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FORM 10-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
     
þ
  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
    For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003

Commission File Number: 0-10691

Delphax Technologies Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Minnesota
  41-1392000
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
12500 Whitewater Drive,
Minnetonka, Minnesota
(Address of principal executive offices)
  55343-9420
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(952) 939-9000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock ($.10 par value)
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
(Title of Class)


      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 last 90 days.     Yes þ          No o

      Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ

      Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined by Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).     Yes o          No þ

      The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the Registrant was approximately $21,441,312 at December 15, 2003 when the closing price of such stock, as reported by NASDAQ, was $3.45.

      There were 6,214,873 shares outstanding of Registrant’s $.10 par value Common Stock as of December 15, 2003.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Commission in January 2004 for the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for March 18, 2004 are incorporated by reference into Part III.

      This Form 10-K consists of 62 pages (including exhibits). The index is set forth on page 2.




TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I
Item 1. Business
Item 2. Properties
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K
SIGNATURES
FORM 10-K -- ITEM 15(a)(1) AND (2) DELPHAX TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES LIST OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SCHEDULE II -- VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
EX-10.2.3 Third Amendment to Credit Agreement
EX-10.2.4 Forbearance Agreement
EX-21 List of Subsidiaries
EX-23.1 Consent of Independent Auditors
EX-31.1 Section 302 Certification
EX-31.2 Section 302 Certification
EX-32.1 Section 906 Certification
EX-32.2 Section 906 Certification


Table of Contents

INDEX

             
PART I
Item 1.
  Business     3  
Item 2.
  Properties     9  
Item 3
  Legal Proceedings     9  
Item 4.
  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders     9  
PART II
Item 5.
  Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters     11  
Item 6.
  Selected Financial Data     12  
Item 7.
  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     13  
Item 7A.
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk     20  
Item 8.
  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data     20  
Item 9.
  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure     20  
Item 9A.
  Controls and Procedures     21  
PART III
Item 10.
  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant     21  
Item 11.
  Executive Compensation     21  
Item 12.
  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management     21  
Item 13.
  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions     21  
Item 14.
  Principal Accountant Fees and Services     21  
PART IV
Item 15.
  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K     22  
SIGNATURES     25  

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PART I

Item 1.     Business

Company Background

      Delphax Technologies Inc. (the Company) designs, manufactures, sells and services advanced digital print-production equipment based on its patented electron beam imaging (EBI) technology. The Company derives the majority of its revenues from the sale of maintenance contracts, spare parts, supplies and consumable items that are used with this equipment. The Company’s printing equipment provides customers with the capability to personalize, encode, print and collate documents for publishing, direct mail, legal, financial, security, forms and other commercial printing applications. The Company was formed in 1981 and shipped its first digital printing system for the production of checks and other financial documents, the Model 2000 Checktronic®, in 1983.

      The Company has had a significant presence in the international check production marketplace since 1983. The integration of the check production functions provided by the Checktronic allowed lower cost production of small check orders (25 to 100 checks) that are typical in most markets outside the United States. This, and an improvement in printing quality, created a demand for the Company’s equipment in many international markets. The Company opened its first subsidiary in England in 1983 and a subsidiary in France in 1987.

      During 1998, the Company launched the Imaggia® MG20 digital press in response to the changing demands of security printers and on-demand printing applications worldwide. The Imaggia MG20 system utilizes state-of-the-art digital, non-impact technology, offering print quality that is visually indistinguishable from offset print. The Company markets the Imaggia system to customers with high-volume folio production and print-on-demand (POD) applications.

      In April 1999, the Company entered into an agreement with Océ Printing Systems GmbH for rights to sell (on a private label basis) and service the PS75 MICR and other high-performance sheet-fed MICR printing systems (PS MICR systems) and non-MICR printing systems manufactured by Océ. This agreement terminated effective October 13, 2003, with delivery of spare parts and consumable items continuing, as per the agreement, through October 13, 2008.

      In July 2001, the Company announced the introduction of the Imaggia II digital press. Faster, easier to use and supporting a larger media size than the Imaggia MG20 system, the Imaggia II features a flat-screen operator interface with the front-end data processing capacity to support production of truly variable data from sheet to sheet. The Company began shipping the Imaggia II system in the second quarter of fiscal 2002.

      In December 2001, the Company, through a newly organized Canadian subsidiary, acquired substantially all of the North American business assets of Delphax Systems and Delphax Systems, Inc. (collectively, the “Delphax Business”). The Delphax Business developed, manufactured and distributed print engines, print management software and a range of digital printing systems incorporating the Delphax Business’s proprietary EBI technology. It was the supplier of the print engines used in a number of the Company’s products and also supplied print engines to a number of non-competing original equipment manufacturers (OEM). The acquisition was significant in that it provided the Company with the patented EBI technology for the print engines used in the Company’s products. Shortly after the acquisition, the Company changed its name to Delphax Technologies Inc.

      The Company has maintained supply and license arrangements with the OEM customers of the Delphax Business. These OEM customers provide an important non-competing channel for distributing EBI technology-based products to additional commercial printing markets.

      In April 2002, the Company announced the introduction of the CR Series of high-volume, roll-fed digital printing presses. The CR900 and CR1300 digital presses deliver 200 and 300 feet per minute throughput, respectively. Both digital presses feature wide-format, duplex production at full 600 X 600 DPI (dots per inch) print quality for publishers, direct mailers, bill and statement printers, in-house data and document centers and service bureaus. The Company sold its first CR Series digital press in June 2002.

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      In April 2002, the Company also introduced the RS Series of roll-fed, sheet-output digital print production systems. The RS Series digital printers feature fast throughput and duplex production, with a variety of built-in finishing options for data and document centers, education, public utilities and the financial industry. The Company sold its first RS Series digital printer in June 2002.

      In October 2002, the Company announced its intention to demonstrate its next-generation of the CR Series product line, the CR2000, at the Drupa 2004 tradeshow in Germany. This product will feature a throughput of 450 feet per minute and retain all the print quality and paper processing capabilities of the CR1300 system.

      During fiscal 2003, the Company consolidated its manufacturing and engineering operations with those of the Delphax Business in suburban Toronto, Canada. As of September 30, 2003, the Company had approximately 4,000 installations using its EBI technology in more than 60 countries.

Products

      Digital printing equipment is classified as either “cut-sheet” or “roll-fed” printers or presses, depending on their paper-handling characteristics. Cut-sheet printing equipment requires the input of individual pre-cut sheets of paper, or base stock, and may also be called “sheet-fed” printing equipment. Roll-fed printing equipment uses rolls of paper, or fan-folded stacks of paper, and may also be called “web” printing equipment.

      Roll-fed printing equipment is ideal for high-volume printing applications. It is not uncommon for a single roll of base stock to exceed 40,000 feet. Roll-fed printing equipment is limited to a single base stock per print job and often requires more extensive pre-press and post-print finishing processes.

      Cut-sheet printing equipment is generally not as fast as roll-fed printing equipment as it is limited by the process of moving individual sheets of paper through the print engine at high speeds. Cut-sheet printing equipment is designed to handle applications that require multiple paper stocks in a single job, variable overprint on pre-printed stocks, or where volume per print job is comparatively small.

      The Company sells both cut-sheet and roll-fed printing equipment that is currently used in a number of commercial printing applications: folio production, insurance claims, fulfillments, disbursements, publishing, direct mail and transaction processing. Folio production applications include the printing of checkbooks and financial payment coupon books. Insurance claims applications consist of explanation of benefit forms and insurance claim checks. Fulfillment applications include coupons and rebate checks. Disbursement applications include accounts payable checks and payroll checks. Publishing applications include the printing of books, legal and financial documents and manuals. Direct mail applications include the printing of personalized and mass-market mailings. Transaction processing applications include the printing of invoices and statements. The Company’s advanced digital print-production equipment enables its customers to cost-effectively produce applications of these types. The Company also licenses and manufactures EBI technology for OEM partners that create differentiated product solutions for additional markets.

      The Company’s digital presses are based upon its patented EBI technology. Its flagship products, the CR Series and the Imaggia II system, deliver industry-leading throughput for high-volume roll-fed and cut-sheet printing environments. The systems are extremely durable, reliable and versatile, manufactured for production environments that often utilize the equipment for ongoing 24/7 operations, providing unparalleled ability to handle a wide range of substrates, from ultra lightweight paper to heavy stock.

      Cut-sheet Printing Equipment. Currently, the Company’s premier cut-sheet digital press is the Imaggia II, which offers best-in-class throughput of 300 pages (8 1/2” X 11”) per minute at 600 X 600 DPI print quality. The Imaggia II system utilizes state-of-the-art digital, non-impact technology, offering print quality that is visually indistinguishable from offset print. The Imaggia II print quality also meets the highest worldwide standards for MICR encoding on secure documents. The Company markets two models of the Imaggia II system to customers for the high-volume production of checks, financial documents, business forms, calendars and customized direct mail applications. The Imaggia II system accommodates a wide range of substrates, from ultra lightweight paper to heavy stock, and varying paper sizes up to 18.75” in width and 26” in length. The Imaggia II system can be purchased with various input and output paper handling options and provides a high level of flexibility, reliability and print consistency.

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      The Company’s other notable brand of cut-sheet printers is the Checktronic. The Checktronic print system uses a combination of EBI and impact printing technology. The Company markets the Checktronic print system to customers with medium to high-volume folio production, insurance claim, fulfillment and disbursement applications. The Checktronic operates at rated speeds of up to 120 pages per minute and can be purchased with advanced security and audit capability. It is now sold principally as a system upgrade or refurbished product in Latin America, Asia and Africa.

      Roll-fed Printing Equipment. The Company’s premier roll-fed digital press is the CR1300 high-volume, web production system, which delivers an industry leading 300 feet per minute throughput and features wide-format, duplex production at full 600 X 600 DPI print quality. The Company markets two models of the CR Series system to publishers, direct mailers, bill and statement printers, in-house data and document centers and service bureaus. The CR Series accommodates a wide range of substrates, from ultra lightweight paper to heavy stock, and can be purchased with various output paper handling options. The CR Series digital presses provide a high degree of flexibility, reliability and the consistency required to produce high quality printed output while reducing production costs.

      The Company’s other manufactured roll-fed printer is the RS Series. The RS Series utilizes the Company’s EBI print technology to provide roll-fed duplex production at rated speeds of up to 330 pages per minute. The Company markets three models of the RS Series to customers that require quality, short-run, quick-turnaround printing. The system is well suited for the production of statements and transaction documents, coupons and tags, student information, explanation of benefits pamphlets and letter checks.

      Finishing Systems. In addition to document production systems, the Company manufactures a finishing system to complement its cut-sheet printing equipment. The Foliotronic® Plus system consists of a guillotine and stitcher/binder module. Its rated throughput is up to 2,000 books per hour. When used with the Company’s print equipment, the Foliotronic Plus system enables customers with folio production applications to transform various paper stocks into finished books.

      Additional finishing systems are offered in conjunction with the Company’s cut-sheet and roll-fed printing equipment through various external supplier partnerships established by the Company in order to provide complete print production solutions to its customers. These additional finishing systems may provide such post-printing activities as batching, stacking, slitting, cutting, folding and binding, depending upon the type of equipment and the application. Suppliers of finishing systems are required to meet stringent standards for quality, reliability and interoperability with the Company’s print equipment.

      Pre-press Software and Hardware. The Company provides various pre-press software and hardware solutions for use with its printing equipment. When used with the Company’s printing equipment, pre-press software and hardware solutions provide the data integration tools necessary to manage the print production process. The Company has developed some of these pre-press software and hardware solutions while others are provided through various external supplier partnerships established by the Company. Suppliers of pre-press software and hardware solutions are required to meet stringent standards for quality, reliability and interoperability with the Company’s print equipment.

      Maintenance, spares and supplies. Maintenance, spares and supplies revenues result from the sale of maintenance contracts, proprietary consumable and supply items and spare parts to customers who have purchased the Company’s print equipment. Supplies are operating materials that are consumed during normal operation of the Company’s systems. Examples of these supplies include: (i) EBI print heads, which are consumed in creating the electronic image, (ii) erase rods, which are consumed in removing the electronic image, and (iii) toner, which is consumed in the printing process.

      The Company employs customer engineers at each of its major service locations. For customers who purchase maintenance contracts after the warranty period, which is typically 90 days from customer acceptance of a system, the Company provides ongoing customer support through its service network, for which it charges for time and materials on an annual service contract basis. Some customers elect to provide their own maintenance and service on the equipment they have purchased. Historically, warranty service expense has not been significant to the Company after the initial units of a new product have been placed with customers.

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Sales and Marketing

      Organization. The Company’s printing equipment sales are made predominantly through direct sales personnel based in the United States and Europe. The Company also utilizes licensed distributors and resellers to supplement its sales coverage of the commercial printing marketplace. Marketing activities for the Company and its subsidiaries are centralized at the Company’s headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA. Key marketing activities include market and product direction, product life cycle planning, system pricing, execution of promotional plans (including major industry events), creation and implementation of advertising and public relations strategies, development of collateral materials and sales support. In addition, the Company utilizes market research and market development resources to anticipate changes in the Company’s competitive environment.

      United States Market. Historically, the Company’s market for its products has been primarily the production of checks and other financial documents. The market for the Company’s products has increased to include additional segments of the publishing, direct mail and transaction processing markets.

      The publishing market in the United States is comprised of two major segments: (i) long-run printing applications, and (ii) short-run printing applications referred to as POD applications. Long-run printing applications include newspapers, magazines, first edition book printing, consumer catalogs and greeting cards. POD applications include the production of checks and other financial documents, coursework textbooks, forms, newsletters, second edition paperback books, personalized catalogs, policy manuals, product catalogs and product manuals. The Company markets its CR Series digital web presses in both segments of the publishing market.

      The direct mail market is comprised of variable data printing applications including postcards, self-mailers, letters, flyers and personalized newsletters. The transaction processing market is comprised of variable data printing applications including bill and statement production, check writing, policy printing and security documents. The Company has an installed base in both these markets where it offers both cut-sheet and roll-fed printing equipment.

      The market in the United States for checks and other financial documents is the largest in the world, notwithstanding the fact that the annual consumption of checks has shown a slowing growth rate over the last several years. The Company believes alternatives to the check document, such as debit and credit cards, will eventually reduce the number of checks used, although the size and rate of reduction are difficult to predict. Company studies have shown that other documents produced by the Company’s printing equipment have exhibited higher growth rates over the same period. These documents include laser checks, payment coupons, tax payment and other installment payment products.

      International Market. The market for the Company’s products outside of the United States has been primarily in personalized check production. The average personalized check order size in most international markets is between 25 and 100 checks. These small order sizes are produced cost effectively on the Company’s products because of their automatic collation capabilities. Stringent MICR quality standards, enforced by the major clearing banks in most international markets, are also met by the Company’s high quality MICR printing capabilities. As a result of these market factors, the Company has had success in penetrating the largest personal check production markets outside of the United States. These include France, Mexico, Philippines, Spain and the United Kingdom. The Company believes additional opportunities exist for its products outside of the United States in the publishing, direct mail and transaction processing markets.

Significant Customers

      The Company has been party to a multi-year equipment and service contract with a significant equipment and service customer. Equipment deliveries under the contract concluded in the second quarter of fiscal 2002. The service contract, as renewed effective January 1, 2003, will continue through December 2005. Total equipment and service revenues from this customer have been significant, representing 19%, 28% and 57% of total revenues for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The Company anticipates that revenues from this

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customer will also be significant in fiscal 2004, though to a lesser extent than in fiscal 2003. However, there is no assurance that this will be the case.

      The Company also has a significant OEM customer as a result of the acquisition of the Delphax Business. Revenues from this customer were 14% and 13% of total sales for fiscal 2003 and 2002, respectively. The Company anticipates but cannot assure that revenues from this customer will also be significant in fiscal 2004, at fiscal 2003 levels or higher.

Competition

      The Company’s products are sold into a number of different market segments. Competition will differ depending on the segment and application in which the Company competes. Many of the Company’s competitors are well established and have significantly greater access to technical, marketing, financial and personnel resources. The Company believes sales of the CR Series and Imaggia systems are critical to its ability to remain competitive in the markets it serves, and is continuing to invest in the future success of these products with improved speed and print quality enhancements. See “Research and Development.”

      Folio production involves the manufacture of checkbooks and payment coupon books. In North America, check production is dominated by a small number of companies: Deluxe Corporation (St. Paul, Minnesota); John H. Harland Company (Decatur, Georgia); Liberty Enterprises (St. Paul, Minnesota); Davis + Henderson Intercheques (Toronto, Ontario); and Clarke American (San Antonio, Texas): all are customers of the Company. These major customers establish competitive standards for alphanumeric print quality, MICR print quality and delivery time that must be met or surpassed in order to compete effectively in the United States personal check market. With the Checktronic system product line, the Company was able to establish itself only in the production of new account kits, money market checkbooks and other applications that do not require offset or letterpress quality. The Imaggia system was designed to provide entry into the North American check production market. The Company has successfully penetrated this market with approximately a 60% market share of the consumer checkbooks printed digitally in North America. The Company’s major competitors in the digital printing and manufacture of checkbooks in North America are Xerox (United States) and Océ (Germany).

      The Company has had success in the segment of the North American folio production segment that involves the production of personalized payment books such as installment loan and tax payment books. This market is dominated by a small number of companies such as NCP (Birmingham, Alabama), Cummins Allison (Indianapolis, Indiana) and Venture Encoding (Dallas, Texas). The predominant personal checkbook manufacturers described above also produce payment books. The Company’s products have found market acceptance in this segment because they provide the efficiency, reliability and production flexibility sought by this segment. Xerox and Océ are presently the Company’s major competition for the production of payment books.

      International folio production markets, like the North American payment book production market, are also driven more by cost and production efficiency factors than by alphanumeric print quality standards. In addition, enforcement of high MICR standards by the clearing banks in most international markets makes MICR printing quality an extremely important competitive factor. The Company’s Checktronic system product line has found a high degree of acceptance in the international market segments because it provides the efficiency, production flexibility and MICR quality sought by the major check producers. The Company competes in the international marketplace with Xerox, Océ and Nipson (France).

      The centralized high-volume production of insurance claims and check disbursements does not require extensive collation. For this reason, the Company finds many competitors in this market segment. Specific competitors include Xerox, Océ and IBM (United States). The Company’s products offer security and audit control, which for companies that generate many checks is a significant advantage as it restricts unauthorized access to data printed on the Company’s systems. The Company’s security and audit capability also physically tracks the total number of documents printed and maintains a running total of the dollar amounts printed in each run.

      The publishing market, with its varied applications and specialized requirements, is highly competitive. Heidelberg (Germany), Nipson, Océ, IBM, Hitachi (Japan), Kodak (United States) and Xerox are currently the

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Company’s major competitors in the publishing market. The direct mail market is focused on high-volume, low cost production. The Company’s major competitors in this market are IBM, Océ, Xerox and Kodak. The transaction processing market demands high-volume, low cost production and the capability to process variable data. IBM, Océ and Xerox are the Company’s major competitors in the transaction processing market.

Backlog

      At December 8, 2003, the Company had a backlog of approximately $9.8 million, compared with a backlog of $8.7 million at December 9, 2002, comprised of maintenance, spares and supplies at both dates. The Company defines its backlog as purchase orders which are unfilled. Because of customer changes in delivery schedules and potential cancellation of orders, the Company’s backlog as of any particular date may not be representative of the Company’s actual sales for any succeeding fiscal period.

      The Company’s equipment is manufactured to orders received, and to date, the Company has never been unable to meet a scheduled shipment date because of excessive order backlog. Absent a multi-unit order with varying scheduled ship dates, the Company would only rarely expect to have a significant backlog of equipment orders.

Manufacturing and Sources of Supply

      The Company’s manufacturing process enables it to produce a platform version of its primary printing presses that can be quickly configured to a customer’s specific order without rework. This process has enabled the Company to begin manufacturing without firm final orders. As a result, the Company can better manage parts and material inventories and respond quickly to new orders.

      In fiscal 2003, the Company consolidated its manufacturing and engineering operations at its facility in Mississauga, a suburb of Toronto, Canada. Some of the components of the Company’s printing equipment are manufactured by outside vendors, tested and then incorporated into the systems by Company employees. Most of the components are available from multiple sources; however, many of the critical components of the Company’s print systems would require redesign if new suppliers were used.

Research and Development

      Since its formation, the Company has focused its research and development activities on the development of digital printing equipment capable of producing, on a precision basis, financial documents at required speeds and volumes. The Company is continuing to develop the CR Series of roll-fed equipment, which is targeted at customers with high-volume publishing POD and direct mail applications. Development activities for the CR Series are focused on increasing throughput speed and enhancing print quality. The Company also continues to develop features for the Imaggia print system, which is targeted at customers with high-volume folio production and POD applications, and has achieved its greatest success to date in the high-volume United States check printing market. Software enhancements to improve the pre-press capabilities and front-end data processing and serviceability of both the CR Series and Imaggia systems in the field are also important. In keeping with the Company’s philosophy of providing continuous improvement to the units operating at customer sites, most of the new capabilities of both the CR Series and the Imaggia can also be offered to existing customers in the field as upgrades. The Company expects that product-engineering efforts seeking further improvements and enhancements will be ongoing. The Company has also continued product engineering on its legacy product lines. The Company’s research and development expenditures were $4.7 million in fiscal 2003, $5.7 million in fiscal 2002 and $2.6 million in fiscal 2001.

Patents

      The Company has patented certain aspects of its printing equipment. With acquisition of the Delphax Business in December 2001, the Company acquired a number of patents relating to EBI print technology, its printing equipment and components of such equipment. In addition, the Company received certain rights to patents held by others for EBI print technology, its printing equipment and components of such equipment. There is no assurance that such patents and rights to patents will afford the Company any competitive advantage.

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The Company believes that its future success will depend primarily upon the technical competence and creative skills of its employees rather than on patents. Patents held by others may cover the Company’s printing equipment, or components of such equipment, in whole or part. Although the Company is not presently aware of any such patents, it could be required to obtain patent licenses in order to conduct its business.

Employees

      As of December 8, 2003, the Company had 391 full-time and 2 part-time employees. Many of the Company’s employees are highly skilled, and the Company’s future success will depend, in part, upon its ability to attract and retain such employees. The Company is not subject to any collective bargaining agreement and considers its employee relations to be good.

Website

      We maintain a website at www.delphax.com. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our periodic reports on Form 8-K (and any amendments to these reports) are available free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practical after we file these reports with the SEC. To obtain copies of these reports, go to the website, enter the “Investor Relations” section and click on “SEC Filings.”

Item 2.     Properties

      The Company’s corporate offices are located in Minnetonka, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Company leases a 75,000 square foot building under a lease that expires on September 15, 2010. Annual rent under the lease was $420,000, increasing to $481,000 on September 15, 2005 and thereafter, plus operating expenses and real estate taxes incurred by the landlord.

      The Company’s Canadian subsidiary leases two facilities totaling 202,916 square feet of office and manufacturing space in Mississauga, a suburb of Toronto, Canada, a portion of which is subleased to another tenant. The combined gross annual rent under the leases was $667,465 and increased to $712,549 in September 2003. The related lease agreements expire in 2005 and 2006, with various renewal options.

      In addition, the Company leases office space for its European sales and service center in Crawley, England, under a lease which expires in 2013 and provides for annual lease payments of $180,000, subject to adjustment every five years, plus a pro rata portion of the operating expenses incurred by the landlord. The Company leases smaller office premises for its operations in France.

      The Company believes that its current arrangements for facilities are more than adequate to meet its present needs and those for the foreseeable future. With the consolidation of the North American manufacturing and engineering operations at its Canadian subsidiary during fiscal 2003, the Company has excess space available at its Minnetonka location and is considering options for bringing its facilities requirements in line with current and projected needs.

Item 3.     Legal Proceedings

      The Company is involved in legal proceedings, which are routine litigation incident to its business. While it is impossible to estimate with certainty the ultimate legal and financial result of such litigation, management is of the opinion that while such litigation may have an impact on results of a particular reporting period, the ultimate disposition of such litigation will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

Item 4.     Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

      There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003.

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      The names and ages of all of the Company’s executive officers and the positions held as of the date of this report are:

Executive Officers of the Company

                 
Name Position Age



Jay A. Herman
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer       56  
Robert M. Barniskis
    Vice President, Chief Financial Officer       40  
M. H. (Bill) Kuhn
    Vice President, Customer Service       62  
Kevin R. Mitchell
    Vice President, Sales and Marketing       54  
Dieter P. Schilling
    Vice President, Operations       48  

      Officers of the Company are elected annually by the Board of Directors and serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified. There are no family relationships among the Company’s officers and directors.

      Set forth below is a summary of the business experience of each of the executive officers of the Company:

      Jay A. Herman joined the Company as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in May 1988, was promoted to President in June 1989 and elected Chairman of the Board in October 2001. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Herman was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gelco Corporation’s International Division. He held that post from 1986 to 1988. Between 1979 and 1986, Mr. Herman held positions of Vice President of Administrative Services for Gelco Corporation and Director of Planning and Budgets for Gelco’s Fleet Leasing Division. Before joining Gelco, Mr. Herman held several positions with General Mills.

      Robert M. Barniskis joined the Company as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer in November 1999. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Barniskis spent 14 years in various financial roles within Rosemount Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Emerson Electric Company. He was Finance Director, Americas, of Rosemount’s Measurement Division from 1998 to 1999. Between 1996 and 1998, Mr. Barniskis was Finance Director, Asia Pacific, for Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc., based in Singapore. Previous to this, Mr. Barniskis was Director of Finance and MIS for Kay-Ray/ Sensall, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Rosemount Inc., from 1993 to 1995.

      M. H. (Bill) Kuhn joined the Company as Vice President, Customer Service in November 2000. Mr. Kuhn’s previous experience in management and customer service, largely focused on the capital goods market, spans over 30 years, most recently, from 1997 to 2000 as Vice President, Global Customer Support for Grove Worldwide. Earlier in his career, Mr. Kuhn held increasingly more responsible roles, with Hogue Equipment from 1986 to 1996, A. K. Equipment from 1980 to 1986 and Caterpillar from 1969 to 1980.

      Kevin R. Mitchell joined the Company in January 2002 as Vice President, Marketing. In December 2002, in addition to his marketing responsibilities, Mr. Mitchell assumed responsibility for worldwide sales and was named Vice President Sales and Marketing. Mr. Mitchell has over 30 years experience in developing and managing high-growth businesses, with special expertise in creating effective marketing and branding strategies for growing companies with strong technology components. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Mitchell was president and chief executive officer of HealthTechnics, Inc., an innovative provider of information and decision support solutions for the healthcare industry, and over his career has held various executive positions in sales and marketing.

      Dieter P. Schilling was named Vice President, Operations in November 2000 after having held the position of Vice President of Operations and Customer Service since October 1989. From October 1986 until October 1989, he held the position of Vice President of Customer Service. Mr. Schilling joined the Company as Director of Field Services in 1985 and was promoted to Director of Customer Service in April of 1986. Previous to this, Mr. Schilling was a co-founder and President of Southern California Telephone, a telecommunications interconnect company, which was sold to American Telecommunications, Inc. in 1985.

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PART II

Item 5.     Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

      The Company’s Common Stock trades on the over-the-counter market and is quoted on the National Market tier of the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “DLPX.” The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the range of high and low closing prices per share as reported by NASDAQ. The NASDAQ bid quotations represent inter-dealer prices, without retail markup, markdown or commissions, and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.

                   
High Low


Year ended September 30, 2003
               
 
First quarter
  $ 3.300     $ 2.850  
 
Second quarter
    2.990       2.350  
 
Third quarter
    3.750       2.700  
 
Fourth quarter
    3.950       2.490  
Year ended September 30, 2002
               
 
First quarter
  $ 6.790     $ 3.050  
 
Second quarter
    7.500       4.600  
 
Third quarter
    7.100       3.800  
 
Fourth quarter
    4.590       2.750  

Stock Repurchase Program

      In September 1998, the Company announced a stock repurchase program of up to 500,000 shares of Common Stock. In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, the Company purchased 27,250 shares at a cost of $83,000, bringing the total purchased under the program to 197,750 shares at a cost of approximately $518,000. No shares were repurchased in fiscal 2003 or 2002.

Holders

      As of December 15, 2003, the Company had 287 holders of Common Stock of record.

Dividends

      The holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends when and as declared by the Company’s Board of Directors. Since its inception, the Company has not paid any dividends and does not anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. The Company’s agreement with its lender prohibits the payment of dividends.

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Equity Compensation Plan Information

      The following table sets forth certain information regarding outstanding options to purchase Common Stock as of September 30, 2003:

                           
Number of Number of securities
securities to remaining available
be issued upon for future issuance
exercise of Weighted average under equity
outstanding exercise price of compensation plans
options, outstanding (excluding securities
warrants and options, warrants reflected in
rights and rights column (a))
(a) (b) (c)



Equity compensation plans approved by security holders:
                       
 
The 1991 Plan
    88,000     $ 6.44       145,369  
 
The 1997 Plan
    499,775       3.26       173,617  
 
The 2000 Plan
    240,000       3.30       1,010,000  
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders:
                       
 
None
                 
     
     
     
 
      827,775     $ 3.61       1,328,986  
     
     
     
 
 
Item 6.     Selected Financial Data

      The following financial data for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2003 and 2002 reflects the post-acquisition results of acquiring the Delphax Business in December 2001.

                                           
Year Ended September 30,

2003 2002 2001 2000 1999





Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:
                                       
 
Net sales
  $ 57,979,233     $ 52,404,341     $ 43,078,427     $ 28,925,768     $ 22,308,000  
 
Net (loss) income
    (1,834,799 )     (2,391,562 )     2,149,869       (290,437 )     (1,614,387 )
 
(Loss) earnings per common share — basic
    (0.30 )     (0.39 )     0.35       (0.05 )     (0.26 )
 
(Loss) earnings per common share — diluted
    (0.30 )     (0.39 )     0.35       (0.05 )     (0.26 )
 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period(1)
    6,189,328       6,167,199       6,174,411       6,146,630       6,129,225  
 
Weighted average number of shares and equivalents outstanding during the period, assuming dilution(2)
    6,189,328       6,167,199       6,227,724       6,146,630       6,129,225  
Consolidated Balance Sheets Data:
                                       
 
Working capital
  $ 11,392,696     $ 24,048,453     $ 16,944,815     $ 15,036,839     $ 15,736,047  
 
Total assets
    37,072,248       39,667,390       25,786,616       24,365,873       20,455,869  
 
Long-term liabilities
    647,974       13,008,217                    
 
Shareholders’ equity
    14,820,335       15,799,623       17,982,624       15,923,236       16,706,060  


(1)  Basic loss or earnings per share of Common Stock is computed by dividing the net loss or income for the period by the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding during the period.
 
(2)  Diluted loss or earnings per share of Common Stock is computed by dividing the net loss or income for the period by the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock and equivalents outstanding during the period.

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

Overview

      The Company’s net sales have grown significantly in each of the past two fiscal years, from $43.1 million in fiscal 2001, to $58.0 million in fiscal 2003. During this period, the Company incurred a net loss of $1.8 million (which included a restructuring charge of $1.1 million), or $0.30 per share, in fiscal 2003, and $2.4 million, or $0.39 per share, in fiscal 2002. However, the Company generated positive cash flow from operations of $2.5 million and $3.8 million, in fiscal 2003 and 2002, respectively. This positive cash flow was used to repay indebtedness under the secured credit agreement which the Company entered into in December 2001 to finance acquisition of the Delphax Business. The Company paid down the outstanding loan balance from a high of $17.2 million in May 2002, to $13.9 million at September 30, 2003 and $11.9 million as of December 31, 2003. During the time up until the expiration and maturity of the credit facility on December 31, 2003, the Company had paid all installments of principal and interest when due, though the Company was not in compliance with certain financial covenants. As a result of the Company’s losses and the absence of any replacement credit facility, the Company’s financial statements include a footnote indicating that significant uncertainty exists concerning the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company is actively negotiating with a different lender to refinance its debt under the expired credit facility. The Company believes, but cannot assure, that these negotiations will be successful and the indebtedness will be refinanced. The refinancing may involve the issuance of subordinated debt or equity securities. The Company’s current lender has entered into a forbearance agreement with the Company. Under this agreement, the lender has reserved all its rights, but has agreed (subject to certain exceptions) not to enforce it rights and remedies against the Company until the earlier of: (i) January 31, 2004, or (ii) such time as it is no longer reasonably likely that the Company’s planned refinancing will be completed.

Critical Accounting Policies

      This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements 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 date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and assumptions, including those related to inventory, income taxes, revenue recognition and restructuring initiatives. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

      Management believes the following critical accounting policies, among others, affect its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
      Inventory

      The Company reduces the stated value of its inventory for obsolescence or impairment in an amount equal to the difference between the cost of the inventory and the estimated market value, based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. If actual future demand or market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional reductions in stated value may be required.

 
      Income Taxes

      In determining the carrying value of the Company’s net deferred tax assets, the Company must assess the likelihood of sufficient future taxable income in certain tax jurisdictions, based on estimates and assumptions, to realize the benefit of these assets. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, the Company fully reserved its net deferred tax assets totaling $2,991,000 and $2,060,000, respectively, recognizing that the Company has incurred losses in four of the last five fiscal years, and there is no assurance that future years will be

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profitable. If these estimates and assumptions change in the future, the Company may record a reduction in the valuation allowance, resulting in an income tax benefit in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Management evaluates the realizability of the deferred tax assets and assesses the valuation allowance quarterly.
 
      Revenue Recognition

      Systems are tested at the Company’s facility prior to shipment, and revenue related to orders shipped under standard performance conditions is recognized when systems are shipped. Systems shipped subject to non-standard contractual performance conditions, such as financing approval, are recognized as revenue upon completion or attainment of the specified condition. Service revenue is recognized as services are rendered. For spare parts, supplies and consumable items stored at customer sites, revenue is recognized when the customer uses the inventory. Amounts billed to customers under maintenance contracts are recorded as deferred revenue and recognized in income over the term of the maintenance agreement. Revenue on the Company’s PS MICR systems product line, manufactured by Océ and private-labeled by the Company, or on pre-press or finishing equipment manufactured by others, is recorded on a gross basis. Freight revenue is recorded on a gross basis and recognized upon shipment. The related freight costs are recorded as a cost of sales.

 
      Restructuring Initiatives

      In April 2002, the Company effected a workforce reduction, eliminating approximately 40 positions in the Canadian subsidiary. In December 2002, the Company announced plans to consolidate its North American manufacturing and engineering operations at its Canadian subsidiary. See Note I to the Consolidated Financial Statements. At the end of each quarter, management evaluates its estimates of costs to complete the restructuring initiatives. Differences, if any, between previous and revised cost estimates many result in a charge or credit to the Company’s results of operations.

Results of Operations

      The Consolidated Statements of Operations for fiscal 2003 and 2002 include the post-acquisition results of the business acquired by the Company on December 20, 2001. See Note E to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

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      The following table sets forth the Company’s Statements of Operations as a percentage of net sales and should be read in connection with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto presented elsewhere in this report.

                           
Year Ended September 30,

2003 2002 2001



Sales:
                       
 
Maintenance, spares and supplies
    84.3 %     73.3 %     35.5 %
 
Printing equipment
    15.7       26.7       64.5  
     
     
     
 
NET SALES
    100.0       100.0       100.0  
Costs and Expenses:
                       
 
Cost of sales
    48.0       48.7       50.8