002, thus increasing earnings, but with no impact on cash flow.  The Company has not completed impairment testing and therefore cannot quantify the statement’s impact on its consolidated financial statements.  It is possible that some goodwill will be required to be written off in 2002.  The Company’s negative goodwill of $535 as of December 31, 2001 will be reversed as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in the first quarter of 2002.

 

SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations”, was issued on June 30, 2001.  The Statement requires that all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 be accounted for using the purchase accounting method, eliminating the use of the pooling-of-interest method.  It also specifies that the purchase price must first be allocated to specific tangible and intangible assets before determination.

 

SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, was issued in June 1998.  SFAS No. 133, as amended by SFAS No. 138, was effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000.  The Company did not use derivative instruments during 2001.  As a result, the implementation of the Statement did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial position or consolidated results of the Company.  Axsys adopted the standard on January 1, 2001.

 

The excess of cost over net assets acquired is being amortized over a periods ranging from 5 to 35 years using the straight-line method.  Axsys continually reviews goodwill to assess recoverability from future operations using undiscounted cash flows.  Impairments are recognized in operating results when a permanent diminution in value occurs.

 

Cash and cash equivalents include highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase.

 

Significant costs are incurred each year in connection with research, development, and engineering (“RD&E”) programs that are expected to contribute to future earnings.  Such costs are charged to income as incurred.

 

Inventory values include all costs directly associated with manufacturing products: materials, labor and manufacturing overhead.  These values are stated at the lower of cost or market and are generally determined using the first-in, first-out method.

 

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation.  Depreciation is provided primarily by the straight-line method using estimated lives for buildings and improvements of 20 to 25 years and using estimated useful lives ranging from 3 to 8 years for machinery and equipment.

 

Environmental contingencies are accrued for when responsibility for cleanup is determined and when costs are probable and reasonably estimable. When costs are not reasonably estimated, no accrual is made.

 

Basic earnings per share have been computed by dividing Net Income/(Loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  When there is a loss from continuing operations, the computation of the dilutive net loss per share is based on the weighted average basic shares outstanding.  The dilutive effect of stock options on the weighted average number of common shares would have been 36,364 in 2001, 84,499 in 2000 and 13,451 in 1999 if the effect were not anti-dilutive.

 

Other income includes principal payments of $232 in 2001, $233 in 2000 and $34 in 1999 for a fully reserved note received from the 1998 sale of Sensor Systems.

 

F-9



 

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

 

Note 2 – Restructuring Charge and Special Charge

 

Cost Reduction Plan

 

During the second quarter of 2001, the Company adopted a major cost reduction program (the “Cost Reduction Plan”), which resulted in a pretax charge to earnings of approximately $9,208, or $5,801 after-tax.  The total cash cost of the plan is expected to be approximately $1,300 of which $1,000 has been spent through December 31, 2001.

 

The Cost Reduction Plan reduced expenses by approximately $2,000 in the second half of 2001, with cost reductions reaching an annualized rate of approximately $4,300.

 

The Company closed a small manufacturing facility in Manchester, Connecticut and consolidated its activities into the Imaging Systems unit in Rochester Hills, Michigan.  The Company closed a small, satellite facility in Newbury Park, California, and consolidated it into the Integrated Systems Division facility in Santa Barbara, California.  Pre-tax charges associated with these shutdowns were $118 for facility exit costs.  The Company reduced its workforce at five locations by 59 people or 9% of the total workforce. The Company has accrued $992 for all severance and outplacement costs.  The Company accrued $250 to cover any legal expenses related to the cost reduction program.

 

The Company reviewed its inventory and other assets. The Company recorded a charge of $2,943 to cover expected losses on two long-term defense contracts.  The earnings charge also includes an increase in reserves for excess and obsolete inventories of approximately $4,425.  The Company disposed of approximately $5,094 of inventory by December 31, 2001.

 

Other costs associated with the Cost Reduction Plan include the write-off of $293 in tooling and $85 in software costs.

 

Through December 31, 2001, Axsys recorded the following amounts in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in connection with the Cost Reduction Plan:

 

 

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

Selling, General & Administrative Expense

 

Restructuring Charge

 

Total

 

Inventory write-downs

 

$

4,425

 

$

 

$

 

$

4,425

 

Loss contract reserves

 

2,943

 

 

 

2,943

 

Work force reductions

 

 

 

1,242

 

1,242

 

Fixed asset write-downs

 

293

 

85

 

 

378

 

Facilities

 

 

 

118

 

118

 

Other

 

 

102

 

 

102

 

Total

 

$

7,661

 

$

187

 

$

1,360

 

$

9,208

 

 

F-10



 

Other costs directly related to the Cost Reduction Plan, which are not eligible for recognition at the commitment date, such as relocation and other integration costs, are expensed as incurred.  The Company incurred $102 of these costs through December 31, 2001.

 

The following table shows the balance sheet activity for the reserve and accrual accounts as of December 31, 2001:

 

 

 

Inventory Reserves

 

Loss Contract Reserve

 

Restructuring Accrual

 

Q2 2001 Charges

 

$

4,425

 

$

2,943

 

$

1,738

 

Q3 2001 Activity

 

(1,420

)

(58

)

(642

)

Q4 2001 Activity

 

(2,663

)

(60

)

(438

)

Balance at December 31, 2001

 

$

342

 

$

2,825

 

$

658

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash expenditures

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,042

 

 

The Company anticipates the majority of cash costs for the plan will be completed by April 2002.

 

Strategic Realignment

 

On February 11, 2000, Axsys announced a restructuring plan to improve efficiency and enhance competitiveness under two new major groups to better serve its markets and customers (the “Strategic Realignment”).  This plan resulted in a non-recurring charge of $5,398, pre-tax, a workforce reduction of 50 employees from various locations, relocation or consolidation of two of its facilities, and the write down of fixed assets and potentially obsolete inventory.

 

Through December 31, 2000, Axsys recorded the following amounts in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in connection with the Strategic Realignment:

 

 

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

Selling, General & Administrative Expense

 

Restructuring Charge

 

Total

 

Work force reductions

 

$

 

$

 

$

915

 

$

915

 

Facilities

 

260

 

392

 

740

 

1,392

 

Inventory write-downs

 

2,301

 

 

 

2,301

 

Fixed asset write-downs

 

 

504

 

 

504

 

Other costs

 

 

286

 

 

286

 

Total

 

$

2,561

 

$

1,182

 

$

1,655

 

$

5,398

 

 

During the first quarter 2000, the Company charged $2,520 to cost of goods sold, $688 to selling, general and administrative expenses and $1,407 to restructuring costs.  During the second quarter of 2000, the Company charged $43 to cost of goods sold, $210 to selling, general and administrative expenses and $297 to restructuring costs.  During the third and fourth quarters of 2000, the Company charged $281 and $3, respectively, to selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

F-11



 

Below is a reconciliation of accrued charges to the timing of cash expended:

 

 

 

Restructuring Accrual

 

Q1 2000 charges

 

$

1,862

 

Q2 2000 charges

 

297

 

Total accrued charges

 

2,159

 

Cash expended in 2000

 

(1,407

)

Balance at December 31, 2000

 

$

752

 

 

 

 

 

Cash expended in 2001

 

(752

)

Balance at December 31, 2001

 

$

 

 

Other costs directly related to the Strategic Realignment, which are not eligible for recognition at the commitment date, such as relocation and other integration costs, are expensed as incurred.  During 2000, Axsys incurred $941 of these other costs.

 

The Strategic Realignment was completed during the fourth quarter of 2001.  During 2001, the Company disposed of $1,000 of obsolete inventory and $70 of obsolete tooling related to the Strategic Realignment.

 

For the Strategic Realignment, total cash expended was $3,100, of which approximately $2,159 had been accrued for during the first half of 2000 and $941 was expensed as incurred.

 

Note 3 - Acquisitions and Divestiture

 

On September 30, 2000, Axsys acquired Westlake Technology Corporation (“Westlake”).  Westlake designs, manufactures and distributes micro-positioning and precision optical products. This acquisition was accounted for under the purchase accounting methodology.  The fair value of assets acquired in the Westlake transaction over the purchase price resulted in negative goodwill of $713, which will be amortized over five years.  On August 12, 1998, Axsys entered into an agreement with Westlake whereby Axsys was granted the exclusive right to market and sell Westlake’s electronic and electromechanical test equipment.  In return for these exclusive rights, the Company had agreed to provide loans of up to a maximum of $1,900 to Westlake.  During the fourth quarter of 1999, Axsys recorded a $1,864 charge to write-down the carrying value of the note.  (See Note 14).

 

On October 18, 2000, Axsys merged with Automation Engineering, Inc in exchange for 666,667 shares of Axsys’ restricted common stock.  AEI designs, manufactures and distributes micro-positioning and precision optical products.  This merger was accounted for under the pooling of interests method of accounting and, accordingly, the results of Axsys’ Consolidated Statements of Operations have been restated to include the accounts and operations of Automation Engineering, Inc.  The operating results for AEI were not material to the combined results of Axsys for all periods prior to 2000, and therefore, results for those periods have not been restated.  The Company incurred $460 of merger-related costs during 2000.

 

F-12



 

Note 4 - Discontinued Operations

 

On March 17, 2000, Axsys sold the net assets of its Beau Interconnect division (“Beau”) for $31,800 in cash and recorded an after-tax gain of approximately $14,080 in the first quarter of 2000.  Beau designs and manufactures interconnect devices, barrier terminal blocks and connectors.  Accordingly, Beau has been accounted for as a discontinued operation and the related net assets and operating results have been reported separately from continuing operations in all years presented.  Revenues applicable to this discontinued operation were $846 during 2000 and $19,341 during 1999.  Proceeds from the sale were utilized to pay off a credit facility of $4,200 at December 31, 1999 which liabilities have been included in current liabilities.

 

During 2000, Axsys’ environmental consultants advised that the costs associated with the remediation of two previously discontinued operation sites were estimated to be higher than originally anticipated.  The estimates to remediate these sites ranged from approximately $1,200 to $1,900.  Actual costs may be different than these estimates.  Based on this information, Axsys increased its accrual relating to these sites in fiscal 2000 to approximately $1,598 by recording a discontinued operation charge of $1,258, before a tax benefit of $492.

 

On December 21, 2001, Axsys received a letter from the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") notifying the Company that they are considered to be a potentially responsible party for a site located in Prospect, Connecticut, which until 1978 was owned by a former subsidiary.  The letter also demands payment of approximately $25,000 in past response costs and unspecified future costs.  Although the Company may be obligated under CERCLA for contributions towards response costs incurred as a result of alleged releases of hazardous substances at the site, the Company is still investigating the prior connection to the site.  Currently, it is not possible to estimate a meaningful range of exposure based on the limited amount of information received. The Company has not recorded any accrual for this exposure.

 

Note 5 - Shareholders’ Equity

 

Common Stock -

 

On October 18, 2000, Axsys issued 666,667 shares of restricted common stock in connection with the merger of Automation Engineering, Inc.

 

Treasury Stock -

 

In August 1998, Axsys’ Board of Directors authorized the repurchase, from time to time, on the open market or otherwise, of up to 200,000 shares of common stock at prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.  During July 1999, the Board of Directors authorized an increase in the share repurchase program from an aggregate of 200,000 shares of common stock to an aggregate of 700,000 shares. As of December 31, 1999, Axsys had repurchased 262,200 shares for an aggregate purchase price of $3,098.  There were no repurchases of stock during 2000. During 2001, Axsys accepted 3,304 shares of stock in lieu of cash for the exercise of a stock option grant. Axsys used a portion of the repurchased shares in connection with the acquisition of Teletrac and plans to use the balance for general corporate purposes, including the satisfaction of commitments under its employee benefit plans.

 

Note 6 - Long-Term Debt and Capital Leases

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

Capital lease obligations

 

2,239

 

2,299

 

Less current portion

 

847

 

814

 

 

 

 

$

1,392

 

$

1,485

 

 

Axsys has financed the acquisition of certain machinery and equipment with capital lease obligations.  During 2001, the Company established a $3,000 capital lease facility expiring in September 2002 with $2,208 of unused capacity remaining at December 31, 2001.  As of December 31, 2001, outstanding capital lease obligations bear interest at annual rates ranging from 5.7% to 8.0%.  All capital lease obligations mature between 2004 and 2005.

 

Scheduled principal payments under capital leases are $847 (2002), $822 (2003), $388 (2004) and $182 (2005).

 

F-13



 

Axsys had an $11,000 credit facility, which expired on April 25, 2000.  Borrowings under the credit facility through December 31, 1999 bore interest at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the rate of interest publicly announced by Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. as the lower of its prime rate (the prime rate was 8.50% at December 31, 1999), or the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), plus a margin ranging from 0.75% to 1.50%.  A commitment fee of 0.375% was payable on any unused amount of the credit facility.  In conjunction with the sale of Beau on March 17, 2000 (see Note 4), Axsys used part of the proceeds to pay down the outstanding balance of the credit facility.  The credit facility was terminated upon payment of the outstanding balance. Interest expense incurred was $141 in 2000 and $393 in 1999.

 

Note 7 – Balance Sheet Information

 

The details of certain balance sheet accounts are as follows:

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

Inventories:

 

 

 

 

 

Raw materials

 

$

4,035

 

$

7,492

 

Work-in-process

 

8,389

 

7,890

 

Finished goods

 

10,186

 

10,053

 

 

 

$

22,610

 

$

25,435

 

 

Work-in-process inventory at December 31, 2001 and 2000 is recorded net of progress payments received from customers on uncompleted contracts of $841 and $822, respectively.

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

Property, plant and equipment, net:

 

 

 

 

 

Land

 

$

291

 

$

291

 

Buildings and improvements

 

4,353

 

4,226

 

Machinery and equipment

 

21,681

 

20,100

 

 

 

26,325

 

24,617

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

(12,908

)

(11,801

)

 

 

$

13,417

 

$

12,816

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation and related benefits

 

$

3,099

 

$

3,682

 

Accrued income taxes

 

1,019

 

(663

)

Customer deposits

 

840

 

822

 

Environmental reserve - short-term

 

791

 

854

 

Restructuring accrual

 

658

 

751

 

Stock redemption accrual

 

498

 

536

 

Warranty reserve

 

441

 

497

 

Loss contract reserve - short-term

 

225

 

 

Other

 

1,550

 

1,693

 

 

 

$

9,121

 

$

8,172

 

 

F-14



 

Note 8 – Income Taxes

 

The (benefit from)/provision for taxes on income from continuing operations before discontinued operations consists of:

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

Current taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Federal

 

$

(3,591

)

$

(3,030

)

$

(519

)

State and local

 

130

 

80

 

65

 

 

 

(3,461

)

(2,950

)

(454

)

Deferred taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Federal

 

(683

)

124

 

(348

)

State and local

 

(57

)

62

 

(52

)

 

 

 

(740

)

 

186

 

 

(400

)

Total tax benefit:

 

$

(4,201

)

$

(2,764

)

$

(854

)

 

The reasons for the difference between the provision for taxes and the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to Loss from Continuing Operations Before Taxes and Discontinued Operations are as follows:

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

Federal statutory rate

 

35

%

35

%

34

%

Computed expected tax benefit

 

$

(3,974

)

$

(2,474

)

$

(3,419

)

Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State and local taxes, net of federal tax benefit

 

28

 

114

 

(9

)

Amortization of goodwill

 

(1

)

36

 

136

 

Impairment of assets

 

 

 

2,424

 

Tax exempt interest

 

(55

)

(144

)

 

Other

 

(199

)

(296

)

14

 

Actual tax benefit

 

$

(4,201

)

$

(2,764

)

$

(854

)

 

Deferred income taxes reflect the net federal and state tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.  Axsys reversed $169 of its valuation allowance related to net deferred tax assets of discontinued operations with the corresponding tax benefit included in the results of discontinued operations during 1999.  In 2000, Axsys reversed $728 of its valuation allowance related to net deferred tax assets of discontinued operations with the corresponding tax benefit included in the results of discontinued operations.

 

Significant components of the Axsys’ deferred taxes are as follows:

 

 

 

December 31

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

Valuation differences for:

 

 

 

 

 

Inventories

 

$

1,944

 

$

1,785

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

(1,355

)

(1,295

)

Loss contract reserve

 

1,101

 

 

Note receivable - sensor systems

 

515

 

630

 

Restructuring accrual

 

257

 

293

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

251

 

179

 

Other, net

 

174

 

555

 

Net deferred taxes

 

$

2,887

 

$

2,147

 

 

Axsys plans to carry-back the net operating loss generated in the current year to the December 31, 2000 income tax year and has recorded a corresponding current receivable of $3,600.

 

F-15



 

Note 9 – Segment Data

 

In February 2001, Axsys announced a strategic realignment whereby the Company is organized by market segment in three major groups.  The strategic realignment has resulted in a change in the composition of Axsys’ reportable segments and, accordingly, all periods reported have been restated.  Axsys classifies its businesses under three major groups, the Precision Components Group, Distributed Products Group and Automation Group.

 

The Precision Components Group designs, manufactures and sells high-end components such as precision position sensors, high-performance motors, precision metal optics, and laser-based airbearing scanners and optomechanical and electro-mechanical subassemblies.  Axsys’ products enable original equipment manufacturers (“OEM”s) to improve measurement precision, imaging, positional performance (accuracy, resolution, speed and power), and weight requirements in their systems.  Principal markets for these products include OEMs serving the aerospace, defense, high-end graphic arts, semiconductor, data storage, photonic, and other related electronics capital equipment markets.

 

The Automation Group designs, manufactures and sells automated production and test systems and nano-positioning subsystems to high technology customers that produce semiconductor, data storage, fiber optics/photonics component products and other high technology products.  These production and test systems integrate many of the precision optical and positioning components and subsystems produced by the Precision Components Group with vision systems, robotics and electronic controls produced by third party companies.  Axsys integrates these products into automation systems using its proprietary FlexAuto and Control Light software. These tools are designed to enable customers to more accurately and repeatedly produce their component products, thereby increasing the yield and throughput of their production and test processes.

 

The Distributed Products Group distributes precision ball bearings, acquired from various domestic and international sources, to OEMs and Maintenance Repair Operation (“MRO”) distributors.  The ball bearings are used in a variety of industrial automation and commercial markets.  Additionally, the Distributed Products Group designs, manufactures and sells mechanical bearing subassemblies for a variety of customers.

 

As discussed in Note 4, Axsys sold its Beau and Sensor Systems divisions.  The disposal of these businesses has been accounted for as discontinued operations and, accordingly, their related operating results have been reported separately from continuing operations.  The segment data below excludes their results.

 

The following tables present financial data for each Axsys segment:

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

Net sales from continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Precision Components Group

 

$

55,916

 

$

49,921

 

$

51,489

 

Automation Group

 

10,269

 

10,670

 

7,772

 

Distributed Products Group

 

23,025

 

31,250

 

26,157

 

Total Sales

 

$

89,210

 

$

91,841

 

$

85,418

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings from continuing operations before amortization, interest and taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Precision Components Group

 

$

2,999

 

$

(2,510

)

$

(130

)

Automation Group

 

(3,815

)

250

 

104

 

Distributed Products Group

 

2,639

 

4,894

 

3,674

 

Impairment of assets

 

 

 

(8,993

)

Special charge

 

 

 

(784

)

Non-allocated expenses

 

(13,176

)

(9,702

)

(3,928

)

Loss from continuing operations before taxes

 

$

(11,353

)

$

(7,068

)

$

(10,057

)

 

F-16



 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

Capital expenditures from continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Precision Components Group

 

$

2,088

 

$

2,421

 

$

3,128

 

Automation Group

 

1,189

 

392

 

191

 

Distributed Products Group

 

130

 

303

 

324

 

Corporate

 

541

 

831

 

16

 

Total capital expenditures

 

$

3,948

 

$

3,947

 

$

3,659

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization from continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Precision Components Group

 

$

2,297

 

$

2,546

 

$

2,272

 

Automation Group

 

308

 

178

 

131

 

Distributed Products Group

 

222

 

193

 

157

 

Corporate

 

259

 

86

 

32

 

Total depreciation

 

3,086

 

3,003

 

2,592

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of goodwill

 

(3

)

105

 

400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total depreciation and amortization

 

$

3,083

 

$

3,108

 

$

2,992

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

Identifiable assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Precision Components Group

 

$

29,262

 

$

31,608

 

Automation Group

 

5,288

 

6,491

 

Distributed Products Group

 

12,875

 

14,540

 

Non-allocated assets

 

19,856

 

20,953

 

Total assets

 

$

67,281

 

$

73,592

 

 

Included in non-allocated expenses are the following: general corporate expense, interest expense, amortization of goodwill and other income and expense.  Identifiable assets by segment consist of those assets that are used in the segments’ operations.  Non-allocated assets are comprised primarily of cash and cash equivalents, goodwill and net deferred tax assets.

 

The following table presents sales from continuing operations by geographic region.  Substantially all of the Company’s assets were located within the United States.

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

United States

 

$

71,115

 

$

74,035

 

$

72,582

 

Europe

 

14,178

 

13,558

 

8,931

 

Other foreign

 

3,917

 

4,248

 

3,905

 

Total Sales

 

$

89,210

 

$

91,841

 

$

85,418

 

 

F-17



 

Note 10 – Pension Arrangements

 

Axsys has two pension plans for which benefits and participation have been frozen.  Pension benefits under these plans are generally based upon years of service and compensation. There is a non-funded plan with an annual payout of approximately $100. The funding policy for the other plan is to contribute amounts sufficient to meet the minimum funding requirements set forth in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, plus such additional amounts as may be determined to be appropriate from time to time.

 

The following table summarizes the components of net periodic pension cost for the defined benefit plans:

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

 

$

82

 

$

80

 

$

78

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(43

)

(41

)

(39

)

Recognized net actuarial loss

 

52

 

49

 

45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total pension expense

 

$

91

 

$

88

 

$

84

 

 

Assumptions used in accounting for the defined benefit plans as of the plans’ measurement dates were:

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

Weighted-average discount rate

 

7.5

%

7.5

%

7.5

%

Expected long-term rate of return on assets

 

6.0

%

6.0

%

6.0

%

 

The following table sets forth the change in benefit obligation, change in plan assets and the funded status recognized in the consolidated balance sheets for the Axsys’ defined benefit pension plans:

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

Change in benefit obligation:

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

 

$

1,151

 

$

1,117

 

Interest cost

 

82

 

80

 

Actuarial loss

 

49

 

65

 

Benefits paid

 

(103

)

(111

)

Benefit obligation at end of year

 

$

1,179

 

$

1,151

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in plan assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

 

$

713

 

$

697

 

Actual return

 

258

 

54

 

Employer contribution

 

122

 

73

 

Benefits paid

 

(104

)

(111

)

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

 

$

989

 

$

713

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funded status

 

$

190

 

$

438

 

Unrecognized net actuarial gain

 

383

 

166

 

Accrued benefit cost at December 31

 

$

574

 

$

604

 

 

Unrecognized net gains and losses are amortized over the average future service lives of participants.  Plan assets for the fully funded plan are invested in a managed portfolio consisting primarily of equity securities, real estate and bonds.

 

Axsys also sponsors 401(k) plans under which eligible employees may elect to contribute a percentage of their earnings.  The Company matched employee contributions to these plans in amounts ranging from 3% to 5% of the employees’ gross earnings over the three years ended December 31, 2001.  Company matching contributions from continuing operations were $865 in 2001, $880 in 2000 and $828 in 1999.

 

F-18



 

Note 11 - Supplemental Cash Flow Information

 

Supplemental cash flow information from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

Cash (received)/paid during the year for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

$

(341

)

$

(386

)

$

427

 

Income tax payments

 

454

 

5,897

 

728

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equipment acquired under capital leases

 

$

762

 

$

490

 

$

1,226

 

Common stock issued for AEI

 

 

667

 

 

Purchase of assets from an acquisition

 

 

(685

)

 

Treasury stock issued for defined contribution plans

 

71

 

34

 

104

 

 

Note 12 - Stock Options

 

In 1991 Axsys shareholders approved the Axsys’ Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Shareholders approved amendments to and restatement of the Plan in May 2000 and May 2001, which, among other things, increased the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the Plan by 200,000 each year.  As of December 31, 2001, the total number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the Plan was 800,000 shares, of which Axsys had 195,885 shares of common stock available for grant under the Plan.  The Stock Incentive Plan Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) administers the Plan.  The Committee selects participants from among those executives and other employees of Axsys and its subsidiaries who materially contribute to the success of the Company and determines the amounts, times, forms, terms and conditions of grants. Grants may be in the form of options to purchase shares of common stock, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and performance units (collectively, “Stock Incentives”).  Each Stock Incentive is exercisable upon vesting.

 

A summary of all outstanding stock options are presented in the table below:

 

 

 

 

Stock Options

 

Weighted Average Exercise Price

 

Outstanding at December 31, 1999

 

316,650

 

18.96

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

183,340

 

22.33

 

Forfeited

 

(99,750

)

(21.66

Exercised

 

(33,950

)

(15.23

)

Outstanding at December 31, 2000

 

366,290

 

$

20.12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

233,825

 

15.47

 

Forfeited/Cancelled

 

(53,750

)

(16.85

Exercised

 

(8,400

)

(4.15

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2001

 

537,965

 

$

18.84

 

Exercisable at December 31, 2001

 

128,758

 

$

20.86

 

 

F-19



 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2001:

 

 

 

Options Outstanding

 

Options Exercisable

 

Range of Exercise Prices

 

Number of Options

 

Weighted Average Remaining Life

 

Weighted Average Exercise Price

 

Number of Options

 

Weighted Average Exercise Price

 

$   0.00 to $10.00

 

30,000

 

9.9

 

$

9.70

 

0

 

$

0.00

 

$ 10.01 to $15.00

 

200,375

 

8.0

 

12.30

 

39,730

 

12.32

 

$ 15.01 to $20.00

 

124,890

 

8.3

 

17.96

 

14,238

 

17.78

 

$ 20.01 to $25.00

 

18,250

 

4.5

 

20.65

 

2,100

 

20.11

 

$ 25.01 to $30.00

 

98,100

 

5.4

 

26.70

 

60,920

 

26.73

 

$ 30.01 to $41.00

 

66,350

 

8.8

 

37.29

 

11,770

 

37.62

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$   8.65 to $41.00

 

537,965

 

7.7

 

$

18.84

 

128,758

 

$

20.86

 

 

Axsys has adopted the disclosure-only provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.”  Accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized for grants under the Plan.  Pro forma information regarding net income and net income per share is required by SFAS No. 123 for awards granted in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1994 as if Axsys had accounted for such awards under the fair value method.  Had compensation costs for the Stock Incentive grants in 2001, 2000 and 1999 been determined using the fair value method, Axsys would have reported the following results:

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

Pro forma loss from continuing operations before discontinued operations

 

$

(1,519

)

$

(5,040

)

$

(9,668

)

Pro forma net income/(loss)

 

(1,519

)

8,787

 

(7,587

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma basic (loss)/earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations before discontinued operations

 

(0.32

)

(1.08

)

(2.05

)

Net income/(loss)

 

(0.32

)

1.89

 

(1.61

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma diluted (loss)/earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations before discontinued operations

 

(0.32

)

(1.08

)

(2.05

)

Net income/(loss)

 

(0.32

)

1.89

 

(1.61

)

 

The fair value of each option granted in 2001, 2000 and 1999 was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: expected volatility of 71% in 2001, 70% in 2000 and 65% in 1999; risk-free interest rate of 5.0% in 2001, 5.1% in 2000 and 5.9% in 1999; expected lives of 6 years; and no dividend yield.  Using this model, the weighted average fair value of options granted was $9.95 during 2001, $15.12 during 2000, and $8.17 during 1999.  For pro forma purposes, the estimated fair value of the Axsys’ Stock Incentive awards to employees is amortized over the options’ vesting period, which is generally five years.  Because the SFAS No. 123 method of accounting has not been applied to options granted prior to January 1, 1995, the resulting pro forma compensation cost may not be representative of that to be expected in future years. The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable.  In addition, the Black-Scholes model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility.  Because stock-based awards to Axsys employees have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management’s opinion, the existing model does not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its Stock Incentive awards to employees.

 

F-20



 

Note 13 - Commitments and Contingencies

 

Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases (exclusive of property expenses and net of sublease rental income), as of December 31, 2001, are as follows:

 

2002

 

$1,423

 

2003

 

1,389

 

2004

 

1,356

 

2005

 

1,248

 

2006

 

897

 

2007 and thereafter

 

2,211

 

 

 

$8,524

 

 

Rent expense under such leases, net of sublease rental income, amounted to $1,575 in 2001, $1,251 in 2000 and $1,699 in 1999.  Axsys has two letters of credit totaling $231 opened in 2001 as security deposits on building leases in Wilmington, Massachusetts and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  These letters of credit are renewed annually for the term of the lease.

 

Axsys has various lawsuits, claims, commitments and contingent liabilities arising from the ordinary conduct of its business; however, they are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Note 14 – Impairment of Assets and Special Charge

 

In late 1999, in connection with the annual evaluation of strategic direction and long-range planning and due to indications of impairment, Axsys evaluated the recoverability of certain long-lived assets, primarily goodwill in connection with the acquisition of Teletrac and the note from Westlake.  In arriving at the fair value of these assets, which serve the data storage market, Axsys considered a number of factors including: (i) weakness in the data storage market since the second half of 1998, (ii) structural changes to data storage products such as the number of read-write heads in a hard disk drive, and (iii) price pressure on the hard disk drive manufacturers.  Axsys believes that the demand for test products from its served market has been permanently reduced.  In determining the amount of the impairment, Axsys compared the net book value to the estimated fair values of those assets.  Based on best estimates of discounted future cash flows, Axsys recorded a $7,129 charge to write-down the carrying value of goodwill related to Teletrac.  In addition, the Company recorded a $1,864 charge to write off the note from Westlake serving the same data storage test equipment market.

 

On November 20, 1998, Axsys’ Chairman and CEO (“the Chairman”) and the owner at that date of approximately 31%  of Axsys’ common stock submitted an offer to purchase all of the common stock not owned by him for $15.00 per share in cash (the “Chairman’s Proposal”).  Shortly thereafter, the Board of Directors formed a Special Committee to evaluate the Chairman’s Proposal.  On January 11, 1999, Axsys received an unsolicited offer to purchase the Company for $20.00 per share in cash.  In response to this unsolicited offer, the Chairman withdrew his proposal, and on January 13, 1999, Axsys publicly announced that the Board of Directors had dissolved the Special Committee and had authorized the retention of investment bankers to explore various strategic alternatives, including the potential sale of the Company.  On January 29, 1999, Axsys publicly announced that the Board of Directors had instructed its investment bankers to explore the potential sale of the company.  During 1999, Axsys recorded a pre-tax special charge of $784 for expenses related to a process of exploring the potential sale of the company.  On June 15, 1999, Axsys publicly announced that its Board of Directors had determined not to pursue a sale of the Company at that time.

 

F-21



 

Note 15 – Selected Quarterly Financial Data

 

Selected quarterly financial data for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

Quarters Ended (Unaudited):

 

 

 

March 2001

 

June 2001

 

September 2001

 

December 2001

 

 

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

Statement of Operations Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

24,202

 

$

23,404

 

$

21,603

 

$

20,001

 

Gross profit

 

6,081

 

(1,874

)

5,300

 

4,566

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations before discontinued operations

 

(337

)

(6,425

)

(72

)

(318

)

Net loss

 

(337

)

(6,425

)

(72

)

(318

)

Diluted net loss per share from continuing operations before discontinued operations

 

$

(0.07

)

$

(1.37

)

$

(0.02

)

$

(0.07

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net loss per share applicable to common shareholders

 

$

(0.07

)

$

(1.37

)

$

(0.02

)

$

(0.07

)

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

4,685

 

4,686

 

4,688

 

4,695

 

 

 

 

Quarters Ended (Unaudited) (1) (2) (3):

 

 

 

March 2000

 

June 2000

 

September 2000

 

December 2000

 

 

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

Statement of Operations Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

19,645

 

$

23,882

 

$

24,245

 

$

24,069

 

Gross profit

 

914

 

5,539

 

6,163

 

7,047

 

(Loss) income from continuing operations before discontinued operations

 

(4,132

)

(270

)

91

 

7

 

Net income (loss)

 

10,157

 

(270

)

91

 

(455

)

Diluted net (loss) income per share from continuing operations before discontinued operations

 

$

(0.89

)

$

(0.06

)

$

0.02

 

$

0.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net income (loss) per share applicable to common shareholders

 

$

2.19

 

$

(0.06

)

$

0.02

 

$

(0.09

)

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

4,643

 

4,650

 

4,754

 

4,833

 


(1)          In the fourth quarter of 2000, Axsys merged with Automation Engineering, Inc. This merger was accounted for under the pooling of interests method of accounting and, accordingly, the results of Axsys’ Consolidated Statements of Operations have been restated to include the accounts and operations of AEI.  The operating results for AEI were not material to the combined results of Axsys for all periods prior to 2000, and therefore, results for those periods have not been restated.

 

(2)          In the third quarter of 2000, Axsys acquired the stock of Westlake Technologies Corporation.  This acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting and, accordingly, the results of Westlake’s operations have been included in Axsys’ Consolidated Statements of Operations since the date of acquisition.  See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

(3)          In the first quarter of 2000, Axsys sold the Beau Interconnect division. Accordingly, Beau has been accounted for as a discontinued operation and the related net assets and operating results have been reported separately from continuing operations in all years presented.  Revenues applicable to this discontinued operation were $846 during the first quarter of 2000 and $19,300 during 1999.  The net assets of Beau at December 31, 1999 have been included in current assets.  All prior periods have been restated to reflect the divestiture.

 

F-22



AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES, INC

SCHEDULE II VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

COL. A

 

COL.B

 

COL.C

 

COL.D

 

COL.E

 

COL.F

 

 

 

Additions

 

 

 

 

 

Classification

 

Balance at Beginning of Period

 

Charged to Costs and Expenses

 

Charge to Other Accounts

 

Deductions

 

Balance at End of Period

 

Year ended December 31, 2001:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

$

527

 

$

227

 

$

 

$

91

(a)

$

663

 

Cost Reduction Program Accrual

 

$

 

$

1,738

 

$

 

 

$

1,080

 

658

 

Strategic Realignment Accrual

 

$

752

 

$

 

 

 

$

752

 

$

 

Environmental Accrual

 

$

1,598

 

$

 

$

 

$

149

 

$

1,449

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2000:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

$

503

 

$

286

 

$

 

$

262

(a)

$

527

 

Strategic Realignment Accrual

 

$

 

$

1,862

 

$

 

$

1,110

 

$

752

 

Environmental Accrual

 

$

712

 

$

1,258

 

$

 

$

372

 

$

1,598

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 1999:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

$

445

 

$

331

 

$

 

$

273

(a)

$

503

 

Environmental Accrual

 

$

494

 

$

308

 

$

 

$

90

 

$

712

 

 


(a) Uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries.

 

F-23



EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number

 

 

 

Description

3(1)

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3(4) to the Company’s Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, dated October 17, 1997 (File No. 333-36027) (the “Form S-1”) and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

3(2)

 

By-Laws of the Company (filed as Exhibit 2 to the Form 8-A dated August 8, 1991 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10(1)

 

Severance Agreement between the Company and Kenneth F. Stern dated as of June 10, 1996 (filed as Exhibit 10(16) to the Form S-1 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10(2)

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement, dated as of September 30, 1991 (filed as Exhibit 10(17) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 1991 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10(3)

 

Summary of Annual Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10(22) to the Form S-1 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10(4)

 

Supplemental Revenue Growth Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10(23) to the Form S-1 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

F-24



 

Exhibit Number

 

 

 

Description

10(5)

 

Axsys Technologies, Inc. Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit C to the Company’s Proxy Statement dated September 23, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10(6)

 

Resolution approved on November 8, 1999 amending Section 2(l) of the Long Term Stock Incentive Plan.  (filed as Exhibit 10(12) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference.)

 

 

 

10 (7)

 

Severance Protection Agreement between the Company and Stephen W. Bershad dated as of February 11, 1999 (filed as Exhibit 10(1) to the Company’s Form 10-Q, dated May 11, 1999, for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 1999 (the “March 31, 1999 Form 10-Q”) and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10 (8)

 

Severance Protection Agreement between the Company and Kenneth F. Stern dated as of February 11, 1999 (filed as Exhibit 10(4) to the March 31, 1999 Form 10-Q and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10 (9)

 

Letter Agreement between Mark J. Bonney and the Company dated as of August 1, 1999 (filed as Exhibit 10(4) to the September 30, 1999 Form 10-Q and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10 (10)

 

Severance Protection Agreement between the Company and Mark J. Bonney dated as of August 30, 1999 (filed as Exhibit 10(5) to the September 30, 1999 Form 10-Q and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

F-25



 

Exhibit Number

 

 

 

Description

 

 

 

10(11)

 

Amendment to Axsys Technologies, Inc. Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit A to the Company’s Proxy Statement dated April 24, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10 (12)

 

Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2000, between the Company, and Westlake Technology Company (filed as Exhibit 10(25) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference.)

 

 

 

10 (13)

 

Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2000, between the Company, and Automation Engineering, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10(26) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference.)

 

 

 

10 (14)

 

Compensation Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2000, between the Company, and Stephen W. Bershad. (filed as Exhibit 10(27) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference.)

 

 

 

10 (15)

 

Letter Agreement between John E. Hanley and the Company dated as of March 8, 2000 (filed as Exhibit 10(28) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter year ended March 31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10 (16)

 

Letter Agreement between Stephen W. Bershad and the Company dated October 4, 2001 extending term of initial period of Employment Agreement.

 

 

 

10 (17)

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement for all Directors and Officers of the Company.

 

 

 

10 (18)

 

Letter Agreement between David A. Almeida and the Company dated as of November 14, 2001.

 

 

 

21

 

Subsidiaries of the Registrant

 

 

 

22

 

Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

 

 

 

 

 

F-26


EX-10.16 3 j2953_ex10d16.htm EX-10.16 EXHIBIT 10 (29)

EXHIBIT 10 (16)

 

October 4, 2001

 

Mr. Stephen W. Bershad

66 Arroyo Hondo Trail

Santa Fe, NM  87508

 

Dear Mr. Bershad:

 

Reference is made to the Employment Agreement, dated October 12, 2000 (the “Employment Agreement”), between Axsys Technologies, Inc. (the “Company”) and you.

 

The Company desires to extend the Initial Period (as defined in Section 2(a) of the Employment Agreement) until October 12, 2002, subject to the earlier termination of the Initial Period by you in your sole discretion or by the Company, acting through its Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, by 30 days’ prior written notice to the other.

 

If the foregoing extension of the Initial Period meets with your approval, please indicate your acceptance in the space provided below.

 

 

AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

 

By

:

/s/: Anthony J. Fiorelli, Jr.

 

 

 

A member of the

 

 

 

Compensation Committee

 

 

 

of the Board of Directors

 

 

Accepted and Agreed:

 

 

 

/s/:  Stephen W. Bershad

 

 

Stephen W. Bershad

 

 


EX-10.17 4 j2953_ex10d17.htm EX-10.17 EXHIBIT 10 (30)

EXHIBIT 10 (17)

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT is made as of the         of December 2001, by and between Axsys Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and the individual whose name appears on the signature page hereof (such individual being referred to herein as the “Indemnified Representative” and collectively with other individuals who may execute substantially similar agreements as the “Indemnified Representatives”).

 

WHEREAS:

 

A.            The Indemnified Representative currently is serving in one or more capacities as a director or officer of the Corporation or has been specifically designated as a person whom the Corporation shall indemnify as hereinafter provided (which may include any person serving at the request of the Corporation, as a director, officer, employee, agent fiduciary or trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other entity or enterprise) and as such is performing a valuable service to or on behalf of the Corporation.

 

B.            Directors and officers of corporations in general may be subject to expensive and time consuming litigation, including matters that traditionally would be brought only against the corporation.  Although the Corporation has obtained directors and officers liability insurance to protect its directors and officers, such insurance policy  is subject to cancellation or termination in the future.  Therefore the Corporation believes it is appropriate to provide additional protection for its directors and officers.

 

C.            The Indemnified Representative has indicated that the Indemnified Representative may not be willing to remain in office or otherwise continue to serve the Corporation absent the protections afforded by this Agreement.  To induce the Indemnified Representative to continue to serve the Corporation and in consideration for such continued service, and to assist in the recruitment of qualified personnel in the future, the Corporation agrees to indemnify the Indemnified Representative upon the terms set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the Corporation and the Indemnified Representative agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT TO SERVE.                  THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE AGREES TO SERVE OR CONTINUE TO SERVE IN EACH INDEMNIFIED CAPACITY (AS HEREINAFTER DEFINED) HELD NOW OR IN THE FUTURE FOR SO LONG AS THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE IS DULY ELECTED OR APPOINTED OR UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE TENDERS A RESIGNATION IN WRITING.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT BE DEEMED AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CORPORATION OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES AND ANY INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE WHO IS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CORPORATION OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES, AND THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE SPECIFICALLY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE’S EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CORPORATION OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES IS AT WILL, AND THAT THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE MAY BE DISCHARGED AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE, AND WITH OR WITHOUT SEVERANCE COMPENSATION, EXCEPT AS MAY BE OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN A WRITTEN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT BETWEEN THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE AND THE CORPORATION OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR OTHER APPLICABLE FORMAL SEVERANCE POLICIES DULY ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE’S EMPLOYER.

 

INDEMNIFICATION.

 

Except as provided in Sections 2(b), 3 and 5, the Corporation shall indemnify the  Indemnified Representative against any Liability (as hereinafter defined) incurred by the Indemnified Representative in connection with any Proceeding (as hereinafter defined) in which the Indemnified Representative may be involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of the fact that the Indemnified Representative is or was serving in an Indemnified Capacity, including, without limitation, any

 

 



 

Liability resulting from actual or alleged breach or neglect of duty, error, misstatement or misleading statement, gross negligence, negligence or act giving rise to strict or products liability, whether occurring prior to or after the date of this Agreement.  If the Indemnified Representative is entitled to indemnification in respect of a portion, but not all, of any Liability, the Corporation shall indemnify the Indemnified Representative to the maximum extent for such portion of any Liability.  The indemnification provided under this agreement is effective from and after the time the individual representative first became an officer or director of the Corporation.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the Corporation shall not indemnify the Indemnified Representative under this Agreement for any Liability incurred in a Proceeding initiated (which shall not be deemed to include counter-claims or affirmative defenses) or participated in as an intervenor or amicus curiae by the Indemnified Representative unless such initiation of or participation in the proceeding is authorized, either before or after commencement of the Proceeding, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors in office.  This subsection does not apply to reimbursement of expenses incurred in successfully prosecuting or defending an arbitration under Section 5(d) or otherwise successfully prosecuting or defending the rights granted to the Indemnified Representative by or pursuant to this Agreement.

 

As used in this Agreement:

 

“Indemnified Capacity” means any and all past, present or future service by an Indemnified Representative in one or more capacities (A) as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, of any subsidiary of the Corporation or of any constituent corporation absorbed by the Corporation in a consolidation or merger, or (B) at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another corporation or of any partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan or other entity or enterprise.

 

“Liability” means any damage, judgment, amount paid in settlement, fine, penalty, punitive damages, excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan, or cost or expense of any nature (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements and the costs and expenses of investigating any Proceeding); and

 

“Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, appeal or other proceeding of any nature, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, whether formal or informal, and whether brought by or in the right of the Corporation, a class of its security (whether equity or debt) holders, any creditors of the Corporation or otherwise.

 

EXCLUSIONS.

 

The Corporation shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Liability incurred by the  Indemnified Representative:

 

to the extent payment for such Liability is made to the  Indemnified Representative under an insurance policy provided by the Corporation, and in the event the Corporation makes any indemnification payments to the Indemnified Representative and the Indemnified Representative is subsequently reimbursed from the proceeds of insurance, the Indemnified Representative shall promptly refund such indemnification payments to the Corporation to the extent of such insurance reimbursements;

 

to the extent the Indemnified Representative is indemnified for such Liability by the Corporation under its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or under the Delaware General Corporation Law or otherwise than pursuant to this Agreement;

 

for any claim for an accounting of profits made either from the purchase or sale by such Indemnified Representative of securities of the Corporation pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or any corresponding or superseding provision, or from any use of material, non-public information, if such use is illegal under applicable provisions of the Exchange Act or the regulations thereunder;

 

 

1



 

for which the conduct of the Indemnified Representative has been determined in a final adjudication pursuant to Section 5(d) or otherwise to constitute bad faith or knowing violation of law, or receipt by such person of an improper personal benefit, and which conduct was material to the cause of action or claim giving rise to the Liability; or

 

to the extent such indemnification has been determined in a final adjudication pursuant to Section 5(d) or otherwise to be unlawful.

 

Any fact, act or omission pertaining to the Indemnified Representative shall not be imputed to any other Indemnified Representative for the purposes of determining the applicability of any exclusion set forth herein.

 

The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnified Representative is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES.   THE CORPORATION SHALL PAY ANY LIABILITY INCURRED IN GOOD FAITH BY THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE IN ADVANCE OF THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF A PROCEEDING UPON RECEIPT OF AN UNDERTAKING BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE TO REPAY SUCH AMOUNT IF IT SHALL ULTIMATELY BE DETERMINED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(D) OR OTHERWISE THAT THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE IS NOT ENTITLED TO BE INDEMNIFIED BY THE CORPORATION PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT.  THE FINANCIAL ABILITY OF THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE TO REPAY AN ADVANCE SHALL NOT BE A PREREQUISITE TO THE MAKING OF SUCH ADVANCE.

 

INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURE.

 

The Indemnified Representative shall use such Indemnified Representative’s best efforts to notify promptly the Secretary of the Corporation of the commencement of any Proceeding or the occurrence of any event which might give rise to a Liability under this Agreement, but the failure so to notify the Corporation shall not relieve the Corporation of any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Representative under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

The Corporation shall be entitled, upon notice to the Indemnified Representative, to assume the defense of any Proceeding with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Representative involved in such Proceeding or a majority of the Indemnified Representatives involved in such Proceeding if there be more than one.  If the Corporation notifies the Indemnified Representative of its election to defend the Proceeding, the Corporation shall have no liability for the expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) of the Indemnified Representative incurred in connection with the defense of such Proceeding subsequent to such notice, unless (i) such expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) have been authorized by the Corporation, (ii) the counsel employed by the Corporation for the purpose of assuming such defense is not reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Representative or Indemnified Representatives, or (iii) it shall have been determined pursuant to Section 5(d) that the Indemnified Representative was entitled to indemnification for such expenses under this Agreement or otherwise.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnified Representative may elect to retain counsel at the Indemnified Representative’s own cost and expense to participate in the defense of such Proceeding.

 

The Corporation shall not be required to obtain the consent of the Indemnified Representative to the settlement of any Proceeding, which the Corporation has undertaken to defend if the Corporation assumes full and sole responsibility for such settlement and the settlement grants the Indemnified Representative an unqualified release in respect of all Liabilities at issue in the Proceeding.  The Corporation shall not be liable for any amount paid by an Indemnified Representative in settlement of any Proceeding that is not defended by the Corporation, unless the Corporation has consented to such settlement (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).

 

Any dispute related to the right to indemnification, contribution or advancement of expenses hereunder, except with respect to indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 which the Corporation has undertaken to submit to a court for adjudication, shall be decided only by arbitration in the City of New York, New York, in

 

 

2



 

accordance with the commercial arbitration rules then in effect of the American Arbitration Association, before a panel of three arbitrators, one of whom shall be selected by the Corporation, the second of whom shall be selected by the Indemnified Representative and the third of whom shall be selected by the other two arbitrators.  In the absence of the American Arbitration Association, or if for any reason arbitration under the arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association cannot be initiated, or if one of the parties fails or refuses to select an arbitrator, or if the arbitrators selected by the Corporation and the Indemnified Representative cannot agree on the selection of the third arbitrator within seven days after such time as the Corporation and the Indemnified Representative have each been notified of the selection of the other’s arbitrator, the necessary arbitrator or arbitrators shall be selected by the presiding judge of the court of general jurisdiction of the State of New York.  Each arbitrator selected as provided herein is required to be or have been a director or an executive officer of a corporation whose shares of common stock were listed during at least one year of such service on the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq Stock Market.  The party or parties challenging the right of an Indemnified Representative to the benefits of this Agreement shall have the burden of proof.  The Corporation shall reimburse the Indemnified Representative for the expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred in successfully prosecuting or defending such arbitration.  Any award entered by the arbitrators shall be final, binding and nonappealable and judgment may be entered thereon by any party in accordance with applicable law in any court of competent jurisdiction.  This arbitration provision shall be specifically enforceable.

 

Upon a payment to the Indemnified Representative under this Agreement, the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of the Indemnified Representative to recover against any person for such Liability, and the Indemnified Representative shall execute all documents and instruments required by the Corporation and shall take such other actions requested by the Corporation and at its expense as may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as may be necessary for the Corporation to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

NON-EXCLUSIVITY.          THE INDEMNIFICATION RIGHTS GRANTED TO THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT (I) SHALL NOT BE DEEMED EXCLUSIVE OF ANY OTHER RIGHTS TO WHICH THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE MAY BE ENTITLED UNDER ANY STATUTE, BY-LAW, CERTIFICATE OR ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, AGREEMENT, VOTE OF SHAREHOLDERS OR DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS OR OTHERWISE, BOTH AS TO ACTION IN AN INDEMNIFIED CAPACITY AND IN ANY OTHER CAPACITY, AND (II) SHALL CONTINUE AS TO A PERSON WHO HAS CEASED TO BE ELECTED, APPOINTED OR EMPLOYED BY THE CORPORATION IN AN INDEMNIFIED CAPACITY IN RESPECT OF MATTERS ARISING WHEN SUCH PERSONS PERFORMED IN AN INDEMNIFIED CAPACITY.  WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, THE CORPORATION AND THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROVISIONS OF THE CORPORATION’S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS REGARDING INDEMNIFICATION AND CONFIRM THAT THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE IS ACTING IN RELIANCE THEREON.

 

DURATION OF AGREEMENT.        THIS AGREEMENT SHALL APPLY TO ANY CLAIM ASSERTED AND ANY LIABILITY INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH ANY CLAIM ASSERTED ON OR AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE BEGAN SERVING IN EACH INDEMNIFIED CAPACITY AND SHALL CONTINUE UNTIL AND TERMINATE UPON THE LATER OF:  (A) SIX YEARS AFTER THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE HAS CEASED TO SERVE IN ANY INDEMNIFIED CAPACITY; OR (B) ONE YEAR AFTER THE FINAL TERMINATION OF ALL PENDING OR THREATENED PROCEEDINGS OF THE KIND DESCRIBED HEREIN WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE.

 

DISCHARGE OF DUTY.     THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE DISCHARGED SUCH PERSON’S DUTY TO THE CORPORATION IF HE OR SHE HAS RELIED IN GOOD FAITH ON INFORMATION, OPINIONS, REPORTS OR STATEMENTS, INCLUDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL DATA, IN EACH CASE PREPARED OR PRESENTED BY ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

 

one or more officers or employees of the Corporation whom the Indemnified Representative reasonably believes to be reliable and competent with respect to the matter presented;

 

 

3



 

legal counsel, public accountants or other persons as to matters that the Indemnified Representative reasonably believes are within the person’s professional or expert competence; or

 

a committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation on which he or she does not serve as to matters within its area of designated authority, which committee he or she reasonably believes to merit confidence.

 

RELIANCE ON PROVISIONS.           THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE ACTING IN SUCH PERSON’S INDEMNIFIED CAPACITY IN RELIANCE UPON THE RIGHTS OF INDEMNIFICATION PROVIDED BY THIS AGREEMENT.

 

SEVERABILITY AND REFORMATION.         ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT WHICH IS ADJUDICATED TO BE INVALID OR UNENFORCEABLE IN ANY JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE SHALL BE INEFFECTIVE TO THE EXTENT OF SUCH INVALIDITY OR UNENFORCEABILITY ONLY AND SHALL BE DEEMED REFORMED SO AS TO CONTINUE TO APPLY TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT AND TO PROVIDE THE MAXIMUM INDEMNIFICATION PERMISSIBLE UNDER THE APPLICABLE LAW OF SUCH JURISDICTION.  ANY SUCH ADJUDICATION SHALL NOT INVALIDATE OR RENDER UNENFORCEABLE THE REMAINING PROVISIONS HEREOF AND SHALL NOT INVALIDATE OR RENDER UNENFORCEABLE SUCH PROVISION IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.

 

COUNTERPARTS.              THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED IN SEVERAL COUNTERPARTS, EACH OF WHICH SHALL BE DEEMED AN ORIGINAL, BUT ALL OF WHICH TOGETHER SHALL CONSTITUTE ONE AND THE SAME DOCUMENT.

 

HEADINGS.          SECTION HEADINGS ARE FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY AND DO NOT CONTROL OR AFFECT MEANING OR INTERPRETATION OF ANY TERMS OR PROVISIONS HEREOF.

 

NOTICES.              ANY NOTICE, CLAIM, REQUEST OR DEMAND REQUIRED OR PERMITTED HEREUNDER SHALL BE IN WRITING AND SHALL BE DEEMED GIVEN IF DELIVERED PERSONALLY OR SENT BY TELEGRAM OR BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID:  (I) IF TO THE CORPORATION, TO 175 CAPITAL BOULEVARD, SUITE 103, ROCKY HILL, CT 06067, ATTENTION: SECRETARY, OR (II) IF TO THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE, TO THE ADDRESS LISTED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGE HEREOF, OR TO SUCH OTHER ADDRESS AS ANY PARTY HERETO SHALL HAVE SPECIFIED IN A NOTICE GIVEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION.

 

AMENDMENTS; BINDING EFFECT.      NO AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, TERMINATION OR CANCELLATION OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE EFFECTIVE AS TO THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE UNLESS SIGNED IN WRITING BY THE CORPORATION AND THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE BINDING UPON THE CORPORATION AND ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS AND SHALL INURE TO THE BENEFIT OF THE HEIRS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS AND PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE.

 

GOVERNING LAW.             THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND INTERPRETED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE CONFLICT OF LAWS APPLICABLE IN THAT OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

 

 

4



 

GENDER AND NUMBER.  WORDS USED HEREIN, REGARDLESS OF THE GENDER OR NUMBER SPECIFICALLY USED, SHALL BE DEEMED TO INCLUDE ANY OTHER GENDER, MASCULINE, FEMININE OR NEUTER, AND ANY OTHER NUMBER, SINGULAR OR PLURAL, AS THE CONTEXT MAY REQUIRE.

 

ENTIRE AGREEMENT.      SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 6 HEREOF, THIS AGREEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ENTIRE UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND SUPERSEDES ALL PROPOSALS, COMMITMENTS, WRITINGS, NEGOTIATIONS AND UNDERSTANDINGS, ORAL AND WRITTEN, AND ALL OTHER COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF.  A WAIVER BY ANY PARTY OF ANY BREACH OR VIOLATION OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT BE DEEMED OR CONSTRUED AS A WAIVER OF ANY SUBSEQUENT BREACH OR VIOLATION THEREOF.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

5



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first set forth above.

 

 

AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

 

 

Mark J. Bonney

 

President & Chief Operating Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDEMNIFIED REPRESENTATIVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address:

 

6


EX-10.18 5 j2953_ex10d18.htm EX-10.18 EXHIBIT 10 (31)

EXHIBIT 10 (18)

 

 

VIA OVERNIGHT MAIL

 

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

 

October 4, 2001

 

 

Mr. David A. Almeida

113 Quarry Village

Cheshire, CT 06410

 

RE: Offer of Employment

 

Dear Dave:

 

To follow up on our earlier discussions, I am delighted to confirm our offer and your acceptance of the corporate officer positions of Vice President Finance & Administration, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. In this challenging role, you will report to me in my role as President and Chief Operating Officer, and have responsibility for directing the management of all corporate finance functions including SEC and other outside reporting, internal financial reporting and analysis, treasury borrowing and investments and financial planning and analysis. In addition, you will be responsible for directing and controlling the organization’s financial plans and policies, and accounting practices. You will also be integrally involved with our relationships with lending institutions, outside auditors, shareholders and the investment community. Finally as we have discussed we recently expanded this role to include responsibility for providing direction and oversight for corporate human resources and Information Technologies activities. In order for you to have an adequate amount of time to transition from your current responsibilities we have agreed upon November 14, 2001 as your start date.

 

Your base salary will be $15,416.66 (gross) per month, which is payable bi-weekly. You will also be eligible for inclusion in two of Axsys Technologies incentive compensation plans. As we have discussed, Our Shared Vision is to become the number one or number two supplier in each of our market segments within three to five years. To achieve this vision requires each of us to put forward all of our energies in a very focused manner. Our Shared Vision is all about growth. Growth energizes organizations and it is for this reason that we have refocused our incentive plans to be team-based and growth-oriented.

 

As a corporate officer, you will be eligible to participate in the Axsys’ Executive Leadership Team Incentive Plan that provides leaders within our company the opportunity to earn a bonus based on the achievement of certain financial (50% of the payout) and individual objectives (50% of the payout) that will be established at the beginning of the calendar year. Your target bonus beginning in 2002 will be 50% of your annual base salary. That said, I do want to point out that the plan does provide for a payout of up to 65% of your base salary for results that significantly exceed the plan.

 

 



 

In addition to Axsys’ Executive Leadership Team Incentive Plan, you will also be eligible for participation in the Axsys Technologies Long-term Growth Incentive Plan. This plan begins paying out once the corporation in total reaches a predetermined year-over-year sales growth (15% in 2000, 20% in 2001). The payout is computed such that the percentage of sales growth equals the percentage of base salary to be paid with no cap. I will be happy to discuss the details of both incentive programs with you in more detail at your convenience.

 

In terms of benefits, you will be eligible to participate in the full range of Axsys Technologies benefit programs, which provide medical, dental, life and disability insurance, thirty days after your start date.  As a corporate officer you are also a participant in our Executive Health Physicals program and our executive health and dental overrides programs. We will be happy to discuss our comprehensive benefit plans with you at your convenience.  In the meantime, I have attached a benefits summary for your review. You can participate in the Company’s retirement savings plan through Fidelity Investments after six months of service. If you choose to join this plan, Axsys will match, dollar for dollar, the first 3% of your eligible compensation. After that, Axsys matches the next 2% of your eligible compensation at fifty cents on the dollar. You will also be eligible for three weeks of paid vacation per calendar year.

 

As I mentioned to you, I will recommend to the Axsys Board of Directors that you be awarded a stock option grant of 25,000 shares of Axsys common stock. The option price will be determined by the market value of the stock on the date the option is granted, which will be your start date. As you may know, the Axsys stock option plan vests in equal installments at the rate of 20% per year, and would be fully vested after five (5) years of consecutive employment.

 

With respect to severance benefits, for termination “without cause” you would receive six (6) months continuation of salary at your then base rate plus benefits. In case of termination due to a “change in control”, if terminated during the twelve (12) months following a change in control you would receive twelve (12) months continuation of salary at your then base rate plus benefits. David, we have made this offer with every intention of having you join us on November 14, 2001. If for any reason we are unable to bring you on board we will honor this severance clause as if you had joined the Company.

 

This offer is contingent upon your signing the “Employment Matters” agreement prior to your start date (See attached, Exhibit A). This letter covers such matters as proprietary information and confidentiality. If you have any questions about the material covered in Exhibit A, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

I believe this covers the points that we discussed. Please sign and date this letter indicating that you understand and accept the terms covered herein, and send it to me as soon as possible. It should be understood that this letter merely confirms our understanding and does not constitute an employee contract (i.e., either one of us can terminate employment at will, with or without cause) or a guarantee of employment for any length of time. Further, this offer of employment supersedes any prior or subsequent oral representation that might be made. Finally, if you have any questions about the terms covered herein, please contact me immediately.

 

 

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In conclusion, on behalf of the entire Axsys Leadership Team, I truly look forward to working with you as we continue to strengthen our team and grow our exciting business. In this regard, I am confident that your contributions will continue to have a very positive impact on Axsys Technologies as we reach for new heights.

 

Best regards,

 

 

/s/: Mark J. Bonney

 

Mark J. Bonney

President & Chief Operating Officer

 

 

Attachments: Benefits Summary

(Exhibit A – Employment Matters Agreement)

 

cc: Stephen W. Bershad

 

 

Understood and Accepted:

 

 

/s/:  David Almeida

October 11, 2001

 

 

David Almeida

Date

 

 

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Exhibit A

 

Employment Matters Agreement

 

Axsys Technologies, Inc.

 

In consideration of my employment with Axsys Technologies, Inc. (Axsys), I hereby agree with Axsys as follows:

 

1.               Proprietary Information. I agree that all copyrights, trade secrets, client lists, business methods, computer programs, computer databases, financial and cost data, Axsys client technical or proprietary information (collectively “Proprietary Information”) conceived of or developed by me in the course of my employment with Axsys, or through the use of equipment, pre-existing Proprietary Information or other resources belonging to Axsys, shall be the property of Axsys. I further agree from time to time upon the request of Axsys to assist in the preparation of and to execute such patent and other applications, registrations, assignments and other instruments and documents which may be necessary or appropriate to vest in Axsys the full ownership of such Proprietary Information and to assure Axsys the benefit of the same.

 

2.               Confidentiality. I recognize that all of Axsys’ Proprietary Information, whether developed by me or made available to me, other than information that is generally known to the public, is a unique asset of Axsys’ business that is of a confidential nature, the disclosure of which would be damaging to Axsys. I also recognize that Axsys is often provided access to confidential information of persons doing business with Axsys, the disclosure of which would be damaging to such other persons and to Axsys. I will not at any time during or after my employment with Axsys, directly or indirectly, disclose to any persons any confidential information of Axsys or any client or former client of Axsys, other than information which is already known to the public, except as may be required in the ordinary course of business of Axsys. I further agree to be bound by the provisions of any confidentiality or similar agreement with any other person to which Axsys is a party of which I am given notice.

 

I understand as part of the consideration for the offer of employment extended to me by Axsys and of my employment or continued employment by Axsys, that I have not brought and will not bring with me to Axsys or use in the performance of my responsibilities at Axsys materials or documents of a former employer which are not generally available unless I have obtained written authorization from the former employer for their possession and use. I also understand that, in my employment with Axsys, I am not to breach any obligation of confidentiality or duty that I have to former employers, and I agree that I shall fulfill all such obligations during my employment with Axsys.

 

Promptly upon the termination of my employment with Axsys for any reason, and at any other time upon request of Axsys, I agree to return to Axsys any and all documents, memoranda, drawings, notes customer lists, mailing lists, computer programs and listings, computer databases and other papers and items embodying any confidential information of Axsys or any client or former client of Axsys which are in my possession of control, all of which materials will be the property of Axsys.

 

Signature: /s/:

David A. Almeida

 

For Axsys By:

/s/:  Mark J. Bonney

 

Print Name:

David A. Almeida

 

Name:

Mark J. Bonney

 

Date:

October 11, 2001

 

Title:

President & Chief Operating Officer

 

 

 

 

Date:

October 11, 2001

 

 

4


EX-21 6 j2953_ex21.htm EX-21 EXHIBIT 21

EXHIBIT 21

Subsidiaries

 

Name

 

State of Incorporation

 

 

 

Automation Engineering, Inc.

 

Massachusetts

 

 

 

Precision Aerotech, Inc.

 

Delaware

 

 

 

Speedring, Inc.

 

Delaware

 

 

 

Speedring Systems, Inc.

 

Delaware

 

 

 

Teletrac Inc.

 

California

 

 

 

 


EX-22 7 j2953_ex22.htm EX-22 EXHIBIT 22

EXHIBIT 22

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

 

As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of our report included in this Form 10-K into the Company’s previously filed Registration Statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-39574, 333-43389, 33-9559 and 033-79996).

 

/s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN

 

ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

 

New York, New York

March 14, 2002

 


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