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Liquidity
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Liquidity  
Liquidity

NOTE 2 — LIQUIDITY

 

The Company’s liquidity is closely monitored by management. The Company uses cash flow forecasting linked to production forecasts and existing and projected credit and bank facilities, to ensure there are sufficient resources to fulfil its short term needs and strategic plans. The Company has a long term bank facility in the UK with Lloyds TSB which extends to August 2016 and has issued promissory notes to the vendors of ACC, a business purchased by the Company in 2008, totalling $2.877 million which are not due for full redemption until December 2014. During the last quarter of 2012 the Company took the opportunity to renegotiate the terms of these promissory notes, extending the repayment schedule through to December 2014; an extension of 16 months. This has aligned the 2013 debt repayment schedule more closely with the Company’s cash generation capabilities. The UK term loan from Lloyds TSB has a covenant that links to the net worth of the Company. Further details of these borrowings are set out below.

 

Short-term credit facilities are heavily dependent upon the sales and underlying profitability of the Company’s subsidiaries. Credit facilities for the operating subsidiaries are a function of accounts receivable. The Company reported working capital of $7.5 million at December 31, 2012 compared with $7.2 million at December 31, 2011.  Since the year end the Company has purchased the property occupied by one of the UK subsidiaries (see note 21). The Company secured a new bank loan of $2.2 million and utilized $0.6 million of cash generated from operations to make this purchase. There are no other major capital expenditure plans which will absorb working capital and management considers that the current level of working capital is adequate for the Company’s current requirements. The majority of the Company’s cash is held by its foreign subsidiaries. There are limitations on the amounts that may be repatriated for use in paying corporate expenses and paying corporate debt. The overseas companies pay management charges to the parent Company for management services and brand name use and also pay dividends if and when appropriate.

 

As a result of the combination of forecasted cash flows from operations and existing financing arrangements, the Company believes it has sufficient funding to support its working capital requirements during the next 12 months. The Company has a substantial backlog as of December 31, 2012, and the Company continues to experience good booking levels to support future shipments. In order to support future expected growth, the Company will reinvest a substantial amount of cash from operations back into the business for inventory purchases, engineering and product development. The Company recognizes the need to closely manage cash from operations to meet the operational needs of the business and satisfy near-term debt service obligations. The Company’s ability to support its business plan is dependent upon its ability to achieve profitable operations, manage costs and satisfy long-term debt service obligations, of which principal payments become due in the first quarter of 2013. Taking these factors into consideration, management believes the Company will be able to satisfy its long-term debt service obligations for the next twelve months from the date of issuance of these financial statements, and meet its short term obligations and commitments.