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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023
OR
For the transition period from to .
Commission File No. 001-41503
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS AND SUPPORT, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(610) 646-9800
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class: Trading symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock par value $.001 per share ISSC NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐No☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐No☒
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☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐ Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☒ Smaller reporting company ☒
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of March 31, 2023 (the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second quarter) was approximately $95.2 million (based on the closing sale price of the registrant’s common stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market on such date). Shares of common stock held by each executive officer and director and by each person who owns 10% or more of the registrant’s outstanding common stock have been excluded since such persons may be deemed affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.
As of January 8, 2024, there were 17,453,733 outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock.
Documents Incorporated by Reference
The information required by Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K will be found in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such information is incorporated herein by this reference.
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INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS AND SUPPORT, INC.
2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K
Table of Contents
Page
PART I
Item 1. Business 4
Item 1A. Risk Factors 16
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 26
Item 2. Properties 26
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 26
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 27
PART II
Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data 28
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 39
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 39
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 70
Item 9B. Other Information 70
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections 70
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 71
Item 11. Executive Compensation 71
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services 72
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules 73
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements are based largely on current expectations and projections about future events and trends affecting the business, are not guarantees of future performance, and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “may,” “will,” “estimates,” “continues,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “forecasts,” “expects,” “plans,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “is likely,”“ projected,” “might,” “potential,” “preliminary,” “provisionally,” and similar expressions, as they relate to the business or to its management, are intended to identify forward looking statements, but they are not exclusive means of identifying them. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references herein to “IS&S,” the “Registrant,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” are to Innovative Solutions and Support, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. ThrustSense® and COCKPIT/IP®, among others, are trademarks of the Company. All other trademarks appearing herein are held by their respective owners. Subsequent use of the Company’s trademarks in this Annual Report on Form 10-K may occur without the applicable superscript symbol (® or TM) in order to facilitate the readability of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and are not a waiver of rights that may be associated with the relevant trademarks.
The forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are only predictions, and actual events or results may differ materially. In evaluating such statements, a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results, performance, financial condition, cash flows, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include those set forth in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the following factors:
● continued market acceptance of the Company’s air data systems and products;
● the competitive environment and new product offerings from competitors;
● the ability to service the international market;
● the availability of government funding;
● the impact of general economic trends on the Company’s business;
● disruptions in the Company’s supply chain, customer base and workforce;
● delays in receiving components from third-party suppliers;
● the bankruptcy or insolvency of one or more key customers;
● protection of intellectual property rights, including via securing patents;
● the ability to respond to technological change;
● failure to retain/recruit key personnel;
● risks related to succession planning;
● a cybersecurity incident;
● risks related to our self-insurance program;
● the costs of compliance with present and future laws and regulations;
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise after the date of this report. Results of operations in any past period should not be considered indicative of the results to be expected for future periods. Fluctuations in operating results may result in fluctuations in the price of the Company’s common stock.
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The forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are intended to be subject to the safe harbor protection provided by Sections 27A of the Securities Act, and 21E of the Exchange Act.
Investors should also be aware that while the Company, from time to time, communicates with securities analysts, it is against its policy to disclose any material non-public information or other confidential commercial information. Accordingly, shareholders should not assume that the Company agrees with any statement or report issued by any analyst irrespective of the content of the statement or report. Furthermore, the Company has a policy against issuing or confirming financial projections, forecasts or opinions issued by others. Thus, to the extent that reports issued by securities analysts contain any projections, forecasts or opinions, such reports are not the responsibility of the Company.
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PART I
Item 1. Business.
Overview
The Company was incorporated in Pennsylvania on February 12, 1988. The Company operates in one business segment as a systems integrator that designs, develops, manufactures, sells and services air data equipment, engine display systems, standby equipment, primary flight guidance, autothrottles and cockpit display systems for retrofit applications and original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”). The Company supplies integrated flight management systems (“FMS”), flat panel display systems (“FPDS”), FPDS with autothrottle, air data equipment, integrated standby units, integrated standby units with autothrottle, advanced Global Positions System (“GPS”) receivers that enable reduced carbon footprint navigation, communication and navigation products and inertial reference units.
The Company has continued to position itself as a system integrator, which provides the Company with the capability and potential to generate more substantive orders over a broader product base. This strategy, as both a manufacturer and integrator, is designed to leverage the latest technologies developed for the computer and telecommunications industries into advanced and cost-effective solutions for the general aviation, commercial air transport, the U.S. Department of Defense (the “DoD”)/governmental and foreign military markets. This approach, combined with the Company’s industry experience, is designed to enable the Company to develop high-quality products and systems, to reduce product time to market and to achieve cost advantages over products offered by its competitors.
The Company has been working with advances in technology to provide pilots with more information to enhance both the safety and efficiency of flying and has developed its COCKPIT/IP® Cockpit Information Portal product line, which incorporates proprietary technology, lower cost relative to the competition, reduced power consumption, decreased weight, and increased functionality. The Company has incorporated electronic flight bag functionality, such as charting and mapping systems, into its FPDS product line.
The Company has developed an FMS that combines the savings long associated with in-flight fuel optimization in enroute flight management with the precision of satellite-based navigation required to comply with the regulatory environments of both domestic and international markets. The Company believes that its FMS, alongside its FPDS and Cockpit Information Portal product lines, is well suited to address market demand driven by certain regulatory mandates, new technologies, and the high cost of maintaining aging and obsolete equipment on aircraft that may be in service for up to fifty-years. The shift in the regulatory and technological environment is illustrated by the dramatic increase in the number of Space Based Augmentation System (“SBAS”) or Wide Area Augmentation System (“WAAS”) approach qualified airports, particularly as realized through Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance (“LPV”) navigation procedures. Aircraft equipped with the Company’s FMS, FPDS and SBAS/WAAS/LPV enabled navigator, will be qualified to land at such airports and will comply with Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) mandates for Required Navigation Performance, and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast navigation. We believe this will further increase the demand for the Company’s products. The Company’s FMS/FPDS product line is designed for new production and retrofit applications in general aviation, commercial air transport and military transport aircraft. In addition, the Company offers what we believe to be a state-of-the-art integrated standby unit, integrating the full functionality of the primary and navigation displays into a small backup-powered unit. This integrated standby unit builds on the Company’s legacy air data computer to form a complete next-generation cockpit display and navigation upgrade offering to the commercial and military markets.
The Company has developed and received certification from the FAA on its NextGen Flight Deck featuring its ThrustSense® Integrated PT6 Autothrottle (“ThrustSense® Autothrottle”) for retrofit in the Pilatus PC-12. The NextGen Flight Deck features Primary Flight and Multi-Function Displays and integrated standby units, as well as an integrated FMS and electronic flight bag system. The innovative avionics suite includes dual flight management systems, autothrottles, synthetic vision and enhanced vision. The NextGen Flight Deck enhanced avionics suite is available for integration into other business aircraft with full-authority digital engine control (“FADEC”) and non-FADEC engines.
The Company has developed its FAA-certified ThrustSense® Autothrottle for retrofit in the King Air, dual turbo prop PT6 powered aircraft. The ThrustSense® Autothrottle is designed to automate power management for speed and power control including go-around. ThrustSense® Autothrottle also ensures aircraft envelope protection and engine protection during all phases of flight, thereby reducing pilot workload and increasing safety. The Company has signed a multi-year agreement with Textron Aviation, Inc. (“Textron”) to supply ThrustSense® Autothrottle on the King Air 360 and King Air 260. ThrustSense® Autothrottle is also available for retrofit on King Air aircraft through Textron service centers and third-party service centers. The Company has also developed an FAA-certified
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safety mode feature for its King Air ThrustSense® Autothrottle, LifeGuardTM, which provides critical Vmca protection that proportionally reduces engine power to maintain directional control during an engine-out condition.
We believe the ThrustSense® Autothrottle is innovative in that it is the first autothrottle developed for a turbo prop that allows a pilot to automatically control the power setting of the engine. The ThrustSense® Autothrottle computes and controls appropriate power levels thereby reducing overall pilot workload. The system computes thrust, holds selected speed/torque, and implements appropriate speed and engine limit protections. When engaged by the pilot, the ThrustSense® Autothrottle system adjusts the throttles automatically to achieve and hold the selected airspeed while guarding the engines via a torque/temperature limit mode. The autothrottle system takes full advantage of the integrated cockpit utilizing weight and balance information for optimal control settings and enables safety functions such as a turbulence control mode.
The Company sells to both the OEM and the retrofit markets. Customers include various OEMs, commercial air transport carriers and corporate/general aviation companies, the DoD and its commercial contractors, aircraft operators, aircraft modification centers, government agencies and foreign militaries. Occasionally, the Company sells its products directly to the DoD; however, the Company sells its products primarily to commercial customers for end use in DoD programs. Sales to defense contractors are generally made on commercial terms, although some of the termination and other provisions of government contracts are applicable to these contracts. The Company’s retrofit projects are generally pursuant to either a direct contract with a customer or a subcontract with a general contractor to a customer (including government agencies).
Customers have been and may continue to be affected by changes in economic conditions both in the United States and abroad. Such changes may cause customers to curtail or delay their spending on both new and existing aircraft. Factors that can impact general economic conditions and the level of spending by customers include, but are not limited to, general levels of consumer spending, increases in fuel and energy costs, conditions in the real estate and mortgage markets, labor and healthcare costs, access to credit, consumer confidence, inflation, public health crises and pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and other macroeconomic factors that affect spending behavior. Furthermore, spending by government agencies may be reduced in the future. If customers curtail or delay their spending or are forced to declare bankruptcy or liquidate their operations because of adverse economic conditions, the Company’s revenues and results of operations would be affected adversely. For example, in the 2020 fiscal year, certain of the Company’s customers temporarily suspended product deliveries as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while these deliveries subsequently resumed, there is a possibility that the COVID-19 or similar pandemics will result in other suspensions, delays or order cancellations by the Company’s customers or suppliers.
On the other hand, we believe that in adverse economic conditions, customers that may have otherwise elected to purchase newly manufactured aircraft may be interested instead in retrofitting existing aircraft as a cost-effective alternative, thereby enhancing the retrofit market opportunity for the Company.
Industry
A wide range of information is critical for the proper and safe operation of aircraft. With advances in technology, new types of information to assist pilots are becoming available for display in cockpits, such as satellite-based weather, ground terrain maps and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast navigation. The Company believes that aircraft cockpits will become more complete information centers, capable of delivering additional information that is either mandated by regulation or demanded by pilots to assist in the safe and efficient operation of aircraft. The flight deck will continue to incorporate technologies that are stepping-stones for complete autonomy. We believe that the market will continue to embrace the initial phases of autonomous flight.
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The Company classifies flight data into four general types: aircraft heading and altitude information, flight critical aircraft control data, navigation data, and maintenance and aircraft health data. Aircraft heading and altitude information includes aircraft speed, altitude, and rates of ascent and descent. Flight critical aircraft control data includes engine data, such as fuel and oil quantity, and other engine measurements. Navigation data includes radio position, flight management, GPS and alternative source information (i.e., information not originating on the aircraft, including weather depiction maps, GPS navigation and surface terrain maps). Maintenance and aircraft health data includes on-board sensors and programs to measure parameters related to the health of a system on the aircraft. Air data calculations are based primarily on air pressure measurements derived from sensors on the aircraft. Engine data are determined by measuring various indices such as temperature, volume, revolutions per minute and pressure within an aircraft’s engines and other mechanical equipment. GPS and alternative source information are derived typically from satellites or equipment located on land and transmitted by satellite or radio signals to the aircraft. Maintenance and aircraft health data measure multiple parameters on various products and interface with various components to manage, measure, and report on the health, reliability and usability of a system. This information is displayed in the cockpit for reference, enhanced position awareness and reduced support logistics on properly equipped aircraft.
Traditionally, flight data and other cockpit information were displayed on a series of separate analog mechanical instruments. In the early 1980s, cathode ray tubes and digital displays using monochromatic Liquid Crystal Displays (“LCD”) began to replace some individual analog instruments. Presently, the industry offers high resolution color flat panels using active matrix liquid crystal displays to replace traditional analog instruments, cathode ray tubes or monochromatic LCD displays. We expect that the ability to display more information in an efficient space and custom platform will become increasingly important if additional information, such as weather depiction maps, traffic information, surface terrain maps, datalink messaging and surveillance displays, becomes mandated by regulation or demanded by pilots. Accordingly, we believe flat panel displays, which can integrate and display a “suite” of information, will replace individual instrument cathode ray tubes and monochromatic LCDs on legacy aircraft.
In the past, equipment data, such as engine and fuel-related information, were displayed on analog mechanical instruments. Engine and fuel instruments provide information on engine activity, including oil and hydraulic pressures and temperature. These instruments are clustered throughout an aircraft’s cockpit. Engine and fuel instruments tend to be replaced more frequently than other instruments due to obsolescence and normal wear-and-tear. Aircraft operators continue to purchase individual conventional engine and fuel instruments as replacements because the information that these instruments display is vital for safe and efficient flight. Increasingly, operators are replacing their clusters of analog mechanical instruments with integrated engine instrument display systems or FPDS packages.
As the skies and airports become more crowded, the aviation industry and its regulators are concentrating on new technologies, procedures, and regulations that allow more aircraft to operate in the skies and on the ground safely, efficiently, and with less impact on the environment. These new technologies and procedures, such as traffic avoidance, ground awareness, increased precision of navigation and vertical position, runway incursion prevention, and increased digital communication, will require innovation and intuitive methods to display situational awareness information for the pilots. We believe that flat panel displays provide an attractive solution to the growing need for innovation and new methods in this area.
Strategy
The Company’s objective is to become a leading supplier and integrator of cockpit information, and we believe that our industry experience and reputation, technology and products and business strategy provide the basis to achieve this objective. Key elements of the Company’s strategy include:
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Products
The Company’s current product lines include:
Flat Panel Display Systems
Flat panel displays are active matrix liquid crystal display screens that can replicate the display of one or a suite of analog or digital displays on one screen. Flat panel displays can replace existing displays in legacy aircraft. Active matrix liquid crystal display are used also for security monitoring on-board aircraft and as tactical workstations on military aircraft. The FPDS product line also offers numerous advantages for the presentation of engine performance data.
The Company’s FPDS can replace conventional analog and digital displays and can display additional information that is not commonly displayed in the cockpit with conventional analog and digital displays. The COCKPIT/IP® is capable of displaying nearly all types of air data, engine and fuel data, altitude, heading and navigational data, maintenance and aircraft health data and alternative source information. As technology and information delivery systems develop further, additional information will be displayed in the cockpit, such as surface terrain maps and data link messaging. The Company designed the COCKPIT/IP® to be capable of displaying information from a variety of sources, including its Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum air data system, engine and fuel instrumentation and third-party data and information products.
From time to time, customers may order one or more FPDSs customized to their particular requirements. Typically, the Company charges for the added development cost. This revenue is reported as Engineering Development Contracts (“EDC”) on the consolidated statements of operations. Engineering costs incurred in customizing FPDSs are included in cost of sales.
Flight Management Systems
The Company’s NextGen Flight Deck management system is an easily installed navigation and performance computer that complements the Company’s FPDS upgrade for commercial air transport aircraft. The FMS interfaces with the Company’s SBAS GPS receiver to provide a GPS-based navigation solution. The GPS receiver is located remotely depending on space availability. To minimize use of cockpit space and ease installation efforts, the FMS is housed in an ARINC 739B compliant Multifunction and Control Display Unit (“MCDU”).
Each FMS/MCDU has an LCD display, keyboard, mode and function keys, line select keys and annunciator lights, and supports ethernet data loading. The flight crew can manually or datalink waypoint flight plans, routes or user-defined waypoints on the Company’s FMS and modify and update these plans via the FMS/MCDU screen. Once the flight plan data is entered, the MCDU computes the most efficient flight profiles and provides steering commands for use by the aircraft control system to fly the airplane along the desired route.
The FMS/MCDU package incorporates a robust navigation database capable of storing today’s global database, with ample growth for the future. Flight crews can utilize the data in the navigation database to create, edit and modify flight plans for display on the FPDS. The navigation data includes airways, jet routes, Standard Instrument Departure, Standard Terminal Arrival Route and Company-stored routes.
The FMS/MCDU is ARINC 739B compliant, which provides an interface option for other cockpit equipment such as satellite communications, ACARS, Communications Management Unit, HUD and a printer. The interface to the Company’s FPDS is provided via ethernet. The Company’s electronic flight bag system is integrated with the FMS/MCDU and FPDS where the control selection of the electronic flight bag features and applications are handled via the FMS/MCDU. The display is a five-inch LCD with VGA resolution. The touchscreen display uses LED backlighting and is sunlight readable.
Integrated Standby Unit
The Company’s integrated standby unit incorporates the measurement and display of attitude, altitude, airspeed, and navigation data into a single standby/backup navigation instrument for military, commercial air transport and corporate/general aviation applications. The integrated standby unit has an integral Inertial Measurement Unit that includes accelerometer, gyro and magnetometer triads. The integrated standby unit also includes an integral air data measurement module for measurement of static and total pressure for display of altitude, airspeed and mach number.
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The Company’s integrated standby unit is a highly reliable and accurate standby navigation system that is based on the Company’s merger of COCKPIT/IP® display technology and Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum air data products, coupled with the modern technology in MEMS Gyros that have exceptional stability. The Company’s proprietary algorithm provides for accurate computation of attitude, heading and air data parameters. The integrated standby unit includes a triaxial magnetometer that is designed to be tolerant to the local soft iron effects.
The display uses a familiar Primary Flight Display format to reduce pilot workload. Logistics and maintenance savings are realized due to increased reliability and a reduction in line-replaceable units. The integrated standby unit is also equipped with built-in test and display of navigational aid and maintenance data.
Air Data Systems and Components
The Company’s air data products calculate and display various measures such as aircraft speed, altitude and vertical rate of change. These air data products utilize advanced sensors to gather air pressure data and customized algorithms to interpret data, thus allowing the system to calculate altitude more accurately.
The Company sells individual components and partial and complete air data systems. The components and systems include:
● altitude displays, which convey aircraft altitude measurements;
Engine and Fuel Displays
The Company develops, manufactures and markets engine and fuel displays. These solid-state multifunction displays convey information with respect to fuel and oil levels and engine activity, such as oil and hydraulic pressure and temperature. They include individual and multiple displays installed throughout the cockpit. The displays can be used in conjunction with the Company’s engine and fuel data equipment or that of other manufacturers.
Engine and fuel displays are vital to safe flight. In addition, accurate conveyance of engine and fuel information is critical for monitoring engine stress and parts maintenance. Engine and fuel displays tend to be replaced more frequently than other displays and have been slow to incorporate new technology since their introduction because of their low cost, standard design and universal use.
We believe that our air data engine and fuel displays are extremely reliable, designed to be programmable and are easily adaptable without major modification to most modern aircraft. These products have been installed on B727, B737, C-130H, DC-9, DC-10, P-3, F-16 and A-10 aircraft.
Integrated Global Navigation System
The Company’s Integrated Global Navigation System product is an alternative for adding GPS navigation capability to legacy aircraft through an OEM FMS without incurring the high cost of upgrading the current FMS.
This product includes required navigation performance and RNAV approaches via the Company’s certified Beta 3 GPS and leverages components of the Company’s FPDS to provide annunciation to the pilot during GPS procedures.
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ThrustSense® Autothrottle
The Company’s ThrustSense® Autothrottle is a full regime autothrottle that can operate from takeoff to landing phases of flight including go around. ThrustSense® Autothrottle combines FADEC functionality with low and high-speed protection for the Pilatus PC-12 and Beechcraft King Air series aircraft. We believe ThrustSense® Autothrottle improves safety and performance for Pratt and Whitney PT6 powered single and multi-engine aircraft. In the case of multi-engine aircraft, such as the Beechcraft King Air, ThrustSense® Autothrottle provides Vmca protection during an engine out condition. The system is lightweight, installs with minimal downtime and provides the user with high value for performance. We believe ThrustSense® Autothrottle can attain fuel savings of 3%, and when flying constant angle-of-attack, the fuel savings can be as much as 10%. In April 2019, the Company received certification from the FAA for its ThrustSense® Autothrottle for retrofit in the King Air dual turboprop PT6 powered aircraft. The Company has signed a multi-year agreement with Textron to supply ThrustSense® Autothrottle on their new production aircraft, the King Air 360 and King Air 260. The ThrustSense® Autothrottle is also available for retrofit on King Airs through Textron service centers and third-party service centers.
The ThrustSense® Autothrottle is designed to ensure stabilized approaches by controlling speeds during descent. During high pilot workload, the ThrustSense® Autothrottle is designed to prevent the airplane from becoming dangerously slow or fast and protects against overtorque and overtempt conditions, thereby enhancing the safety and capability of the aircraft.
Control of the ThrustSense® Autothrottle is housed in an easy-to-install integrated standby unit that provides standby functionality on a high-resolution LCD display. The ThrustSense® Autothrottle is designed to avoid structural modifications to the existing throttle quadrant. ThrustSense® Autothrottle has Minimum Equipment List Relief and on-condition maintenance.
We believe the ThrustSense® Autothrottle can be adapted to virtually all PT6 powered aircraft by installing the Company’s integrated standby unit. The integrated standby unit executes software to control the autothrottle actuator. In addition, the Company’s integrated standby unit calculates, processes and displays altitude, attitude, airspeed, slip/skid, and navigation display information, which we believe is presented in a logical and concise single instrument display. It features a high- resolution LCD display with full LED backlighting, thereby improving reliability and providing full sunlight readability to the pilot and fully anti-aliased graphics.
We believe the autothrottle retrofit and standby are easily installed, and typical installation can take less than a week with minimum modifications to the existing flight deck.
Other potential benefits of the ThrustSense® Autothrottle include:
● safety enhancements and pilot workload reduction;
● life-saving enhancements in multi-engine aircraft;
● FADEC-like engine protection;
Utilities Management System
The Company provides its utilities management system for the Pilatus PC-24 aircraft. The Company’s utilities management system integrates a wide range of aircraft functions that are commonly supported by multiple individual controllers. The Company’s utilities management system for the Pilatus PC-24 monitors aircraft sensors and aircraft control systems as required to achieve system functionality. This open architecture system allows Pilatus to design and/or refine control and monitoring algorithms in-house.
We believe there is interest in the Company’s utilities management system from other aircraft manufacturers as well. The Company’s utilities management system is an innovative design that controls more than 20 aircraft systems such as navigation, auto-flight, landing gear, surface positions, fire protection, ice/rain protection, electrical loads, lighting, environmental conditions, cabin pressurization and oxygen systems based on OEM custom configuration.
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The Company’s utilities management system is a Data Concentrator and Processing Unit that allows manufacturers to configure and program specific applications on a ARINC 653 operating system in an open architecture platform. The Company’s utilities management system acts as the aircraft central maintenance computer allowing for a maximum of six Data Concentrator and Processing Units to be included in the communication ring. The system provides a significant power and weight savings over the use of federated boxes and utilizes the Company’s latest technological advancements in avionics circuit design.
Communications and Navigation, Inertial Reference Products
In June 2023, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase and License Agreement (the “Honeywell Agreement”) with Honeywell International, Inc. (“Honeywell”) pursuant to which Honeywell sold, assigned or licensed certain assets related to its inertial, communication and navigation product lines, including a sale of certain inventory, equipment and customer-related documents, an assignment of certain contracts and a grant of exclusive and non-exclusive licenses to use certain Honeywell intellectual property related to its inertial, communication and navigation product lines to repair, overhaul, manufacture sell, import, export and distribute certain products to the Company for cash consideration of $35.9 million (the “Transaction”).
The exclusive licensing of these product lines from Honeywell is a unique opportunity for the Company that enhances its current offerings in the air transport, military and business aviation markets. In addition, there are potential cost synergies from better utilization of the Company’s skilled engineering team and its existing operational capacity. The Company believes the Honeywell Agreement will help to accelerate the Company’s growth and enhance its global reputation for delivering some of the industry’s best price-for-performance value propositions.
Customers
The Company’s customers include the U.S. government (including the DoD, the Department of Interior and the Department of Homeland Security), Air Transport Services Group Inc. (“ATSG”), Amazon.com, Inc., American Airlines, Inc. (“AAL”), Boeing, Deutsche Post DHL Group, FedEx Corporation (“FedEx”), Icelandair, L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (“L3 Harris Technologies”), Lockheed Martin Corporation (“Lockheed Martin”), Pilatus, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Textron, and the Department of National Defense (Canada), among others.
The Company’s revenue is concentrated with a limited number of customers. In fiscal year 2023, the three largest customers, Pilatus, ATSG and Textron accounted for 23%, 12% and 10% of total revenue, respectively. In fiscal year 2022, the three largest customers, Pilatus, ATSG and Textron accounted for 22%, 11% and 11% of total revenue, respectively. In fiscal year 2021, the two largest customers, Pilatus and Textron accounted for 20% and 17% of total revenue, respectively.
Retrofit Market
Historically, most of the Company’s sales have come from the retrofit market, which the Company has pursued because of the growing need to support the world’s aging fleet of aircraft. The design and airframe structure of many types of older aircraft generally exceed the technology and technical capabilities of the original cockpit instruments and avionics. The Company has developed products that enable owners and operators to upgrade their aircraft by retrofitting them with the Company’s products at a competitive cost and with equipment that provides cockpit displays with capabilities and technology equivalent to newer aircraft.
We expect our main customers in the retrofit market will continue to be the DoD and defense contractors, aircraft operators and aircraft modification centers.
U.S. Department of Defense and Defense Contractors. The Company sells its products directly to the DoD and to domestic and international defense contractors for end use in military aircraft retrofit programs. DoD programs generally take one of two forms: a subcontract with a prime government contractor, such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, or L3Harris Technologies, Inc. or a direct contract with the appropriate government agency, such as the U.S. Air Force. The government’s desire for cost-effective retrofit of its aircraft has led it to purchase commercial off-the-shelf equipment rather than to develop specially designed products, which are usually more costly and take longer to implement. These retrofit contracts tend to be on arms-length commercial terms, although some termination and other provisions of government contracts are typically applicable to these contracts, as described under “Government Regulation” below. Each government agency or general contractor retains the right to terminate a contract at any time at its convenience. Upon such alteration or termination, the Company is entitled typically to be compensated for already delivered items and reimbursement for allowable costs incurred.
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Aircraft Operators. The Company sells its products to aircraft operators, including commercial airlines, cargo carriers and business and general aviation aircraft owners or suppliers, primarily for retrofitting of aircraft owned or operated by these customers. The Company’s commercial fleet customers include or have included, among others, AAL, ATSG, FedEx and Icelandair. The Company sells these customers a range of products from FPDS to air data systems.
Aircraft Modification Centers. Aircraft modification centers, which repair and retrofit private aircraft, represent the primary retrofit market for private and corporate jets. The Company has established relationships with a several aircraft modification centers throughout the United States which act as distribution outlets and installation centers for the Company’s products.
Original Equipment Manufacturers
The Company has signed a multi-year agreement with Textron to supply ThrustSense® Autothrottle on their new production aircraft, the King Air 360 and King Air 260, as described above in “Products - ThrustSense® Autothrottle”. The Company has developed and manufactures the utilities management system for the Pilatus’ PC-24 aircraft under a multi-year production contract as described above under “Products - Utilities Management System”. The Company also markets its products to other OEMs including, among others, Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
Backlog
September 30
Backlog represents the value of contracts and purchase orders, less the revenue recognized to date on those contracts and purchase orders. The backlog excludes potential future sole-source production orders from products developed under the Company’s EDC programs, including the Pilatus PC-24, the KC-46A and the Textron King Air 360 and King Air 260 ThrustSense® Autothrottle programs. Although the Company believes that the orders included in backlog are firm, most of the backlog involves orders that can be modified or terminated by the customer. As of September 30, 2023, 8% of the Company’s backlog was expected to be filled beyond fiscal 2024.
Engineering Development
The Company invests a significant percentage of its sales in engineering development, which includes both research & development (“R&D”) and EDC. At September 30, 2023, approximately 26% of the Company’s employees were engineers engaged in various engineering development projects. Total engineering development expense comprises both internally funded R&D and product development and design changes related to specific customer contracts. Engineering development expense consists primarily of payroll-related expenses of employees engaged in EDC projects, engineering related product materials and equipment and subcontracting costs. R&D charges incurred for product design, product enhancements and future product development are expensed as R&D. Product development and design charges related to specific customer contracts are charged to cost of sales-EDC based on the method of contract accounting (either recognized over time or at a point in time) applicable to such contracts.
Sales and Marketing
The Company focuses its sales efforts on passenger and cargo carrying aircraft operators, general aviation owner/operators, maintenance, repair and overhaul (“MRO”) dealer networks, distributors, avionics integrators, aircraft modification centers, the DoD, DoD contractors and OEMs. Periodically, the Company evaluates its sales and marketing efforts with respect to these focus areas and, where appropriate, makes use of third-party sales representatives who receive compensation through commissions based on performance. As of September 30, 2023, we had thirteen third-party sales representatives worldwide actively selling the Company’s products.
We are continuing to expand our MRO dealer network to address worldwide markets for Boeing 737, 757 and 767, Pilatus PC-12, Beechcraft King Air models and other aircraft types. We have established a dealer network for ThrustSense® Autothrottle, and we are exploring adding more MRO dealers in the United States and internationally.
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Our marketing efforts have focused on applicable markets to establish and maintain customer relationships using email campaigns, key market influencers, advertisements, trade shows, web casts, direct mailers and digital and social media. Our ThrustSense® Autothrottle offering on the Pilatus PC-12 and King Air have been favorably featured in multiple articles in major publications over the past several years.
The Company believes its ability to provide prompt and effective repair and upgrade service is critical to its marketing efforts. The Company’s customer service program offers a 24-hour customer hotline. The Company services its customers utilizing either field service engineers or its in-house repair and upgrade facility. The Company may lend spare units to customers when it is repairing or overhauling their equipment. The Company provides customers with a standard two-year warranty on new products and offers customers extended warranties of varying lengths beyond the two years for additional fees.
The Company believes its ability to provide an installation service is critical to its marketing efforts. The Company’s repair station, which began operating in June 2022, provides a mobile STC Installation Team to install the PC-12 and King Air ThrustSense® Autothrottle systems.
Most of the Company’s sales, personnel and assets are located within the United States. In fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021 net sales outside the United States amounted to $15.5 million, $11.1 million and $8.4 million, respectively.
Government Regulation
FAA regulations govern the manufacture and installation of the Company’s products in aircraft owned and operated in the United States. Both the Company’s manufacturing facility and repair station are FAA-certified. The most significant product and installation regulations are Technical Standard Orders, Parts Manufacturer Approvals and STCs, which establish the minimum operational performance standards. For example, in April 2019, the FAA issued its Technical Standard Orders authorization and STC for the Company’s ThrustSense® Autothrottle for retrofit in the King Air dual prop PT6 powered aircraft. In February 2019, the FAA issued its Technical Standard Orders authorization and STC for the Company’s B767 Integrated Standby Unit to be used on B767 aircraft in the United States.
Generally, sales of the Company’s products to European or other non-U.S. owners of aircraft require approval of EASA, or other relevant governmental agencies. EASA certification requirements for the manufacture and installation of the Company’s products in European owned aircraft mirror FAA regulations, and its process for European certification is similar to that of the FAA. For example, in September 2021, EASA and the Transport Canada Civil Aviation issued STCs for the Company’s ThrustSense® Autothrottle for King Air series aircraft in the European Union and Canada, respectively.
In addition to product-related regulations, the Company is subject to U.S. government procurement regulations with respect to the sale of the Company’s products to government entities or government contractors. The government agency or general contractor retains the right to terminate a contract at any time at its convenience. Upon such alteration or termination, the Company is generally entitled to an equitable adjustment to the contract price so that the Company receives the purchase price for products or services already delivered, reimbursement for allowable costs incurred and termination related costs.
The Company’s business is also impacted by various other laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, local, state, federal, and international tax codes, import and export controls and customs laws, employment and employment-related laws, environmental laws, intellectual property laws, and consumer protection statutes. The Company from time to time incurs costs in the ordinary course of business in connection with maintaining compliance with these evolving and at times overlapping regulatory regimes.
Manufacturing, Assembly and Materials Acquisition
The Company’s manufacturing activities consist primarily of assembling and testing components and subassemblies and integrating them into finished systems. Typically, the Company purchases components for products, including any necessary raw materials, from third-party suppliers, several of which are sole source, and assembles them in a clean room environment. Many of the components purchased are standard products, although certain parts are made to the Company’s specifications. Although there are a limited number of suppliers of particular components, management believes other suppliers could provide similar components on comparable terms.
When appropriate, the Company enters into long-term supply agreements and uses its relationships with long-term suppliers to improve product quality and availability and reduce delivery times and product costs. In addition, the Company identifies alternative
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suppliers for important component parts. Generally, the introduction of component parts from new suppliers into existing products requires FAA certification of the entire finished product if the newly sourced component varies significantly from the original drawings and specifications. The Company has not experienced significant delays in delivery of products caused by the inability to obtain either component parts or FAA approval of products incorporating new component parts.
Quality Assurance
Product quality is of vital importance. The Company is ISO 9001 and AS9100D certified. These standards represent an international consensus on effective management practices with the goal of ensuring that a company can deliver its products and related services consistently in a manner that meets or exceeds customer quality requirements. The Company’s certification to these standards allows the Company to represent to customers that it maintains high-quality industry standards in the education of its employees and in the design and manufacture of its products. In addition, the Company’s products undergo extensive and documented quality control testing prior to being delivered to customers.
Competition
The market for the Company’s products is highly competitive. Competitors vary in size and resources, and substantially all the Company’s competitors are much larger than the Company and have substantially greater resources. With respect to air data systems and related products, the Company’s principal competitors include Honeywell, Collins Aerospace, Thales Defense & Security, Inc. and Garmin Ltd. With respect to flat panel displays, principal competitors currently include Honeywell, Collins Aerospace, L3Harris Technologies, Garmin Ltd. and GE Aviation Systems. However, as the flat panel display industry evolves and the demand for flat panel displays increases, the Company may face future competition in this area from other suppliers. The Company believes that the principal competitive factors in its markets are cost, development cycle time, responsiveness to customer preferences, product quality, technology and reliability. We believe that its our significant and long-standing customer relationships reflect the Company’s ability to compete favorably with respect to these factors.
Intellectual Property and Proprietary Rights
The Company relies on patents to protect its proprietary technology. As of September 30, 2023, the Company holds 32 U.S. patents and has three U.S. patent applications pending relating to its technology. In addition, as of September 30, 2023, the Company holds 85 international patents and has six international patent applications pending. Certain of these patents and patent applications cover technology relating to air data measurement systems, and others cover technology relating to flat panel display systems and other aspects of the COCKPIT/IP® product. While we believe these patents have significant value in protecting our technology, we believe that the innovative skill, technical expertise and know-how of the Company’s personnel in applying the technology reflected in its patents would be difficult, costly and time consuming for third parties to reproduce.
While the Company is not aware of any pending lawsuits against the Company alleging patent infringement or the violation of other intellectual property rights, it cannot be certain such infringement claims will not be asserted against the Company in the future.
Human Capital
Our people are the driving force behind our success, and our future and growth prospects depend on our ability to attract, train and retain highly qualified personnel. We are fortunate to have talented and outstanding employees, and we are proud of our diverse workforce and the broad range of skills and experiences that our people have. We work hard to cultivate a dynamic and enjoyable work environment that provides opportunities to learn new skills. We emphasize teamwork and encourage our employees to brainstorm and develop and refine new ideas to help us innovate and achieve our goals.
We maintain equity compensation plans and benefits packages designed to retain talented people who share our goals and interests. We also offer competitive salaries and generous benefits, including vacation, a 401(k) savings and retirement plan, health, dental, life, long-term disability insurance, an Employee Assistance Program and health and dependent Flexible Spending Account programs. Additionally, we regularly review and reevaluate our recruitment strategies to ensure our practices align with our mission, purpose, and values. Nevertheless, competition for such qualified personnel is intense, and the Company may not be able to attract, train and retain highly qualified personnel in the future.
We are an equal opportunity employer and a Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act federal contractor. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
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national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also comply with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment and have a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to each employee, director, officer, contractor and consultant of the Company designed to ensure that we maintain the highest standards of business conduct in every aspect of our business and operations.
As of September 30, 2023, the Company had 98 employees (95 of whom were full-time employees). None of our employees are currently represented by a labor union, nor are they subject to a collective bargaining agreement. We consider our relationship with our employees to be good.
Executive Officers of the Registrant
The following is a list of the Company’s executive officers, their ages and their positions in each case.
Name Age Position
Shahram Askarpour 66 Director and Chief Executive Officer
Relland M. Winand (1) 69 Interim Chief Financial Officer
Shahram Askarpour has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Company since April 2022. Dr. Askarpour joined the Company as a Director of Engineering in 2003, was promoted to Vice President of Engineering in 2005, and was promoted to President in 2012. Dr. Askarpour has more than 30 years of aerospace industry experience in managerial and technical positions. Prior to joining the Company, he was employed by Smiths Aerospace (a division of Smiths Group PLC), Instrumentation Technology and Marconi Avionics. He holds several key patents in the aviation field. Dr. Askarpour received his engineering education in the United Kingdom and received an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from Middlesex University, a post graduate Certificate of Advanced Study in Systems Engineering and a PhD in Automatic Control from Brunel University. He was awarded the title of Associate Research Fellow for three consecutive years by Brunel University, and has published numerous papers in leading international peer reviewed journals. In addition, he has completed management courses at Carnegie Mellon University and finance courses at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Relland M. Winand was appointed as interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company on November 8, 2023. Mr. Winand, age 69, previously served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer from December 2014 until his retirement in July 2022, after serving as the Company’s Controller from September 2014 to December 2014. Previously, Mr. Winand served in a number of executive financial capacities with public companies, including Chief Financial Officer of ECC International, Corp, a manufacturer of computer-controlled maintenance simulators primarily for the DoD and Vice President Finance and Administration of Traffic.com, Inc., a leading provider of accurate, real-time traffic information in the United States. Immediately prior to joining the Company, Mr. Winand was Chief Financial Officer from 2008 to 2013 of Orbit/FR, Inc., an international developer and manufacturer of sophisticated microwave test and measurement systems for aerospace/defense, wireless, satellite and automotive industries. From January 2014 until September 2014, Mr. Winand served as a consultant for Solomon Edwards Group LLC. He has over 30 years’ experience in financial management and reporting for both public domestic and international manufacturing companies. Mr. Winand received a B.S. in Accounting from Drexel University and an M.B.A. in Finance from Widener University.
Other
The SEC maintains a website that contains annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and information statements and other information about issuers, including the Company, that file electronically with the SEC. The public can obtain any document we file with the SEC at www.sec.gov.
The Company also maintains its corporate website at http://www.innovative-ss.com and makes available, free of charge, on that website (under the “Investor Relations – Investor Information” tab) the Company’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10 Q, current reports on Form 8 K, and amendments to those as reasonably practicable after it electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC. The information on the Company’s website is not incorporated as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the sections titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes, before making a decision to invest in our common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations, or prospects could also be harmed by risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently do not believe are material. If any of the risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects could be adversely affected. In that event, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
Growth of the Company’s customer base could be limited by delays or difficulties in completing development and introduction of planned products or product enhancements. If the Company fails to enhance existing products, or to develop and achieve market acceptance for flat panel displays, flight management systems, autothrottle technology and other new products that meet customer requirements, its business, reputation and statements of income may be affected adversely.
The Company spends a large portion of its R&D efforts in developing and marketing the FPDS, FMS, ThrustSense® Autothrottle and complementary products. The Company’s ability to grow and diversify its operations through introduction and sale of new products is dependent upon its continued success in product development and engineering activities, its sales and marketing efforts, and its ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals to sell such products. Sales growth will depend in part on market acceptance of and demand for the FPDS, FMS, ThrustSense® Autothrottle and future products. The Company cannot be certain that it will be able to develop, introduce or market its FPDS, FMS, ThrustSense® Autothrottle or other new products or product enhancements in a timely or cost-effective manner, or that any new products or product enhancements will receive market acceptance or necessary regulatory approval. In addition, the Company’s business is dependent upon maintaining its reputation and relationships with existing customers. If the Company’s performance or the performance of the Company’s products does not meet its customers’ expectations, the Company’s reputation and its relationships could be damaged, which may have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business and statements of income, including reductions in sales.
In seeking new customers, the Company may have difficulty in displacing the products of incumbent competitors. The Company cannot be assured that potential customers will accept its products or that existing customers will not abandon them.
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Contracts can be terminated by many of the Company’s customers at any time and, therefore, may not result in sales.
The Company’s contracts, including contracts with government agencies, include various terms and conditions that impose certain requirements on the Company, including the ability of the government agency or general contractor to alter the price, quantity or delivery schedule of the products. Additionally, government agencies and general contractors typically retain the right to terminate the contract at any time at their convenience. Upon alteration or termination of these contracts, the Company is entitled typically to an equitable adjustment to the contract price so that it would be compensated for delivered items and allowable costs incurred. However, because these contracts can be terminated for convenience, the Company cannot be assured that its backlog will result in sales.
The Company enters into fixed-price contracts or service arrangements to perform specified design and EDC services related to its products that could subject the Company to losses in the event the Company incurs cost overruns on its projects.
During fiscal year 2023, approximately 3.3% percent of the Company’s total sales were from fixed-price EDC arrangements with customers to perform specified design and EDC services related to its products. These arrangements allow the Company to benefit by recovering some of its product development costs, but it carries the risk of potential cost overruns. If the Company’s initial cost estimates are incorrect, it can incur potentially large one time charges and losses on these contracts. These EDC arrangements can expose the Company to potential losses because the customer may compel the Company to complete a project or, in the event of a termination for default, pay the incremental cost of its replacement by another provider. Because some of these projects involve new technologies and applications, and can last for more than a year, unforeseen events such as technological difficulties, fluctuations in the price of raw materials, problems with subcontractors, and cost overruns can result in the contractual price becoming less favorable or even unprofitable to the Company over time. Furthermore, if the Company does not meet project deadlines or if its products do not meet customer specifications, it may need to renegotiate contracts on less favorable terms, be forced to pay penalties or liquidated damages, or suffer losses if the customer exercises its right to terminate. The Company’s results of operations are dependent on its ability to maximize earnings from the EDC service arrangements. Lower earnings caused by cost overruns could have a negative impact on the Company’s financial condition, operating results and cash flows.
A portion of the Company’s sales come from government contracts, which could be adversely affected by continued high U.S. federal budget deficits. Government contracts are also subject to special risks as a result of the U.S. government’s audit practices.
A portion of the Company’s sales has been, and is expected to continue to be, from defense contractors or government agencies in connection with government aircraft retrofit or OEM contracts. Sales to government contractors and government agencies could decline as a result of DoD spending cuts and general budgetary constraints, which may become more severe as the federal budget deficit remains high.
In addition, the U.S. government regularly conducts investigations, inquiries and audits into its suppliers’ compliance with procurement regulations and performance under the relevant government contracts. If an investigation reveals or an audit finds that the Company violated applicable law or regulations, its government contracts could be terminated and it could be restricted from future procurement activities. Moreover, if an investigation, inquiry or audit finds that the Company acted improperly or was involved in illegal activities, the Company could be subject to civil penalties, criminal penalties, and administrative sanctions. As a result, the Company’s reputation could be harmed even if the allegations were later determined to be false.
Reductions in government expenditures could adversely affect the Company’s business.
Reductions in funding of the DoD and U.S. defense spending could have significant consequences to the Company’s business and industry. The impact of any such reductions in defense appropriations and/or reductions in U.S. defense spending could result in delays in procurement of products and services due to lack of funding, and negatively affect the Company’s revenues, financial condition and results of operations.
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The loss of a key customer or a significant deterioration in the financial condition of a key customer could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.
The Company’s revenue is concentrated with a limited number of customers. During fiscal year 2023 the Company derived 54% of revenue from the top five customers. The Company continues to expect a relatively small number of customers to account for a majority of its revenues for the foreseeable future. As a result of the concentrated customer base, a loss of one or more of these customers or a dispute or litigation with one of these key customers could affect adversely its revenue and results of operations. The Company monitors and evaluates the credit status of its customers and attempts to adjust sales terms as appropriate. Despite these efforts, a significant deterioration in the financial condition or bankruptcy filing of a key customer could affect adversely the Company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition.
In addition, the Company is subject to credit risk associated with the concentration of accounts receivable from its key customers. If any of the Company’s top customers were to become bankrupt or insolvent or otherwise were unable to pay for the products and services provided by the Company, then the Company may incur significant write-offs of accounts receivable, incur other impairment charges or result in a significant loss of expected revenues, which may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.
We self-insure a significant portion of our employee medical insurance program, which may expose us to unpredictable costs and negatively affect our financial performance.
We self-insure a significant portion of our employee medical insurance program and related benefit claims. The estimated liability for the self-funded portion of our insurance program is determined actuarially, based on claims filed historically, demographic factors and an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported. We maintain stop loss insurance coverage to limit our exposure for the self-funded portion of our health insurance program both on a per employee and aggregate basis, and liabilities associated with these losses include estimates of both claims filed and losses incurred but not yet reported. Unanticipated changes in any applicable actuarial assumptions or management estimates underlying our recorded liabilities for these losses could result in materially different amounts of expense than expected under these programs, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the premiums for this coverage could increase in the future, or we could be forced to raise our self-insured retention amounts. If these expenses increase, or if we experience a claim in excess of our reserve and/or coverage limits, it could also have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operation.
We currently operate without a substantial backlog.
During periods of economic uncertainty, the rate of customer orders can quickly decrease, and a substantial backlog may help promote greater efficiency in production, facilitate business planning and improve revenue visibility. As of September 30, 2023, 8% of the Company’s backlog was expected to be filled beyond fiscal 2024, which is below the Company’s historical expectations and may result in lower revenues in future periods. As a result, future revenue will be dependent on orders booked and shipped in that quarter, and may not be predictable with any degree of certainty. Furthermore, certain contracts may represent a significant portion of our revenue and profits for a quarter such that the loss or deferral of even one such contract could adversely affect our revenue and profitability.
The Company has limited experience in marketing and distributing its products internationally.
The Company plans to derive increasing revenues from sales outside the United States, particularly in Europe and Asia. Risks inherent in doing business internationally include:
● differing regulatory requirements;
● legal uncertainty regarding liability and the enforceability of agreements;
● tariffs, trade and investment barriers, and other regulatory barriers;
● changes in diplomatic and trade relationships;
● difficulty with staffing and managing widespread operations;
● the impact of recessions in economies outside the United States; and
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● variances and unexpected changes in local laws and regulations.
Currently, all of the Company’s international sales are denominated in U.S. dollars. An increase in the dollar’s value compared to other currencies could render the Company’s products less competitive in the international markets. In the future, the Company may be required to conduct sales in the foreign country’s local currency, thus exposing it to fluctuations and volatility in exchange rates that could adversely affect its operating results. Further, as we pursue customers in Asia and other less developed markets throughout the world, our potential inability to ensure the creditworthiness of counterparties could impose additional risks and affect our overall profitability. Emerging market operations in particular can present many risks, including volatility in gross domestic product, economic and government instability, and the imposition of exchange controls and capital controls.
These factors and their impact are difficult to predict, and any one or more of them could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.
The Company’s competition includes other manufacturers of air data systems and flight information displays against whom it may not be able to compete successfully.
The markets for the Company’s products are intensely competitive and subject to rapid technological change. Competitors include Honeywell, Collins Aerospace, Thales Defense & Security, Inc., Garmin Ltd. and GE Aviation Systems. All these competitors have substantially greater financial, technical, and human capital resources than does the Company. In addition, these competitors have much greater experience in and resources for marketing their products. As a result, these competitors may be able to respond more quickly to new or emerging technologies and customer preferences, or to devote greater resources to development, promotion and sale of their products than the Company can. The Company’s competitors may have greater name recognition and more extensive customer bases. Such competition could result in price reductions, fewer customer orders, reduced gross margins, and loss of market share.
The Company relies on third-party suppliers for components of its products, including any necessary raw materials, and any interruption in the supply of these components could hinder its ability to deliver products on a timely basis.
The Company’s manufacturing process consists primarily of assembling components purchased from its supply chain. The suppliers may not continue to be available to the Company, or be able to perform or timely deliver our components. If the Company is unable to maintain relationships with key third-party suppliers, the development and distribution of its products could be delayed until equivalent components can be obtained and integrated into the products. In addition, substitution of certain components from other manufacturers may require product redesign or FAA, EASA or other approvals, which could delay the Company’s ability to ship products, and any increase in component costs, including the costs of any necessary raw materials, in the Company’s supply chain could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.
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The Company depends on key personnel to manage its business effectively, and an inability to retain its key employees and plan for management succession could adversely impact the Company’s ability to compete.
The Company’s success depends on the efforts, abilities, and expertise of its senior management and other key personnel. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to retain such employees, and the loss of some could damage its ability to execute its business strategy. The Company intends to continue hiring key management, engineering, and sales and marketing personnel. Competition for skilled personnel is intense, and the Company may not be able to attract or retain additional qualified personnel.
The Company’s future success will depend in part on its ability to implement and improve its operational, administrative and financial systems and controls and to manage, train and expand its employee base. The Company cannot provide assurance that current and planned personnel levels, systems, procedures and controls will be adequate to support its current and future customer base. In such a circumstance, the Company may not be able to fully capitalize on existing and potential market opportunities. Any delays or difficulties encountered could impair the Company’s ability to attract new customers or maintain its relationships with existing customers. In addition, effective succession planning is important to our long-term success. Failure to ensure effective transfer of knowledge and smooth transitions involving senior management and other key personnel could hinder our strategic planning and execution
The Company’s revenue and operating results may vary significantly from quarter to quarter, which may cause its stock price to decline.
The Company’s revenue and operating results may vary significantly from quarter to quarter because of a number of factors, including, but not limited to:
● demand for products and/or delivery schedule changes by its customers;
● delays in introducing or obtaining government approval for new products;
● new product introductions by competitors;
● costs related to possible acquisition of technologies or businesses.
If the Company is unable to respond to rapid technological change, its products could become obsolete and its reputation could suffer.
Future generations of flat panel displays, air data systems, engine and fuel displays, flight management systems and autothrottle technology which embody new technologies or new industry standards could render the Company’s products obsolete. The market for aviation products is subject to rapid technological change, new product introductions, changes in customer preferences, and evolving industry standards and government regulations. The Company’s future success will depend on its ability to:
● embrace rapidly changing technologies;
If the Company fails to modify or improve its products in response to evolving industry standards and government regulations, its products could rapidly become obsolete.
The Company’s products are currently subject to direct regulation by the FAA and other equivalent organizations. The Company’s products, as they relate to aircraft applications, must be approved by the FAA, EASA, or other equivalent organizations before they can be installed in an aircraft. To be certified, the Company must demonstrate that its products are accurate and able to maintain certain levels of repeatability over time. Although the certification requirements of the FAA and EASA are substantially similar, no formal reciprocity exists between the two regulators. Accordingly, even though the Company’s products are FAA approved, the Company may need to obtain approval from EASA or other appropriate organizations to have them certified for installation outside the United States.
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Significant delay in receiving certification for newly developed products or enhancements to the Company’s products, or the loss of certification for its existing products, could result in lost sales or delays in sales. Furthermore, new regulations or product standards, and changes to existing product standards could require the Company to change its products and underlying technology. The Company cannot ensure that it will receive regulatory approval on a timely basis or at all.
Inasmuch as the Company’s products utilize sophisticated technology and are deployed in complex aircraft cockpit environments, problems with these products may arise that could harm the Company’s reputation for quality assurance and, consequently, its business prospects.
The Company’s products use complex system designs and components that may contain errors, omissions, or defects, particularly when the Company incorporates new technologies into its products or when it releases new versions or enhancements of its existing products. Despite the Company’s quality assurance process, errors, omissions or defects could occur in its current products, in new products, or in new versions or enhancements of existing products. The Company may be required to redesign or recall those products or pay damages. Such an event could result in the following:
● delay or loss of revenues;
● cancellation of customer contracts;
● diversion of development resources;
● damage to the Company’s reputation;
● increased service and warranty costs; or
● litigation costs.
The Company’s product liability insurance, may not be adequate to cover its losses in the event of a large product liability claim. In addition, the Company may not be able to maintain such insurance in the future.
We may pursue strategic acquisitions, investments, strategic partnerships or other ventures, and our business could be materially harmed if we fail to successfully identify, evaluate, complete, and integrate such transactions. Acquisitions, including the Transaction, involve inherent risks that may adversely affect our operating results and financial condition. The Company may be unable to successfully integrate and realize the anticipated benefits of the Transaction.
Our growth strategy includes evaluating acquisition opportunities and opportunities to make investments in complementary businesses, technologies, services or products, or to enter into strategic partnerships with parties who can provide access to those assets, additional product or services offerings, additional distribution or marketing synergies or additional industry expertise. One example is the recent asset acquisition of certain inertial, communication and navigation product lines from Honeywell. We may not be able to identify suitable acquisition, investment or strategic partnership candidates, or if we do identify suitable candidates in the future, we may not be able to complete those transactions on commercially favorable terms, or at all.
Acquisitions, including the Transaction, involve various inherent risks, such as: our ability to assess accurately the value, strengths, weaknesses, internal controls, contingent and other liabilities and potential profitability of acquisition candidates; difficulties in integrating acquired businesses, including the potential loss of key personnel from an acquired business, our potential inability to achieve identified financial, operating and other synergies anticipated to result from an acquisition, and integration issues associated with internal controls of acquired businesses; the diversion of management’s attention from our existing businesses; the potential impairment of assets; potential unknown liabilities associated with a business that we acquire or in which we invest, including environmental liabilities; new and proposed regulations limiting the enforcement of noncompetition and nonsolicitation agreements; and production delays associated with consolidating acquired facilities and manufacturing operations. Any past or future acquisition, including the Transaction, could also result in such risks. Due diligence performed prior to closing acquisitions may not uncover certain risks or liabilities that could materially impact our business and financial results.
We may not successfully integrate business, operational, and financial activities such as internal controls, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) compliance, cyber security measures, the GDPR and other corporate governance and regulatory matters, operations, personnel or products related to acquisitions we may make in the future. We closed the Transaction in June 2023 and are working to integrate the Honeywell product lines into our business. The success of the Transaction, including anticipated benefits and potential additional revenue opportunities, will depend, in part, on the Company’s ability to successfully integrate the Honeywell product lines in a manner that results in various benefits, including, among other things, enhancing the Company’s current offerings in the air transport, military and business aviation markets, creating potential cost synergies, accelerating the Company’s growth and enhancing its global reputation. The ongoing process of integrating the Transaction could result in a loss of
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key personnel, cause an interruption of, or loss of momentum in, the activities of one or more of the Company’s businesses or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies that adversely affect the ability of the Company to maintain relationships with customers and employees. The diversion of management’s attention and any delays or difficulties encountered in connection with the integration of the Transaction could have an adverse effect on the business, financial condition, operating results and prospects of the Company. If the Company experiences difficulties in the integration process, including those listed above, the Company may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of the Transaction in a timely manner or at all. Failure to achieve these anticipated benefits could result in increased costs, decreases in the amount of expected revenues, lost cost savings and revenue opportunities and diversion of management’s time and energy, and could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results and prospects. If we fail to successfully integrate such transaction, or any future transactions, our business could be materially harmed. In connection with our acquisitions, including those acquisitions that we do not complete, we may incur significant transaction costs. We are required to expense such transaction costs as incurred, which may have a material adverse impact on our financial results.
Risks Related to Intellectual Property, Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Technical Infrastructure
The Company’s success depends on its ability to protect its proprietary rights against potential risk of infringement. If the Company is unable to protect and enforce its intellectual property rights, it may be unable to compete effectively.
The Company’s success and ability to compete will depend in part on its ability to obtain and maintain patent or other protection for its technology and products, both in the United States and internationally. In addition, the Company must operate without infringing the proprietary rights of others.
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As of September 30, 2023, the Company holds 32 U.S. patents and has three U.S. patent applications pending relating to its technology. In addition, the Company holds 85 international patents and has six international patent applications pending. The Company cannot be certain that patents will be issued on any of its present or future applications. In addition, existing patents or future patents may not adequately protect the Company’s technology if they are not broad enough or are successfully challenged, or if other entities are able to develop competing methods without violating its patents. If the Company is not successful in protecting its intellectual property, competitors could begin to offer products that incorporate its technology. Patent protection involves complex legal and factual questions, and, therefore, is highly uncertain. Litigation relating to intellectual property is often very time consuming and expensive. If a successful claim of patent infringement were made against the Company, and if the Company were unable to develop non-infringing technology, or to license the infringed or similar technology on a timely and cost-effective basis, the Company might not be able to produce and sell some of its products. Further, the Company has incurred, and may continue to incur, significant legal and other costs in defense of its intellectual property.
A cyber security incident or other technology disruption could have a negative impact on our business.
We face certain security threats and technology disruptions, including threats to our information technology (“IT”) infrastructure, attempts to gain access to our or our customers’ proprietary or classified information, threats of terrorism events, and failures of our technology tools and systems. Our IT networks and related systems are critical to the operation of our business and essential to our ability to successfully perform day-to-day operations. We are also involved with IT systems for certain customers and other third parties, for which we face similar security threats as for our own, in particular the DoD. In particular, cybersecurity threats—which include, but are not limited to, computer viruses, spyware and malware, attempts to access information, denial of service attacks and other electronic security breaches—are persistent and evolve quickly. In general, such threats have increased in frequency, scope and potential impact in recent years. Further, a variety of technological tools and systems, including both company-owned IT and technological services provided by outside parties, support our critical functions. These technologies, as well as our products, are subject to failure and the user’s inability to have such technologies properly supported, updated, expanded or integrated into other technologies and, in certain cases, may contain open source and third-party software which may unbeknownst to us contain defects or viruses that pose unintended risks. These risks, if not effectively mitigated or controlled, could materially harm our business or reputation. There can be no assurance that actions we have taken to implement appropriate measures and controls will be sufficient to prevent disruptions to critical systems, unauthorized release of confidential information or corruption of data.
The security measures we have implemented may become subject to third-party security breaches, employee error, malfeasance, faulty password management or other irregularities. For example, third parties may attempt to fraudulently induce employees or customers into disclosing user names, passwords or other sensitive information, which may in turn be used to access our IT systems. These security systems cannot provide absolute security. To the extent we were to experience a breach of our systems and were unable to protect sensitive data, such a breach could materially damage business partner and customer relationships, and curtail or otherwise impact the use of our IT systems. Moreover, if a security breach of our IT systems affects our computer systems or results in the release of personally identifiable or other sensitive information of customers, business partners, employees and other third parties, our reputation and brand could be materially damaged, use of our products and services could decrease, and we could be exposed to a risk of loss, litigation and potential liability.
Such an event could require significant management attention and resources, negatively impact our reputation among our customers and the public and challenge our eligibility for future work on sensitive or classified systems, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Legal and Regulatory Risks
Litigation with customers, employees and others could harm our reputation and impact operating results.
In the ordinary course of business, we may be involved in lawsuits and regulatory actions with customers, employees and others. Additionally, we may be subject to employment-related claims alleging discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and wage issues, including those relating to overtime compensation. We are susceptible to claims filed by customers alleging responsibility for breaches of contract or from product defects, and we are also subject to lawsuits filed by patent holders alleging patent infringement. These types of claims, as well as other types of lawsuits to which we are subject from time to time, can distract management’s attention from core business operations and impact operating results, particularly if a lawsuit results in an unfavorable outcome, or could harm the Company’s reputation with customers, employees, investors and others.
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Tax changes could affect the Company’s effective tax rate and future profitability.
The Company’s future results could be affected negatively by changes in the effective tax rate due to changes in the Company’s overall profitability, changes to statutory tax rates in the United States and in other jurisdictions, changes in tax legislation, and the results of audits and examinations of previously filed tax returns. In addition, adverse changes in the underlying profitability and financial outlook of our operations or future changes in tax law could lead to changes in the value of tax assets or liabilities that we currently or in the future may hold, which could materially affect our results of operations. Further, the nature and impact of any future changes to tax law, and the resulting impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations, are uncertain.
The Company is subject to various laws and regulations. Changes to, or failure by the Company to comply with, these laws and regulations could have a significant impact on the Company’s business and operations.
The Company is subject to, and must comply with, various laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the product-related and other regulations of the FAA and the EASA, U.S. government procurement regulations, the rules and regulations of the SEC, and local, state, federal, and international tax codes, import and export controls and customs laws, employment and employment-related laws, environmental laws, intellectual property laws, and consumer protection statutes. Failure to comply with all applicable laws could result in investigation and remediation costs to the Company and could adversely impact the operations and profits of the Company. In addition, the evolving and at times overlapping regulatory regimes to which the Company is subject may change at any time. Any changes to existing laws or regulations, or the adoption of new laws or regulations, could increase our compliance costs and operating costs. In addition, failure to timely comply with regulatory changes could cause payments to be withheld and/or an impact on future business.
If the Company fails to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, it may not be able to accurately report its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, which may adversely affect investor confidence in the Company and, as a result, the value of the Company’s common stock.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that the Company maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. Under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Company is required to furnish a report by management on, among other things, the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. This assessment must include disclosure of any material weaknesses identified by management in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of control deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting that results in more than a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act also generally requires an attestation from the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
The Company’s compliance with Section 404 requires that it compile the system and process documentation necessary to perform an appropriate evaluation. During the evaluation and testing process, if the Company identifies one or more material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting, it will be unable to assert that its internal control over financial reporting is effective. The Company cannot assure you that there will not be material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in its internal control over financial reporting in the future. Any failure to maintain internal control over financial reporting could severely inhibit the Company’s ability to accurately report its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. If the Company is unable to conclude that its internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if its independent registered public accounting firm determines the Company has a material weakness or significant deficiency in its internal control over financial reporting once that firm begin its reviews, the Company could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of its financial reports, the market price of its common stock could decline, and it could be subject to sanctions or investigations by NASDAQ, the SEC or other regulatory authorities. Failure to remedy any material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, or to implement or maintain other effective control systems required of public companies, could also restrict the Company’s future access to the capital markets.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock, Capital Markets and Indebtedness
Our common stock may be affected by limited trading volume and may fluctuate significantly.
Our common stock is traded on NASDAQ. Although an active trading market has developed for our common stock, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for our common stock will be sustained. Failure to maintain an active trading market for our common stock may adversely affect our shareholders’ ability to sell our common stock in short time periods, or at all. Our common
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stock has experienced, and may experience in the future, significant price and volume fluctuations, which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Our common stock has experienced and may continue to experience price fluctuations, which could cause you to lose a significant portion of your investment and interfere with our efforts to grow our business.
Stock markets are subject to significant price fluctuations that may be unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies, and accordingly the market price of our common stock may frequently and meaningfully change. In addition, the market price of our common stock has fluctuated and may continue to fluctuate substantially due to a variety of other factors. Possible exogenous incidents and trends may also impact the capital markets generally and our common stock prices specifically. For example, the war in the Middle East and the war between Russia and Ukraine and resulting economic sanctions imposed by many countries on Russia have led to disruption, instability and volatility in the U.S. and global markets and industries and are expected to have a negative impact on the U.S. and broader global economies. The timing of your purchase and sale of our common stock relative to fluctuations in its trading price may result in you losing a significant portion of your investment.
Because we do not intend to declare cash dividends on our shares of common stock in the foreseeable future, shareholders must rely on appreciation of the value of our common stock for any return on their investment.
We currently anticipate that we will retain future earnings for the development, operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, the terms of any future debt agreements may preclude us from paying dividends. As a result, we expect that only appreciation of the price of our common stock, if any, will provide a return to investors in this offering for the foreseeable future.
Volatility and weakness in capital markets may adversely affect credit availability and related financing costs, which could adversely affect the Company.
Bank and capital markets can experience periods of volatility and disruption. During these periods of volatility and disruption, risks to the Company include:
● reduced access to credit sources; and
There are risks associated with our outstanding and future indebtedness.
On June 28, 2023, the Company and one of its subsidiaries entered into an Amendment to Loan Documents (the “Loan Amendment”) with PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC”), which amends certain terms of that certain Loan Agreement entered into by the parties on May 11, 2023 (the “Loan Agreement” and, as amended, the “Amended Loan Agreement”) and (ii) a corresponding Term Note in favor of PNC (the “Term Note”), which together provide for a senior secured term loan in an aggregate principal amount of $20.0 million, with a maturity date of June 28, 2028 (the “Term Loan”). In addition to providing for the Term Loan, the Loan Agreement, together with a corresponding Revolving Line of Credit Note in favor of PNC, executed May 11, 2023 (“Line of Credit Note”), provides for a senior secured revolving line of credit in an aggregate principal amount of $10.0 million, with an expiration date of May 11, 2028 (the “Revolving Line of Credit”). As of September 30, 2023, the balance of the Term Loan amounted to $19.5 million. There was no balance drawn on the Revolving Line of Credit as of September 30, 2023.
We may incur additional indebtedness in the future under these existing credit facilities and/or enter into new financing arrangements. We may fail to pay these or additional future obligations, as and when required. Specifically, if we are unable to generate sufficient cash flows from operations or to borrow sufficient funds in the future to service or refinance our debt, our business, operating results, financial condition and cash flows will be harmed. Any downgrades from credit rating agencies such as Moody’s Investors Service or Standard & Poor’s Rating Services may adversely impact our ability to obtain additional financing or the terms of such financing and reduce the market capacity for our commercial paper. Furthermore, if prevailing interest rates or other factors result in higher interest rates upon any potential future financing, then interest expense related to the refinance indebtedness would increase.
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In addition, all the agreements governing our indebtedness subject us to continued compliance with certain financial and negative covenants. The Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants throughout and at September 30, 2023. If we are unable to meet our debt service obligations or should we fail to comply with our financial and other negative covenants contained in the agreements governing our indebtedness, we may be required to refinance all or part of our debt, sell strategic assets at unfavorable prices, incur additional indebtedness or issue common stock or other equity securities. We may not be able to, at any given time, refinance our debt, sell assets, incur additional indebtedness or issue equity securities on terms acceptable to us, in amounts sufficient to meet our needs. If we are able to raise additional funds through the issuance of equity securities, such issuance would also result in dilution to our shareholders. Our inability to service our obligations or refinance our debt could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.
On December 19, 2023, the Company and PNC entered into an Amendment to Loan Documents (the “Restated Loan Amendment”) and a corresponding Amended and Restated Revolving Line of Credit Note (“Restated Line of Credit Note”) and Amended and Restated Line of Credit and Investment Sweep Rider (the “Restated Rider”), to increase the aggregate principal amount available under the Company’s senior secured revolving line of credit from $10,000,000 to $30,000,000 and extend the maturity date until December 19, 2028. The proceeds of the Restated Line of Credit Note will be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes, for acquisitions as permitted under the Restated Loan Amendment, and to pay off and close the loan evidenced by that certain Term Note executed in favor of PNC, dated June 28, 2023, which provides for a senior secured term loan in an aggregate principal amount of $20,000,000, with a maturity date of June 28, 2023.
The interest rate applicable to loans outstanding under the Restated Line of Credit is a rate per annum equal to the sum of (A) Daily SOFR (as defined in the Restated Line of Credit Note) plus (B) an unadjusted spread of Applicable SOFR Margin (as defined in the Restated Line of Credit Note) plus (C) a SOFR adjustment of ten basis points. The Applicable SOFR Margin ranges from 1.5% to 2.5% depending on the Company’s funded debt to EBITDA ratio.
The foregoing descriptions of the Restated Loan Amendment, Restated Line of Credit Note and Restated Rider do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Restated Loan Amendment, Restated Line of Credit Note and Restated Rider, which are filed as Exhibit 10.1, Exhibit 10.2 and Exhibit 10.3, respectively, to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 22, 2023 and are incorporated therein by reference.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None
Item 2. Properties.
In fiscal 2001, the Company purchased 7.5 acres of land in the Eagleview Corporate Park in Exton, Pennsylvania. Shortly thereafter, the Company constructed a 45,000 square foot design, manufacturing and office facility on this site. Land development approval allows for expansion of up to 20,400 square feet. Such expansion would provide for a 65,400 square foot facility which the Company believes is adequate to meet the needs of the Company for the foreseeable future.
The Company leased two separate hangars to house the Company’s airplanes in New Castle County, Delaware under month-to-month leases. One hangar lease expired with the sale of the Pilatus PC-12 airplane during the quarter ended September 30, 2022. The annual lease expense for both hangars was approximately $52,000. On November 30, 2023, the Company sold its King Air aircraft. and cancelled the remaining month-to-month hangar lease.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company is at times subject to various legal proceedings and claims. The Company does not believe any such matters that are currently pending will, individually or in the aggregate, have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position.
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Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Market Information
The Company’s common stock has been traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market® tier of the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC under the symbol “ISSC” since its initial public offering on August 4, 2000.
Holders of Common Stock
As of January 8, 2024, there were approximately seven registered holders of the Company’s common stock. A substantially greater number of holders of the Company’s common stock are beneficial holders, whose shares of record are held by banks, brokers and other financial institutions in “street name.”
Dividends
The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) previously declared special cash dividends in the amount of $0.65 per share in fiscal 2020 and $0.50 per share in fiscal 2021. The Company did not pay cash dividends in fiscal years 2022 and 2023. The Company intends to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the development and growth of its business and does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The declaration and payment of any dividend in the future will be at the discretion of the Board and will depend on then-existing conditions, including our operating results, financial condition, business prospects and other factors the Board may deem relevant.
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Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data.
The following tables present portions of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The following selected consolidated financial data set forth below should be read together with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes to the consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere herein. The selected statements of operations data for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021 and the balance sheet data as of September 30, 2023 and 2022 are derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The selected statements of operations data for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 and the balance sheet data as of September 30, 2021, 2020 and 2019 are extracted from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements that are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Fiscal year ended September 30,
Statements of Operations Data:
Interest expense (393,281) — — — —
Net income per common share:
Cash dividends declared per common share $ — $ — $ 0.50 $ 0.65 $ —
Weighted average shares outstanding:
As of September 30,
Balance Sheet Data:
Restricted cash — — — 11,180,900 —
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Objective
The following discussion provides an analysis of the Company’s financial condition, cash flows and results of operations from management’s perspective and should be read in conjunction with “Selected Consolidated Financial Data” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our objective is to also provide discussion of events and uncertainties known to management that are reasonably likely to cause reported financial information not to be indicative of future operating results or of future financial condition and to offer information that provides understanding of our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
Overview
The Company was incorporated in Pennsylvania on February 12, 1988. The Company operates in one business segment as a systems integrator that designs, develops, manufactures, sells and services, air data equipment, engine display systems, standby equipment, primary flight guidance, autothrottles and cockpit display systems for retrofit applications and OEMs. The Company supplies integrated FMS, FPDS, FPDS with autothrottle, air data equipment, integrated standby units, integrated standby units with autothrottle and advanced GPS receivers that enable reduced carbon footprint navigation, communication and navigation products and inertial reference units.
The Company has continued to position itself as a system integrator, which provides the Company with the capability and potential to generate more substantive orders over a broader product base. This strategy, as both a manufacturer and integrator, is designed to leverage the latest technologies developed for the computer and telecommunications industries into advanced and cost-effective solutions for the general aviation, commercial air transport, the DoD/governmental and foreign military markets. This approach, combined with the Company’s industry experience, is designed to enable the Company to develop high-quality products and systems, to reduce product time to market and to achieve cost advantages over products offered by its competitors.
The Company sells to both the OEM and the retrofit markets. Customers include various OEMs, commercial air transport carriers and corporate/general aviation companies, the DoD and its commercial contractors, aircraft operators, aircraft modification centers, government agencies and foreign militaries. Occasionally, the Company sells its products directly to the DoD; however, the Company sells its products primarily to commercial customers for end use in DoD programs. Sales to defense contractors are generally made on commercial terms, although some of the termination and other provisions of government contracts are applicable to these contracts. The Company’s retrofit projects are generally pursuant to either a direct contract with a customer or a subcontract with a general contractor to a customer (including government agencies).
In June 2023, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase and License Agreement (the “Honeywell Agreement”) with Honeywell International, Inc. (“Honeywell”) pursuant to which Honeywell sold, assigned or licensed certain assets related to its inertial, communication and navigation product lines, including a sale of certain inventory, equipment and customer-related documents, an assignment of certain contracts and a grant of exclusive and non-exclusive licenses to use certain Honeywell intellectual property related to its inertial, communication and navigation product lines to repair, overhaul, manufacture sell, import, export and distribute certain products to the Company for cash consideration of $35.9 million (the “Transaction”).
The exclusive licensing of these product lines from Honeywell is a unique opportunity for the Company that enhances its current offerings in the air transport, military and business aviation markets. In addition, there are potential cost synergies from better utilization of the Company’s skilled engineering team and its existing operational capacity. The Company believes the Honeywell Agreement will help to accelerate the Company’s growth and enhance its global reputation for delivering some of the industry’s best price-for-performance value propositions.
Cost of sales related to product and service sales comprises materials, components and third-party avionics purchased from suppliers, direct labor and overhead costs. Many of the components are standard, although certain parts are manufactured to meet the Company’s specifications. The overhead portion of cost of sales primarily comprises salaries and benefits, building occupancy costs, supplies and outside service costs related to production, purchasing, material control and quality control. Cost of sales also includes warranty costs.
Cost of sales related to EDC sales comprises engineering labor, consulting services and other costs associated with specific design and development projects. These costs are incurred pursuant to contractual arrangements and are accounted for typically as contract costs within cost of sales, with the reimbursement accounted for as a sale in accordance with the percentage-of-completion method or
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completed contract method of accounting. Company funded R&D expenditures relate to internally-funded efforts for the development of new products and the improvement of existing products. These costs are expensed as incurred and reported as R&D expenses. The Company intends to continue investing in the development of new products that complement current product offerings and to expense associated R&D costs as they are incurred.
Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses consist of sales, marketing, business development, professional services, salaries and benefits for executive and administrative personnel, facility costs, recruiting, legal, accounting and other general corporate expenses.
The Company sells its products to agencies of the United States and foreign governments, aircraft operators, aircraft modification centers and OEMs. Customers have been and may continue to be affected by changes in economic conditions both in the United States and abroad. Such changes may cause customers to curtail or delay their spending on both new and existing aircraft. Factors that can impact general economic conditions and the level of spending by customers include, but are not limited to, general levels of consumer spending, increases in fuel and energy costs, conditions in the real estate and mortgage markets, labor and healthcare costs, access to credit, consumer confidence, inflation, public health crises and pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and other macroeconomic factors that affect spending behavior. Furthermore, spending by government agencies may be reduced in the future. If customers curtail or delay their spending or are forced to declare bankruptcy or liquidate their operations because of adverse economic conditions, the Company’s revenues and results of operations would be affected adversely. For example, in the 2020 fiscal year, certain of the Company’s customers temporarily suspended product deliveries as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while these deliveries subsequently resumed, there is a possibility that the COVID-19 or similar pandemics will result in other suspensions, delays or order cancellations by the Company’s customers or suppliers.
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Results of Operations
The following table sets forth statements of operations data expressed as a percentage of total net sales for the fiscal years indicated:
Twelve Months Ending September 30,
Net sales:
Engineering development contracts 3.3 % 1.7 % 1.2 %
Cost of sales:
Customer service 9.7 % 5.4 % 6.5 %
Engineering development contracts 1.1 % 0.6 % 0.3 %
Operating expenses:
Research and development 9.0 % 9.8 % 11.4 %
Selling, general and administrative 31.1 % 24.3 % 27.1 %
Total operating expenses 40.1 % 34.1 % 38.5 %
Interest expense (1.1) % 0.0 % 0.0 %
Interest income 1.5 % 0.2 % 0.0 %
Other income 0.4 % 0.2 % 0.3 %
Income before income taxes 21.9 % 26.4 % 17.3 %
Income tax expense (benefit) 4.6 % 6.5 % (4.7) %
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Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2023 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2022
Net sales. Net sales in fiscal 2023 increased $7.1 million, or 25.5%, to $34.8 million from $27.7 million in fiscal 2022. Product sales in fiscal 2023 increased $0.2 million compared to fiscal 2022. EDC sales increased $0.7 million, or 146.8% compared to fiscal 2022, reflecting increased EDC business. Customer service sales increased $6.2 million, or 127.2% from fiscal 2022. The increase in customer service sales primarily reflects customer service sales of $5.8 million due to the Honeywell Agreement. The increase in product sales primarily reflects increased shipments of displays to general aviation customers and commercial transport customers of $0.7 million and $0.6 million, respectively. Military product sales decreased $1.1 million due to reduced business volume.
Cost of sales. Cost of sales was $13.5 million, or 38.8% of net sales, in fiscal 2023 compared to $11.1 million, or 39.9% of net sales, in fiscal 2022. The increase in cost of sales was primarily the result of an increase in customer service sales volume. The Company’s overall gross margin in fiscal 2023 was 61.2% compared to 60.1% in fiscal 2022. The fiscal 2023 gross margin percentage increase was primarily attributable to increased customer service sales that typically generate higher gross margins than manufactured products.
Research and development. R&D expenses were $3.1 million in fiscal 2023 and $2.7 million in fiscal 2022. R&D expense decreased to 9.0% of net sales in fiscal 2023 compared to 9.8% of net sales in fiscal 2022. The increase in R&D expense resulted primarily from increased personnel and related benefits, offset by the increase of EDC contract activity whose costs are reflected in cost of sales rather than R&D expense.
Selling, general, and administrative. SG&A expenses increased $4.0 million or 60.2%, to $10.8 million from $6.8 million in fiscal 2022. SG&A expenses in fiscal 2022 were reduced by inclusion of a gain of $1.2 million from the sale of the PC-12 aircraft. The increase in SG&A expense in fiscal 2023 was primarily the result of increased stock compensation expense and legal fees, professional fees, audit fees and amortization expense primarily related to the Transaction and increased board director fees.
Interest income. Interest income of $0.5 million in fiscal 2023 increased by $0.4 million as compared to interest income in fiscal 2022 of $0.1 million. The increase in interest income was primarily the result of the increase in the average cash balance in fiscal 2023 and a general increase in interest rates as compared to fiscal 2022.
Other income. Other income was $0.2 million in fiscal 2023, an increase of $.01 million in fiscal 2022.
Income taxes. Income tax expense was $1.6 million in fiscal 2023 as compared to income tax expense of $1.8 million in fiscal 2022. The effective tax rate in fiscal 2023 was 21.1% as compared to 24.8% in fiscal 2022. The higher tax and effective tax rate in fiscal 2022 as compared to fiscal 2023 primarily reflects higher state tax due to tax on the gain from the sale of the PC-12 aircraft.
Net income. As a result of the factors described above, the Company’s net income in fiscal 2023 was $6.0 million compared to net income of $5.5 million in fiscal 2022. On a fully diluted basis, net income per share was $0.35 in fiscal 2023, compared to a net income of $0.32 per share in fiscal 2022.
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2022 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2021
Net sales. Net sales for fiscal 2022 increased $4.7 million, or 20.4%, to $27.7 million from $23.0 million for fiscal 2021. For fiscal 2022, product sales increased $3.7 million, or 19.6% and customer service sales increased $0.8 million, or 21.0%, from fiscal 2021. This increase in product sales primarily reflects increased shipments of aftermarket retrofit displays to commercial customers. OEM sales to general aviation customers were relatively flat compared to fiscal 2021 at $10.4 million. Military sales were up slightly from fiscal 2021 at $2.8 million, which was up $0.3 million, or a 13.5% increase. The increase in customer service revenue was mainly due to increases in repair work for the Department of Defense.
Cost of sales. Cost of sales was $11.1million, or 39.9% of net sales, for fiscal 2022 compared to $10.3 million, or 44.5% of net sales, in fiscal 2021. The increase in cost of sales was primarily the result of an increase in product sales volume. The Company’s overall gross margin in fiscal 2021 was 60.1% compared to 55.5% in fiscal 2021. The fiscal 2022 gross margin percentage increase was attributable to operating leverage achieved due to increased sales that resulted in increased cost absorption, as well as a favorable product mix.
Research and development. R&D expense was $2.7 million for fiscal 2022 and $2.6 million for fiscal 2021. R&D expense decreased to 9.8% of net sales in fiscal 2022 compared to 11.4% of net sales in fiscal 2021. This decrease in R&D expense as a percent of net
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sales was due to lower salaries and benefits due to lower headcount, along with fewer R&D related projects, including STC certifications.
Selling, general, and administrative. SG&A expense increased $0.5 million or 7.9% to $6.8 million from $6.3 million in fiscal 2021. The increase in SG&A expense was primarily the result of increased legal, and professional fees, with an offset due to a gain on the sale of a PC-12 aircraft.
Interest income. Interest income of $61,051 in fiscal 2022 increased by $59,817 as compared to fiscal 2021 interest income of $1,234. The increase in interest income was primarily the result of the increase in the cash balance in fiscal 2022 and a general increase in interest rates as compared to fiscal 2021.
Other income. Other income was flat at $0.1 million for both fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021.
Income taxes. Income tax expense was $1.8 million for fiscal 2022 as compared to an income tax benefit of $1.1 million in fiscal 2021. The effective tax rate benefit for fiscal 2021 was 27.4% and differs from the statutory rate primarily due to the release of the valuation allowance for all federal and state deferred tax assets. This release both increased the deferred tax asset and removed the valuation allowance. Fiscal 2022 income tax expense of $1.8 million represents income taxes due based on an effective tax rate of 24.7% with no related allowances.
Net income. As a result of the factors described above, the Company’s net income for fiscal 2022 was $5.5 million compared to net income of $5.1 million for fiscal 2021. On a fully diluted basis, net income per share was $0.32 for fiscal 2022, compared to a net income of $0.29 per share for fiscal 2021.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
The following table highlights key financial measurements of the Company:
September 30, September 30,
Twelve Months Ended September 30,
Cash flow activities:
(2) Calculated as: current assets divided by current liabilities
The Company’s principal source of liquidity for operations has been cash flows from current year operations and cash accumulated from prior years’ operations. Cash is used principally to finance inventory, accounts receivable, contract assets, and payroll, as well as the Company’s known contractual and other commitments (including those described in Note 19, “Lease Recognition.”
Debt Facility
In connection with the Transaction, the Company entered into the Term Loan with PNC for $20.0 million to fund a portion of the Transaction (see Note 20, “Loan Agreement” for further details). In addition to providing for the Term Loan, the Loan Agreement, together with a corresponding Line of Credit Note in favor of PNC, executed on May 11, 2023, provides for the senior secured Revolving Line of Credit in an aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000, with an expiration date of May 11, 2028.
On December 19, 2023, the Company and PNC entered into an Amendment to Loan Documents and a corresponding Amended and Restated Revolving Line of Credit Note and Amended and Restated Line of Credit and Investment Sweep Rider. See Note 21, “Subsequent Events”.
Stifel Sales Agreement
On September 22, 2023, the Company entered into an at-the-market equity offering Sales Agreement (the “ATM Sales Agreement”) with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (the “Sales Agent”), pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell from time to time through the Sales Agent up to $40 million of shares of its common stock. The shares will be offered and sold pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-267595), which was declared effective by the SEC on October 14, 2022. The Company filed a prospectus supplement, dated September 22, 2023, with the SEC in connection with the offer and sale of the shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of the ATM Sales Agreement, the Sales Agent will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell shares of the Company’s common stock from time to time, based upon the Company’s instructions. The Company is not obligated to sell any shares under the ATM Sales Agreement, and the Company or the Sales Agent may at any time suspend solicitation and offers under the ATM Sales Agreement or terminate the ATM Sales Agreement. The Company has provided the Sales Agent with customary indemnification rights, and the Sales Agent will be entitled to compensation for its services of up to 3.0% of the gross sales price per share of the shares of the Company’s common stock sold through the Sales Agent. Sales of the shares of the Company’s common stock, if any, under the ATM Sales Agreement may be made in transactions that are deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on or through NASDAQ or any other existing
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trading market for the Company’s common stock, in negotiated transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices and/or any other method permitted by law.
During the year ended September 30, 2023, we did not sell any shares of common stock under the ATM Sales Agreement.
Future Funding Requirements
The Company’s existing cash balances, anticipated cash flows from operations and current banking facility are expected to be adequate to satisfy the Company’s liquidity needs for at least the next 12 months.
Apart from what has been disclosed above, management is not aware of any trends, events or uncertainties that have had or are likely to have a material impact on our liquidity, financial condition and capital resources.
The Board previously declared special cash dividends in the amount of $0.65 per share in fiscal 2020 and $0.50 per share in fiscal 2021. The Company did not pay cash dividends in fiscal 2022 or 2023. The Company intends to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the development and growth of its business and does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The declaration and payment of any dividend in the future will be at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will depend on then-existing conditions, including our operating results, financial condition, business prospects and other factors the Board may deem relevant.
Operating Activities
The Company generated $2.1 million of cash from operating activities during fiscal 2023, as compared to cash generated of $6.1 million during fiscal 2022. The cash generated by operating activities for the year ended September 30, 2023 was primarily generated by net income of $6.0 million, increase in non-cash compensation expenses for stock options and stock awards of $0.8 million and $0.7 million, respectively, and depreciation and amortization expense of $0.7 million, partially offset by increases to accounts receivable of $5.4 million and an increase in inventories of $0.8 million.
The Company generated $6.1 million of cash in operating activities during fiscal 2022, as compared to cash generated of $4.6 million during fiscal 2021. The cash generated by operating activities for the year ended September 30, 2022 was primarily generated by net income of $5.5 million, increase in accrued expenses of $1.3 million and a decrease in deferred income tax assets of $1.0 million, partially offset by the gain on sale of the Company’s Pilatus PC-12 airplane of $1.2 million and an increase in inventories of $0.7 million.
Investing Activities
Cash used in investing activities was $36.2 million for fiscal year 2023. On June 30, 2023, the Company entered into the Honeywell Agreement with Honeywell for cash consideration of $35.9 million whereby Honeywell sold the Company certain assets and granted perpetual license rights to manufacture and sell licensed products related to its inertial, communication and navigation product lines to the Company. The Transaction involved a sale of certain inventory, equipment and customer-related documents; an assignment of certain customer contracts; and a grant of exclusive and non-exclusive licenses to use certain Honeywell intellectual property related to its inertial, communication and navigation product lines to repair, overhaul, manufacture sell, import, export and distribute certain products to the Company. The Transaction enhances the Company’s current offerings in the air transport, military and business aviation markets. In addition, there are potential cost synergies from better utilization of the Company’s skilled engineering team and its existing operational capacity. The Company believes this agreement can help to accelerate the Company’s growth and enhance its global reputation for delivering some of the industry’s best price-for-performance value propositions. In addition, the Company spent $0.3 million for the purchase of test equipment and computer hardware. The Company plans to continue investing in capital equipment to support engineering development efforts and operations.
In connection with the Transaction, the Company entered into the Term Loan with PNC for $20.0 million to fund a portion of the Transaction (see Note 20, “Loan Agreement” for further details). The preliminary purchase consideration was $35.9 million in cash.
Cash provided by investing activities was $2.6 million for fiscal year 2022 and consisted primarily of proceeds from the sale of the Company’s Pilatus PC-12 airplane offset by spending of $0.2 million primarily for quality test equipment and computer hardware. The Company plans to continue investing in capital equipment to support engineering development efforts and operations.
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Financing Activities
Cash provided by financing activities was $19.9 million for fiscal year 2023 and primarily consisted of proceeds from the Term Loan with PNC for $20.0 million to fund a portion of the Honeywell Agreement with Honeywell, proceeds from the exercise of stock options for $0.4 million and the paydown of the Term Loan for $0.5 million.
Cash provided by financing activities was $0.3 million for fiscal year 2022 and consisted of proceeds from employees’ exercise of stock options.
Summary
Future capital requirements depend upon numerous factors, including market acceptance of the Company’s products, the timing and rate of expansion of business, acquisitions, joint ventures and other factors. The Company has experienced increases in expenditures since its inception and anticipates that expenditures will remain relatively constant with the levels experienced in fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022. The Company believes that its cash and cash equivalents and current banking facility will provide sufficient capital to fund operations for at least the next twelve months. Furthermore, the Company may need to develop and introduce new or enhanced products to respond to competitive pressures, to invest in or acquire businesses or technologies or to respond to unanticipated requirements or developments. If insufficient funds are available, the Company may not be able to introduce new products or to compete effectively.
Inflation
The Company does not believe inflation had a material effect on its financial position or results of operations during the past three years; however, it cannot predict future effects of inflation.
Environmental, Social and Governance Considerations
In recent years, environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues have become an increasing area of focus for some of our shareholders, customers and suppliers. Management and the Board are committed to identifying, assessing and understanding the potential impact of ESG issues and related risks on the Company’s business model, as well as potential areas for ESG related improvements.
We are committed to recruiting, motivating and developing a diversity of talent. We are an equal opportunity employer and a Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act federal contractor. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
The nature of our business also supports long-term sustainability. Historically, a majority of the Company’s sales have come from the retrofit market, in which the Company, by making upgrades to improve the functionality and safety of existing machinery, facilitates the re-use and recycling of aircraft and equipment that might otherwise be scrapped as obsolete. The Company’s GPS receivers also facilitate reduced carbon footprint navigation. The Company also plans to enhance its focus on the environmental impact of its operations.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The discussion and analysis of financial condition and consolidated results of operations are based upon the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, sales and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management has determined that the most critical accounting policies and estimates are those related to revenue recognition, inventory valuation and valuation of tangible and intangible assets acquired. On an ongoing basis, the Company’s management evaluates its estimates based upon historical experience and various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable in the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
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Revenue recognition
The Company enters into sales arrangements with customers that, in general, provide for the Company to design, develop, manufacture and deliver large flat-panel display systems, flight information computers, autothrottles and advanced monitoring systems that measure and display critical flight information, including data relative to aircraft separation, airspeed, altitude and engine and fuel data measurements.
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
The Company accounts for revenue in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). The core principle of ASC 606 is that an entity recognizes revenue when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services. The amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for these goods or services. To achieve this core principle, the Company applies the following five steps:
1) Identify the contract with a customer
The Company’s contract with its customers typically is in the form of a purchase order issued to the Company by its customers and, to a lesser degree, in the form of a purchase order issued in connection with a formal contract executed with a customer. For the purpose of accounting for revenue under ASC 606, a contract with a customer exists when (i) the Company enters into an enforceable contract with a customer that defines each party’s rights regarding the goods or services to be transferred and identifies the payment terms related to these goods or services, (ii) the contract has commercial substance and (iii) the Company determines that collection of substantially all consideration for goods or services that are transferred is probable based on the customer’s intent and ability to pay the promised consideration. Payment terms are defined by when payment is typically due. The Company applies judgment in determining the customer’s ability and intention to pay, which is based on a variety of factors including the customer’s historical payment experience or, in the case of a new customer, published credit and financial information pertaining to the customer.
2) Identify the performance obligations in the contract
Performance obligations promised in a contract are identified based on the goods or services that will be transferred to the customer that are both capable of being distinct, whereby the customer can benefit from the good or service either on its own or together with other resources that are readily available from third parties or from the Company, and are distinct in the context of the contract, whereby the transfer of the goods or services is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. Most of our revenue is derived from purchases under which we provide a specific product or service and, as a result, there is only one performance obligation. In the event that a contract includes multiple promised goods or services, such as an EDC contract, which includes both engineering services and a resulting product shipment, the Company must apply judgment to determine whether promised goods or services are capable of being distinct in the context of the contract. In these cases, the Company considers whether the customer could, on its own, or together with other resources that are readily available from third parties, produce the physical product using only the output resulting from the Company’s completion of engineering services. If the customer cannot produce the physical product, then the promised goods or services are accounted for as a combined performance obligation.
3) Determine the transaction price
The transaction price is determined based on the consideration to which the Company will be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services to the customer. To the extent the transaction price includes variable consideration, the Company estimates the amount of variable consideration that should be included in the transaction price utilizing either the expected value method or the most likely amount method depending on the nature of the variable consideration. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price if, in the Company’s judgment, it is probable that a significant future reversal of cumulative revenue under the contract will not occur.
4) Allocate the transaction price to performance obligations in the contract
If the contract contains a single performance obligation, the entire transaction price is allocated to the single performance obligation. The Company determines standalone selling price based on the price at which the performance obligation is sold separately. If the standalone selling price is not observable through past transactions, the Company estimates the standalone selling price by taking into account available information such as market conditions as well as the cost of the goods or services and the Company’s normal margins for similar performance obligations.
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5) Recognize revenue when or as the Company satisfies a performance obligation
The Company satisfies performance obligations either over time or at a point in time as discussed in further detail below. Revenue is recognized at the time the related performance obligation is satisfied by transferring a promised good or service to a customer. Historically, the Company has also recognized revenue from EDC contracts and is recognized over time using an input measure (e.g., costs incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion) to measure progress. Contract costs include material, components and third-party avionics purchased from suppliers, direct labor and overhead costs.
Contract Balances
Contract assets consist of the right to consideration in exchange for product offerings that we have transferred to a customer under the contract. Contract liabilities primarily relate to consideration received in advance of performance under the contract.
Customer Service Revenue
The Company enters into sales arrangements with customers for the repair or upgrade of its various products that are not under warranty. The Company’s customer service revenue and cost of sales are included in product and service sales and product and service cost of sales, respectively, on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Acquisitions
The Company accounts for business acquisitions using the acquisition method of accounting. Under this method of accounting, assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their respective fair values at the date of the acquisition. When determining the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, management makes significant estimates and assumptions. The Company’s estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable but that are inherently uncertain and unpredictable and, as a result, actual results may differ from estimates. Any excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired is recognized as goodwill. The Company also uses best estimates and assumptions to determine the useful lives of those acquired intangible assets that have a finite life.
Critical estimates in valuing certain of the intangible assets and goodwill acquired include:
● future expected cash flows from customer contracts and license agreements;
● discount rates.
Inventory valuation
The Company values inventory at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value. Inventories are written down for estimated obsolescence equal to the difference between inventory cost and estimated net realizable value based on a combination of historical usage and assumptions based on expected usage related to estimated future customer and market demands. The Company’s method of valuing inventory contains uncertainties because the calculation requires management to consider inventory aging, to make assumptions regarding expected usage and to apply judgments on forecasted future demand, market conditions and technological obsolescence. If actual future demand or market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-down may be required.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instrument (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current U.S. GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. ASU 2016-13 is effective for SEC small business filers for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements or related disclosures.