UNITED STATES 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549 

 

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

 

(Mark one)

 

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018

or

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

For the transition period from ____________ to ____________.

 

Commission File Number 1-5005

 

 

 

INTRICON CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Pennsylvania

 

23-1069060

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

incorporation or organization)

 

 

 

1260 Red Fox Road
Arden Hills, Minnesota

 

55112

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

 

(651) 636-9770

 

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

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Shares, $1 par value per share

 

The NASDAQ Global Market

 

 

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes   No

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes   No

 

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   No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes   No

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) 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.   

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):  

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

 

 

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

 

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.   ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes    No 

 

 

 

 

 

The aggregate market value of the voting common shares held by non-affiliates of the registrant on June 30, 2018 was $247,437,648. Common shares held by each officer and director and by each person who owns 10% or more of the outstanding common shares have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

 

The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s common shares on February 26, 2019 was 8,707,947.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the 2019 annual meeting of shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report; provided, however, that the Audit Committee Report and any other information in such Proxy Statement that is not required to be included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, shall not be deemed to be incorporated herein or filed for the purposes of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 

 

 2

 

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Page No.

PART I

 

 

Item 1.

Business

4

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

12

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

19

Item 2.

Properties

19

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

19

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

20

Item 4A.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

20

 

 

 

PART II

 

 

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

21

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

22

Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

24

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

32

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

32

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

67

Item 9A

Controls and Procedures

67

Item 9B.

Other Information

67

 

 

 

PART III

 

 

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

68

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

68

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

68

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

69

Item 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

69

 

 

 

PART IV

 

 

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

69

Item 16.

Form 10-K Summary

71

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

72

 

 3

 

 

PART I

 

 

ITEM 1. 

Business

 

Company Overview

 

IntriCon Corporation (together with its subsidiaries referred herein as the “Company”, or “IntriCon”, “we”, “us” or “our”) is an international company engaged in designing, developing, engineering, manufacturing and distributing body-worn devices. The Company serves the body-worn device market by designing, developing, engineering, manufacturing and distributing micro-miniature products, microelectronics, micro-mechanical assemblies, complete assemblies and software solutions, primarily for the emerging value based hearing healthcare market, the medical biotelemetry market and the professional audio communication market. The Company, headquartered in Arden Hills, Minnesota, has facilities in Minnesota, Illinois, Singapore, Indonesia, the United Kingdom and Germany, and operates through subsidiaries. The Company is a Pennsylvania corporation formed in 1930, and has gone through several transformations since its formation. The Company’s core business of body-worn devices was established in 1993 through the acquisition of Resistance Technologies Inc., now known as IntriCon, Inc. The majority of IntriCon’s current management came to the Company with the Resistance Technologies Inc. acquisition, including IntriCon’s President and CEO, who was a co-founder of Resistance Technologies Inc. 

 

In December 2016, the Company’s board of directors approved plans to discontinue its cardiac diagnostic monitoring business. The Company sold the cardiac diagnostic monitoring business on February 17, 2017 to Datrix, LLC. For all periods presented, the Company classified this business as discontinued operations, and, accordingly, has reclassified historical financial data presented herein.

 

Information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and expressed in U.S. dollars or number of shares are presented in thousands (000s), except for per share data and as otherwise noted.

 

Business Highlights

 

Major Events in 2018

 

In February 2018, the Company closed on an additional 33% ownership interest in Soundperience, bringing its total ownership to 49% and its total investment to 1,500 Euros, as of December 31, 2018, consisting of an equity investment and license agreement. Subsequently, in January 2019, the Company purchased the source code for the Sentibo Smart Brain self-fitting software from Soundperience for 1,829 Euros, positioning the Company to capitalize on the pending over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid regulation. Sentibo Smart Brain self-fitting software is designed to improve both channel productivity and the quality of first-time fittings, resulting in lower prices, greater access and increased customer satisfaction. This software is being used in the German market today, most notably through Signison, the Company’s joint venture with the majority owner of Soundperience. In addition, the Company transferred its 49% ownership interest in Soundperience to the majority owner of Soundperience. As of December 31, 2018, Soundperience and Signison are accounted for in the Company’s financial statements using the equity method.

 

In March 2018, the Company entered into a new 5-year lease for an additional 37,000 square foot manufacturing and clean room facility near our Corporate Headquarters in Arden Hills, Minnesota. In addition, during 2018 the Company added 13 new molding presses, as well as a high-speed printed circuit board assembly line. In June 2018, the Company entered into an additional 10,000 square foot medical assembly space in Singapore. The added capacity and equipment will aid us in meeting the anticipated rising demand in our medical biotelemetry business.

 

On August 20, 2018, the Company completed a public offering and sale of 1,725 shares of common stock at a price to the public of $55.00 per share less an underwriting discount of $3.30 per share. The net proceeds from this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses, totaled approximately $88,967 and were used to repay debt, fund capital expenditures, to repurchase 500 shares of common stock owned by directors and officers and for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The amount of domestic and foreign bank debt repaid from the offering was $16,381.

 

Major Events in 2017

 

In December 2017, the Company acquired the remaining 80-percent stake in Hearing Help Express, Inc. (referred to as “Hearing Help Express” or “HHE”), a direct-to-end-consumer mail order hearing aid provider, for $650 in cash, repayment of $1,833 in debt to HHE’s 80% holder and an earn-out. The results of HHE were consolidated into the Company’s financial statements beginning October 31, 2016. Prior to the acquisition of 100% ownership in December 2017, the Company allocated income and losses to the noncontrolling interest based on ownership percentage.

 

The Company entered into an agreement to acquire a 49% stake in Soundperience for 1,500 Euros. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had an investment in Soundperience of $1,415, consisting of a 16% ownership interest, cash advances and a license agreement.

 

 4

 

 

Major Events in 2016

 

In December 2016, the Company’s board of directors approved plans to discontinue its cardiac diagnostic monitoring business. The Company sold the cardiac diagnostic monitoring business on February 17, 2017 to Datrix, LLC. For all periods presented, the Company classified this business as discontinued operations, and, accordingly, has reclassified historical financial data presented herein.

 

In October of 2016, the Company purchased 20 percent of Hearing Help Express and began implementing cost cutting measures and business improvements.

 

On May 18, 2016, the Company completed a public offering and sale of 805 shares of common stock. The net proceeds from this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses, totaled approximately $3,678 and were used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

 

Market Overview:

 

IntriCon serves the body-worn device market by designing, developing, engineering, manufacturing and distributing micro-miniature products, microelectronics, micro-mechanical assemblies, complete assemblies and software solutions, primarily for the medical biotelemetry market, the emerging value based hearing healthcare market, the hearing health direct-to-end-consumer market and the professional audio communication market. Revenue from these markets is reported on the respective medical biotelemetry, hearing health, hearing health direct-to-end-consumer and professional audio lines in the discussion of our results of operations in “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Note 23 “Revenue by Market” to the Company’s consolidated condensed financial statements included herein.

 

Hearing Healthcare Market

 

In the United States alone, there are approximately 40 million adults that report some degree of hearing loss. In adults, the most common cause of hearing loss is aging and noise. In fact, by the age of 65, one out of three people have hearing loss. The hearing-impaired population is expected to grow significantly over the next decade due to an aging population and more frequent exposure to loud sounds that can cause noise-induced hearing loss. It is estimated that hearing aids can help more than 90 percent of people with hearing loss, however the current market penetration into the U.S. hearing impaired population is approximately 20 percent, a percentage that has remained essentially unchanged for the last four decades. The primary deterrents to greater penetration are cost and access. Along with this, the legacy hearing aid distribution channel is an oligopoly of six large hearing aid manufacturers who utilize bricks and mortar and licensed audiologists to sell devices while controlling the channel dynamics. As a result, the average cost of a hearing aid sold in the US market today is over $2,400 per device, more than double the cost from fifteen years ago. Approximately 70 percent of the hearing impaired have hearing loss in both ears (referred to as a binaural loss), driving the total cost to almost $5,000 on average for a set of hearing aids.

 

Today in the US market, the legacy channel pushes all hearing impaired through the same inefficient, costly channel. However, a very large portion of the hearing-impaired market – mostly notably those with mild to moderate losses – could be properly served with the proper combination of high quality, outcome-based devices, advanced fitting software and consumer services/care best practices – all at much lower cost. We believe fundamental change is needed and are excited about the opportunity that we created through thoughtful hard work and planning: a chance to deliver superior outcomes-based affordable hearing healthcare, by combining state-of-the-art devices and software technology, along with best practices customer service and at a much lower cost directly to consumers across the country, many of whom have not been able to afford care previously.

 

We believe a perfect vortex of factors has come together over the last few years to enable the emergence of a market disruptive, high-quality, low cost distribution model. These factors include the continued consolidation of retail (causing escalating hearing aid prices), consumer outcry, consumer education, advancements in technology (such as behind-the-ear devices, advanced digital signal processing, low-power wireless, and self-fitting software) as well as regulatory actions and pronouncements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.

 

In early January 2016, the FDA weighed in on low hearing aid penetration rates with an announcement that highlighted statistics from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. They found that 37.5 million U.S. adults aged 18 and older report some form of hearing loss. However, only 30 percent of adults over 70, and 16 percent of those aged 20 to 69, who could benefit from wearing hearing aids, have ever used them. Based on these statistics, the FDA reopened the public comment period on draft guidance related to the agency’s premarket requirements for hearing aids and personal sound amplifiers (PSAPs). In April 2016, the FDA hosted a public workshop to, among other things, gather stakeholder and public input on draft guidance related to the agency’s premarket requirements for hearing aids and PSAPs. The FDA’s intent was to consider ways in which it can most effectively regulate hearing aids to promote accessibility and affordability while encouraging innovation. In December 2016, the FDA announced important steps to better support consumer access to hearing aids. The agency issued a guidance document explaining that it does not intend to enforce the requirement that individuals age 18 and older receive a medical evaluation or sign a waiver prior to purchasing most hearing aids, effective immediately. It also announced its commitment to consider creating a category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids.

 

 5

 

 

Furthermore, there have been significant public policy developments during 2017. On August 18, 2017, President Donald Trump signed into law H.R. 2430, the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017, which includes a section concerning the regulation of OTC hearing aids. The law is designed to enable adults with mild to moderate hearing loss to access OTC hearing aids without being seen by a hearing care professional. The law requires the FDA to create and regulate a category of OTC hearing aids to ensure they meet the same high standards for safety, consumer labeling, and manufacturing protection that all other medical devices must meet. Additionally, the law mandates that the FDA establish an OTC hearing aid category for adults with “perceived” mild to moderate hearing loss within three years of passage of the legislation. The FDA also must finalize a rule within 180 days after the close of the comment period, detailing what level of safety, labeling and consumer protections will be included. We believe this law has the potential to remove the significant barriers existing today that prevent innovative hearing health solutions. We believe that this law will invigorate competition, spur innovation and facilitate the development of an ecosystem of hearing health care that provides affordable and accessible solutions to millions of unserved or underserved Americans. Today, IntriCon serves both the value-based hearing healthcare channel and the legacy hearing health channel.

 

Value-Based Hearing Healthcare 

 

The Company believes the value-based hearing healthcare (VBHH) market offers significant growth opportunities. In contrast to the legacy channel dynamics, the VBHH market channel is flexible and able to serve the end consumer through a variety of modalities which may include self-fitting, remote programing and adjustments, customer support call centers and bricks and mortar stores. The average price of a hearing aid sold through this channel is less than twenty-five percent of the average $2,400 device price typically sold through the legacy channel. The Company recently commissioned an ethnographic research study, which identified a $3+ billion annual VBHH market opportunity. In addition, this study assisted us in identifying our customer, various customer segmentations and personas. To best approach this market opportunity, we have focused our efforts to serve both the value-based Direct-to-End-Consumer (DTEC) and value-based Indirect-to-End-Consumer (ITEC) channels. Over the past decade we have invested in the manufacturing footprint, product technology and fitting software to provide individuals access to affordable, quality outcomes-based hearing healthcare.

 

Our DTEC represents a channel that sells products and services directly to the end consumer, which today consists of our HHE business. In December of 2017, we purchased the remaining 80% of HHE, a direct-to-end-consumer mail order hearing aid provider. However, the Company had been preparing to address this market long before the acquisition of HHE and has spent the last decade investing in the technology and low-cost manufacturing to design and build superior devices and fitting solutions. With this acquisition, we believe we now have the channel infrastructure to directly reach consumers and—importantly for millions—the ability to offer high-quality hearing healthcare at a fraction of the cost. The Company’s devices and technologies coupled with HHE’s high-touch care, outcomes based, and hassle free telemedicine model has created a complete eco-system of hearing healthcare in which the Company intends to serve the $3+ billion market. Through our other VBHH initiatives and tests, we have formed alliances with other key partners, which have given us experience and vital insight as we move aggressively into a more consumer-facing role. HHE provides an efficient, direct-to-end-consumer channel to reach consumers who likely do not have insurance covering hearing devices. This is a channel that we can build on and expand via technology—and one that is complementary with many of our existing relationships.

 

The Company is also focused on serving its value-based ITEC customers, who also sell products and services directly to the end consumer. We have established ourselves as a leader in supplying this portion of the market with advanced, outcome-based products and accessories. The Company has formed strong relationships with various customers in the channel, including insurance providers, and geriatric product retailers and other indirect-to-end-consumer hearing aid providers.

 

In January 2019, the Company purchased the source code for the Sentibo Smart Brain self-fitting software from Soundperience, positioning the Company to capitalize on the pending over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid regulation. Sentibo Smart Brain self-fitting software is designed to improve both channel productivity and the quality of first-time fittings, resulting in lower prices, greater access and increased customer satisfaction. This software is being used in the German market today, most notably through Signison, the Company’s joint venture with the majority owner of Soundperience. 

 

 6

 

 

We strongly believe that incorporating self-fitting technology is a critical step in creating our high-quality, low-cost hearing healthcare ecosystem. The Sentibo Smart Brain self-fitting software technology has the potential to drastically reduce the price of hearing aids, drive greater access and increase customer satisfaction.

 

Legacy Hearing Health Channel

 

We also believe there are niches in the legacy hearing health channel that will embrace our outcomes-based products and technologies in the United States and Europe. High costs of legacy devices and retail consolidation have constrained the growth potential of the independent audiologist and dispenser. We believe our software and product offering can provide independent audiologists and dispensers the ability to compete with larger retailers, such as Costco, and manufacturer owned retail distributors.

 

Medical Biotelemetry

 

In the medical biotelemetry market, the Company is focused on sales of biotelemetry devices for life-critical diagnostic monitoring. The Company manufactures microelectronics, micro-mechanical assemblies, high-precision injection-molded plastic components and complete biotelemetry devices for leading and emerging medical device manufacturers. The medical industry is faced with pressures to reduce the cost of healthcare. Driven by its core technologies, IntriCon helps shift the point of care from expensive traditional settings, such as hospitals, to less expensive non-traditional settings like the home. IntriCon currently serves this market by offering medical manufacturers the capabilities to design, develop, manufacture and distribute medical devices that are easier to use, are more miniature, use less power, and are lighter. Increasingly, the medical industry is looking for wireless, low-power capabilities in their devices.

 

IntriCon currently has a presence in the diabetes, cardiac and catheter positioning markets. For diabetes, IntriCon works with Medtronic to manufacture their wireless continuous glucose monitors (CGM), sensor assemblies, and accessories associated with Medtronic’s insulin pump and CGM system. In August 2016, the FDA approved the MiniMed 630G system which is intended to replace Medtronic’s MiniMed 530G system. In September 2016, the FDA approved the next generation MiniMed 670G insulin pump system, into which IntriCon components are also designed. The MiniMed 670G is the world’s first hybrid closed loop insulin delivery system and we are excited that our components are designed into and support such a revolutionary diabetes management system. In June 2017, the 670G was launched in the U.S. and Medtronic began fulfilling orders from patients enrolled in their Priority Access Program. In parallel, Medtronic began taking new orders from interested customers who want to be next in line to receive the system after the Priority Access orders are filled. In March 2018, the FDA approved the Guardian Connect, Medtronic’s standalone CGM system that allows patients to stay ahead of high and low glucose events. Looking ahead, we believe there are opportunities to expand our diabetes product offering with Medtronic, as well as move into new markets outside of the diabetes market.

 

IntriCon has a suite of medical coils and micro coils that it offers to various original equipment manufacturing (OEM) customers. These products are currently used in pacemaker programming and interventional catheter positioning applications.

 

IntriCon manufactures bubble sensors and flow restrictors that monitor and control the flow of fluid in an intravenous infusion system as well as a family of safety needle products for an OEM customer that utilizes IntriCon’s insert and straight molding capabilities. These products are assembled using full automation, including built-in quality checks within the production lines.

 

During the first half of 2018, we expanded our infrastructure to support anticipated growth from current medical biotelemetry customers and future growth from increased business development. Expansion efforts in 2018 included a newly leased 37,000-square-foot medical biotelemetry manufacturing and clean room facility in Minnesota, an additional 10,000-square-foot medical assembly space in Singapore, 13 new molding presses and a high-speed printed circuit board assembly line. In addition to these investments, our current customers invested several million dollars in tooling and automation within our facilities. While we have begun limited production on certain products in our new facilities, we are still working with current medical biotelemetry customers to complete required validation and qualification of several key production lines.

 

The company is committed to increasing investments to support its medical biotelemetry business development efforts. In early 2019, the company hired a vice president of medical business development, to leverage our core competencies and diversify our medical revenue base. The company believes it has a significant opportunities to serve the emerging biotelemetry and home care markets through its already developed core competencies and capabilities to develop devices that are more technologically advanced, smaller and lightweight.

 

To provide greater financial and operational focus, IntriCon made the strategic decision to divest its non-core cardiac diagnostic monitoring business in 2016. The Company sold this business on February 17, 2017 to Datrix, LLC.

 

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Professional Audio Communications

 

IntriCon entered the high-quality audio communication device market in 2001, and now has a line of miniature, professional audio headset products used by customers focusing on emergency response needs. The line includes several communication devices that are extremely portable and perform well in noisy or hazardous environments. These products are well suited for applications in the fire, law enforcement, safety, aviation and military markets. In addition, the Company has a line of miniature ear- and head-worn devices used by performers and support staff in the music and stage performance markets. We believe performance in difficult listening environments and wireless operations will continue to improve as these products increasingly include our proprietary nanoDSP, wireless nanoLink and PhysioLink technologies.

 

Core Technologies Overview:

 

Our core technologies expertise is focused on four main markets: medical biotelemetry, hearing health, hearing health direct-to-end-consumer and professional audio communications. Over the past several years, the Company has increased investments in the continued development of five critical core technologies: Ultra-Low-Power (ULP) Digital Signal Processing (DSP), ULP Wireless, Fitting Software, Microminiaturization, and Miniature Transducers. These five core technologies serve as the foundation of current and future product platform development, designed to meet the rising demand for smaller, portable, more advanced devices and the need for greater efficiencies in the delivery models. The continued advancements in this area have allowed the Company to further enhance the mobility and effectiveness of miniature body-worn devices. 

 

ULP DSP  

DSP converts real-world analog signals into a digital format. Through our nanoDSP™ technology, IntriCon offers an extensive range of ULP DSP amplifiers for hearing, medical and professional audio applications. Our proprietary nanoDSP incorporates advanced ultra-miniature hardware with sophisticated signal processing algorithms to produce devices that are smaller and more effective. The Company further expanded its DSP portfolio including improvements to its Reliant CLEAR™ feedback canceller, offering increased added stable gain and faster reaction time. Additionally, the DSP technologies are utilized in the Audion8™, our eight-channel hearing aid amplifier, and the Audion16™, our wide dynamic range compression sixteen-channel hearing aid amplifier. The amplifiers are feature-rich and are designed to fit a wide array of applications. In addition to multiple compression channels, the amplifiers have a complete set of proven adaptive features which greatly improve the user experience.

 

ULP Wireless  

Wireless connectivity is fast becoming a required technology, and wireless capabilities are especially critical in new body-worn devices. IntriCon’s BodyNet™ ULP technology, including the nanoLink™ and PhysioLink™ wireless systems, offers solutions for transmitting the body’s activities to caregivers and wireless audio links for professional communications and surveillance products, including diabetes monitoring and audio streaming for hearing devices.

 

IntriCon is in the final stages of commercializing its Physiolink3 wireless technology, which will be incorporated into product platforms serving the medical biotelemetry, hearing health, hearing health direct-to-end-consumer and professional audio communication markets. This system is based on 2.4GHz proprietary digital radio protocol in the industrial-scientific-medical (ISM) frequency band and enables audio and data streaming and command and control to ear-worn and body-worn applications over distances of up to ten meters. The Physiolink3 technology can be used to increase productivity in the emerging VBHH channels through in office wireless programming, remote cloud based fitting and consumer directed self-fitting of hearing aids. This will provide both greater access and lower costs for patients. In addition, remote control functions will improve the patient experience while using the device especially for those with diminished dexterity. The Physiolink3 technology builds on the Physiolink2 capabilities by adding wireless streaming at, what we believe, are much lower power levels than any technology currently on the market. This will allow for accessories to enhance the user experience in noisy environments by allowing audio streaming directly to the hearing aid.

 

Fitting Software 

The ability to efficiently and effectively fit hearing aids is critical to building a value based eco-system of hearing healthcare. By developing more advanced fitting software systems, individuals can benefit from fittings that conform to their specific loss, while eliminating the need for an in-person appointment. In addition to the traditional fitting software, IntriFit, used in the conventional channel, IntriCon has made significant investments in various advanced fitting software solutions, including its purchase of the source code for the Sentibo Smart Brain self-fitting software, that can enable remote and self-fitting solutions. IntriCon believes these advanced fitting solutions, along with the other components of the eco-system, will drive access, affordability and superior customer satisfaction to the millions of individuals that cannot receive care today, primarily due to high cost and low access.

 

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In January 2019, the Company purchased the source code for the Sentibo Smart Brain self-fitting software from Soundperience. The Sentibo Smart Brain System is the first psycho-acoustic way of analyzing peripheral hearing and central hearing processing. It was developed by an international research team based on the latest scientific findings from the fields of audiology and brain research. The software is a sophisticated self-fitting hearing aid and brain training software technology that is being used in the German market today, most notably through our Signison joint venture. We view this software technology as a critical component to our domestic value-based hearing healthcare model. Sentibo, as well as our other proprietary fitting systems, are designed to improve both channel productivity and the quality of first-time fittings, resulting in lower prices, greater access and increased customer satisfaction. IntriCon expects to introduce our advanced fitting solutions through our various VBHH channels in 2019.

 

Microminiaturization 

IntriCon excels at miniaturizing body-worn devices. We began honing our microminiaturization skills over 30 years ago, supplying components to the hearing health industry. Our core miniaturization technology allows us to make devices for our markets that are one cubic inch and smaller. We also are specialists in devices that run on very low power, as evidenced by our ULP wireless and DSP. Less power means a smaller battery, which enables us to reduce size even further, and develop devices that fit into the palm of one’s hand.

 

Miniature Transducers 

IntriCon’s advanced transducer technology has been pushing the limits of size and performance for over a decade. Included in our transducer line are our miniature medical coils and micro coils used in pacemaker programming and interventional catheter positioning applications. We believe that with the increase of greater interventional care, our coil technology harbors significant value.

 

Marketing and Competition: 

 

IntriCon intends to focus more capital and resources in marketing and sales to expand its reach into the emerging value based hearing healthcare market and large medical device and healthcare companies in the medical biotelemetry market outlined above. The Company believes this will allow us to advance our technology portfolio, advance new product platforms, strengthen customer relationships and expand our market knowledge.

 

Currently, IntriCon sells some of its hearing device products directly to domestic hearing instrument manufacturers, and distributors and partnerships through an internal sales force. As a result of the investments in Hearing Help Express in 2016 and 2017, the Company began marketing and selling hearing aid devices directly to consumers through direct mail advertising, internet and a call center. Sales of medical and professional audio communications products are also made primarily through an internal sales force.

 

Internationally, sales representatives employed by IntriCon GmbH (“GmbH”), a wholly owned German subsidiary, solicit sales from European hearing instrument, medical device and professional audio communications manufacturers and suppliers.

 

In recent years, a small number of customers have accounted for a substantial portion of the Company’s sales. In 2018, one customer in our medical market accounted for approximately 56 percent of the Company’s net revenue. During 2018, the top five customers accounted for approximately $81,886, or 70 percent, of the Company’s net revenue. See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of net revenue and long-lived assets by geographic area.

 

IntriCon markets its high performance microphone products to the radio communication and professional audio industries and has several larger competitors who have greater financial resources. IntriCon holds a small market share in the global market for microphone capsules and other related products.

 

Employees. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had a total of 810 full time equivalent employees, of whom 74 are executive and administrative personnel, 53 are sales personnel, 41 are engineering personnel and 642 are operations personnel. The Company considers its relations with its employees to be satisfactory. None of the Company’s employees are represented by a union.

 

As a supplier of consumer and medical products and parts, IntriCon is subject to claims for personal injuries allegedly caused by its products. The Company maintains what it believes to be adequate insurance coverage.

 

Research and Development.  IntriCon conducts research and development activities primarily to improve its existing products and proprietary technology. The Company is committed to investing in the research and development of proprietary technologies, such as the ULP DSP and ULP wireless technologies. The Company believes the continued development of key proprietary technologies will be the catalyst for long-term revenues and margin growth. Research and development expenditures were $4,671, $4,458, and $4,688 in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. These amounts are net of any customer and grant reimbursed research and development.

 

IntriCon owns numerous United States patents which cover various product designs and processes. Although the Company believes that these patents collectively add value to the Company, the costs associated with the submission of patent applications are expensed as incurred given the uncertainty of the patents providing future economic benefit to the Company.

 

 9

 

 

Regulation.  A large portion of our business operates in a marketplace subject to extensive and rigorous regulation by the FDA and by comparable agencies in foreign countries. In the United States, the FDA regulates the design control, development, manufacturing, labeling, record keeping, and surveillance procedures for medical devices.

 

United States Food and Drug Administration

FDA regulations classify medical devices based on perceived risk to public health as either Class I, II or III devices. Class I devices are subject to general controls, Class II devices are subject to special controls and Class III devices are subject to pre-market approval (“PMA”) requirements. While most Class I devices are exempt from pre-market submission, it is necessary for most Class II devices to be cleared by a 510(k) pre-market notification prior to marketing. A “cleared” 510(k) establishes that the device is “substantially equivalent” to a predicate device which was legally marketed prior to May 28, 1976 or which itself has been found to be substantially equivalent, through the 510(k) process, after May 28, 1976. It is “substantially equivalent” if it has the same intended use and the same technological characteristics as the predicate. The 510(k) pre-market notification must be supported by data establishing the claim of substantial equivalence to the satisfaction of the FDA. The process of obtaining a 510(k) clearance typically can take several months to a year or longer. If the product is notably new or different and substantial equivalence cannot be established, the FDA will require the manufacturer to submit a PMA application for a Class III device that must be reviewed and approved by the FDA prior to sale and marketing of the device in the United States. The process of obtaining PMA approval can be expensive, uncertain, lengthy and frequently requires anywhere from one to several years from the date of FDA submission, if approval is obtained at all.  A “De Novo” application may be submitted for a new type of Class II device for which there is no predicate.  The FDA controls the indicated uses for which a product may be marketed and strictly prohibits the marketing of medical devices for unapproved uses. The FDA can require the manufacturer to withdraw products from the market for failure to comply with laws or the occurrence of safety risks.

 

Our wireless and non-wireless hearing aids are air-conduction devices and, as such, are Class I and Class II medical devices. Air-conduction hearing aids are exempt from the 510(k) pre-market notification process. These hearing aids may be marketed either through distribution channels owned, in whole or in part, by IntriCon or through non-affiliated distribution channels.  In the latter sense, IntriCon acts as the contract manufacturer to the distributing organization, assisting in design, development and manufacturing. Our manufacturing operations are subject to periodic inspections by the FDA, whose primary purpose is to audit the Company’s compliance with the Quality System Regulations published by the FDA (21 CFR Part 820) and other applicable government standards. Strict regulatory action may be initiated in response to audit deficiencies or to product performance problems. We believe that our manufacturing and quality control procedures are in compliance with the requirements of the FDA regulations. Our most recent FDA audits were conducted in December of 2017. No issues (observations) arising from those audits were noted.

 

International Regulation

International regulatory bodies have established varying regulations governing product standards, packaging and labeling requirements, import restrictions, tariff regulations, duties and tax. Many of these regulations are similar to those of the FDA. We believe we are in compliance with the regulatory requirements in the foreign countries in which our medical devices are marketed.

 

Medical device law in the EU requires that our quality system conforms to international quality standards and that our medical devices conform to “essential requirements” set forth by the Medical Device Directive (“MDD”). In order to keep pace with accelerating technical reality and manufacturing risks, medical device law in Europe is changing rapidly. Effective May 5, 2017, the MDD has been replaced with a broader, more reaching Medical Device Regulation (“MDR”) with a three-year transition period. IntriCon intends to comply with the MDR prior to the end of the transition period.

 

IntriCon manufacturing facilities are audited annually by an International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”) registrar to verify conformity of products and quality systems to the relevant standards and regulations. The ISO registrar for our US facilities is British Standards Institute (“BSI”) while the registrar for our Asian facilities is SGS United Kingdom Ltd.  

 

Technical documentation, including the essential requirements matrix, for each product placed on the market in the EU is audited by our European Notified Body (also BSI).  Successful audits verify conformance to the essential requirements set forth by the MDD for the class of medical devices we produce and result in a CE Certificate.  This entitles us to place the “CE” mark on our devices distributed in Europe.  In 2014, IntriCon obtained “CE” certification for our own hearing aid devices and we are supplying these devices into the European market. Our hearing aids may also bear the CE mark of our customers who then assume regulatory responsibilities for those devices they place on the EU market under their own name. 

 

Our European Authorized Representative, CE Partner 4U, reviews and retains our technical documentation and registers our products as required with applicable authorities in all EU member states.

 

Third Party Reimbursement

The availability and level of reimbursement from third-party payers for procedures utilizing our products is significant to our business. Our products are purchased primarily by OEM customers who sell into clinics, hospitals and other end-users, who in turn bill various third party payers for the services provided to the patients. These payers, which include Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurance plans and managed care organizations, reimburse all or part of the costs and fees associated with the procedures utilizing our products.

 

 10

 

 

In response to the national focus on rising health care costs, numerous changes to reduce costs have been proposed or have begun to emerge. There have been, and may continue to be, proposals by legislators, regulators and third party payers to curb these costs. The development or increased use of more cost effective treatments for diseases could cause such payers to decrease or deny reimbursement for surgeries or devices to favor alternatives that do not utilize our products. A significant number of Americans enroll in some form of managed care plan. Higher managed care utilization typically drives down the payments for health care procedures, which in turn places pressure on medical supply prices. This causes hospitals to implement tighter vendor selection and certification processes, by reducing the number of vendors used, purchasing more products from fewer vendors and trading discounts on price for guaranteed higher volumes to vendors. Hospitals have also sought to control and reduce costs over the last decade by joining group purchasing organizations or purchasing alliances. OEM customers also seek to reduce their costs by attempting to reduce the prices they pay for our products. We cannot predict what continuing or future impact these practices, the existing or proposed legislation, or such third-party payer measures within a constantly changing healthcare landscape may have on our future business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain statements included or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or the Company’s other public filings and releases, which are not historical facts, or that include forward-looking terminology such as “may”, “will”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “should”, “optimistic”, “continue”, “estimate”, “intend”, “plan”, “would”, “could”, “guidance”, “potential”, “opportunity”, “project”, “forecast”, “confident”, “projections”, “scheduled”, “designed”, “future”, “discussion”, “if” or the negative thereof or other variations thereof, are forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and the regulations thereunder), which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. These statements may include, but are not limited to statements in “Business,” “Legal Proceedings”, “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements”, such as the Company’s ability to compete, strategic alliances and their benefits, the adequacy of insurance coverage,  government regulation, potential increases in demand for the Company’s products,  net operating loss carryforwards, the ability to meet cash requirements for operating needs, the ability to meet liquidity needs, assumptions used to calculate future levels of funding of employee benefit plans, the adequacy of insurance coverage, the impacts of new accounting pronouncements and litigation.

 

Forward-looking statements also include, without limitation, statements as to the Company’s expected future results of operations and growth, the Company’s ability to meet working capital requirements, the Company’s business strategy, the expected increases in operating efficiencies, anticipated trends in the Company’s body-worn device markets, the effect of compliance with environmental protection laws and other government regulations, estimates of goodwill impairments and amortization expense of other intangible assets, estimates of asset impairment, the effects of changes in accounting pronouncements, the effects of litigation and the amount of insurance coverage, and statements as to trends or the Company’s or management’s beliefs, expectations and opinions. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and may be affected by various risks, uncertainties and other factors that can cause actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the risk factors discussed in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company.

 

Available Information

 

The Company files or furnishes its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company’s reports, proxy and information statements and other SEC filings are also available on the SEC’s website as part of the EDGAR database (http://www.sec.gov). 

 

The Company maintains an internet website at www.IntriCon.com. The information on the website is not and should not be considered part of this annual report on Form 10-K and is not incorporated by reference in this document. This website is, and is only intended to be, for reference purposes only.

 

The Company makes available free of charge on or through its website its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC. 

 

In addition, we will provide, at no cost (other than for exhibits), paper or electronic copies of our reports and other filings made with the SEC. Requests should be directed to:

 

 

Corporate Secretary

 

IntriCon Corporation

 

1260 Red Fox Road

 

Arden Hills, Minnesota 55112

 

 11

 

 

ITEM 1A. 

Risk Factors

 

You should carefully consider the risks described below. If any of the risks events actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of future operations could be materially adversely affected. This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including the risks faced by us described below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

We have experienced and expect to continue to experience fluctuations in our results of operations, which could adversely affect us.

 

Factors that affect our results of operations include, but are not limited to, the volume and timing of orders received, changes in the global economy and financial markets, changes in the mix of products sold, market acceptance of our products and our customer’s products, competitive pricing pressures, global currency valuations, the availability of electronic components that we purchase from suppliers, our ability to meet demand, our ability to introduce new products on a timely basis, the timing of new product announcements and introductions by us or our competitors, changing customer requirements, delays in new product qualifications, the timing and extent of research and development expenses and regulatory changes and/or delays. These factors have caused and may continue to cause us to experience fluctuations in operating results on a quarterly and/or annual basis. These fluctuations could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, which in turn, could adversely affect the price of our common stock.

 

The loss of one or more of our major customers could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

We are dependent on a small number of customers for a majority of our revenues. In fiscal year 2018, our largest customer accounted for approximately 56 percent of our net revenue and our five largest customers accounted for approximately 70 percent of our net revenue. A significant decrease or delay in the sales to or loss of any of our major customers could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. Our revenues are largely dependent upon the ability of customers to develop and sell products that incorporate our products. No assurance can be given that our major customers will not experience financial, technical, regulatory or other difficulties or delays that could adversely affect their operations and, in turn, our results of operations.

 

We may not be able to collect outstanding accounts receivable from our customers.

 

Some of our customers purchase our products on credit, which may cause a concentration of accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2018, we had accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts, of $11,479, which represented approximately 12 percent of our shareholders’ equity as of that date. As of that date, two customers accounted for a combined total of approximately 52 percent of our accounts receivable. Our financial condition and profitability may be harmed if one or more of our customers are unable or unwilling to pay these accounts receivable when due.

 

We recently acquired Hearing Help Express and we may explore other acquisitions that complement or expand our business. Acquisitions pose significant risks and may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

 

In 2016, we acquired 20% of the equity of Hearing Help Express and, in late 2017, we completed the acquisition of the remaining 80% equity interest. Hearing Help Express represents a new and exciting business opportunity; however, we do not have any prior experience in the direct-to-end-consumer mail order hearing aid business, and we may not be able to successfully integrate or profitably operate this business, which may result in our not realizing the value paid for the acquisition. We recorded goodwill and intangible assets of $4,177 in connection with the acquisition, and if we are not able to realize the value paid, it could lead to impairment of the assets acquired, for which we would need to recognize an expense charge. Our success will be largely influenced by management’s ability to hire and retain skilled direct-to-end-consumer personnel and determine the proper customer base and marketing channels to achieve our planned profitability levels.

 

We may explore opportunities to buy other businesses or technologies that could complement, enhance or expand our current business or product lines or that might otherwise offer us growth opportunities. We may have difficulty finding these opportunities or, if we do identify these opportunities, we may not be able to complete the transactions for various reasons, including a failure to secure financing.

 

The Hearing Help Express acquisition, and any other transactions that we are able to identify and complete, involve a number of risks, including: the diversion of our management’s attention from our existing business to integrate the operations and personnel of the acquired or combined business or joint venture; possible adverse effects on our operating results during the integration process; unanticipated liabilities and litigation; and our possible inability to achieve the intended objectives of the transaction. In addition, we may not be able to successfully or profitably integrate, operate, maintain and manage our newly acquired operations or employees. Future acquisitions also may result in dilutive issuances of equity securities or the incurrence of additional debt.

 

 12

 

 

Despite improvement in economic conditions, downturns in the domestic economic environment could cause a severe disruption in our operations.

 

Our business has been negatively impacted by the domestic economic environment in past years. If the economy does not continue to improve, or worsens, there could be several severely negative implications to our business that may exacerbate many of the risk factors we identified including, but not limited to, the following:

 

Liquidity:

 

The domestic economic environment, including credit markets, could worsen and reduce liquidity and this could have a negative impact on financial institutions and the country’s financial system, which could, in turn, have a negative impact on the business of our customers and on our business.

 

Investments held by the Company are subject to market conditions which could decline in value and reduce liquidity.

 

Interest rates have begun to rise and are expected to continue to rise, which could disrupt domestic and world markets and could adversely affect the economy as a whole and our liquidity, costs of borrowing and results of operations.

 

Demand:

 

Any downturn in the economy or a return to recession could result in lower sales to our customers.  Additionally, our customers may not have access to sufficient cash or short-term credit to obtain our products or services.

 

Prices:

 

In the event of a downturn, certain markets could experience deflation, which would negatively impact our average prices and reduce our margins.

 

Health care policy changes, including U.S. health care reform legislation signed in 2010, may have a material adverse effect on us.

 

In March 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, collectively referred to as the Affordable Care Act. The legislation imposed significant new taxes on medical device makers in the form of a 2.3% excise tax on all U.S. medical device sales beginning in January 2013. Under the legislation, the total cost to the medical device industry was estimated to be approximately $30 billion over ten years. Congress suspended the excise tax for 2016 and 2017. Further legislation was adopted in January 2018 to continue the suspension for two years. If the excise tax is not repealed or further suspended, the tax would go back into effect on December 31, 2019. If re-imposed, this tax could have a material, negative impact on our results of operations and our cash flows either directly, through taxes on us, or indirectly through others in our value chain being subject to the tax. Although the direct impact of the excise tax is expected to be immaterial on us, if facts or circumstances change in our business relationships, we could be subject to customer pricing pressures or required to pay additional taxes under the rules.

 

Other elements of this legislation, such as comparative effectiveness research, an independent payment advisory board, payment system reforms, including shared savings pilots, and other provisions, could meaningfully change the way health care is developed and delivered, and may materially impact numerous aspects of our business.

 

The Trump Administration and members of Congress have expressed their intentions to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. We cannot predict if the Affordable Care Act will be modified, repealed or replaced or the effect that any such actions will have on our business.

 

If we are unable to continue to develop new products that are inexpensive to manufacture, our results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

We may not be able to continue to achieve our historical profit margins due to advancements in technology. The ability to continue our profit margins is dependent upon our ability to stay competitive by developing products that are technologically advanced and inexpensive to manufacture. 

 

Our need for continued investment in research and development may increase expenses and reduce our profitability.

 

Our industry is characterized by the need for continued investment in research and development. If we fail to invest sufficiently in research and development, our products could become less attractive to existing and potential customers and our business and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected. As a result of the need to maintain or increase spending levels in this area and the difficulty in reducing costs associated with research and development, our operating results could be materially harmed if our research and development efforts fail to result in new products or if revenues fall below expectations. In addition, as a result of our commitment to invest in research and development, management believes that research and development expenses as a percentage of revenues could increase in the future.

 

 13

 

 

We operate in a highly competitive business and if we are unable to be competitive, our financial condition could be adversely affected.

 

Several of our competitors have been able to offer more standardized and less technologically advanced hearing and professional audio communication products at lower prices. Price competition has had an adverse effect on our sales and margins. Many of our competitors are larger than us and have greater research and development resources, marketing and financial resources, manufacturing capability and customer support organizations than we have. There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain or enhance our technical capabilities or compete successfully with our existing and future competitors.

 

Merger and acquisition activity in our hearing health market has resulted in a smaller customer base. Reliance on fewer customers may have an adverse effect on us.

 

Several of our customers in the hearing health market have undergone mergers or acquisitions, resulting in a smaller customer base with larger customers. If we are unable to maintain satisfactory relationships with the reduced customer base, it may adversely affect our operating profits and revenue.

 

Our failure, or the failure of our customers, to obtain required governmental approvals and maintain regulatory compliance for regulated products would adversely affect our ability to generate revenue from those products.

 

The markets in which we and our customers operate are subject to extensive and rigorous regulation by the FDA and by comparable agencies in foreign countries. In the United States, the FDA regulates the design control, development, manufacturing, labeling, record keeping, and surveillance procedures for our medical devices and those of our customers.

 

The process of obtaining marketing clearance or approvals from the FDA for new products and new applications for existing products can be time-consuming and expensive, and there is no assurance that such clearance/approvals will be granted, or that the FDA review will not involve delays that would adversely affect our ability to commercialize additional products or additional applications for existing products. Some of our products in the research and development stage may be subject to a lengthy and expensive pre-market approval process with the FDA. The FDA has the authority to control the indicated uses of a device. Products can also be withdrawn from the market due to failure to comply with regulatory standards or the occurrence of unforeseen problems. The FDA regulations depend heavily on administrative interpretation, and there can be no assurance that future interpretations made by the FDA or other regulatory bodies, with possible retroactive effect, will not adversely affect us.

 

The registration system for our medical devices in the EU requires that our quality system conform to international quality standards. Manufacturing facilities and processes under which our hearing aid devices are produced, are inspected and audited by various certifying bodies. These audits verify our compliance with applicable requirements and standards. Further, the FDA, various state agencies and foreign regulatory agencies inspect our facilities to determine whether we are in compliance with various regulations relating to quality systems, such as manufacturing practices, validation, testing, quality control, product labeling and product surveillance. A determination that we are in violation of such regulations could lead to imposition of civil penalties, including fines, product recalls or product seizures, suspensions or shutdown of production and, in extreme cases, criminal sanctions, depending on the nature of the violation.

 

Further, to the extent that any of our customers to whom we supply products become subject to regulatory actions or delays, our sales to those customers could be reduced, delayed or suspended, which could have a material adverse effect on our sales and earnings.

 

Implementation of our growth strategy may not be successful, which could affect our ability to increase revenues.

 

Our growth strategy includes developing new products and entering new markets, as well as identifying and integrating acquisitions. Our ability to compete in new markets will depend upon a number of factors including, among others:

 

 

our ability to create demand for products in new markets;

 

our ability to manage growth effectively;

 

our ability to strengthen our sales and marketing presence;

 

our ability to successfully identify, complete and integrate acquisitions;

 

our ability to respond to changes in our customers’ businesses by updating existing products and introducing, in a timely fashion, new products which meet the needs of our customers;

 

our ability to fund growth;

 

the quality of our new products; and

 

our ability to respond rapidly to technological change.

 

The failure to do any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we may face competition in these new markets from various companies that may have substantially greater research and development resources, marketing and financial resources, manufacturing capability and customer support organizations.

 

 14

 

 

We have foreign operations in Singapore, Indonesia, the United Kingdom and Germany, and various factors relating to our international operations could affect our results of operations. 

 

In 2018, we operated in Singapore, Indonesia, the United Kingdom and Germany. Approximately 17 percent of our revenues were derived from our facilities in these countries in 2018. As of December 31, 2018, approximately 14 percent of our long-lived assets are located in these countries. Political or economic instability in these countries could have an adverse impact on our results of operations due to disruption of production or diminished revenues in these countries. Our future revenues, costs of operations and profit results could be affected by a number of factors related to our international operations, including changes in foreign currency exchange rates, changes in economic conditions from country to country, changes in a country’s political condition, trade protection measures, licensing and other legal requirements and local tax issues. Unanticipated currency fluctuations in the British pound, euro, Singapore dollar and other currencies could lead to lower reported consolidated revenues due to the translation of this currency into U.S. dollars when we consolidate our revenues and results from operations.

 

Events in Europe could negatively affect our ability to conduct business in those countries.

 

Following a referendum in June 2016 in which voters in the United Kingdom approved an exit from the European Union, the United Kingdom government has initiated a process to leave the European Union (often referred to as Brexit), which is currently scheduled to take place on March 29, 2019. In 2018, we derived 17 percent of our revenues from sales outside the U.S., including 7 percent from Europe. The consequences of Brexit, together with what may be protracted negotiations around the terms of Brexit or the exit of the United Kingdom without an agreement, could introduce significant uncertainties into global financial markets and adversely impact the markets in which we and our customers operate. While we are not experiencing any immediate adverse impact on our financial condition as a result of Brexit, adverse consequences such as deterioration in economic conditions, volatility in currency exchange rates, including the British pound and the euro, or adverse changes in regulation could have a negative impact on our future operations, operating results and financial condition. All of these potential consequences could be further magnified if additional countries were to exit the European Union.

 

The recent debt crisis in certain European countries could cause the value of the euro to deteriorate, reducing the purchasing power of our European customers. Financial difficulties experienced by our suppliers and customers, including distributors, could result in product delays and inventory issues; risks to accounts receivable could also include delays in collection and greater bad debt expense. Also, the effect of the debt crisis in certain European countries could have an adverse effect on the capital markets generally, specifically impacting our ability and the ability of our customers to finance our and their respective businesses on acceptable terms, if at all, the availability of materials and supplies and demand for our products.

 

We are subject to tax legislation in numerous countries; changes in tax laws or challenges to our tax positions could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

We are a global corporation with a presence in the United States, Singapore, Indonesia, the United Kingdom and Germany. As such, we are subject to tax laws, regulations and policies of the U.S. federal, state and local governments and of comparable taxing authorities in other country jurisdictions. Changes in tax laws, including the recently enacted U.S. federal tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“Tax Act”), as well as other factors, could cause us to experience fluctuations in our tax obligations and effective tax rates in 2019 and thereafter and otherwise adversely affect our tax positions and/or our tax liabilities. There can be no assurance that our effective tax rates, tax payments, tax credits or incentives will not be adversely affected by these or other initiatives.

 

If we fail to meet our financial and other covenants under our loan agreements with our lenders, absent a waiver, we will be in default of the loan agreements and our lenders can take actions that would adversely affect our business.

 

There can be no assurances that we will be able to maintain compliance with the financial and other covenants in our loan agreements. In the event we are unable to comply with these covenants during future periods, it is uncertain whether our lenders will grant waivers for our non-compliance. If there is an event of default by us under our loan agreements, our lenders have the option to, among other things, accelerate any and all of our obligations under the loan agreements which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our success depends on our senior management team and if we are not able to retain them, it could have a materially adverse effect on us.

 

We are highly dependent upon the continued services and experience of our senior management team, including Mark S. Gorder, our President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors. We depend on the services of Mr. Gorder and the other members of our senior management team to, among other things, continue the development and implementation of our business strategies and maintain and develop our client relationships. Certain members of our management team are approaching retirement and the Company must locate and employ suitable replacements from within or without the Company. We do not maintain key-man life insurance for any members of our senior management team.

 

 15

 

 

Cybersecurity incidents could disrupt business operations, result in the loss of critical and confidential information, and adversely impact our reputation and results of operations.

 

Global cybersecurity threats can range from uncoordinated individual attempts to gain unauthorized access to our information technology (IT) systems to sophisticated and targeted measures known as advanced persistent threats. While we employ comprehensive measures to prevent, detect, address and mitigate these threats (including access controls, insurance, vulnerability assessments, continuous monitoring of our IT networks and systems, maintenance of backup and protective systems and user training and education), cybersecurity incidents, depending on their nature and scope, could potentially result in the misappropriation, destruction, corruption or unavailability of critical data and confidential or proprietary information (our own or that of third parties) and the disruption of business operations. The potential consequences of a material cybersecurity incident include reputational damage, loss of customers, litigation with customers and other parties, loss of trade secrets and other proprietary business data, diminution in the value of our investment in research, development and engineering, and increased cybersecurity protection and remediation costs, which in turn could adversely affect our competitiveness and results of operations.

 

Our future success depends in part on the continued service of our engineering and technical personnel and our ability to identify, hire and retain additional personnel.

 

There is intense competition for qualified personnel in our markets. We may not be able to continue to attract and retain engineers or other qualified personnel necessary for the development and growth of our business or to replace engineers or other qualified personnel who may leave our employ in the future. The failure to retain and recruit key technical personnel could cause additional expense, potentially reduce the efficiency of our operations and could harm our business.

 

We and/or our customers may be unable to protect our and their proprietary technology and intellectual property rights or keep up with that of competitors.

 

Our ability to compete effectively against other companies in our markets depends, in part, on our ability and the ability of our customers to protect our and their current and future proprietary technology under patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret and unfair competition laws. We cannot assure that our means of protecting our proprietary rights in the United States or abroad will be adequate, or that others will not develop technologies similar or superior to our technology or design around the proprietary rights we own or license. In addition, we may incur substantial costs in attempting to protect our proprietary rights.

 

Also, despite the steps taken by us to protect our proprietary rights, it may be possible for unauthorized third parties to copy or reverse-engineer aspects of our and our customers’ products, develop similar technology independently or otherwise obtain and use information that we or our customers regard as proprietary. We and our customers may be unable to successfully identify or prosecute unauthorized uses of our or our customers’ technology.

 

If we become subject to material intellectual property infringement claims, we could incur significant expenses and could be prevented from selling specific products.

 

We may become subject to material claims that we infringe the intellectual property rights of others in the future. We cannot assure that, if made, these claims will not be successful. Any claim of infringement could cause us to incur substantial costs defending against the claim even if the claim is invalid, and could distract management from other business. Any judgment against us could require substantial payment in damages and could also include an injunction or other court order that could prevent us from offering certain products.

 

Environmental liability and compliance obligations may affect our operations and results.

 

Our manufacturing operations are subject to a variety of environmental laws and regulations as well as internal programs and policies governing:

 

 

air emissions;

 

wastewater discharges;

 

the storage, use, handling, disposal and remediation of hazardous substances, wastes and chemicals; and

 

employee health and safety.

 

If violations of environmental laws occur, we could be held liable for damages, penalties, fines and remedial actions. Our operations and results could be adversely affected by any material obligations arising from existing laws, as well as any required material modifications arising from new regulations that may be enacted in the future. We may also be held liable for past disposal of hazardous substances generated by our business or former businesses or businesses we acquire. In addition, it is possible that we may be held liable for contamination discovered at our present or former facilities.

 

 16

 

 

We are subject to numerous asbestos-related lawsuits, which could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

We are a defendant along with a number of other parties in lawsuits alleging that plaintiffs have or may have contracted asbestos-related diseases as a result of exposure to asbestos products or equipment containing asbestos sold by one or more named defendants. These lawsuits relate to the discontinued heat technologies segment which we sold in March 2005. Due to the non-informative nature of the complaints, we do not know whether any of the complaints state valid claims against us. Certain insurance carriers have informed us that the primary policies for the period August 1, 1970-1978 have been exhausted and that the carriers will no longer provide defense and insurance coverage under those policies. However, we have other primary and excess insurance policies that we believe afford coverage for later years. Some of these other primary insurers have accepted defense and insurance coverage for these suits, and some of them have either ignored our tender of defense of these cases, or have denied coverage, or have accepted the tenders but asserted a reservation of rights and/or advised us that they need to investigate further. Because settlement payments are applied to all years a litigant was deemed to have been exposed to asbestos, we believe we will have funds available for defense and insurance coverage under the non-exhausted primary and excess insurance policies. However, unlike the older policies, the more recent policies have deductible amounts for defense and settlements costs that we will be required to pay; accordingly, we expect that our litigation costs will increase in the future as the older policies are exhausted. Further, many of the policies covering later years (approximately 1984 and thereafter) have exclusions for any asbestos products or operations, and thus do not provide insurance coverage for asbestos-related lawsuits. If our insurance policies do not cover the costs and any awards for the asbestos-related lawsuits, we will have to use our cash or obtain additional financing to pay the asbestos-related obligations and settlement costs. There is no assurance that we will have the cash or be able to obtain additional financings on favorable terms to pay asbestos related obligations or settlements should they occur. The ultimate outcome of any legal matter cannot be predicted with certainty. In light of the significant uncertainty associated with asbestos lawsuits, there is no guarantee that these lawsuits will not materially adversely affect our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

The market price of our common stock has been and is likely to continue to be volatile and there has been limited trading volume in our stock, which may make it difficult for shareholders to resell common stock when they want to and at prices they find attractive.

 

The market price of our common stock has been and is likely to be highly volatile, and there has been limited trading volume in our common stock. For example, our stock traded between a low sale price of $16.70 and a high sale price of $76.80 in 2018. The common stock market price could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a variety of factors, including the following:

 

 

announcements of fluctuations in our or our competitors’ operating results;

 

regulatory or other delays affecting our or our customers’ products;

 

the timing and announcement of sales or acquisitions of assets by us or our competitors;

 

changes in estimates or recommendations by securities analysts;

 

adverse or unfavorable publicity about our products, technologies or us;

 

the commencement of material litigation, or an unfavorable verdict, against us;

 

terrorist attacks, war and threats of attacks and war;

 

additions or departures of key personnel; and

 

sales of common stock by us or our shareholders.

 

In addition, the stock market in recent years has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations. Such volatility has affected many companies irrespective of, or disproportionately to, the operating performance of these companies. These broad fluctuations and limited trading volume may materially adversely affect the market price of our common stock, and your ability to sell our common stock.

 

Most of our outstanding shares are available for resale in the public market without restriction. The sale of a large number of these shares could adversely affect the share price and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of equity securities or make acquisitions for common stock.

 

 17

 

 

“Anti-takeover” provisions may make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, even if the change in control would be beneficial to shareholders.

 

We are a Pennsylvania corporation. Anti-takeover provisions in Pennsylvania law and our charter and bylaws could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us. These provisions could adversely affect the market price of the common stock and could reduce the amount that shareholders might receive if we are sold. For example, our charter provides that the board of directors may issue preferred stock without shareholder approval. In addition, our bylaws provide for a classified board, with each board member serving a staggered three-year term. Directors may be removed by shareholders only with the approval of the holders of at least two-thirds of all of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote.

 

If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud.  As a result, current and potential shareholders and customers could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which could harm our business, the trading price of our stock and our ability to retain our current customers or obtain new customers.

 

Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, referred to as Section 404, we are required to include in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, reports of our management and our independent registered public accounting firm on our internal control over financial reporting.  While we have reported no “material weaknesses” in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, we cannot guarantee that we will not have material weaknesses in the future. Compliance with the requirements of Section 404 is expensive and time-consuming. If in the future we fail to complete this evaluation in a timely manner, or if we determine that we have a material weakness, we could be subject to regulatory scrutiny and a loss of public confidence in our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, any failure to establish an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures could cause our current and potential investors and customers to lose confidence in our financial reporting and disclosure required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which could adversely affect our business and the market price of our common stock.

 

 18

 

 

ITEM 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 2. 

Properties

 

The Company leases eight facilities, four domestically and four internationally, as follows:

 

a 47,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Arden Hills, Minnesota, which also serves as the Company’s headquarters. At this facility, the Company manufactures body-worn devices, other than plastic component parts. Annual base rent expense, including real estate taxes and other charges, is approximately $534. This lease expires in January 2022.

a 37,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Arden Hills, Minnesota at which the Company manufactures body-worn devices, and plastic component parts. Annual base rent expense is approximately $334. This lease expires in July 2023.

a 46,000 square foot building in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota at which IntriCon produces plastic component parts for body-worn devices. Annual base rent expense, including real estate taxes and other charges, is approximately $390. This lease expires in December 2022.

 

a 22,000 square foot facility in DeKalb, Illinois which houses Hearing Help Express’s sales and administrative offices and warehouse. Annual base rent expense is approximately $203. We are also responsible for our pro rata share of common area costs, real estate taxes and insurance costs. This lease expires in December 2021.

 

a 35,000 square foot facility in Singapore which houses production facilities, warehouse and administrative offices. Annual base rent expense, including real estate taxes and other charges, is approximately $637. This lease expires in October 2020.

 

a 33,000 square foot facility in Indonesia which houses production facilities, warehouse and administrative offices. Annual base rent expense, including real estate taxes and other charges is approximately $85. This lease expires in September 2021.

 

a 2,000 square foot facility in Germany which houses sales and administrative offices. Annual base rent expense, including real estate taxes and other charges, is approximately $32. This lease expires in June 2022.

 

a 11,900 square foot facility in United Kingdom which houses sales and administrative offices. Annual base rent expense, including real estate taxes and other charges, is approximately $138. This lease expires in March 2021.

 

See Note 20 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

ITEM 3. 

Legal Proceedings

 

The Company is a defendant along with a number of other parties in lawsuits alleging that plaintiffs have or may have contracted asbestos-related diseases as a result of exposure to asbestos products or equipment containing asbestos sold by one or more named defendants. These lawsuits relate to the discontinued heat technologies segment which was sold in March 2005. Due to the non-informative nature of the complaints, the Company does not know whether any of the complaints state valid claims against the Company. Certain insurance carriers have informed the Company that the primary policies for the period August 1, 1970-1978 have been exhausted and that the carriers will no longer provide defense and insurance coverage under those policies. However, the Company has other primary and excess insurance policies that the Company believes afford coverage for later years.  Some of these other primary insurers have accepted defense and insurance coverage for these suits, and some of them have either ignored the Company’s tender of defense of these cases, or have denied coverage, or have accepted the tenders but asserted a reservation of rights and/or advised the Company that they need to investigate further. Because settlement payments are applied to all years a litigant was deemed to have been exposed to asbestos, the Company believes that it will have funds available for defense and insurance coverage under the non-exhausted primary and excess insurance policies. However, unlike the older policies, the more recent policies have deductible amounts for defense and settlements costs that the Company will be required to pay; accordingly, the Company expects that its litigation costs will increase in the future. Further, many of the policies covering later years (approximately 1984 and thereafter) have exclusions for any asbestos products or operations, and thus do not provide insurance coverage for asbestos-related lawsuits. The Company does not believe that the asserted exhaustion of some of the primary insurance coverage for the 1970-1978 period will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, liquidity, or results of operations. Management believes that the number of insurance carriers involved in the defense of the suits, and the significant number of policy years and policy limits under which these insurance carriers are insuring the Company, make the ultimate disposition of these lawsuits not material to the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

The Company’s former wholly owned French subsidiary, Selas SAS, filed for insolvency in France. The Company may be subject to additional litigation or liabilities as a result of the completion of the French insolvency proceeding, including liabilities under guarantees aggregating approximately $448.

 

The Company is also involved from time to time in other lawsuits arising in the normal course of business. While it is not possible to predict with certainty the outcome of these matters, management is of the opinion that the disposition of these lawsuits and claims will not materially affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, liquidity, or results of operations.

 

 19

 

 

ITEM 4. 

Mine Safety Disclosures

  

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 4A. 

Executive Officers of the Registrant

 

The names, ages and offices (as of February 26, 2019) of the Company’s executive officers were as follows:

 

Name

 

Age

 

Position

Mark S. Gorder

 

72

 

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company

Scott Longval

 

42

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Michael P. Geraci

 

60

 

Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing

Dennis L. Gonsior

 

60

 

Senior Vice President, Global Operations

Greg Gruenhagen

 

65

 

Vice President, Corporate Quality and Regulatory Affairs

 

Mr. Gorder joined the Company in October 1993 when Resistance Technology, Inc. (RTI) (now known as IntriCon, Inc.) was acquired by the Company. Mr. Gorder received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from the St. Olaf College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. Prior to the acquisition, Mr. Gorder was President and one of the founders of RTI, which began operations in 1977. Mr. Gorder was promoted to Vice President of the Company and elected to the Board of Directors in April 1996. In December 2000, he was elected President and Chief Operating Officer and in April 2001, Mr. Gorder assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer.

 

Mr. Longval has served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer since July 2006 and was promoted to Executive Vice President in January 2019. Mr. Longval received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of St. Thomas. Prior to being appointed as CFO, Mr. Longval served as the Company’s Corporate Controller since September 2005. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Longval was Principal Project Analyst at ADC Telecommunications, Inc., a provider of innovative network infrastructure products and services, from March 2005 until September 2005. From May 2002 until March 2005 he was employed by Accellent, Inc., formerly MedSource Technologies, a provider of outsourcing solutions to the medical device industry, most recently as Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis. From September 1998 until April 2002, he was employed by Arthur Andersen, most recently as experienced audit senior.

 

Mr. Geraci joined the Company in October 1983. Mr. Geraci received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Bradley University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Business. He has served as the Company’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing since January 1995.

 

Mr. Gonsior joined the Company in February 1982. Mr. Gonsior received a Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Cloud State University. He has served as the Company’s Vice President of Operations since January 1996.

 

Mr. Gruenhagen joined the Company in November 1984. Mr. Gruenhagen received a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University. He has served as the Company’s Vice President of Corporate Quality and Regulatory Affairs since December 2007. Prior to that, Mr. Gruenhagen served as Director of Corporate Quality since 2004 and Director of Project Management since 2000.

 

 20

 

 

PART II

 

ITEM 5.Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

The Company’s common shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the ticker symbol “IIN”.  

 

Market and Dividend Information

 

The high and low sale prices of the Company’s common stock during each quarterly period during the past two years were as follows:

 

 

 

2018 Market Price Range

 

 

2017 Market Price Range

 

Quarter

 

High

 

 

Low

 

 

High

 

 

Low

 

   First

 

$

 24.00

 

 

 

16.70

 

 

$

 9.15

 

 

 

6.50

 

   Second

 

 

46.20

 

 

 

18.85

 

 

 

9.65

 

 

 

6.05

 

   Third

 

 

76.80

 

 

 

39.15

 

 

 

12.95

 

 

 

6.90

 

   Fourth

 

 

56.47

 

 

 

21.96

 

 

 

21.75

 

 

 

10.40

 

 

The closing sale price of the Company’s common stock on February 26, 2019, was $27.08 per share.

 

At February 26, 2019 the Company had 257 shareholders of record of common stock. Such number does not reflect shareholders who beneficially own common stock in nominee or street name.

 

The Company currently intends to retain any future earnings to support operations and to finance the growth and development of its business and does not intend to pay cash dividends on its common stock for the foreseeable future. Any payment of future dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon, among other things, the Company’s earnings, financial condition, capital requirements, level of indebtedness, contractual restrictions with respect to the payment of dividends, and other factors that the Board of Directors deems relevant. Terms of the Company’s banking agreements prohibit the payment of cash dividends without prior bank approval.

 

See “Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters — Equity Compensation Plans” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for disclosure regarding our equity compensation plans.

 

On August 20, 2018, the Company completed a public offering and sale of 1,725 shares of common stock at a price to the public of $55.00 per share less an underwriting discount of $3.30 per share. The net proceeds from this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses, totaled approximately $88,967 and were used to repay debt, fund capital expenditures, to repurchase 500 shares of common stock owned by directors and officers and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

 

The Company did not repurchase any shares of common stock in the quarter ended December 31, 2018.

 

 21

 

 

ITEM 6.Selected Financial Data

 

Year Ended December 31

 

2018

 

 

2017 (a)

 

 

2016 (a)(b)

 

 

2015 (b)

 

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue, net

 

$

 116,462

 

 

$

 90,637

 

 

$

 68,980

 

 

$

 68,527

 

 

$

 67,094

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

 

37,163

 

 

 

26,747

 

 

 

16,716

 

 

 

18,756

 

 

 

18,115

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

 

30,049

 

 

 

24,244

 

 

 

18,674

 

 

 

15,025

 

 

 

13,836

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

(314

)

 

 

(716

)

 

 

(553

)

 

 

(369

)

 

 

(461

)

Other expense, net

 

 

(769

)

 

 

(367

)

 

 

(602

)

 

 

(261

)

 

 

(1

)

                                         

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, non-controlling interest and discontinued operations

 

 

6,031

 

 

 

1,420

 

 

 

(3,113

)

 

 

3,101

 

 

 

3,817

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

 

(484

)

 

 

(8

)

 

 

(217

)

 

 

(19

)

 

 

(428

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations before non-controlling interest and discontinued operations

 

 

5,547

 

 

 

1,412

 

 

 

(3,330

)

 

 

3,082

 

 

 

3,389

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss on sale of discontinued operations, net of income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

(164

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(120

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

(128

)

 

 

(1,770

)

 

 

(965

)

 

 

(1,021

)

Net income (loss)

 

 

5,547

 

 

 

1,120

 

 

 

(5,100

)

 

 

2,117

 

 

 

2,248

 

Less: Loss allocated to non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 

 

(938

)

 

 

(157

)

 

 

(111

)

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders

 

$

 5,547

 

 

$

 2,058

 

 

$

 (4,943

)

 

$

 2,228

 

 

$

 2,248

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic income (loss) per share attributable to shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Continuing operations

 

$

 0.73

 

 

$

 0.34

 

 

$

 (0.49

)

 

$

 0.54

 

 

$

 0.59

 

   Discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

(0.04

)

 

 

(0.27

)

 

 

(0.16

)

 

 

(0.20

)

   Net income (loss)

 

$

 0.73

 

 

$

 0.30

 

 

$

 (0.76

)

 

$

 0.38

 

 

$

 0.39

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Continuing operations

 

$

 0.64

 

 

$

 0.32

 

 

$

 (0.49

)

 

$

 0.51

 

 

$

 0.56

 

   Discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

(0.04

)

 

 

(0.27

)

 

 

(0.15

)

 

 

(0.19

)

   Net income (loss)

 

$

 0.64

 

 

$

 0.28

 

 

$

 (0.76

)

 

$

 0.36

 

 

$

 0.37

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding during year:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Basic

 

 

7,599

 

 

 

6,852

 

 

 

6,497

 

 

 

5,907

 

 

 

5,791

 

   Diluted

 

 

8,630

 

 

 

7,307

 

 

 

6,497

 

 

 

6,241

 

 

 

6,038

 

 

 22

 

 

Other Financial Highlights

 

Year Ended December 31

 

2018

 

 

2017 (a)

 

 

2016 (a)(b)

 

 

2015 (b)

 

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working capital (c)

 

$

 62,897

 

 

$

 8,985

 

 

$

 8,456

 

 

$

 11,302

 

 

$

 7,804

 

Total assets

 

 

115,248

 

 

 

54,474

 

 

 

43,758

 

 

 

41,886

 

 

 

33,961

 

Long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

9,321

 

 

 

9,284

 

 

 

7,929

 

 

 

4,627

 

Equity

 

 

91,974

 

 

 

21,439

 

 

 

19,011

 

 

 

18,897

 

 

 

16,107

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

2,943

 

 

 

2,194

 

 

 

2,041

 

 

 

1,755

 

 

 

2,182

 

 

(a)

Certain historical balances have been adjusted due to the adoption of ASC 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, with the exception of years 2015 and 2014. Please refer to Notes 5 and 6 for further information.

(b)

In 2016, the Company classified its cardiac diagnostic monitoring operations as discontinued operations. The Company revised its financial statements for 2016 and 2015 to reflect the discontinued operations.

(c)

Working capital is equal to current assets less current liabilities.

 

 23

 

 

ITEM 7.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Company Overview

 

IntriCon Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “IntriCon”, “we”, “us” or “our”) is an international company engaged in designing, developing, engineering, manufacturing and distributing body-worn devices. The Company serves the body-worn device market by designing, developing, engineering, manufacturing and distributing micro-miniature products, microelectronics, micro-mechanical assemblies and complete assemblies, primarily for biotelemetry devices, hearing instruments and professional audio communication devices. 

 

As discussed below, the Company has two operating segments - its body-worn device segment and its hearing health direct-to-end-consumer segment. Our expertise in these segments is focused on four main markets: medical biotelemetry, hearing health, hearing health direct-to-end-consumer and professional audio communications. Within these chosen markets, we combine ultra-miniature mechanical and electronics capabilities with proprietary technology – including ultra low power (ULP) wireless and digital signal processing (DSP) capabilities – that enhances the performance of body-worn devices.

 

Business Highlights

 

In January 2019, the Company purchased the source code for the Sentibo Smart Brain self-fitting software from Soundperience for 1,829 Euros, positioning the Company to capitalize on the pending over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid regulation. Sentibo Smart Brain self-fitting software is designed to improve both channel productivity and the quality of first-time fittings, resulting in lower prices, greater access and increased customer satisfaction. This software is being used in the German market today, most notably through Signison, the Company’s joint venture with the majority owner of Soundperience. In addition, the Company transferred its 49% ownership interest in Soundperience to the majority owner of Soundperience.

 

On August 20, 2018, the Company completed a public offering and sale of 1,725 shares of common stock at a price to the public of $55.00 per share less an underwriting discount of $3.30 per share. The net proceeds from this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses, totaled approximately $88,967 and were used to repay debt, fund capital expenditures, to repurchase 500 shares of common stock owned by directors and officers and for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The amount of domestic and foreign bank debt repaid from the offering was $16,381.

 

In March 2018, the Company entered into a new 5-year lease for an additional 37,000 square foot manufacturing and clean room facility near our Corporate Headquarters in Arden Hills, Minnesota. In addition, during 2018 the Company added 13 new molding presses, as well as a high-speed printed circuit board assembly line in Minnesota. In June 2018, the Company entered into an additional 10,000 square foot medical assembly space in Singapore. The added capacity and equipment will aid us in meeting the anticipated rising demand in our medical biotelemetry business.

 

Forward–Looking Statements

 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our financial statements and the related notes appearing in Item 8 of this report. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward- looking statements as a result of many factors, including but not limited to those under the heading “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. See also Item 1. “Business—Forward-Looking Statements” for more information.

 

 24

 

 

Results of Operations:  2018 Compared with 2017

 

Consolidated Net Revenue

 

Our net revenue is comprised of two segments:  our body-worn device segment (consisting of three markets: medical biotelemetry, hearing health, and professional audio) and our hearing health direct-to-end-consumer segment. Below is a recap of our revenue by main markets for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change

 

 

 

2018

 

 

2017 (a)

 

 

Dollars

 

 

Percent

 

Medical Biotelemetry

 

$

 75,645

 

 

$

 53,452

 

 

$

 22,193

 

 

 

41.5

%

Hearing Health   

 

 

26,720

 

 

 

24,527

 

 

 

2,193

 

 

 

8.9

%

Hearing Health Direct-to-End-Consumer

 

 

6,858

 

 

 

6,492

 

 

 

366

 

 

 

5.6

%

Professional Audio Communications   

 

 

7,239

 

 

 

6,166

 

 

 

1,073

 

 

 

17.4

%

Consolidated Net Revenue

 

$

 116,462

 

 

$

 90,637

 

 

$

 25,825

 

 

 

28.5

%

 

(a)

Certain historical balances have been adjusted due to the adoption of ASC 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. Please refer to Notes 5 and 6 for further information.

 

In 2018, we experienced a 41.5 percent increase in medical biotelemetry revenue primarily driven by higher sales to Medtronic while the rest of the medical biotelemetry market remained relatively stable. IntriCon currently serves this market by offering medical manufacturers the capabilities to design, develop and manufacture medical devices that are easier to use, are more miniature, use less power, and are lighter. IntriCon has a strong presence in the diabetes market with its Medtronic partnership. The Company believes there are growth opportunities in this market as well other emerging biotelemetry and home care markets that could benefit from its capabilities to develop devices that are more technologically advanced, smaller and lightweight.

 

Net revenue in our hearing health business for the year ended December 31, 2018 increased 8.9 percent over the same period in 2017. The increase was primarily due to gains in our value-based hearing healthcare markets, partially offset by the anticipated continued decline in conventional channel sales. The Company is optimistic about the progress that has been made and the long-term prospects of the value-based hearing healthcare market. Market dynamics, such as low penetration rates, an aging population, regulatory scrutiny, and the need for reduced cost and convenience, have resulted in the emergence of alternative care models, including the direct-to-the-consumer channel and pending over-the-counter channel. IntriCon believes it is very well positioned to serve these value-based hearing healthcare market channels. The Company is aggressively pursuing larger customers who can benefit from our value proposition. Over the past several years, the Company has invested heavily in core technologies, product platforms and its global manufacturing capabilities geared to provide high-tech, lower-cost hearing devices.

 

Net revenue in our hearing health direct-to-end-consumer business for the year ended December 31, 2018 increased 5.6 percent over the same period in 2017, primarily due to an increase in advertising, which drove sales.

 

Net revenue to the professional audio device sector increased 17.4 percent in 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. IntriCon will continue to leverage its core technology in professional audio to support existing customers.

 

Gross Profit

 

Gross profit, both in dollars and as a percent of revenue, for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, were as follows:

 

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dollars

 

 

of Revenue

 

 

 

Dollars

 

 

of Revenue

 

 

 

Dollars

 

 

Percent

 

Gross Profit

 

$

 37,163

 

 

31.9

%

 

$

 26,747

 

 

29.5

%

 

$

 10,416

 

 

38.9

%

 

The 2018 gross profit increase as a percentage of revenue over the prior year was primarily due to higher overall sales volumes slightly offset by ramp-up costs associated with the new manufacturing facility.

 25

 

 

Sales and Marketing, General and Administrative and Research and Development Expenses

 

Sales and marketing, general and administrative and research and development expenses for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were:

 

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dollars

 

 

 

of Revenue

 

 

 

Dollars

 

 

 

of Revenue

 

 

 

Dollars

 

 

 

Percent

 

Sales and Marketing

 

$

 12,369

 

 

 

10.6

%

 

$

 9,447

 

 

 

10.4

%

 

$

 2,922

 

 

 

30.9

%

General and Administrative

 

 

13,009

 

 

 

11.2

%

 

 

10,339

 

 

 

11.4

%

 

 

2,670

 

 

 

25.8

%

Research and Development

 

 

4,671

 

 

 

4.0

%

 

 

4,458

 

 

 

4.9

%

 

 

213

 

 

 

4.8

%

 

Sales and marketing expenses increased over the prior year due to increased hearing health direct-to-end-consumer advertising spending, bad debt expense, other outsider services and support costs. General and administrative and research and development expenses were greater than the prior year period primarily due to increased other external services and support costs to drive business growth.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense for 2018 was $314, a decrease of $402 from $716 in 2017. The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to lower average outstanding debt balances during the year due to the full debt repayment during the second half of 2018 with the proceeds from our August 2018 public offering.

 

Other Expense, net

 

In 2018, other expense, net was $769 compared to $367 in 2017. The change in other expense primarily related to additional losses incurred in our partnerships accounted for under the equity method during the current period.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

Income taxes were as follows:

 

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

Income tax expense

 

$

 484

 

 

$

 8

 

Percentage of income tax expense of income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, non-controlling interest and discontinued operations

 

 

8.03

%

 

 

0.56

%

 

The expense in 2018 and 2017 was primarily due to foreign taxes on international operations. The Company is in a net operating loss (“NOL”) position for US federal and state income tax purposes, but our deferred tax asset related to the NOL carry forwards have been largely offset by a full valuation allowance. We incur minimal income tax expense for the current period domestic operations. We have approximately $38,432 of NOL carry forwards available to offset future U.S. federal income taxes that begin to expire in 2023.

 

Loss from Discontinued Operations 

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, was $0 and $128 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

Loss on Sale of Discontinued Operations

 

Loss on sale of discontinued operations, net of income taxes, was $0 and $164 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 due to our sale of Datrix, LLC. Please refer to Note 2 for additional information. 

 

 26

 

 

 

Loss Allocated to Non-Controlling Interest

 

Loss allocated to non-controlling interest of $0 and $938 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was primarily due to losses within HHE. In December 2017, we obtained 100% ownership of HHE, therefore a non-controlling interest no longer existed in 2018.

 

Results of Operations:  2017 Compared with 2016

Consolidated Net Revenue

 

Our net revenue is comprised of two segments: our body-worn device segment (consisting of three markets: medical biotelemetry, hearing health, and professional audio) and our hearing health direct-to-end-consumer segment. Below is a recap of our revenue by main markets for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change

 

Year Ended December 31

 

2017 (a)

 

 

2016 (a)

 

 

Dollars

 

 

Percent

 

Medical Biotelemetry

 

$

 53,452

 

 

$

 36,618

 

 

$

 16,834

 

 

 

46.0

%

Hearing Health   

 

 

24,527

 

 

 

23,837

 

 

 

690

 

 

 

2.9

%

Hearing Health Direct-to-End-Consumer

 

 

6,492

 

 

 

1,025

 

 

 

5,467

 

 

 

533.4

%

Professional Audio Communications   

 

 

6,166

 

 

 

7,500

 

 

 

(1,334

)

 

 

-17.8

%

Consolidated Net Revenue

 

$

 90,637

 

 

$

 68,980

 

 

$

 21,657

 

 

 

31.4

%

 

 

(a)

Certain historical balances have been adjusted due to the adoption of ASC 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. Please refer to Notes 5 and 6 for further information.

 

In 2017, we experienced a 46.0 percent increase in medical biotelemetry sales primarily driven by higher sales to Medtronic while the rest of the medical biotelemetry business remained relatively stable.

 

Net revenue in our hearing health business for the year ended December 31, 2017 increased 2.9 percent over the same period in 2016. The increase was primarily due to gains in our value-based hearing healthcare markets, partially offset by the anticipated continued decline in conventional channel sales.

 

Net revenue in our hearing health direct-to-end consumer business for the year ended December 31, 2017 increased due to a full year of results compared to 2016. We acquired 20% of the equity of HHE during the fourth quarter of 2016 and began consolidating its results at that time. Please refer to Note 4 of the financial statements for more information about this acquisition.

 

Net revenue to the professional audio device sector decreased 17.8 percent in 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. IntriCon will continue to leverage its core technology in professional audio to support existing customers.

 

Gross Profit

 

Gross profit, both in dollars and as a percent of revenue, for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 were as follows: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31

 

Dollars

 

 

of Revenue

 

 

Dollars

 

 

of Revenue

 

 

Dollars

 

 

Percent

 

Gross Profit

 

$

 26,747

 

 

 

29.5

%

 

$

 16,716

 

 

 

24.2

%

 

$

 10,031

 

 

 

60.0

%

 

The 2017 gross profit increase as a percentage of revenue over the prior year was primarily due to higher sales volume, sales from HHE, our direct-to-end-consumer business, for a full year and favorable sales mix.

 

 27

 

 

Sales and Marketing, General and Administrative and Research and Development Expenses

 

Sales and marketing, general and administrative and research and development expenses for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 were: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

 

 

 

Percent  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31

 

Dollars

 

 

of Revenue

 

 

Dollars

 

 

of Revenue

 

 

Dollars

 

 

Percent

 

Sales and Marketing

 

$

 9,447

 

 

 

10.4

%

 

$

 4,700

 

 

 

6.8

%

 

$

 4,747

 

 

 

101.0

%

General and Administrative

 

 

10,339

 

 

 

11.4

%

 

 

9,154

 

 

 

13.3

%

 

 

1,185

 

 

 

12.9

%

Research and Development

 

 

4,458

 

 

 

4.9

%

 

 

4,688

 

 

 

6.8

%

 

 

(230

)

 

 

-4.9

%

 

Sales and marketing expenses increased over the prior year due to the addition of HHE in late 2016. General and administrative expenses were greater than the prior year primarily due to support costs as revenue levels increased, along with costs at HHE. Research and development decreased over the prior year due to decreased outside service costs.

 

Restructuring charges

 

During 2016, the Company incurred restructuring charges of $132, related to IntriCon UK’s facility moving costs.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense for 2017 was $716, an increase of $163 from $553 in 2016. The increase in interest expense was primarily due to higher average interest rates along with interest expenses generated from HHE that were not incurred for the full year in 2016.

 

Other Expense, net

 

In 2017, other expense, net was $(367) compared to $(602) in 2016. The decrease was primarily due to foreign exchange rate gains in 2017 that did not occur in 2016 and $205 in net costs related to pursuing targeted acquisitions incurred in 2016.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

Income taxes were as follows: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Income tax expense

 

$

 8

 

 

$

 217

 

Percentage of income tax expense of income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, non-controlling interest and discontinued operations

 

 

0.56

%

 

 

-6.97

%

 

The expense in 2017 and 2016 was primarily due to foreign taxes on German and Indonesia operations. In 2017, income tax expense was partially offset by a Singapore tax benefit recognized during 2017.

 

Loss from Discontinued Operations

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, was $128 and $1,770 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

 

Loss on Sale of Discontinued Operations

 

Loss on sale of discontinued operations, net of income taxes, was $164 for the year ended December 31, 2017 due to our sale of Datrix, LLC. Please refer to Note 2 for additional information.

 

Loss Allocated to Non-Controlling Interest

 

Loss allocated to non-controlling interest of $938 and $157 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were primarily due to losses within HHE, and the lack of 100% ownership in this entity for the entire year.

 

 28

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our primary sources of cash have been cash flows from operations, bank borrowings, and sales of equity. For the last three years, cash has been used for repayments of bank borrowings, the acquisition of HHE, purchases of equipment and working capital to support growth. 

 

As of December 31, 2018, we had approximately $8,047 of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash on hand. Sources of our cash for the year ended December 31, 2018 have been from our financing activities, as described below.

 

Consolidated net working capital increased to $62,897 at December 31, 2018 from $8,985 at December 31, 2017. Our cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities, as reflected in the statement of cash flows for the years ended December 31, are summarized as follows: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2018

 

 

December 31, 2017

 

 

December 31, 2016

 

Cash provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

$

 177

 

 

$

 4,230

 

 

$

 (405

)

Investing activities

 

 

(44,997

)

 

 

(4,720

)

 

 

(2,302

)

Financing activities

 

 

52,000

 

 

 

(36

)

 

 

3,508

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

 

(150

)

 

 

281

 

 

 

(518

)

Increase (decrease) in cash

 

$

 7,030

 

 

$

 (245

)

 

$

 283

 

 

Operating Activities.  The most significant items that contributed to the $177 provided by operating activities were net income of $5,547, add backs for non-cash depreciation and stock-based compensation, and increases in accounts payable, partially offset by increases in inventory, contract assets and accounts receivable to support business growth. Days sales in inventory decreased from 89 at December 31, 2017 to 79 at December 31, 2018. Days payables outstanding decreased from 71 days at December 31, 2017 to 65 days at December 31, 2018. Day sales outstanding decreased from 36 days at December 31, 2017 to 34 days at December 31, 2018.

 

Cash generated from operations may be affected by a number of factors. See “Forward Looking Statements” and “Item 1A Risk Factors” contained in this Form 10-K for a discussion of some of the factors that can negatively impact the amount of cash we generate from our operations.

 

Investing Activities.  Net cash used in investing activities of $44,997 consisted of purchases of $38,093 in investment securities, $5,507 in purchases of property, plant and equipment, and $1,397 for the investment in several of the Company’s joint ventures, including Soundperience, Signison and others.

 

Financing Activities.  Net cash provided by financing activities of $52,000 was comprised primarily of proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net of offering costs, of $88,967 and proceeds from long-term debt of $14,169 partially offset by repayments of borrowings of $25,868 and the payments for repurchase of common stock and related costs of $25,907.

 

We had the following bank arrangements at December 31: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2018

 

 

December 31, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total borrowing capacity under existing facilities

 

$

 13,884

 

 

$

 19,545

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Facility Borrowings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic revolving credit facility

 

 

 

 

 

4,000

 

Domestic term loan

 

 

 

 

 

6,250

 

Foreign overdraft and letter of credit facility

 

 

 

 

 

1,250

 

Total borrowings and commitments

 

 

 

 

 

11,500

 

Remaining availability under existing facilities

 

$

 13,884

 

 

$

 8,045

 

 

During the second half of 2018, we utilized proceeds from our public offering (see Note 18) and repaid all of our domestic and foreign bank debt. 

 

 29

 

 

Domestic Credit Facilities

 

The Company and its domestic subsidiaries are parties to a credit facility with CIBC Bank USA (formerly known as The PrivateBank and Trust Company). The credit facility, as amended through December 31, 2018, provides for a $11,000 revolving credit facility, with a $200 sub facility for letters of credit. Under the revolving credit facility, the availability of funds depends on a borrowing base composed of stated percentages of the Company’s eligible trade receivables and eligible inventory, and eligible equipment less a reserve. The credit facility matures on December 15, 2022.

 

The Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants under the credit facility as of December 31, 2018.

 

Foreign Credit Facility

 

In addition to its domestic credit facilities, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, IntriCon, PTE LTD., entered into an international senior secured credit agreement with Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Ltd. that provides for an asset-based line of credit. Borrowings bear interest at a rate of .75% to 2.5% over the lender’s prevailing prime lending rate.

 

Capital Adequacy

 

We believe that funds raised from our August 2018 public offering, funds expected to be generated from operations and funds available under our revolving credit loan facility will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash requirements for operating needs for at least the next 12 months. While management believes that we will be able to meet our liquidity needs for at least the next 12 months, no assurance can be given that we will be able to do so.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

The following table represents our contractual obligations and commercial commitments, excluding interest expense, as of December 31, 2018. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contractual Obligations

 

Total

 

 

Less than 1 Year

 

 

1-3 Years

 

 

3-5 Years

 

 

More than 5 Years

 

Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations

 

$

 1,254

 

 

$

 192

 

 

$

 348

 

 

$

 302

 

 

$

 412

 

Operating leases

 

 

7,499

 

 

 

2,417

 

 

 

4,895

 

 

 

187

 

 

 

 

Total contractual obligations

 

$

 8,753

 

 

$

 2,609

 

 

$

 5,243

 

 

$

 489

 

 

$

 412

 

 

There are certain provisions in the underlying contracts that could accelerate our contractual obligations as noted above.

 

Foreign Currency Fluctuation

 

Generally, the effect of changes in foreign currencies on our results of operations is partially or wholly offset by our ability to make corresponding price changes in the local currency. From time to time, the impact of fluctuations in foreign currencies may have a material effect on the financial results of the Company.  Foreign currency transaction amounts included in the statements of operation include losses of $64, $89 and $128 in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. See Note 17 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included herein.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Obligations

 

We had no material off-balance sheet obligations as of December 31, 2018 other than the operating leases disclosed above.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

For a discussion of related party transactions, see Note 21 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included herein.

 

 30

 

 

Litigation

 

For a discussion of litigation, see “Item 3. Legal Proceedings” and Note 20 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included herein.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

See “New Accounting Pronouncements” set forth in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for information pertaining to recently adopted accounting standards or accounting standards to be adopted in the future.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The significant accounting policies of the Company are described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements and have been reviewed with the audit committee of our Board of Directors. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period.

 

Certain accounting estimates and assumptions are particularly sensitive because of their importance to the consolidated financial statements and possibility that future events affecting them may differ markedly. The accounting policies of the Company with significant estimates and assumptions are described below.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

For its body-worn device segment, the Company recognizes revenue when a performance obligation is satisfied by transferring control of a distinct good or service to a customer. For its hearing health direct-to-end-consumer segment, the Company recognizes revenue after the customer trial period has ended (generally 60 days from shipment).

 

Body-worn device segment customers have 30 days to notify the Company if the product is damaged or defective. Beyond that, there are no significant obligations that remain after shipment other than warranty obligations. Contracts with customers do not include product return rights; however, the Company may elect in certain circumstances to accept returns of products. The Company records revenue for product sales net of returns. Sales and use tax are reported on a net basis. The Company defers recognition of revenue on discounts to customers if discounts are considered significant.

 

In general, the Company warrants its products to be free from defects in material and workmanship and will fully conform to and perform to specifications for a period of one year. The Company develops a warranty reserve based on historical experience. While the Company’s warranty costs have historically been within its expectations, the Company cannot guarantee that it will continue to experience the same warranty return rates or repair costs that it has experienced in the past.

 

Accounts Receivable Reserves

 

This reserve is an estimate of the amount of accounts receivable that are uncollectible. The reserve is based on a combination of specific customer knowledge, general economic conditions and historical trends. Management believes the results could be materially different if economic conditions change for our customers.

 

Inventory Valuation

 

Inventory is recorded at the lower of our cost or market value. Market value is an estimate of the future net realizable value of our inventory. It is based on historical trends, product life cycles, forecasts of future inventory needs and on-hand inventory levels. Management believes reserve levels could be materially affected by changes in technology, our customer base, customer needs, general economic conditions and the success of certain Company sales programs.

 

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

Goodwill is reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if changes in circumstances or the occurrence of events suggest impairment exists. The Company may apply a qualitative assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired. If the Company does not pass the qualitative assessment, or choses to skip the assessment, it performs a test comparing fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value. The Company would need to recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. The Company has concluded that no impairment of goodwill or intangible assets occurred during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

 

 31

 

Long-lived Assets

 

The carrying value of long-lived assets is periodically assessed to insure their carrying value does not exceed the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated from their expected use and eventual disposition. This assessment includes certain assumptions related to future needs for the asset to help generate future cash flow. Changes in those assessments, future economic conditions or technological changes could have a material adverse impact on the carrying value of these assets.

 

Deferred Taxes

 

The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities and projected future taxable income in making this assessment. Actual future operating results, as well as changes in our future performance, could have a material impact on the valuation allowance.

 

Employee Benefit Obligations

 

We provide retirement and health care insurance for certain domestic retirees and employees of our Selas operations discontinued in 2005. We measure the costs of our obligation based on our best estimate. The net periodic costs are recognized as employees render the services necessary to earn the post-retirement benefit. Several assumptions and statistical variables are used in the models to calculate the expense and liability related to the plans. We determine assumptions about the discount rate, the expected rate of return on plan assets and the future rate of compensation increases. The actuarial models also use assumptions on demographic factors such as retirement, mortality and turnover. Changes in actuarial assumptions could vary materially from actual results due to economic events and different rates of retirement, mortality and withdrawal.

 

ITEM 7A.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 8.Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Management of IntriCon Corporation and its subsidiaries (“the Company”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, using criteria set forth in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework). Based on this assessment, the Company’s management believes that, as of December 31, 2018, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective based on those criteria.

 

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm has audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, as stated in the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm appearing under Item 8.

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the most recent fiscal quarter covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. 

 

 

 32

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the shareholders and the board of directors of IntriCon Corporation and Subsidiaries:

 

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of IntriCon Corporation and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by COSO.

 

Adoption of New Accounting Standard

 

As discussed in Notes 1 and 5 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for revenue for all periods presented due to the full retrospective adoption of FASB Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (Topic 606), Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and related amendments.

 

Basis for Opinions

 

The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

 

Our audits of the financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

 

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. 

 

 33

 

 

/s/ Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2005.

 

Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

March 14, 2019

 

 34

 

 

INTRICON CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Operations

 (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
 

 

Year Ended December 31

 

2018

 

 

2017
(as adjusted)

 

 

2016
(as adjusted)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue, net

 

$

 116,462

 

 

$

 90,637

 

 

$

 68,980

 

Cost of goods sold

 

 

79,299

 

 

 

63,890

 

 

 

52,264

 

Gross profit

 

 

37,163

 

 

 

26,747

 

 

 

16,716

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and marketing

 

 

12,369

 

 

 

9,447

 

 

 

4,700

 

General and administrative

 

 

13,009

 

 

 

10,339

 

 

 

9,154

 

Research and development

 

 

4,671

 

 

 

4,458

 

 

 

4,688

 

Restructuring charges (Note 3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

132

 

Total operating expenses 

 

 

30,049

 

 

 

24,244

 

 

 

18,674

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

7,114

 

 

 

2,503

 

 

 

(1,958

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

(314

)

 

 

(716

)

 

 

(553

)

Other expense, net

 

 

(769

)

 

 

(367

)

 

 

(602

)

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and discontinued operations

 

 

6,031

 

 

 

1,420

 

 

 

(3,113

)

Income tax expense

 

 

484

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

217

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations before discontinued operations

 

 

5,547

 

 

 

1,412

 

 

 

(3,330

)

Loss from discontinued operations and impairment, net of income taxes (Note 2)

 

 

 

 

 

(128

)

 

 

(1,770

)

Loss on sale of discontinued operations (Note 2)

 

 

 

 

 

(164

)

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

5,547

 

 

 

1,120

 

 

 

(5,100

)

Less: Loss allocated to non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 

 

(938

)

 

 

(157

)

Net income (loss) attributable to IntriCon shareholders

 

$

 5,547

 

 

$

 2,058

 

 

$

 (4,943

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic income (loss) per share attributable to  IntriCon shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

 0.73

 

 

$

 0.34

 

 

$

 (0.49

)

Discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

(0.04

)

 

 

(0.27

)

   Net income (loss) per share:

 

$

 0.73

 

 

$

 0.30

 

 

$

 (0.76

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to IntriCon shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

 0.64

 

 

$

 0.32

 

 

$

 (0.49

)

Discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

(0.04

)

 

 

(0.27

)

   Net income (loss) per share:

 

$

 0.64

 

 

$

 0.28

 

 

$

 (0.76

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

7,599

 

 

 

6,852

 

 

 

6,497

 

Diluted

 

 

8,630

 

 

 

7,307

 

 

 

6,497

 

 

(See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements)

 

 35

 

 

INTRICON CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(In Thousands)

         
   Year Ended December 31 
   2018   2017   2016 
       (as adjusted)   (as adjusted) 
Net income (loss)  $5,547   $1,120   $(5,100)
Interest rate swap, net of taxes of $0   (8)   26    22 
Pension and postretirement obligations, net of taxes of $0   20    20    20 
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of taxes of $0   (206)   235    (335)
Comprehensive income (loss)  $5,353   $1,401   $(5,393)

 

(See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements)

 

 36

 

 

INTRICON CORPORATION

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

         
   December 31,   December 31, 
   2018   2017 
       (as adjusted) 
At December 31,        
Current assets:          
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash  $8,047   $1,017 
Available for sale securities   38,093     
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $807 at December 31, 2018 and $332 at December 31, 2017   11,479    9,052 
Inventories   18,981    13,708 
Contract assets   5,624    2,979 
Other current assets   2,320    1,544 
Total current assets   84,544    28,300 
           
Property, plant, and equipment   37,161    40,124 
Less:  Accumulated depreciation   25,429    32,949 
Net machinery and equipment   11,732    7,175 
           
Goodwill   10,808    10,808 
Intangible assets, net   2,585    2,740 
Investment in partnerships   2,091    1,616 
Other assets, net   3,488    3,835 
Total assets  $115,248   $54,474 
           
Current liabilities:          
Current maturities of long-term debt  $   $2,040 
Accounts payable   13,191    10,423 
Accrued salaries, wages and commissions   4,409    3,113 
Other accrued liabilities   4,047    3,739 
Total current liabilities   21,647    19,315 
           
Long-term debt, less current maturities       9,321 
Other postretirement benefit obligations   377    455 
Accrued pension liabilities   706    772 
Other long-term liabilities   544    3,172 
Total liabilities   23,274    33,035 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 20)          
Equity:          
Common stock, $1.00 par value per share; 20,000 shares authorized; 8,664 and 6,900 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively   8,664    6,900 
Additional paid-in capital   84,999    21,581 
Accumulated deficit   (509)   (6,056)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (927)   (733)
Total shareholders’ equity   92,227    21,692 
Non-controlling interest   (253)   (253)
Total equity   91,974    21,439 
Total liabilities and equity  $115,248   $54,474 

 

(See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements)

 

 37

 

 

INTRICON CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In Thousands)

 

   2018   2017   2016 
       (as adjusted)   (as adjusted) 
Cash flows from operating activities:               
Net income (loss)  $5,547   $1,120   $(5,100)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:               
Depreciation and amortization   2,943    2,194    2,041 
Stock-based compensation   1,395    844    685 
Loss on impairment of assets of discontinued operations           796 
Loss on sale of discontinued operations       164     
Change in deferred gain           (55)
Loss on disposition of property       9    55 
Change in allowance for doubtful accounts   475    162    35 
Equity in loss of investments   390    421    78 
Amortization of debt issuance costs   158    80    57 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:               
Accounts receivable   (2,877)   (2,040)   1,493 
Inventories   (5,225)   (2,768)   1,087 
Contract assets   (2,645)   (1,117)   1,082 
Other assets   (599)   (811)   (741)
Accounts payable   1,719    3,729    (1,386)
Accrued expenses   (710)   2,137    (545)
Other liabilities   (394)   106    13 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   177    4,230    (405)
                
Cash flows from investing activities:               
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment       19     
Purchase of investment securities   (38,093)        
Investment in partnerships   (1,397)   (1,776)    
Purchase of Hearing Help Express (Note 4)       (650)   (536)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment   (5,507)   (2,313)   (1,766)
Net cash used in investing activities   (44,997)   (4,720)   (2,302)
                
Cash flows from financing activities:               
Proceeds from long-term borrowings   14,169    19,162    19,357 
Repayments of long-term borrowings   (25,868)   (19,373)   (19,524)
Payment of debt issuance costs   (88)   (139)   (140)
Proceeds from equity offering, net of offering costs   88,967        3,678 
Payments for repurchase of common stock and related costs   (25,907)        
Proceeds from employee stock purchases and exercise of stock options   727    314    137 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   52,000    (36)   3,508 
                
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash   (150)   281    (518)
                
Net increase (decrease) in cash   7,030    (245)   283 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year   1,017    1,262    979 
                
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year  $8,047   $1,017   $1,262 

 

(See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements)

 

 38

 

 

INTRICON CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Equity

(In Thousands)

                             
   Shareholders’ Equity           
   Common Stock
Number of Shares
   Common Stock
Amount
   Additional Paid-in
Capital
   Accumulated
Deficit
(as adjusted)
   Accumulated
Other Comprehensive
Loss
   Non-Controlling
Interest
   Total Equity
(as adjusted)
 
Balance December 31, 2015   5,981   $5,981   $17,721   $(3,171)  $(721)  $(38)  $19,772 
Exercise of stock options   16    16    11                27 
Shares issued from equity offering   805    805    2,873                3,678 
Shares issued under the ESPP   18    18    93                111 
Stock-based compensation           685                685 
Net loss               (4,943)       (157)   (5,100)
Investment by non-controlling interest                       650    650 
Comprehensive loss                   (293)       (293)
Balance December 31, 2016   6,820   $6,820   $21,383   $(8,114)  $(1,014)  $455   $19,530 
Exercise of stock options   69    69    131                200 
Shares issued under the ESPP   11    11    103                114 
Stock-based compensation           844                844 
Net income (loss)               2,058        (938)   1,120 
Comprehensive loss                   281        281 
Acquisition of non-controlling interest                       (650)   (650)
Allocation of non-controlling interest at acquisition (Note 4)           (880)           880     
Balance December 31, 2017   6,900   $6,900   $21,581   $(6,056)  $(733)  $(253)  $21,439 
Exercise of stock options   532    532    (23)               509 
Shares issued from equity offering   1,725    1,725    87,242                88,967 
Repurchase of director and executive shares   (500)   (500)   (25,407)               (25,907)
Shares issued under the ESPP   7    7    211                218 
Stock-based compensation           1,395                1,395 
Net income               5,547            5,547 
Comprehensive loss                   (194)       (194)
Balance December 31, 2018   8,664   $8,664   $84,999   $(509)  $(927)  $(253)  $91,974 

 

(See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements)

 

 39

 

 

IntriCon Corporation

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

 

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Headquartered in Arden Hills, Minnesota, IntriCon Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, referred to as the Company, we, us or our) is an international company engaged in designing, developing, engineering, manufacturing and distributing body-worn devices.  The Company designs, develops, engineers, manufactures and distributes micro-miniature products, microelectronics, micro-mechanical assemblies, complete assemblies and software solutions, primarily for the emerging value based hearing healthcare market, the medical biotelemetry market and the professional audio communication market. In addition to its operations in the state of Minnesota, the Company has facilities in the state of Illinois, and in Singapore, Indonesia, the United Kingdom and Germany. 

 

Basis of Presentation – In December 2016, the Company’s board of directors approved plans to discontinue its cardiac diagnostic monitoring business. The Company sold the cardiac diagnostic monitoring business on February 17, 2017 to Datrix LLC. For all periods presented, the Company classified this business as discontinued operations, and, accordingly, has reclassified historical financial data presented herein. See further information in Note 2.

 

Consolidation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Principles of Consolidation – The Company evaluates its voting and variable interests in entities on a qualitative and quantitative basis. The Company consolidates entities in which it concludes it has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact an entity’s economic success and has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could be significant to the entity.

 

Discontinued Operations – The Company records discontinued operations when the disposal of separately identified business unit constitutes a significant strategic shift in the Company’s operations.

 

Non-Controlling Interests – The Company owns 50 percent of earVenture and owned 20 percent of Hearing Help Express, Inc. (“Hearing Help Express” or HHE”) from October 2016 until December 2017, when it acquired the 80 percent noncontrolling interest of HHE. See further information at Note 4. The Company has consolidated the results of earVenture and HHE in 2018, 2017 and 2016 based on the Company’s ability to control the operations of the entities and the likelihood that the Company bears the largest risk and reward of their financial results. The Company allocates profits and losses according to ownership percentages, unless contractual agreements expressly dictate otherwise. In addition, profit or loss on downstream eliminated transactions are attributable to the Company. The remaining ownership is accounted for as a non-controlling interest and reported as part of equity in the consolidated financial statements. The Company allocates gains and losses to the non-controlling interest even when such allocation might result in a deficit balance, reducing the losses attributed to the controlling interest. Changes in ownership interests are treated as equity transactions if the Company maintains control.

 

Segment Disclosures – A business segment is a distinguishable component of an enterprise that is engaged in providing an individual product or service or a group of related products or services and that is subject to risks and returns that are different from those of other business segments. The Company has determined that the Company operates in two reportable segments, our body-worn device segment and our direct-to-end-consumer hearing health segment, as further described in Note 6.

 

Use of Estimates – The Company makes estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities, the recording of reported amounts of revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Considerable management judgment is necessary in estimating future cash flows and other factors affecting the valuation of goodwill, intangible assets, and employee benefit obligations including the operating and macroeconomic factors that may affect them. The Company uses historical financial information, internal plans and projections and industry information in making such estimates.

 

 40

 

 

Revenue Recognition – Revenue is measured based on consideration specified in the contract with a customer, adjusted for any applicable estimates of variable consideration and other factors affecting the transaction price, including noncash consideration, consideration paid or payable to customers and significant financing components. Revenue from all customers is recognized when a performance obligation is satisfied by transferring control of a distinct good or service to a customer, as further described below under “Performance obligations”.

 

Individual promised goods and services in a contract are considered a performance obligation and accounted for separately if the individual good or service is distinct, i.e., the customer can benefit from the good or service on its own or with other resources that are readily available to the customer and the good or service is separately identifiable from other promises in the arrangement. When an arrangement includes multiple performance obligations, the consideration is allocated between the performance obligations in proportion to their estimated stand-alone selling price. Costs related to products delivered are recognized in the period incurred, unless criteria for capitalization of costs are met. Cost of goods sold consist primarily of direct labor, manufacturing overhead, materials and components.

 

The Company excludes from revenue taxes collected from a customer that are assessed by a governmental authority and imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction.

 

The Company includes shipping and handling fees in revenue. Shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight after control over a product has transferred to a customer are accounted for as a fulfillment cost and are included in cost of goods sold.

 

The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections results in billed accounts receivable, unbilled receivables (contract assets), and customer advances and deposits (contract liabilities) on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as further described below under “Receivables, net”, “Contract assets” and “Contract liabilities”.

 

When more than one party is involved in providing goods or services to a customer, an entity determines whether it is a principal or an agent in these transactions by evaluating the nature of its promise to the customer. An entity is a principal and therefore records revenue on a gross basis if it controls a promised good or service before transferring that good or service to the customer. An entity is an agent and records as revenue the net amount it retains for its agency services if its role is to arrange for another entity to provide the goods or services.

 

Performance obligations - A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the unit of account. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation in proportion to the standalone selling price for each and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. The Company’s various performance obligations and the timing or method of revenue recognition in each of the Company’s markets are discussed below:

 

Medical biotelemetry market - Customer orders from the medical biotelemetry market consist of a specified number of assembled and customized parts that the customer further integrates into their production process to produce market ready products. Customer orders do not include additional follow-on goods or services.

 

With the exception of prompt payment discounts, the transaction price for medical biotelemetry market products is the invoiced amount, as variable consideration in the form of refunds, credits, rebates, price concessions, pricing incentives or other items impacting transaction price are not present.

 

All of the Company’s products manufactured for the medical biotelemetry market are designed to each customer’s specifications, do not have an alternative use and cannot be sold or redirected by the Company to others. The Company has an enforceable right to payment for any finished or in-process units, including a reasonable margin, if the customer terminates the contract for reasons other than the Company’s failure to perform as promised. Control of these units is deemed to transfer to the customer over time during the manufacturing process, using the same measure of progress toward satisfying the promise to deliver the units to the customer. Each order is for a series of distinct units that comprise a single performance obligation. Consequently, the transaction price is recognized as revenue over time based on actual costs incurred in the manufacturing process to date relative to total expected costs to produce all ordered units.

 

Medical biotelemetry market products are invoiced when shipped and paid within normal commercial terms. The Company records a contract asset for revenue recognized over time in the production process for customized products that have not been shipped or invoiced to the customer.

 

Hearing health market - Customer orders from the hearing health market consist of hearing aid devices and related accessories. Each unit of product delivered under a customer order represents a distinct and separate performance obligation as the customer can benefit from each unit on its own or with other resources that are readily available to the customer and each unit of product is separately identifiable from other products in the arrangement.

 

 41

 

 

With the exception of prompt payment discounts, the transaction price for the hearing health markets products is the invoiced amount, as variable consideration in the form of refunds, credits, rebates, price concessions, pricing incentives or other items impacting transaction price are not present.

 

Nearly all of the Company’s products manufactured for the hearing health market could be reworked without significant cost and sold to another customer in the event of the customer’s termination of an order before delivery, and therefore have an alternative use to the Company. Generally, revenue is recognized upon the transfer of control of the products which is based on shipment terms; however, in certain cases the amount of shipment is adjusted for expected future returns and related consideration received.

 

Professional audio market - The Company sells body-worn audio devices with application in the aviation, fire, law enforcement, safety and military markets as well as for performers and production staff in the music and stage performance markets. Each unit on a customer’s purchase order represents a distinct and separate performance obligation as the customer can benefit from each unit on its own or with other resources that are readily available to the customer and each unit is separately identifiable from the others because one does not significantly affect, modify or customize another.

 

Variable consideration in the form of refunds, credits, rebates, price concessions, pricing incentives or other items impacting the transaction price are not present. Invoiced amounts are deemed to approximate standalone selling price, such that a relative standalone selling price allocation between performance obligations is not required.

 

The products manufactured for the professional audio market could be reworked without significant cost and sold to another customer in the event of the customer’s termination of an order before delivery and therefore have an alternative use to the Company. Transfer of control of the goods, and revenue recognition, occurs at the point in time of shipment or delivery of the products to the customer depending on the applicable shipping terms. Professional audio market products are billed when shipped and paid within normal commercial terms.

 

Hearing health direct-to-end-consumer (DTEC) market - The hearing health DTEC business distributes hearing aids and related accessories to the end consumer and is the Company’s only business market that generates revenue from sales to the end consumer. The Company also sells a limited number of service plans for the hearing aids. Each product or service is a distinct performance obligation as each is independently useful either on its own or together with other products procured from the Company or other vendors and each product or service is separately identifiable from the others because one does not significantly affect, modify or customize another. Invoiced amounts are deemed to approximate standalone selling price, therefore a relative standalone selling price allocation between performance obligations is not necessary.

 

The hearing health DTEC business offers a 60-day trial period to the end consumer for hearing aids, during which customers can return the hearing aids for a full refund or exchange for a different hearing aid. The Company recognizes revenue only after completion of the 60-day trial period, when the customer’s commitment to the arrangement is deemed to exist and an enforceable right to payment is established.

 

The transaction price for hearing aid accessories and service plans is the invoiced amount, as variable consideration in the form of refunds, credits, rebates, price concessions, pricing incentives or other items impacting transaction price are not present. Hearing aid accessories are billed and revenue is recognized upon shipment to the customer. Invoices are paid within normal commercial terms. Annual service plans are billed along with the hearing aid at the end of the 60-day trial period or upon renewal of the service plan, and paid within normal commercial terms. As the customer consumes the benefits of the service plan relatively evenly over the plan term, revenue for service plans is recognized on a straight-line basis commencing at the end of the trial period.

 

Sales Commissions - Sales commissions paid to sales representatives are eligible for capitalization as they are incremental costs that would not have been incurred without entering into a specific sales arrangement and are recoverable through the expected margin on the transaction. The Company has elected to apply the practical expedient provided by ASC 340-40-25-4 and recognize the incremental costs of obtaining contracts as an expense when incurred, as the amortization period of the assets that would have otherwise been recognized is one year or less. These costs are included in sales and marketing expenses on the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments – The carrying value of cash, accounts receivable, notes payable, and trade accounts payables approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. The fair values of the Company’s long-term debt obligations, pension and post-retirement obligations approximate their carrying values based upon current market rates of interest.

 

Concentration of Cash – The Company deposits its cash in what management believes are high credit quality financial institutions.  The balance, at times, may exceed federally insured limits.

 

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Restricted Cash – Restricted cash consists of deposits required to secure a credit facility at our Singapore location and deposits required to fund retirement related benefits for certain employees.

 

Available for Sale Securities – Available for sale securities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and primarily relate to marketable equity securities. These items are marked-to-market at each reporting period with gains and losses recorded in net income. The securities are classified as current if expected to be used in operations, sold or transferred to alternative investment vehicles within the next 12 months.

 

Accounts Receivable – Amounts recorded in receivables, net, on the consolidated balance sheet include amounts billed and currently due from customers. The amounts due are stated at their net estimated realizable value. An allowance for doubtful accounts is maintained to provide for the estimated amount of receivables that will not be collected. The Company reviews customers’ credit history before extending unsecured credit and establishes an allowance for uncollectible accounts based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends and other information. Invoices are generally due 30 days after presentation. Accounts receivable over 30 days are considered past due. The Company does not accrue interest on past due accounts receivables. Receivables are written off once all collection attempts have failed and are based on individual credit evaluation and specific circumstances of the customer. The allowance for doubtful accounts balance was $807 and $332 as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Inventories – Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The cost of the inventories is determined by the first-in, first-out method.

 

Contract Assets - Contract assets primarily include unbilled amounts recognized as revenue for customized products manufactured for the medical biotelemetry market. The customized goods have no alternative use to the Company and the Company has an enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date. The Company begins revenue recognition when these goods enter the manufacturing process and continues based on a measure of progress toward completion using a cost-to-cost input method that considers labor and overhead costs incurred and materials used to date in the manufacturing process relative to total expected production costs. Given the relatively short duration of the production process, contract assets are classified as current. Contract assets are reclassified to accounts receivable upon shipment of and invoicing for the products, at which point the right to consideration becomes unconditional.

 

Property, Plant and Equipment – Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis using estimated useful lives of 5 to 40 years for buildings and improvements and 3 to 12 years for machinery and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the asset.  Improvements are capitalized and expenditures for maintenance, repairs and minor renewals are charged to expense when incurred. At the time assets are retired or sold, the costs and accumulated depreciation are eliminated and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is reflected in the consolidated statement of operations. Depreciation expense was $1,961, $1,739 and $1,870 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

 

Intangible Assets – Definite-lived intangible assets consist of various acquired Hearing Help Express trademarks and customer relationships which are amortized over eighteen to twenty years. Amortization expense was $155, $180 and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

 

Impairment of Long-lived Assets and Long-lived Assets to be Disposed of – The Company reviews its long-lived assets, certain identifiable intangibles, other assets and goodwill for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset group to future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. As of December 31, 2018, the Company has determined that no impairment of long-lived assets from continuing operations exists.

 

Goodwill is reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if changes in circumstances or the occurrence of events suggest impairment exists. The Company may apply a qualitative assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired. If a reporting unit does not pass the qualitative assessment, or the Company choses to skip the assessment, it performs a test comparing fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value. The Company would need to recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value.

 

Other Assets, Net – The principal amounts included in other assets, net are technology related assets, of which, $2,259 relates to technology access with NXP Semiconductors. The Company capitalizes costs of acquired technology which provide a future economic benefit. Amortization expense was $739, $455 and $159 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

 

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Investment in Partnerships – Certain of the Company’s investments in equity securities are long-term, strategic investments in companies. Depending on whether the Company has significant influence over the entity, the Company accounts for these investments under the cost or equity method of accounting. Under the equity method the Company records the investment at the amount the Company paid and adjusts for the Company’s share of the investee’s income or loss and dividends paid. If payment for an investment exceeds the underlying book value of the investment, the Company allocates the difference to the fair value of the investment assets and to goodwill; and records related amortization of those assets within the equity investment balance and related equity in income (loss) of the investment. The investments are reviewed quarterly for changes in circumstances or the occurrence of events that suggest the Company’s investment may not be recoverable. To date there have been no impairment losses recognized.

 

Other Long-Term Liabilities – The amounts included in other long-term liabilities relate to deferred rent.

 

Income Taxes – Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, operating losses and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Valuation allowances are established to the extent the future benefit from the deferred tax assets realization is more likely than not unable to be realized. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had no accrual for the payment of tax related interest and there was no tax interest or penalties recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company’s federal and state tax returns are potentially open to examinations for fiscal years 2003-2005, 2009-2013 and 2015-2017.

 

Employee Benefit Obligations – The Company provides pension and health care insurance for certain domestic retirees and employees of its operations discontinued in 2005. These obligations have been included in continuing operations as the Company retained these obligations. The Company also provides retirement related benefits for certain foreign employees. The Company measures the costs of its obligation based on actuarial determinations. The net periodic costs are recognized as employees render the services necessary to earn the post-retirement benefit and the obligation is recorded on the consolidated balance sheet as accrued pension liabilities.

 

Assumptions about the discount rate, the expected rate of return on plan assets and the future rate of compensation increases are determined by the Company. The Company believes the assumptions are within accepted guidelines and ranges. However, these actuarial assumptions could vary materially from actual results due to economic events and different rates of retirement, mortality and withdrawal.

 

Stock Based Compensation and Equity Plans – Under the Company stock-based compensation plans, executives, employees and outside directors receive awards of options to purchase common stock and restricted stock units. Under all awards, the terms are fixed at the grant date. For stock options, the exercise price equals the market price of the Company’s stock on the date of the grant. Options under the plans generally vest over three years, and have a maximum term of 10 years. The Company expenses grant-date fair values of stock options, based on the Black-Scholes model, ratably over the vesting period of the related share-based award. Restricted stock units are valued based on the grant price and are expensed evenly over the vesting period. The restricted stock units vest in equal, annual installments over a three year period beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant at which time common stock is issued with respect to vested units. The plans also permits the granting of stock awards, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and other equity based awards. 

 

Product Warranty – The Company offers a warranty on various products and services. The Company estimates the costs that may be incurred under its warranties and records a liability in the amount of such costs at the time the product is sold. Factors that affect the Company’s warranty liability include the number of units sold, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims and cost per claim. The Company periodically assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liabilities and adjusts the amounts as necessary. The amount of the reserve recorded is equal to the costs to repair or otherwise satisfy the claim. Historically, the Company has not incurred any significant amounts of warranty expense on its products. Therefore, no reserve for warranty costs is considered necessary by management as of December 31, 2018 or 2017.

 

Patent Costs – Costs associated with the submission of a patent application are expensed as incurred given the uncertainty of the patents providing future economic benefit to the Company.

 

Advertising Costs – Advertising costs amounted to $3,419, $1,696, and $190 in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and are charged to expense when incurred.

 

Research and Development Costs – Research and development costs, net of customer funding, amounted to $4,671, $4,458, and $4,688 in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and are charged to expense when incurred, net of customer funding. The Company accrues proceeds received under governmental grants when earned and estimable as a reduction to research and development expense.

 

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Customer Funded Tooling Costs – The Company designs and develops molds and tools for reimbursement on behalf of several customers. Costs associated with the design and development of the molds and tools are charged to expense, net of the customer reimbursement amount.  Net customer funded tooling resulted in income (expense) of ($184), $95 and $102 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and is included in cost of goods sold in the consolidated statements of operations. 

Income (Loss) Per Share – Basic income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year. Diluted income (loss) per common share reflects the potential dilution of securities that could share in the earnings. The Company uses the treasury stock method for calculating the dilutive effect of stock options.

 

Comprehensive Income (Loss) – Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income (loss), change in fair value of derivative instruments, pension and post-retirement obligations and foreign currency translation adjustments and is presented in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

 

Foreign Currency Translation The Company’s German subsidiary accounts for its transactions in its functional currency, the euro. The Company’s United Kingdom subsidiary accounts for its transactions in its functional currency, the British pound. Foreign assets and liabilities are translated into United States dollars using the year-end exchange rates. Equity is translated at average historical exchange rates. Results of operations are translated using the average exchange rates throughout the year. Translation gains or losses are accumulated as a separate component of equity.

 

Subsequent Event Policy – The Company has evaluated events occurring after the date of the consolidated financial statements for events requiring recording or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments — When deemed appropriate, the Company enters into derivative instruments. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes. All derivative transactions are linked to an existing balance sheet item or firm commitment, and the notional amount does not exceed the value of the exposure being hedged.

 

We recognize all derivative financial instruments in the consolidated financial statements at fair value regardless of the purpose or intent for holding the instrument. Generally, changes in fair values of derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges, to the extent they are effective as hedges, are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax or, if ineffective, on the consolidated statements of operations.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

In March 2017, the (FASB) issued (A