SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 10-K
For Annual Reports Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended February 28, 2003
Commission File Number 0-12490
ACR GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its Charter)
| Texas |
74-2008473 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
3200 Wilcrest Drive, Suite 440, Houston, Texas 77042
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (713) 780-8532
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 $.01 per share
(Title of class)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the 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 registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨
The aggregate market value of the common stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant on April 30, 2003 was $3,659,995. The aggregate market value was computed by reference to the closing price as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board. For the purposes of this response, Executive Officers, Directors and holders of more than 10% of the Registrants common stock are considered affiliates of the registrant.
The number of shares outstanding of the registrants common stock as of April 30, 2003: 10,681,294 shares
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The registrants definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in August 2003 is incorporated by reference in answer to Part III of this report.
| Page | ||||
| PART I | ||||
| Item 1. |
3 | |||
| Item 2. |
8 | |||
| Item 3. |
8 | |||
| Item 4. |
8 | |||
| PART II | ||||
| Item 5. |
Market for Registrants Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters |
8 | ||
| Item 6. |
9 | |||
| Item 7. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
11 | ||
| Item 7A. |
19 | |||
| Item 8. |
20 | |||
| Item 9. |
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
40 | ||
| PART III | ||||
| Item 10. |
40 | |||
| Item 11. |
40 | |||
| Item 12. |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management |
40 | ||
| Item 13. |
40 | |||
| PART IV | ||||
| Item 14. |
41 | |||
| Item 15. |
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K |
41 | ||
-2-
PART I
General
ACR Group, Inc. (which, together with its subsidiaries is herein referred to as the Company or ACRG) is a Texas corporation based in Houston. In 1990, the Company began to acquire and operate businesses engaged in the wholesale distribution of heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) equipment and supplies. The Company acquired its first operating company in 1990. Since 1990, ACRG has acquired or started nine additional HVACR distribution companies and now has 44 branch operations in nine states. The Company plans to continue expanding in the Sunbelt of the United States and in other geographic areas with a high rate of economic growth, through both acquisitions and internal growth.
The HVACR Industry
The Company sells supplies and equipment to installing contractors and dealers and to other technically trained customers responsible for the installation, repair and maintenance of HVACR systems. Maintenance of a large and diverse inventory base is an important element in the Companys sales.
The HVACR supply industry is segmented into discrete categories. First, it serves both commercial and residential HVACR businesses. Each of these segments is further divided into two marketsnew construction sales and replacement and/or repair sales. Some companies choose to specialize in serving the new construction markets while others focus on the repair/replacement market, commonly referred to as the aftermarket. ACRG is not oriented toward any particular segment but instead concentrates on acquiring and developing profitable businesses in the Sunbelt region of the United States which have a significant market share within their segment of the HVACR distribution industry. The Company believes that its growth strategy is appropriate in view of the competitive nature of the HVACR industry and the continuing consolidation in that industry, discussed below.
There are many manufacturers of products used in the HVACR industry, and no single manufacturer dominates the market for a range of products. Some manufacturers limit the number and territory of wholesalers that may distribute their products, but exclusivity is rare. Many manufacturers will generally permit any distributor who satisfies customary commercial credit standards to sell their products. In addition, there are some manufacturers, primarily of equipment, that distribute their own products through factory branches. The widespread availability of HVACR products to distributors results in significant competition. There are an estimated three thousand HVACR wholesale distributors in the United States, and there is no single company or group of companies that dominates the HVACR distribution industry. The industry traditionally has been characterized by closely-held businesses with operations limited to local or regional geographic areas; however, a process of consolidation in this industry is ongoing, as many of these companies reach maturity and face strategic business issues such as ownership succession, changing markets and lack of capital to finance growth. Managements goal is to attract the present owners and management of such businesses by offering certain advantages related to economies of scale: lower cost of products from volume purchasing, new product lines, and financial, administrative and technical support.
The Company believes that investing in the HVACR distribution industry has fewer economic risks than many other industries. Although the HVACR industry is affected by general economic conditions such
-3-
as cycles in new home construction, sales of replacement equipment and repair parts for the existing base of installed air conditioning and heating systems provide a cushion against economic swings. The aftermarket is far less susceptible to changes in economic conditions than the new construction market and now represents approximately 70% of all units installed annually. This percentage should continue to increase as the base of installed systems expands. Much of the HVACR industry is also seasonal; sales of air conditioning and heating systems are generally largest during the times of the year when climatic conditions require the greatest use of such systems. Sales of refrigeration systems, which are generally to commercial customers, are subject to less seasonality.
The Companys operations are conducted through nine subsidiaries that participate in the wholesale distribution of HVACR equipment and supplies:
ACR Supply, Inc.
The Company acquired ACR Supply, Inc. (ACRS) in 1993, after making an initial investment in the company in 1991. At the end of fiscal 2003, ACRS had fifteen branches in Texas and one in Louisiana. Many of ACRSs branches have attained market share leadership in their respective areas. In major metropolitan areas such as San Antonio and Houston, ACRS encounters significantly more competition than in smaller cities. However, through aggressive sales efforts, the Houston branches have achieved a significant, but not dominant, share of their local HVACR markets.
ACRS sells primarily to licensed contractors serving the residential and light commercial (restaurants, strip shopping centers, etc.) markets. The companys sales mix is approximately 28% equipment and 72% parts and supplies, with the equipment and parts generally directed to the aftermarket and the supplies used principally in new construction.
Heating and Cooling Supply, Inc.
The Company acquired Heating and Cooling Supply, Inc. (HCS) in 1990. HCS operates from one location in Las Vegas, Nevada. There are approximately 20 independent HVACR distributors in the Las Vegas area that compete with HCS. Management believes that HCS is among the top three of such distributors in terms of annual sales from branch operations in the local area.
Mirroring the rapid growth of the Las Vegas economy over the past decade, approximately 80% of HCSs sales are in the new construction market, and a majority of those sales are to the residential segment of the market. Unlike many HVACR distributors, HCS also has capabilities to service both the commercial plan and specifications market and the specialty products markets. The company is directing greater attention to the HVACR aftermarket in an effort to gain higher margin business and to diversify its customer base.
-4-
Total Supply, Inc.
Total Supply, Inc. (TSI) has operated as an HVACR wholesale distributor in Georgia since 1992. Since 1993, TSI has distributed the Goodman brand of HVACR equipment in Georgia and now has the Goodman distribution rights to almost the entire state of Georgia. TSI sells almost exclusively to the residential market, and management estimates that sales are approximately evenly split between new construction and the aftermarket. The companys sales mix is approximately 66% equipment and 34% parts and supplies. TSI has four branches located in the Atlanta metropolitan area, one branch in Warner Robins, a suburb of Macon and another in Savannah, Georgia. A branch in Dothan, Alabama that was opened in 2000 was subsequently closed in December 2002 .
Valley Supply, Inc.
In 1994, the Company organized Valley Supply, Inc. (VSI) as an HVACR distributor in the Memphis, Tennessee trade area, which included southwestern Tennessee, northern Mississippi and western Arkansas. In 1997, the Company assigned to management of TSI the responsibility for VSIs operations, and in 1999, VSI gained the distribution rights for Goodman equipment in the Nashville trade area. Approximately 71% of VSIs sales consisted of Goodman equipment in fiscal 2003. In fiscal 2001, the Company closed its operation in Memphis, Tennessee to concentrate its efforts on selling Goodman equipment in the larger metropolitan areas of central and south central Tennessee.
Ener-Tech Industries, Inc.
In 1996, the Company acquired Ener-Tech Industries, Inc. (ETI), an HVACR distributor in Nashville, Tennessee. Unlike the Companys other HVACR distribution operations, ETI specializes in an industry subsegment, selling building controls and control systems to commercial and industrial end-users, HVACR contractors, dealers and other distributors. ETI is an authorized distributor for Honeywell, Inc. for much of Tennessee and parts of Kentucky and, for certain Honeywell product lines, has exclusive distribution rights. In fiscal 2003, Honeywell products represented over 80% of ETIs purchases.
Subsequent to fiscal 2003, the Company sold substantially all of the inventory and tangible capital assets of ETI. The sale was not material to the consolidated financial statements of the Company.
Florida Cooling Supply, Inc.
In 1996, the Company organized Florida Cooling Supply, Inc. (FCS) and opened four branch operations in west central Florida, of which three remain open. The state of Florida is among the three largest in the United States in terms of installed HVACR systems. The Companys sales mix is approximately 35% equipment and 65% parts and supplies. In fiscal 2001, the Company opened branch operations in Gainesville and Jacksonville, Florida expanding its sales territory outside the Tampa Bay area of Florida. Management believes that Florida will continue to offer exceptional opportunities to open additional branch operations.
-5-
Lifetime Filter, Inc.
In 1997, the Company acquired Lifetime Filter, Inc. (LFI), a manufacturer of air filters for the HVACR industry. LFI is based in Katy, Texas, a suburb of Houston. At that time, LFI manufactured principally semi-permanent electrostatic air filters that were sold by mail order to contractors and dealers across the country. The market demand for electrostatic filters has diminished steadily since 1997, and the company expects that trend to continue.
Since 1997, in an effort to increase the size of its average sales order, LFI has added to its sales mix certain other HVACR supplies and parts that are suitable for mail order delivery. That initiative has generated mixed results. In fiscal 2003, resale of HVACR products, other than filters, represented approximately 5% of LFIs sales.
In 1999, LFI began to manufacture disposable pleated air filters, which have greater filtering capability and a somewhat longer life than the traditional disposable fiberglass air filter. Pleated air filters are projected to have increasing demand in both commercial and residential applications and are more readily sold through the Companys existing wholesale distribution network. In fiscal 2003, sales of its pleated filters represented approximately 56% of LFIs gross sales. LFI is also exploring several additional channels to market its products.
West Coast HVAC Supply, Inc. d/b/a ACH Supply
In 1997, West Coast HVAC Supply, Inc. acquired the operating assets and liabilities of ACH Supply, Inc. (ACH). ACH had two branches located east of Los Angeles. In fiscal 1999, ACH opened a third branch in Canoga Park. The Company has attracted key employees with significant management experience working for a much larger HVACR wholesale distributor in southern California. ACH sells primarily HVACR parts and supplies, and, late in fiscal 2000, began distributing the Tappan brand of HVACR equipment. In fiscal 2001, the Company opened four new branches: Santa Ana and Redlands in the southern and eastern trade areas surrounding Los Angeles, and in Fresno and Bakersfield, expanding into the central California market areas. These two branches in central California distribute the Comfortmaker line of HVACR equipment.
Management has committed to opening a branch operation in El Centro, California in June 2003 and believes that further opportunities will become available to expand branch operations in California.
Contractors Heating & Supply, Inc. (CHS)
In 1997, CHS acquired certain of the assets, and assumed certain of the liabilities, of Contractors Heating and Supply Company, an HVACR distributor based in Denver, with branch operations in Colorado Springs and Newcastle, Colorado, and in Albuquerque, New Mexico. CHS has operated in Denver since 1945, in Colorado Springs since 1959 and in Albuquerque since 1960, and is considered among the market leaders in each of its trade areas. CHS also operates a sheet metal shop in Colorado Springs, where products are fabricated for distribution through CHSs wholesale operations. Approximately 15% of CHSs total sales are products that it manufactures. In April 1999, CHS opened a distribution branch in Fort Collins, Colorado, and, in March 2000, acquired International Comfort Supply, Inc., a wholesale distributor based in El Paso, Texas. In fiscal 2001,
-6-
the Company obtained the rights to distribute the Goodman line of equipment in all of its trade areas, and also opened a branch operation and distribution center in east Denver.
Energy Service Business
In the early 1980s, the Companys primary business was the design, installation and management of integrated systems intended to reduce energy costs (Systems) for users of commercial, industrial and institutional facilities. Pursuant to service contracts, customers paid ACRG a specified percentage of the utility cost savings attributable to the Systems over the term of the contract. In fiscal 2000, the Company reached an understanding with its final energy services customer to terminate services at the end of October 1999, with the customer agreeing to make a contract termination payment to the Company and to pay for all utility cost savings computed through the termination date. This process was completed in April 2000.
Executive Officers of the Registrant
The Companys executive officers are as follows:
| Name |
Age |
Position with the Company | ||
| Alex Trevino, Jr. |
66 |
Chairman of the Board and President | ||
| Anthony R. Maresca |
52 |
Senior Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer | ||
| A. Stephen Trevino |
40 |
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel |
Alex Trevino, Jr. has served as Chairman of the Board since 1988 and as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since July 1990. From September 1987 to February 1990, he served as President of Western Operations of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Group of MLX Corporation (now Pameco Corporation), which is a national distributor of HVACR equipment and supplies.
Anthony R. Maresca has been employed by the Company since 1985. In November 1985 he was elected Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Maresca is a certified public accountant.
A. Stephen Trevino has been employed by the Company since March 1999, initially serving as General Counsel and directing various administrative functions. He was elected Vice President and Secretary in August 2000.
Employees
As of February 28, 2003, the Company and its subsidiaries had approximately 420 full-time employees. Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries routinely use temporary labor. There are no Company employees represented by any collective bargaining units. Management considers the Companys relations with its employees to be good.
-7-
The Company and its subsidiaries occupy office and warehouse space under operating leases with various terms. Generally, a branch location will contain 10,000 to 25,000 square feet of showroom and warehouse space. Branch locations that include a subsidiarys corporate office will be larger. The Company owns the facilities occupied by LFI, the Pasadena, Texas branch of ACRS, and the Gainesville, Florida branch of FCS.
As of February 28, 2003 the Company was not a party to any pending legal proceeding that is deemed to be material to the Company and its subsidiaries.
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 the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003.
PART II
Item 5. Market for the Registrants Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters.
Until May 2001, the Companys common stock traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market® under the symbol ACRG. The table below sets forth the high and low sales prices based upon actual transactions.
Effective May 9, 2001, the Companys common stock was delisted from the Nasdaq Stock Market for failure to maintain a closing bid price of at least $1.00 per share. The Companys common stock is now traded in the over-the-counter market under the symbol ACRG as before, or by the symbols ACRG.OB, or ACRG.BB, depending on the source of the quote.
| High |
Low | |||||
| Fiscal Year 2003: |
||||||
| 1st quarter ended 5/31/02 |
$ |
0.59 |
$ |
0.38 | ||
| 2nd quarter ended 8/31/02 |
|
0.52 |
|
0.36 | ||
| 2nd quarter ended 11/30/02 |
|
0.55 |
|
0.38 | ||
| 4th quarter ended 2/28/03 |
|
0.44 |
|
0.34 | ||
| Fiscal Year 2002: |
||||||
| 1st quarter ended 5/31/01 |
$ |
0.65 |
$ |
0.29 | ||
| 2nd quarter ended 8/31/01 |
|
0.72 |
|
0.50 | ||
| 3rd quarter ended 11/30/01 |
|
0.73 |
|
0.43 | ||
| 4th quarter ended 2/28/02 |
|
0.55 |
|
0.24 | ||
-8-
As of April 30, 2003, there were 474 holders of record of the Companys common stock. This number does not include the beneficial owners of shares held in the name of a broker or nominee.
The Company has never declared or paid cash dividends on its common stock. The Companys loan agreement with its senior lender expressly prohibits the payment of dividends by the Company. See Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources, and Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
The following selected financial data of the Company have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements. This summary should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 8 of this Report. Since February 28, 1998, the increase in sales has resulted principally from internal expansion, as discussed in Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7. of this Report. The Company has never paid any dividends.
The Company has not recorded a current provision for income taxes other than federal alternative minimum taxes and state income taxes for fiscal years 1999 through 2003 because of previously incurred net operating losses for which a tax benefit had not previously been recorded. In fiscal 2003, the Company recorded deferred federal income tax expense of $251,000 to reduce the carrying value of the net deferred tax asset that relates to the benefit realized from the utilization of its net operating loss carryforward. See Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
-9-
Selected Financial Data
(in thousands, except per share data)
| Year Ended February 28 or 29, |
||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
||||||||||||||||
| Income Statement Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Sales |
$ |
161,822 |
|
$ |
155,490 |
|
$ |
136,433 |
|
$ |
126,468 |
|
$ |
117,887 |
| |||||
| Gross profit |
|
36,138 |
|
|
33,929 |
|
|
29,452 |
|
|
28,135 |
|
|
24,772 |
| |||||
| Operating income |
|
2,690 |
|
|
2,097 |
|
|
772 |
|
|
4,077 |
|
|
3,317 |
| |||||
| Income before income taxes |
|
1,433 |
|
|
542 |
|
|
(1,341 |
) |
|
2,482 |
|
|
1,568 |
| |||||
| Provision for income taxes |
|
(330 |
) |
|
(123 |
) |
|
(137 |
) |
|
(255 |
) |
|
(153 |
) | |||||
| Cumulative effect of accounting change |
|
(483 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
| Net income (loss) |
$ |
620 |
|
$ |
419 |
|
$ |
(1,478 |
) |
$ |
2,227 |
|
$ |
1,415 |
| |||||
| Earnings per common share: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Before cumulative effect of accounting change |
$ |
.10 |
|
$ |
.04 |
|
$ |
(.14 |
) |
$ |
.21 |
|
$ |
.13 |
| |||||
| Cumulative effect of accounting change |
|
(.04 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
| $ |
.06 |
|
$ |
.04 |
|
$ |
(.14 |
) |
$ |
.21 |
|
$ |
.13 |
| ||||||
| Diluted: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Before cumulative effect of accounting change |
$ |
.10 |
|
$ |
.04 |
|
$ |
(.14 |
) |
$ |
.20 |
|
$ |
.12 |
| |||||
| Cumulative effect of accounting change |
|
(.04 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
| $ |
.06 |
|
$ |
.04 |
|
$ |
(.14 |
) |
$ |
.20 |
|
$ |
.12 |
| ||||||
| As of February 28 or 29, |
||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
| ||||||||||||||||