SEC Company Response from TECH OPS SEVCON INC (CIK 0000825411) — Feb 14, 2005
TECH OPS SEVCON INC (CIK 0000825411)
Date: Feb. 14, 2005 · CIK: 0000825411 · Accession: 0000825411-05-000009
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Tech/Ops Sevcon, Inc.
155 Northboro Road
Soutborough
MA 01772
Tel (508) 281 5510
Fax (508) 281 5520
www.techopssevcon.com
Mr. M. James
Senior Assistant Chief Accountant
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20549
U.S.A.
February 14, 2005
Dear Mr. James,
On behalf of Tech/Ops Sevcon, Inc. (the "Company"), we are transmitting
herewith for filing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 a Form 10-K/A
with respect to the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004.
The following responds to, and provides supplemental information required by,
your letter to me of January 31, 2005, regarding the Form 10-K for the year
ended September 30, 2004 that the Company filed with the Commission on
December 27, 2004. We are sending courtesy copies of this letter and the
Form 10-K/A, marked to indicate the change made to the Form 10-K as
requested, by fax to you and to Ms. Julie Sherman.
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations
Critical Accounting Estimates
1. In future filings please revise the discussion of the bad debts and
inventories discussions, to identify the estimates used and to describe
the methodology used to determine the bad debt and inventory
obsolescence reserves. Explain how changes in these estimates could
impact the provisions recorded in each period.
Response
We will revise the bad debts and inventories discussions in future
filings, to identify the estimates used and to describe the methodology
used to determine the bad debt and inventory obsolescence reserves. We
will explain how changes in these estimates could impact the provisions
recorded in each period. In future filing we will provide disclosure in
substantially the following form. The changed wording has been
underlined.
Bad Debts
The Company estimates an allowance for doubtful accounts based on known
factors related to the credit risk of each customer and management's
judgment about the customer's business. Ten customers account for
approximately 56% of the Company's sales. At September 30, 2004 the
allowance for bad debts amounted to $192,000, which represented 3% of
receivables.
Because of the Company's long term relationships with the majority of
its customers, in most cases, the principal bad debt risk to the Company
arises from the insolvency of a customer rather than its unwillingness
to pay. In addition, in certain cases the Company maintains credit
insurance covering up to 90% of the amount outstanding from specific
customers. The Company also carries out some of its foreign trade,
particularly in the Far East, using letters of credit.
The Company reviews all accounts receivable balances on a regular basis,
concentrating on any balances that are more than 30 days overdue, or
where there is an identified credit risk with a specific customer. A
decision is taken on a customer-by-customer basis as to whether a bad
debt reserve is considered necessary based on the specific facts and
circumstances of each account. In general, the Company would reserve
100% of the receivable, net of any recoverable value added taxes or
insurance coverages, for a customer that becomes insolvent or files for
bankruptcy, and lesser amounts for less imminent defaults. To a lesser
degree, the Company maintains a small bad debt reserve to cover the
remaining balances based on historical default percentages.
If the financial condition of any of the Company's customers is worse
than estimated or were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of its
ability to make payments, the Company's results may be adversely
affected and additional allowances may be required. With the exception
of a significant loss of $562,000 in fiscal 2001 relating to one US
customer, credit losses have not been significant in the past ten years.
Inventories
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Inventory costs
include materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead, and are
relieved from inventory on a first-in, first-out basis. The Company
carries out a significant amount of customization of standard products
and also designs and manufactures special products to meet the unique
requirements of its customers. This results in a significant proportion
of the Company's inventory being customer specific. The Company's
reported financial condition includes a provision for estimated slow-
moving and obsolete inventory that is based on a comparison of inventory
levels with forecast future demand. Such demand is estimated based on
many factors, including management judgments, relating to each
customer's business and to economic conditions. The Company reviews in
detail all significant inventory items with holdings in excess of
estimated normal requirements. It also considers the likely impact of
changing technology. It makes an estimate of the provision for slow
moving and obsolete stock on an item-by-item basis based on a
combination of likely usage based on forecast customer demand, potential
sale or scrap value and possible alternative use. This provision
represents the difference between original cost and market value at the
end of the financial period. In cases where there is no estimated future
use for the inventory item and there is no estimated scrap or resale
value, a 100% provision is recorded. Where the Company estimates that
only part of the total holding of an inventory item will not be used, or
there is an estimated scrap, resale or alternate use value, then a
proportionate provision is recorded. Once an item has been written down,
it is not subsequently revalued upwards. The provision for slow moving
and obsolete inventories at September 30, 2004 was $879,000, or 18% of
the original cost of gross inventory. At September 30, 2003 the
provision was $737,000, or 15% of gross inventory. If actual future
demand or market conditions are less favorable than those projected by
management, or if product designs change more quickly than forecast,
additional inventory write-downs may be required, which may have a
material adverse impact on reported results.
Results of Operations
2. In future filings, consider presenting a tabular comparison of your
results in different periods by operating segment, with percentage
changes, followed by your narrative discussion and analysis of the
reasons for material changes and their implications. Refer to SEC
Release No. 34-48960.
Response
In future filings we will provide a table in the MD&A in substantially
the following form:
% change due to:
Volume/
2004 2003 Total Currency other
Sales
Controls - to external
customers 27,101 20,730 31% 9% 22%
Capacitors- to external
customers 2,049 2,383 -14% 10% -24%
Capacitors - inter-segment 218 326 -33% 7% -40%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capacitors - total 2,267 2,709 -16% 10% -26%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total sales to external
customers 29,150 23,113 26% 9% 17%
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Gross Profit
Controls 10,546 7,510 40% 3% 38%
Capacitors 999 1,295 -23% 8% -31%
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Total 11,545 8,805 31% 4% 27%
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Selling general and
administrative expenses
Controls 9,572 7,563 27% 9% 18%
Capacitors 704 819 -14% 8% -22%
Unallocated corporate
expense (297) (272) 9% 0% 9%
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Total 10,573 8,654 22% 8% 14%
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Operating income
Controls 974 (53) -1938% 830% -2768%
Capacitors 295 476 -38% 8% -46%
Unallocated corporate expense (297) (272) 9% 0% 9%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 972 151 544% -265% 809%
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Other income and expense (54) (23) 135% 248% -113%
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Income before income taxes 918 128 617% -357% 974%
Income taxes (307) (45) 582% -337% 919%
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Net Income 611 83 636% -368% 1004%
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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
3. In future filings please expand your discussion of foreign currency
exchange rate market risk to include quantitative information in
accordance with one of the three disclosure alternatives outlined in
Item 305 of Regulation S-K.
Response
In future filings we will include such information in accordance with
one of the three disclosure alternatives outlined in Item 305 of
Regulation S-K.
4. In addition, we note your reference to Note (1) J., and refer you to
General Instruction No. 6 to paragraph 305(a) and 305(b) of Regulation
S-K which clearly states that you should present all the information
called for by the item outside of the financial statements. Please
confirm that you will comply with that guidance in all future filings.
Response
We agree. In future filings we will incorporate the necessary
information in management's discussion and analysis rather than cross
refer to the financial statement footnotes.
Consolidated Balance Sheet
5. We noted that other accrued expenses represent approximately 26% of
total current liabilities. Supplementally, and in future filings, please
state separately, in the balance sheet or in a note, any item included
in accrued liabilities which is in excess of 5 percent of total current
liabilities in accordance with Regulation S-X Article 5-02(20).
Response
We agree. Set out below is an analysis of accrued expenses, including
accrued compensation and related costs, at September 30, 2004 and 2003,
which shows separately any items in excess of 5% of total current
liabilities. In future filings we will combine accrued compensation and
related costs with other accrued expenses on a singe line in the balance
sheet labeled "Accrued expenses" and we will include a footnote which
provides an analysis of Accrued expenses substantially in the following
form:
X. Accrued expenses
Set out below is an analysis of other accrued expenses at September 30,
2004 and 2003 which shows separately any items in excess of 5% of total
current liabilities.
(In thousands of dollars)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
2004 2003
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Accrued compensation and related costs $ 979 $ 792
Warranty reserves 386 404
Accrued director's pension 201 205
Other accrued expenses 975 922
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Total $ 2,541 $ 2,323
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Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
B. Revenue Recognition
6. We noted that the company provides warranties for customers. Please
revise future filings to provide the disclosures required by paragraph
14 of FIN 45.
Response
We agree. In future filings we will include a footnote which provides an
analysis of product warranties, as required by paragraph 14 of FIN 45,
substantially in the following form:
X. Warranty Reserves
(In thousands of dollars)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
2004 2003
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at beginning of year $ 404 $ 296
Decrease in opening balance for warranty
obligations settled during the year (331) (xxx)
Other changes to pre-existing warranties 6 xx
Net increase in warranty reserves for
products sold during the year 307 xxx
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at end of year $ 386 $ 404
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E. Stock-Based Compensation Plans
7. In future filings please ensure your pro forma table is presented in
accordance with paragraph 2(e)(c) of SFAS 148. Your current presentation
does not show the stock based employee compensation cost included in the
determination of net income as reported or the stock based employee
compensation cost that would have been included in the determination of
net income if the fair value based method had been applied to all
awards.
Response
We agree. In future 10-K filings we will amend the table in footnote E
("Stock based compensation plans") substantially in the following form:
(In thousands of dollars)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
2004 2003 2002
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income - As reported $ 611 $ 83 $ 57
Pro forma effect of expensing stock
options (net of income tax) (66) (66) (53)
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Net income - Pro forma $ 545 $ 17 $ 4
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Basic net income per share - As reported $ .20 $ .03 $ .02
Basic net income per share - Pro forma $ .17 $ .01 $ .00
Diluted net income per share - As reported $ .19 $ .03 $ .02
Diluted net income per share - Pro forma $ .17 $ .01 $ .00
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