Note 7 - Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliate

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Notes to Financial Statements

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block]

7. Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliate

In 2005, Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. (a subsidiary of Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd.) entered into a joint venture with a manufacturer in India, Maple Industries and associates, for the production of building products. Under the terms of the joint venture agreement, a private company, Harmony Plastics Private Limited (“Harmony”), was created with ownership interests of 41.66% owned by Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. and 58.34% owned by Maple Industries and associates.

This joint venture positions Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. to respond to current and expected increased product demand for housewrap and synthetic roof underlayment and provides future capacity for sales of specialty roofing component products and custom products for industrial applications requiring high quality extrusion coated fabrics. In addition, the joint venture now supplies products for the Company’s Disposable Protective Apparel segment.

The capital from the initial funding and a bank loan, which loan is guaranteed exclusively by the individual shareholders of Maple Industries and associates and collateralized by the assets of Harmony, were utilized to purchase the original manufacturing facility in India. Harmony currently has four facilities in India (three owned and one rented), consisting of: (1) a 139,000 square foot building for manufacturing building products; (2) a 121,000 square foot building for manufacturing coated material and sewing proprietary disposable protective apparel; (3) a 23,000 square foot facility for sewing proprietary disposable protective apparel; and (4) a 159,000 square foot facility (rented) for manufacturing Building Supply segment products. All additions have been financed by Harmony with no guarantees from the Company.

In accordance with ASC 810, Consolidation, the Company assesses whether or not related entities are variable interest entities (“VIEs”). For those related entities that qualify as VIEs, ASC 810 requires the Company to determine whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE, and, if so, to consolidate the VIE. The Company has determined that Harmony is not a VIE and is, therefore, considered to be an unconsolidated affiliate.

The Company records its investment in Harmony as “equity investment in unconsolidated affiliate” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company records its equity interest in Harmony’s results of operations as “equity in income of unconsolidated affiliate” in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. The Company periodically reviews its investment in Harmony for impairment. Management has determined that no impairment was required as of December 31, 2023, or December 31, 2022. Under the equity method, since the Company’s reporting currency is different from of Harmony’s reporting currency, the Company is required to translate our proportionate share of equity for effects of translations in foreign currency and adjust the investment accordingly, and accrue the adjustment as a component of AOCL.

For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company purchased $18,822,000 and $22,877,000 of inventories, respectively, from Harmony. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded equity in income of unconsolidated affiliate of $477,000 and $87,000, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company sold $266,000 and $570,000 of inventories, respectively, to Harmony.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company’s investment in Harmony was $5,247,000, which consisted of its original $1,450,000 investment and cumulative equity in income of unconsolidated affiliate of $6,253,000, less $942,000 in repayments of an advance, payments of $77,000 in dividends and AOCL on foreign currency translations of $1,437,000.