UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 Form 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO

SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 25, 2023

 

 The Eastern Company

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

Connecticut

 

001-35383

 

06-0330020

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

3 Enterprise Drive, Suite 408, Shelton, Connecticut 06484

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

(203) 729-2255

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

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

 

Title of Each Class

 

Trading

Symbol

 

Name of each exchange

 on which registered

Common Stock, No Par Value

 

EML

 

NASDAQ Global Market

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging Growth Company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 2.05 – Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities

 

On April 25, 2023, the Board of Directors of The Eastern Company (the “Company”) approved a plan to close the Company’s Associated Tool Makers Ltd. facility located in Farndon, United Kingdom, which specializes in the design and manufacture of molds for the plastic injection molding industry. The plan is intended to address long-standing profitability issues at the Farndon facility. The plan would include approximately 10 job reductions at the Farndon facility.

 

The Company expects to substantially complete this plan by the end of the third quarter of 2023 and estimates total pre-tax charges associated with this action to be between $3.5 million and $4.5 million, of which $0.4 million to $0.8 million is expected to be cash charges primarily for associate-related and other exit costs, with the remainder representing non-cash charges primarily for accelerated depreciation and other asset-related charges. The Company expects to record the majority of these pre-tax charges and cash outflows in the second quarter of 2023.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this document about our future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the rules, regulations, and releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact, including statements containing the words “would,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “will,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intends,” “continues,” “reflects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “potential,” “opportunities,” or similar terms or variations of those terms or the negative of those terms, should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are based upon management’s current beliefs and expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include those risks and uncertainties set forth in our reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Although the Company believes it has an appropriate business strategy and the resources necessary for its operations, future revenue and margin trends cannot be reliably predicted and the Company may alter its business strategies to address changing conditions, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 14, 2023. We undertake no obligation to update, alter, or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.                                           

 

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure

 

On May 1, 2023, the Company issued a press release announcing the plan to close the Associated Tool Makers, Ltd. facility. A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Exhibit Description

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release issued by The Eastern Company, dated May 1, 2023

 

 

 

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 

2

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, The Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

 

The Eastern Company

 

Date: May 1, 2023

/s/ Nicholas Vlahos

 

 

Nicholas Vlahos

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

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