Note 3 - Acquisition of Businesses

3 Months Ended

Mar. 30, 2013

Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions Disclosures [Text Block]

3. Acquisition of Businesses

Accel AB

On May 31, 2012, the company acquired 100% of ACCEL AB (“Accel”), a manufacturer of advanced electromechanical products, including sensors and switches primarily for the automotive industry, for approximately $23.9 million. The acquisition allows the company to expand its automotive product offering and establish a presence in the growing automotive sensor market within its Automotive business unit segment. Accel is based in Vänersborg, Sweden with a manufacturing facility located in Kaunas, Lithuania. The company funded the acquisition with available cash.

The following table sets forth the purchase price allocation, as of March 30, 2013, for Accel acquisition-date net assets, in accordance with the purchase method of accounting with adjustments to record the acquired net assets at their estimated fair values.

Accel AB purchase price allocation (in thousands):
Cash	$	344
Current assets, net		8,643
Property, plant and equipment		3,731
Other assets		7
Goodwill		11,536
Distribution network		1,321
Trademarks		1,259
Patents and licenses		2,435
Current liabilities		(5,411	)
	$	23,865

All Accel goodwill and other assets and liabilities were recorded in the Automotive business unit segment and reflected in the Europe geographical area. The distribution network is being amortized over three to 10 years. Trademarks are being amortized over five years. Patents and licenses are being amortized over 10 years. The goodwill resulting from this acquisition consists largely of the company’s expected future product sales and synergies from combining Accel’s products with the company’s existing product offerings. Goodwill for the above acquisition is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

As required by purchase accounting rules, the company recorded a $0.4 million step-up of inventory to its fair value as of the acquisition date. During the third quarter of 2012, as the inventory was sold, cost of goods sold included $0.4 million of non-cash charges for this step-up.

Terra Power Systems, LLC

On September 26, 2012, the company acquired 100% of Terra Power Systems, LLC (“Terra Power”), a U.S. manufacturer of electromechanical components including power distribution modules and fuse holders for commercial vehicle products in the automotive industry for $10.6 million. The acquisition allows the company to strengthen its position in the commercial vehicle products market by adding new products and new customers within its Automotive business unit segment. Terra Power is based in Bellingham, Washington.  The company funded the acquisition with available cash.

All Terra Power goodwill and other assets and liabilities were recorded in the Automotive business unit segment and reflected in the Americas geographical area. The goodwill resulting from this acquisition consists largely of the company’s expected future product sales and synergies from combining Terra Power’s products with the company’s existing commercial vehicle product offerings. Goodwill for the above acquisition is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

The following table sets forth the preliminary purchase price allocation for Terra Power acquisition-date net assets, in accordance with the purchase method of accounting with adjustments to record the acquired net assets at their estimated fair values. The preliminary purchase price allocation reflected below is based on internal estimates and is expected to be finalized in the second quarter of 2013 although further adjustments are not anticipated to be significant.

Terra Power preliminary purchase price allocation (in thousands):
Cash	$	105
Current assets, net		1,625
Property, plant and equipment		457
Goodwill		4,562
Other intangibles		4,064
Current liabilities		(213	)
	$	10,600

Pro forma financial information is not presented for the company’s business acquisitions described above due to amounts not being materially different than actual results.