UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

xx QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended   March 31, 2006

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     1-448

Mestek, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

  Pennsylvania
  25-0661650  
  (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)  
  260 North Elm Street, Westfield, MA
  01085  
  (Address of principal executive offices)
  (Zip Code)  

413-568-9571

Registrant's telephone number, including area code

None

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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 xx No

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

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer                       Non-accelerated filer XX

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b02 of the Exchange Act).                                                                                                                   Yes No xx

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.                                                                      Yes No

The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock issued and outstanding as of May 10, 2006 was 8,732,125.

 

 

 

MESTEK, INC.

 

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

FOR THE THREE-MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

 

INDEX

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Page No.

 

 

Item 1 – Financial Statements

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at

March 31, 2006 (unaudited) and December 31, 2005

3-4

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 (unaudited)

5

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 (unaudited)

6

 

 

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

7-20

 

 

Item 2- Management's Discussion and Analysis

of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

21-32

 

 

Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Information About Market Risks

33

 

 

Item 4 – Controls and Procedures

33

 

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

34

 

 

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

34

 

 

SIGNATURE

35

 

 

 

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1 - Financial Statements

 

MESTEK, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

 

March 31,

Dec. 31,

 

2006

2005

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

(dollars in thousands)

ASSETS

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

$1,632

$2,115

Accounts Receivable - less allowances of,

 

 

$3,530 and $2,978 respectively

52,905

57,361

Inventories

66,959

65,065

Deferred Tax Asset

7,046

6,935

Other Current Assets

    8,218

    7,430

 

 

 

Total Current Assets

136,760

138,906

 

 

 

Property and Equipment – net

51,603

51,215

Property Held for Sale

2,897

1,698

Deferred Tax Asset

11,358

11,431

Other Assets and Deferred Charges – net

5,001

5,399

Goodwill

19,968

19,924

 

 

 

Total Assets

$227,587

$228,573

 

 

See the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 

Continued on next page

 

 

 

Page 3 of 35

 

 

 

MESTEK, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)

 

 

March 31,

Dec. 31,

 

2006

2005

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

Short Term Notes Payable

$25,000 

$22,000 

Current Portion of Long-Term Debt

710 

704 

Accounts Payable

21,081 

21,045 

Accrued Expenses

11,504 

14,070 

Reserve for Equity Investment Losses

3,870 

3,870 

Customer Deposits

14,070 

13,428 

Environmental Reserves

3,219 

2,977 

Other Accrued Liabilities

13,894 

15,830 

 

 

 

Total Current Liabilities

93,348 

93,924 

 

 

 

Environmental Reserves

15,709 

16,330 

Long-Term Debt

10,639 

10,774 

Other Liabilities

      1,771 

     1,825 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

121,467 

122,853 

 

 

 

Minority Interests

    843 

     810 

 

 

 

Shareholders' Equity

 

 

Common Stock - no par, stated value $0.05 per share,

9,610,135 shares issued

479 

479 

Paid in Capital

16,938 

16,938 

Subscriptions Receivable

(295)

(295)

Retained Earnings

100,096 

99,870 

Treasury Shares, at cost, (878,010 common shares)

(11,293)

(11,293)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

     (648)

     (789)

 

 

 

Total Shareholders' Equity

105,277 

104,910 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

$227,587 

$228,573 

 

 

See the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 

Page 4 of 35

 

 

 

MESTEK, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three-months ended

March 31,

               

2006

2005

               

(dollars in thousands,

except earnings per common share),

 

 

 

Net Sales

$90,781 

$84,881 

 

 

 

Cost of Goods Sold

69,024 

63,427 

 

 

 

Gross Profit

21,757 

21,454 

 

 

 

Selling Expense

12,135 

11,451 

General and Administrative Expense

5,376 

5,737 

Engineering Expense

2,772 

2,924 

Gain on Sale of Product Line

(286)

---  

Plant Shutdown Expense and Other Restructuring Charges

      701 

      488 

 

 

 

Operating Profit before Reorganization Items

1,059 

854 

Subsidiary Bankruptcy Professional Fees

   ---  

401 

Operating Profit

1,059 

453 

 

 

 

Interest Expense – net

(489)

(305)

Other Expense – net

   (140)

(237)

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes

430 

(89)

 

 

 

Income Taxes Expense

     204 

      26 

 

 

 

Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations

     226 

      (115)

 

 

 

Discontinued Operations (See Note 7):

 

 

Income from Operations of Discontinued Business

Before Taxes

---  

2,515 

Applicable Income Tax Expense

   ---  

1,061 

Net Income of Discontinued Business

   ---  

   1,454 

 

 

 

Net Income

  $226 

 $1,339 

 

 

 

Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share:

 

 

Continuing Operations

$0.03 

($0.02)

Discontinued Operations

    ---   

0.17 

Net Income

$0.03 

$0.15 

 

 

 

Basic Weighted Average Shares Outstanding

8,732 

8,600 

 

 

 

Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share:

 

 

Continuing Operations

$0.03 

($0.02)

Discontinued Operations

    ---   

0.17 

Net Income

$0.03 

$0.15 

 

 

 

Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding

8,732 

8,652 

 

See the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 

Page 5 of 35

 

 

 

MESTEK, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three-months ended

March 31,

 

 

2006

2005

 

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Continuing Operating Activities:

 

 

 

Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations

$226 

($60)

 

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:

 

 

 

Depreciation and Amortization

1,757 

1,991 

 

Provision for Losses on Accounts Receivable,

net of write offs & recoveries

340 

215 

 

Increase (Decrease) in Minority Interests

33 

(17)

 

Non Cash Stock-Based Compensation

---   

693 

 

Change in Assets and Liabilities Net of Effects of

Acquisitions/Dispositions:

 

 

 

Accounts Receivable

4,116 

2,128 

 

Inventory

(1,894)

(7,735)

 

Accounts Payable

36 

2,776 

 

Environmental Reserves

(379)

 

 

Other Liabilities

(3,914)

(2,326)

 

Other Assets

(518)

1,071 

 

Net Cash (Used in) Continuing Operating Activities

(197)

(1,264)

 

 

 

 

 

Net Cash (Used in) Discontinued Operations (see Note 7)

      ---    

  (1,662)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

 

 

 

Capital Expenditures

(3,885)

(588)

 

Disposition of Fixed Assets

    578 

    ---   

 

 

 

 

 

Net Cash Used in Continuing Investing Activities

(3,307)

(588)

 

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

of Discontinued Operations (see Note 7)

    ---   

    (386)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

 

 

 

Net Borrowings Under Revolving Credit Agreements

3,000 

2,672 

 

Principal Payments Under Long-Term Debt Obligations

    (129)

    (136)

 

 

 

 

 

Net Cash Provided by Continuing Financing Activities

2,871 

2,536 

 

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

Discontinued Operations (see Note 7)

    ---   

    1,982 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

(633)

618 

 

Translation Effect on Cash – Discontinued Operations

 

148 

 

Translation Effect on Cash – Continuing Operations

150 

(231)

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents - Beginning of Period

2,115 

1,428 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents - End of Period

$1,632 

$1,963 

 

 

 

See the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 

Page 6 of 35

 

 

 

MESTEK, INC.

 

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Mestek, Inc. (“Mestek”) and its majority owned subsidiaries (collectively the “Company”). The financial statements as reported in this Form 10-Q reflect all adjustments, including those of a normal recurring nature, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of results for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2006 and 2005.

 

These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Annual Report on Form 10-K and in particular the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. Accordingly, Note disclosures that would substantially duplicate the disclosures contained in the latest audited financial statements have been omitted from this filing.

 

Earnings per Common Share

 

Basic earnings per share have been computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Common stock options are considered in the computation of diluted earnings per share, except when such effect would be antidilutive.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123 (Revised 2004), Share –Based Payment (SFAS 123R), using the statement’s modified prospective application method. Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company followed SFAS 123, Accounting for Stock Based Compensation, as amended by SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock Based Transition and Disclosure, an amendment to FASB Statement No. 123, which required entities to recognize as expense over the vesting period the fair value of stock based awards on the date of grant or measurement date. For employee stock-based awards, however, SFAS 123 and 148 allowed entities to continue to apply the intrinsic value method under the provisions of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25 and provide pro forma net earnings disclosures as if the fair value based method defined in SFAS 123 had been applied. The Company elected to apply the provisions of APB Opinion No. 25 and provide the pro forma disclosures of SFAS 123 and 148 as required for periods prior to January 1, 2006.

 

Under the provisions of SFAS 123R, the Company recognizes the estimated fair value of stock-based compensation in the consolidated statement of operations over the requisite service period of each option granted. Under the modified prospective application method of SFAS 123R, the Company applies the provisions of SFAS 123R to all awards granted but unvested prior to January 1, 2006 and to all awards granted or modified after January 1, 2006. The Company had no stock options outstanding at December 31, 2005 and made no option grants in the quarters ended March 31, 2006 and 2005. Accordingly, there was no compensation expense recorded in 2006 and the adoption of SFAS 123R had no impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

On October 27, 2004, the Company ‘re-priced’ 25,000 options expiring in 2011 from $23.25 per share to the then current market value of $17.85 per share, and 70,000 additional options expiring in 2009 from $20.00 per share to the then current market value of $17.85 per share. The Company has accounted for these options subsequent to October 27, 2004 through December 31, 2005 using ‘variable accounting’ which resulted in a pre-tax charge to earnings of $465,000 in the first quarter of 2005. All options were exercised in 2005. For the purpose of the pro forma below, the effect of the above re-pricing was also included in the computation of compensation cost under the fair value method described below.

 

 

 

Page 7 of 35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Had the ‘fair value method’ of accounting been applied to the Company’s stock option plan, with compensation cost for the Plan determined on the basis of the fair value of the options at the grant date, the Company’s net income and earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2005 would have been as follows:

 

 

 

Three-months Ended

 

March 31

 

2005

 

(dollars in thousands, except earnings per common share)

 

 

Net Income - as reported

$1,339      

Plus: Stock-based Compensation reflected in net income (net of tax)

430      

Less: Compensation expense (net of tax)

     (16)     

Net (loss) Income - pro forma

$1,753      

 

 

Basic Income per share - as reported

$0.16      

Plus: Stock-based Compensation reflected in net income (net of tax)

0.05      

Less: Compensation expense (net of tax)

    ---        

Basic Income per share - pro forma

$0.21      

 

 

Diluted Income per share - as reported

$0.15      

Plus: Stock-based Compensation reflected in net income (net of tax)

0.05      

Less: Compensation expense (net of tax)

    ---       

Diluted Income per share - pro forma

$0.20      

 

 

Income Taxes

 

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. 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. 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. Cash paid for income taxes was $111,000 and $259,000 during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

Other Comprehensive Income

 

For the three-month periods ended March 31, 2006, and 2005, respectively, the components of other comprehensive income consisted of foreign currency translation adjustments, and, valuation adjustments related to a ‘hedge transaction’ interest rate swap entered into by the Company in February of 2004, as more fully explained in Note 3 to these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Other comprehensive income was $142,000 and $15,000 for the three-months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

Reclassification

 

Reclassifications are made periodically to previously issued financial statements to conform to the current year presentation.

 

 

 

Page 8 of 35

 

 

 

Note 2 - Inventories

 

 

 

March 31,

December 31,

 

2006

2005

 

(unaudited)

 

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Finished Goods

$23,613 

$19,100 

Work-in-progress

25,332 

26,646 

Raw materials

32,126 

32,526 

     

81,071 

78,272 

Less provision for LIFO method of valuation

(14,112)

(13,207)

     

$66,959 

$65,065 

 

 

The Company uses the last-in first-out (LIFO) method of valuing substantial portions of its inventory. An actual valuation of inventory under the LIFO method can be made only at the end of each year based on the inventory levels and costs at that time. Accordingly, interim LIFO calculations are based on management’s estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and costs and are subject to the final year-end LIFO inventory valuation.

 

Note 3 - Debt

 

Short-term Debt:

 

Short-term debt consisted of the following:

 

 

March 31,

December 31,

 

2006

2005

 

(unaudited)

 

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Revolving Loan Agreement

$25,000

$22,000

 

 

Revolving Loan Agreement – On October 19, 2004, the Company entered into a three year, $70,000,000, committed, unsecured, multi-bank revolving loan and letter of credit facility (the “Facility”), led by Bank of America (successor to Fleet National Bank, the Company’s long-term lender). Borrowings under the Facility bear interest, at the Company’s election, at a floating rate based on the lenders’ prime or base rate or, for short term borrowings, at a rate based upon the daily British Bankers Association (“BBA”) LIBOR rate. The Facility contains affirmative and negative covenants, typical of such financing transactions, and specific financial covenants which require the Company to maintain a minimum consolidated net worth, a minimum cash flow coverage ratio and a maximum cash flow leverage ratio. Effective October 11, 2005, the borrowing commitment under the facility was increased to $80,000,000. As of December 31, 2005 and March 31, 2006, the Company was in compliance with all of the financial covenants required under the Facility. Revolving borrowings under the Facility are due and payable in full on the maturity date of the Facility, which is October 19, 2007. Most of the Company’s operating subsidiaries guaranty the obligations of the Company under the Facility. The Credit Agreement relating to the Facility also contains restrictions regarding the creation of indebtedness, the occurrence of mergers or consolidations, the sale of subsidiary stock and the payment of dividends in excess of 50 percent (50%) of net income. The Company had outstanding at March 31, 2006, $16,367,000 in standby letters of credit issued in connection with the Met-Coil bankruptcy reorganization plan, as more fully explained in Note 6, and, $7,884,000, issued principally in connection with its commercial insurance programs. In addition, a letter of credit was issued on July 19, 2005 in the amount of $4,481,000 in connection with the $4,430,000 Industrial Development Authority Bond, as more fully described below, for the City of Bridgeton, MO. The balance outstanding under the Revolving Loan Agreement was $25,000,000 at March 31, 2006.

 

 

 

Page 9 of 35

 

 

 

Hedge Transaction - On February 6, 2004, the Company entered into a single interest rate swap transaction, to effectively fix the Company’s 30 day-LIBOR-based, variable rate interest obligations on a principal amount of $14,000,000 of debt at a rate of 2.87% for three years.

 

The Company entered into this swap transaction to manage interest cost and cash flows associated with variable interest rates, primarily short-term changes in LIBOR, as changes in cash flows of the interest rate swap offsets changes in the interest payments on the covered portion of the Company’s revolving credit facility, and based upon the Company’s belief that short term rates will be rising over the next several years.

 

The Company is accounting for the interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge under SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities as amended by SFAS No. 138, Accounting for Certain Derivative instruments and Certain Hedging Activities. These statements require that all derivatives be recognized as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet at fair value.

 

Changes in the fair value of the swap, designated as a cash flow hedge, are reflected as a component of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and reclassified into earnings (interest expense) in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The derivative instrument is carried at “marked-to-market” fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in the applicable line item “Other Assets” or “Other Liabilities”.

 

In connection with this interest rate swap transaction, the Company recorded an after-tax loss of $8,000 in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) during the three-month period ended March 31, 2006 and an after tax credit of $98,000 in the three-month period ended March 31, 2005, reflecting interest rate fluctuations during these periods. The Company’s exposure to credit loss on its interest rate swap in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties is believed to be remote as the Company effected this swap through its principal bank, Bank of America, requiring that the counterparty have a strong credit rating.

 

Long-term Debt:

 

Long-term debt consisted of the following:

 

 

March 31,

2006

December 31

2005

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Note Payable – Omega Flex, Inc.

$3,250 

$3,250 

Industrial Development Bond – PA

3,669 

3,798 

Industrial Development Bond – MO

    4,430 

    4,430 

 

11,349 

11,478 

Less Current Maturities

(710)

    (704)

Long Term Debt

$10,639 

$10,774 

 

Industrial Development Bond – On April 19, 2002, the Company’s subsidiary, Boyertown Foundry Company, Inc. (“BFC”), borrowed $5,512,490 under a note issued through the Berks County Industrial Development Authority in Berks County, PA in connection with a project to upgrade BFC’s foundry equipment in Boyertown, PA. The note bearing interest at 4.93% per annum, matures on April 19, 2012, and is payable in equal monthly payments of principal and interest over the term of the loan. The note is secured by a Loan and Security Agreement under which the equipment purchased by BFC with the loan proceeds is pledged as security for the note. The note is expected to be a ‘Qualified Small Issue Bond’ under Section 144 (a)(12) of the Internal Revenue Code, entitling the holder to tax exempt treatment on the interest. In the event the note is found to be not in compliance with Section 144 (a)(12), the interest rate on the note may be increased.

 

Industrial Development Bond - MO – On June 17, 2005, the Company acquired an 80,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Bridgeton, Missouri, for $2,940,000, which has been used to consolidate existing Formtek Metal Processing business units. The Company has disposed of one and expects to

 

 

Page 10 of 35

 

 

dispose of other idled facilities as a part of this consolidation process. On July 19, 2005, the Company refinanced this transaction as part of a 25 year tax exempt Industrial Development Bond totaling $4,430,000. The proceeds were used to reimburse the Company for the acquisition of real estate and for construction, renovation, furnishing and equipping of the existing building. The note bears interest at a variable rate that considers prevailing market conditions and is set weekly by the remarketing agent, Banc of America Securities LLC. At no time may the interest rate exceed the maximum annual rate of 12.00%. Interest is payable monthly with a minimum optional redemption of principal due on July 1 of each year until maturity at July 1, 2030. The effective rate of interest paid in the 1st quarter 2006, including letter of credit costs, was 4.58%. The minimum optional redemption amount in each of the first five years is $180,000. The note is secured by a Letter of Credit and Reimbursement Agreement with Bank of America, N.A.

 

Note Payable – Omega Flex – In connection with the “Spin-Off” of its 86% interest in Omega Flex, Inc. (Omega), as more fully described in Note 7, the Company retained an intercompany obligation payable to Omega in the amount of $3,250,000 which was converted on the date of the “Spin-Off”, July 29, 2005, to a 3-year “balloon” note bearing interest at 5.06% per annum, reflecting the then prevailing yield on 3-year U.S. Treasury securities plus 100 basis points. The obligation is included in the Company’s balance sheet at March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 under the heading “Long-Term Debt”.

 

Cash paid for interest was $341,000 and $433,000 during the three-months ended March 31, 2006, and 2005, respectively.

 

Note 4 – Segment Information

 

Description of the types of products and services from which each reportable Segment derives its revenues:

 

The Company has two reportable Segments: the manufacture of heating, ventilating and air-conditioning equipment (“HVAC”) and the manufacture of metal handling and metal forming machinery (“Metal Forming”).

 

The Company’s HVAC Segment manufactures and sells a variety of complementary residential, commercial and industrial heating, cooling and air control and distribution products. The HVAC Segment sells its products to independent wholesale supply distributors, mechanical, sheet metal and other contractors and, in some cases, to other HVAC manufacturers under original equipment manufacture (“OEM”) agreements and direct to certain retailers pursuant to national account agreements. The HVAC Segment is comprised of three interrelated HVAC product groups: Hydronics Products, Gas and Industrial Products, and Air Distribution and Cooling Products.

 

The Metal Forming Segment, operating under the umbrella name “Formtek,” is comprised of several subsidiaries and divisions, all manufacturers of equipment used in the metal forming industry (the uncoiling, straightening, leveling, feeding, forming, bending, notching, stamping, cutting, stacking, bundling or moving of metal in the production of metal products, such as steel sheets, office furniture, appliances, vehicles, buildings, and building components, among many others).

 

The HVAC and Metal Forming Segments are described in greater detail in Note 11 to the Company’s 2005 Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Measurement of Segment profit or loss and Segment assets:

 

The Company evaluates performance and allocates resources based on profit or loss from operations before interest expense and income taxes (Operating Profit), not including non-operating gains and losses. The accounting policies of the reportable Segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. Inter-Segment sales and transfers are recorded at prices substantially equivalent to the Company’s cost; inter-Company profits on such inter-Segment sales or transfers are not material.

 

 

 

Page 11 of 35

 

 

 

Factors management used to identify the enterprise’s reportable segments:

 

The factors which identify the HVAC and Metal Forming Segments as reportable Segments are described in detail in Note 11 to the Company’s 2005 Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Information presented in the following tables relates to continuing operations only.

 

Three-months ended

March 31, 2006

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

HVAC

Metal

Forming

 

Totals

 

 

 

 

Revenues from External Customers

 

$66,023   

$24,758       

$90,781

Segment Operating Profit (Loss)

 

$2,770 *

($1,711) **

$1,059

 

*

includes $185 in Plant Shutdown expenses in accordance with FAS 146, as more fully described in Note 9.

 

**

includes $484 in Plant Shutdown expenses in accordance with FAS 146, as more fully described in Note 9, and a gain on the sale of a non-core product line of $286.

 

Three-months ended

March 31, 2005

 

 

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

HVAC

Metal

Forming

 

Totals

 

 

 

 

Revenues from External Customers

 

$64,667   

$20,214       

$84,881

Segment Operating Profit (Loss)

 

$2,643 *

($2,190) **

$453

 

*

includes $297 in Plant Shutdown and Other Restructuring Charges (see Note 9).

 

**

includes $192 in Plant Shutdown charges (see Note 9) and $401 in subsidiary bankruptcy professional fees

 

HVAC Segment Revenues by HVAC Product Group:

 

 

March 31

 

2006

2005

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Hydronic Products

$30,597

$29,170

Air Distribution and Cooling Products

20,233

20,008

Gas and Industrial Products

    15,193

    15,489

Total HVAC Consolidated Revenues

$66,023

$64,667

 

Note 5 – Employee Benefit Plans

 

Defined Benefit Plans

 

The Company’s second-tier subsidiary, Met-Coil, maintained, prior to its acquisition by the Company’s subsidiary, Formtek, Inc. on June 3, 2000, several defined benefit pension plans (the Met-Coil

 

 

 

Page 12 of 35

 

 

Plans) covering certain of its employees. The Met-Coil Plans were “frozen” and merged prior to the acquisition, “locking in” retirement benefits earned to that date and precluding any further benefits for future service. Due to recent adverse investment performance and reduced expectations of future investment earnings, the combined Met-Coil Plans’ administrator has determined that the Accumulated Benefit Obligation, the present value of future pension obligations to Met-Coil Plan participants, exceeds the fair market value of the Met-Coil Plan’s assets as of December 31, 2005 and 2004. In accordance with the requirements of FAS 87, Employers’ Accounting for Pensions, the Company has recorded charges in 2005 and 2004 net of related tax benefit, to the Shareholders’ Equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheet contained herein of $47,000, and $8,000 respectively, under the heading “Additional Minimum Liability-Defined Benefit Plan”. For the quarters ending March 31, 2006 and 2005, the Company recorded pension expense of $15,013 and $13,799 respectively, for the Met-Coil Plans.

 

In connection with the acquisition of the assets of Airtherm Manufacturing Company and Airtherm Products, Inc. in 2000, the Company assumed certain obligations related to the defined benefit plan maintained by Airtherm, the Airtherm LLC Retirement Income Plan, prior to the acquisition date. The Airtherm LLC Retirement Income Plan was “frozen” prior to acquisition in a manner similar to the Met-Coil Plans described above. In accordance with the requirements of FAS 87, Employers’ Accounting for Pensions, the Company recorded charges in 2005 and 2004, net of related tax benefits, to the Shareholders Equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheet contained herein of $201,000 and $164,000, respectively, relating to the Airtherm LLC Retirement Income Plan under the heading “Additional Minimum Liability-Defined Benefit Plan. Pension expense under the Airtherm LLC Retirement Income Plan was $10,216 for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, and $695 for the quarter ended March 31, 2005.

 

The Company uses a December 31, measurement date for the Airtherm LLC Retirement Income Plan and September 30, for the Met-Coil Plan.

 

In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 132 (revised 2003), Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Post-Retirement Benefits, the following interim period information is provided:

 

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:

 

 

Three-months ended

 

March 31, 2006

 

Met-Coil

Airtherm

 

 

 

Service cost

$    ---    

$    ---    

Interest cost

61,341 

53,848 

Expected Return on Plan Assets

(66,345)

(52,066)

Amortization of Unrecognized Transition (Asset) Obligation

Amortization of net (gain) loss

10,875 

8,434 

Other

    9,142 

     ---    

Net Periodic Benefit Cost

$15,013 

$10,216 

 

 

Note 6 – Commitments, Contingencies and Warranties

 

Indemnifications:

 

The Company is obligated under Indemnity Agreements (“Indemnity Agreements”) executed on behalf of 23 of the Company’s Officers and Directors. Under the terms of the Indemnity Agreements, the Company is contingently liable for costs which may be incurred by the Officers and Directors in connection with claims arising by reason of these individuals’ roles as Officers and Directors. See Litigation section below.

 

The Company was obligated under the Indemnity and Guaranty Agreement with Airtherm Products, Inc. (“Airtherm”) to indemnify Airtherm against certain claims arising out of the acquisition of Airtherm in August 2000, including potential claims involving alleged violations of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN Act”). Certain former employees of Airtherm have filed suit

 

 

Page 13 of 35

 

 

alleging such WARN Act claims, and defense of the matter was tendered by Airtherm to the Company pursuant to the above indemnity agreement. The U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals recently reversed the trial court and ruled that Airtherm had no Warn Act liability in connection with the sale of the business.

 

Contingencies:

 

The Company is contingently liable under standby letters of credit totaling $24,251,000 issued principally in connection with its commercial insurance coverages and in connection with the funding of the Met-Coil TCE PI Trust discussed below. For losses occurring in the policy years ending October 1, 2005 and October 1, 2006, the Company retained and retains liability for the first $2,000,000 per occurrence of commercial general liability claims (including products liability claims), subject to an agreed aggregate. Retained liability levels for earlier policy periods were substantially lower. The Company has traditionally retained liability for the first $250,000 per occurrence of workers compensation coverage, subject to an agreed aggregate, and continues to follow this policy.

 

The Company is obligated as a limited guarantor with respect to 38.7% of certain current and potential debt obligations of CareCentric, Inc. (formerly Simione Central Holdings, Inc.) to CareCentric’s primary commercial bank, Wainwright Bank & Trust Company, in the amount of $10 million. The $10 million Wainwright credit line is secured by substantially all of CareCentric’s assets and the Company’s guarantee expires coincident with the credit line on August 31, 2006. The actual balance outstanding under CareCentric’s credit line with Wainwright Bank & Trust Company as of March 31, 2006 was $4,571,000. Under the Equity Method of Accounting, in December 2001, the Company accrued this guarantee (originally in the amount of $6,000,000 and now reduced to $3,870,000) as a reserve for Equity Investment Losses. John E. Reed, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is a shareholder and director of Wainwright Bank & Trust Company.

 

Litigation:

 

The Company is subject to several legal actions and proceedings in which various monetary claims are asserted. Management, after consultation with its corporate legal department and outside counsel, does not anticipate that any ultimate liability arising out of all such litigation and proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company except as set forth below.

 

On April 12, 2006 each of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors were individually notified of a lawsuit brought against them entitled Alan Kahn v. John E. Reed, et al., filed on April 10, 2006 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Superior Court in Hampden County, Civil Action No. 06-350. The lawsuit is related to the Company’s previously announced intention to enter into a “going private” transaction, as more fully described in Note 8.

 

The lawsuit alleges that the Directors of the Company breached their fiduciary duties to the public shareholders of the Company with respect to the process, structure and stock repurchase valuation associated with the proposal to take the Company private and de-list trading of Company stock on the New York Stock Exchange. The plaintiff in the suit seeks, among other things, to obtain class action certification and injunctive relief, as well as unspecified damages, and fees, expenses and costs to the plaintiff and his counsel. It is the Company’s understanding that the Company’s Directors intend to vigorously defend the action. The Company indemnifies its Directors against liability incurred in the scope of performing their duties as Directors, including defense costs, and accordingly, is reimbursing the Directors for cost being incurred by them in connection with this litigation.

 

We cannot provide any assurance that the actual outcome of this matter will not result in liability or otherwise affect the “going private” transaction. Legal actions are inherently uncertain, we cannot predict or determine the outcome or resolution of this action or estimate with any degree of certainty the amount of loss, if any, with respect to this proceeding or its affect on the “going private” transaction.

 

Environmental Matters Involving Releases of Hazardous Materials:

 

As disclosed in previous filings, as result of the settlement of an environmental litigation matter relating to the alleged release of trichloroethylene (TCE) at a manufacturing facility owned by the Company’s Met-Coil subsidiary in Lisle, Illinois, a trust (the “TCE PI Trust”) was established for the

 

 

 

Page 14 of 35

 

 

 

holders of future claims or demands, who reside, resided or may reside in a certain geographic area in the vicinity of the facility, and who assert or may assert personal injury claims in the future.

 

The Company’s Environmental Reserve related to this matter as of the year ended December 31, 2005 was approximately $19.3 million. The reserve as of the quarter ended March 31, 2006 was approximately $18.9 million. The reduction in the reserve includes TCE related claim activity and remediation related expenditures made during the three-months ended March 31, 2006. The reserve balance at March 31, 2006 relates to future obligations under the Plan relating to soil and groundwater remediation, municipal water connections, the TCE PI Trust described above and other administrative expenses of the Met-Coil bankruptcy. Management believes that no additional reserves, beyond those set forth above, are required at this time. These reserves have been established in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard Board Statement No. 5 and Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 92. However, while these reserves represent management’s best estimate of these liabilities, and are based upon known or anticipated claims analysis estimated by various legal, scientific and economic experts, there is no assurance that these reserves will be adequate to meet all potentials claims arising from the environmental contamination at the Lisle, Illinois site. In addition, there can be no assurance that future claims for personal injury or property damage will not be asserted by other plaintiffs against Met-Coil and Mestek with respect to the Lockformer site and facility. See Remediation – Lisle, IL section below.

 

Remediation – Lisle, IL:

 

Met-Coil is continuing the remediation of the Lockformer facility in Lisle, IL, pursuant to a Work Plan for the site (“on-site remediation”) approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and is awaiting approval of the remedial standards to be achieved by such Work Plan, as well as the methodology for groundwater remediation, from the IEPA.

 

In light of the remaining uncertainties surrounding the effectiveness of the available remediation technologies and the future potential changes in methodology, remedial objectives and standards, still further reserves may be needed in the future with respect to the on-site remediation of the Lisle facility. The complexity of aforementioned factors makes it impossible at this time to further estimate any additional costs.

 

The Company’s Environmental Litigation and Remediation Reserve is comprised of the following:

 

 

March 31,

December 31,

 

2006

2005

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Estimated Future Remediation costs

$4,915     

$5,031     

 

 

 

Potential Future Obligations to the TCE PI Trust

  14,013     

14,276     

 

 

 

Total Environmental Litigation and Remediation Reserve

$18,928     

$19,307    

 

Other Claims Alleging Releases of Hazardous Materials or Asbestos Related Liability

 

The Company is currently a party to over 300 asbestos-related lawsuits, and in the past three-months has been named in approximately 12 new such lawsuits each month, primarily in one county in Texas where numerous asbestos-related actions have been filed against numerous defendants.

 

Almost all of these suits seek to establish liability against the Company as successor to companies that may have manufactured, sold or distributed asbestos-related products, and who are currently in existence and defending thousands of asbestos related cases, or because the Company currently sells and distributes boilers, an industry that has been historically associated with asbestos-related products. The Company believes it has valid defenses to all of the pending claims and vigorously contests that it is a successor to companies that may have manufactured, sold or distributed any product containing asbestos materials. However, the results of asbestos litigation have been unpredictable, and accordingly, an adverse decision or adverse decisions in these cases, individually or in the aggregate, could materially adversely

 

 

 

Page 15 of 35

 

 

affect the financial position and results of operation of the Company and could expose the Company to substantial additional asbestos related litigation and the defense costs thereof, which defense costs, because of the sheer number of asbestos claimants and the historical course of the litigation process in this area has the potential to become substantial, though these costs are not capable of estimation at this time. The total requested damages of these cases are over $3 billion. To date, however, the Company has had over 40 asbestos-related cases dismissed without any payment and it settled approximately twenty-five asbestos-related cases for a de minimis value. However, there can be no assurance the Company will be able to successfully defend or settle any pending litigation.

 

In addition to the Lisle, IL site, the Company has been named or contacted by state authorities and/or the EPA regarding the Company’s asserted liability or has otherwise determined it may be required to expend funds for the remediation of certain other sites in North Carolina and Connecticut.

 

The Company continues to investigate all of these matters. Given the information presently known, no estimation can be made of any liability which the Company may have with respect to these matters. There can be no assurance, but based on the information presently available to it, the Company does not believe that any of these matters will be material to the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

Warranty Commitments

 

Products sold by the Company are covered by various forms of express limited warranty with terms and conditions that vary depending upon the product. The express limited warranty typically covers the equipment, replacement parts and, in very limited circumstances, labor necessary to satisfy the warranty obligation for a period which is generally the earlier of 12 months from date of installation or 18 months from date of shipment from the Company factory, although some products or product components are warranted for periods ranging from eighteen months to ten years. The Company estimates the costs that may be incurred under its warranty obligations and records a liability in the amount of such costs at the time product revenue is recognized. Factors that affect the Company’s warranty liability include the number of units sold, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims, and allowable costs per claim and recoveries from vendors. At least once a quarter the Company assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liabilities and adjusts the amounts as necessary. Costs to satisfy warranty claims are charged as incurred to the accrued warranty liability.

 

Following is a summary of changes in the Company’s product warranty liability for the three-months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005.

 

 

 

Three-months ended

 

March 31,

 

2006

2005

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

3,479 

$3,864 

Provision for warranty claims

735 

508 

Warranty claims incurred

    (605)

     (490)

Balance at end of period

$3,609 

$3,882 

 

 

Note 7 –Omega Flex Spin-Off

 

Omega Flex Spin-Off/Discontinued Operations Presentation

 

On January 19, 2005, the Company announced that John E. Reed, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, proposed to a Special Committee of independent directors appointed at the Company’s December 14, 2004 regular Board meeting, (the “Special Committee”), acting on behalf of the Board of Directors, that the Company’s 86% equity interest in Omega Flex, Inc. (“Omega”) be spun-off, pro rata, to all of the Company’s public shareholders as of a record date to be established (the “Spin-Off”). In conjunction with the planned Spin-Off, Omega, on April 29, 2005, filed a preliminary registration

 

 

 

Page 16 of 35

 

 

statement on Form 10 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. On July 22, 2005, Omega filed its final registration statement on Form 10 with the Securities and Exchange Commission and completed the Spin-Off on July 29, 2005. Omega common shares began trading on the NASDAQ National Market under the trading symbol “OFLX” on August 1, 2005.

 

The operations of Omega prior to the Spin-Off are separately reported in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 144 (FAS 144), “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three-months ended March 31, 2005, under the heading Income From Discontinued Operations. Omega was formerly included in the Company’s HVAC segment. Interest expense has been allocated to the operations of Omega based on the relationship of Omega’s assets to the Company’s consolidated assets at the end of each reporting period. Corporate General & Administrative expenses originally allocated to Omega totaling $124,000, for the three-months ended March 31, 2005 have been reallocated to the Company’s continuing operations.

 

Note 8 “Going Private” Transaction

 

On March 31, 2006, Mestek, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release relating to a recommendation made to the Company’s Board of Directors by a Special Committee to the full Board in response to a proposal made on January 19, 2005 by John E. Reed, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, that the Company enter into a “going-private” transaction (the “Transaction”). A Special Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors was appointed, consisting entirely of independent directors, to consider Mr. Reed’s proposal and make recommendations to the full Board. The Special Committee retained independent legal counsel and independent financial advisers and over the course of more than a year investigated various options and alternatives, reviewed various valuation methodologies and conducted extensive discussions, the results of which were its formal recommendations made to the Company’s full Board of Directors at a special meeting held on March 29, 2006 called solely for the purpose of deliberations on the proposed Transaction and in conjunction with its regularly scheduled meeting held on March 30, 2006.

 

On May 2, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors met telephonically, having been sent a draft “Fairness Opinion” and a draft “Presentation to Special Committee Regarding Fairness Analysis” from Houlihan Lokey, a draft set of Second Amended and Restated By-laws and a draft Proxy Statement. The Board conducted a discussion with representatives of Houlihan Lokey of the valuation methodology and the Fairness Opinion. The Board then discussed the “going private” transaction as then currently proposed by management and the Special committee, being the same as discussed on March 29, 2006 but for the inclusion of a provision requiring the approval of the “going private” transaction by a “majority of the minority” or unaffiliated shares voted by such shareholders at the Annual Meeting as well as a majority of the affiliated shares so voting. By unanimous vote, the “going private” transaction, now documented in proposed definitive form, subject to the review process to be undertaken with the SEC, was approved. The Board received the Houlihan Lokey report and Fairness Opinion, subject to Houlihan Lokey making some typographical corrections and revising it to reference the new “Majority of Minority” condition.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company has thus agreed in principle to go forward with the Transaction by means of a meeting of the Shareholders of record as of June 6, 2006 (the “Record Date”), which Record Date determines who is eligible to vote at the meeting to be held on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at the Company’s headquarters in Westfield, Massachusetts, to obtain authority to take the actions necessary to accomplish the Transaction. Completion of the Transaction is subject to approval by the Company’s Board of Directors of definitive documentation and proposed amendments to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and by-laws and approval by the shareholders of the Company of an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation. There can be no assurances that the Transaction will be consummated. See the Litigation section of Note 6.

 

 

Page 17 of 35

 

 

A general description of the terms and conditions of the proposed Transaction is as follows:

 

Structure

 

 

 

The Transaction will take the form of a 1-for-2000 reverse split of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock (each, a “Share”). The Transaction will have the effect of cashing out only those shareholders holding fewer than 2000 Shares (the “Cashed Out Shareholders”) as of the effective date of the Transaction (the “Effective Date”) which “cash-out” will follow shortly after the meeting of the shareholders. At this time it is expected that the Effective Date will be July 31, 2006, after which date the Company’s shares will no longer be traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The percentage of Shares held by Cashed Out Shareholders as of the Effective Date of the Transaction is referred to as the “Cashed Out Percentage.

 

Consideration

 

In exchange for his, her or its Shares, each Cashed Out Shareholder will receive $15.24 per Share (the “Transaction Price”), and a Contingent Payment Right, as defined below. Shareholders holding 2000 shares or more will not receive a cash payment and will remain shareholders of the Company.

 

Shareholder Protections

 

As described below, the proposal contains economic protections for the Cashed Out Shareholders and the Company’s shareholders after the Transaction and corporate governance commitments by the Company (the “Shareholder Protections”). The Company will propose that its by-laws be amended to include provisions that (1) reflect the Shareholder Protections and (2) prohibit the amendment of the Shareholder Protections without the approval of a majority of the Company’s board of directors, for a period of five years following the Transaction.

 

Under Pennsylvania law, the "Going Private" transaction requires the approval of a majority of the shares held by shareholders entitled to vote, which means a majority of the 8,732,125 shares of common stock presently issued and outstanding. In addition, the directors of the Company have proposed that the structure of the "Going Private" transaction require "majority of minority" voting, or "neutralized voting", which means that, in addition to the statutory approval requirement, a majority of votes cast by the "unaffiliated shareholders" must approve the transaction, along with a majority of the votes cast by the "affiliated shareholders". The "affiliated shareholders" include owners of more than 10% of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Company, and directors and executive officers of the Company, as well as members of such owners, directors and executive officers' immediate families and certain trusts for the benefit of such owners, directors, executive officers or members of their immediate families. "Unaffiliated shareholders" are all other shareholders of the Company.

 

Economic Protections

 

Quoting on Pink Sheets

 

The Company will undertake to use reasonable efforts to cause its common stock to be published on the “so-called” Pink Sheets publication service including, without limitation, providing the information (1) required by Rule 15c2-11 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (2) necessary to complete a NASD Form 211 to a SEC registered broker-dealer that is a member of the NASD. The Company will also undertake to assist individuals and institutions to liquidate their substantial holdings including, without limitation, using its best efforts to find a broker willing to execute Pink Sheets orders in the Company’s common stock.

 

Contingent Payment Right

 

Each Cashed Out Shareholder will receive a right to payment (the “Contingent Payment Right”) that vests upon the execution, in the one year following the Transaction (the “Liquidity Period”), of a binding agreement for a Liquidity Event resulting in a per Share value exceeding the Adjusted Transaction Price (the aggregate of such excesses across all Shares, the “Liquidity Excess”). If a Liquidity Event occurs, each Cashed Out Shareholder will receive a payment in the amount of his, her or its pro rata portion of the Cashed Out Percentage of the Liquidity Excess.

 

 

 

Page 18 of 35

 

 

 

Liquidity Event shall mean (1) any liquidation, winding up or dissolution of the Company, (2) any sale or transfer of 25% or more of the Company’s Shares, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, or (3) any sale or transfer of 25% or more of the Company’s assets.

 

Adjusted Transaction Price shall mean (1) in the case of a sale or transfer of a portion of the Company’s assets, the percentage of the Transaction Price equal to the percentage of the Company’s book value attributable to the assets being sold or transferred, as of the Effective Date of the Transaction, and (2) in all other cases, the Transaction Price.

 

If the Company executes a series of binding agreements in the Liquidity Period that would qualify as a Liquidity Event if treated as a single transaction, the transactions will be treated as a single transaction for the purpose of determining the Contingent Payment Right.

 

The Contingent Payment Right will not (1) be represented by a certificate or other instrument, (2) represent an ownership or equity interest in the Company, (3) confer dividend or voting rights, (4) bear interest, or (5) be transferable, unless under the laws of wills, distribution or descent, or by operation of law.

 

Dutch Auction

 

In each of the five calendar years immediately following the Transaction, the Company will undertake to hold one Dutch auction for its common stock, and to purchase up to $2,500,000 of its common stock in each auction. This commitment is subject to the Company’s ability to meet reasonable constraints imposed by bank covenants and financial ratios, as determined by a majority of the Company’s board of directors.

 

Corporate Governance Protections

 

Board and committee composition. A majority of the Company’s board will consist of independent directors, as defined by the New York Stock Exchange (“Independent Directors”). The Company’s Audit and Compensation Committees will consist entirely of Independent Directors.

 

Financial reporting. The Company will provide each of its shareholders with quarterly and annual financial reports, similar in general content to, but not necessarily in as great detail or in the same format as, the reports required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Shareholder questions. The Company’s management will entertain questions asked by its shareholders and answer the questions fully and frankly.

 

Conflicts. The Company will disclose to the Independent Directors and its shareholders information relating to (1) any interested transaction as may be proposed, whether involving an insider or otherwise posing a conflict of interest, and (2) compensation paid to the Company’s management.

 

Whistleblower hotline. The Company will provide a hotline to facilitate outside shareholders’, employees’, suppliers’ and others’ confidential reporting of improper conduct to the Company’s Audit Committee or other designated governing body.

 

Note 9 – Plant Shutdowns, Other Restructuring Charges and Gain on Sale of Product Line

 

Plant Shutdowns:

 

On May 1, 2006, the Company announced its intention to relocate its HVAC manufacturing operations conducted in Waldron, Michigan to the Company’s existing facility in Bradner, Ohio. The Company has also announced in connection with this consolidation, its intention to relocate its Reed Air Group office personnel from Holland, Ohio to Bradner, Ohio. The Waldron and Holland facilities are reflected in the accompanying financial statements under the heading “Property Held For Sale”.

 

 

 

Page 19 of 35

 

 

 

Early in 2005, Formtek announced plans to close a small start-up operation, Formtek Metalforming Integration, Inc. (FMI), located in South Elgin, IL. In addition to the above, a number of other product relocation and business rationalization steps were undertaken by Formtek in 2005. As of December 31, 2005 Formtek had completed its reorganization into the following operating groups – Formtek Metal Processing (“FMP”), made up of Lockformer, Iowa Precision, Engel, Iowa Rebuilders and Formtek Maine, Formtek Metal Forming (“FMF”) made up of Formtek Cleveland, Hill Engineering and Axon Electric and Formtek International (“FI”), made up of Formtek Beijing and the international sales force.

 

In September of 2005, the Company’s Metal Forming Segment, (Formtek) announced plans to close its Lisle, IL (Lockformer) manufacturing facility and combine manufacturing operations with the operations of St. Louis, MO, based Engel Industries, a complementary business in the Metal Forming Segment, in a modern 80,000 sq ft upgraded facility purchased by the Company on June 17, 2005 in Bridgeton, MO. The Lockformer and Engel relocations were substantially, though not entirely, completed as of December 31, 2005. The Lockformer facility is reflected in the accompanying financial statements under the heading “Property Held For Sale”. The vacated “Engel facility” was sold in January 2006 at a gain of approximately $10,000.

 

The Company is accounting for the costs related to these “exit and disposal” activities, employee severance and related costs of shutting down manufacturing operations, in accordance with FAS 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities (“FAS 146”). In the three-month periods ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, the Company incurred $669,000, and $249,000, respectively, of such “exit and disposal” costs which are classified separately in the accompanying financial statements in accordance with FAS 146.

 

Other Restructuring Costs:

 

During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, the Company incurred $32,000 and $240,000, respectively, in professional fees and related costs connected with the planned “going private transaction” and the Spin-Off of Omega Flex, Inc. (Omega Flex) on July 29, 2005, both as more fully described in Notes 7 and 8.

 

 

Gain on Sale of Product Line:

 

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2006, the Company’s Metal Forming Segment sold its non-core Mentor AGVS product line at a gain of $286,000 which is classified separately under the heading “Gain on Sale of Product Line” in the accompanying financial statements in accordance with FAS 144.

 

Note 10 – Subsequent Event

 

On April 19, 2006, the Company executed an asset purchase agreement with Argo Technology, Inc. (ATI) for the purchase of the Argo line of hydronic baseboard business and associated assets. ATI will retain its other businesses operating under the Argo name and relating to electric boilers and controls for heating equipment. The purchase price for the Argo baseboard business assets is approximately $4,200,000, subject to adjustment based on the final value of the Argo current assets. The Company is also obligated to pay as a portion of the purchase an earn-out payment based on a percentage of gross sales of the Argo business within the 24-month period following the purchase. The Company is not assuming any material liabilities of the Argo baseboard business. The closing of this transaction is currently scheduled to occur in June 2006. After the closing of the purchase, the Company plans to move the Argo baseboard business to its existing manufacturing facility in South Windsor, Connecticut.

 

 

 

Page 20 of 35

 

 

 

Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation

 

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

 

This report contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to inherent uncertainties. These uncertainties include, but are not limited to, variations in weather, changes in the regulatory environment, customer preferences, general economic conditions, and increased competition. All of these are difficult to predict, and many are beyond the ability of the Company to control.

 

Certain statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are not historical facts but rather reflect the Company’s current expectations concerning future results and events. The words “believes”, “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “hopes”, “likely”, “will”, and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company (or entities in which the Company has interests), or industry results, to differ materially from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

 

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s view only as of the date of this Form 10-Q. The Company undertakes no obligation to update the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, conditions or circumstances.

 

OVERVIEW

 

The Company derives its revenues primarily from the sales of Company-manufactured products in its HVAC Segment and machinery and repair parts in its Metal Forming Segment. In both segments the sale of service generates a relatively small component of total net sales. Within the HVAC Segment most, but not all, of the products sold involve sheet metal fabrication, cast iron production, and machining or assembly or stainless steel fabrication.

 

The Company is not dependent on any one customer in either of its segments for more than 10% of its consolidated revenues, nor does it derive more than 10% of its consolidated revenues internationally.

 

The Company’s HVAC Segment reflects the seasonal nature of a company engaged in heating products sales, although the broadening of its product offering over approximately the past 11 years to include cooling products, air handling products and corrugated stainless steel tubing has dampened the seasonal curve of the Segment’s revenue stream.

 

The Company’s Metal Forming Segment operates within the highly cyclical capital goods marketplace and reflects the challenges not only with respect to cycling of demands but also the globalization of the customer bases as well as the competitor base, requiring it to seek a more international focus in supply, manufacturing sales and marketing. We operate principally within the North American marketplace. However, we do foresee the need for growth both in sales and production in both Europe and Asia.

 

Currently, the Company employs approximately 2,467 people primarily in the United States and Canada.

 

Fluctuations in the metal commodities market in particular can have and currently are having significant impacts on the Company’s cost structure and may affect profitability with respect to revenues based on committed contracts or derived in markets where pricing to the Company’s customers cannot be readily adjusted.

 

The Company operates in highly competitive markets. While many companies, both larger and smaller than we are, sell many of the same products and services, our competitive position is not easily

 

 

 

Page 21 of 35

 

 

 

determinable in either of our Segments since no one competitor or group of competitors offers the same product lines through the same channels. Competitors in both of our Segments compete primarily through product quality and performance, price, service (both pre- and post-sale) and technical innovation. The relative importance of these factors varies from product line to product line.

 

An important part of the Company’s business strategy is to look for niche areas where larger competitors in the HVAC arena choose not to focus or, in our Metal Forming Segment, where strategic enhancement of product offering can result in a more competitive position in the marketplace, and, through acquisition or product and market development, address these opportunities. As a part of this process, we continually review our stable of companies and product lines, evaluating them with respect to allocation of resources for growth, revitalization or sale. Our history over the past twenty years has been growth often through acquisition and this process continues, as does the occasional divestiture or closing of a company or facility.

 

As will be more specifically discussed below, strength or weakness in the construction markets directly affects our HVAC business, and aspects of the Metal Forming business, and strength or weakness in the capital goods markets directly affects our Metal Forming business. In 2005, residential construction remained strong and institutional and industrial/commercial construction was relatively healthy. In the capital goods sector, orders for machinery and machine tools continued to recover from the depressed levels of 2001 but remained significantly below historical highs prior to 2000.

 

For 2006, the Company’s HVAC Segment’s budget is based upon an overall stability expected in the construction markets, though the mix of residential, commercial, industrial and institutional construction spending may change, and its Metal Forming Segment’s budget reflects a continuation of the upturn in capital spending, driven in part by the pent-up demand resulting from deferred maintenance as well as increased manufacturing production utilizing the kind of machinery this Segment sells. However, rising commodity prices, especially copper and aluminum, are expected to contribute to upward inflationary pressure, which may also push interest rates higher. While the Company itself has not historically been highly leveraged and thus cost of capital has not been as significant a factor in the Company’s cost structure as it may be in other companies, increases in interest rates could slow the domestic residential construction market or contribute to further declines in the commercial and industrial construction markets, as well as adversely affect the capital goods market recovery. Increased shipping costs and employee benefits expenses (primarily health care costs) also remain a threat to economic growth, which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s operations. The Company’s plans to “go private”, as more fully explained in Note 8, will require additional borrowing which will result in the Company being more leveraged than at present.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND USE OF ESTIMATES

 

Financial Reporting Release No. 60, released by the Securities and Exchange Commission, requires all companies to include a discussion of critical accounting policies or methods used in the preparation of financial statements. Note 1 of the Notes to the Condensed Financial Statements includes a summary of the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements. The following is a brief discussion of the Company’s more significant accounting policies.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. The most significant estimates and assumptions relate to revenue recognition, accounts receivable valuations, inventory valuations, goodwill valuation, intangible asset valuations, warranty costs, product liability costs, environmental reserves, workers compensation claims reserves, health care claims reserves, investments, and accounting for income taxes and the realization of deferred tax assets. Actual amounts could differ significantly from these estimates.

 

Our critical accounting policies and significant estimates and assumptions are described in more detail as follows:

 

 

 

Page 22 of 35

 

 

 

 

Environmental Reserves

 

As discussed more fully in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, Mestek’s subsidiary, Met-Coil Systems LLC (Met-Coil), established reserves to address the cost of administering a trust for the benefit of persons exposed to releases of pollutants by Met-Coil and reserves to address the remaining costs of remediation to its property in Lisle, Illinois. These matters require the Company to monitor estimates, which are inherently judgmental and subject to change on an ongoing basis, and make changes as appropriate.

 

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivable are reduced by an allowance for amounts that may become uncollectible in the future. The estimated allowance for uncollectible amounts is based primarily on specific analysis of accounts in the receivable portfolio and historical write-off experience. While management believes the allowance to be adequate, if the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

 

 

Product Liability Reserves

 

The Company has absorbed significantly higher levels of insurance risk subsequent to September 11, 2001 due to the effects of September 11, 2001 on pricing in the commercial insurance marketplace. As a result, the Company must establish estimates relative to the outcome of various product liability and general liability matters which are inherently judgmental and subject to ongoing change.

 

 

Inventory

 

The Company values its inventory at the lower of cost to purchase and/or manufacture the inventory, principally determined on the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method, or the current estimated market value of the inventory. The Company periodically reviews inventory quantities on hand and records a provision for excess and/or obsolete inventory based primarily on its estimated forecast of product demand, as well as based on historical usage. A significant decrease in demand for the Company’s products or technological changes in the industries in which the Company operates could result in an increase of excess or obsolete inventory quantities on hand, requiring adjustments to the value of the Company’s inventories.

 

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company’s revenue recognition activities relate almost entirely to the manufacture and sale of heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment and metal forming equipment. Under generally accepted accounting principles, revenues are considered to have been earned when the Company has substantially accomplished what it must do to be entitled to the benefits represented by the revenues. With respect to sales of the Company’s HVAC or metal forming equipment, the following criteria represent preconditions to the recognition of revenue:

 

 

*

persuasive evidence of an arrangement must exist;

 

 

*

delivery has occurred or services rendered;

 

 

*

the sales price to the customer is fixed or determinable; and

 

*

collection is reasonably assured.

 

 

 

Investments

 

As discussed more fully in Note 5 to its 2005 Consolidated Financial Statements , the Company has certain investments in CareCentric, Inc. (CareCentric) which have been maintained since March 2002 on the cost method of accounting. In December of 2005, the Company converted its preferred stock and debt investments to common stock in a recapitalization transaction, as more fully explained in Note 5 to the 2005 Consolidated Financial Statements. As a result, the Company holds a direct common equity interest of approximately 36% in CareCentric and has therefore adopted the equity method of accounting for its investment in CareCentric subsequent to the date of the recapitalization transaction. The

 

 

 

Page 23 of 35

 

 

Company has concluded that it is not required to consolidate the financial statements of CareCentric under the requirements of FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (FIN 46), as more fully explained in Note 5 to its 2005 consolidated financial statements.

 

 

Warranty

 

The Company provides for the estimated cost of product warranties at the time revenue is recognized based upon estimated costs, historical and industry experience, and anticipated in-warranty failure rates. While the Company engages in product quality programs and processes, and significant testing prior to shipment, the Company’s warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates, including component failures, and repair or replacement costs incurred in correcting a product failure. Should actual product failure rates or repair or replacement costs differ from estimates based on historical experience, revisions to the estimated warranty liability may be required.

 

 

Health Care Claim Reserves

 

The Company self-insures a substantial portion of the health benefits provided for its employees and maintains reserves in this regard. The Company relies upon a recognized actuarial consulting firm to help it set and maintain these reserves.

 

 

Workers Compensation Claims Reserves

 

The Company provides workers compensation coverage principally through commercial insurance carriers using “high deductible” programs, which require the Company to reserve for and pay a high proportion of its workers compensation claims payable. The Company relies upon the expertise of its insurance carriers and its own historical experience in setting the reserves related to these claims.

 

 

Accounting for Income Taxes

 

The preparation of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements requires it to estimate its income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates, including those outside the United States which may be subject to certain risks that ordinarily would not be expected in the United States. The income tax accounting process involves estimating its actual current exposure together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items, such as depreciation and equity method gains and losses, for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Company must then record a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. Significant management judgment is required in determining the Company’s provision for income taxes, its deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets. In the event that actual results differ from these estimates or the Company adjusts these estimates in future periods, it may need to adjust its valuation allowance which could materially impact its financial position and results of operations.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

 

Three-months ended March 31, 2006 vs. March 31, 2005

 

Consolidated Operations:

 

The Company’s consolidated revenues from continuing operations were up 6.9%, from $84,881,000 in the quarter ended March 31, 2005 to $90,781,000 in the quarter ended March 31, 2006, reflecting a 2.1% increase in HVAC sales and a 22.5% increase in Metal Forming sales, as explained in more detail below. For the Company as a whole, reflecting the growth in revenues, Sales, General and Administrative, and Engineering costs, taken together as a percentage of Total Revenues, were reduced from 23.7% of sales in the three-month period ended March 31, 2005 to 22.3% in the three-month period ended March 31, 2006.

 

Core operating income for the first quarter of 2006 for the Company as a whole increased 9.8%, from $1,342,000 in the first quarter of 2005 to $1,474,000 in the first quarter of 2006, reflecting the effect of the various factors described below. The foregoing core operating income figures, by virtue of the

 

 

Page 24 of 35

 

 

exclusion of the items mentioned, constitute “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” which management believes are useful to investors focused upon ascertaining ongoing operating earnings trends. This should not be construed as an alternative to “operating income” or “net income” (as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles), as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance, as an alternative to cash flows provided by operating activities (as determined by GAAP), or as a measure of liquidity. The foregoing core operating income figures excluding the anomalous items mentioned are presented solely as a supplemental disclosure because management believes they enhance the understanding of the financial performance of a company with substantial anomalous expense items.

 

The core operating profits (losses) are reconciled with operating profits (loss) determined in accordance with GAAP as follows:

 

 

Three-months ended

 

March 31,

 

2006

2005

 

 

 

Core Operating Profits

$1,474,000 

$1,342,000 

Less Subsidiary Bankruptcy Professional Fees

 

(401,000)

Less Plant Shutdown and Other Restructuring Charges

(701,000)

(488,000)

Plus Gain on Sale of Product Line

286,000 

     ---   

 

 

 

Operating Profits per GAAP

$1,059,000 

$453,000 

 

Income Tax Expense, as a percentage of pretax income, was 47.4% in the three-months ended March 31, 2006 reflecting the effects of minimum taxes in certain states. For the three-months ended March 31, 2005 the Company recorded an income tax expense of $26,000 despite a pretax loss from continuing operations of $89,000, again reflecting the effect of minimum taxes in certain states.

 

HVAC Segment Operations:

 

Total Revenues in the Company’s HVAC Segment increased 2.1% during the first quarter of 2006 relative to the first quarter of 2005 due largely to revenues from the Embassy acquisition completed in October of 2005. Revenues from the Air Distribution and Cooling Products Group were relatively flat also as were revenues from the Gas and Industrial Products Group. Relatively low interest rates and a relatively healthy economy have helped sustain residential, and to a lesser extent commercial and institutional construction, sustaining sales levels in these HVAC product groups.

 

The HVAC Segment’s gross profit margins from continuing operations overall were reduced from 27.8% in the first quarter of 2005 to 25.5% in the first quarter of 2006 reflecting inflationary pressures presently effecting copper, steel, aluminum and other commodities used in its products, notwithstanding the Company’s efforts to raise prices where possible to off set such cost increases.

 

Operating profits for the HVAC segment for the three-months ended March 31, 2006 were up 4.8% relative to the three-months ended March 31, 2005 from $2.6 million to $2.8 million, reflecting the effects of the top line growth described above. The Company continues to focus its efforts on overhead reduction in all areas in order to adapt to present conditions in the HVAC industry.

 

The foregoing core operating income and loss figures, by virtue of the exclusion of the items mentioned, constitute “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” which management believes are useful to investors focused upon ascertaining underlying operating earnings trends. This should not be construed as an alternative to “operating income (loss)” or “net income (loss)” (as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or “GAAP”), as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance, as an alternative to cash flows provided by operating activities (as determined by GAAP), or as a measure of liquidity. The foregoing core operating income and loss figures excluding the anomalous items mentioned are presented solely as a supplemental disclosure because management believes they enhance the understanding of the financial performance of a company with substantial anomalous expense items.

 

 

 

Page 25 of 35

 

 

 

The HVAC Segment’s core operating profits are reconciled with operating profits determined in accordance with GAAP as follows:

 

 

Three-months ended

 

March 31,

 

2006

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

Core Operating Profits for the Segment

2,955,000 

$2,940,000 

Less Plant Shutdown Expenses

   (    185,000)

   (    297,000)

Operating Profits per GAAP

$2,770,000 

$2,643,000 

 

Metal Forming Segment Operations:

 

Total Revenues in the Company’s Metal Forming Segment increased by 22.5% during the first quarter of 2006 relative to the first quarter of 2005, from $20.2 million to $24.8 million, owing principally to several large orders which were completed during the recent quarter at the Segment’s Formtek Cleveland unit. The Metal Forming Segment's business is characterized at times by relatively large orders such that the timing of revenue recognition, which is generally coincident with shipment, can be significant to the Segment's results in any one quarter. The Segment’s sales backlog was $36.2 million at March 31, 2006, up from approximately $28.7 million at March 31, 2005 and down from approximately $37.3 million at December 31, 2005. Bookings for the first quarter of 2006 were $23.9 million, up slightly from the $23.6 million booked in the quarter ended March 31, 2005. Sales strength continues to be primarily in metal construction products and other segments remain inconsistent. Bookings during the quarter ended March 31, 2006 at Formtek Beijing exceeded $2.0 million, more than 25% above plan. Overall sales closure rates remain mixed.

 

Gross profit margins for the Segment during the quarter ended March 31, 2006 were 20.1%, down from 23.9% in the March 2005 quarter, due to continuing price competition in the marketplace; poor execution on a large coiled metal processing line in the Cedar Rapids, IA facility; learning curve and product mix in the new Bridgeton, MO facility; poor execution and quoting in the Hill facilities, and two large custom lines at the Cleveland, OH facility containing significant components purchased from outside vendors at low margin.

 

Reflecting the factors described above, the Metal Forming Segment’s “core” operating loss for the quarter increased from ($1,235,000) in the 2005 period to ($1,513,000) in the 2006 period. Core Operating results in the current quarter included expenses to open the European warehouse in Switzerland and expand sales and service throughout Europe and the Middle East which totaled approximately $150,000.

 

The foregoing core operating income and loss figures, by virtue of the exclusion of the items mentioned, constitute “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” which management believes are useful to investors focused upon ascertaining underlying operating earnings trends. This should not be construed as an alternative to “operating income (loss)” or “net income (loss)” (as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or “GAAP”), as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance, as an alternative to cash flows provided by operating activities (as determined by GAAP), or as a measure of liquidity. The foregoing core operating income and loss figures excluding the anomalous items mentioned are presented solely as a supplemental disclosure because management believes they enhance the understanding of the financial performance of a company with substantial anomalous expense items.

 

 

 

Page 26 of 35

 

 

 

The Metal Forming Segment’s core operating profits (losses) are reconciled with operating profits (losses) determined in accordance with GAAP as follows:

 

 

Three-months ended

 

March 31,

 

2006

2005

 

 

 

Core Operating Loss for the Segment

($1,513,000)

($1,235,000)

Less Subsidiary Bankruptcy Professional Fees

---       

(401,000)

Less Plant Shutdown Expenses

(484,000)

(192,000)

Plus Gain on Sale of Product Line

       286,000 

        ---        

Operating Losses per GAAP

($1,711,000)

($1,828,000)

 

The Company believes that the mutually reinforcing franchises it has acquired under the Formtek name, including Cooper-Weymouth Peterson, Rowe, CoilMate/Dickerman, Yoder, Krasny-Kaplan, Mentor AGVS, Lockformer, Iowa Precision, Hill Engineering, B&K, Dahlstrom, and Engel Industries, Inc. and the start-ups of a rebuilding operation, Iowa Rebuilders, an electrical distributor, Axon Electric, a Beijing-based assembly facility, Formtek Machinery (Beijing), will allow it to maintain and expand its core competencies, positioning this Segment very well for the rigors of the cyclical machine tool industry. The Company expects to continue to spend on sales, marketing and product development initiatives at current rates for the foreseeable future and to continue the program of cooperation and consolidation.

 

Management believes that the continuing effects of globalization on manufacturing costs continue to present the Company with significant opportunities. The Company is pursuing in this regard, for all of its businesses, initiatives in Asia and Europe aimed at sourcing machined parts and components for use in its North American factories, and in Asia, assembling discrete stand-alone equipment and sub-assemblies on a limited basis, with ultimate plans to sell select machinery in Asian, Australian and Middle East markets and throughout the world. The Company expects to continue investing to provide infrastructure and support for these initiatives. Formtek’s wholly owned foreign enterprise, Formtek Machinery (Beijing) Co., Ltd, was registered in September of 2003 and began assembly operations of roll forming and metal cutting equipment in a 2800 square meter facility in the Changping District of Beijing in the first quarter of 2004. The Company has also expanded its direct sales and service force at its office in Fribourg, Switzerland.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

The Company's total debt (long-term debt plus current portion of long-term debt) increased in the first quarter of 2006 from $33,478,000 at December 31, 2005 to $36,349,000 at March 31, 2006, reflecting principally the effect of capital expenditures connected with the Company’s various consolidation and relocation programs, as more fully described in Note 9 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. The Company’s investment in working capital was relatively unchanged over the quarter as increases in inventory investments were offset by reduced accounts receivable investment.

 

The Company has not paid dividends on its common stock since 1979.

 

The Company remains relatively modestly leveraged with a debt (short-term debt plus long-term debt) to equity ratio of approximately 34.5% as of March 31, 2006. The Company believes its liquidity position at March 31, 2006 is adequate to meet foreseeable future needs. As more fully explained in Note 6 to the Company’s 2005 Consolidated Financial Statements, on October 19, 2004, the Company entered into a multi-bank, $70 million three-year committed, unsecured revolving loan and letter of credit agreement. As more fully explained in Note 8 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company has announced plans to “Go Private” which will require additional borrowings and will result in the Company being more leveraged than at present.

 

COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND WARRANTIES

 

Indemnifications:

 

The Company is obligated under Indemnity Agreements (“Indemnity Agreements”) executed on behalf of 23 of the Company’s Officers and Directors. Under the terms of the Indemnity Agreements, the

 

 

Page 27 of 35

 

 

Company is contingently liable for costs which may be incurred by the Officers and Directors in connection with claims arising by reason of these individuals’ roles as Officers and Directors. See Litigation section below.

 

The Company was obligated under the Indemnity and Guaranty Agreement with Airtherm Products, Inc. (“Airtherm”) to indemnify Airtherm against certain claims arising out of the acquisition of Airtherm in August 2000, including potential claims involving alleged violations of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN Act”). Certain former employees of Airtherm have filed suit alleging such WARN Act claims, and defense of the matter was tendered by Airtherm to the Company pursuant to the above indemnity agreement. The U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals recently reversed the trial court and ruled that Airtherm had no Warn Act liability in connection with the sale of the business.

 

Contingencies:

 

The Company is contingently liable under standby letters of credit totaling $24,251,000 issued principally in connection with its commercial insurance coverages and in connection with the funding of the Met-Coil TCE PI Trust discussed below. For losses occurring in the policy years ending October 1, 2005 and October 1, 2006, the Company retained and retains liability for the first $2,000,000 per occurrence of commercial general liability claims (including products liability claims), subject to an agreed aggregate. Retained liability levels for earlier policy periods were substantially lower. The Company has traditionally retained liability for the first $250,000 per occurrence of workers compensation coverage, subject to an agreed aggregate, and continues to follow this policy.

 

The Company is obligated as a limited guarantor with respect to 38.7% of certain current and potential debt obligations of CareCentric, Inc. (formerly Simione Central Holdings, Inc.) to CareCentric’s primary commercial bank, Wainwright Bank & Trust Company, in the amount of $10 million. The $10 million Wainwright credit line is secured by substantially all of CareCentric’s assets and the Company’s guarantee expires coincident with the credit line on August 31, 2006. The actual balance outstanding under CareCentric’s credit line with Wainwright Bank & Trust Company as of March 31, 2006 was $4,571,000. Under the Equity Method of Accounting, in December 2001, the Company accrued this guarantee (originally in the amount of $6,000,000 and now reduced to $3,870,000) as a reserve for Equity Investment Losses. John E. Reed, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is a shareholder and director of Wainwright Bank & Trust Company.

 

Litigation:

 

The Company is subject to several legal actions and proceedings in which various monetary claims are asserted. Management, after consultation with its corporate legal department and outside counsel, does not anticipate that any ultimate liability arising out of all such litigation and proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company except as set forth below.

 

On April 12, 2006 each of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors were individually notified of a lawsuit brought against them entitled Alan Kahn v. John E. Reed, et al., filed on April 10, 2006 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Superior Court in Hampden County, Civil Action No. 06-350. The lawsuit is related to the Company’s previously announced intention to enter into a “going private” transaction, as more fully described in Note 8.

 

The lawsuit alleges that the Directors of the Company breached their fiduciary duties to the public shareholders of the Company with respect to the process, structure and stock repurchase valuation associated with the proposal to take the Company private and de-list trading of Company stock on the New York Stock Exchange. The plaintiff in the suit seeks, among other things, to obtain class action certification and injunctive relief, as well as unspecified damages, and fees, expenses and costs to the plaintiff and his counsel. It is the Company’s understanding that the Company’s Directors intend to vigorously defend the action. The Company indemnifies its Directors against liability incurred in the scope of performing their duties as directors, including defense costs, and accordingly, is reimbursing the Directors for costs being incurred by them in connection with this litigation.

 

We cannot provide any assurance that the actual outcome of this matter will not result in liability or otherwise affect the “going private” transaction. Legal actions are inherently uncertain, we cannot

 

 

 

Page 28 of 35

 

 

 

predict or determine the outcome or resolution of this action or estimate with any degree of certainty the amount of loss, if any, with respect to this proceeding or its affect on the “going private” transaction.

 

Environmental Matters Involving Releases of Hazardous Materials:

 

As disclosed in previous filings, as result of the settlement of an environmental litigation matter relating to the alleged release of trichloroethylene (TCE) at a manufacturing facility owned by the Company’s Met-Coil subsidiary in Lisle, Illinois, a trust (the “TCE PI Trust”) was established for the holders of future claims or demands, who reside, resided or may reside in a certain geographic area in the vicinity of the facility, and who assert or may assert personal injury claims in the future.

 

The Company’s Environmental Reserve related to this matter as of the year ended December 31, 2005 was approximately $19.3 million. The reserve as of the quarter ended March 31, 2006 was approximately $18.9 million. The reduction in the reserve includes TCE related claim activity and remediation related expenditures made during the three-months ended March 31, 2006. The reserve balance at March 31, 2006 relates to future obligations under the Plan relating to soil and groundwater remediation, municipal water connections, the TCE PI Trust described above and other administrative expenses of the Met-Coil bankruptcy. Management believes that no additional reserves, beyond those set forth above, are required at this time. These reserves have been established in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard Board Statement No. 5 and Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 92. However, while these reserves represent management’s best estimate of these liabilities, and are based upon known or anticipated claims analysis estimated by various legal, scientific and economic experts, there is no assurance that these reserves will be adequate to meet all potentials claims arising from the environmental contamination at the Lisle, Illinois site. In addition, there can be no assurance that future claims for personal injury or property damage will not be asserted by other plaintiffs against Met-Coil and Mestek with respect to the Lockformer site and facility. See Remediation – Lisle, IL section below.

 

Remediation – Lisle, IL:

 

Met-Coil is continuing the remediation of the Lockformer facility in Lisle, IL, pursuant to a Work Plan for the site (“on-site remediation”) approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and is awaiting approval of the remedial standards to be achieved by such Work Plan, as well as the methodology for groundwater remediation, from the IEPA.

 

In light of the remaining uncertainties surrounding the effectiveness of the available remediation technologies and the future potential changes in methodology, remedial objectives and standards, still further reserves may be needed in the future with respect to the on-site remediation of the Lisle facility. The complexity of aforementioned factors makes it impossible at this time to further estimate any additional costs.

 

The Company’s Environmental Litigation and Remediation Reserve is comprised of the following:

 

 

March 31,

December 31,

 

2006

2005

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Estimated Future Remediation costs

$4,915     

$5,031     

 

 

 

Potential Future Obligations to the TCE PI Trust

  14,013     

14,276     

 

 

 

Total Environmental Litigation and Remediation Reserve

$18,928     

$19,307     

 

 

Page 29 of 35

 

 

Other Claims Alleging Releases of Hazardous Materials or Asbestos Related Liability

 

The Company is currently a party to over 300 asbestos-related lawsuits, and in the past three-months has been named in approximately 12 new such lawsuits each month, primarily in one county in Texas where numerous asbestos-related actions have been filed against numerous defendants.

 

Almost all of these suits seek to establish liability against the Company as successor to companies that may have manufactured, sold or distributed asbestos-related products, and who are currently in existence and defending thousands of asbestos related cases, or because the Company currently sells and distributes boilers, an industry that has been historically associated with asbestos-related products. The Company believes it has valid defenses to all of the pending claims and vigorously contests that it is a successor to companies that may have manufactured, sold or distributed any product containing asbestos materials. However, the results of asbestos litigation have been unpredictable, and accordingly, an adverse decision or adverse decisions in these cases, individually or in the aggregate, could materially adversely affect the financial position and results of operation of the Company and could expose the Company to substantial additional asbestos related litigation and the defense costs thereof, which defense costs, because of the sheer number of asbestos claimants and the historical course of the litigation process in this area has the potential to become substantial, though these costs are not capable of estimation at this time. The total requested damages of these cases are over $3 billion. To date, however, the Company has had over 40 asbestos-related cases dismissed without any payment and it settled approximately twenty-five asbestos-related cases for a de minimis value. However, there can be no assurance the Company will be able to successfully defend or settle any pending litigation.

 

In addition to the Lisle, IL site, the Company has been named or contacted by state authorities and/or the EPA regarding the Company’s asserted liability or has otherwise determined it may be required to expend funds for the remediation of certain other sites in North Carolina and Connecticut.

 

The Company continues to investigate all of these matters. Given the information presently known, no estimation can be made of any liability which the Company may have with respect to these matters. There can be no assurance, but based on the information presently available to it, the Company does not believe that any of these matters will be material to the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

Warranty Commitments:

 

Products sold by the Company are covered by various forms of express limited warranty with terms and conditions that vary depending upon the product. The express limited warranty typically covers the equipment, replacement parts and, in very limited circumstances, labor necessary to satisfy the warranty obligation for a period which is generally the earlier of 12 months from date of installation or 18 months from date of shipment from the Company factory, although some products or product components are warranted for periods ranging from eighteen months to ten years. The Company estimates the costs that may be incurred under its warranty obligations and records a liability in the amount of such costs at the time product revenue is recognized. Factors that affect the Company’s warranty liability include the number of units sold, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims, and allowable costs per claim and recoveries from vendors. At least once a quarter the Company assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liabilities and adjusts the amounts as necessary. Costs to satisfy warranty claims are charged as incurred to the accrued warranty liability.

 

Following is a summary of changes in the Company’s product warranty liability for the three-months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005.

 

 

 

Three-months ended

 

March 31,

 

2006

2005

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

3,479 

$3,864 

Provision for warranty claims

735 

508 

Warranty claims incurred

    (605)

     (490)

Balance at end of period

$3,609 

$3,882 

 

 

 

 

Page 30 of 35

 

 

 

FUTURE IMPACT OF KNOWN TRENDS OR UNCERTAINTIES

 

The Company’s operations are sensitive to a number of market factors, any one of which could materially adversely affect its results of operations in any given year:

 

Construction Activity—The Company’s largest Segment, its Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Segment, is directly affected and its other Segment, Metal Forming, is indirectly affected by commercial construction projects and residential housing starts. Relatively lower interest rates in 2004 and early 2005 sustained relatively strong sales of residential and commercial HVAC products during those periods. Increases in interest rates in the latter part of 2005 and 2006 to date increase the risk of a reduction in construction activity in future periods which can be expected to adversely affect the Company’s revenues, possibly materially.

 

Manufacturing Activity—The Company’s Metal Forming Segment, as a manufacturer of capital goods used in other manufacturing processes, is subject to significant cyclicality based upon factory utilization. The Company’s Metal Forming Segment provides equipment used to hold, uncoil, straighten, form, bend, cut, and otherwise handle metal used in manufacturing operations, all activities likely to be adversely affected in recessionary periods. The level of manufacturing activity in North America in the automotive, steel processing, metal furniture, and stamping industries, is particularly relevant to this Segment since its products are typically purchased to upgrade or expand existing equipment or facilities. Expectations of future business activity are also particularly relevant. Activity in this Segment is affected by interest rates, the business cycle in general, and may be affected significantly in the future by the effects of globalization which impact both the markets for its products, the competitors it faces in such markets, and, potentially, the cost and availability of its key components.

 

Credit Availability— Increases in interest rates in 2005 and to date in 2006 may effect credit availability in the future which is critical to the Company’s customers and suppliers. As the Company’s customer base includes many small to medium size businesses a contraction in credit availability could significantly impact the Company’s operations.

 

Technological Changes—Although the HVAC industry has historically been impacted by technology changes in a relatively incremental manner, it cannot be discounted that radical changes—such as might be suggested by fuel cell technology, burner technology and/or other developing technologies—could materially adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and/or financial position in the future.

 

Environmental Laws Affecting Operations and Product Design— The Company is subject to numerous laws and regulations that govern the discharge and disposal of materials into the environment. The Company’s operations and its HVAC products that involve combustion, refrigeration, air conditioning and related technologies as currently designed and applied entail the risk of future noncompliance with the evolving landscape of environmental laws regulations and industry standards. The cost of complying with the various environmental laws, regulations and industry standards is likely to increase over time, and there can be no assurance that the cost of compliance, including changes to manufacturing processes and design changes to current HVAC product offerings that involve the creation of carbon dioxide or other currently unregulated compounds emitted in atmospheric combustion, or efficiency standards, will not over the long-term and in the future have a material adverse affect on the Company’s results of operations. In addition, a growing trend of governmental units and business entities to mandate or favor compliance with environmentally-based rating systems in the construction of buildings (such as “LEED” standards) may change the nature of HVAC products accepted in the marketplace and may have a materially adverse affect on the Company’s results of operations.

 

Weather Conditions—The Company’s core HVAC Segment manufactures heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment with heating products representing the bulk of the Segment’s revenues. As such, the demand for its products depends upon colder weather and benefits from extreme cold. Severe climatic changes, such as those suggested by the “global warming” phenomenon, could over time adversely affect the Company’s results of operation and financial position.

 

Purchasing Practices—It has been the Company’s policy in recent years for high value commodities to aggregate purchase volumes with fewer vendors to achieve maximum cost reductions while

 

 

Page 31 of 35

 

 

maintaining quality and service. This policy has been effective in reducing costs but has introduced additional risk which could potentially result in short-term supply disruptions or cost increases from time to time in the future.

 

Supply Disruptions and Commodity Risks—The Company uses a wide variety of materials in the manufacture of its products, such as copper, aluminum and steel, as well as electrical and mechanical components, controls, motors and other products. In connection with the purchase of major commodities, principally copper, stainless steel and aluminum for manufacturing requirements, the Company enters into commodity forward agreements to effectively hedge the cost of the commodity. This forward approach is done for a portion of the Company’s requirements, while the balance of the transactions required for these commodities are conducted in the cash or “spot” market. The forward agreements require the Company to accept delivery of the commodity in the quantities committed, at the agreed upon forward price, and within the timeframe specified. The cash or “spot” market transactions are executed at the Company’s discretion and at the current market prices. In addition to the raw material cost strategy described above, the Company enters into fixed pricing agreements for the fabrication charges necessary to convert these commodities into useable product. Management believes at present that it has adequate sources of supply for its raw materials and components (subject to the risks described above under Purchasing Practices) and has historically not had significant difficulty in obtaining the raw materials, component parts or finished goods from its suppliers. No industry Segment of the Company is dependent on a single supplier, the loss of which would have a material adverse effect on its business.

 

Interest Rate Sensitivity—The Company’s borrowings are largely Libor or Prime Rate based. The Company believes that a 100 basis-point increase in its cost of funds would not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements taken as a whole. Interest rates are nonetheless significant to the Company as a participant in the construction and capital goods industries. (See Construction Activity, Manufacturing Activity and Credit Availability above.)

 

Acquisition and Consolidation/Integration – The Company has historically grown through acquisition. Acquisitions often involve risks of integration with the parent company or consolidation between and among operating units or functional departments and may present managerial and operational challenges, which can have adverse effects on results of operations, typically when charges result from impairment of goodwill or indefinite lived intangibles or cessation of business operations from consolidations or otherwise. Acquisition integration also often requires considerable diversion of management attention, difficulty in integrating management resource planning and financial control systems, increased risk of contingent or unknown liabilities and potential disputes with sellers of the acquired companies. Expected cost savings from strategic acquisitions may not be realized or achieved within the timeframe initially expected.

 

Retention of Qualified Personnel – The Company does not operate with multiple levels of management. It is relatively “flat” organizationally and while we perceive this as a strength overall, it does subject the Company to the risks associated with the separation from the Company of critical managers for whatever reason. From time to time, there may be a shortage of skilled labor, which may make it more difficult and expensive for the Company to attract and retain qualified employees.

 

 

 

 

Page 32 of 35

 

 

 

Item 3. - Quantitative and Qualitative Information about Market Risks

 

The Company does not engage in the purchase or trading of market risk sensitive instruments other than with respect to a single interest rate swap transaction entered into on February 6, 2004 whereby the Company has obtained fixed interest rate protection for approximately $14,000,000 of its bank debt. The Company does not presently have any positions with respect to hedge transactions such as forward contracts relating to currency fluctuations. No market risk sensitive instruments are held for speculative or trading purposes.

 

Item 4A – Controls and Procedures

 

 

(a)

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

 

At the end of the fiscal first quarter of 2006, the Company evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the Company records, processes, summarizes and reports in a timely manner the information the Company management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, have conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures as defined in the Rule 13a-15(e) of Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on that evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that, as of the date of their evaluation, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance of achieving the purposes described in Rule 13a-15(e), and no changes are required at this time.

 

 

(b)

Changes in Internal Controls.

 

There was no change in the Company’s “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in rule 13a-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rule 13a-15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that occurred during the three-month period covered by this Report on Form 10-Q that has materially affected or is reasonable likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting subsequent to the date the chief executive officer and chief financial officer completed their evaluation.

 

 

 

 

Page 33 of 35

 

 

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1 – Legal Proceedings

 

The Company is not presently involved in any litigation that it believes could materially and adversely affect its financial condition or results of operations except as described in Part I, Item 2 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-above and in Note 6 to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, which are a part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. No material legal proceedings were instituted or terminated in the quarter ended on March 31, 2006, nor is the Company aware of any governmental agency investigations or proceedings, other than as discussed in Note 6 of the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, which are a part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

 

Item 6 - Exhibits

 

Exhibit

No.

 

 

Description

11

 

Statement re Computation of Per Share Earnings.

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Mestek, Inc. pursuant to Rule 15d-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Mestek, Inc. pursuant to 15d-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

32

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Mestek, Inc., pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 34 of 35

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

 

MESTEK, INC.

 

(Registrant)

 

 

Date: May 15, 2006                                                      By: /S/ Stephen M. Shea                                                   

 

Stephen M. Shea, Senior Vice President – Finance

 

and CFO (Chief Financial Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

Page 35 of 35