UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
For the fiscal year ended
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________________ to ___________________
Commission File Number 0-22529
inTEST Corporation
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Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
22-2370659 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
7 Esterbrook Lane
Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08003
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share.
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 /X/ No / /
Indicate by check mark if 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. / /
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 126-2 of the Act). Yes / / No /X/
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold on June 30, 2004 (the last business day of the Registrant's most recently completed second quarter), was: $39,693,912.
The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant's Common Stock, as of March 15, 2005, was 9,058,653.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the definitive proxy statement of the Registrant for the Registrant's 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Report, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report.
inTEST CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
INDEX
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PART I |
Page |
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Item 1. |
Business |
3 |
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Item 2. |
Properties |
10 |
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Item 3. |
Legal Proceedings |
11 |
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Item 4. |
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
11 |
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PART II |
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Item 5. |
Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities |
11 |
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Item 6. |
Selected Financial Data |
12 |
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Item 7. |
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
12 |
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Item 7A. |
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
27 |
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Item 8. |
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data |
28 |
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Item 9. |
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures |
28 |
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Item 9A. |
Controls and Procedures |
28 |
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Item 9B. |
Other Information |
29 |
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PART III |
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Item 10. |
Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant |
29 |
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Item 11. |
Executive Compensation |
29 |
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Item 12. |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters |
30 |
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Item 13. |
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions |
30 |
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Item 14. |
Principal Accountant Fees and Services |
30 |
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PART IV |
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Item 15. |
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules |
30 |
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Signatures |
32 |
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Index to Exhibits |
33 |
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Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule |
34 |
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inTEST CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
PART I
Item 1.
BUSINESSFrom time to time, we make written or oral "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including this Report on Form 10-K), our annual report to stockholders and in other communications. These statements do not convey historical information, but relate to predicted or potential future events, such as statements of our plans, strategies and intentions, or our future performance or goals, and can often be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "intends," "may," "will," "should" or "anticipates" or similar terminology. Investors and prospective investors are cautioned that such statements are only projections. These statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based upon various assumptions. We discuss many of these risks and uncertainties under the heading "Risks That Could Affect Future Results" in "Man
agement's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," below, and elsewhere in this Report. These risks, among others, could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those described in our forward-looking statements or from our prior results. We are not obligated to update these forward-looking statements, even though our situation may change in the future.
INTRODUCTION
We are an independent designer, manufacturer and marketer of manipulator and docking hardware products, temperature management systems and tester interface products that are used by semiconductor manufacturers in conjunction with automatic test equipment, or ATE, in the testing of integrated circuits, or ICs. Our high performance products are designed to enable semiconductor manufacturers to improve the efficiency of their IC test processes and, consequently, their profitability. We supply our products worldwide to major semiconductor manufacturers and semiconductor test subcontractors directly and through leading ATE manufacturers. Our largest customers include Texas Instruments Inc., Teradyne Inc., Agilent Technologies Inc., Cascade Microtech Inc., Analog Devices Inc., Credence Systems Corp., STMicroelectronics N.V., Sony Corp., National Semiconductor Corp. and LTX Corporation.
The consolidated entity is comprised of inTEST Corporation (parent) and our wholly-owned subsidiaries. inTEST Corporation was incorporated in New Jersey in 1981 and reincorporated in Delaware in April 1997. In 1997, we completed our initial public offering. In 1998, we acquired all of the stock of TestDesign Corporation, which expanded our capabilities in the design, manufacture and marketing of tester interface products. In 2000, we acquired all of the stock of Temptronic Corporation, a designer, manufacturer and marketer of high-performance temperature management systems used in the testing of ICs, printed circuit boards and other subassemblies. In 2002, we acquired all of the stock of Intestlogic GmbH (formerly known as Intelogic Technologies GmbH), located in Rosenheim, Germany, a designer, manufacturer and marketer of manipulator and docking hardware products.
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to these reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, are available free of charge through our website (www.intest.com) as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file them with, or furnish them to, the SEC.
INDUSTRY
Overview
The semiconductor market has been characterized by rapid technological change, wide fluctuations in demand and shortening product life cycles. Designers and manufacturers of a variety of electronic and industrial products, such as cell phones, telecom and datacom systems, Internet access devices, computers and consumer electronics, require increasingly complex ICs to provide improved end-product performance demanded by their customers.
Semiconductor manufacturers generally compete based on product performance and price. We believe that testing costs represent a significant portion of the total cost of manufacturing ICs. As product life cycles shorten, semiconductor manufacturers are under more pressure to maximize production yields and reduce testing costs. At the same time, the growing complexity of ICs has increased the difficulty of maximizing test yields. In order to address these market trends, semiconductor manufacturers strive for more effective utilization of ATE, smaller test areas and increased wafer level testing.
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The demand for new ATE and related equipment depends upon several factors, including the demand for products that incorporate ICs, the increasing complexity of ICs and the emergence of new IC design, production and packaging technologies. Some of the evolutionary changes in IC technologies include the shift to 300 mm wafers in production, system-on-a-chip, or SOC, where digital, analog and memory functions are combined on a single IC, and chip scale packaging. As a result of these and other advances, semiconductor manufacturers may require additional ATE not only to handle increases in production but also to handle more sophisticated testing requirements of ICs.
IC Test Process
Semiconductor manufacturers typically produce ICs in multiples of several hundred on a silicon wafer which is later separated or "diced" into individual ICs. Extended leads are then attached to the individual ICs, for later connection to other electrical components, before the ICs are encapsulated in a plastic, ceramic or other protective housing. These process steps are called "packaging." Wafers are tested before being diced and packaged, to ensure that only properly functioning ICs are packaged. This testing step has several names including "front-end test," "wafer test" or "wafer probe." In front-end test, an electronic handling device known as a wafer prober automatically positions the wafer under a "test head," which connects electrically to a test system. Once the good ICs have been identified, they are packaged. The packaged IC also requires testing, called "back-end test" or "final test," to determine if it meets design and performance specifications. Packaged ICs are placed into trays or sticks and
loaded into another type of electronic handling device called a "package handler" or "handler", which then transfers the packaged ICs into a test socket which is attached to the test head. These handlers may be temperature controlled for testing. "Wafer probers" and "handlers" are sometimes referred to in this Report collectively as "electronic device handlers."
Testers range in price from approximately $100,000 to over $5.0 million each, depending primarily on the complexity of the IC to be tested and the number of test heads, typically one or two, with which each tester is configured. Probers and handlers range in price from approximately $50,000 to $500,000. A typical test floor of a large semiconductor manufacturer may have 100 test heads and 100 probers or 250 handlers supplied by various vendors for use at any one time.
Test head manipulators, also referred to as positioners, facilitate the movement of the test head to the electronic device handler. Docking hardware mechanically connects the test head to the wafer prober or handler. Tester interface products provide the electrical connection between the test head and the wafer or packaged IC. Traditionally, temperature management products are used in back-end test to allow a manufacturer to test packaged ICs under the extreme temperature conditions in which the IC may be required to operate. However, we believe that temperature-controlled testing will be an increasingly important part of front-end wafer testing as more parameters traditionally tested for in back end-test are moved to front-end test.
Trends in IC Testing
ATE is used to identify unacceptable ICs and wafers. ATE assists IC manufacturers control test costs by performing IC testing in an efficient and cost-effective manner. In order to provide testing equipment that can help IC manufacturers meet these goals, we believe the ATE industry must address the following issues:
Change in Technology. Currently, most semiconductor manufacturers use 200 mm and 300 mm wafer technology, with 300 mm technology gradually replacing 200 mm technology in order to increase throughput and lower manufacturing costs. In addition, end-user applications are demanding ICs with increasingly higher performance, greater speeds, and smaller sizes. ICs that meet these higher standards are more complex and dense. SOC designs are likely to be more in demand in the future. These technology trends have significant implications for the IC testing process, including:
Need for Plug-Compatibility and Integration. Semiconductor manufacturers need test methodologies that will perform increasingly complex tests while lowering the overall cost of testing. This can require combining ATE manufactured by various companies into optimally performing systems. Semiconductor manufacturers have to work closely with various test hardware, software, interface and component vendors to resolve design and compatibility issues in order to make these vendors' products plug-compatible with test equipment manufactured by other vendors.
Testing Under Extreme Conditions. ICs will have to perform across a wider spectrum of temperature and environmental conditions than ever before because of the growing complexity of products in which they are deployed. Temperature testing will likely find an increasing role in front-end, wafer level testing. Creating a uniform thermal profile over much larger wafer areas represents a significant engineering and design challenge for ATE manufacturers.
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Demand for Higher Levels of Technical Support. As IC testing becomes more complex, semiconductor manufacturers are demanding higher levels of technical support on a routine basis. ATE manufacturers must commit greater resources to technical support in order to develop close working relationships with their customers. This level of support also requires close proximity of service and support centers to customers' facilities.
Cost Reduction Through Increased Front-End Testing. As the cost of testing ICs increases, semiconductor manufacturers will continue to look for ways to streamline the testing process to make it more cost-effective. We believe that this factor will lead to more front-end, wafer-level testing.
OUR SOLUTIONS
We focus our development efforts on designing and producing high quality products that provide superior performance and cost-effectiveness. We seek to address each manufacturer's individual needs through innovative and customized designs, use of the best materials available, quality manufacturing practices and personalized service. We design solutions to overcome the evolving challenges facing the ATE industry by providing the following advantages:
Scalable, Universal, High Performance Interface Technology. Our universal test head manipulators provide up to six degrees of motion freedom to enable a high degree of flexibility with the minimum amount of effort. As a result, our products can be used in virtually any test setting. Our manipulators have kept pace with the increasing size of test heads, which can weigh up to 3,000 pounds and which may become larger and heavier as the required level of testing sophistication increases. Our docking hardware offers precise control over the connection to test sockets, probing assemblies and interface boards, reducing downtime and minimizing costly damage to fragile components. Our tester interface products optimize the integrity of the transmitted signal between the test head and the device under test by being virtually transparent to the test signal, resulting in increased accuracy of the test data and improved test yields. We believe that these characteristics will gain even more significance as testing
becomes even more demanding.
Compatibility and Integration. A hallmark of our products has been, and continues to be, compatibility with a wide variety of ATE. Our universal manipulators can handle test heads produced by different manufacturers. We also design and manufacture docking hardware that can be used with otherwise incompatible ATE. We believe this integrated approach to ATE facilitates smooth changeover from one tester to another, longer lives for interface components, better test results, increased ATE utilization and lower overall test costs.
Temperature-Controlled Wafer Testing. Semiconductor manufacturers use our ThermoChuck(R) products for front-end temperature stress screening at the wafer level. This can provide significant cost savings through early identification of defective ICs that will not perform at specified temperatures, thereby eliminating the costs of packaging and testing these defective ICs. ThermoChuck(R) products are capable of handling any size wafer, including a 300 mm wafer, for uniform, accurate and stable thermal testing without contributing to the wafer distortion that can occur as temperature changes are introduced.
Worldwide Customer Service and Support. We have long recognized the need to maintain a physical presence near our customers' facilities. We have domestic manufacturing facilities in New Jersey, Massachusetts and California, as well as overseas facilities in Europe and Asia. We provide service to our customers from sales and service offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Our engineers are easily accessible to, and can work directly with, most of our customers from the time we begin developing our initial proposal, through the delivery, installation and use of the product by our customer. In this way, we are able to develop and maintain close relationships with our customers.
OUR STRATEGY
The demand for ICs and ATE has experienced several periods of severe cyclical downturn in recent years, and, accordingly, much of our effort has been focused on reducing costs and conserving cash through these downturns. In November 2004 and March 2005 we announced certain organizational changes and cost structure adjustments as part of our continuing efforts to position ourselves to more effectively meet the needs and expectations of the fluid ATE market during such downturns. See further discussion of these actions, including the costs associated with them, in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7 of this Report on Form 10-K. We believe that, as a result of these actions, our customers will experience more focused inTEST teams addressing each customer's specific needs, and that we will be a more competitive company positioned to rapidly adapt to new market challenges and opportunities. We remain committed to our goals of being recognized in our indu
stry as the designer and manufacturer of the highest quality products in our markets and becoming the supplier of all of our customers' ATE needs, other than probers, handlers and testers. Our strategies to achieve these goals include the following:
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Providing Technologically Advanced Solutions. We are committed to designing and producing only the highest quality products which incorporate innovative designs to achieve optimal cost-effectiveness and functionality for each customer's particular situation. Our engineering and design staff is continually engaged in developing new and improved products and manufacturing processes.
Leveraging Our Strong Customer Relationships. Our technical personnel work closely with ATE manufacturers to design tester interface and docking hardware that are compatible with their ATE. As a result, we are often privy to proprietary technical data and information about these manufacturers' products. We believe that because we do not compete with ATE manufacturers in the prober, handler and tester markets, we have been able to establish strong collaborative relationships with these manufacturers that enable us to develop ancillary ATE products on an accelerated basis.
Maintaining Our International Presence. Our existing and potential customers are concentrated in certain regions throughout the world. We believe that we must maintain a presence in the markets in which our customers operate. We currently have offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Pursuing Synergistic Acquisitions. A key element of our growth strategy is to acquire businesses, technologies or products that are complementary to our current product offerings. Our TestDesign, Temptronic and Intestlogic acquisitions have expanded our line of product offerings and have given us the opportunity to market a broader range of products to our customer base. We seek to make acquisitions that will further expand our product lines, enabling us to become a single source supplier to the test floor for a complete selection of equipment compatible with testers, probers and handlers of all manufacturers.
Pursuing Revenue Growth Opportunities Outside the Semiconductor ATE Market. Another element of our growth strategy is pursuing revenue growth opportunities in markets we have not traditionally served, such as the aerospace, automotive, communications, consumer electronics, defense and medical industries. We believe that we will reduce some of the cyclicality that we have historically experienced by diversifying our revenue streams outside the semiconductor ATE market. For the year ended December 31, 2004 approximately $5.4 million or 8% of our consolidated net revenues were derived from markets outside semiconductor test. This was the first year that we experienced measurable success in breaking into new markets that we have not traditionally served. We cannot determine at this time whether we will be able to continue to sell our products in these non-traditional markets or what the growth rate of our sales in these markets will be in future periods.
OUR SEGMENTS
Our business is managed as three segments: Manipulator and Docking Hardware Products, Temperature Management Systems and Tester Interface Products. Semiconductor manufacturers mainly use our primary lines of manipulators and docking hardware during back-end testing of specialized packaged ICs. They use our temperature management systems and tester interface products in both front-end and back-end testing of ICs. These ICs include microprocessors, digital signal processing chips, application specific ICs and specialized memory ICs, and are used primarily in the automotive, computer, consumer products and telecommunications industries. We custom design most of our products for each customer's particular combination of ATE. We have designed over 5,000 models, each of which is mechanically different. These models are designed to facilitate the use of one or more of over 175 different test heads with one or more of over 30 probers or 300 handlers.
Manipulator and Docking Hardware Products
Manipulator Products. We offer three lines of manipulator products. The inTEST line of manipulator products consists of the in2(R), the in2 Pro and the M Series test head manipulators, which are free-standing universal manipulators. Universal manipulators can hold a variety of test heads and enable an operator to reposition a test head for alternate use with any one of several probers or handlers on a test floor.
The in2(R) and in2 Pro differ from universal manipulators manufactured by our competitors due to our innovative floating-head design. This design permits a test head weighing up to 3,000 pounds to be held in an effectively weightless state, so it can be moved manually or, in the case of the in2 Pro, with optional powered assistance, up or down, right or left, forward or backward and rotated around each axis (known as six degrees of motion freedom) by an operator using a modest amount of force. The same design features enable the operator to dock the test interface board without causing inadvertent damage to the fragile electrical contacts. As a result, after testing a particular production lot of ICs, the operator can quickly and easily disconnect a test head held in an in2(R) or in2 Pro manipulator and equipped with our docking hardware and dock it to another electronic device handler for testing either a subsequent lot of the same packaged IC or to test a different IC. in2(R) and in2 Pro manipulators range
in price from approximately $12,000 to $159,000.
The M Series line of manipulator products consists of the M400 and M500 manipulators. These compact universal manipulators are designed to handle test heads weighing less than 550 pounds. The up and down movement is supported by an air-pressure-based floating state technology. M Series manipulators range in price from approximately $12,000 to $45,000.
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Docking Hardware Products. Our docking hardware products ensure proper repeatable and precise alignment of the delicate interface between the test head's interface board and the prober's probing assembly or the handler's test socket as they are brought together, or "docked." A simple cam action docks and locks the test head to the prober or handler, thus eliminating motion of the test head relative to the prober or handler. This minimizes deterioration of the interface boards, test sockets and probing assemblies which is caused by the constant vibration during testing. Our docking hardware products are used primarily with floating-head universal manipulators when maximum mobility and inter-changeability of handlers between test heads is required. By using our docking hardware products, semiconductor manufacturers can achieve cost savings through improved ATE utilization, improved accuracy and integrity of test results, and reduced repairs and replacements of expensive ATE interface products.
Our docking hardware products differ from those offered by competing ATE manufacturers by our ability to make various competing brands of test heads compatible with various brands of probers and handlers used by a semiconductor manufacturer by only changing interface boards. This is called "plug-compatibility." Plug-compatibility enables increased flexibility and utilization of test heads, probers and handlers purchased from various manufacturers. We believe that because we do not compete with ATE manufacturers in the sale of probers, handlers or testers, ATE manufacturers are willing to provide us with the information that is integral to the design of plug-compatible products. Our docking hardware products range in price from approximately $2,000 to $25,000.
Temperature Management Systems
Our temperature management systems are sold into a wide variety of industries including the aerospace, automotive, communications, consumer electronics, defense, medical and semiconductor industries. Our temperature management systems enable a manufacturer to test a semiconductor wafer, IC or electronic, or in some instances, a mechanical sub-assembly over the extreme and variable temperature conditions that can occur in the actual use of the electronic device containing the ICs.
ThermoChuck(R) Products: Our ThermoChuck(R) precision vacuum platform assemblies quickly change and stabilize the temperature of semiconductor wafers accurately and uniformly during testing without removing the wafer from its testing environment. Such temperatures can range from as low as -65 degrees Celsius to as high as +400 degrees Celsius. ThermoChucks(R) are incorporated into wafer prober equipment for laboratory analysis and for in-line production testing of semiconductor wafers. ThermoChuck(R) products range in price from approximately $14,000 to $105,000.
ThermoStream(R) Products: Our ThermoStream(R) stand-alone temperature management systems use a temperature-controlled air stream to rapidly change and stabilize the temperature of packaged ICs, electronic sub-assemblies and printed circuit boards. ThermoStream(R) products provide a source of heated and cooled air which can be directed over the component or device under test. These systems are capable of controlling temperatures to within +/- 0.1 degree Celsius over a range of -80 degrees Celsius to as high as +225 degrees Celsius within 1.0 degree Celsius of accuracy. Traditionally, our customers used ThermoStream(R) products primarily in engineering, quality assurance and small-run manufacturing environments. However, increasingly, our customers use ThermoStream(R) products in longer-run production applications. ThermoStream(R) products range in price from approximately $4,500 to $40,000.
Other Temperature Management Products: We also manufacture ancillary temperature management products including temperature-controlled contact probes, temperature-controlled enclosures, and precision temperature platforms. For example, recent developments in wireless communications have resulted in the mounting of wireless transmitters outdoors to reduce transmission line problems. As a result, these transmitters are exposed to extreme temperature variations and require testing over the full range of temperature exposure that will be encountered. Historically, the standard approach to this type of testing has been to use conventional thermal chambers, which can require removing equipment during testing, which could potentially cause damage to the sensitive microwave cables or create erroneous measurements. Our other temperature management products can be used to provide a closed, temperature-controlled environment for temperature testing of high frequency transmitters and receivers without the need for
removal during testing, eliminating the risk of damage due to interruption of the test. Other temperature management products range in price from $4,500 to $25,000.
Tester Interface Products
Tester interface products provide the electrical connections between the tester and the wafer prober or IC handler to carry the electrical signals between the tester and the probe card on the prober or the test socket on the handler. Our designs optimize the integrity of the transmitted signal which increases the accuracy of the test data. Therefore, our tester interface products can be used with high speed, high frequency, digital or mixed signal interfaces used in testing more complex ICs. Because our tester interface products enable the tester to provide more reliable yield data, our interfaces may also reduce IC production costs. For example, our new Centaur(TM) modular interface is designed to provide flexibility and scalability through the use of replaceable signal modules which can be easily changed on the test floor as our customers' testing requirements change. In addition to the Centaur(TM) modular interface, we also offer over 200 different types of tester interface models that we custom designed
for our customers' specific applications. These products range in price from approximately $3,000 to $125,000.
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Financial Information About Product Segments and Geographic Areas
Please refer to Note 15 of our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report on Form 10-K for additional data regarding net revenues, profit or loss and total assets of each of our segments and revenues attributable to foreign countries.
MARKETING, SALES AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT
We market and sell our products in all markets where the manufacture of semiconductors occurs. North American and European semiconductor manufacturers have located most of their back-end factories in Southeast Asia. The front-end wafer fabrication plants of U.S. semiconductor manufacturers are primarily in the U.S. Likewise, European, Taiwanese, South Korean and Japanese semiconductor manufacturers generally have located their wafer fabrication plants in their respective countries.
Manipulator, Docking Hardware and Tester Interface Products: In North America, we sell to semiconductor manufacturers principally through independent, commissioned sales representatives. North American sales representatives also coordinate product installation and support with our technical staff and participate in trade shows.
Our regional and account managers handle sales to ATE manufacturers and are responsible for a portfolio of customer accounts and for managing certain independent sales representatives. In addition, our account managers are responsible for pricing, quotations, proposals and transaction negotiations, and they assist with applications engineering and custom product design. Technical support is provided to North American customers and independent sales representatives by employees based in New Jersey, California, Texas and Arizona.
In Europe and Japan, we sell to semiconductor and ATE manufacturers through our account managers. In China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand, we sell through independent sales representatives and distributors. International sales representatives and distributors are responsible for sales, installation, support and trade show participation in their geographic market areas.
Temperature Management Systems: Sales to ATE manufacturers are handled directly by our own sales force. Sales to semiconductor manufacturers and customers in other industries in the U.S. are handled through independent sales representative organizations. In Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, our sales and service are handled through our own sales and service personnel. In the rest of Asia, our sales are handled through distributors. In Europe, sales managers at our office in Germany, as well as regional distributors, sell directly to semiconductor manufacturers and customers in other industries. Our distributors represent us in 30 countries. We visit our distributors regularly and have trained them to sell and service all of our temperature management products.
CUSTOMERS
We market all of our products to semiconductor manufacturers and ATE manufacturers. In the case of temperature management products, we also market our products to independent testers of semiconductors, manufacturers of electronic, automotive and aeronautical products, and semiconductor research facilities. Our customers use our products principally in production testing, although our ThermoStream(R) products traditionally have been used largely in engineering development and quality assurance. We believe that we sell to most of the major semiconductor manufacturers in the world.
During 2004, we had two customers that each accounted for more that 10% of our total net revenues. Texas Instruments Inc. represented 16% and 11% of our net revenues in 2004 and 2003, respectively. Teradyne Inc. represented 11% of our net revenues in 2004. The loss of any one or more of our largest customers, or a reduction in order by a major customer, could materially reduce our net revenues or otherwise materially affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Our largest customers include:
Semiconductor Manufacturers |
ATE Manufacturers |
Texas Instruments Inc. |
Teradyne Inc. |
STMicroelectronics N.V. |
Agilent Technologies Inc. |
Sony Corp. |
Cascade Microtech Inc. |
National Semiconductor Corp. |
Analog Devices Inc. |
|
|
Credence Systems Corp. |
|
|
LTX Corporation |
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MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLY
Our principal manufacturing operations consist of assembly and testing at our facilities in New Jersey, Massachusetts, California, the U.K., Germany and Singapore. By maintaining manufacturing facilities and technical support in geographic markets where most of our customers are located, we believe that we are able to respond more quickly and effectively to our customers' needs. As discussed in more detail later in this report, in March 2005, we announced the closing of our manufacturing operation located in the U.K. as part of our effort to better position ourselves to more effectively meet the needs and expectations of the fluid ATE market. We do not believe this closure will adversely impact our ability to effectively meet our customers' needs. Most of this operation's customers were located outside the U.K., and we expect to be able to continue to provide appropriate customer support from our other operations in Europe and elsewhere. We expect to cease manufacturing activity in the U.K. during the second
quarter of 2005.
We assemble most of our products from a combination of standard components and custom parts that have been fabricated to our specifications by either third party manufacturers or our own fabrication operations in New Jersey, California and, until closure in the second quarter of 2005, the U.K. Our practice is to use the highest quality raw materials and components in our products. The primary raw materials used in fabricated parts are all widely available. We purchase substantially all of our components from multiple suppliers. Although we purchase certain raw materials and components from single suppliers, we believe that all materials and components are available in adequate amounts from other sources.
We conduct inspections of incoming raw materials, fabricated parts and components using sophisticated measurement equipment. This includes testing with coordinate measuring machines in each of our manufacturing facilities to ensure that products with critical dimensions meet our specifications. We have designed our inspection standards to comply with applicable MIL specifications and ANSI standards.
In 2001, we obtained ISO 9001: 1994 certification at our New Jersey facility. During 2003, we made the determination to upgrade to ISO 9001: 2000 at our Cherry Hill facility, which is anticipated to be completed in late 2005. As a result, this facility's ISO 9001: 1994 certification lapsed in December 2003. In May 2003, our California facility obtained ISO 9001: 2000 certification. In November 2004, the Massachusetts facility completed ISO 9001:2000 certification and in December of 2004 the U.K. facilities completed ISO 9001: 2000 certification. Finally, our Singapore and German facilities have not yet begun the ISO certification process, but we expect to begin this process in the second half of 2005 and complete the process in late 2006.
ENGINEERING AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Our success depends on our ability to provide our customers with products and solutions that are well engineered, and to design those products and solutions before, or at least no later than, our competitors. As of December 31, 2004, we employed a total of 55 engineers, who were engaged full time in engineering and product development. Our practice in many cases is to assign engineers to work with specific customers, thereby enabling us to develop the relationships and free exchange of information that is most conducive to successful product development and enhancement. In addition, some of our engineers are assigned to new product research and development and have worked on such projects as the redesign of the ThermoChuck(R) and the development of several new types of universal manipulators.
Since most of our products are customized, we consider substantially all of our engineering activities to be engineering and product development. We spent approximately $7.0 million in 2004, $6.4 million in 2003 and $5.7 million in 2002 on engineering and product development.
PATENTS AND OTHER PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
Our policy is to protect our technology by filing patent applications for the technologies that we consider important to our business. We also rely on trade secrets and unpatentable know-how to protect our proprietary rights. It is our practice to require that all of our employees and third-party product development consultants assign to us all rights to inventions or other discoveries relating to our business made while working for us. In addition, all employees and third-party product development consultants agree not to disclose any private or confidential information relating to our technology or intellectual property.
As of December 31, 2004, we held 33 active U.S. patents and had pending 25 U.S. patent applications covering various aspects of our technology. Our U.S. issued patents expire at various times beginning in 2005 and extending through 2022. During 2004, we had 2 U.S. patents expire and 4 U.S. patents were issued. We also hold foreign patents and file foreign patent applications, in each case derived from our U.S. patents, to the extent management deems appropriate.
- 9 -
inTEST CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
COMPETITION
Our competitors include independent manufacturers, ATE manufacturers and, to a lesser extent, semiconductor manufacturers' in-house ATE interface groups. Competitive factors in our market include product performance, price, functionality, reliability, customer service, applications support, and timely product delivery. We believe that our long-term relationships with the industry's leading semiconductor manufacturers and other customers, and our commitment to, and reputation for, providing high quality products, are important elements in our ability to compete effectively in all of our markets.
The independent manufacturers of docking hardware and manipulators that compete with us include Reid-Ashman Manufacturing, Microhandling GmbH and Esmo AG, all of which manufacture docking hardware and manipulators. The ATE manufacturers that compete with us in the sale of docking hardware and universal manipulators include Credence Systems and Teradyne, who are also our customers.
Our principal competitors for temperature management products are Thermonics, Trio-Tech International and ERS Elektronik GmbH. The independent manufacturers of tester interface products that compete with us include Cerprobe, a division of Kulicke & Soffa, Synergetix, a division of IDI, and Xandex. ATE manufacturers that compete with us in the sale of tester interface products include Credence Systems, LTX and Teradyne.
BACKLOG
At December 31, 2004, our backlog of unfilled orders for all products was approximately $5.8 million compared with approximately $13.6 million at December 31, 2003. The significant decline in our backlog is the result of the current downturn in the ATE industry which began in the second half of 2004 that is more fully disclosed under Item 7 of this Report on Form 10-K. Our backlog includes customer purchase orders which we have accepted, substantially all of which we expect to deliver in 2005. While backlog is calculated on the basis of firm purchase orders, a customer may cancel an order or accelerate or postpone currently scheduled delivery dates. Our backlog may be affected by the tendency of customers to rely on shorter lead times available from suppliers, including us, in periods of depressed demand. In periods of increased demand, there is a tendency towards longer lead times that has the effect of increasing backlog. As a result of these factors, our backlog at a particular date is not necessarily ind
icative of sales for any future period.
EMPLOYEES
At December 31, 2004, we had 255 full time employees, including 118 in manufacturing operations, 97 in customer support/operations and 40 in administration. Substantially all of our key employees are highly skilled and trained technical personnel. None of our employees is represented by a labor union, and we have never experienced a work stoppage. We believe that our relationship with our employees is very good.
Item 2. PROPERTIES
At December 31, 2004, we leased 12 facilities worldwide. The following chart provides information regarding each of our principal facilities which we occupied at December 31, 2004.
|
|
Approx. |
|
|
Cherry Hill, NJ |
9/10 |
121,700 |
Corporate headquarters and design, manufacturing, service |
|
Sharon, MA |
2/11 |
62,400 |
Design, manufacturing, service and sales -- temperature |
|
San Jose, CA |
4/12 |
25,088 |
Design, manufacturing, service and sales - tester interface |
|
Sunnyvale, CA |
12/04 |
18,300 |
Design, manufacturing, service and sales -- tester interface |
|
- 10 -
inTEST CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
Item 2. PROPERTIES (Continued)
We entered into a new lease for our tester interface division in September 2004 (San Jose, CA). The lease is for a term of eighty-four months with a ninety day early occupancy period. During the early occupancy period, which began in late January 2005, we will not be charged monthly rent, however, we are responsible for all normal operating expenses, such as common area maintenance and property taxes, that are our responsibility under the terms of the lease. To facilitate the move, we extended the lease at our Sunnyvale, CA location through January 31, 2005. We believe that we currently have adequate space to meet our current and foreseeable future needs.
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time we may be a party to legal proceedings occurring in the ordinary course of business. We are not currently involved in any material legal proceedings.
Item 4. SUBMISSIONS OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matters were submitted to our stockholders for a vote during the fourth quarter of 2004.
PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER REPURCHASES OF SECURITIES
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "INTT." The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices of our common stock, as reported on the Nasdaq National Market, for the periods indicated. Sale prices have been rounded to the nearest full cent.
|
|
Sales Price |
|
2004 |
High |
Low |
First Quarter |
$ 6.88 |
$ 5.13 |
Second Quarter |
6.80 |
5.07 |
Third Quarter |
10.00 |
5.43 |
Fourth Quarter |
9.18 |
3.80 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
First Quarter |
$ 4.87 |
$ 2.79 |
Second Quarter |
6.00 |
2.81 |
Third Quarter |
6.72 |
4.40 |
Fourth Quarter |
6.90 |
4.43 |
On March 15, 2005, the closing price for our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market was $4.53. As of March 15, 2005, we had 9,058,653 shares outstanding that were held of record by approximately 1,000 shareholders.
We have not paid dividends on our common stock since our initial public offering 1997, and we do not plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Our current policy is to retain any future earnings for reinvestment in the operation and expansion of our business, including possible acquisitions of other businesses, technologies or products. Payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors. In addition, our current credit agreement prohibits us from paying cash dividends without the lender's prior consent.
- 11 -
inTEST CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table contains certain selected consolidated financial data of inTEST and is qualified by the more detailed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the other financial information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
|
|
Years Ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations Data: |
(in thousands, except per share data) |
||||
Net revenues |
$71,211 |
$48,028 |
$47,127 |
$51,627 |
$87,651 |
Gross margin |
28,790 |
18,849 |
18,239 |
12,711 |
39,556 |
Operating income (loss) |
1,666 |
(3,834) |
(1,806) |
(14,689) |
10,909 |
Net earnings (loss) |
1,270 |
(5,451) |
(283) |
(11,329) |
6,379 |
Net earnings (loss) per common share: |
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
$0.15 |
$(0.65) |
$(0.03) |
$(1.37) |
$0.78 |
Diluted |
$0.14 |
$(0.65) |
$(0.03) |
$(1.37) |
$0.75 |
Weighted average common shares outstanding : |
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
8,480 |
8,332 |
8,317 |
8,279 |
8,201 |
Diluted |
8,804 |
8,332 |
8,317 |
8,279 |
8,470 |
|
|
||||
|
As of December 31, |
||||
|
|
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: |
(in thousands) |
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ 7,686 |
$ 5,116 |
$ 8,145 |
$ 7,281 |
$ 5,680 |
Working capital |
18,428 |
15,670 |
19,765 |
20,146 |
26,768 |
Total assets |
33,167 |
29,977 |
32,582 |
31,594 |
47,302 |
Long-term debt, net of current portion |
47 |
117 |
210 |
296 |
- |
Total stockholders' equity |
26,118 |
22,591 |
27,357 |
27,204 |
38,398 |
Item 7.
Overview
- 12 -
inTEST CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
Net Revenues and Bookings
The following table sets forth for the periods indicated a breakdown of the net revenues from unaffiliated customers both by product segment and geographic area (based on the location of the selling entity).
|
|
Years Ended December 31, |
||
Net revenues from unaffiliated customers: |
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
Manipulator/Docking Hardware |
$38,414 |
$24,364 |
$20,737 |
Temperature Management |
22,581 |
16,780 |
17,706 |
Tester Interface |
13,516 |
11,132 |
10,333 |
Intersegment sales |
(3,300 ) |
(4,248 ) |
(1,649 ) |
|
$71,211 |
$48,028 |
$47,127 |
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. |
$54,123 |
$36,762 |
$41,306 |
Europe |
7,343 |
4,584 |
2,710 |
Asia-Pacific |
9,745 |
6,682 |
3,111 |
|
$71,211 |
$48,028 |
$47,127 |
During 2002, the ATE industry was in the midst of a multiple year downturn that began in late 2000. During the first half of 2003, the ATE industry entered a period of expansion that continued throughout the balance of that year and into the first half of 2004. However, late in the third quarter of 2004, there was a significant weakening in the level of our orders in both our manipulator/docking hardware and tester interface product segments as several customers of these two segments either postponed scheduled shipments or canceled orders.
The downward trend in orders for our tester interface product segment continued into the fourth quarter of 2004, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2004, our consolidated orders totaled $9.3 million, a decline of 63% from the $25.1 million in orders recorded in the second quarter of 2004. Our tester interface segment experienced the largest decline in orders during 2004, falling 95% from $5.0 million in the second quarter to $244,000 in the fourth quarter. Our manipulator/docking hardware product segment's orders declined from a peak of $14.0 million in the second quarter to $4.8 million in the fourth quarter, a decrease of 66%. Finally, orders in our temperature management product segment decreased 29% from $6.0 million in the second quarter to $4.3 million in the fourth quarter. We believe the significant declines in orders in both our tester interface and manipulator/docking hardware product segments are primarily the result of the suspension of production-oriented ordering in the ATE industry during
the second half of 2004 due to reductions in utilization rates for test-related equipment. We also believe that the orders for our temperature management products had not been as heavily impacted by the weakened demand for our other products because these products are used in non-production environments, such as research and development labs.
At present, we cannot predict how long the current downturn will remain, nor how significant the declines in our quarterly net revenues or bookings will be through this cycle.
Backlog
At December 31, 2004, our backlog of unfilled orders for all products was approximately $5.8 million compared with approximately $13.6 million at December 31, 2003. This decrease was due to the aforementioned reduction in orders we experienced in the second half of 2004. Our backlog includes customer purchase orders which we have accepted, substantially all of which we expect to deliver in 2005. While backlog is calculated on the basis of firm purchase orders, a customer may cancel an order or accelerate or postpone currently scheduled delivery dates. Our backlog may be affected by the tendency of customers to rely on short lead times available from suppliers, including us, in periods of depressed demand. In periods of increased demand, there is a tendency towards longer lead times that has the effect of increasing backlog. As a result, our backlog at a particular date is not necessarily indicative of sales for any future period.
- 13 -
inTEST CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
Cost Containment and Organizational Changes
In response to the sudden downturn in the second half of 2004, we began the process of restructuring our operations during the fourth quarter with the goal of significantly reducing our fixed operating costs to position ourselves to more effectively meet the needs and expectations of the fluid ATE market. In mid November, we announced organizational changes and cost structure adjustments that gave our divisional general managers increased responsibility for marketing, sales and service, thus allowing for the reduction of corresponding central corporate staff.
Specific actions resulting from the fourth quarter 2004 reorganization included the elimination of four executive-level positions, an approximate 18% reduction in domestic head count, and certain salary and benefit adjustments. During the fourth quarter of 2004, we incurred severance costs of approximately $527,000 related to these actions. We expect these actions will reduce our annual operating expense structure by approximately $4.5 million.
In mid March 2005, we announced our decision to close our UK facility. We expect to incur severance costs ranging from $200,000 to $300,000 as well as costs associated with other contractual obligations (consisting of lease commitments and real estate taxes) ranging from $700,000 to $800,000. We intend to seek a sublessor for the UK facility which would offset a portion of our continuing obligations for the facility. Based upon these estimates, the total cost to close our UK facility will range from approximately $900,000 to $1.1 million. We expect to incur these costs during the first and second quarters of 2005. We expect the closure of our UK facility will reduce our annual operating expenses by approximately $1.6 million.
We believe our recent reorganization and resultant decentralization will make us a more competitive company positioned to rapidly adapt to new market challenges and opportunities through continued research and development as well as strategic merger and acquisition activities. As a result of our continuing focus on our global operations to determine methods to increase our profitability while operating in the cyclical ATE markets, we will continue to review and evaluate actions that will optimally match our operating costs against our anticipated future revenue and product demand as we pursue additional growth opportunities.
Inventory Obsolescence Charges
We review our inventories and record inventory obsolescence charges based upon our established obsolescence criteria, that identifies material that has not been used in a work order during the prior 12 months and the excess quantity of material on hand that is greater than the average annual usage of that material over the prior three years. In addition, in certain cases, additional inventory obsolescence charges are recorded based upon facts which would not give rise to an obsolescence charge under the historical obsolescence criteria or, if in management's opinion, additional amounts are felt to be necessary based upon the current industry conditions. See also "Critical Accounting Policies", below.
We incurred inventory obsolescence charges of $1.4 million, $886,000 and $1.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The level of inventory obsolescence charges are based upon a variety of factors including changes in demand for our products and new product designs. The increase in inventory obsolescence charges during 2004 was primarily the result of customer order cancellations where we had already purchased inventory to fulfill the orders and where that inventory can not be used in other products we manufacture due to its highly customized nature. In addition we had increases in our reserves for excess quantities related to materials with long lead times that were purchased based upon forecasted orders which did not materialize. After the close of the third quarter of 2004, management made the determination to curtail the practice of purchasing significant amounts of inventory against forecasted orders due to the increased level of uncertainty in our current business o
utlook. However, in the future, we may determine that it is appropriate to increase the level of such purchases based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, general market conditions and the specific delivery requirements of our customers. See also "Critical Accounting Policies".
Product Warranty Charges
We accrue product warranty charges on a quarterly basis based upon our historical claims experience. In addition, we accrue additional amounts based upon known product warranty issues, such as product retrofits. For the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, our product warranty charges were $2.0 million, $1.9 million and $1.1 million, or 2.8%, 4.0% and 2.3% of net revenues, respectively. The level of our product warranty charges both in absolute dollars and as a percentage of net
- 14 -
inTEST CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
revenues is affected by a number of factors including the cyclicality of demand in the ATE industry, the prototype nature of much of our business, the complex nature of many of our products and, at our discretion, providing warranty repairs or replacements to customers after the contracted warranty period has expired in order to promote strong customer relations.
During 2004 we accrued approximately $531,000 in product warranty charges in our manipulator/docking hardware product segment for product retrofits on several manipulator products we sell to both OEM and End User customers worldwide. Of this amount, the largest portion, which was approximately $216,000, was related to field retrofits on approximately 170 M-series manipulators whose prototype design required several different modifications and enhancements. We believe we have accrued adequate warranty charges at December 31, 2004 for the product retrofits planned for these products. The balance of our product warranty accruals were general in nature and related to various products sold in all three product segments. We cannot determine at this time if we will have additional product modifications or enhancements for these or any of our other products. See also "Critical Accounting Policies".
Product/Customer Mix
Our three product segments each have multiple products that we design, manufacture and sell to our customers. The gross margin on each product we offer is impacted by a number of factors, including the amount of intellectual property (such as patents) utilized in the product, the number of units ordered by the customer at one time, or the amount of inTEST designed and fabricated material included in our product compared with the amount of third-party designed and fabricated material included in our product. The weight of each of these factors, as well as the current market conditions, determines the ultimate sales price we can obtain for our products and the resulting gross margin.
The mix of products we sell in any period is ultimately determined by our customers' needs. Therefore, the mix of products sold in any given period can change significantly from the prior period. As a result, our consolidated gross margin can be significantly impacted in any given period by a change in the mix of products sold in that period.
We sell our products to both semiconductor manufacturers (end user sales) and to ATE manufacturers (OEM sales) who ultimately resell our equipment with theirs to semiconductor manufacturers. The mix of customers during any given period will affect our gross margin due to differing sales discounts and commissions. For the year ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, our OEM sales as a percentage of net revenues were 39%, 41% and 44%, respectively.
The impact of an increase in OEM sales as a percentage of net revenues is generally a reduction in our gross margin, as OEM sales historically have had a more significant discount than end user sales. Our current net operating margins on most OEM sales for these product segments, however, are only slightly less than margins on end user sales because of the payment of third party sales commissions on most end user sales. We also expect to continue to experience demands from our OEM customers' supply line management groups to reduce our sales prices to them. This continued price pressure may have the ultimate effect of reducing our gross and operating margins if we cannot further reduce our manufacturing and operating costs.
We believe that purchases of most of our products are typically made from semiconductor manufacturers' capital expenditure budgets. Certain portions of our business, however, are generally less dependent upon the capital expenditure budgets of the end users. For example, purchases of certain related ATE interface products, such as sockets and interface boards, which must be replaced periodically, are typically made from the end users' operating budgets. In addition, purchases of certain of our products, such as docking hardware, for the purpose of upgrading or to improve the utilization, performance and efficiency of existing ATE, tend to be counter cyclical to sales of new ATE. Moreover, we believe a portion of our sales of temperature management systems results from the increasing need for temperature testing of circuit boards and specialized components that do not have the design or quantity to be tested in an electronic device handler. We believe that this business usually is less cyclical than new ATE s
ales.
Please refer to the section entitled "Risks That Could Affect Future Results" below for a discussion of other important factors that could cause our results to differ materially from our prior results or those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements.
Results of Operations
All of our products are used by semiconductor manufacturers in conjunction with ATE in the testing of ICs. Consequently, the results of operations for each product segment are generally affected by the same factors. Separate discussions and analyses
- 15 -
inTEST CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
for each product segment would be repetitive and obscure any unique factors that affected the results of operations of our different product segments. The discussion and analysis that follows, therefore, is presented on a consolidated basis for the Company as a whole and includes discussion of factors unique to each product segment where significant to an understanding of each such business.
The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the principal items included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as a percentage of total net revenues.
|
|
Percentage of Net Revenues |
||
|
|
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
Net revenues |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
Cost of revenues |
59.6 |
60.8 |
61.3 |
Gross margin |
40.4 |
39.2 |
38.7 |
Selling expense |
17.2 |
21.2 |
18.0 |
Engineering and product development expense |
9.8 |
13.3 |
12.0 |
General and administrative expense |
11.0 |
12.7 |
12.5 |
Impairment of goodwill |
0.1 |
- |
- |
Operating income (loss) |
2.3 |
(8.0) |
(3.8) |
Other income |
0.0 |
0.5 |
0.3 |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes |
2.3 |
(7.5) |
(3.5) |
Income tax expense (benefit) |
0.5 |
3.8 |
(2.9 ) |
Net earnings (loss) |
1.8 % |
(11.3 )% |
(0.6 )% |
Year Ended December 31, 2004 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2003
- 16 -
inTEST CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
Selling Expense. Selling expense was $12.3 million for 2004 compared to $10.2 million for 2003, an increase of $2.1 million or 20%. We attribute the increase primarily to increased commission expense as well as higher levels of salary and benefits expense in 2004 as compared to 2003. The increase in commission expense of $1.0 million in our manipulator/docking hardware and temperature management segments was primarily due to the significantly higher net revenue levels. The $494,000 increase in salary and benefits expense primarily reflects the reinstatement of certain employee benefits as previously discussed. Also contributing to the increase, but to a lesser extent, were increases in travel and freight expense, which were driven by the increased business activity in 2004 compared to 2003.
Engineering and Product Development Expense. Engineering and product development expense was $7.0 million for 2004 compared to $6.4 million for 2003, an increase of $571,000 or 9%. We attribute the increase primarily to a $578,000 increase in salary and benefits expense due largely to hiring additional staff and the reinstatement of certain employee benefits as previously discussed. In addition, we had increased spending on engineering travel in our manipulator/docking hardware segment due to the increased business activity in 2004 compared to 2003. These increases were partially offset by a reduction in fees paid to third party product development consultants in our manipulator/docking hardware and temperature management segments.
General and Administrative Expense. General and administrative expense was $7.3 million for 2004 compared to $6.1 million for 2003, an increase of $1.2 million or 19%. We attribute the increase primarily to a $373,000 increase in salary and benefits expense, which is largely a result of the reinstatement of employee benefits, as previously discussed. Also contributing to the increase was a $343,000 increase in professional fees, due primarily to increased audit fees, costs associated with our Sarbanes-Oxley compliance initiatives and increased patent filing activities. To a lesser extent, we attribute the increase to higher levels of administrative travel expense, accruals for profit-based bonuses and an increase in the fees paid to members of our Board of Directors.
Restructuring and Other Charges. Restructuring and other charges were $627,000 for 2004; there were no comparable expenses incurred during 2003. The restructuring and other charges in 2004 consisted of severance costs of approximately $527,000 related to the reorganization of our domestic operations, as previously discussed, and long-lived asset impairment of $100,000 related to our U.K. facility.
Other Income. Other income was $2,000 for 2004 compared to $224,000 for 2003, a decrease of $222,000 or 99%. The decrease in other income was primarily due to a significant increase in our foreign exchange transaction losses, which increased from $12,000 in 2003 to $223,000 in 2004. The increase in foreign exchange losses was due to the volatility throughout 2004 of the US dollar against the major foreign currencies we operate in worldwide.
Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense was $398,000 for 2004 compared to $1.8 million for 2003. Our effective tax rate for 2004 was 24% compared to 51% in 2003. Our income tax expense for 2004 represented the foreign income tax expense related to the earnings of certain of our foreign operations. During 2004, we increased our valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets by $213,000 due to the taxable losses experienced in our domestic and certain foreign operations and the uncertainty surrounding whether we would be able to generate sufficient taxable income to fully utilize these losses before they expire. During 2003, we recorded a 100% valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets due to our 2003 operating losses which resulted in the realizability of the net deferred tax assets to no longer be considered more likely than not.
Year Ended December 31, 2003 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2002
Net Revenues. Net revenues were $48.0 million for 2003 compared to $47.1 million for 2002, an increase of $901,000 or 2%. In 2003, net revenues for our manipulator/docking hardware and tester interface segments increased $3.6 million, or 18%, and $799,000, or 8%, respectively. These increases were offset by a decrease in net revenues in our temperature management segment of $926,000, or 5%. We believe the increases in our manipulator/docking hardware and tester interface segments are due to the aforementioned increase in demand we experienced for our products throughout 2003. We believe that the decrease in net revenues for our temperature management segment reflects the severe cyclical downturn in demand for ATE in the industry generally.
- 17 -
inTEST CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
Gross Margin. Gross margin remained relatively unchanged in 2003 from 2002. The gross margin in 2003 was slightly over 39% compared to slightly less than 39% in 2002. The slight increase in gross margin in 2003 is primarily the result of a decrease in component material costs as a percentage of net revenues that reflects lower levels of fabrication costs due to process improvements as well as the mix of products sold and, to a lesser extent, a decrease in OEM sales as a percentage of total sales in 2003 compared to 2002, as previously discussed. Also, as previously discussed, we incurred significant charges for inventory obsolescence during both 2003 and 2002 as a result of the continued downturn in the industry.
Selling Expense. Selling expense was $10.2 million for 2003 compared to $8.5 million in 2002, an increase of $1.7 million or 20%. We attribute the increase primarily to the aforementioned increase in product warranty costs in our manipulator/docking hardware and temperature management segments. Other significant year-over-year increases included commission expense as well as salary and benefits expense. The increase in commission expense of $303,000 was due to an increase in end-user commissionable sales. The increase in salary and benefit expense of $304,000 was due to the hiring of new sales staff in the manipulator/docking hardware and tester interface segments as well as the return of certain benefits that had previously been reduced or eliminated. To a lesser extent, there were increases in travel expenses, freight costs and demonstration equipment, all of which were driven by the increased level of business activity as demand improved throughout 2003.
Engineering and Product Development Expense. Engineering and product development expense was $6.4 million for 2003 compared to $5.7 million in 2002, an increase of $734,000 or 13%. We attribute the increase primarily to an increase of $759,000 in salary and benefits expense in our manipulator/docking hardware and tester interface segments, where we increased our engineering and product development staff as well as returned certain benefits that had previously been reduced or eliminated. Also contributing to the increase were higher levels of spending on third-party product development consultants and travel in our manipulator/docking hardware and temperature management segments. The increases in staffing, third-party consultant costs and travel were due to increased product development efforts throughout 2003. These increases were partially offset by reductions in spending on product development materials in our temperature management segment in 2003 compared to 2002.
General and Administrative Expense. General and administrative expense was $6.1 million for 2003 compared to $5.9 million for 2002, an increase of $192,000 or 3%. We attribute the increase primarily to increased data processing costs in our manipulator/docking hardware segment as well as increased salary and benefits expense in our manipulator/docking hardware and tester interface segments. The $149,000 increase in data processing costs are related to a company-wide ERP system conversion that began in the fourth quarter of 2003 at our primary location in the manipulator/docking hardware segment and will continue into 2004 at our tester interface segment and into 2005 at the remaining locations in our manipulator/docking hardware segment. The $222,000 increase in salary and benefits expense was the result of the return of certain benefits that had been reduced or eliminated. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in legal fees as well as reductions in spending on fees for tax services and
communications. The decrease in legal fees in 2003 compared to 2002 is primarily due to the settlement of patent litigation during the first quarter of 2003.
Other Income. Other income was $224,000 for 2003 compared to $143,000 in 2002, an increase of $81,000 or 57%. The increase in other income was primarily due to a decrease in foreign exchange transaction losses of $96,000 in 2003 compared to 2002. To a lesser extent, the increase was attributable to reduced interest expense in 2003 compared to 2002. Partially offsetting the benefit of these two items was a reduction in interest income in 2003 compared to 2002 due to lower average cash balances.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit). Income tax expense was $1.8 million for 2003 compared to an income tax benefit of $1.4 million for 2002. Our effective tax rate for 2003 was 51% compared to (83)% for 2002. During 2003, we recorded a $1.4 million valuation allowance against our beginning of the year net deferred tax assets due to our 2003 operating losses which resulted in the realizability of the net deferred tax assets to no longer be considered more likely than not. In addition, we recorded approximately $400,000 of income tax expense in 2003, due to the earnings of certain of our foreign operations as well as a reduction in the anticipated amount of tax refunds resulting from research and development credits filed for in 2002. During 2002, we recorded a one-time tax benefit of $750,000, which resulted from our filing amended prior year tax returns to claim additional research and experimentation credits for prior years.
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inTEST CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Net cash provided by operations for the year ended December 31, 2004 was $4.0 million compared to net cash used in operations of $1.4 million in 2003. The shift to cash provided by operations in 2004 from cash used in operations in 2003 was primarily the result of generating operating income for 2004 compared with operating losses in 2003. Also contributing to this shift was a $2.5 million reduction in accounts receivable during 2004. The decline in accounts receivable between December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004 was due to the reduced level of sales in the fourth quarter of 2004 compared to higher sales levels in the fourth quarter of 2003. Inventories increased $2.0 million during 2004 as a result of purchases of materials with long lead times for forecasted orders, as discussed above. Accounts payable decreased $1.6 million from December 31, 2003 to December 31, 2004 due to decreased purchases to support lower production levels during the fourth quarter of 2004 compared to the same period in 2003. Accr
ued wages and benefits increased $584,000 primarily as a result of the return of domestic salary increases in 2004, which had been suspended since 2001.
Purchases of machinery and equipment were $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, which consisted of $905,000 primarily for computer hardware and software as well as leasehold improvements for our Cherry Hill facility, $323,000 primarily for additional machine shop equipment for our UK subsidiary, $344,000 primarily for demonstration equipment and computer hardware and software for our Temptronic facility, and $443,000 primarily for a combination of quality assurance/inspection equipment, engineering software and testing equipment and leasehold improvements for our tester interface division. The balance of purchases was for equipment for our other foreign subsidiaries. The leasehold improvements for our Cherry Hill facility relate primarily to replacement of the roof and modifications related to the relocation of our machine shop from its current location to the main facility. The leasehold improvements for our tester interface division relate to its new facility in San Jose, CA. We currently esti
mate we will spend approximately $70,000 during the first quarter of 2005 for leasehold improvements and furnishings for our new San Jose facility. In addition, we estimate we will spend $35,000 during the first quarter of 2005 on the relocation of our machining operation in New Jersey into our manufacturing facility. We have no commitments for capital expenditures for the balance of 2005, however, depending upon changes in market demand, we will make such purchases as we deem necessary and appropriate.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2004 was $814,000, which consisted of proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $907,000 offset by $93,000 in payments made under capital lease obligations.
Our total committed contracts that will affect cash over the next five years and beyond are as follows:
|
|
Expected Cash Payments By Year |
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
2010 & |
|
Capital lease obligations |
$ 112 |
$ 25 |
$ 8 |
$ 8 |
$ 8 |
$ 1 |
$ 162 |
Operating lease obligations |
1,769 |
1,613 |
1,562 |
1,539 |
1,533 |
1,724 |
9,740 |
Letters of credit |
250 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
250 |
Inventory material purchase commitments |
3,077 |
328 |
438 |
438 |
219 |
- |
4,500 |
Committed capital expenditure projects |
102 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
102 |
|
$5,310 |
$1,966 |
$2,008 |
$1,985 |
$1,760 |
$1,725 |
$14,754 |
We have a secured credit facility that provides for maximum borrowings of $250,000. We have not utilized this facility to borrow any funds. Our usage consists of the issuance of letters of credit in the face amount of $250,000. We pay a quarterly fee of 1.5% per annum on the total amount of the outstanding letters of credit. The terms of the loan agreement require that we maintain a minimum level of $200,000 of domestic cash. This credit facility expires on September 30, 2006.
We believe that our existing cash balances plus the anticipated cash provided from operations will be sufficient to satisfy our cash requirements for the foreseeable future. As previously discussed, during the second half of 2004 we entered a cyclical downturn in our industry and experienced a significant decline in our orders and sales activity that we believe will continue into 2005. As with prior cycles, we cannot predict how long the current downturn will continue, nor how significant the declines in both our quarterly net revenues and bookings will be throughout this period of contraction. As previously
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inTEST CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
discussed, we have implemented a restructuring of our operations to reduce operating expenses and lower our break-even point. However, if we are unable to reduce our operating expenses sufficiently during this downturn, we may require additional debt or equity financing to meet working capital or capital expenditure needs. We cannot be certain that, if needed, we would be able to raise such additional financing or upon what terms such financing would be available.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2003, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") issued Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") No. 104, Revenue Recognition, effective December 17, 2003. SAB No. 104 updates portions of the interpretive guidance included in Topic 13 of the codification of SABs to make this interpretive guidance consistent with current authoritative accounting guidance and SEC rules and regulations related to revenue recognition. We believe our revenue recognition policies are in compliance with SAB No. 104.
On January 1, 2003, we adopted SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities. SFAS No. 146 addresses the accounting and reporting of expenses related to restructurings initiated after 2002, and applies to costs associated with an exit activity (including a restructuring) or with a disposal of long-lived assets. Those activities can include eliminating or reducing products lines, terminating employees and contracts, and relocating plant facilities or personnel. SFAS No. 146 changes some of the criteria for recognizing a liability for these activities. The adoption of SFAS No. 145 did not have an effect on our results of operations, financial condition or long-term liquidity.
On October 22, 2004, the American Jobs Creation Action (the "AJCA") was signed into law and the AJCA contains many tax provisions expected to affect us over the next several years as those provisions become effective. We are continuing to review these provisions and their application to some of our busi