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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
Commission File Number 000-30138
ROCKFORD CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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Arizona
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86-0394353 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization) |
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(IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
600 South Rockford Drive
Tempe, Arizona 85281
(480) 967-3565
(Address and Telephone Number of Principal Executive
Offices)
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Act:
None
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Act:
Common Stock ($.01 Par Value)
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 þ No o
Indicate by check mark if the disclosure of delinquent filers
pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not
contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of
registrants 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. o
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated
filer (as defined in Exchange Act
Rule 12b-2). Yes o No þ
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by
non-affiliates of the registrant was $26,316,239 as of
June 30, 2004.
There were 9,233,024 shares of Common Stock issued and
outstanding as of March 31, 2005.
Documents Incorporated by Reference: Portions of the
registrants definitive Proxy Statement relating to the
2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 11,
2005, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this
Form 10-K. Exhibit 99.9 to this Form 10-K is also
incorporated by reference into Part I of this
Form 10-K.
ROCKFORD CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
DECEMBER 31, 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The market value of Rockfords voting stock held by
non-affiliates shown on the cover page is based on:
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Rockfords estimate of the number of shares held by
non-affiliates; and |
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$4.50 per share, the price at which Rockfords shares
were last sold as of June 30, 2004, as reported by The
NASDAQ Stock Market. |
Rockfords calculation of the number of shares held by
affiliates is a good faith estimate for this Annual Report.
Shares held by affiliates include all shares beneficially owned
by Rockfords executive officers and directors. They also
include shares held by any shareholder who beneficially owned
more than 10% of Rockfords shares, as disclosed in this
report, except that Rockford has not included in shares held by
affiliates the shares that may be beneficially owned by Quaker
Capital Management Corporation in light of its disclaimer of
beneficial ownership. Rockford is not bound by this figure for
any other purpose.
1
Forward-Looking Statements And Risk Factors
We make forward-looking statements in this report including,
without limitation, statements concerning the future of our
industry, product development, business strategy, continued
acceptance and growth of our products, dependence on significant
customers and suppliers, and the adequacy of our available cash
resources. Statements may contain projections of results of
operations or of financial condition. These statements may be
identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as
may, will, believe,
expect, anticipate,
estimate, continue or other similar
words.
Forward-looking statements are subject to many risks and
uncertainties. We caution you not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements, which speak only as at the
date on which they are made. Actual results may differ
materially from those described in these forward-looking
statements. We disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update
these forward-looking statements to reflect changes in our
expectations or changes in events, conditions, or circumstances
on which our expectations are based.
When considering our forward-looking statements, you
should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary
statements identified in this report and in Exhibit 99.9,
Risk Factors That May Affect Rockfords Operating
Results, Business Prospects and Stock Price, which is
incorporated in this report by reference. The risk factors noted
throughout this report, particularly in the discussion in
Exhibit 99.9, and other risk factors that Rockford has not
anticipated or discussed, could cause our actual results to
differ significantly from those anticipated in our
forward-looking statements.
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PART I
Rockford Business
Rockford Corporation (with its subsidiaries,
Rockford or the Company) currently
designs, manufactures and distributes high performance audio
systems for the mobile, professional and home theater audio
markets. In 2004, Rockford announced a strategic realignment
that will focus Rockford on its core mobile audio business and
is expected to lead to the divestiture of the remaining non-core
businesses including Rockfords professional and home
theater audio businesses.
Mobile audio sales accounted for 95.1% of Rockfords
revenue in 2004. Rockfords mobile audio products are sold
primarily in the worldwide mobile audio aftermarket to consumers
who want to improve the audio systems in their cars, trucks,
boats and airplanes. Rockford believes its ability to deliver
innovative and technologically advanced products appeals to its
consumers desire for distinctive, leading-edge products
and powerful, high quality sound. Rockford markets its core
mobile audio products primarily under the Rockford Fosgate,
Lightning Audio, Q-Logic and InstallEdge.com brand names,
selling products that include digital and analog amplifiers,
speakers, speaker enclosures and accessories.
Rockford currently sells home theater products, primarily under
the NHT and Fosgate Audionics brands. Rockford also sells
professional audio products, primarily under the NHT and Hafler
brands. On January 4, 2005, Rockford announced the
engagement of an investment banker to assess strategic
alternatives, including a possible sale, for these non-core
businesses.
Rockfords Brands
Rockford marketing and product development efforts are designed
to enhance its brand images and generate increased loyalty among
its consumers in each market segment and among the retailers who
sell Rockford products. Rockford markets its products under the
following primary brands:
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Rockford Fosgate. Under the Rockford Fosgate brand,
Rockford offers distinctive products that produce powerful, high
quality sound. Rockford Fosgate mobile audio products are
marketed under three primary product lines: |
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Punch Series the line for the majority of
Rockfords amplifiers, subwoofers, and speakers; |
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Power Series the line for Rockfords higher
performing amplifiers, subwoofers, and speakers; and |
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Type RF the line for Rockfords highest
performing mobile audio amplifiers. |
Rockford also sells Rockford Fosgate products to Nissan for
installation as part of factory installed audio systems for four
models of Nissan vehicles, the Sentra SE-R, Xterra, Frontier
Crew Cab and Titan full size truck. Mitsubishi has agreed to
install Rockford Fosgate branded audio systems in two models of
Mitsubishi vehicles beginning with the 2006 model year. Rockford
also sells Rockford Fosgate products under the Connecting Punch
brand, for a full line of mobile audio installation accessories;
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Lightning Audio. Rockford sells amplifiers, subwoofers,
speakers, and accessories under the Lightning Audio brand and
its Bolt, Strike and Storm product lines. Lightning Audio
products are generally more moderately priced than Rockford
Fosgate products; |
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Q-Logic. Under the Q-Logic brand, Rockford develops and
markets Q-Logic speaker enclosures, Q-Forms kick panels and
Q-Customs enclosures. Each of these products is designed to hold
mobile audio speakers, providing an effective and convenient
method for installing improved speakers in cars, trucks and
SUVs. These products complement Rockford Fosgate and Lightning
Audio products since |
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many consumers will purchase a Q-Logic product as the
box to hold Rockford Fosgate or Lightning Audio
speakers; and |
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InstallEdge.com. Rockford uses the InstallEdge.com
business-to business brand to offer installation-shop supplies
to mobile audio installation shops, custom home audio installers
and marine outfitters. |
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Home Theater and Professional Audio |
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Fosgate Audionics. Rockford distributes home theater
electronics under the Fosgate Audionics brand through
conventional retailers and custom installers; |
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NHT. Rockford designs high quality loudspeakers for the
home theater, stereo, custom installation and professional audio
markets under the NHT and NHT Pro brands. NHTs products
are positioned as affordable high end and are sold
through specialty audio stores and custom installers; and |
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Hafler. Rockford designs, manufactures and sells
reference quality near field monitor loudspeakers and power
amplifiers to the professional audio industry under the Hafler
brand. |
Strategy for Rockfords Brands
Rockfords goal is to design, produce and distribute some
of the best engineered and most recognized and respected brands
of high performance mobile audio products in the world.
Rockfords strategy is intended to enhance and reinforce
Rockfords global brand images among consumers and
retailers. Key elements of Rockfords strategy are to:
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Continue to introduce new and technologically innovative mobile
audio products; |
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Expand Rockfords mobile audio OEM business; |
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Broaden Rockfords distribution by entering new
distribution channels and increasing penetration of
Rockfords existing distribution channels; and |
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Capitalize on Rockfords worldwide brand recognition to
increase sales in international markets. |
As a result of Rockfords brands and strategy, Rockford
believes it can grow its business and become a more significant
participant in the worldwide mobile audio market.
Rockford Products
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Percent of Sales by Product Class |
Rockford sales since 2002 were divided among Rockfords
principal product classes as shown in the following table:
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Year Ended December 31, | |
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2002 | |
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2004 | |
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Product Class:
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Amplifiers
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38.8 |
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39.4 |
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37.8 |
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Speakers
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36.1 |
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39.6 |
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41.6 |
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Accessories
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14.1 |
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11.5 |
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10.2 |
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Others(1)
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11.0 |
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9.5 |
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10.4 |
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Total
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100.0 |
% |
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100.0 |
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100.0 |
% |
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Includes source units, enclosures, signal processors, digital
media products, and other products. No single product class in
this group accounted for more than 10% of Rockfords sales
in any of these years. |
Financial information about geographic segments may be found at
Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
of this Form 10-K.
4
Rockford offers high performance mobile audio products
consisting of the following primary types of products:
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Amplifiers. Power amplifiers increase the voltage and
current coming from the source unit, providing more power than
possible from a source unit alone. Power amplifiers are
essential for a high performance mobile audio system; |
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Speakers. Speakers accept a signal from a source unit or
amplifier and translate it into sound. There are two categories
of speakers: those eight inches or greater in diameter are
considered subwoofers and are designed to play lower
(bass) frequencies; and those less than eight inches in
diameter are considered speakers and are designed for higher
frequencies. Aftermarket speakers and subwoofers provide
dramatically improved sound quality compared to most factory
installed mobile audio systems and are often the single most
important improvement consumers can make to their mobile audio
systems; |
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Accessories. Accessories are the additional items
required to install and use mobile audio products. Accessories
include amplifier wiring kits, fuses, circuit breakers,
interconnect cables, speaker cables, stiffening capacitors,
battery clamps, connectors and adaptors, and
carpet/fabric/surface applications that make Rockfords
products compatible with factory-installed components and
improve the performance of a mobile audio system; and |
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Enclosures. Enclosures are used to enhance the bass sound
of subwoofers and to position higher frequency speakers in
locations that produce better sound. Enclosures include boxes
for subwoofers and replacement kick panels for improved speaker
placement. |
Under the Rockford Fosgate brand Rockford currently offers the
following products:
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Amplifiers: |
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Power amplifiers under the Punch Series, Power
Series and Type RF lines, with rated power from 200 to 3,000
watts, and minimum advertised prices from $200 to $2,000.
Rockfords amplifiers include 1, 2 and 4 channel
alternatives, giving consumers the ability to select an optimum
configuration for their system; |
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Speakers: |
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Speakers and subwoofers under Rockfords Punch
Series and Power Series lines, with minimum advertised prices
from $60 to $1,800; and |
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Accessories: |
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Accessories under Rockfords Connecting Punch
line, including amplifier installation kits, interconnect and
speaker cables, carpet/fabric/surface applications and
stiffening capacitors. |
Under the Lightning Audio brand Rockford currently offers the
following products:
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Amplifiers: |
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Power amplifier models under the Bolt, Strike and
Storm lines, with rated power from 60 to 2,000 watts and minimum
advertised prices from $100 to $1,000; |
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Speakers: |
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Speakers and subwoofers under Rockfords Bolt,
Strike and Storm lines, with minimum advertised prices from $30
to $600; and |
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Accessories: |
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Accessories, including interconnect and speaker
cables, stiffening capacitors, battery clamps and installation
kits. |
Under the Q-Logic brand Rockford currently offers speaker
enclosure models in the Q-Enclosure line, vehicle specific
enclosures available in factory matching colors in the Q-Customs
line and custom speaker mounting kick panels, including
different panels available in factory matching colors, in the
Q-Forms line. These models have suggested retail prices from $30
to $320.
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Under Rockfords InstallEdge.com brand Rockford sells
various back shop supplies, including vehicle harnesses, power
distribution adapters, batteries, RCA connectors, wire, wiring
accessories and fuses.
Nissan North America offers Rockford Fosgate branded OEM systems
for four Nissan vehicles for model year 2004 and 2005. Rockford
provides amplifiers and certain speakers in these vehicles as
well as branding the radio/ CD player under the Rockford Fosgate
brand. Mitsubishi Motors plans to offer Rockford Fosgate branded
OEM systems in two vehicles for the 2006 model year.
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Home Theater and Professional Audio |
Rockford sells home theater products under the Fosgate Audionics
and NHT brands. Fosgate Audionics products include
preamp/surround processors and multi-channel amplifiers with
retail prices from $2,795 to $12,995. NHT products include high
performance audio component systems under the xD, Evolution,
Super Audio and Architectural series with suggested retail
prices from $200 to over $10,000.
Rockford also sells professional audio products under the NHT
and Hafler brands. NHT professional audio products include
powered monitors with suggested retail prices from $500 for a
pair of monitors to $6,600 for a surround sound monitoring
system. Rockford sells professional, reference quality audio
amplifiers and speakers under the Hafler brand, with amplifier
suggested retail prices ranging from $569 to $2,200 and speaker
suggested retail prices ranging from $1,250 to $1,850 per
pair.
Engineering And Product Development
Engineering and product development is a primary focus of
Rockfords business because of the demand by
Rockfords core consumers for leading-edge products.
Rockford focuses its engineering and development efforts
primarily on enhancing current products and developing new
products. Expenditures for engineering and development were
approximately $4.7 million, $7.2 million and
$7.0 million in 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively.
As at December 31, 2004, Rockfords engineering and
development staff consisted of approximately 26 engineers,
including engineers in research, development, and in sustaining
groups, as well as other support staff, dedicated to the
development of Rockfords current products and of
Rockfords technology platform for future products.
Rockfords objective is to introduce new products or
re-engineer over one-third of its existing product line annually.
Sales, Marketing And Distribution
Rockford endeavors to have its brands project an image that
appeals to consumers who appreciate high quality and value.
Rockford products are promoted with advertisements in consumer
electronics and lifestyle magazines, newspapers and other
publications as well as on television, radio and the Internet.
Rockford participates in trade and consumer shows, supports
users of its products in auto sound competitions and supplies
promotional prizes and giveaways to its dealers.
Rockfords primary sales and marketing activities are
listed below:
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Making regular calls to dealers and providing them with
demonstration products, point-of-purchase displays and other
marketing materials; |
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Initiating targeted advertising in periodicals read by potential
consumers; |
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Training dealer sales and installation personnel; |
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Regular interaction with industry press editors who are often
the opinion makers for salespeople at the retail level as well
as end users; |
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Participation in professional and consumer trade shows; and |
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Maintaining product and brand information for consumers and
retailers on its web sites. |
Rockfords corporate web site, located at
www.rockfordcorp.com, and its brand sites such as
www.rockfordfosgate.com, www.lightningaudio.com,
www.installedge.com, www.fosgateaudionics.com, www.qlogic.ws,
www.hafler.com, www.nhtpro.com and www.nhthifi.com,
offer consumers and retailers reliable and comprehensive
information about its product offerings and consumer services.
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Mobile Audio Distribution |
Domestic Distribution. Rockford currently sells its
mobile audio products in the U.S. to retailers who operate
approximately 5,000 retail stores. These include stores operated
by independent specialty dealers, audio/video retailers,
consumer electronic chains, mass merchandisers, internet
retailers and catalog merchants. Rockford may appoint a retailer
to sell some or all of its mobile audio brands.
Rockford sells directly to most of its authorized retailers
using independent sales representative firms who identify,
recruit, sell to, and provide support to retailers in their
regions. Rockford has entered into agreements with each of these
sales representative firms under which Rockford appoints them
its sales representative for a specific territory and specific
products under varying terms. Rockford pays its independent
sales representatives commissions based on sales of
Rockfords products to independent retailers in their
territory. Commission amounts range from 1% to 10% of sales
depending upon (1) product category, (2) the retailer
involved in the purchase and (3) achievement of quarterly
sales targets.
Rockford also permits some of its Rockford Fosgate brand sales
representatives to stock a small quantity of Rockford Fosgate
products for resale to smaller dealers. These smaller dealers
are generally located in rural areas, or otherwise have very
small volume potential, so that it is not economical for
Rockford to appoint them as direct retailers. They nevertheless
provide a useful extension of Rockfords distribution
system into more remote regions. Rockfords stocking
representative program allows it to serve these smaller dealers
efficiently. In a few instances where stocking representatives
are not available, Rockford has appointed independent
distributors to handle smaller dealers in a particular territory.
Rockford supports its independent sales representative firms
using an in-house staff of U.S. regional managers and sales
support staff members.
International Distribution. Rockford currently sells its
mobile audio products in approximately 70 countries outside
the U.S. using independent distributors and sales
representatives. Independent distributors purchase products from
Rockford and resell them to retailers in their designated
territories. They assume inventory risk and take responsibility
for warranty service in their territory.
In Canada, Germany, Austria and Italy, Rockford sells its
Rockford Fosgate and Lightning Audio products through
independent sales representatives. Independent sales
representatives do not purchase products from Rockford, but
instead sell products on Rockfords behalf. Rockford
remains responsible for inventory until an independent retailer
purchases it. Rockford is responsible for collecting accounts
receivable from retailers and Rockford retains responsibility
for warranty service. Rockford is generally able to increase its
penetration in these markets, compared to an independent
distribution model, but because relatively high sales volumes
are needed to justify the use of independent sales
representatives, Rockford anticipates continuing to distribute
through distributors in smaller territories.
Rockford supports its international distributors and sales
representatives using an in-house staff of international sales
managers.
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Home Theater and Professional Audio Distribution |
Rockford distributes NHT and Fosgate Audionics home theater
products through a mix of conventional independent retail stores
and custom installers. Rockford sells to these customers using
sales representatives domestically and distributors
internationally.
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NHT professional audio products are sold directly in the North
American market through the NHT pro website, www.nhtpro.com. The
NHT Pro brand is directed at the working professional who
typically prefers direct factory purchases. Hafler professional
audio products are sold through a national distributor group in
four regions of the U.S., who sell to small specialty musical
instrument and pro audio dealers.
Competition
Rockfords primary markets are very competitive, fragmented
and characterized by price competition and rapid product
obsolescence. Rockford competes in the mobile audio market on
the basis of sound quality, brand recognition, innovation and
technology, reliability, breadth of product line, distribution
capabilities and price.
Some of Rockfords competitors have greater financial,
technical and other resources than Rockford does and many seek
to offer lower prices on competing products. To remain
competitive, Rockford believes it must regularly introduce new
products, add performance features to existing products and
limit increases in prices or even reduce prices. Rockfords
principal competitors within Rockfords product lines are
listed below:
Mobile Audio Amplifiers: Alpine, JL Audio, Kenwood,
Kicker, MTX, Dual, Pioneer and Sony;
Mobile Audio Speakers: Alpine, Boston Acoustics,
Infinity, JL Audio, Kenwood, Kicker, MTX, Pioneer and Sony;
Mobile Audio Accessories: Monster Cable, AAMP America and
Stinger;
Professional Audio Amplifiers and Speakers: Crest, Crown,
Eastern Acoustic Works, Mackie Designs, Peavy, QSC, KRK and
Tannoy; and
Home Theater: Adcom, Audio Products Intl, B&W,
Bose, Boston Acoustics, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Klipsh,
Paradigm, Polk Audio, and Rotel.
Rockfords OEM products compete directly with Bose and
Harman International. Rockford also competes indirectly with
automobile manufacturers, who may improve the quality of
original equipment sound systems, reducing demand for
aftermarket mobile audio products. They may also change the
designs of their cars in ways that make installation of
Rockfords products more difficult or expensive. OEM
products have gained an increasing share of the total mobile
audio market in recent years as automobile manufacturers have
integrated additional functions such as navigation into vehicle
electronic systems and have somewhat improved the quality of
their mobile audio offerings. This increased market share for
OEM products has affected the market for aftermarket mobile
audio products where Rockford offers most of its products.
Manufacturing
Rockford believes its production, sourcing and distribution
capabilities make it one of the preferred suppliers in the
mobile audio aftermarket industry. Rockford currently
manufactures amplifiers and various accessories at
Rockfords facilities in Tempe, Arizona, subwoofers at
Rockfords facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan and speaker
enclosure and kick panel products at Rockfords facility in
Stillwater, Oklahoma.
In 2004, Rockford purchased approximately $12.2 million and
$11.8 million of finished product from its two largest
suppliers. These Asian-based manufacturers supplied some of
Rockfords speakers and amplifiers. Rockford provides
specifications and cosmetic renderings and the manufacturer
develops and manufactures the product. Rockford owns all of the
tooling and the manufacturer is obligated not to sell these
products to anyone other than Rockford. Rockford believes it
could move production of these products to other third party
manufacturers, or build them internally, although such a move
would take time and involve significant costs. Other third
parties manufacture other amplifiers, speakers, home theater
products and various components according to Rockfords
design specifications.
Most of Rockfords products use standard parts and
components that can be purchased from multiple sources. In many
instances, however, Rockford sources components or products from
one or a small number of suppliers to leverage dollars and
volumes. Rockford relied on one component supplier for
approximately
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$7.6 million of Rockfords component purchases during
2004. Rockford believes alternative sources are available for
substantially all of Rockfords inventory requirements,
although changes in suppliers would take time and involve
transitional costs.
Rockford believes that its sources and supplies of components
and other raw materials are adequate for its needs. Rockford has
not experienced a significant inability to obtain necessary
components or other raw materials.
Intellectual Property
Rockford relies upon a combination of trade secret and trademark
laws, non-disclosure agreements and patents to protect its
proprietary rights. Rockford has registered many trademarks and
trade names both in the U.S. and internationally and is
committed to maintaining and protecting them. Rockford believes
its trademarks and trade names are material to its business and
are well known among consumers in its principal markets.
Rockfords principal trademarks and trade names include,
but are not limited to:
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Rockford Fosgate®
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InstallEdge.com® |
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NHT® |
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Rockfords Diamond R
logo
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Now Hear This® |
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The Punch®
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Lightning Audio® |
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Type
RFtm
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Striketm |
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Fosgate Audionics® |
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Stormtm |
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Audio
Innovationstm
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Bolttm |
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Hafler® |
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Q-Logictm
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Dead
Skintm |
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Significant Customer and Seasonality
Best Buy is a significant customer. Rockford products are
currently sold in each of its more than 650 stores in North
America. Best Buy is one of the largest volume specialty
retailers of consumer electronics and entertainment software in
the U.S. Best Buy accounted for 22%, 27% and 28% of
Rockfords sales for 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively.
Rockford anticipates that Best Buy will continue to account for
a significant portion of its sales for the foreseeable future.
Best Buy generally helps to smooth out Rockfords normal
sales seasonality. For Rockfords specialty and audio-video
dealers, the peak-selling season is in the spring and summer and
the slowest season is typically in the fourth quarter. Rockford
believes that it experiences this seasonality because its core
16-24 year old consumers tend to buy mobile audio products
during the spring and summer when they are on semester breaks
and when generally more favorable weather facilitates
installation of its products. Best Buy sales, while strong in
May and June, are not as dependent upon Rockfords core
consumers and are also strong in the fourth quarter due to Best
Buys aggressive holiday season advertising.
Best Buy is not obligated to any long-term purchases of
Rockfords products and has considerable discretion to
reduce, change or terminate its purchases of Rockfords
products. The loss of Best Buy as a customer or significant
reductions in its purchases of Rockfords products would
materially reduce Rockfords sales.
Product Support
To maintain and enhance its relationships with retailers,
Rockford provides numerous support services, including product
and installation training, sales training and technical and
customer service support. Rockfords web site provides
comprehensive and valuable information for dealers and
distributors, including product schematics, ad layouts and logos.
Rockford products carry standard warranties to purchasers who
buy Rockford products from authorized dealers. The warranties
cover defects in material and workmanship and, for purchasers
from authorized dealers, Rockford will either repair or replace
a product that fails to satisfy these warranties. Rockford also
9
offers repair services for products that are no longer covered
under the original warranty. For Rockfords
U.S. customers, it has in-house customer service, repair
and technical support personnel who provide general company
information, installation support, troubleshooting and system
design assistance. Rockford also provides a factory direct
repair program that repairs and ships product rapidly, reducing
retailer and consumer inconvenience if its products fail to
perform properly.
For Rockfords international customers, it provides
warranty and customer service to consumers in the countries
where it sells direct to retailers. These countries include
Canada, Germany, Austria, and Italy. In other countries,
Rockfords distributors provide customer service and
warranty support.
Information Systems
Rockfords information systems are designed to respond
quickly to inquiries from managers, employees, suppliers and
customers. Rockford has implemented internet-based systems to
provide accurate and timely information and allow
Rockfords representatives, dealers and distributors to
check the status of their orders at a secure Internet site.
Rockford has also implemented internet systems to provide
accurate and timely information to its suppliers in support of
just-in-time delivery of components to Rockfords
manufacturing facilities. These systems help Rockford reduce
costs by reducing inventory requirements and providing better
information from suppliers.
Employees
As of December 31, 2004, Rockford had approximately
520 full-time employees including 16 employees working
outside of the U.S. in various functions. This was a
reduction of 203 full-time employees compared to
December 31, 2003, including a reduction of approximately
141 full-time employees resulting from the placement of MB
Quart GmbH into receivership as discussed elsewhere in this
report. In addition, Rockford generally uses temporary personnel
as needed. Rockford has never had a work stoppage and none of
its employees are unionized. Rockford believes its employee
relations are good.
Environmental Compliance
Whenever possible, Rockford avoids using hazardous materials in
its production processes. Two chemicals used in the basic
electronic manufacturing processes, lacquer and flux, are listed
as hazardous substances by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. Rockford uses them in limited quantities in
its production facility, taking care to see that they are
stored, used and disposed of in the proper manner. Rockford
believes that its compliance with federal, state, local and
foreign laws and regulations governing the discharge of
materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the
protection of the environment, will not have a material effect
upon its capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position.
Rockford does not anticipate material capital expenditures for
environmental control facilities for the remainder of the
current fiscal year or the succeeding fiscal year.
Rockfords corporate headquarters and electronics
manufacturing facilities are located in Tempe, Arizona. Rockford
manufactures speakers at its facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan
and speaker enclosures at its facility in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
It uses warehouses located in the U.S., Germany, and Singapore.
Rockford believes these facilities enhance its ability to serve
its markets faster and more cost effectively than many of its
competitors.
10
The following table contains information about Rockfords
facilities as at December 31, 2004, all of which are leased:
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Approximate | |
|
|
| Function |
|
Location | |
|
Square Footage | |
|
Lease Expiration | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Corporate headquarters and research and development
|
|
|
Tempe, Arizona |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
September 30, 2009 |
|
|
Information systems
|
|
|
Tempe, Arizona |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
December 31, 2005 |
|
|
Manufacturing and purchasing
|
|
|
Tempe, Arizona |
|
|
|
22,000 |
|
|
|
December 31, 2009 |
|
|
Warehousing, sales and customer service
|
|
|
Tempe, Arizona |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
December 31, 2009 |
|
|
Warehousing
|
|
|
Gilbert, Arizona |
|
|
|
54,000 |
|
|
|
July 31, 2005 |
|
|
Manufacturing, research and development, purchasing and
administration
|
|
|
Grand Rapids, Michigan |
|
|
|
163,000 |
|
|
|
March 31, 2009 |
|
|
Manufacturing, research and development, warehousing and
administration
|
|
|
Stillwater, Oklahoma |
|
|
|
69,000 |
|
|
|
May 31, 2006 |
|
|
Warehousing
|
|
|
Stillwater, Oklahoma |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
December 31, 2005 |
|
|
Sales, research and administration
|
|
|
Benicia, California |
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
|
October 31, 2008 |
|
|
Warehousing
|
|
|
Singapore |
|
|
|
21,000 |
|
|
|
January 31, 2006 |
|
|
Warehousing and sales
|
|
|
Bremen, Germany |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
December 31, 2011 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
462,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Item 3. |
Legal Proceedings |
During 2004, there were no further material proceedings with
respect to the Fiori patent claim described in Rockfords
Annual Reports for 2001, 2002 and 2003. The products at issue in
the case are 16 Rockford Punch brand amplifiers, which the
plaintiff contends include circuitry that infringes on his
patents. At the end of 2003, the parties submitted briefs and
the court held a Markman hearing. The parties are currently
waiting for the judge to issue her Markman ruling, interpreting
the claims of the plaintiffs patent. During March 2005,
the judge asked the parties to appoint a technical expert who
could advise the court on certain elements of the technical
claims made by the parties in connection with the Markman
hearing and the parties are currently working to select an
expert to do so. Depending upon the results of the Markman
ruling, Rockford anticipates the parties will submit motions in
the case shortly after the courts Markman ruling. If
necessary, a trial could occur in late 2005 or in 2006. The
costs of defending this matter have been, and are likely to
continue to be, substantial; however, Rockford continues to
believe the claims involved in the case are without merit and
Rockford should ultimately prevail.
During 2004, Rockford continued to litigate a matter with its
former distributor for Central and South America relating to
Rockfords efforts to collect a balance owed to Rockford
and the distributors claims that Rockford improperly
terminated its distribution rights. In early 2005, the court
granted Rockfords motion for summary judgment with respect
to substantially all matters raised in the case. The former
distributor has stated that he intends to appeal this ruling.
The former distributor has undertaken legal actions in Panama
that have interfered with the ability of Rockfords new
distributor for Central and South America to develop and service
those markets. This interference has been one of the causes of a
decline in Rockfords sales in this territory. Rockford
intends to continue to take actions designed to reduce or
eliminate this interference, and to seek redress for the damage
the former distributor is causing to its business. Rockford is
unable to determine at this time when, or the extent to which,
its efforts to collect on the judgment or to eliminate the
interference with business in Central and South America will be
successful.
Rockford is and may continue to be a party to various lawsuits
and arbitrations from time to time. As at December 31,
2004, Rockford was not a party to any legal proceedings that it
believes are likely to have a material effect on its business,
other than the effect of the expense associated with the matters
described above.
11
|
|
| Item 4. |
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during
the fourth quarter of 2004.
PART II
|
|
| Item 5. |
Market for Registrants Common Equity and Related
Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities |
Rockford common stock has traded on The NASDAQ National Market
System under the symbol ROFO since April 20,
2000, the date of its initial public offering. Prior to that
time, there was no public market for its common stock. The
following table sets forth the range of high and low sales
prices for Rockfords common stock for the periods
indicated:
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
High | |
|
Low | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
For the quarter ended:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
December 31, 2004
|
|
$ |
4.10 |
|
|
$ |
1.88 |
|
| |
September 30, 2004
|
|
$ |
5.00 |
|
|
$ |
3.23 |
|
| |
June 30, 2004
|
|
$ |
7.00 |
|
|
$ |
4.10 |
|
| |
March 31, 2004
|
|
$ |
7.06 |
|
|
$ |
5.11 |
|
| |
December 31, 2003
|
|
$ |
7.40 |
|
|
$ |
5.08 |
|
| |
September 30, 2003
|
|
$ |
7.72 |
|
|
$ |
5.12 |
|
| |
June 30, 2003
|
|
$ |
6.40 |
|
|
$ |
5.36 |
|
| |
March 31, 2003
|
|
$ |
6.28 |
|
|
$ |
5.00 |
|
As at March 31, 2005, there were approximately 135 holders
of record of Rockfords common stock.
Rockford has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its
common stock. Rockford currently intends to retain its earnings,
if any, to finance its operations and, therefore, does not
anticipate paying cash dividends on its common stock in the
foreseeable future. Rockfords current credit agreement
does not permit stock repurchases or the payment of cash
dividends.
Sales of Unregistered Securities
As of June 10, 2004, Rockford closed agreements for the
private placement of $12.5 million of 4.5% convertible
senior subordinated secured notes due 2009 and warrants to
purchase 649,810 shares of common stock at
$5.75 per share. The noteholders may convert the notes into
Rockfords common stock at any time before the scheduled
maturity date of June 10, 2009. The conversion price was
$5.29 per share, which represented a 15% premium over the
closing price of Rockfords common stock on June 9,
2004. If fully converted, the notes were scheduled to convert
into 2,362,949 shares of Rockfords common stock.
Rockford has the right to automatically convert the notes into
common stock if the common stock trades above a specified target
price for a specified period. Rockford also may force the
exercise of the warrants under certain circumstances prior to
their expiration date. The notes, warrants, and shares of common
stock issuable upon conversion of the notes or exercise of the
warrants were subsequently the subject of a registration
statement on Form S-3 filed by Rockford with the SEC on
July 12, 2004.
As of September 30, 2004, Rockford was in default under the
indenture under which Rockford issued its convertible notes. The
default was caused by the voluntary receivership of
Rockfords German subsidiary, MB Quart GmbH. The holders of
the convertible notes waived the default on November 12,
2004. In connection with the waiver, the holders retroactively
waived their right to be paid default interest and the interest
rate remains at 4.5% (versus the 9.5% default interest rate).
The noteholders waived the default in exchange for an amendment
to the notes that reduced the conversion price from
$5.29 per share to $4.61 per share. This will increase
the number of shares of common stock issuable, if all of the
notes are converted, from 2,362,949 shares to
2,711,497 shares. In addition, the original warrants issued
were increased to allow the
12
purchase of 1,187,500 shares of common stock versus the
590,737 shares available under the original agreement
(excluding 59,073 warrants issued to Piper Jaffray &
Co., the placement agent in the original transaction). The
exercise price of the warrants, including the Piper Jaffray
warrants, was also lowered from $5.75 to $3.73 per share.
Finally, the agreement was amended to delete the provision that
provided for the early termination of the note-holders
second priority lien on certain assets if Rockfords
average monthly EBITDA for any twelve consecutive months
commencing with the month ending June 30, 2004 is positive.
Rockford has not made any sales of unregistered securities
during the past three years, except for (1) the sales of
notes and warrants described above, (2) sales of
Rockfords common stock to employees exercising their stock
options during the period prior to the effectiveness of a
registration statement on Form S-8 relating to such sales
and (3) the sale during March 2002 of 215,000 shares
to Grisanti, Galef & Goldress, Inc. pursuant to the
stock options Rockford granted that firm in 1992.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities | |
| |
|
Number of Securities to be | |
|
Weighted Average | |
|
Remaining Available for | |
| |
|
Issued Upon Exercise of | |
|
Exercise Price of | |
|
Future Issuance Under Equity | |
| |
|
Outstanding Options, | |
|
Outstanding Options, | |
|
Compensation Plans (Excluding | |
| |
|
Warrants and Rights | |
|
Warrants and Rights | |
|
Securities Reflected in Column (a)) | |
| Plan Category |
|
(a) | |
|
(b) | |
|
(c) | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
|
|
|
1,597,626 |
|
|
$ |
5.03 |
|
|
|
73,973 |
|
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
59,073 |
|
|
|
3.73 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
1,656,699 |
|
|
$ |
4.98 |
|
|
|
73,973 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13
|
|
| Item 6. |
Selected Financial Data |
The following selected consolidated financial data should be
read in conjunction with Item 7, Managements
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Continuing Operations and Item 8, Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data. The table contains
selected consolidated financial data for the five years ended
December 31, 2004 derived from Rockfords audited
consolidated financial statements. Prior period amounts have
been reclassified to conform to the 2004 presentation.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Years Ended December 31, | |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
2000 | |
|
2001 | |
|
2002 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2004 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| |
|
(In thousands, except per share data) | |
|
Consolidated Statements of Operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$ |
145,571 |
|
|
$ |
155,822 |
|
|
$ |
162,805 |
|
|
$ |
|