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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)
     
Arizona
  86-0394353
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  (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 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.     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 registrant’s 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
                 
Securities and Exchange Commission    
Item Number and Description    
     
    Page
     
 PART I
 Item 1.    Business     3  
 Item 2.    Properties     10  
 Item 3.    Legal Proceedings     11  
 Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders     12  
 PART II
 Item 5.    Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities     12  
 Item 6.    Selected Financial Data     14  
 Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Continuing Operations     15  
 Item 7A    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk     26  
 Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data     27  
 Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure     50  
 Item 9A.    Controls and Procedures     50  
 PART III
 Item 10.    Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant     52  
 Item 11.    Executive Compensation     52  
 Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters     52  
 Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions     52  
 Item 14.    Principal Accountant Fees and Services     52  
 PART IV
 Item 15.    Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K     53  
 Signatures     56  
 EX-10.62.1
 EX-10.62.2
 EX-10.63
 EX-10.64
 EX-10.65
 EX-21
 EX-23.1
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32
 EX-99.1
      The market value of Rockford’s voting stock held by non-affiliates shown on the cover page is based on:
  •  Rockford’s estimate of the number of shares held by non-affiliates; and
 
  •  $4.50 per share, the price at which Rockford’s shares were last sold as of June 30, 2004, as reported by The NASDAQ Stock Market.
      Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s executive officers and directors. They also include shares held by any shareholder who beneficially owned more than 10% of Rockford’s 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.

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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 Rockford’s 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
Item 1. Business
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 Rockford’s professional and home theater audio businesses.
      Mobile audio sales accounted for 95.1% of Rockford’s revenue in 2004. Rockford’s 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.
Rockford’s 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:
Mobile Audio
  •  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:
  •  Punch Series — the line for the majority of Rockford’s amplifiers, subwoofers, and speakers;
 
  •  Power Series — the line for Rockford’s higher performing amplifiers, subwoofers, and speakers; and
 
  •  Type RF — the line for Rockford’s 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;
  •  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;
 
  •  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
 
  •  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.

Home Theater and Professional Audio
  •  Fosgate Audionics. Rockford distributes home theater electronics under the Fosgate Audionics brand through conventional retailers and custom installers;
 
  •  NHT. Rockford designs high quality loudspeakers for the home theater, stereo, custom installation and professional audio markets under the NHT and NHT Pro brands. NHT’s products are positioned as “affordable high end” and are sold through specialty audio stores and custom installers; and
 
  •  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 Rockford’s Brands
      Rockford’s 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. Rockford’s strategy is intended to enhance and reinforce Rockford’s global brand images among consumers and retailers. Key elements of Rockford’s strategy are to:
  •  Continue to introduce new and technologically innovative mobile audio products;
 
  •  Expand Rockford’s mobile audio OEM business;
 
  •  Broaden Rockford’s distribution by entering new distribution channels and increasing penetration of Rockford’s existing distribution channels; and
 
  •  Capitalize on Rockford’s worldwide brand recognition to increase sales in international markets.
As a result of Rockford’s brands and strategy, Rockford believes it can grow its business and become a more significant participant in the worldwide mobile audio market.
Rockford Products
Percent of Sales by Product Class
      Rockford sales since 2002 were divided among Rockford’s principal product classes as shown in the following table:
                           
    Year Ended December 31,
     
    2002   2003   2004
             
Product Class:
                       
Amplifiers
    38.8 %     39.4 %     37.8 %
Speakers
    36.1       39.6       41.6  
Accessories
    14.1       11.5       10.2  
Others(1)
    11.0       9.5       10.4  
                   
 
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
                   
 
(1)  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 Rockford’s 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.

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Mobile Audio
      Rockford offers high performance mobile audio products consisting of the following primary types of products:
  •  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;
 
  •  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;
 
  •  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 Rockford’s products compatible with factory-installed components and improve the performance of a mobile audio system; and
 
  •  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:
               Amplifiers: • 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. Rockford’s amplifiers include 1, 2 and 4 channel alternatives, giving consumers the ability to select an optimum configuration for their system;
 
               Speakers: • Speakers and subwoofers under Rockford’s Punch Series and Power Series lines, with minimum advertised prices from $60 to $1,800; and
 
               Accessories: • Accessories under Rockford’s 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:
               Amplifiers: • 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;
 
               Speakers: • Speakers and subwoofers under Rockford’s Bolt, Strike and Storm lines, with minimum advertised prices from $30 to $600; and
 
               Accessories: • 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 Rockford’s InstallEdge.com brand Rockford sells various back shop supplies, including vehicle harnesses, power distribution adapters, batteries, RCA connectors, wire, wiring accessories and fuses.
OEM Products
      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.
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 Rockford’s business because of the demand by Rockford’s 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, Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s current products and of Rockford’s technology platform for future products.
      Rockford’s 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.
      Rockford’s primary sales and marketing activities are listed below:
  •  Making regular calls to dealers and providing them with demonstration products, point-of-purchase displays and other marketing materials;
 
  •  Initiating targeted advertising in periodicals read by potential consumers;
 
  •  Training dealer sales and installation personnel;
 
  •  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
 
  •  Maintaining product and brand information for consumers and retailers on its web sites.
      Rockford’s 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.
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 Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s distribution system into more remote regions. Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s 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.
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
      Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s 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. Rockford’s principal competitors within Rockford’s 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 Int’l, B&W, Bose, Boston Acoustics, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Klipsh, Paradigm, Polk Audio, and Rotel.
      Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s facilities in Tempe, Arizona, subwoofers at Rockford’s facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan and speaker enclosure and kick panel products at Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s design specifications.
      Most of Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s component purchases during 2004. Rockford believes alternative sources are available for substantially all of Rockford’s 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. Rockford’s principal trademarks and trade names include, but are not limited to:
         
• Rockford Fosgate®
  • InstallEdge.com®   • NHT®
  • Rockford’s “Diamond R” logo
        • Now Hear This®
  • The Punch®
  • Lightning Audio®    
  • Type RFtm
    • Striketm   • Fosgate Audionics®
      • Stormtm    
• Audio Innovationstm
    • Bolttm   • Hafler®
  • Q-Logictm
    • Dead Skintm    
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 Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s normal sales seasonality. For Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s core consumers and are also strong in the fourth quarter due to Best Buy’s aggressive holiday season advertising.
      Best Buy is not obligated to any long-term purchases of Rockford’s products and has considerable discretion to reduce, change or terminate its purchases of Rockford’s products. The loss of Best Buy as a customer or significant reductions in its purchases of Rockford’s products would materially reduce Rockford’s 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. Rockford’s 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

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offers repair services for products that are no longer covered under the original warranty. For Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s 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, Rockford’s distributors provide customer service and warranty support.
Information Systems
      Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s 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.
Item 2. Properties
      Rockford’s 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.

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      The following table contains information about Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s 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 plaintiff’s 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 court’s 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 Rockford’s efforts to collect a balance owed to Rockford and the distributor’s claims that Rockford improperly terminated its distribution rights. In early 2005, the court granted Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s 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.

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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 Registrant’s 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 Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s 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. Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s common stock on June 9, 2004. If fully converted, the notes were scheduled to convert into 2,362,949 shares of Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s 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

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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-holder’s second priority lien on certain assets if Rockford’s 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 Rockford’s 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  
                   

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data
      The following selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with Item 7, “Management’s 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 Rockford’s 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     $