Item 7.MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
VPG is a global, diversified company focused on precision measurement and sensing technologies that help power the future by bridging the physical world with the digital one. Many of our specialized sensors, weighing solutions, and measurement systems are “designed-in” by our customers, and address growing applications across a diverse array of industries and markets. Our products are marketed under brand names that we believe are characterized as having a very high level of precision and quality, and we employ an operationally diversified structure to manage our businesses.
Driven by the continued proliferation of data generated by the expanding use of sensors across a widening array of industrial and non-industrial applications, precision measurement and sensing technologies help ensure and deliver required levels of quality of mission-critical or high-value data. VPG’s products are often at the first stage of a data value chain (i.e., the process of converting the physical world into a digital format that can be used for a specific purpose) and as such impact the effectiveness of vast number of critical, high-value downstream processes. Over the past few years, we have seen a broadening of precision sensing applications in both our traditional industrial markets and new markets, due to the development of higher functionality in our customers' end products. Our precision measurement solutions are used across a wide variety of end markets upon which we focus, including test and measurement, industrial, transportation, steel, avionics, military and space, as well as other markets such as agriculture, consumer, and medical. The Company has a long heritage of innovation in sensor technologies that provide accuracy, reliability and repeatability that make our customers' products safer, smarter, and more productive. As the functionality of customers' products continues to increase, and they integrate more precision measurement sensors and related systems into their solutions, we believe this will offer substantial growth opportunities for our products and expertise.
The impact of the recent Israel-Hamas war
In October 2023, Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel’s southern border from the Gaza Strip and conducted a series of attacks on civilian and military targets. Hamas also launched extensive rocket attacks on Israeli population and industrial centers located along Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip and in other areas within the State of Israel. These attacks resulted in extensive deaths, injuries and kidnapping of civilians and soldiers. Following the attack, Israel’s security cabinet declared war against Hamas and a military campaign against these terrorist organizations commenced in parallel to their continued rocket and terror attacks.
As of February 29, 2024 (the date of this filing), our operations in Israel have operated at near normal levels. The extent and duration of the current war, as well as the possibility of further spread of the conflict to other countries in the region as well as involving other political and military entities in the Middle East, poses risks to our operations and may lead to disruptions which could adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
While sales to customers in Israel account for a relatively small portion of our revenues, our operations in Israel include executive offices, which are the workplace for key executives including our chief executive officer, as well as two manufacturing facilities located in the central part of Israel which manufacture products representing approximately 25 percent of our total worldwide revenues. As of February 29, 2024, these facilities remain open and operational. We have implemented a contingency plan that we believe will secure supply of materials and logistics, build safety stock of finished goods and transfer these goods to our distribution centers outside of Israel, and we continue to take measures with regards to the safety of our employees. We may, however, determine to temporarily discontinue production in Israel for the safety of our employees. We could also face future production slowdowns or interruptions at either manufacturing location in Israel due to the impacts of the war, including personnel absences as a number of our employees have been called to active military duty, or due to other resource constraints such as the inability to source materials for production.
Overview of Financial Results
VPG reports in three product segments: Sensors segment, Weighing Solutions segment, and Measurement Systems segment. The Sensors reporting segment is comprised of the foil resistor and strain gage operating segments. The Weighing Solutions segment is comprised of specialized modules and systems used to precisely measure weight, force torque, and pressure. The Measurement Systems reporting segment is comprised of highly specialized systems for steel production, materials development, and safety testing.
Net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $355.0 million compared to net revenues of $362.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $25.7 million, or $1.88 per diluted share, compared to $36.1 million, or $2.63 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2022.
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The results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 include items affecting comparability as listed in the reconciliations below. The reconciliations below include certain financial measures which are not recognized in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), including adjusted gross profits, adjusted gross profit margin, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted net earnings, adjusted net earnings per diluted share, EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA. These non-GAAP measures should not be viewed as an alternative to GAAP measures of performance. Non-GAAP measures such as adjusted gross profits, adjusted gross profit margin, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted net earnings, adjusted net earnings per diluted share, EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA do not have uniform definitions. These measures, as calculated by VPG, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors because each presents what management views as our core operating results for the relevant period. The adjustments to the applicable GAAP measures relate to occurrences or events that are outside of our core operations, and management believes that the use of these non-GAAP measures provides a consistent basis to evaluate our operating profitability and performance trends across comparable periods. In addition, the Company has historically provided these or similar non-GAAP measures and understands that some investors and financial analysts find this information helpful in analyzing the Company’s performance and in comparing the Company’s financial performance to that of its peer companies and competitors. Management believes that the Company’s non-GAAP measures are regarded as supplemental to its GAAP financial results.
The items affecting comparability are (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):
As reported - GAAP Margins 42.3 % 41.3 % 11.8 % 12.1 % — — — —
Year ended
Net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders $ 25,707 $ 36,063
Acquisition purchase accounting adjustments (a) 335 1,550
Start-up costs (c) — 150
Foreign exchange (gain) loss (d) 822 (3,579)
ADJUSTED EBITDA MARGIN 17.0 % 17.1 %
(a) Acquisition purchase accounting adjustments include fair market value adjustments associated with inventory recorded as a component of costs of products sold.
(b) COVID-19 impact is the net impact to the Company of costs incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, net of government subsidies received.
(c) Start-up costs in 2022 are associated with the ramp up of our new manufacturing facility in Israel.
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(d) Impact of foreign currency exchange rates on assets and liabilities.
Financial Metrics
We utilize several financial measures and metrics to evaluate the performance and assess the future direction of our business. These key financial measures and metrics include net revenues, gross profit margin, end-of-period backlog, book-to-bill ratio, and inventory turnover.
Gross profit margin is gross profit shown as a percentage of net revenues. Gross profit is generally net revenues less costs of products sold, but could also include certain other period costs. Gross profit margin is clearly a function of net revenues, but also reflects our cost-cutting programs and our ability to contain fixed costs.
End-of-period backlog is one indicator of potential future sales. We include in our backlog only open orders that have been released by the customer for shipment in the next twelve months. If demand falls below customers’ forecasts, or if customers do not control their inventory effectively, they may cancel or reschedule the shipments that are included in our backlog, in many instances without the payment of any penalty. Therefore, the backlog is not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for future periods.
Another important indicator of demand in our industry is the book-to-bill ratio, which is the ratio of the amount of product ordered during a period compared with the product that we ship during that period. A book-to-bill ratio that is greater than one indicates that demand is higher than current revenues and manufacturing capacities, and it indicates that we may generate increasing revenues in future periods. Conversely, a book-to-bill ratio that is less than one is an indicator of lower demand compared to existing revenues and current capacities and may foretell declining sales.
We focus on our inventory turnover as a measure of how well we are managing our inventory. We define inventory turnover for a financial reporting period as our costs of products sold for the four fiscal quarters ending on the last day of the reporting period divided by our average inventory (computed using each quarter-end balance) for this same period. A higher level of inventory turnover reflects more efficient use of our capital.
The quarter-to-quarter trends in these financial metrics can also be an important indicator of the likely direction of our business. The following table shows net revenues, gross profit margin, the end-of-period backlog, the book-to-bill ratio, and the inventory turnover for our business as a whole during the five quarters beginning with the fourth quarter of 2022 and through the fourth quarter of 2023 (dollars in thousands):
4th Quarter 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter
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4th Quarter 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter
Sensors
Weighing Solutions
Measurement Systems
Net revenues for the fourth quarter of 2023 increased 4.3% from the net revenues of $85.9 million reported in the third quarter of 2023, and decreased 7.0% from $96.2 million for the comparable prior year period.
Net revenues in the Sensors segment of $34.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 increased 5.3% from $32.5 million in the third quarter of 2023, and decreased 5.7% from $36.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. Sequentially, the increase in revenues primarily reflected higher precision resistor sales in the Test and Measurement market. The year-over-year decrease in revenues was primarily attributable to lower sales of advanced sensors in our Other markets for consumer applications, and in our Avionics, Military and Space ("AMS") market, and in our General Industrial market, which offset higher sales of precision resistors in the Test and Measurement market.
Net revenues in the Weighing Solutions segment of $30.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 increased 5.1% compared to revenues of $29.0 million in the third quarter of 2023. The sequential increase in revenues was primarily attributable to increased revenues from OEM customers for precision agriculture and construction applications in our Other market segment and higher revenue in our General Industrial market, partially offset by lower sales in the Transportation market. Net revenues in the fourth quarter of 2023 decreased 8.0% compared to $33.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 mainly due to lower revenues in our Industrial Weighing market and lower revenues from OEM customers for precision agriculture applications in our Other market segment.
Net revenues in the Measurement Systems segment of $24.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 increased 2.0% from $24.4 million in the third quarter of 2023 and decreased 7.5% from $26.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. The sequential increase in revenue was primarily attributable to higher sales of Diversified Technical Systems, Inc. ("DTS") products to the AMS market, which was partially offset by lower sales ofDynamic Systems Inc. ("DSI") and KELK products to the Steel market. The year-over-year decline in revenues was primarily attributable to lower sales of DSI and KELK products to the steel market and lower sales of DTS products to the Transportation market, which was partially offset by higher sales of DTS products to the AMS market.
The gross profit margin for the fourth quarter of 2023 increased 1.1% compared to the third quarter of 2023, and increased 1.8% from the fourth quarter of 2022.
Sequentially, gross profit margins improved in the Sensors segment, decreased in the Weighing Solutions segment, and improved in the Measurement Systems segments. The increase in the Sensors segment gross profit margin was primarily due to higher volume and improved manufacturing efficiencies. In the Weighing Solutions segment, gross profit margin decreased due to a reduction in inventory and unfavorable product mix, partially offset by higher volume. In the Measurement Systems segment, gross profit margin increased reflecting higher volume and favorable product mix.
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Compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, gross profit margins increased in all of the reporting segments. In the Sensors segment, the increase in gross profit margin was primarily due to favorable foreign exchange rates and improved manufacturing efficiencies, which offset the impact of lower volume.In the Weighing Solutions segment, the increase in gross profit margin was primarily due to increased selling prices, favorable foreign currency exchange rates, and manufacturing efficiencies, partially offset by lower volume. In the Measurement Systems segment, gross profit margin increased reflecting higher volume and favorable product mix.
Operationally Diversified
Each of VPG's business segments maintains and deploys distinct go-to-market strategies, technical expertise, capital requirements, and acquisition opportunities. We use an operationally diversified strategy and structure to be close to our customers and to leverage our high-level engineering expertise to optimize and enhance the performance of our customers' solutions. We seek to maximize the performance and value of our businesses by leveraging our accumulated experience, methodologies, and expertise in driving operational excellence across our functional areas, as well as in the allocation of capital and investment.
Optimize Core Competence
The Company’s core competencies include our innovative deep technical and applications-specific expertise, our strong brands and customer relationships, our focus on operational excellence, our ability to select and develop our management teams, and our proven M&A strategy. We continue to optimize all aspects of our development, manufacturing and sales processes, including by increasing our technical sales efforts; continuing to innovate in product performance and design; and refining our manufacturing processes.
Our Sensors segment research group developed innovations that enhance the capability and performance of our strain gages, while simultaneously reducing their size and power consumption as part of our advanced sensors product line. We believe this unique foil technology will create new markets as customers “design in” these next generation products in existing and new applications. Our development engineering team is also responsible for creating new processes to further automate manufacturing, and improve productivity and quality. Our advanced sensors manufacturing technology also offers us the capability to produce high-quality foil strain gages in a highly automated environment, which we believe results in reduced manufacturing and lead times, improved quality and increased margins. As a sign of our commitment to these businesses, we signed a long-term lease for a state-of-the-art facility that has been constructed in Israel. We fully transitioned to this facility in the third quarter of fiscal 2021.
Our design, research, and product development teams, in partnership with our marketing teams, drive our efforts to bring innovations to market. We intend to leverage our insights into customer demand to continually develop and roll out new, innovative products within our existing lines and to modify our existing core products in ways that make them more appealing, addressing changing customer needs and industry trends in terms of form, fit, and function.
We also seek to achieve significant production cost savings through the transfer, expansion, and construction of manufacturing operations in countries such as India, Japan, and Israel, where we can benefit from improved efficiencies or available tax and other government-sponsored incentives. In the past several years, we incurred restructuring expense related to closing and downsizing of facilities as part of the manufacturing transitions of our load cell products to facilities in India, which marked key milestones in our ongoing strategic initiatives to align and consolidate our manufacturing footprint.
Acquisition Strategy
We expect to continue to make strategic acquisitions where opportunities present themselves to grow and expand our segments. Our acquisition strategy is focused on identifying and acquiring high-value, growing technology-driven businesses that augment, expand and/or leverage our current offering in precision measurement and sensor markets. We expect to expand our expertise and our acquisition focus to other precision measurement solutions, including in the fields of measurement of force, weight, pressure, torque, tilt, motion, and acceleration. We believe acquired businesses will benefit from improvements we implement to reduce redundant functions and from our current global manufacturing and distribution footprint.
Research and Development
Research and development will continue to play a key role in our efforts to introduce innovative products to generate new sales and to improve profitability. We expect to continue to expand our position as a leading supplier of precision foil technology products. We believe our R&D efforts should provide us with a variety of opportunities to leverage technology, products, and our manufacturing base in order to ultimately improve our financial performance. The amount charged to expense for research and development aggregated $20.4 million, $19.8 million, and $17.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
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Cost Management
To be successful, we believe we must seek new strategies for controlling operating costs. Through automation in our plants, we believe we can optimize our capital and labor resources in production, inventory management, quality control, and warehousing. We are in the process of moving some manufacturing to more cost effective locations. This may enable us to become more efficient and cost competitive, and also maintain tighter controls of the operation.
Production transfers, facility consolidations, and other long-term cost-cutting measures require us to initially incur significant severance and other exit costs. We are realizing the benefits of our restructuring through lower labor costs and other operating expenses, and expect to continue reaping these benefits in future periods. However, these programs to improve our profitability also involve certain risks which could materially impact our future operating results, as further detailed in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Company recorded restructuring costs of $1.6 million, $1.5 million, and $0.1 million during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively, which were comprised primarily of employee termination costs, including severance and statutory retirement allowances.
We are evaluating plans to further reduce our costs by consolidating additional manufacturing operations. These plans may require us to incur restructuring and severance costs in future periods. While streamlining and reducing fixed overhead, we are exercising caution so that we will not negatively impact our customer service or our ability to further develop products and processes.
Foreign Currency
We are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risks, particularly due to transactions in currencies other than the functional currencies of certain subsidiaries. U.S. GAAP requires that entities identify the “functional currency” of each of their subsidiaries and measure all elements of the financial statements in that functional currency. A subsidiary’s functional currency is the currency of the primary economic environment in which it operates. In cases where a subsidiary is relatively self-contained within a particular country, the local currency is generally deemed to be the functional currency. However, a foreign subsidiary that is a direct and integral component or extension of the parent company’s operations generally would have the parent company’s currency as its functional currency. We have subsidiaries that fall into each of these categories.
Foreign Subsidiaries which use the Local Currency as the Functional Currency
Our operations in Europe, Canada, and certain locations in Asia primarily generate and expend cash using local currencies, and accordingly, these subsidiaries utilize the local currency as their functional currency. For those subsidiaries where the local currency is the functional currency, assets and liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets have been translated at the rate of exchange as of the balance sheet date. Translation adjustments do not impact the results of operations and are reported as a separate component of equity.
For those subsidiaries where the local currency is the functional currency, revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate for the year. While the translation of revenues and expenses into U.S. dollars does not directly impact the consolidated statements of operations, the translation effectively increases or decreases the U.S. dollar equivalent of revenues generated and expenses incurred in those foreign currencies.
Foreign Subsidiaries which use the U.S. Dollar as the Functional Currency
Our operations in Israel and certain locations in Asia primarily generate cash in U.S. dollars, and accordingly, these subsidiaries utilize the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. For those foreign subsidiaries where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, all foreign currency financial statement amounts are remeasured into U.S. dollars. Exchange gains and losses arising from remeasurement of foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities are included in the results of operations. While these subsidiaries transact most business in U.S. dollars, they may have significant costs, particularly related to payroll, which are incurred in the local currency and significant lease assets and liabilities.
Effects of Foreign Exchange Rate on Operations
For the year ended December 31, 2023, exchange rate impacts decreased net revenues by $2.2 million and decrease costs of products sold and selling, general, and administrative expenses by $9.1 million. For the year ended December 31, 2022, exchange rate impacts decreased net revenues by $16.1 million and decreased costs of products sold and selling, general, and administrative expenses by $13.3 million.
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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements. We identify here a number of policies that entail significant judgments or estimates by management.
Inventories
We value our inventories at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined under the first-in, first-out method, and market based upon net realizable value. The valuation of our inventories requires management to make costing and market estimates. For work in process goods, we are required to estimate the cost to completion of the products and the prices at which we will be able to sell the products. For finished goods, we must assess the prices at which we believe the inventory can be sold. Inventories are also adjusted for estimated obsolescence and written down to net realizable value based upon estimates of future demand, technology developments, and market conditions.
Business Combinations
The Company allocates the purchase price of an acquired company, including when applicable, the fair value of contingent consideration between tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the acquired businesses based on estimated fair values, with any residual of the purchase price recorded as goodwill. Third party appraisal firms and other consultants are engaged to assist management in determining the fair values of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Different valuations approaches are used to value different types of intangible assets. The Company primarily uses the income approach in the valuation of intangible assets. The income approach to valuation is based on the present value of future cash flows attributable to each identifiable intangible asset. This approach to valuation requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions including but not limited to: discount rates, future cash flows and the economic lives of trade names, technology, and customer relationships. These estimates are based on historical experience and information obtained from the management of the acquired companies, and are inherently uncertain.
Goodwill and Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets
Goodwill and indefinite-lived trademarks are tested for impairment at least annually, and whenever events or changes in circumstances occur indicating that it is "more likely than not" impairment may have been incurred. We have the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is "more likely than not" that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value as a basis for determining if it is necessary to perform the quantitative goodwill impairment test. However, if we conclude otherwise, then we are required to perform the quantitative impairment test by calculating the fair value of the reporting unit and comparing it against its carrying value.
We have four reporting units to which goodwill was allocated: steel, on-board weighing, DSI, and DTS. For the steel and on-board weighing goodwill reporting units, we performed the qualitative assessment, which included assessment of macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance, and other entity specific events which could impact the reporting unit. Based on this review, it was determined that the fair value of each of those reporting units was in excess of its carrying value and therefore no quantitative impairment test was required.
For the DSI and DTS goodwill reporting units, the Company performed the quantitative impairment test. In estimating the fair value of our DSI and DTS reporting units the Company used the income approach. The income approach to valuation requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions related to future revenues, profitability, working capital requirements and selection of discount rate and long term growth rate. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could have a significant impact on the fair value of the reporting units. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, no further evaluation is required and no impairment loss is recognized. An impairment charge would be recognized to the extent the carrying value of goodwill exceeds the reporting unit fair value.
The indefinite-lived trade names are tested for impairment either by employing the qualitative approach outlined above, or by comparing the carrying value to the fair value based on current revenue projections of the related operations, under the relief from royalty method. Any excess carrying value over the applicable fair value is recognized as impairment. Any impairment would be recognized in the reporting period in which it has been identified.
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
Accounting for defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans involves numerous assumptions and estimates. The discount rate at which obligations could effectively be settled and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets are two critical assumptions in measuring the cost and benefit obligations of our pension and other postretirement benefit plans. Other important assumptions include the anticipated rate of future increases in compensation levels, estimated mortality, and for
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postretirement medical plans, increases or trends in health care costs. Management reviews these assumptions at least annually. We use independent actuaries to assist us in formulating assumptions and making estimates. These assumptions are updated periodically to reflect the actual experience and expectations on a plan-specific basis, as appropriate.
Our defined benefit plans are concentrated in the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom. Plans in these countries comprise approximately 87% of our retirement obligations at December 31, 2023. We utilize published long-term high-quality bond indices to determine the discount rate at the measurement date. We utilize bond yields at various maturity dates to reflect the timing of expected future benefit payments. We believe the discount rates selected are the rates at which these obligations could effectively be settled.
For benefit plans which are funded, we establish strategic asset allocation percentage targets and appropriate benchmarks for significant asset classes with the aim of achieving a prudent balance between return and risk. We set the expected long-term rate of return based on the expected long-term average rates of return to be achieved by the underlying investment portfolios. In establishing this rate, we consider historical and expected returns for the asset classes in which the plans are invested, advice from pension consultants and investment advisors, and current economic and capital market conditions. The expected return on plan assets is incorporated into the computation of pension expense. The difference between this expected return and the actual return on plan assets is deferred.
We believe that the current assumptions used to estimate plan obligations and annual expense are appropriate in the current economic environment. However, if economic conditions change, we may be inclined to change some of our assumptions, and the resulting change could have a material impact on the consolidated statements of operations and on the consolidated balance sheets.
Income Taxes
We are subject to income taxes in the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Our annual effective tax rate is based on pre-tax earnings, statutory tax rates and enacted tax laws. Significant judgments and estimates must be made in determining our consolidated income tax expense as presented in our financial statements.
We must assess the likelihood that we will realize deferred tax assets which requires significant judgment. If we determine that deferred tax assets are not "more likely than not" to be realized, we record a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to a level that is expected to be realized. If we subsequently determine that realization of a deferred tax asset becomes "more likely than not", the valuation allowance will be reversed. Any change in valuation allowances could have a significant impact on our financial results.
The calculation of our tax liabilities involves an assessment of uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws and regulations in multiple jurisdictions. We record a benefit from an uncertain tax position when it is "more likely than not" that a tax return position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation based on the technical merits of the position. If the position is not "more likely than not" to be sustained, a liability for the tax return position is established. We adjust the liability when our judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information. The ultimate tax due in a jurisdiction may result in a payment that is materially different from our most recent estimate of the liability. Further judgment is required in determining whether an uncertain tax position is effectively settled. Any change in the analysis will impact income tax expense.
We consider the earnings of most of our non-U.S. subsidiaries to be indefinitely invested outside the United States based on our estimates that future domestic cash generation will be sufficient to meet future domestic cash needs and our plans for reinvestment of foreign subsidiary earnings. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had provided for a deferred tax liability of $2.1 million of withholding tax associated with unremitted, non-permanently reinvested earnings, including planned cash distributions of $16.6 million. Additional withholding taxes of approximately $29.2 million are estimated to be payable upon the distribution of the remaining unremitted earnings at December 31, 2023. If we decide to distribute any portion of the balance of our unremitted earnings to the United States from a foreign country, we would adjust our income tax provision in the period we determine that the earnings are no longer indefinitely invested outside the United States.
Additional information about income taxes is included in Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements.
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Results of Operations – Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
Refer to Item 7, "Results of Operations - Years Ended December 2022 and 2021 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 for a comparison of the year ended December 31, 2022 to the year ended December 31, 2021.
Statement of operations’ captions as a percentage of net revenues and the effective tax rates were as follows:
Years ended December 31,
Costs of products sold 57.7 % 58.7 %
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 30.1 % 28.8 %
Income before taxes 10.8 % 12.4 %
Net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders 7.2 % 9.9 %
Effective tax rate 32.3 % 18.9 %
Net Revenues
Net revenues were as follows (dollars in thousands):
Years ended December 31,
Change versus prior year $ (7,532)
Percentage change versus prior year (2.1) %
Changes in net revenues were attributable to the following:
Change attributable to:
Change in volume (3.0) %
Change in average selling prices 1.6 %
Foreign currency effects (0.7) %
Net change (2.1) %
During the year ended December 31, 2023, net revenues decreased 2.1% over the prior year. Decreased volume in the Sensors and Weighing Solutions reporting segments was partially offset by volume increase in the Measurement System reporting segment. Volume increases in our steel and AMS end markets, were offset by lower volume across all of our other market sectors. The overall volume decreases were partially offset by increased selling prices across all of our reporting segments.
Gross Profit Margin
Gross profit as a percentage of net revenues was as follows:
Years ended December 31,
Gross profit margin 42.3 % 41.3 %
The gross profit margin for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased 1.0% over the prior year. The increase in gross profit margin was primarily due to improved gross profit margins in the Weighing Solutions and Measurement Systems reporting segments partially offset by decreased gross profit margin in the Sensors reporting segment.
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Segments
Analysis of revenues and gross profit margins for our reportable segments is provided below.
Sensors
Net revenues of the Sensors segment were as follows (dollars in thousands):
Years ended December 31,
Change versus prior year $ (12,438)
Percentage change versus prior year (8.2) %
Changes in Sensors segment net revenues were attributable to the following:
Change attributable to:
Change in volume (8.4) %
Change in average selling prices 0.9 %
Foreign currency effects (0.7) %
Net change (8.2) %
For the year ended December 31, 2023, net revenues decreased 8.2% as compared to the prior year, due to lower sales of precision resistors in the Test and Measurement market, and lower sales of advanced sensors products primarily in our Other markets (mainly for consumer applications), partially offset by increases in precision resistor sales in the AMS market.
Gross profit as a percentage of net revenues for the Sensors segment was as follows:
Years ended December 31,
Gross profit margin 39.4 % 40.1 %
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the gross profit margin decreased 0.7% as compared to the prior year primarily due to volume decreases and manufacturing inefficiencies, which were partially offset by favorable foreign currency exchange rates.
Weighing Solutions
Net revenues of the Weighing Solutions segment were as follows (dollars in thousands):
Years ended December 31,
Change versus prior year $ (3,187)
Percentage change versus prior year (2.5) %
Changes in Weighing Solutions segment net revenues were attributable to the following:
Change attributable to:
Change in volume (4.7) %
Change in average selling prices 2.4 %
Foreign currency effects (0.2) %
Net change (2.5) %
For the year ended December 31, 2023, net revenues decreased 2.5% from the prior year. Increased sales of load cells in our Other markets for precision agriculture and construction applications and transducer systems in our Industrial Weighing market,
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were offset by lower sales of our load cell products in our Industrial weighing market. The overall volume decline was only partially offset by higher average selling prices.
Gross profit as a percentage of net revenues for the Weighing Solutions segment was as follows:
Years ended December 31,
Gross profit margin 37.0 % 34.3 %
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the gross profit margin increased 2.7% as compared to the prior year. The increase in gross profit margin was primarily due to cost reductions, manufacturing efficiencies, favorable foreign currency exchange rates, and higher selling prices, which offset the impact of lower volume.
Measurement Systems
Net revenues of the Measurement Systems segment were as follows (dollars in thousands):
Years ended December 31,
Change versus prior year $ 8,093
Percentage change versus prior year 9.6 %
Changes in Measurement Systems segment net revenues were attributable to the following:
Change attributable to:
Change in volume 9.2 %
Change in average selling prices 1.8 %
Foreign currency effects (1.4) %
Net change 9.6 %
For the year ended December 31, 2023, net revenues increased 9.6% as compared to the prior year, primarily due to increased revenue in the Steel market and higher sales of DTS products in the AMS market.
Gross profit as a percentage of net revenues for the Measurement Systems segment was as follows:
Years ended December 31,
Gross profit margin 53.8 % 53.6 %
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the gross profit margin increased 0.2% from the prior year. Higher revenues coupled with lower purchase accounting adjustments related to the DTS acquisition were partially offset by higher material costs and higher manufacturing costs.
Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general, and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were as follows (dollars in thousands):
Years ended December 31,
as a percentage of net revenues 30.1 % 28.8 %
SG&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased $2.5 million as compared to the prior year due to higher personnel costs, including increases in headcount, wages and travel costs, higher IT costs and higher commissions.
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Impairment of Goodwill and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets
For the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, as a result of our annual impairment tests performed on goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets there was no impairment on goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets.
Restructuring Costs
Restructuring costs reflect the cost reduction programs implemented by the Company. Restructuring costs are expensed during the period in which the Company determines it will incur those costs and all requirements for accrual are met. Because these costs are recorded based upon estimates, actual expenditures for the restructuring activities may differ from the initially recorded costs. If the initial estimates are too low or too high, the Company could be required to either record additional expense in future periods, or to reverse part of the previously recorded charges.
The Company recorded restructuring costs of $1.6 million and $1.5 million during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Restructuring costs were comprised primarily of employee termination costs, including severance and statutory retirement allowances, and were incurred in connection with various cost reduction programs.
Acquisition Costs
There were no acquisition costs recorded in our consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 or December 31, 2022.
Other Income (Expense)
Interest Expense
The Company recorded interest expense of $4.0 million, and $2.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Interest expense was higher in 2023 compared to 2022 mainly due to higher borrowing rates during 2023.
Other
The following table analyzes the components of the line “Other” on the consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
Years ended December 31,
Foreign currency exchange gains and losses represent the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The change in foreign exchange gains / (losses) for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the prior year period, is primarily due to fluctuations in the Israeli shekel, the Canadian dollar and the British pound. The change in the dollar-shekel exchange rate resulted in a unfavorable currency exchange impact primarily related to the shekel-denominated lease liability for the Sensors facility in Israel.
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2023 was 32.3%, as compared to 18.9% for the year ended December 31, 2022. Our effective tax rate was higher in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to increases in valuation allowances, increases in reserves for uncertain tax positions and changes in our geographical mix of income.
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We reassessed our ability to realize our U.S. deferred tax assets during 2023 and have concluded that realization of those deferred tax assets is still not "more likely than not". Our tax rate is affected by recurring items, such as tax rates in foreign jurisdictions as compared to the U.S. federal statutory tax rate, and the relative amount of income earned in each jurisdiction. The tax rate is also impacted by discrete items that vary from year to year and may not be indicative of the tax rate on continuing operations. The following items had the most significant impact on the difference between the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate and our effective tax rate:
2023
•6.2% increase related to the effects of foreign operations primarily related to the difference between the U.S. statutory rate and foreign tax rates
•3.3% increase related to changes in valuation allowances
•2.3% increase related to residual U.S. tax on foreign earnings
•1.2% increase related to changes in reserves for uncertain tax positions
•1.4% decrease related to specialty tax credits, such as research credits
2022
•2.8% increase related to the effects of foreign operations primarily related to the difference between the U.S. statutory rate and foreign tax rates
•1.5% increase related to foreign currency primarily attributable to our operations in India, Israel and Taiwan
•1.4% decrease related to specialty tax credits, such as research credits
•2.2% decrease related to changes in reserves for uncertain tax positions
•3.6% decrease related to changes in valuation allowances
Additional information about income taxes is included in Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements.
Financial Condition, Liquidity, and Capital Resources
Refer to Item 7. “Financial Condition, Liquidity, and Capital Resources” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 for a comparison of the year ended December 31, 2022 to the year ended December 31, 2021.
We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, credit facilities, and projected cash from operations will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs for at least the next 12 months.
On March 20, 2020, the Company entered into a Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “2020 Credit Agreement”) among the Company, the lenders named therein, Citizens Bank, National Association and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as joint lead arrangers and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association as agent for such lenders (the “Agent”), pursuant to which the terms of the Company’s multi-currency, secured credit facility were revised to provide a secured revolving facility (the “2020 Revolving Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of $75.0 million, with a sublimit of $10.0 million which can be used for letters of credit for the account of the Company or its subsidiaries that are parties to the Credit Agreement. The proceeds of the 2020 Revolving Facility may be used on an ongoing basis for working capital and general corporate purposes. The aggregate principal amount of the 2020 Revolving Facility may be increased by a maximum of $25.0 million upon the request of the Company, subject to the terms of the 2020 Credit Agreement. The 2020 Credit Agreement terminates on March 20, 2025.
On May 5, 2023, the Company entered into Amendment No. 1 to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement Amendment”) amending the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated March 20, 2020. The primary purpose of the changes made in the Credit Agreement Amendment were to update the interest rate provisions to replace LIBOR with SOFR for U.S. dollar denominated loans as well as update the other applicable reference borrowing rates for foreign currency loans which took effect on June 15, 2023. Interest payable on amounts borrowed under the 2020 Revolving Facility, taking into account the effect of the Credit Agreement Amendment, is based upon the following: (a) for revolving credit loans denominated in US Dollars, the SOFR rate plus applicable credit spread; and (b) for revolving credit loans denominated in foreign currencies, at other applicable local reference rates plus an interest margin. Depending upon the Company’s leverage ratio, an interest rate margin ranging from 1.50% to 2.75% per annum is added to the applicable SOFR rate to determine the interest payable on the SOFR loans. The Company is required to pay a quarterly fee of 0.25% per annum to 0.40% per annum on the unused portion of the 2020 Revolving Facility, which is determined based on the Company’s leverage ratio each quarter. Additional customary fees apply with respect to letters of credit.
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The obligations of the Company under the 2020 Credit Agreement are secured by pledges of stock in certain domestic and foreign subsidiaries, as well as guarantees by substantially all of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries. The obligations of the Company and the guarantors under the 2020 Credit Agreement are secured by substantially all the assets (excluding real estate) of the Company and such guarantors. The 2020 Credit Agreement restricts the Company from paying cash dividends and requires the Company to comply with other customary covenants, representations, and warranties, including the maintenance of specific financial ratios. The financial maintenance covenants include an interest coverage ratio and a leverage ratio. The Company was in compliance with its financial maintenance covenants at December 31, 2023. If the Company is not in compliance with any of these covenant restrictions, the credit facility could be terminated by the lenders, and all amounts outstanding pursuant to the credit facility could become immediately payable.
Our business has historically generated significant cash flow. Our cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $45.9 million as compared to $33.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Our net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $15.1 million, compared to $20.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Our net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $35.9 million, which included a pay down on the 2020 credit facility of $29.0 million, as compared to $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Approximately 92% and 83% of our cash and cash equivalents balance at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, was held by our non-U.S. subsidiaries. See the following table for the percentage of cash and cash equivalents, by region, at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
December 31,
United States 8 % 17 %
United Kingdom 5 % 10 %
We earn a significant amount of our operating income outside the United States, the majority of which is deemed to be indefinitely reinvested in the foreign jurisdictions. As a result, as discussed above, a significant portion of our cash and short-term investments are held by foreign subsidiaries. The Company will continue to evaluate its cash needs, however we currently do not intend, nor do we foresee a need, to repatriate funds in excess of what is already planned. The Company will evaluate the possibility of repatriating future cash provided such repatriation can be accomplished in a tax efficient manner. In addition, we expect existing domestic cash, short-term investments, and cash flows from operations to continue to be sufficient to fund our domestic operating activities and cash commitments for investing and financing activities, such as debt repayment and capital expenditures, for at least the next 12 months and thereafter for the foreseeable future.
If we should require more capital in the United States than is generated by our domestic operations, for example, to fund significant discretionary activities, such as business acquisitions, we could elect to repatriate future earnings from foreign jurisdictions or raise capital in the United States through debt or equity issuances. These alternatives could result in higher tax expense, increased interest expense, or dilution of our earnings. We consider the majority of the undistributed earnings of our foreign subsidiaries, as of December 31, 2023, to be indefinitely reinvested.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, we generated adjusted free cash flow of $30.8 million. We define “adjusted free cash flow,” a measure which management uses to evaluate our ability to fund acquisitions, as the amount of cash provided by operating activities ($45.9 million) in excess of our capital expenditures ($15.2 million) and net of proceeds from the sale of assets ($0.1 million).
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The following table summarizes the components of net cash at December 31, 2023 and at December 31, 2022 (in thousands):
December 31,
Third-party debt, including current and long-term
Deferred financing costs (144) (201)
Measurements such as “adjusted free cash flow” and “net cash" do not have uniform definitions and are not recognized in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Such measures should not be viewed as alternatives to GAAP measures of performance or liquidity. However, management believes that “adjusted free cash flow” is a meaningful measure of our ability to fund acquisitions, and that an analysis of “net cash” assists investors in understanding aspects of our cash and debt management. These measures, as calculated by us, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.
Our financial condition as of December 31, 2023 is strong, with a current ratio (current assets to current liabilities) of 3.9 to 1.0, as compared to a current ratio of 3.9 to 1.0 at December 31, 2022.
Cash paid for property and equipment for the year ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was $15.2 million and $21.3 million, respectively. Capital spending for 2023 was comprised of building projects related to capacity expansion in Israel and Asia, and other projects related to the normal maintenance of business. Capital expenditures for 2024 are expected to be approximately $15.0 million.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Inflation
Normally, inflation does not have a significant impact on our operations as our products are not generally sold on long-term contracts. Consequently, we can adjust our selling prices, to the extent permitted by competition, to reflect cost increases caused by inflation.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.
Forward-Looking Statements
From time to time, information provided by us, including, but not limited to, statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 or other statements made by or on our behalf, may contain or constitute "forward-looking" information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties, and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated.
Such statements are based on current expectations only, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, expected, estimated, or projected. Among the factors that could cause actual results to materially differ include: general business and economic conditions; impact of inflation; potential issues respecting the United States federal government debt ceiling; global labor and supply chain challenges; difficulties or delays in identifying, negotiating and completing acquisitions and integrating acquired companies; the inability to realize anticipated synergies and expansion possibilities; difficulties in new product development; changes in competition and technology in the markets that we serve and the mix of our products required to address these changes; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; political, economic, and health (including pandemics) instabilities; instability caused by military hostilities in the regions or countries in which we operate (including Israel); difficulties in implementing our cost reduction strategies, such as underutilization of production facilities, labor unrest or legal challenges to our lay-off or termination plans, operation of redundant facilities due to difficulties in transferring production to achieve efficiencies; compliance issues under applicable laws, such as export control laws, including the outcome of our voluntary self-disclosure of export control non-compliance; significant developments from the recent and potential changes in tariffs and trade regulation; our efforts and efforts by governmental authorities to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic, such as travel bans, shelter-in-place orders and business closures and the related impact on resource
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allocations, manufacturing and supply chains; our status as a “critical”, “essential” or “life-sustaining” business in light of COVID-19 business closure laws, orders and guidance being challenged by a governmental body or other applicable authority; our ability to execute our new corporate strategy and business continuity, operational and budget plans; and other factors affecting our operations, markets, products, services, and prices that are set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report or as of the dates otherwise indicated in such forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Item 7A.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are exposed to certain financial risks, including fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, and commodity prices. We manage our exposure to these market risks through internally established policies and procedures. Our policies do not allow speculation in derivative instruments for profit or execution of derivative instrument contracts for which there are no underlying exposures. We do not use financial instruments for trading purposes and we are not a party to any leveraged derivatives. We monitor our underlying market risk exposures on an ongoing basis and believe that we can modify or adapt our strategies as needed.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to changes in interest rates as a result of our borrowing activities and our cash balances.
The Company entered into a third amended and restated revolving credit facility on March 20, 2020. Interest payable on the facility is based upon the Agent’s prime rate, the Federal Funds rate or SOFR, plus a spread. At December 31, 2023, the Company had $32.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility.
At December 31, 2023, we had $84.0 million of cash and cash equivalents, which accrue interest at various variable rates.
Based on the debt and cash positions at December 31, 2023 and 2022, we would expect a 50 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates to increase or decrease our annualized net earnings by $0.2 million and $0.1 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
See Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements for additional information about our long-term debt.
Foreign Exchange Risk
We are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risks, particularly due to market values of transactions in currencies other than the functional currencies of certain subsidiaries. Our significant foreign currency exposures are to the British pound, Canadian dollar, Chinese renminbi, euro, Indian rupee, Israeli shekel, Japanese yen, Swedish krona, and Taiwanese dollar.
Our operations in Europe, Canada, and certain locations in Asia primarily generate and expend cash in local currencies. Our operations in Israel and certain locations in Asia primarily generate cash in U.S. dollars, but these subsidiaries also have significant transactions in local currencies. Our exposure to foreign currency risk is mitigated to the extent that the costs incurred and the revenues earned in a particular currency offset one another. Our exposure to foreign currency risk, with respect to expenses, is more pronounced in Israel and India because the percentage of expenses denominated in Israeli shekels and Indian rupee to total expenses is much greater than the percentage of sales denominated in Israeli shekels and Indian rupee to total sales. Therefore, if the Israeli shekel and Indian rupee strengthen against all or most of our other major currencies, our operating profit is reduced. We also have a higher percentage of British pound-denominated sales than expenses. Therefore, when the British pound strengthens against all or most of our other major currencies, our operating profit is increased.
We have performed a sensitivity analysis as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, using a model that measures the change in the values arising from a hypothetical 10% adverse movement in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar, with all other variables held constant. The foreign currency exchange rates we used were based on market rates in effect at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The sensitivity analysis indicated that a hypothetical 10% adverse movement in foreign currency exchange rates would impact our net earnings by approximately $3.7 million and $3.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, although individual line items in our consolidated statements of operations could be materially affected. For example, a 10% weakening in all foreign currencies would increase the U.S. dollar equivalent of operating income generated in foreign currencies, which would be offset by foreign exchange losses of our foreign subsidiaries that have significant transactions in U.S. dollars or have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency.
A change in the mix of the currencies in which we transact our business could have a material effect on the estimated impact of the hypothetical 10% movement in the value of the U.S. dollar. Furthermore, the timing of cash receipts and disbursements
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could result in materially different actual results versus the hypothetical 10% movement in the value of the U.S. dollar, particularly if there are significant changes in exchange rates in a short period of time.
Commodity Price Risk
Although most materials incorporated in our products are available from a number of sources, certain materials are available only from a relatively limited number of suppliers. Some of the most highly specialized materials for our sensors are sourced from a single vendor. We maintain a safety stock inventory of certain critical materials at our facilities. Certain metals used in the manufacture of our products are traded on active markets, and can be subject to significant price volatility.
Our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected if we have difficulty obtaining these raw materials, the quality of available raw materials deteriorates, or there are significant price changes for these raw materials. For periods in which the prices of these raw materials are rising, we may be unable to pass on the increased cost to our customers which would result in decreased margins for the products in which they are used. For periods in which the prices are declining, we may be required to write down our inventory carrying cost of these raw materials, since we record our inventory at the lower of cost or market. Depending on the extent of the difference between market price and our carrying cost, this write-down could have a material adverse effect on our net earnings. We also may need to record losses for adverse purchase commitments for these materials in periods of declining prices.
We estimate that a 10% increase or decrease in the costs of raw materials subject to commodity price risk would decrease or increase our net earnings by $1.2 million and $2.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, assuming that such changes in our costs have no impact on the selling prices of our products, and that we have no pending commitments to purchase metals at fixed prices.
Item 8.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The financial statements required by this Item are included herein, commencing on page F-1 of this report.
Item 9.CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
Item 9A.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Based on that evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this annual report to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act are: (1) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms; and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Our management, including our CEO and CFO, believes that any disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must consider the benefits of controls relative to their costs. Inherent limitations within a control system include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by unauthorized override of the control. While the design of any system of controls is to provide reasonable assurance of the effectiveness of disclosure controls, such design is also based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and such assumptions, while reasonable, may not take into account all potential future conditions. Accordingly, because of the inherent limitations in a cost effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and may not be prevented or detected.
Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO and CFO, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 based on the 2013 framework set forth in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on that evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2023.
Brightman Almagor Zohar & Co., a firm in the Deloitte global network, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as stated in their report which is set forth on the next page.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Vishay Precision Group, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Vishay Precision Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, of the Company and our report dated February 29, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the 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 audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Brightman Almagor Zohar & Co.
Brightman Almagor Zohar & Co.
Certified Public Accountants
A Firm in the Deloitte Global Network
Tel Aviv, Israel
February 29, 2024
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Item 9B.OTHER INFORMATION
During the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2023, none of the Company’s directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) adopted or terminated a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (as such terms are defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended).
Item 9C.DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.
None.
PART III
Item 10.DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Certain information required under this Item with respect to our Executive Officers is contained under the heading “Information about our Executive Officers” in Item 1 hereof. Other information required under this Item will be contained under the heading “Nominees for Election as Directors” in our definitive proxy statement for the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed within 120 days of December 31, 2023, our most recent fiscal year end, and is incorporated herein by reference.
The Company has adopted codes of conduct that constitute “codes of ethics” as that term is defined in paragraph (b) of Item 406 of Regulation S-K and that apply to the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and to any persons performing similar functions. Such codes of conduct are posted on the Company’s internet website, the address of which is www.vpgsensors.com.
Item 11.EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information required under this Item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement for the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed within 120 days of December 31, 2023, our most recent fiscal year end, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12.SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Information required under this Item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement for the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed within 120 days of December 31, 2023, our most recent fiscal year end, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13.CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Information required under this Item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement for the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed within 120 days of December 31, 2023, our most recent fiscal year end, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14.PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Information required under this Item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement for the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed within 120 days of December 31, 2023, our most recent fiscal year end, and is incorporated herein by reference.
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PART IV
Item 15.EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)Documents Filed as part of Form 10-K
i)Financial Statements
The Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 are filed herewith. See index to the Consolidated Financial Statements on page F-1 of this report.
ii)Financial Statement Schedules
All financial statement schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.
iii)Exhibits
Exhibit No. Description
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Exhibit No. Description
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Exhibit No. Description
21.1 List of Subsidiaries.
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Exhibit No. Description
* Confidential treatment has been accorded to certain portions of this Exhibit. Omitted portions have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
† Denotes a management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.
Item 16.FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
VISHAY PRECISION GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Ziv Shoshani
Ziv Shoshani
Date: February 29, 2024 President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OFATTORNEY
Vishay Precision Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Ziv Shoshani and William M. Clancy, and either of them, such person’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in such person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign on such person’s behalf, individually and in each capacity stated below, any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents in connection therewith, and to file the same and all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary or desirable to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, thereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any of them, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Form 10-K has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the date indicated below.
Signature Title Date
/s/ Ziv Shoshani Chief Executive Officer and Director February 29, 2024
Ziv Shoshani (Principal Executive Officer)
William M. Clancy (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Saul V. Reibstein Director February 29, 2024
Saul V. Reibstein
/s/ Marc Zandman Director February 29, 2024
Marc Zandman
/s/ Timothy V. Talbert Director February 29, 2024
Timothy V. Talbert
/s/ Janet Clarke Director February 29, 2024
Janet Clarke
/s/ Bruce Lerner Director February 29, 2024
Bruce Lerner
/s/ Wesley Cummins Director February 29, 2024
Wesley Cummins
/s/ Sejal Shah Gulati Director February 29, 2024
Sejal Shah Gulati
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Vishay Precision Group, Inc.
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets F- 4
Consolidated Statements of Operations F- 6
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income F- 7
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows F- 8
Consolidated Statements of Equity F- 9
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F- 10
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Vishay Precision Group, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Vishay Precision Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (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 December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated February 29, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
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 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. 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 that 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 provide a 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.
Goodwill – DSI Reporting Unit — Refer to Notes 1 and 4 to the Financial Statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company's quantitative goodwill impairment test involves the comparison of the fair value of each reporting unit or asset to its carrying value.
In estimating the fair value of the DSI reporting unit, the Company used the income approach to evaluate the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. The income approach to valuation requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions related to future revenues, profitability, working capital requirements and selection of discount and long term growth rates. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could have a significant impact on the fair value of the reporting unit.
The carrying value of goodwill as of December 31, 2023, for the DSI reporting unit is $16.9 million. The fair value of the DSI reporting unit exceeds the carrying value, therefore, no impairment was recognized.
F-2
We identified goodwill for the DSI reporting unit as a critical audit matter because of the significant judgments made by management to estimate the fair value of the reporting unit and the difference between the fair value and carrying value. This required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our fair value specialists, when performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of management’s estimates and assumptions related to forecasts of future revenues, profitability, working capital requirements and selection of the discount and long term growth rates.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to forecasts of future revenues, profitability, working capital requirements and selection of discount and long term growth rates used by management to estimate the fair value of the DSI reporting unit included the following, among others:
•We tested the effectiveness of controls over management’s impairment evaluation, including those over the determination of the fair value of the DSI reporting unit, such as controls related to management’s forecasts of future revenues, profitability, working capital requirements and selection of discount and long term growth rates.
•We evaluated management’s ability to accurately forecast operating performance by comparing actual results to management’s historical forecasts.
•We evaluated the reasonableness of management’s forecasts of future revenues, profitability and working capital requirements by comparing the forecasts to:
–Historical revenues, profitability and working capital requirements.
–Internal communications to management and the Board of Directors.
With the assistance of our fair value specialists, we evaluated the valuation methodologies and the reasonableness of the discount and long term growth rates, including testing the underlying source information and the mathematical accuracy of the calculations, and developing a range of independent estimates and comparing those to the discount and long term growth rates selected by management.
/s/ Brightman Almagor Zohar & Co.
Brightman Almagor Zohar & Co.
Certified Public Accountants
A Firm in the Deloitte Global Network
Tel Aviv, Israel
February 29, 2024
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019.
F-3
VISHAY PRECISION GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share amounts)
Assets
Current assets:
Inventories:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 14,520 18,516
Property and equipment:
Continues on the following page
F-4
VISHAY PRECISION GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued)
(In thousands, except share amounts)
Liabilities and equity
Current liabilities:
Current portion of operating lease liabilities 4,004 4,208
Accrued pension and other postretirement costs 7,276 7,777
Commitments and contingencies
Equity:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (38,869) (40,900)
Total Vishay Precision Group, Inc. stockholders' equity 329,842 306,547
Noncontrolling interests 83 (25)
See accompanying notes.
F-5
VISHAY PRECISION GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Years ended December 31,
Acquisition costs — — 1,198
Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles — — 1,223
Other income (expense):
Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests 303 490 222
Basic earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders $ 1.89 $ 2.65 $ 1.49
Diluted earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders $ 1.88 $ 2.63 $ 1.48
See accompanying notes.
F-6
VISHAY PRECISION GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(In thousands)
Years ended December 31,
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Pension and other postretirement actuarial items (196) 5,321 2,347
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 2,031 (5,892) (2,337)
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests 303 490 222
Comprehensive income attributable to VPG stockholders $ 27,738 $ 30,171 $ 17,884
See accompanying notes.
F-7
VISHAY PRECISION GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
Years ended December 31,
Operating activities
Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles — — 1,223
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment 75 (117) (5)
Gain on sale of short term investment (14) — —
Foreign currency impacts and other items 660 (3,915) (1,018)
Net changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisition:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 4,172 (2,808) (56)
Other non current assets and liabilities, net 439 (1,413) (624)
Accrued pension and other postretirement costs, net (1,526) (426) (963)
Investing activities
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 40 451 231
Purchase of short term investment (1,000) — —
Proceeds from sale of short term investment 1,014 — —
Purchase of business — — (47,216)
Financing activities
Principal payments on long-term debt — — (18)
Proceeds from revolving facility — — 20,000
Payments on revolving facility (29,000) — —
Purchase of treasury stock (5,915) (2,739) —
Distributions to noncontrolling interests (195) (457) (313)
Payments of employee taxes on certain share-based arrangements (825) (435) (853)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (35,935) (3,631) 18,816
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 545 (4,334) (2,410)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (4,597) 4,227 (14,103)
Supplemental disclosure of investing transactions:
Capital expenditures accrued but not yet paid $ 2,317 $ 1,731 $ 3,068
Supplemental disclosure of financing transactions:
Excise tax on net share repurchases accrued but not yet paid $ 41 $ — $ —
See accompanying notes.
F-8
VISHAY PRECISION GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Equity
(In thousands, except share amounts)
Share-based compensation expense — — — 2,244 — — 2,244 — 2,244
Distributions to noncontrolling interests — — — — — — — (313) (313)
Share-based compensation expense — — — 2,439 — — 2,439 — 2,439
Distributions to noncontrolling interests — — — — — — — (458) (458)
Share-based compensation expense — — — 2,290 — — 2,290 — 2,290
Excise tax on net share repurchases — — (41) — — — (41) — (41)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests — — — — — — — (195) (195)
See accompanying notes.
F-9
Vishay Precision Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1 – Background and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Background
Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (“VPG” or the “Company”) is a global, diversified company focused on precision measurement and sensing technologies that help power the future by bridging the physical world with the digital one. Many of our specialized sensors, weighing solutions, and measurement systems are “designed-in” by our customers, and address growing applications across a diverse array of industries and markets. Our products are marketed under brand names that we believe are characterized as having a very high level of precision and quality, and we employ an operationally diversified structure to manage our businesses.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the individual entities in which the Company maintained a controlling financial interest. For those subsidiaries in which the Company’s ownership is less than 100 percent, the outside stockholders’ interests are shown as noncontrolling interests in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. All transactions, accounts, and profits between individual members comprising the Company have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition
The Company derives substantially all of its revenue from product sales. The Company recognizes the vast majority of its sales at a point-in-time. It utilizes the core principle of recognizing revenue when the Company satisfies performance obligations as evidenced by the transfer of control of its products to the customer.
Such revenues are derived from purchase orders and/or contracts with customers. Each contract has the promise to transfer the control of the products, each of which is individually distinct and is considered the identified performance obligation. As part of the decision to enter into each contract, the Company evaluates the customer’s credit risk, but its contracts do not have any significant financing components, as payment is generally due net 30 to 60 days after delivery. In accordance with contract terms, revenue from the Company’s product sales is recognized at the time of product shipment from its facilities or delivery to the customer location, as determined by the agreed upon shipping terms.
Under the terms of some of its contracts, the Company may be required to perform certain installation services. These installation services are performed at the time of product delivery or at some point thereafter. The installation services do not significantly modify the product provided, and although the Company may be required contractually to provide these services, the installation services could be performed by a third party or the customer. Thus, these installation services are a distinct performance obligation. In most of the applicable contracts, this installation service element is immaterial in the context of the agreement. When the installation services are accounted for as a separate performance obligation, the Company allocates the transaction price to this element based on its relative standalone selling price.
Given the specialized nature of the Company's products, the Company generally does not allow product returns. Shipping and handling costs are recorded to Costs of product sold when control of the product has transferred to the customer. The Company offers standard product warranties. Warranty related costs continue to be recognized as expense when the products are sold. Sales, value added taxes and other taxes collected concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue. See Note 2 for further details on Revenues.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. The amount charged to expense for research and development was $20.4 million, $19.8 million, and $17.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
F-10
Note 1 – Background and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income tax expense in the period that includes the enactment date.
The Company records net deferred tax assets to the extent it believes such assets will "more likely than not" be realized. In making this determination, the Company considers all positive and negative evidence, including historic earnings, projected future income, and cost-effective tax-planning strategies. When the Company determines that its ability to realize deferred tax assets is not "more likely than not", the Company adjusts its deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which increases income tax expense.
The Company records uncertain tax positions on the basis of a two-step process in which the Company first determines whether it is "more likely than not" that the tax positions will be sustained based on the technical merits of the position and then measures those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold. The Company recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within income tax expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Accrued interest and penalties are included within the related tax liability line in the consolidated balance sheets.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include demand deposits and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased. Highly liquid investments with maturities greater than three months are classified as short-term investments. There were no investments classified as short-term investments at December 31, 2023 or 2022.
Allowance for Credit Losses
The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. In determining the amount of the allowance for credit losses, the Company considers historical loss data, customer specific information, current market conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions to inform adjustments to historical loss data. The allowance for credit losses was $0.5 million and $0.7 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The credit loss was $0.2 million, $0.0 million, and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined by the first-in, first-out method, or market based on net realizable value. Inventories are adjusted for estimated excess and obsolescence and written down to net realizable value based upon estimates of future demand, technology developments, and market conditions.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are carried at cost and is depreciated principally by the straight-line method based upon the estimated useful lives of the assets. Machinery and equipment are being depreciated over useful lives of seven to fifteen years. Buildings and building improvements are being depreciated over useful lives of twenty to forty years or the lease term. Software is being depreciated over useful lives of three to five years. Construction in progress is not depreciated until the assets are placed in service. Depreciation expense was $11.8 million, $11.5 million, and $11.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively, which included software depreciation expense of $0.8 million, $0.7 million, and $0.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
Business Combinations
The Company allocates the purchase price of an acquired company, including when applicable, the fair value of contingent consideration between tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the acquired businesses based on estimated fair values, with any residual of the purchase price recorded as goodwill. Estimating fair values requires significant judgments, estimates and assumptions including but not limited to: discount rates, future cash flows and the economic lives of trade names, technology, and customer relationships. These estimates are based on historical experience and information obtained from the management of the acquired companies, and are inherently uncertain.
F-11
Note 1 – Background and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill and indefinite-lived trademarks are tested for impairment at least annually, and whenever events or changes in circumstances occur indicating that it is "more likely than not" impairment may have been incurred. The Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is "more likely than not" that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value as a basis for determining if it is necessary to perform the quantitative goodwill impairment test. However, if the Company concludes otherwise, then it is required to perform the quantitative impairment test by calculating the fair value of the reporting unit and comparing it against its carrying value. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, no further evaluation is required and no impairment loss is recognized. An impairment charge would be recognized to the extent the carrying value of goodwill exceeds the reporting unit fair value.
The indefinite-lived trade names are tested for impairment either by employing the qualitative approach outlined above, or by comparing the carrying value to the fair value based on current revenue projections of the related operations, under the relief from royalty method. Any excess carrying value over the applicable fair value is recognized as impairment. Any impairment would be recognized in the reporting period in which it has been identified.
The Company's required goodwill and indefinite-lived asset annual impairment test is completed as of the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter each year. As described in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements, the 2023 and 2022 annual impairment tests resulted in no impairment. In 2021, an impairment charge was recorded.
Definite-lived intangible assets, such as customer relationships, patents and acquired technology, non-competition agreements, and certain trade names are amortized on a straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. Patents and acquired technology are being amortized over useful lives of seven to twenty years. Customer relationships are being amortized over useful lives of five to fifteen years. Trade names are being amortized over useful lives of seven to ten years. Non-competition agreements are being amortized over periods of five to ten years. The Company continually evaluates the reasonableness of the useful lives of these assets. Additionally, the Company reviews the carrying values of these assets for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable based on undiscounted estimated cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The carrying value of long-lived assets held-and-used, other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, is evaluated when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The carrying value of a long-lived asset group is considered impaired when the total projected undiscounted cash flows from such asset group are separately identifiable and are less than the carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair market value of the long-lived asset group. Fair market value is determined primarily using present value techniques based on projected cash flows from the asset group. Losses on long-lived assets held-for-sale, other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, are determined in a similar manner, except that fair market values are reduced for disposal costs.
Foreign Currency Translation
The Company has significant operations outside of the United States. The Company's operations in Europe, Canada, and certain locations in Asia primarily generate and expend cash in local currencies, and accordingly, these subsidiaries utilize the local currency as their functional currency. The Company’s operations in Israel and certain locations in Asia primarily generate cash in U.S. dollars, and accordingly, these subsidiaries utilize the U.S. dollar as their functional currency.
For those subsidiaries where the local currency is the functional currency, assets and liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets have been translated at the rate of exchange as of the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate for the year. Translation adjustments do not impact the consolidated statements of operations and are reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive loss within the statement of comprehensive income. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in the results of operations.
For those foreign subsidiaries where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, all foreign currency financial statement amounts are remeasured into U.S. dollars. Exchange gains and losses arising from remeasurement of foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities are included in the consolidated statements of operations.
F-12
Note 1 – Background and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Share-Based Compensation
Compensation costs related to share-based payments are recognized in the consolidated financial statements. The amount of compensation cost is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the equity instruments issued. For service-based awards, compensation cost is recognized over the period that an officer, employee, or non-employee director provides service in exchange for the award. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur. For performance based awards, the Company recognizes compensation cost for awards that are expected to vest based on whether performance criteria are expected to be met.
Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease at inception or modification of such agreement. The arrangement is or contains a lease if the contract conveys the right to control the use of the identified asset for a period in exchange for consideration.
Lease right of use assets and liabilities are recognized based on the present value of future minimum lease payments over the expected term at commencement date. As the implicit rate is not determinable in most of the Company's leases, the Company's incremental borrowing rate is used as the basis to determine the present value of future lease payments. The expected lease terms include options to extend or terminate. The period which is subject to an option to extend the lease is included in the lease term if it is reasonably certain that the option will be exercised. Some of these leases contain variable payment provisions that depend on an index or rate, initially measured using the index or rate at the lease commencement date and are therefore not included in our future minimum lease payments. Variable payments are expensed in the periods incurred. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. The Company uses the practical expedients to exclude from balance sheet reporting leases with initial terms of 12 months or less and to exclude non-lease components from lease right of use assets and corresponding liabilities.
Commitments and Contingencies
Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, penalties, and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment and/or remediation can be reasonably estimated.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Company evaluates the applicability and impact of all Accounting Standards Updates ("ASUs") issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB").
Recent accounting pronouncements not yet adopted:
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The ASU expands public entities’ segment disclosures by requiring disclosure of significant segment expenses that are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker ("CODM") and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss, an amount and description of its composition for other segment items, and interim disclosures of a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets. The ASU also allows, in addition to the measure that is most consistent with U.S. GAAP, the disclosure of additional measures of segment profit or loss that are used by the CODM in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. The ASU is effective for the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and subsequent interim periods, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. This ASU requires disclosure of specific categories in the rate reconciliation and additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold. The amendment also includes other changes to improve the effectiveness of income tax disclosures, including further disaggregation of income taxes paid for individually significant jurisdictions. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Adoption of this ASU should be applied on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Note 2 – Revenues
The following table disaggregates net revenue by geographic region from contracts with customers based on net revenues generated by subsidiaries within that geographic location (in thousands):
F-13
Note 2 – Revenues (continued)
Sensors Weighing Solutions Measurement Systems Total
Sensors Weighing Solutions Measurement Systems Total
Sensors Weighing Solutions Measurement Systems Total
The following table disaggregates net revenue by market sector (in thousands):
Years Ended December 31,
Contract Assets & Liabilities
Contract assets are established when revenues are recognized prior to a contractual payment due from the customer. When a payment becomes due based on the contract terms, the Company will reduce the contract asset and record a receivable. Contract liabilities are deferred revenues that are recorded when cash payments are received or due in advance of our
F-14
Note 2 – Revenues (continued)
performance obligations. Our payment terms vary by the type and location of the products offered. The term between invoicing and when payment is due is not significant.
The outstanding contract assets and liability accounts were as follows (in thousands):
Contract Asset Contract Liability
Unbilled Revenue Accrued Customer Advances
The amount of revenue recognized during the year ended December 31, 2023 that was included in the contract liability balance at December 31, 2022 was $7.3 million.
Note 3 – Acquisition Activity
Diversified Technical Systems, Inc.
On June 1, 2021, VPG completed the acquisition of California-based Diversified Technical Systems, Inc. (“DTS”), a manufacturer of data acquisition systems and sensors for product safety and testing, for a purchase price of $47.2 million. The Company used cash on hand and borrowings under its revolving credit facility to fund the purchase price under the purchase agreement. DTS reports into the Company's Measurement Systems segment. The following table summarizes the final fair values assigned to the assets and liabilities of DTS as of June 1, 2021 (in thousands):
Property and equipment 1,209
Deferred income tax liability (6,215)
Intangible assets:
Acquired technology 13,167
Customer relationships 8,135
Total intangible assets 23,695
Fair value of acquired identifiable assets 31,183
(a) Working capital accounts include accounts receivable, inventory, prepaid expenses, accounts payable, accrued expenses, and accrued payroll.
The Company utilizes certain valuations and studies to determine the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired. The estimated weighted average useful lives for the acquired technology and customer relationships are 15 years. Trade names are treated as indefinite-lived intangible assets. None of the goodwill associated with DTS is deductible for income tax purposes. The Company recorded acquisition costs associated with this transaction of $1.2 million in the second quarter of 2021, which included legal fees, appraisal fees, investments banker fees and insurance costs.
F-15
Note 4 – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The Company has four reporting units to which goodwill is allocated: steel, on-board weighing, DSI, and DTS.
For the steel and on-board weighing goodwill reporting units, the Company performed the qualitative assessment, which included assessment of macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance, and other entity specific events which could impact the reporting unit. Based on this review, it was determined that the fair value of each of those reporting units was in excess of its carrying value and therefore no quantitative impairment test was required.
For the DSI and DTS goodwill reporting units, the Company performed the quantitative impairment test. In estimating the fair value of our DSI and DTS reporting units the Company used the income approach. The income approach to valuation requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions related to future revenues, profitability, working capital requirements and selection of discount rate and long term growth rate. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could have a significant impact on the fair value of the reporting units.
The Company's required goodwill and indefinite-lived asset annual impairment test is completed as of the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter each year. In 2023, the results of the quantitative impairment test for the DSI and DTS reporting units indicated that the fair value of both reporting units exceeded their carrying values, and therefore no impairment was recognized.
Prior to 2022, the Company also had an instrumentation reporting unit. The Company's analysis in 2021 resulted in an impairment for the instrumentation reporting unit, of $1.1 million in goodwill, which represented the remainder of the goodwill balance, and $0.1 million in indefinite-lived intangible trade name.
The change in the carrying value of goodwill by segment is as follows (in thousands):