Item 1A. Risk Factors
The following risk factors and other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should be carefully considered. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we presently deem less significant may also adversely affect our business, operating results, cash flows and financial condition. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, operating results, cash flows and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
RISKS RELATED TO SCHOOL FUNDING
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Our product sales are significantly affected by education funding, which is a function of tax revenues and general economic conditions. If the economy weakens, funding for education may fail to improve or decrease, which would adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Our sales are significantly impacted by the level of education funding primarily in North America, which, in turn is a function of the general economic environment. In a weak economy, state and local tax revenues for many of our customers are flat or decline, restricting funding for K-12 education spending, which typically leads to a decrease in demand for school furniture. Sustained declines in the per-student funding levels provided for in state and local budgets in the future could have a materially adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations as they have in the past.
In addition, public health emergencies such as COVID-19, geopolitical uncertainties, terrorist attacks, acts of war, natural disasters, increases in energy and other costs or combinations of such factors and other factors that are outside of our control could at any time have a significant effect on the economy, which in turn would affect government revenues and allocations of government spending. The occurrence of any of these or similar events in the future could cause demand for our products to decline or competitive pricing pressures to increase, any of which would likely adversely affect our business, operating results, cash flows and financial condition.
Gaps in state budgets may adversely affect our revenue and results of operations.
Virtually all states are required to balance their operating budgets either on an annual or biannual basis. Unlike the federal government, states cannot maintain services during an economic downturn by running a deficit. Many states are adversely impacted by underfunded retirement and health insurance obligations and face competing requests for available funding. Tax revenues and other state funds may be allocated to underfunded benefit obligations instead of education. If states in which we do business cut spending for education to address such budgetary shortfalls or for other reasons, our sales in those states will likely decline and our revenue and results of operations will be adversely affected.
Reduced levels of spending on education may significantly impact spending on furniture and increase price competition in the furniture market. If price competition increases, we may need to reduce our prices to build or maintain our market share, which in turn could lower our profit margins.
The educational furniture market is characterized by price competition, as many sales occur on a bid basis and are based on demand related to educational funding available to schools. When funding for education declines, schools typically reduce spending on all budget line items prior to reducing teacher and administrator salaries and benefits. This in turn can result in reduced demand for school furniture, which in turn can intensify price competition in our industry. This price competition could impact our ability to implement price increases or, in some cases, such as during an industry downturn, maintain prices. In addition, when market conditions warrant, we may need to reduce prices to build or maintain our market share. If we are unable to increase or maintain prices for our products, our profit margins could decline. Such decline will be compounded to the extent we are unable to maintain or reduce the cost of our products, which may be especially difficult in the current environment given the volatility of the commodities markets.
STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL RISKS
Our efforts to introduce new products that meet customer requirements may not be successful, which could limit our sales growth or cause our sales to decline.
To keep pace with industry trends, such as changes in education curriculum and increases in the use of technology, and with evolving regulatory and industry requirements, including environmental, health, safety, and other standards for the education environment and for product performance, we must periodically introduce new products or modify existing ones. The introduction of new or modification of existing products requires the coordination of the design, manufacturing, and marketing of such products, which may be affected by factors beyond our control. The design and engineering of certain of our new products can take a year or more, and further time may be required to achieve customer acceptance. Accordingly, the launch of any product may be later or less successful than we originally anticipated. Additionally, our competitors may develop new product designs that achieve a high level of customer acceptance, which could give them a competitive advantage over us in making future sales. Difficulties or delays in introducing new or modified products or lack of customer acceptance of such products could limit our sales growth or cause our sales to decline.
We depend on a global network of outside suppliers for raw materials and components, who may be unable to meet our volume and quality requirements on a timely basis, and we may be unable to obtain alternative sources.
We require substantial amounts of raw materials and components to manufacture our products, which we purchase from a global network of third-party suppliers. Materials comprised our single largest total cost. Contracts with most of our suppliers are short-term. These suppliers may not continue to provide raw materials and components to us at attractive prices, or at all,
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and we may not be able to obtain the raw materials we need in the future from these or other providers on the scale and within the time frames we require. In a deteriorating economic environment, including the current economic disruption caused by COVID-19 and global supply chain disruptions, many of the Company's suppliers may experience difficulty obtaining financing and may go out of business. The Company may have difficulty replacing these suppliers, especially if the supplier fails as the Company is entering the seasonal summer shipping season. Moreover, we do not carry significant inventories of raw materials, components or finished goods that could mitigate an interruption or delay in the availability of raw materials and components. In addition, because we purchase components from international sources, primarily China, we are subject to tariffs, fluctuations in currency exchange rates as well as the impact of natural disasters, war and other factors that may disrupt the transportation systems, ports, or shipping lines used by our suppliers, and other uncontrollable factors such as changes in foreign regulation or economic conditions.
In fiscal 2022, the cost of raw materials and components, including steel and plastic, was extremely volatile and unfavorably impacted our results of operations. In addition, the current conflict in Ukraine and global sanctions recently placed on Russia have increased the cost and negatively impacted the availability of fuel, plastic and other materials. In fiscal 2024 the cost of commodities was relatively stable. In fiscal 2023, the cost of commodities was volatile, but the volatility dampened noticeably compared to fiscal 2022.
Any failure to obtain raw materials and components on a timely basis, or any significant delays or interruptions in the supply of raw materials, could prevent us from being able to manufacture and deliver products ordered by our customers in a timely fashion and increase our cost of obtaining raw materials and components in excess of our ability to pass along such costs to customers, any of which could have a negative impact on our reputation, sales and profitability.
Cost and availability of third-party freight can adversely affect our profitability and results of operations.
Approximately 80% our sales are FOB destination and include freight from Virco’s facilities to the customer location. Virco depends upon third-party carriers for more than 90% of customer deliveries. Increased regulation and more stringent enforcement of federal regulations governing the transportation industry (especially regarding drivers) have adversely impacted the cost and availability of transportation services. Further, there may be a lack of available trained and licensed drivers, which may reduce the availability of transportation services. Inability to obtain adequate third-party freight on a timely basis during the summer delivery season can adversely affect cost to deliver products to customers and the level of customer service, which can in turn adversely impact future sales.
The Company imports component parts from international sources (primarily China). During fiscal 2022, freight costs for containers from China increased by a factor of nearly eight. The cost of ocean freight declined during fiscal 2023, nearly returning to more typical levels and remained stable in 2024. Ongoing disruptions in the cost or availability of ocean freight or disruptions in port operations, may adversely impact the Company’s ability to obtain adequate component parts on a cost-effective basis to support sales, particularly in the busy summer season, which could have an adverse effect on our sales and profitability. There can be no assurance that our suppliers in China will not experience material disruptions in the future, whether due to COVID-19 or otherwise.
The majority of our sales are priced through one contract, under which we are the exclusive supplier of classroom furniture.
We utilize a nationwide contract/price list for the pricing of a significant portion of our sales. This contract/price list allows schools and school districts to purchase furniture without bidding and is sponsored by a nationwide purchasing organization that does not purchase products from the Company. By providing a public bid specification and authorization service to publicly funded agencies, the organization's contract/price list enables such agencies to make authorized expenditures of taxpayer funds. For all sales under this contract/price list, Virco has a direct selling relationship with the purchaser, whether it is a school, a district, or another publicly funded agency. In addition, Virco can ship directly to the purchaser; perform delivery services at the purchaser's location; and finally bill directly to, and collect from, the purchaser. Although Virco sells direct to hundreds of individual schools and school districts, these schools and school districts can purchase our products and services under several bids and contracts available to them. Approximately 64% of Virco's sales in fiscal 2024 and 64% of Virco's sales in fiscal 2023 were priced under this nationwide contract/price list. In November 2017, the Company was awarded a five-year contract extending through December 2022 along with two two-year extensions through 2026. If Virco were to lose its exclusive supplier status under this contract/price list, and other manufacturers were allowed to sell under this contract/price list, it could cause Virco's sales, or growth in sales, to decline.
In addition, this contract/price list determines selling prices for goods and services for periods of one year and occasionally longer. Though the Company has negotiated increased flexibility under many of these contracts that may allow the Company to increase prices on future orders, the Company has limited ability to raise prices on orders received prior to any announced price increase. Due to the intensely seasonal nature of our business, the Company may receive significant orders during the first and second quarters for delivery in the second and third quarters. With respect to any of the contracts described above, if the costs
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of providing our products or services increase between the date the orders are received and the shipping date, we will likely not be able to implement corresponding increases in our sales prices for such products or services to offset the related increased costs. Significant cost increases in providing either the services or products during a given contract period could therefore lower our profit margins.
We operate in a seasonal business and require significant amounts of working capital through our existing credit facility to fund acquisitions of inventory, fund expenses for freight and classroom delivery and finance receivables during the summer delivery season. Restrictions imposed by the terms of our existing credit facility may limit our operating and financial flexibility, and we are required to meet financial covenants under our credit facility.
Our credit facility with PNC, among other things, largely prevents us from incurring any additional indebtedness, limits capital expenditures, limits dividends and stock repurchases, and provides for seasonal variations in the maximum borrowing amount, including a reduced maximum level of borrowing during the fourth fiscal quarter. Our credit facility also provides for periodic financial covenants, which currently includes a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio requirement. As a result of the foregoing, our operational and financial flexibility may be limited, which may prevent us from engaging in transactions that might further our growth strategy or otherwise be considered beneficial to us.
Under our credit facility, substantially all of our accounts receivable is automatically and promptly swept to repay amounts outstanding under the credit facility upon our receipt. Due to this automatic liquidating nature, if we breach any covenant, violate any representation or warranty or suffer any deterioration in our ability to borrow pursuant to the borrowing base calculation contained in the credit facility, we may not have access to cash liquidity unless provided by the lender in its discretion. If the indebtedness under our credit facility were to be accelerated, we cannot be certain that we will have sufficient funds available to pay such indebtedness or that we will have the ability to refinance the accelerated indebtedness on terms favorable to us or at all. Any such acceleration could also result in a foreclosure on all or substantially all of our assets, which would have a negative impact on the value of our common stock and jeopardize our ability to continue as a going concern. In addition, certain of the covenants and representations and warranties set forth in our credit facility contain limited or no materiality thresholds, and all of the representations and warranties must be true and correct in all material respects upon each borrowing, which we expect to occur on an ongoing basis. There can be no assurance that we will be able to comply with all such covenants and be able to continue to make such representations and warranties on an ongoing basis. There can be no assurance that the Company will meet the requirements of its financial covenants on an ongoing basis or that, should we fail to meet such covenants, the Agent and Lender under our credit facility will agree to waivers or amendments with respect thereto. If we breach any of our financial covenants without receiving a corresponding waiver or amendment, the Agent and Lender may accelerate our credit facility and impose default interest and other fees, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
INDUSTRY AND ECONOMIC RISKS
The COVID-19 pandemic may continue to adversely affect our operations and financial performance.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the actions taken by various governments and third parties to combat the spread of COVID-19, including mandatory quarantines and other suspensions of non-essential business operations, caused significant disruptions in our product sales and marketing, manufacturing and distribution operations, and supply chains during fiscal 2021 and 2022. While the disruption to demand for our products from the COVID-19 pandemic is currently expected to be temporary, there remains a great deal of uncertainty around the long-term structural effects of the pandemic on in-person learning in the United States.
In addition, the resurgence of COVID-19 or its variants, as well as an outbreak of other widespread public health epidemics or pandemics, could cause new disruptions to our product sales, manufacturing and distribution operations, supply chains and demand for our products by our customers, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Increases in basic commodity, raw material and component costs could adversely affect our profitability.
Fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of the commodities, raw materials and components used in manufacturing our products could have an adverse effect on our costs of sales, profitability and our ability to meet customers' demand. The price of commodities, raw materials and components, including steel and plastics, our largest raw material categories, have been volatile in prior years, and the cost, quality and availability of such commodities have been significantly affected in recent years by, among other things, changes in global supply and demand, changes in laws and regulations (including tariffs and duties), changes in exchange rates and worldwide price levels, natural disasters, public health issues such as the current COVID-19 pandemic (or other future pandemics), labor disputes, terrorism and political unrest or instability. These factors could lead to further price increases or supply interruptions in the future. As discussed above, in the short term, rapid changes in raw
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material costs can be very difficult for us to offset with price increases because, in the case of many of our contracts, we have committed to selling prices for goods and services for periods of one year, and occasionally longer. Our profit margins could be adversely affected if commodity, raw material, and component costs remain high or escalate further, and we are unable to pass along a portion of the higher costs to our customers.
In fiscal 2022, the Company incurred material increases in commodity costs and shortages in commodity availability that were material and adversely impacted the results of operations. Both availability and volatility in cost moderated in fiscal 2024 and 2023. Total material costs for fiscal 2025, as a percentage of sales, could be higher than in fiscal 2024. The Company has increased list prices for its products in fiscal 2024 and 2025 in an effort to recover anticipated increases in material costs.
We are affected by the cost of petroleum-based products and increases in petroleum prices could reduce our margins and profits.
The profitability of our operations is sensitive to the cost of fuel, which materially affects our transportation costs, the costs of petroleum-based materials (like plastics) and the costs of energy (including electricity and natural gas) used in operating our manufacturing facilities. Petroleum prices have fluctuated significantly in recent years and are expected to rise from current levels. Prices and availability of petroleum products are subject to political, economic and market factors that are generally outside our control. Political events in petroleum-producing regions, as well as hurricanes and other weather-related events may cause petroleum prices to increase. If such prices increase, our transportation costs may be adversely affected in the form of increased operation costs for our fleet and surcharges on freight paid to third-party carriers. If our transportation costs increase or, the price of petroleum-based products and cost of operating our manufacturing facilities increase and we are unable to pass a material portion of these increased costs to our customers, our gross margins and profitability would be adversely affected.
FINANCING RISKS
We may not be able to renew our credit facility on favorable terms, or at all, which would adversely affect our results of operations.
We have historically relied on third-party bank financing to meet our seasonal cash flow requirements. Our current credit facility with PNC Bank was originally scheduled to mature on March 19, 2023. Subsequent to fiscal 2022, the Company extended the final maturity date of the credit line with PNC Bank to April 2027. At various times during the COVID-19 pandemic, we were in non-compliance with certain financial covenants under our credit facility with PNC Bank, and in each case, we received a waiver of such violations from PNC Bank. In addition, on an annual basis, we prepare a lender-approved forecast of seasonal working capital requirements and use borrowings under our credit facility with PNC Bank to help meet these seasonal cash flow and working capital requirements. Uncertainty in the credit markets may negatively impact our ability to obtain approval of our annual forecast, make changes in our forecast or renew our credit facility upon its maturity in 2027 on favorable terms or at all. If we are unable to access or renew our credit facility on favorable terms (including available borrowing line and the rate of interest charged thereunder), or at all, or we are in violation of our financial covenants in the future and do not receive a waiver, our ability to fund our operations would be impaired, which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
If management does not accurately forecast the Company's requirements for the peak summer season, the Company's results of operations could be adversely affected.
The Company's business is highly seasonal and requires significant working capital in anticipation of and during the peak summer season. This requires management to make estimates and judgments with respect to the Company's working capital requirements during, and in anticipation of, the peak summer season.
Management expends a significant amount of time in the fourth quarter of the prior year and the first quarter of each year developing a stocking plan and estimating the number of temporary summer employees, the amount of raw materials and the types of components and products that will be required during the peak season. If management does not accurately forecast the Company's requirements, the Company's results of operations could be adversely affected. For example, if management underestimates any of these requirements, Virco's ability to meet customer orders in a timely manner or to provide adequate customer service may be diminished. If management overestimates any of these requirements, the Company may be required to absorb higher storage, labor and related costs, each of which may negatively affect the Company's results of operations.
We may require additional capital in the future, which may not be available or may be available only on unfavorable terms.
Our capital requirements depend on many factors, including capital improvements, tooling and new product development. To the extent that our existing capital is insufficient to meet these requirements and cover any losses, we may need to raise
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additional funds through financings or curtail our growth and reduce our assets. Any equity or debt financing, if available at all, may be on terms that are not favorable to us. Equity financings could result in dilution to our stockholders, and the securities may have rights, preferences and privileges that are senior to those of our common stock. If our need for capital arises because of significant losses, the occurrence of these losses may make it more difficult for us to raise the necessary capital.
Volatility in the equity markets or interest rates could substantially increase our pension costs and have an adverse effect on our operating results.
We sponsor one qualified defined benefit pension plan, the Virco Employee Retirement Plan (“Employee Plan”), and one nonqualified pension plan. Benefits under the Plans were frozen in 2003. The difference between plan obligations and assets, or the funded status of the Employee Plan, significantly affects net periodic benefit costs of our Employee Plan and our ongoing funding requirements with respect to the Employee Plan. The Employee Plan is funded with trust assets invested in a diversified portfolio of debt and equity securities and other investments. Among other factors, changes in interest rates, investment returns, and the market value of plan assets can (i) affect the level of plan funding; (ii) cause volatility in the net periodic pension cost; and (iii) increase our future contribution requirements. Because the recent economic environment was characterized by historically low interest rates, we may be required to make additional cash contributions to the Employee Plan and recognize further increases in our net pension cost to satisfy our funding requirements. A significant decrease in investment returns or the market value of plan assets or a significant decrease in interest rates could increase our net periodic pension costs and adversely affect our results of operations. These factors are further complicated by the substantial intervention in the U.S. credit markets by the Federal Reserve Board and Treasury Department in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which could have the effect of artificially affecting market interest rates.
LEGAL AND REGULATORY RISKS
An inability to protect our intellectual property could have an adverse effect on our business.
We attempt to protect our intellectual property rights through a combination of patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret laws. Our ability to compete effectively with our competitors depends, to a significant extent, on our ability to maintain the proprietary nature of our intellectual property. The degree of protection offered by the claims of the various patents, trademarks and service marks may not be broad enough to provide significant proprietary protection or competitive advantages to us, and patents, trademarks or service marks may not be issued on our pending or contemplated applications. In addition, not all of our products are covered by patents . It is also possible that our patents, trademarks, and service marks may be challenged, invalidated, cancelled, narrowed or circumvented. If we are unable to maintain the proprietary nature of our intellectual property with respect to our significant current or proposed products, our competitors may be able to sell copies of our products, which could adversely affect our ability to sell our original products and could also result in competitive pricing pressures.
If third parties claim that we infringe upon their intellectual property rights, we may incur liability and costs and may have to redesign or discontinue the infringing products.
We face the risk of claims that we have infringed third parties' intellectual property rights. Companies operating in the furniture industry routinely seek protection of the intellectual property for their product designs, and our principal competitors may have large intellectual property portfolios. Our efforts to identify and avoid infringing third parties' intellectual property rights may not be successful. Any claims of intellectual property infringement, even those without merit, could (i) be expensive and time-consuming to defend; (ii) cause us to cease making, licensing or using products that incorporate the challenged intellectual property; (iii) require us to redesign, reengineer, or rebrand our products or packaging, if feasible; or (iv) require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements in order to obtain the right to use a third party's intellectual property. Such claims could have a negative impact on our sales and results of operations.
We could be required to incur substantial costs to comply with environmental and other legal requirements. Violations of, and liabilities under, these laws and regulations may increase our costs or require us to change our business practices.
Our past and present ownership and operation of manufacturing plants are subject to extensive and changing federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, including those relating to discharges to air, water and land, the handling and disposal of solid and hazardous waste and the cleanup of properties affected by hazardous substances. As a result, we are involved from time to time in administrative and judicial proceedings and inquiries relating to environmental matters and could become subject to fines or penalties related thereto. We cannot predict what environmental legislation or regulations will be enacted in the future, how existing or future laws or regulations will be administered or interpreted or what environmental conditions may be found to exist. Compliance with more stringent laws or regulations, or stricter interpretation of existing laws, may require additional expenditures by us, some of which may be material. If new environmental laws and regulations are introduced and enforced domestically, but not implemented or enforced internationally, we will operate at a competitive disadvantage
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compared to competitors who source product primarily from international sources. In addition, in the past we have been identified as a potentially responsible party pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) for remediation costs associated with waste disposal sites previously used by us. In general, CERCLA can impose liability for costs to investigate and remediate contamination without regard to fault or the legality of disposal and, under certain circumstances, liability may be joint and several, resulting in one party being held responsible for the entire obligation. Liability may also include damages for harm to natural resources. We may also be subject to claims for personal injury or contribution relating to CERCLA sites. We reserve amounts for such matters when expenditures are probable and reasonably estimable.
In addition to environmental laws and regulations affecting our manufacturing activities, the Company is subject to laws and regulations related to consumer product regulation. The Company sells products that are subject to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and the California Air Resources Board rule and Toxic Control Substances Act rule, concerning formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products.
We are subject to potential labor disruptions, which could have an adverse effect on our business.
None of our work force is represented by unions, and while we believe that we have good relations with our work force, we may experience work stoppages or other labor problems in the future. Any prolonged work stoppage could have an adverse effect on our reputation, our vendor relations and our customers.
Our insurance coverage may not adequately cover for any product liability claims.
We maintain product liability and other insurance coverage that we believe to be generally in accordance with industry practices. Our insurance coverage may not be adequate to protect us fully against substantial claims and costs that may arise from product defects, particularly if we have a large number of defective products that we must repair, retrofit, replace or recall.
Holders of approximately 30% of the shares of our stock have entered into an agreement restricting the sale of the stock.
Certain shares of the Company's common stock received by the holders thereof as gifts from Julian A. Virtue, including shares received in subsequent stock dividends, are subject to an agreement that restricts the sale or transfer of those shares. Because of the share ownership and representation on the board and in management, the parties to the agreement have significant influence on affairs and actions of the Company, including matters requiring stockholder approval such as the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. In addition, these transfer restrictions and concentration of ownership could have the effect of impeding an acquisition of the Company.
Our corporate documents and Delaware law contain provisions that could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company.
Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws may discourage, delay or prevent a merger or acquisition involving us that our stockholders may consider favorable. For example, our certificate of incorporation currently provides for a staggered board of directors, whereby directors serve for three-year terms, with approximately one-third of the directors coming up for reelection each year. Having a staggered board will make it more difficult for a third party to obtain control of our board of directors through a proxy contest, which may be a necessary step in an acquisition of us that is not favored by our board of directors. In addition, provisions in our certificate of incorporation require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of our outstanding shares for any business combination with a shareholder who beneficially holds, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of our outstanding stock, except where such transaction is approved by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the acquisition of the 5% ownership position.
We are also subject to the anti-takeover provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Under these provisions, if anyone becomes an “interested stockholder,” we may not enter into a “business combination” with that person for three years without special approval, which could discourage a third party from making a takeover offer and could delay or prevent a change of control. For purposes of Section 203, “interested stockholder” means, generally, someone owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock or an affiliate of ours that owned 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock during the past three years, subject to certain exceptions as described in Section 203.
We may be affected by climate change and new regulations and requirements relating to climate issues.
Various aspects of our business, including our manufacturing operations, suppliers, and customers, may be negatively affected by severe weather events tied to climate change, including extreme storms, flooding, wildfires, extreme temperatures, and chronic changes in meteorological patterns. The frequency and severity of severe weather conditions affecting our business
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may be impacted by climate change, although it is currently impossible to predict with accuracy the scale of such impact. These impacts could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
In addition, a number of state, federal and municipal governments are considering a variety of mandatory legal or regulatory requirements or voluntary initiatives in relation to climate change or environmental issues. Many entities in private industry are also considering and introducing climate change and environmental criteria as a factor or commercial term in decisions relating to activities, including purchasing, lending, insurance and investing. The Company is unable to predict what climate change or environmental criteria, or requirements may be adopted or supported by governments and private sector entities in the future, or the impacts of such initiatives on its financial condition, results of operations, access to and cost of capital and cash flows.
In addition, the SEC has published proposed rules that would require companies to provide significantly expanded climate-related disclosures in their periodic reporting, which may require us to incur significant additional costs to comply, including the implementation of significant additional internal controls processes and procedures regarding matters that have not been subject to such controls in the past, and impose increased oversight obligations on our management and Board of Directors.
GENERAL RISK FACTORS
We may not be able to manage our business effectively if we are unable to retain our experienced management team or recruit other key personnel.
The success of our operations is highly dependent upon our ability to attract and retain qualified employees and upon the ability of our senior management and other key employees to implement our business strategy. We believe there are only a limited number of qualified executives in the industry in which we compete. The loss of the services of key members of our management team could seriously harm our efforts to successfully implement our business strategy.
Failure in our information technology and storage systems or cybersecurity incidents could adversely affect our business.
Our ability to execute our business plan and maintain operations depends on the continued and uninterrupted performance of our information technology systems. These systems are vulnerable to risks and damages from a variety of sources, including telecommunications or network failures, malicious human acts, and natural disasters. Moreover, despite network security and backup measures, some of our computer servers and those of our vendors are potentially vulnerable to physical or electronic break-ins, including cyberattacks, ransomware attacks, computer viruses and similar disruptive problems. These events could lead to the unauthorized access, disclosure and use of non-public information and disruption of our accounting, sales and purchasing systems and overall operations. Cybersecurity incidents or other unauthorized access to systems may result in disruption to our operations, corruption or theft of critical data, confidential information, or intellectual property. As reliance on technology continues to grow and more business activities have shifted online, the risk associated with any cybersecurity incidents have grown. While we and our third-party vendors have implemented security systems and infrastructure to prevent, detect and/or mitigate the risk of unauthorized access to technology systems or platforms, there can be no assurance that these measures will be effective. The techniques used by criminal elements to attack computer systems are sophisticated, change frequently and may originate from less regulated and remote areas of the world. As a result, we may not be able to address these techniques proactively or implement adequate preventative measures. If any of our computer systems are compromised, our business could be interrupted and we could be subject to fines, damages, litigation and enforcement actions and we could lose trade secrets, the occurrence of which could harm our business. In addition, any cybersecurity or data breach involving confidential information of our business, or our customers could result in negative publicity, damage to our reputation, loss of revenues, disruption of our business, litigation, and regulatory actions. Additional capital investments or expenditures may also be required to remediate any problems, infringements, misappropriations, or other third-party claims.
Any failure by us to comply with a variety of privacy and consumer protection laws may harm us.
Any failure by us or our vendor or other business partners to comply with privacy, data protection or security laws or regulations relating to the processing, collection, use, retention, security, and transfer of personally identifiable information could result in regulatory or litigation-related actions against us, legal liability, fines, damages, ongoing audit requirements and other significant costs. Substantial expenses and operational changes may be required in connection with maintaining compliance with such laws, and in particular certain emerging privacy laws are still subject to a high degree of uncertainty as to their interpretation and application. The California Consumer Privacy Act took effect on January 1, 2020 and imposes certain legal obligations on our use and processing of personal information related to California residents, including certain personal information regarding our California employees. In November 2020, California voters passed the California Privacy Rights and Enforcement Act of 2020, which further expands the California Consumer Privacy Act with additional data privacy compliance requirements that may impact our business, and establishes a regulatory agency dedicated to enforcing those requirements. Aspects of these new laws and their interpretation and enforcement remain uncertain, and their potential effects are far-reaching and may require us to modify our data processing practices and policies and incur substantial costs and expenses in order to
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comply. These new laws may also lead other states to pass comparable legislation, with potentially greater penalties and more rigorous compliance requirements relevant to our business.
Our stock price has historically been volatile, and investors in our common stock could suffer a decline in value.
There has been significant volatility in the market price and trading volume of equity securities, which may be unrelated to the financial performance of the companies issuing the securities. The economic impact and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this volatility in both our common stock and the overall stock markets. The limited “float” of shares available for purchase or sale of Virco stock can magnify this volatility. These broad market fluctuations may negatively affect the market price of our common stock. Some specific factors that may have a significant effect on our common stock market price include:
•actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results or future prospects;
•our announcements or our competitors’ announcements of new products;
•the public’s reaction to our press releases, our other public announcements and our filings with the SEC;
•strategic actions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions or restructurings;
•new laws or regulations or new interpretations of existing laws or regulations applicable to our business;
•changes in our growth rates or our competitors’ growth rates;
•our inability to raise additional capital;
•conditions of the school furniture industry as a result of changes in funding or general economic conditions, including those resulting from war, incidents of terrorism and responses to such events; and
•changes in stock market analyst recommendations or earnings estimates regarding our common stock, other comparable companies or the education furniture industry generally.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 1C. Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Risk Management and Strategy
Our business is substantially dependent upon our computer systems, devices and networks to collect, process and store the data necessary to conduct most aspects of our business. We have developed and maintain a cybersecurity program, which includes people, processes, and technology aimed at defending our computer systems, devices and networks against increasingly sophisticated threats. Cybersecurity risk management is an integral part of our enterprise risk management program. Our cybersecurity risk management program is designed to align with industry best practices and is fundamentally based on the framework established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”) for handling cybersecurity threats and incidents, including threats and incidents associated with the use of applications and services provided by third parties. The NIST framework facilitates coordination across different departments of the Company and includes steps for assessing the severity of a cybersecurity threat, identifying the source of a threat, including whether the threat is associated with a third-party service provider, implementing countermeasures and mitigation strategies, and informing management and the Board of Directors of material cybersecurity threats, incidents, and impact.
Our cybersecurity team is under the direction of the Chief Operations Officer and VP of Technology and Information Security, who are responsible for assessing, deploying, and managing the cybersecurity risk management program. Recognizing the complexity and evolving nature of cybersecurity threats, the cybersecurity team engages with a range of independent third party experts, including cybersecurity assessors and consultants in evaluating and testing our risk management systems. Our collaboration with these independent third parties includes regular threat assessments, such as penetration tests and table-top exercises, and consultation on security enhancements. In addition, the cybersecurity team provides training to applicable members and ongoing cybersecurity education. The Company also maintains cyber risk insurance to help cover costs associated with data breaches and cyberattacks. We evaluate and assess the capabilities of third-party service providers depending on the
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products and services provided and the potential for data exchange and technology risk. We also receive and review independent assessments of security threats from our major service providers.
We regularly assess, identify and manage our material risks from cybersecurity threats by employing the following:
•Identification of critical systems – we seek to identify which operational or information technology, if compromised or exploited, would result in operational disruption or data compromise. We aim to protect the entire environment at an enterprise level where practical, combined with additional layered, risk-based controls designed to safeguard against cybersecurity threats. This strategic, defense-in-depth, and risk-based approach to cybersecurity provides a methodology designed to identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover from cybersecurity incidents.
•Network segmentation – we use a combination of firewalls and routers to provide network segmentation seeking to provide us with network zone protection.
•Access controls – we leverage several security capabilities to attempt to enforce access, authorization and authentication to relevant systems, technology, and controls. A least-privilege methodology is applied for localized client workstations, servers, and applications. Security capabilities for access control include physical, administrative, and technical controls that combine to provide a defense-in-depth approach designed to protect our cyber assets from unauthorized use.
•Continuous monitoring, detection, and auditing – we employ various technologies, tactics, and procedures aimed to continuously monitor, baseline, and detect threats, and audit our network and systems. In addition, we use a combination of technology tools with outside managed security service providers designed to capture, analyze and respond to security anomalies.
•Patch management – we use a network vulnerability scanning tool that continually scans, and reports identified vulnerabilities in servers and workstations in certain networks. Vulnerability scanner reports are used to drive patching and remediation efforts and are also used as a tool to evaluate the effectiveness of efforts to seek to ensure patches are applied timely. Application and infrastructure subject matter experts subscribe to various third-party vendor security notifications to receive proactive notifications on, among other things, bugs, security flaws and mitigations, related to operational and information systems.
Cybersecurity Governance
Our Board of Directors oversees the execution of our cybersecurity strategy and the assessment of cybersecurity risks, along with the actions that we take seeking to mitigate and address those cybersecurity risks. The Board has delegated primary oversight of cybersecurity risks to the Executive Team and Lead Independent Director, who also reports material cybersecurity risk to the full Board of Directors as necessary. The Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring that management has processes in place that are designed to identify and evaluate cybersecurity risks to which the Company is exposed and implement programs to manage cybersecurity risks and mitigate cybersecurity incidents.
Management under the Chief Operations Officer and VP of Technology and Information Security are responsible for identifying, considering, and assessing material cybersecurity risks on an ongoing basis, establishing processes to ensure that such potential risk exposures are monitored, implementing appropriate mitigation measures and maintaining cybersecurity programs. The Chief Operations Officer and VP of Technology and Information Security and cybersecurity team members are experienced information security professionals, many of whom hold professional certifications and many years of experience in the field.
The Chief Operations Officer and VP of Technology and Information Security receive periodic reports from the cybersecurity team and monitors the prevention, detection, mitigation, and remediation of cybersecurity incidents. Appropriate procedures for communication to the Executive Team are also built into the incident response plan.
The Chief Operations Officer and VP of Technology and Information Security provide regular updates to the Executive Team and the full Board of Directors on the Company’s cybersecurity risk management program, material cybersecurity risks, and mitigation strategies. Management provides the Executive Team with cybersecurity reports that cover, among other topics, third-party assessments of the Company’s cybersecurity risk management program, developments in cybersecurity, and updates to the Company’s cybersecurity risk management program and mitigation strategies.
Cybersecurity Threats
As of the date of this Annual Report, we are not aware of any cybersecurity threats, including as a result of previous cybersecurity incidents, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect us. We acknowledge that
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cybersecurity threats are continually evolving, and the possibility of future cybersecurity incidents remains. Despite the implementation of our cybersecurity processes, our security measures cannot guarantee that a significant cybersecurity attack will not occur. While we devote resources to our security measures designed to protect our systems and information, no security measure is infallible. See "Item 1A. Risk Factors - Failure in our information technology and storage systems or cybersecurity incidents could adversely affect our business." for additional information about the risks to our business associated with a breach or other compromise to our information and operational technology systems.
Item 2. Properties
Torrance, California
Virco leases a 560,000 sq. ft. office, manufacturing and warehousing facility located on 23.5 acres of land in Torrance, California. This facility is occupied under a lease expiring on April 30, 2025 with two renewal options to extend the lease term for an additional term of five (5) years. This facility also includes the corporate headquarters, the West Coast showroom, and all West Coast distribution operations.
Conway, Arkansas
The Company owns 100 acres of land in Conway, Arkansas, containing 1.2 million sq. ft. of manufacturing, warehousing, and office space. This facility - which is equipped with high-density storage systems, features 70 dock doors dedicated to outbound freight, and has substantial yard capacity to store and stage trailers - has enabled the Company to consolidate the warehousing function and implement the Assemble-to-Ship inventory stocking program. Management believes that this facility supports Virco's ability to handle increased sales during the peak delivery season and enhances the efficiency with which orders are filled. This facility and the underlying real estate, along with the rest of the Company’s assets, secure the Company’s obligations under its credit facility.
In addition to the complex described above, the Company operates two other facilities in Conway, Arkansas. The first is a 375,000 sq. ft. fabrication facility that was acquired in 1954 and expanded and modernized over subsequent years. The Company manufactures fabricated steel components, chrome plates, and fabricates injection-molded plastic components at this facility. These components are transferred to other facilities for assembly into finished goods. The second is a 175,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility that is used to fabricate and store compression-molded components. This building was occupied under a series of leases for approximately 20 years. In August 2017, the Company purchased this building.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Virco is involved in legal proceedings from time to time in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of the Company, such legal proceedings are not material in amount or management expects that the Company will be successful on the merits in pending cases against the Company or any liabilities resulting from such cases will be substantially covered by insurance. While it is impossible to estimate with certainty the ultimate legal and financial liability with respect to these suits and claims, management believes that the aggregate amount of such liabilities will not be material to the results of operations, financial position, or cash flows of the Company.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
The NASDAQ Global Market is the principal market on which Virco Mfg. Corporation common stock (trading symbol VIRC) is traded. As of March 31, 2024, there were approximately 140 registered stockholders of the common stock according to the Company's transfer agent records.
Dividend Policy
Our future dividend policy will be determined from time to time by our board of directors, taking into account the Company’s earnings and liquidity, among other factors. In addition, our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with PNC Bank limits our ability to pay cash dividends to $3.0 million in the aggregate during any fiscal year, provided that no default or event or default shall have occurred or be continuing under the Credit Agreement or result from any such dividend. In addition, under the Credit Agreement we must demonstrate pro forma compliance with a fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.20:1.00 for the most recent twelve-month period ending as of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding the date of such dividend.
The Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.02 per share in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. Subsequent to year end, in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, the Company declared a dividend of $0.02 per share. While the Company intends to pay future dividends on a quarterly basis, following review and approval by the Board of Directors, the declaration and payment of future dividends, as well as the amounts thereof, are subject to the discretion of the Board as well as restrictive covenants in the Company’s lending agreements. There can be no assurance that the Company will declare and pay dividends in future periods.
Stock Repurchases
The Company did not repurchase any shares of its stock during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table sets forth information as of January 31, 2024, with respect to compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance.There were no securities issued under equity compensation plans not approved by security holders.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Plan category (#) ($) (#)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders 93,600 $ 4.40 537,925 (1)
Item 6. [Reserved]
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic
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The COVID-19 pandemic had an immediate impact on the Company’s operating activities. In March 2020, most school districts that we serve closed their doors to students and initiated remote learning. As a result, order rates in fiscal year 2021 declined by approximately 20% compared to the prior year.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2022, many schools reopened and virtually all schools were reopened for the beginning of academic year beginning August 2021. Order rates for fiscal year 2022 increased by nearly 40% compared to the prior year. The Company experienced severe supply chain issues and dramatically increased commodity costs during this year. In addition to severe shortages of materials, the Company incurred a severe shortfall of both temporary and full-time labor. In October and November of fiscal 2022, the Company significantly increased the starting wages for production workers followed by raises for all hourly workers. With these raises the Company was able to attract and retain additional workers.
In fiscal 2023, the Company was able to substantially resolve supply chain challenges and labor shortages. Order rates increased by over 13% and sales increased by 25%, enabling the Company to return to profitable operations.
Executive Overview of Operating Results
The market for school furniture is traditionally seasonal, with approximately 50% of annual sales occurring in the months of June, July, and August. The Company has traditionally met the seasonal needs with significant overtime and by hiring seasonal temporary labor. During fiscal 2021, the demand for school furniture declined primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic disruption, order rates declined by 20%, and the Company reduced production levels. Because of the traditional dependence on temporary seasonal labor, the Company was able to reduce seasonal hiring to match production to demand. The Company did not sever any of its full-time employees during the pandemic.
During fiscal 2022, 2023, and 2024 order rates recovered. Initially, the Company has difficulty sourcing adequate new permanent and temporary workers. The Company remedied this by providing significant raises to its hourly work force, and for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 our ability to support the seasonal business model returned to pre-COVID capabilities.
The markets that Virco serves include the education market (the Company's primary market), which is made up of public and private schools (preschool through 12th grade), junior and community colleges, four-year colleges and universities and trade, technical and vocational schools. Virco also serves convention centers and arenas; the hospitality industry, with respect to their banquet and meeting facilities; government facilities at the federal, state, county and municipal levels; and places of worship. In addition, the Company sells to wholesalers, distributors, retailers, catalog retailers, and internet retailers that serve these same markets. These institutions are frequently characterized by extreme seasonality and/or a bid-based purchasing function. The Company's business model, which is designed to support this strategy, is highly integrated. The Company purchases coils of steel, plastic resin, particle board, and other raw materials and fabricated finished goods for the education market . The Company markets and sells direct to the schools and provides project management and logistics. The Company primarily sells to schools FOB destination, with approximately 80% of sales delivered FOB classroom destination.
As part of this integrated business model, the Company has developed several competencies to enable superior service to the markets in which Virco competes. The Company’s direct sales force is supported by interior designers, project managers and field service professionals. An important element of Virco's business model is the Company's emphasis on developing and maintaining key manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, delivery, project management and service capabilities. The Company has developed a comprehensive product offering for the furniture, fixtures and equipment (“FF&E”) needs of the K-12 education market, enabling a school to procure all of its FF&E requirements from one source.
Virco's product offering consists primarily of items manufactured by Virco, complemented with products sourced from other furniture manufacturers to fill any gaps in product manufactured by the Company. The Company has served the education industry for over 74 years and over this time developed products to address a variety of classroom management trends, from collaborative learning to individual and combination desks facilitating distancing and classroom control. The pandemic caused a noticeable change in the types of products requested by educators. In fiscal 2021 we experienced an increase in the demand for individual desks. In fiscal 2022, demand began to return to products supporting collaborative learning. This trend continued through fiscal 2023 and 2024. Our product offerings are continually enhanced with an ongoing new product development program that incorporates internally developed products as well as product lines developed with accomplished designers. Finally, management continues to hone Virco's ability to forecast, finance, manufacture, warehouse, deliver and install furniture within the relatively narrow delivery window associated with the highly seasonal demand for education sales. The educational sales market is extremely seasonal. Historically, Virco ships approximately 50% of its annual revenue in the months of June, July, and August. In fiscal 2022, the seasonal peak was distorted due to severe supply chain interruptions, labor shortages, and COVID-19 related employee absences and the Company delivered slightly less than 40% of sales during June, July, and August. In fiscal 2023, approximately 47% of the Company's total sales were delivered in June, July, and August. In fiscal 2024, approximately 49% of the Company's total sales were delivered in June, July, and August.
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During periods of traditional seasonality, average weekly shipments during July and August can be as great as six times the level of average weekly shipments in the winter months. Virco's substantial warehouse space allows the Company to build and ship adequate inventories to service this narrow delivery window for the education market.
The budgetary pressures directly impact the demand for the Company's products, as the demand for educational furniture largely depends upon: (1) available funding in a school's general operating fund and (2) the completion of bond-funded projects, which is directly impacted by the amount of bond financing issued to fund new school construction, to renovate older schools, and to fully equip new and renovated schools.
We believe that a significant majority, approximately 80-85%, of a typical school's operating budget is for the salaries and benefits for school teachers and administrators. Increasing costs for medical insurance, combined with pressures from unfunded post-retirement medical and pension obligations reduces funds available for other purposes . In response to these budgetary pressures, schools typically elect to retain teachers and spend less on repairs, maintenance, and replacement furniture, which in turn reduces the demand for, and sales of, the Company's products.
The significant budgetary challenges faced by the education industry have had an impact on the Company’s business model over this time frame and have created opportunities as well. In response to their budgetary challenges, many school districts closed warehouses and reduced janitorial and support staff in order to retain accredited teachers. Selling efforts must now reach school principals and administrative staff in addition to the district business offices. Sales priced under national contracts or buying groups are displacing competitive bids administered by professional purchasing departments. Distribution and service has become a more meaningful component of our business as most deliveries are to school sites, and nearly 50% include delivery into the classroom. This evolution adds to the seasonal challenges of our business, but also creates opportunities to suppliers that can execute during the short summer delivery window.
The Company’s operating results can be impacted significantly by cost and volatility of commodities, especially steel, plastic, wood, and energy. The majority of the Company's sales are generated under annual contracts in which the Company can raise the price of its products once every six months and only on future orders. If the costs of the Company's raw materials increase suddenly or unexpectedly, the Company cannot be certain that it will be able to implement immediate corresponding increases in its sales prices in order to offset such increased costs. The Company moderates this exposure by building significant quantities of finished goods and component parts during the first and second quarters. In fiscal 2023, the cost of commodities was volatile, but not as severe as experienced in 2022. Increased selling prices covered increases in commodity prices during fiscal 2023. In 2024, the Company increased selling prices in anticipation of additional cost increases. The cost of materials in 2024 were reasonably stable compared to the volatility in prior years – especially the years impacted by COVID.
Approximately 80% of Virco’s sales include freight to the customer facility and the cost or availability of transportation equipment can adversely impact both profitability and customer service. Significant cost increases in manufacturing or distributing products during a given contract period can adversely impact operating results and have done so during prior years. The Company typically benefits from any decreases in raw material or distribution costs under the contracts described above.
For the year ending January 31, 2025 ("fiscal 2025"), the Company anticipates continued uncertainty and volatility in commodity costs, particularly with respect to steel, plastic, and other raw materials, transportation, and energy.
While the Company anticipates challenging economic conditions to continue to impact its core customer base in the near term, there are certain underlying demographics, customer responses and changes in the competitive landscape that provide opportunities. First, the underlying demographics of the student population are relatively stable compared to the volatility of school budgets and the related impact on furniture and equipment purchases. This volatility is attributable to the financial health of the school systems. Virco management believes that there is a pent-up demand for quality school furniture (though it is unclear when and to what extent that pent-up demand will be converted into a meaningful increase in purchases). Second, management believes that parents and voters will make quality education an ongoing priority for future government spending. The disruption related to COVID-19 school closures reinforced the need for learning in classroom settings. Third, many schools have responded to the budget strains by reducing their support infrastructure. This change provides opportunities to provide services to schools, such as project management for new or renovated schools, delivery to individual school sites rather than truckload deliveries to central warehouses, and delivery of furniture into classrooms. Moreover, this change offers opportunities for Virco to promote its complete product assortment which allows one-stop shopping as opposed to sourcing furniture needs from a variety of suppliers. Fourth, many suppliers previously shut down or dramatically curtailed their domestic manufacturing capabilities, making it difficult for competitors to adapt to dynamic fluctuations in demand or provide custom colors or finishes during a narrow seasonal summer delivery window when they are reliant upon a supply chain extending to Asia or elsewhere. Meanwhile, Virco has continued to invest in automation at its domestic manufacturing facilities, adding flat metal forming processes to its manufacturing capabilities and bringing production into its factories of items formerly sourced from other suppliers (both domestic and international). Domestic production facilitates our product development process, enabling the Company to more rapidly develop new products, release extensions of product families, and offer customized variants of our product offerings. Virco views its domestic factories as a strategic resource for providing its
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customers with timely delivery of a broad selection of colors, finishes, laminates, and product styles. Finally, many of our domestic competitors, especially small dealerships, may be undercapitalized and less capable of supporting the significant seasonal nature of our business. We believe that our financial strength, which allows us to build material quantities of inventory in advance of the summer delivery season, is a significant competitive advantage.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
This discussion and analysis of Virco's financial condition and results of operations is based upon the Company's consolidated financial statements (“financial statements”), which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires Virco management to make estimates and judgments that affect the Company's reported assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Certain of these estimates are considered critical accounting estimates. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates estimates, including those related to valuation of inventory and related excess and obsolete inventories, self-insured retention for workers' compensation insurance, liabilities under defined benefit and other compensation programs, and estimates related to deferred tax assets and liabilities. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. This forms the basis of judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include the factors discussed above under “Item 1, Business”, and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Virco's critical accounting policies and estimates are as follows:
Slow-Moving and Obsolete Inventories: Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value (determined on a first-in, first-out basis (“FIFO”)) and includes material, labor, and factory overhead. The Company records valuation adjustments for the excess cost of the inventory over its estimated net realizable value. Valuation adjustments for slow-moving and obsolete inventory involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on the Company's financial condition or results of operations. Valuation adjustments for slow-moving and obsolete inventory are calculated using an estimated percentage applied to inventories based on a physical inspection of the product in connection with a physical inventory, a review of slow-moving products and component stage, inventory category, historical and forecasted consumption of sales, and consideration of active marketing programs. The market for educational furniture is traditionally driven by value, not style, and the Company has not typically incurred material obsolescence expenses. If market conditions are less favorable than those anticipated by management, additional valuation adjustments may be required. The Company records the cost of excess capacity as a period expense, not as a component of capitalized inventory valuation.
While we believe that adequate adjustments for inventory obsolescence have been made in the consolidated financial statements, our obsolescence adjustments calculations contain estimates that require management to make assumptions based on several factors, including market conditions, the selling environment, historical results, supply-chain environment, current inventory trends and customer behavior. There have been no changes to our policies for establishing adjustments throughout the year, and we do not expect significant changes to our historical obsolescence levels. A 10% increase in our year-end inventory adjustments would decrease our net income by approximately $480,000, on an after-tax basis. The net income would increase by similar amounts if the inventory adjustments was to decrease by a comparable percentage. As of January 31, 2024 and January 31, 2023, our inventory obsolescence adjustments were $6.0 million and $5.0 million, respectively, representing 10.8% and 7.8%, respectively, of our inventories on a FIFO basis.
Self-Insured Retention: For fiscal 2024 and 2023, the Company was self-insured for product liability losses up to $250,000 per occurrence, workers' compensation losses up to $250,000 per occurrence, and auto and general liability losses up to $50,000 per occurrence. The Company obtains quarterly or semi-annual actuarial valuations for the self-insured retentions. Product liability, workers' compensation, and auto reserves for known and unknown incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) losses are recorded at the net present value of the estimated losses using a risk-free discount rate of 4% for fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023. Given the relatively short term over which the known losses and IBNR losses are discounted, the sensitivity to the discount rate is not significant. Estimated workers' compensation and auto losses (including IBNR) were funded during the insurance year and subject to retroactive loss adjustments. The Company's exposure to self-insured retentions varies depending upon the market conditions in the insurance industry and the availability of cost-effective insurance coverage. Self-insured retentions for fiscal 2025 will be comparable to the retention levels for fiscal 2024.
Defined Benefit Obligations: The Company has two defined benefit plans, the Virco Employees Retirement Plan (“Employee Plan”) and the Virco Important Performers Plan (“VIP Plan”), which provide retirement benefits to employees. Virco discounted the pension obligations for the two plans using the following discount rates for the fiscal years ended January 31:
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Because new benefit accruals for both plans were frozen by the Company effective December 31, 2003, the assumed rate of increase in compensation has no effect on the accounting for the plans. For the Employee Plan, the Company estimated a 6.0% return on plan assets for 2024 and 6.0% for fiscal 2023. The VIP Plan is unfunded and has no plan assets. These rate assumptions can vary due to changes in interest rates and expected returns in the stock market. In prior years, the discount rate has decreased, causing pension expense and pension obligations to increase.
Because the plans have been frozen for many years, there is no service cost related to the plans. In the current year, the Plan purchased approximately $5.0 million of annuities for retired employees. In the current and prior years, due to a large number of lump-sum benefits paid to retired and terminated employees, the Company has incurred settlement costs for the Employee Plan. In effort to “de-risk” the Employee Plan, the Company intends to continue to reach out to and offer lump sum benefits to terminated and retired employees, which may result in settlement costs in the future. The Company incurred settlement costs in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2024 and the third, and fourth quarters of fiscal 2023.
Due to the size of the Company's pension obligations, a one percent change in discount rates can cause a material change in the pension obligations. A one percent reduction in discount rates would cause obligations under the Plans to increase by approximately $3.0 million and increase pension expense by approximately $350,000. A one percent decrease in return on Plan assets would increase pension expense by $160,000 and have no impact on retirement obligations. The retirement obligations would decrease by similar amounts if discount rate were to increase by a comparable percentage. The Company obtains annual actuarial valuations for both plans.
Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities: In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, the Company considers whether it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of its deferred tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income or reversal of deferred tax liabilities during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. As a part of this evaluation, the Company assesses all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, the availability of tax carry backs, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations (including cumulative losses in recent years), to determine whether sufficient future taxable income will be generated to realize existing deferred tax assets.
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2023, the Company was profitable and returned to a cumulative 3-year profit in the fourth quarter. During the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2023, the Company concluded a fiscal year that demonstrated strong growth in order rates, revenue, pricing, and gross margin. In addition, a very strong level of sales orders received in the fourth quarter ended January 31, 2023, for shipment in the fiscal year ending January 31, 2024, resulted in a backlog of unshipped sales orders that was $17.7 million greater than the prior year ended January 31, 2022 and $34.4 million more than the average year-end backlog for the prior 5 years. Based on this evaluation, and after considering future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and the effects of seasonality on the Company’s business, the Company determined the realization of a majority of the net deferred tax assets met the more-likely-than-not criteria and the valuation allowance against the majority of the net deferred tax assets was reversed.
At January 31, 2024, the Company recorded a partial valuation allowances of $251,000 on certain state NOL to reduce the carrying amount of deferred tax assets to an amount that is more-likely-than-not to be realized. The net change in the valuation allowance for the year ended January 31, 2024, was a decrease of $613,000. At January 31, 2024, the Company has no NOL for U.S. federal tax purposes and $9.0 million for state income tax purposes, expiring at various dates through January 31, 2042.
The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable could be adjusted if the Company’s actual results in the future do not generate taxable income that is sufficient to allow the Company to utilize its deferred tax assets. The Company’s future taxable income projections are subject to a high degree of uncertainty and could be impacted, both positively and negatively, by changes in our business or the markets in which we operate. A change in the assessment of the realizability of our deferred tax assets could materially impact our results of operations.
Results of Operations (fiscal 2024 vs. 2023)
Financial Highlights
The Company earned a pre-tax profit of $29.2 million on net sales of $269.1 million for fiscal 2024, compared to pre-tax profit of $8.0 million on net sales of $231.1 million in fiscal 2023, an improvement of $21.2 million. Net income per diluted share increased to $1.34 for fiscal 2024, compared to $1.02 per diluted share in the prior year. Cash flow provided by operations was $27.0 million in fiscal 2024, compared to cash used in operations of $3.8 million in fiscal 2023.
Net Sales
Virco's net sales increased by 16.5% in fiscal 2024 to $269.1 million compared to $231.1 million in fiscal 2023. The increase in net sales was attributable to an increase in selling prices combined with a comparable increase from unit volume.
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Virco’s order rates and sales volume were severely impacted by COVID-19. In fiscal 2021, the Company incurred approximately a 20% reduction in sales orders and sales volume. This reduction was in large part due to the closure of schools throughout the nation. In fiscal year 2022, many schools reopened during the Company’s first quarter, and virtually all schools reopened by the beginning of the Company’s third quarter. During fiscal 2022 order rates increased by approximately 40% compared to the prior year. In fiscal 2023 the Company continued to benefit from increased order rates, with sales orders increasing by more than 13%. In fiscal 2024 order rates increased by approximately 6%. The Company believes that order rates have now substantially recovered from the impact of COVID. Orders for furniture which included full service classroom delivery increased relative to total sales as schools increasingly rely on Virco to provide logistics and turn key site support.
For fiscal 2025, the lingering effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and related generosity of federal support is continuing to create uncertainty as state and local government budgets may be adversely impacted. The Company has effectively increased selling prices under its largest contracts to recover volatile commodity, energy, freight, and labor costs. The Company does not anticipate material margin growth as recent price increases have restored profitability. As we have gone through this economic cycle, the Company continues to focus on strategies to develop and strengthen its brand with emphasis on product quality, product selection, and service. We will continue to use our domestic factories to provide greater flexibility for custom specifications such as laminates, colors, and on-time delivery. The Company will continue to emphasize the value, design, variety of its products, the value of its distribution, delivery, classroom delivery and project management capabilities, and the importance of timely deliveries during the peak-seasonal delivery period. To increase or maintain market share during fiscal 2025, when market conditions warrant, the Company may selectively compete based on direct prices to build or maintain its market share. Estimates of sales volume for the next year may continue to be impacted by global events.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales was 56.9% of net sales in fiscal 2024 and 63.1% of net sales in fiscal 2023. The decrease in cost of sales as a percentage of sales was attributable to a variety of factors, but primarily due to increased selling prices combined with an increase in orders requiring full service. Full service orders typically generate greater margins, but also result in increased service costs which are included in selling, general, and administrative expenses.
The material portion of our costs as a percentage of sales was 34.7% of net sales in fiscal 2024 and 39.2% of net sales in fiscal 2023. This was primarily due to price increases in 2023 and 2024 combined with relatively stable commodity costs. Direct labor costs decreased slightly as a percentage of sales. Overhead costs as a percentage of sales increased, primarily due to reduced levels of production. The Company reduced production levels in order to control inventory levels and partly due to stabilized supply chain conditions.
During fiscal 2025, the Company anticipates continued uncertainty and volatility in commodity costs, particularly with respect to certain raw materials, transportation, energy, and tariffs due to potential macroeconomic events, including global economic sanctions and the lingering effect of the global pandemic caused by COVID-19. The Company also anticipates continued and possibly increased supply chain disruptions from both domestic and international suppliers. Due in part to volatile transportation and energy costs, we may incur higher commodity costs in fiscal 2025. For more information, please see the section below entitled “Inflation and Future Change in Prices.”
Selling, General and Administrative and Other Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) for fiscal 2024 increased by $9.5 million to $84.2 million from $74.7 million but decreased as a percentage of net sales to 31.3% in fiscal 2024 from 32.3% in fiscal 2023. The increase in SG&A was primarily attributable to variable service expenses and variable selling expenses.
Pension expense increased due to Plan settlement expenses. Interest expense was $700,000 higher in fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023 because of increased levels of seasonal borrowing and higher interest rates.
Provision for Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate is based on recurring factors, including the forecasted mix of income before taxes in various jurisdictions, estimated permanent differences and the recording of a partial valuation allowance on net deferred tax asset.
During fiscal 2022, the Company incurred net operating losses, due primary to adverse economic conditions due to COVID-19 and related business interruptions while emerging from the effects of the pandemic. During the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2022, based on this evaluation, and after considering future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and the effects of seasonality on the Company’s business, the Company determined the realization of a majority of the net deferred tax assets no longer met the more-likely-than-not criteria and a valuation allowance was recorded against the majority of the net deferred tax assets.
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During fiscal 2023, the Company was profitable and benefited from continued growth in order rates, growth in sales volume, and improvements in gross margin. The Company utilized a material portion of its federal and certain state net operating loss carryforwards ("NOL") in fiscal 2023 and anticipated that all federal NOL could be utilized by the end of fiscal 2024. During the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2023, based on this evaluation, and after considering future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and the effects of seasonality on the Company’s business, the Company determined the realization of a majority of the net deferred tax assets met the more-likely-than-not criteria and a valuation allowance was reversed against the majority of the net deferred tax assets, resulting in a net change in valuation allowance of $10.5 million.
During fiscal 2024 the Company utilized all of its federal NOL’s and a significant portion of its state NOL’s. The effective tax rate for 2024 is more representative of rates that will affect fiscal 2025.
Valuation allowances of $251,000 are needed for certain state net operating loss carryforwards to reduce the carrying amount of deferred tax assets to an amount that is more-likely-than-not to be realized. At January 31, 2024, the Company has no operating loss carryforwards for U.S. federal, and $9.0 million for state income tax purposes, expiring at various dates through January 31, 2042.
Cash Flows
The following table shows summary cash flows information for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2024 and 2023:
Year ended January 31,
(In thousands)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 26,960 $ (3,788)
Net cash used in investing activities $ (4,759) $ (3,332)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities $ (17,972) $ 6,818
Net increase (decrease) in cash $ 4,229 $ (302)
Operating activities. Our cash flows from operating activities are primarily collections from the sale and distribution of furniture to our customers in the education market. Net cash provided in operations increased by $30.7 million for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024. This improvement is primarily attributable to improved profitability (pre-tax as prior year income included an adjustment to deferred tax valuation) combined with a reduction in inventory. The prior year was adversely affected by an increase in inventory due to a large order received in the fourth quarter combined with a recovery from supply chain issues incurred in 2022.
Investing activities. Investing activities include two distinct categories. Financial transactions are related to the purchase or sale of investments held in the Rabbi Trust which funds and secures employee benefits related to the non-qualified VIP pension and Split Dollar Life Insurance programs. The net investing activity from these transactions were immaterial. Our net investments primarily consist of investments in our factories and technology to support our business activities. Net investment activities were lower than typical for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2023 due to reduced business activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the related time lag in receiving new machinery. Capital expenditures have been financed using borrowings under our line of credit with PNC Bank. There were no material commitments for capital expenditures as of January 31, 2024.
Financing activities. Our financing activities primarily consist of the proceeds and repayments of borrowings under our line of credit with PNC Bank. Due to the seasonal nature of our business, the Company typically borrows material amounts under the line to finance seasonal building of inventory and financing of accounts receivable. The Company typically repays the seasonal borrowings at the conclusion of the summer busy season. In fiscal 2024 the Company materially reduced its year end borrowings under the line of credit, primarily due to cash flows from operations.
Inflation and Future Change in Prices
We commit to annual contracts that determine selling prices for goods and services for periods of six months and occasionally longer. Though the Company has negotiated flexibility under many of these contracts that may allow the Company to increase prices on future orders, the Company may not have the ability to raise prices on orders received prior to any announced price increase. Due to the intensely seasonal nature of our business, the Company may receive significant orders during the first and second quarters for delivery in the second and third quarters. With respect to any of the contracts described above, if the costs of providing our products or services increase between the date the orders are received and the shipping date, we may not be able to implement corresponding increases in our sales prices for such products or services to offset the related increased costs.
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In fiscal 2023, the cost of commodities was volatile, but not as severe as years during the peak of COVID. During fiscal 2024 the cost of commodities was reasonably stable.
For fiscal 2025, the Company anticipates continued volatility in costs, particularly with respect to imported components from China, freight from China, certain raw materials including steel, transportation, energy, and potential impacts of escalating labor costs. Anticipated adverse volatility for fiscal 2025 could be severe in light of global supply chain and economic sanctions, tariffs imposed or threatened on imported commodities and other disruptions affecting our suppliers. There is continued uncertainty with respect to steel and other raw material costs, including plastics, that are affected by the price of oil. Transportation costs may be adversely affected by increased oil prices, in the form of increased operation costs for our fleet, and surcharges on freight paid to third-party carriers. Virco depends upon third-party carriers for more than 90% of customer deliveries. Recent regulation and more stringent enforcement of federal regulations governing the transportation industry (especially regarding drivers) have adversely impacted the cost and availability of freight services. Virco expects to incur continued pressure on employee compensation and benefit costs. The Company has renewed health insurance contracts for its employees through December 2024, but costs after that date may be adversely impacted by current legislation, claim costs and industry consolidation.
To recover the cumulative impact of increased costs, the Company has increased published list prices for fiscal 2025. Due to current economic conditions, the Company anticipates increased price competition in fiscal 2025 and may not be able to raise prices further in response to increased commodity costs without risk of losing market share. As a portion of Virco's business is obtained through competitive bids, the Company is carefully considering material and transportation costs as part of the bidding process. The Company is working to control and reduce costs by improving production and distribution methodologies, investigating new packaging and shipping materials, and searching for new sources of purchased components and raw materials.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Working Capital Requirements
Virco addresses liquidity and working capital requirements in the context of short-term seasonal requirements and long-term capital requirements of the business. The Company's core business of selling furniture to publicly-funded educational institutions is extremely seasonal. The seasonal nature of this business permeates most of Virco's operational, capital and financing decisions.
The Company's working capital requirements during and in anticipation of the peak summer season oblige management to make estimates and judgments that affect Virco's assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Management expends a significant amount of time during the year, and especially in the fourth quarter of the prior year and first quarter of current year, developing a production plan and estimating the number of employees, the amount of raw materials and the types of components and products that will be required during the peak season. If management underestimates any of these requirements, Virco's ability to fill customer orders on a timely basis or to provide adequate customer service may be diminished. If management overestimates any of these requirements, the Company may be required to absorb higher storage, labor, and related costs, each of which may affect profitability. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates such estimates, including those related to market demand, labor costs and inventory levels, and continually strives to improve Virco's ability to correctly forecast business requirements during the peak season each year.
As part of Virco's efforts to address seasonality, financial performance, and quality without sacrificing service or market share, management has been refining the Company's ATS operating model. ATS is Virco's version of mass-customization, which assembles standard, stocked components into customized configurations before shipment. The Company's ATS program reduces the total amount of inventory and working capital needed to support a given level of sales. It does this by increasing the inventory's versatility, delaying assembly until the last moment, and reducing the amount of warehouse space needed to store finished goods. In order to provide “one-stop shopping” for all FF&E needs, Virco purchases and re-sells certain finished goods from other furniture manufacturers. When practical, these furniture items are drop shipped from the Company's supplier. Where cost effective, the Company will bring the item into the Virco warehouse, and the third-party products will be shipped along with product manufactured by Virco. The Company did not carry material amounts of vendor inventory during the fiscal years ended January 31, 2024 and 2023.
In addition, Virco finances its largest balance of accounts receivable during the peak season. This occurs for three primary reasons. First, accounts receivable balances naturally increase during the peak season as shipments of products increase. Second, many customers during this period are government institutions, which tend to pay accounts receivable more slowly than commercial customers. Third, many summer deliveries may be “projects” where the Company fulfills large orders of furniture for a new school or significant refurbishment of an existing school. Customers with large projects may require architect sign off, school board approval prior to payment, or punch list completion, all of which can delay payment.
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Because of the seasonality of our business, our manufacturing and distribution capacity is dictated by the capacity requirement during the months of June, July, and August. Because of this seasonality, factory utilization is lower during the slow season. The Company utilizes a variety of tactics to address the seasonality of its business. During the summer months, which comprise our second and third fiscal quarters, our personnel utilization generally is at or close to full capacity. The Company utilizes temporary labor and significant overtime to meet the seasonal requirements. During the slow portions of the year, temporary labor and overtime are eliminated to moderate the off-season costs. Our manufacturing facility capacity utilization generally remains less than 100% during these off-season months; because physical structure capacity cannot be adjusted as readily as personnel capacity, we have secured sufficient physical structure capacity to accommodate our current needs, as well as for anticipated future growth. Our physical structure utilization is significantly lower during the first and fourth quarters of each year than it is during the second and third quarters.
The Company utilizes a comparable strategy to address warehousing and distribution requirements. During summer months, temporary labor is hired to supplement experienced warehouse and distribution personnel. More than 90% of the Company's freight is provided by third-party carriers. The Company has secured sufficient warehouse capacity to accommodate our current needs as well as anticipated future growth.
Line of Credit
As the capital required for the summer season generally exceeds cash available from operations, Virco has historically relied on third-party bank financing to meet seasonal cash flow requirements. On December 22, 2011, the Company and Virco Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Virco” and, together with the Company, the “Borrowers”) entered into a Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (“Restated Credit Agreement”) with PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and lender (“PNC”).
The Restated Credit Agreement as currently in effect provides the Borrowers with a secured revolving line of credit (“Revolving Credit Facility”) of up to $65.0 million, with seasonal adjustments to the credit limit (up to $70.0 million during the months of June, July and August 2024) and subject to borrowing base limitations and includes a sub-limit of up to $3.0 million for issuances of letters of credit. In addition, the Restated Credit Agreement provides an inventory sublimit of $35.0 million and Assemble-to-ship (“ATS”) inventory sublimit of $15.0 million during the months of May through August 2024, and an Equipment Line for purchases of equipment of up to $2.0 million. The Revolving Credit Facility is an asset-based line of credit that is subject to a borrowing base limitation and generally provides for advances of up to 85% of eligible accounts receivable, plus a percentage equal to the lesser of 60% of the value of eligible inventory or 85% of the liquidation value of eligible inventory, plus $15.0 million for the period from December to July of each year minus undrawn amounts of letters of credit and reserves. The Revolving Credit Facility is secured by substantially all of the Borrowers' personal property and certain of the Borrowers' real property. The scheduled maturity date of the Restated Credit Agreement is April 15, 2027, at which point the principal amount outstanding under the Restated Credit Agreement and any accrued and unpaid interest is due and payable, subject to certain prepayment penalties upon earlier termination. Prior to the maturity date, principal amounts outstanding under the Restated Credit Agreement may be repaid and reborrowed at the option of the Borrowers without premium or penalty, subject to borrowing base limitations, seasonal adjustments, and certain other conditions.
The Revolving Credit Facility bears interest, at the Borrowers' option, at either the Alternate Base Rate (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) or the Eurodollar Currency Rate (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement), in each case plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin for Alternate Base Rate loans is a percentage within a range of 1.25% to 1.75%, and the applicable margin for Eurodollar Currency Rate loans is a percentage within a range of 2.25% to 2.75%, in each case based on the adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement, “EBITDA”) of the Borrowers at the end of each fiscal quarter and may be increased at PNC's option by 2.0% during the continuance of an event of default. Accrued interest with respect to principal amounts outstanding under the Restated Credit Agreement is payable in arrears on a monthly basis for Alternative Base Rate loans, and at the end of the applicable interest period but at most every three months for Eurodollar Currency Rate loans. The interest rate at January 31, 2024 was 10.5%.
The Restated Credit Agreement permits the Company to issue dividends or make payments with respect to the Company’s capital stock in an aggregate amount up to $3.0 million during any fiscal year, provided that no default shall have occurred or is continuing or would result from any such payment, and the Company must demonstrate pro forma compliance with a 12-month trailing fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.20:1.00 as of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding the date of any such dividend or payment.
The Restated Credit Agreement contains a clean-down provision that requires the Company to reduce borrowings under the line of credit to less than $10.0 million for a period of 30 consecutive days during the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter of each fiscal year. The clean-down provision allows the Company to maintain the minimum outstanding balance of $10.0 million to be carried on an uninterrupted period extending beyond one year and ultimately due at the scheduled maturity. The Company
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believes that normal operating cash flow will continue to allow it to meet the clean-down requirement with no adverse impact on the Company's liquidity.
Events of default (subject to certain cure periods and other limitations) under the Restated Credit Agreement include, but are not limited to, (i) non-payment of principal, interest or other amounts due under the Restated Credit Agreement, (ii) the violation of terms, covenants, representations or warranties in the Restated Credit Agreement or related loan documents, (iii) any event of default under agreements governing certain indebtedness of the Borrowers and certain defaults by the Borrowers under other agreements that would materially adversely affect the Borrowers, (iv) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation involving the Borrowers, (v) judgments or judicial actions against the Borrowers in excess of $250,000, subject to certain conditions, (vi) the failure of the Company to comply with Pension Benefit Plans (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement), (vii) the invalidity of loan documents pertaining to the Restated Credit Agreement, (viii) a change of control of the Borrowers and (ix) the interruption of operations of any of the Borrowers' manufacturing facilities for five consecutive days during the peak season or 15 consecutive days during any other time, subject to certain conditions.
Pursuant to the Restated Credit Agreement, substantially all of the Borrowers' accounts receivable are automatically and promptly swept to repay amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility upon receipt by the Borrowers. Due to this automatic liquidating nature of the Revolving Credit Facility, if the Borrowers breach any covenant, violate any representation or warranty, or suffer a deterioration in their ability to borrow pursuant to the borrowing base calculation, the Borrowers may not have access to cash liquidity unless provided by PNC at its discretion. In addition, certain of the covenants and representations and warranties set forth in the Restated Credit Agreement contain limited or no materiality thresholds, and many of the representations and warranties must be true and correct in all material respects upon each borrowing, which the Borrowers expect to occur on an ongoing basis. Based on the Company’s current projections, including COVID-19 related costs, raw material costs and its ability to introduce price increases, management believes it will maintain compliance with the financial covenants within Amendment No. 2, although there are uncertainties therewithin, such as raw material costs and supply chain challenges.
The Company's revolving line of credit with PNC is structured to provide seasonal credit availability during the Company's peak summer season. Approximately $30.0 million and $12.9 million were available for borrowing as of January 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Long-Term Capital Requirements
In addition to short-term liquidity considerations, the Company continually evaluates long-term capital requirements.
Capital expenditures will continue to focus on automation, both in the factory and software applications, and new product development along with the tooling and new processes required to produce new products. The Company has identified several opportunities for capital expenditures during the next five years. The Company anticipates capital spending of approximately $5.0 million for fiscal 2025. Our Revolving Credit Facility with PNC Bank provides a $2.0 million line for equipment and covenants allow for anticipated capital expenditures for fiscal 2025.
Retirement Obligations
The Company provides retirement benefits to employees under two defined benefit retirement plans; the Employee Plan and the VIP Plan. The Employee Plan is a qualified retirement plan that is funded through a trust held at PNC Bank ("Trustee"). The other plan is non-qualified retirement plan. Benefits payable under the VIP Plan are secured by life insurance policies and marketable securities held in a rabbi trust. The Company obtains annual actuarial valuations for both retirement plans.
Because the plans have been frozen since 2003, there is no service cost related to the plans. In past, due to a large number of lump sum benefits paid to retired and terminated employees, the Company has incurred settlement costs for the Employee Plan. In effort to “de-risk” the Employee Plan, the Company intends to continue to reach out to and offer lump sum benefits to terminated and retired employees, which may result in settlement costs in the future. With the recent increase in interest rates the Company was able to purchase approximately $5.0 million of annuities in the third quarter ended October 31, 2023, resulting in a settlement charge in that quarter. In the future, the Company may purchase additional annuities from third parties to further de-risk the Plan. The Company incurred settlement costs in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2024. The Company incurred settlement costs in the third, and fourth quarters of fiscal 2023. It is the Company's policy to contribute adequate funds to the trust accounts to cover benefit payments under the VIP Plan and to maintain the funded status of the Employee Plan at a level which is adequate to avoid significant restrictions to the Employee Plan under the Pension Protection Act of 2006 and to minimize PBGC related expenses. Contributions to the Qualified Plan Trust and benefit payments under the VIP Plan totaled $676,000 and $595,000 in fiscal 2024 and 2023, respectively.
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Contributions during fiscal 2025 will depend upon actual investment results and benefit payments but are anticipated to be less than $0.5 million. At January 31, 2024, accumulated other comprehensive loss of approximately $1.3 million, net of tax, is attributable to the pension plans.
The Company does not anticipate making any significant changes to the pension assumptions in the near future. If the Company were to have used different assumptions in the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024, a 1% reduction in investment return would have increased expense by approximately $163,000, a 1% change in the rate of compensation increase would have no impact, and a 1% reduction in discount rates would cause obligations under the Plans to increase by approximately $3.0 million and increase pension expense by approximately $352,000.
Stockholders' Equity
Historically it has been the board of directors' policy to periodically review the payment of cash and stock dividends in light of the Company's earnings and liquidity. The Company paid four quarterly cash dividends of $0.015 per share in 2018.
Virco issued a 10% stock dividend or 3/2 stock split every year beginning in 1983 through 2003. Although the stock dividend had no cash consequences to the Company, the accounting methodology required for 10% dividends has affected the equity section of the balance sheet. When the Company records a 10% stock dividend, 10% of the market capitalization of the Company on the date of the declaration is reclassified from retained earnings to additional paid-in capital. During the period from 1983 through 2003, the cumulative effect of the stock dividends has been to reclassify over $122.0 million from retained earnings to additional paid-in capital. The equity section of the balance sheet on January 31, 2024 reflects additional paid-in capital of approximately $121.0 million and accumulated deficit of approximately $29.0 million. The majority of the accumulated deficit is a result of the accounting reclassification and is not the result of accumulated losses.
Environmental and Contingent Liabilities
Environmental Compliance and Government Regulation
Virco is subject to numerous federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations in the various jurisdictions in which it operates that (a) govern operations that may have adverse environmental effects, such as the discharge of materials into the environment, as well as handling, storage, transportation and disposal practices for solid and hazardous wastes, and (b) impose liability for response costs and certain damages resulting from past and current spills, disposals or other releases of hazardous materials. In this context, Virco works diligently to remain in compliance with all such environmental laws and regulations as these affect the Company's operations. Moreover, Virco has enacted policies for recycling and resource recovery that have earned repeated commendations, including: recognition by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery ("CalRecycle") in 2012 and 2011 as a Waste Reduction Awards Program ("WRAP") honoree; recognition by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2019 as a WasteWise Winner for reducing waste, in 2004 as a WasteWise Hall of Fame Charter Member, in 2003 as a WasteWise Partner of the Year, and in 2002 as a WasteWise Program Champion for Large Businesses; and recognition by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County for compliance with industrial waste water discharge guidelines in 2008 through 2011. This is only a partial list of Virco's environmental awards and commendations; for a more complete list, go to www.virco.com.
In addition to these awards and commendations, Virco's ZUMA and ZUMAfrd product lines were the first classroom furniture collections to earn indoor air quality certification through the stringent GREENGUARD® Children & Schools Program, now known as GREENGUARD Gold certification. As a follow-up to the certification of ZUMA and ZUMAfrd models in 2006, hundreds of other Virco furniture items - including Analogy furniture models and Textameter instructor workstations - have earned GREENGUARD certification. Moreover, all Virco products covered by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 are in compliance with this legislation. All affected Virco models are also in compliance with the California Air Resources Board rule and Toxic Control Substances Act rule concerning formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products. Environmental laws have changed rapidly in recent years, and Virco may be subject to more stringent environmental laws in the future. The Company has expended, and may be expected to continue to expend, significant amounts in the future for compliance with environmental rules and regulations, for the investigation of environmental conditions, for the installation of environmental control equipment or remediation of environmental contamination. Normal recurring expenses relating to operating our factories in a manner that meets or exceeds environmental laws are matched to the cost of producing inventory. It is possible that the Company's operations may result in noncompliance with, or liability for remediation pursuant to, environmental laws. Should such eventualities occur, the Company records liabilities for remediation costs when remediation costs are probable and can be reasonably estimated. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors: We could be required to incur substantial costs to comply with environmental and other legal requirements.”Violations of, and liabilities under, these laws and regulations may increase our costs or require us to change our business practices.
Contingent Liabilities
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In fiscal 2024 and 2023,the Company was self-insured for product liability losses of up to $250,000 per occurrence, general liability losses of up to $50,000 per occurrence, workers' compensation losses up to $250,000 per accident and auto liability up to $50,000 per accident. In prior years the Company has been partially self-insured for workers' compensation, automobile, product, and general liability losses. The Company has purchased insurance to cover losses in excess of the self-insured retention or deductible up to a limit of $30.0 million. For the insurance year beginning April 1, 2024, the Company will be self-insured for product liability losses up to $250,000 per occurrence, general liability losses up to $50,000 per occurrence, workers' compensation losses up to $250,000 per occurrence, and auto liability up to $50,000 per occurrence. In future years, the Company's exposure to self-insured retentions will vary depending upon the market conditions in the insurance industry and the availability of cost-effective insurance coverage.
The Company has aggressively pursued a program to improve product quality, reduce product liability claims and losses and to aggressively defend product liability cases. This program has continued through fiscal 2024 and has resulted in reductions in product liability claims and litigated product liability cases. In addition, the Company has active safety programs to improve plant safety and control workers' compensation losses. As of January 31, 2024, the Company has incurred no significant workers compensation claims related to COVID-19. Management does not anticipate that any related settlement, after consideration of the existing reserves for claims and potential insurance recovery, would have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company did not enter into any material off-balance sheet arrangements during fiscal 2024, nor did the Company have any material off-balance sheet arrangements outstanding at January 31, 2024.
New Accounting Pronouncements
See disclosure of recently adopted and recently issued but not yet adopted accounting standards in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The Company is a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, and as such is not required to provide the information under this item.
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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page Numbers
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 31, 2024 and 2023 40
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 46
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of
Virco Mfg. Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Virco Mfg. Corporation (the “Company”) as of January 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes and schedules (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures to respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits providea reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Valuation of slow-moving and obsolete inventories
As described in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company’s inventories balance was $58.4 million as of January 31, 2024. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value (determined on a first-in, first-out basis) and includes material, labor, and factory overhead. The valuation adjustments of slow-moving and obsolete inventory are calculated using an estimated percentage applied to inventories based on a physical inspection of the product in connection with a physical inventory, a review of slow-moving products and component stage, inventory category, historical and forecasted consumption of sales, and consideration of active marketing programs.
We identified the auditing of the inventory valuation of slow-moving and obsolete inventories as of January 31, 2024 as a critical audit matter. The Company’s determination of the valuation of slow-moving and obsolete inventory required a high degree of management judgment and subjectivity, which in turn led to especially challenging and subjective auditor judgment when performing audit procedures and evaluating the results of those procedures.
The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included:
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•Testing management’s process for determining the valuation of inventories, including:
◦Evaluating management’s methodology to determine the net realizable value of inventories.
◦Evaluating the reasonableness of the significant assumptions used by management including those related to forecasted inventory usage and backlog.
◦Testing the completeness, accuracy, and relevance of the underlying data of the system-generated reports used by management.
◦Testing the mathematical accuracy and calculations related to the application of Company policies specific to inventory write-down methodologies and percentages by inventory categories.
◦Performing inquiries with non-financial personnel, including sales and production employees, regarding obsolete or discontinued inventory models, cancelled sales orders and other factors to corroborate management’s assumptions regarding qualitative judgments about discontinued, slow moving and obsolete inventories.
•Testing the reasonableness of management’s assumptions used in determining the valuation of slow-moving and obsolete inventories by:
◦Performing a retrospective review to assess management’s estimated percentages by comparing the prior years’ inventories to current year’s consumption and sales.
◦Performing a sensitivity analysis to determine the percentage increase or decrease that would materially impact the value recorded.
/s/ Moss Adams LLP
Los Angeles, California
April 12, 2024
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2022.
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Virco Mfg. Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheets
January 31,
(In thousands, except share and par value data)
Assets
Current assets
Other receivables 20 68
Income tax receivable — 19
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,188 2,083
Property, plant, and equipment
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 136,356 135,810
Operating lease right-of-use assets 6,508 10,120
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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Virco Mfg. Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheets
January 31,
(In thousands, except share and par value data)
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Accrued compensation and employee benefits 10,880 9,554
Income tax payable 145 0
Current portion of long-term debt 248 7,360
Current portion of operating lease liability 5,744 5,082
Non-current liabilities
Long-term debt, less current portion 4,136 14,384
Operating lease liability, less current portion 1,829 6,796
Other long-term liabilities 562 555
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock:
Authorized 3,000,000 shares, $0.01 par value; none issued or outstanding — —
Common stock:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (1,310) (2,360)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 146,445 $ 150,126
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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Virco Mfg. Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Income
Years ended January 31,
(In thousands, except per share data)
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 84,181 74,697
Unrealized gain on investment in trust account (1,050) (194)
Income tax expense (benefit) 7,330 (8,504)
Cash dividends declared per common share: $ 0.02 $ —
Net income per common share:
Weighted average shares outstanding:
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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Virco Mfg. Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Years ended January 31,
(In thousands)
Other comprehensive income
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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Virco Mfg. Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Common Stock
Pension adjustments, net of tax effect of $1,310 — — — — 3,669 3,669
Stock compensation expense — — 612 — — 612
Pension adjustments, net of tax effect of $365 — — — — 1,050 1,050
Cash dividends — — — (327) — (327)
Stock compensation expense — — 595 — — 595
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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Virco Mfg. Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Year Ended January 31,
(In thousands)
Operating activities
Depreciation and amortization 5,097 4,542
Amortization of debt issuance costs 115 122
Non-cash lease income (694) (543)
Provision for doubtful accounts — 56
(Gain) loss on sale of property, plant and equipment 4 (2)
Stock-based compensation 595 612
Defined benefit plan, recognized net loss due to settlements 375 70
Amortization of net actuarial (gain) loss for pension plans (4) 437
Decrease in non cash surrender value of life insurance policies (14) (78)
Non cash gain on investment (1,050) (194)
Surrender of life insurance policies (634) —
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable (4,726) (720)
Other receivables 48 50
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (94) (106)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (4,016) 4,022
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 26,960 (3,788)
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (5,248) (3,332)
Purchases of marketable securities in trust accounts — (7,280)
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities in trust accounts — 4,536
Proceeds for surrendering life insurance policies 489 2,744
Net cash used in investing activities (4,759) (3,332)
Financing activities
Tax withholding payments on share-based compensation (110) (213)
Payment on deferred financing costs (175) (200)
Cash dividend paid (327) —
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (17,972) 6,818
Net increase (decrease) in cash 4,229 (302)
Cash at beginning of year $ 1,057 $ 1,359
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid during the year for:
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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VIRCO MFG. CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
January 31, 2024
1. Summary of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Business
Virco Mfg. Corporation (the “Company”), which operates in one business segment, is engaged in the design, production, and distribution of quality furniture for the commercial and education markets. Over 74 years of manufacturing operations have resulted in a wide product assortment. Major products include mobile tables, mobile storage equipment, desks, computer furniture, chairs, activity tables, folding chairs and folding tables. The Company manufactures its products in Torrance, California, and Conway, Arkansas, for sale primarily in the United States. The Company operates in a seasonal business and requires significant amounts of working capital under its credit facility to fund acquisitions of inventory and finance receivables during the summer delivery season. The educational sales market is extremely seasonal.
Historically Virco ships approximately 50% of its annual revenue in the months of June, July, and August. In fiscal 2022, the seasonal peak was distorted due to severe supply chain interruptions, labor shortages, and COVID-19 related employee absences and the Company delivered less than 40% of sales during June, July, and August. In fiscal 2024, the Company started to return to the traditional seasonality and delivered approximately 49% of annual sales in June, July, and August. Restrictions imposed by the terms of the Company’s credit facility may limit the Company’s operating and financial flexibility (see Note 3).
Principles of Consolidation and Reclassification
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Virco Mfg. Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Management Use of Estimates
Preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities - and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities - at the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates made by management include, but are not limited to, valuation of inventory; recoverability of deferred tax assets and liabilities; useful lives of property, plant and equipment; liabilities under pension, warranty, self-insurance, and environmental claims; and the accounts receivable allowance for credit losses.
Fiscal Year End
Fiscal years 2024 and 2023 refer to the fiscal years ended January 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of accounts receivable. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and maintains allowances for potential credit losses. Sales to the Company’s recurring customers are generally made on open account with terms consistent with the industry. Credit is extended based on an evaluation of the customer’s financial condition and payment history. Past due accounts are determined based on how recently payments have been made in relation to the terms granted. Amounts are written off against the allowance in the period that the Company determines that the receivable is not collectable. The Company purchases insurance on receivables from certain commercial customers to minimize the Company’s credit risk. The Company does not typically obtain collateral to secure credit risk. Customers with inadequate credit are required to provide cash in advance or letters of credit. The Company does not assess interest on receivable balances. A substantial percentage of the Company’s receivables come from low-risk government entities. No customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company's accounts receivable at January 31, 2024 and 2023. Because of the short time between shipment and collection, the net carrying value of receivables approximates the fair value for these assets. No customer exceeded 10% of the Company’s net sales for fiscal years ended January 31, 2024 and 2023. Foreign net sales were approximately 4.7% and 4.4% of the Company’s net sales for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively.
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Cash
Cash consists of cash on hand, and the Company has approximately $5.3 million in cash and cash equivalents as of January 31, 2024. Outstanding checks, representing a book overdraft, are classified in accounts payable on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and in operating activities in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows.
Fair Values of Financial Instruments
The fair values of the Company’s cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and current portion of debt approximate their carrying amounts due to their short-term nature. For fair value of debt, see Note 3.
Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are classified in one of the three following categories, which are described below:
Level 1 — Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in an active market.
Level 2 — Valuations based on quoted prices in markets where trading occurs infrequently or whose values are based on quoted prices of instruments with similar attributes in active markets.
Level 3 — Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and involve management judgment and our own assumptions about market participants and pricing.
Financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis include assets associated with the Virco Employees Retirement Plan, and assets held in the Rabbi Trust securing the Company's Important Performers Retirement Plan (“VIP Plan”) and Split-dollar life insurance benefit program (see Note 4).
Inventories
Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value (determined on a first-in, first-out basis) and includes material, labor, and factory overhead. The Company records valuation adjustments for the excess cost of the inventory over its estimated net realizable value. Valuation adjustments for slow-moving and obsolete inventory are calculated using an estimated percentage applied to inventories based on a physical inspection of the product in connection with a physical inventory, a review of slow-moving products and component stage, inventory category, historical and forecasted consumption of sales, and consideration of active marketing programs. The market for education furniture is traditionally driven by value, not style, and the Company has not typically incurred material obsolescence expenses. If market conditions are less favorable than those anticipated by management, additional valuation adjustments may be required. The Company records the cost of excess capacity as a period expense, not as a component of capitalized inventory valuation.
The following table presents an updated breakdown of the Company’s net inventory (in thousands) as of January 31, 2024 and 2023:
January 31,
Property, Plant, and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are computed on the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes based upon the following estimated useful lives:
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Land improvements 5 to 25 years
Buildings and building improvements 5 to 40 years
Machinery and equipment 3 to 10 years
Leasehold improvements shorter of lease or useful life
The Company capitalizes the cost of betterments that extend the life of an asset. Repairs and maintenance that do not extend the life of an asset are expensed as incurred. Repair and maintenance expense were $1.8 million and $2.0 million for fiscal years ended January 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Property, plant, and equipment purchased during the year that remains unpaid were $493,000 and $634,000 as of January 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The Company has established asset retirement obligations related to leased manufacturing facilities. Accrued asset retirement obligations are recorded at net present value and discounted over the life of the lease. Asset retirement obligations, included in other non-current liabilities were $212,000 and $205,000 at January 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
January 31,
(In thousands)
Balance at beginning of period $ 205 $ 198
Decrease in obligation — —
Accretion expense 7 7
Balance at end of period $ 212 $ 205
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
An impairment loss is recognized in the event facts and circumstances indicate the carrying amount of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable, and an estimate of future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset. Impairment is recorded based on the excess of the carrying amount of the impaired asset over the fair value. Generally, fair value represents the Company’s expected future cash flows from the use of an asset or group of assets, discounted at a rate commensurate with the risks involved. There were no impairments for fiscal years ended January 31, 2024 and 2023.
Net Income per Share
For fiscal year 2024, net income per share is calculated by dividing net income by the diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted income per share:
January 31,
(In thousands, except per share)
Numerator
Denominator
Dilutive effect of common stock equivalents from equity incentive plans 93 50
Net income per common share
Environmental Costs
The Company is subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations in the various jurisdictions in which it operates that (a) govern operations that may have adverse environmental effects, such as the discharge of materials into the environment, as well as handling, storage, transportation and disposal practices for solid and hazardous wastes, and (b) impose liability for
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response costs and certain damages resulting from past and current spills, disposals or other releases of hazardous materials. Normal, recurring expenses related to operating the Company's factories in a manner that meets or exceeds environmental laws and regulations are matched to the cost of producing inventory.
Despite our efforts to comply with existing laws and regulations, compliance with more stringent laws or regulations or stricter interpretation of existing laws, may require additional expenditures by us, some of which may be material. We reserve amounts for such matters when expenditures are probable and reasonably estimable.
Costs incurred to investigate and remediate environmental waste are expensed, unless the remediation extends the useful life of the assets employed at the site. At January 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had not capitalized any remediation costs and had not recorded any amortization expense in fiscal years 2024 and 2023.
Advertising Costs
Advertising costs are expensed in the period during which the advertising space is run. Selling, general, and administrative expenses include advertising costs for the years ended January 31, 2024 and 2023 of $1.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively, and are expensed as incurred. Prepaid advertising costs reported as a prepaid asset on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at January 31, 2024 and 2023, were $432,000 and $355,000, respectively.
Product Warranty Expense
The Company provides a product warranty on most products. Products sold prior to January 31, 2014 are out of warranty. Effective February 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016, the Company modified its warranty to a limited lifetime warranty. Effective January 1, 2017, the Company modified the warranty offered to provide specific warranty periods by product component, with no warranty period longer than ten years. The Company generally provides that customers can return a defective product during the specified warranty period following purchase in exchange for a replacement product or the repair of the product by the Company at no charge to the customer. The Company determines whether replacement or repair is appropriate in each circumstance. The Company uses historical data to estimate appropriate levels of warranty reserves. Because product mix, production methods and raw material sources change over time, historic data may not always provide precise estimates for future warranty expense. The Company recorded warranty reserves of $350,000 as of January 31, 2024 and 2023, as other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The current portion of the warranty reserve were $150,000 and $250,000 as of January 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and included in other accrued liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Self-Insurance
In fiscal 2024 and 2023, the Company was self-insured for product liability losses up to $250,000 per occurrence, workers’ compensation losses up to $250,000 per occurrence, general liability losses up to $50,000 per occurrence and auto liability losses up to $50,000 per occurrence. Actuaries assist the Company in determining its liability for the self-insured component of claims, which have been discounted to their net present value utilizing a discount rate of 4.00% in both fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023. The Company has obtained an actuarial estimate of its total expected future losses for liability claims and recorded a liability equal to the net present value of $770,000 at January 31, 2024 in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The current portion of the self-insurance reserve was $120,000 as of January 31, 2024 and included in other accrued liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Stock-Based Compensation Plans
The Company recognizes stock-based compensation cost for shares that are expected to vest, on a straight-line basis, over the requisite service period of the award. Between 1983 and 2003, the Company issued approximately $122.0 million in stock dividends for which the reductions in retained earnings were offset by increases to additional paid-in capital.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax
The following table summarizes the changes in accumulated balances of other comprehensive loss (in thousands) for the years ended January 31, 2024 and 2023:
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January 31,
Balance as of beginning of year $ (2,360) $ (6,029)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications 679 3,162
Amounts reclassified from accumulated comprehensive loss 371 507
Net current period other comprehensive income 1,050 3,669
Balance as of end of year $ (1,310) $ (2,360)
The reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss of $371,000 and $507,000 for the years ended January 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, related to amortization of actuarial losses and settlements (See Note 4). The reclassifications were included in pension expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
Revenue Recognition
The Company manufactures, markets and distributes a wide variety of school and office furniture to wholesalers, distributors, educational institutions, and governmental entities. Revenue is recorded for promised goods or services when control is transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.
The Company's sales generally involve a single performance obligation to deliver goods pursuant to customer purchase orders. Prices for our products are based on published price lists and customer agreements. The Company has determined that the performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time when the Company completes delivery per the customer contract. The majority of sales are free on board ("FOB") destination where the destination is specified per the customer contract and may include delivering the furniture into the classroom, school site or warehouse. Sales of furniture that are sold FOB factory are typically made to resellers of our product who in turn provide logistics to the ultimate customer. Once a product has been delivered per the shipping terms, the customer is able to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from, the asset. The Company considers control to have transferred upon shipment or delivery in accordance with shipping terms because the Company has a present right to payment at that time, the customer has legal title to the asset, the Company has transferred physical possession of the asset, and the customer has significant risks and rewards of ownership of the asset.
Sales are recorded net of discounts, sales incentives and rebates, sales taxes and estimated returns and allowances. The Company offers sales incentives and discounts through various regional and national programs to our customers. These programs include product rebates, product returns allowances and trade promotions. Variable consideration for these programs is estimated in the transaction price at contract inception based on current sales levels and historical experience using the expected value method, subject to constraint.
The Company generates revenue primarily by manufacturing and distributing products through resellers and direct-to-customers. Control transfers to both resellers and direct customers at a point in time when the delivery process is complete as determined by the corresponding shipping terms. Therefore, we do not consider them to be meaningfully different revenue streams given similarities in the nature of the products, performance obligation and distribution processes. Sales are predominately in the United States and to a similar class of customer. We do not manage or evaluate the business based on product line or any other discernable category.
For product produced by and sourced from third parties, management has determined that it is the principal in all cases, since it (i) bears primary responsibility for fulfilling the promise to the customer; (ii) bears inventory risk before and/or after the good or service is transferred to the customer; and (iii) has discretion in establishing the price for the sale of good or service to the customer.
Delivery Costs
For the fiscal years ended January 31, 2024 and 2023, shipping and classroom delivery costs of approximately $27.2 million, and $23.8 million, respectively, were included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
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Income Taxes
The Company recognizes deferred income taxes under the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred income taxes are recognized for differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities at enacted statutory tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance against deferred tax assets is recorded when it is determined to be more-likely-than-not that the asset will not be realized.
2. New Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
ASU 2023-07 "Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures": This ASU requires additional disclosures about reportable segments' expenses and other items on an interim and annual basis. This guidance will be effective for annual periods beginning January 1, 2024, and interim periods beginning January 1, 2025. We do not believe it will have a material impact on our future financial statements.
Accounting Standard Update 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”). In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, which requires more detailed income tax disclosures. The guidance requires entities to disclose disaggregated information about their effective tax rate reconciliation as well as expanded information on income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The disclosure requirements will be applied on a prospective basis, with the option to apply them retrospectively. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the disclosure requirements related to the new standard.
The Company evaluates all Accounting Standards Updates ("ASUs") issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") for consideration of their applicability to our condensed consolidated financial statements. We have assessed all ASUs issued but not yet adopted and concluded that those not disclosed are not relevant to the Company or are not expected to have a material impact.
3. Debt
Outstanding balances (in thousands) for the Company’s long-term debt were as follows:
January 31,
Revolving credit line $ — $ 17,122
The Company and Virco Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary (the “Borrowers”) has a Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (the “Restated Credit Agreement”) with PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and lender (“PNC”). The Credit Agreement was amended numerous times since its origination in December 2011, most recently on May 19, 2023.
The Restated Credit Agreement as currently in effect permits the Company to issue dividends or make payments with respect to the Company’s capital stock in an aggregate amount up to $3.0 million during any fiscal year, provided that no default shall have occurred or is continuing or would result from any such payment, and the Company must demonstrate pro forma compliance with a 12-month trailing fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.20:1.00 as of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding the date of any such dividend or payment. The Restated Credit Agreement also requires the Company to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, and contains numerous other covenants that limit under certain circumstances the ability of the Borrowers and their subsidiaries to, among other things, merge with or acquire other entities, incur new liens, incur additional indebtedness, sell assets outside of the ordinary course of business, enter into transactions with affiliates, or substantially change the general nature of the business of the Borrowers.
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