Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended July 31, 2020April 30, 2021

 

OR

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from _____________ to ______________

 

Commission file number 0-27022

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Virginia54-1237042
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation(I.R.S. Employer
or organization)Identification No.)

 

5290 Concourse Drive
Roanoke, Virginia 24019
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(540) 265-06902650690
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

Trading Symbol

Name of exchange on which registered

Common Stock, no par value

OCC

Nasdaq Global Market

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. (1) Yes ☒    No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒    No ☐

   

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. (See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). (Check one):

 

Large Accelerated Filer ☐     Accelerated Filer ☐     Non-accelerated Filer ☐      Smaller Reporting Company ☒

Emerging Growth Company ☐ 

Large Accelerated Filer  ☐Accelerated Filer  ☐Non-accelerated Filer  ☐Smaller Reporting Company  ☒
Emerging Growth Company  ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes ☐    No ☒

 

As of September 4, 2020, 7,537,087June 7, 2021, 7,536,116 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, no par value, were outstanding.

 

 

 

 

optical cable corporationOPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

 

Form 10-Q Index

 

NineSix Months Ended July 31, 2020April 30, 2021

 

PART I.FINANCIAL INFORMATIONPage
   

PART I.

Item 1.     

Financial Statements (unaudited)FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 
   

Item1.  Financial Statements (unaudited)

 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – July 31, 2020 and October 31, 20192
   
 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – April 30, 2021 and October 31, 2020

2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations – Three Months and NineSix Months Ended July 31,April 30, 2021 and 2020 and 2019

3

   
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity – Three Months and NineSix Months Ended July 31,April 30, 2021 and 2020 and 2019

4

   
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – NineSix Months Ended July 31,April 30, 2021 and 2020 and 2019

5

   
 

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

6

   

Item2. 

ManagementManagement’ss Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

16

15

   

Item4. 

Controls and Procedures

31

29

   

PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

 
   

Item6.  Exhibits

Exhibits32

30

   

SIGNATURES

38

36

 

1


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

 

 

July 31,

 

October 31,

  

April 30,

 

October 31,

 

 

2020

  

2019

  

2021

  

2020

 
Assets      

Current assets:

      

Cash

 $998,662  $537,330  $360,948  $140,839 

Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $531,308 at July 31, 2020 and $99,562 at October 31, 2019

 6,799,541  10,347,597 

Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $529,233 at April 30, 2021 and $524,617 at October 31, 2020

 8,636,744  7,561,334 

Income taxes refundable - current

 50,618  25,004  0  25,003 

Other receivables

 60,467  69,727  3,467,013  23,145 

Inventories

 17,129,461  18,095,627  16,832,611  17,099,767 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  259,173   304,713   365,350   472,516 

Total current assets

 25,297,922  29,379,998  29,662,666  25,322,604 

Property and equipment, net

 9,064,679  10,010,223  8,367,666  8,811,863 

Income taxes refundable - noncurrent

 0  25,003 

Intangible assets, net

 664,561  659,280  658,466  665,731 

Other assets, net

  1,885,924   32,430   1,787,992   1,757,614 

Total assets

 $36,913,086  $40,106,934  $40,476,790  $36,557,812 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

        

Liabilities and ShareholdersEquity

        

Current liabilities:

      

Note payable, SBA PPP loan - current

 $2,469,042  $0  $4,981,400  $1,615,404 

Current installments of long-term debt

 308,979  738,955  292,112  312,109 

Note payable to bank, revolver - current

 0  5,650,000 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 3,421,487  5,459,352  4,398,748  2,861,343 

Accrued compensation and payroll taxes

 1,379,677  1,763,338  1,793,168  1,463,307 

Income taxes payable

  11,843   15,382   17,710   13,986 

Total current liabilities

 7,591,028  13,627,027  11,483,138  6,266,149 
      

Note payable, SBA PPP loan - noncurrent

 2,512,358  0  0  3,365,996 

Note payable, revolver - noncurrent

 4,577,521  0  5,936,677  4,988,660 

Long-term debt, excluding current installments

 4,932,239  5,169,668  4,692,414  4,853,457 

Other noncurrent liabilities

  1,674,301   71,339   1,718,597   1,823,632 

Total liabilities

  21,287,447   18,868,034   23,830,826   21,297,894 

Shareholders’ equity:

      

Preferred stock, no par value, authorized 1,000,000 shares; none issued and outstanding

 0  0  0  0 

Common stock, no par value, authorized 50,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 7,537,087 shares at July 31, 2020 and 7,458,981 shares at October 31, 2019

 13,961,526  13,853,334 

Common stock, no par value, authorized 50,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 7,536,116 shares at April 30, 2021 and 7,537,087 shares at October 31, 2020

 14,144,497  14,002,130 

Retained earnings

  1,664,113   7,385,566   2,501,467   1,257,788 

Total shareholders’ equity

 15,625,639  21,238,900  16,645,964  15,259,918 

Commitments and contingencies

                   

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 $36,913,086  $40,106,934  $40,476,790  $36,557,812 

 

See accompanying condensed notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2


 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

  

Three Months Ended

  

Six Months Ended

 
  

April 30,

  

April 30,

 
  

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

 

Net sales

 $15,741,114  $14,863,428  $27,617,687  $27,750,824 

Cost of goods sold

  10,921,898   10,866,678   20,489,081   21,349,934 

Gross profit

  4,819,216   3,996,750   7,128,606   6,400,890 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

  4,589,592   5,549,501   8,897,516   10,373,625 

Royalty (income) expense, net

  (42,800)  (2,527)  (49,767)  15,031 

Amortization of intangible assets

  11,011   10,176   21,905   20,167 

Income (loss) from operations

  261,413   (1,560,400)  (1,741,048)  (4,007,933)

Other income (expense), net:

                

Interest expense

  (180,980)  (124,786)  (354,963)  (261,473)

Other, net

  3,311,342   1,056   3,313,970   (1,579)

Other income (expense), net

  3,130,362   (123,730)  2,959,007   (263,052)

Income (loss) before income taxes

  3,391,775   (1,684,130)  1,217,959   (4,270,985)

Income tax expense (benefit)

  6,616   5,051   (25,720)  10,084 

Net income (loss)

 $3,385,159  $(1,689,181) $1,243,679  $(4,281,069)

Net income (loss) per share: Basic and diluted

 $0.45  $(0.23) $0.17  $(0.58)

 

See accompanying condensed notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 

Net sales

 $13,639,169  $17,367,068  $41,389,993  $53,074,911 

Cost of goods sold

  10,167,008   12,875,614   31,516,942   39,711,764 

Gross profit

  3,472,161   4,491,454   9,873,051   13,363,147 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

  4,559,970   5,418,438   14,933,595   17,968,897 

Royalty (income) expense, net

  193,062   216   208,093   (1,272)

Amortization of intangible assets

  10,806   9,597   30,973   28,494 

Loss from operations

  (1,291,677)  (936,797)  (5,299,610)  (4,632,972)

Other expense, net:

                

Interest expense

  (135,725)  (135,648)  (397,198)  (381,819)

Other, net

  (1,436)  10   (3,015)  (7,270)

Other expense, net

  (137,161)  (135,638)  (400,213)  (389,089)

Loss before income taxes

  (1,428,838)  (1,072,435)  (5,699,823)  (5,022,061)

Income tax expense (benefit)

  4,992   12,859   15,076   (9,322)

Net loss

 $(1,433,830) $(1,085,294) $(5,714,899) $(5,012,739)

Net loss per share: Basic and diluted

 $(0.20) $(0.15) $(0.78) $(0.68)

3

 

See accompanying condensed notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

3

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

(Unaudited)

  

Three and Nine Months Ended July 31, 2020

 
              

Total

 
  

Common Stock

  

Retained

  

Shareholders’

 
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Earnings

  

Equity

 

Balances at October 31, 2019

  7,458,981  $13,853,334  $7,385,566  $21,238,900 

Adoption of accounting standard ASU 2018-07

     6,554   (6,554)  0 

Share-based compensation, net

  (2,909)  34,356   0   34,356 

Net loss

     0   (2,591,888)  (2,591,888)

Balances at January 31, 2020

  7,456,072  $13,894,244  $4,787,124  $18,681,368 
                 

Share-based compensation, net

     26,677   0   26,677 

Net loss

     0   (1,689,181)  (1,689,181)

Balances at April 30, 2020

  7,456,072  $13,920,921  $3,097,943  $17,018,864 
                 

Share-based compensation, net

  81,015   40,605   0   40,605 

Net loss

     0   (1,433,830)  (1,433,830)

Balances at July 31, 2020

  7,537,087  $13,961,526  $1,664,113  $15,625,639 

  

Six Months Ended April 30, 2021

 
              

Total

 
  

Common Stock

  

Retained

  

Shareholders

 
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Earnings

  

Equity

 

Balances at October 31, 2020

  7,537,087  $14,002,130  $1,257,788  $15,259,918 

Share-based compensation, net

  (971)  40,605   0   40,605 

Net loss

     0   (2,141,480)  (2,141,480)

Balances at January 31, 2021

  7,536,116  $14,042,735  $(883,692) $13,159,043 
                 

Share-based compensation, net

  0   101,762   0   101,762 

Net income

     0   3,385,159   3,385,159 

Balances at April 30, 2021

  7,536,116  $14,144,497  $2,501,467  $16,645,964 

  

Six Months Ended April 30, 2020

 
              

Total

 
  

Common Stock

  

Retained

  

Shareholders

 
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Earnings

  

Equity

 

Balances at October 31, 2019

  7,458,981  $13,853,334  $7,385,566  $21,238,900 

Adoption of accounting standard ASU 2018-07

     6,554   (6,554)  0 

Share-based compensation, net

  (2,909)  34,356   0   34,356 

Net loss

     0   (2,591,888)  (2,591,888)

Balances at January 31, 2020

  7,456,072  $13,894,244  $4,787,124  $18,681,368 
                 

Share-based compensation, net

     26,677   0   26,677 

Net loss

     0   (1,689,181)  (1,689,181)

Balances at April 30, 2020

  7,456,072  $13,920,921  $3,097,943  $17,018,864 

 

See accompanying condensed notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

  

Three and Nine Months Ended July 31, 2019

 
              

Total

 
  

Common Stock

  

Retained

  

Shareholders’

 
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Earnings

  

Equity

 

Balances at October 31, 2018

  7,694,387  $13,816,140  $12,994,697  $26,810,837 

Adoption of accounting standard ASC 606

     0   61,763   61,763 

Share-based compensation, net

  (257,222)  (66,327)  0   (66,327)

Repurchase and retirement of common stock (at cost)

  (258)  0   (1,257)  (1,257)

Net loss

     0   (3,310,020)  (3,310,020)

Balances at January 31, 2019

  7,436,907  $13,749,813  $9,745,183  $23,494,996 
                 

Share-based compensation, net

  23,628   27,169   0   27,169 

Net loss

     0   (617,425)  (617,425)

Balances at April 30, 2019

  7,460,535  $13,776,982  $9,127,758  $22,904,740 
                 

Share-based compensation, net

  (1,461)  37,056   0   37,056 

Repurchase and retirement of common stock (at cost)

  (18)  0   (76)  (76)

Net income

     0   (1,085,294)  (1,085,294)

Balances at July 31, 2019

  7,459,056  $13,814,038  $8,042,388  $21,856,426 

4

 

See accompanying condensed notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

        

Net loss

 $(5,714,899) $(5,012,739)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

        

Depreciation and amortization

  1,082,809   1,294,062 

Bad debt expense

  431,746   56,483 

Share-based compensation expense

  101,638   941,253 

Loss on sale of property and equipment

  10,305   2,058 

(Increase) decrease in:

        

Trade accounts receivable

  3,116,310   2,811,745 

Other receivables

  9,260   26,038 

Inventories

  966,166   (1,337,756)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  45,540   113,565 

Income taxes refundable

  (611)  (726)

Other assets

  (8,180)  21,473 

Increase (decrease) in:

        

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

  (2,470,420)  2,714,909 

Accrued compensation and payroll taxes

  (383,661)  (1,646,435)

Income taxes payable

  (3,539)  (451)

Other noncurrent liabilities

  381,682   (30,803)

Net cash used in operating activities

  (2,435,854)  (47,324)

Cash flows from investing activities:

        

Purchase of and deposits for the purchase of property and equipment

  (94,536)  (483,115)

Investment in intangible assets

  (36,254)  (57,425)

Net cash used in investing activities

  (130,790)  (540,540)

Cash flows from financing activities:

        

Payroll taxes withheld and remitted on share-based payments

  0   (943,355)

Proceeds from note payable to bank, SBA PPP loan

  4,981,400   0 

Proceeds from note payable to bank, revolver

  350,000   2,850,000 

Proceeds from note payable, revolver

  5,530,583   0 

Payments on note payable to bank, revolver

  (6,000,000)  0 

Payments on note payable, revolver

  (953,062)  0 

Principal payments on long-term debt

  (667,405)  (395,249)

Payments for financing costs

  (213,540)  0 

Repurchase of common stock

  0   (1,333)

Net cash provided by financing activities

  3,027,976   1,510,063 

Net increase in cash

  461,332   922,199 

Cash at beginning of period

  537,330   177,413 

Cash at end of period

 $998,662  $1,099,612 

  

Six Months Ended

 
  

April 30,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

        

Net income (loss)

 $1,243,679  $(4,281,069)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:

        

Depreciation and amortization

  640,934   775,343 

Bad debt expense

  4,616   452,060 

Share-based compensation expense

  142,367   61,033 

Loss on sale of property and equipment

  3,167   4,377 

(Increase) decrease in:

        

Trade accounts receivable

  (1,080,026)  2,139,322 

Other receivables

  (3,443,868)  (3,389)

Inventories

  267,156   1,058,475 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  107,166   67,120 

Income taxes refundable

  25,003   0 

Other assets

  (119,134)  0 

Increase (decrease) in:

        

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

  1,538,457   (820,842)

Accrued compensation and payroll taxes

  329,861   (363,032)

Income taxes payable

  3,724   5,950 

Other noncurrent liabilities

  (55,035)  88,418 

Net cash used in operating activities

  (391,933)  (816,234)

Cash flows from investing activities:

        

Purchase of and deposits for the purchase of property and equipment

  (90,295)  (81,494)

Investment in intangible assets

  (14,640)  (22,810)

Net cash used in investing activities

  (104,935)  (104,304)

Cash flows from financing activities:

        

Proceeds from note payable to bank, SBA PPP loan

  0   4,981,400 

Proceeds from note payable to bank, revolver

  0   350,000 

Proceeds from note payable, revolver

  27,446,179   0 

Payments on note payable, revolver

  (26,498,162)  0 

Principal payments on long-term debt

  (181,040)  (592,202)

Payments for financing costs

  (50,000)  (61,181)

Net cash provided by financing activities

  716,977   4,678,017 

Net increase in cash

  220,109   3,757,479 

Cash at beginning of period

  140,839   537,330 

Cash at end of period

 $360,948  $4,294,809 

 

See accompanying condensed notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2020

(Unaudited)

(1)

General

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Optical Cable Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “OCC®”) have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the nine months ended July 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the fiscal year ending October 31,2020 because the following items, among other things, may impact those results: macroeconomic impacts of pandemic diseases (such as disease caused by COVID-19) including related government and private industry mandates in the areas of the world in which we operate, changes in market conditions, seasonality, changes in technology, competitive conditions, timing of certain projects and purchases by key customers, significant variations in sales resulting from high volatility and timing of large sales orders among a limited number of customers in certain markets, ability of management to execute its business plans, continued ability to maintain and/or secure future debt and/or equity financing to adequately finance ongoing operations; as well as other variables, uncertainties, contingencies and risks set forth as risks in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31,2019 (including those set forth in the “Forward-Looking Information” section), or as otherwise set forth in other filings by the Company as variables, contingencies and/or risks possibly affecting future results. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and condensed notes are presented as permitted by Form 10-Q and do not contain certain information included in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and notes. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31,2019.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-02,Leases. The FASB has subsequently issued amendments to the initial guidance under ASU 2017-13, ASU 2018-10, ASU 2018-11, ASU 2018-20 and ASU 2019-01 (collectively, “ASC 842”). ASC 842 requires the recognition of a separate lease liability representing the required lease payments over the lease term and a separate lease asset representing the right to use the underlying asset during the same lease term. Additionally, ASC 842 provides clarification regarding the identification of certain components of contracts that would represent a lease as well as requires additional disclosures in the notes to the financial statements. ASC 842 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company adopted ASC 842 effective November 1, 2019. Upon adoption, the Company recorded right-of-use assets and lease liabilities relating to operating leases of $138,834 and $139,367, respectively. Unamortized deferred rent liability balances were eliminated such that no cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings was required. See also note 7 for additional information and expanded disclosure under the new standard.

In June 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2018-07,Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2018-07”). ASU 2018-07 expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. ASU 2018-07 also clarifies that Topic 718 does not apply to share-based payments used to effectively provide (1) financing to the issuer or (2) awards granted in conjunction with selling goods or services to customers as part of a contract accounted for under Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2018-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company adopted ASU 2018-07 effective November 1, 2019. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's opening balance of retained earnings, results of operations, financial position or liquidity or its related financial statement disclosures.

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2020

(Unaudited)

In June 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2018-08,Clarifying the Scope and the Accounting Guidance for Contributions Received and Contributions Made (“ASU 2018-08”). ASU 2018-08 applies to entities that receive or make contributions, which primarily are not-for-profit entities but also affects business entities that make contributions. In the context of business entities that make contributions, the FASB clarified that a contribution is conditional if the arrangement includes both a barrier for the recipient to be entitled to the assets transferred and a right of return for the assets transferred (or a right of release of the business entity’s obligation to transfer assets). The recognition of contribution expense is deferred for conditional arrangements and is immediate for unconditional arrangements. ASU 2018-08 requires modified prospective transition to arrangements that have not been completed as of the effective date or that are entered into after the effective date, but full retrospective application to each period presented is permitted. ASU 2018-08 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company adopted ASU 2018-08 effective November 1, 2019. The adoption of ASU 2018-08 did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity or its related financial statement disclosures.

(2)

Stock Incentive Plans and Other Share-Based Compensation

As of July 31, 2020, there were approximately 362,000 remaining shares available for grant under the Optical Cable Corporation 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (“2017 Plan”).

Share-based compensation expense for employees, a consultant and non-employee Directors recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2020 was $40,605 and $101,638, respectively, and for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2019 was $42,549 and $941,253, respectively. Share-based compensation expense is entirely related to expense recognized in connection with the vesting of restricted stock awards or other stock awards.

Restricted and Other Stock Awards

The Company has granted, and anticipates granting from time to time, restricted stock awards subject to approval by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Since fiscal year 2004, the Company has exclusively used restricted stock awards for all share-based compensation of employees and consultants, and restricted stock awards or stock awards to non-employee members of the Board of Directors.

During the three months ended July 31, 2020, OCC granted restricted stock awards totaling 58,880 shares to non-employee Directors under the 2017 Plan. The shares are subject to a one-year vesting period and are part of the non-employee Directors’ annual compensation for service on the Board of Directors. The Company recorded expense totaling $35,917 and $95,245, respectively, during the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2020 and recorded expense totaling $35,597 and $89,241, respectively, during the three and nine months ended July 31, 2019 related to the grants to non-employee Directors.

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2020

(Unaudited)

During the three months ended July 31, 2020, the Company also granted a restricted stock award totaling 25,000 shares to a consultant under the 2017 Plan. The shares vest annually in equal amounts over five years beginning January 31, 2022.

Restricted stock award activity during the nine months ended July 31, 2020 consisted of restricted stock grants totaling 83,880 shares and restricted shares forfeited totaling 5,774. OCC restricted stock grants provide the participant with the option to surrender shares to pay for withholding tax obligations resulting from any vesting restricted shares, or to pay cash to the Company or taxing authorities in the amount of the withholding taxes owed on the value of any vesting restricted shares in order to avoid surrendering shares.

As of July 31, 2020, the estimated amount of compensation cost related to unvested equity-based compensation awards in the form of service-based and operational performance-based shares that the Company will recognize over a 2.0 year weighted-average period is approximately $435,000.

(3)

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts for Trade Accounts Receivable

A summary of changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts for trade accounts receivable for the nine months ended July 31, 2020 and 2019 follows:

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Balance at beginning of period

 $99,562  $64,242 

Bad debt expense

  431,746   56,483 

Losses charged to allowance

  0   (25,061)

Balance at end of period

 $531,308  $95,664 

(4)

Inventories

Inventories as of July 31, 2020 and October 31,2019 consist of the following:

  

July 31

  

October 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Finished goods

 $5,111,049  $5,845,973 

Work in process

  3,343,469   3,321,216 

Raw materials

  8,411,730   8,632,230 

Production supplies

  263,213   296,208 

Total

 $17,129,461  $18,095,627 

(5)

Product Warranties

As of July 31, 2020 and October 31,2019, the Company’s accrual for estimated product warranty claims totaled $110,000 and $120,000, respectively, and is included in accounts payable and accrued expenses. Warranty claims expense for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2020 totaled $44,347 and $55,736, respectively. Warranty claims expense for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2019 totaled $69,075 and $225,629, respectively.

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2020

(Unaudited)

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s accrual for product warranties during the nine months ended July 31, 2020 and 2019:

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Balance at beginning of period

 $120,000  $180,000 

Liabilities accrued for warranties issued during the period

  141,033   222,520 

Warranty claims and costs paid during the period

  (65,736)  (205,629)

Changes in liability for pre-existing warranties during the period

  (85,297)  3,109 

Balance at end of period

 $110,000  $200,000 

(6)

Long-term Debt and Notes Payable to Bank

The Company has credit facilities consisting of a real estate term loan, as amended and restated (the “Virginia Real Estate Loan”), a supplemental real estate term loan, as amended and restated (the “North Carolina Real Estate Loan”), a Revolving Credit Master Promissory Note and related agreements (collectively, the “Revolver”) and a Paycheck Protection Program loan (“PPP Loan”) implemented by the United States Small Business Administration (“SBA”).

Both the Virginia Real Estate Loan and the North Carolina Real Estate Loan are with Pinnacle Bank (“Pinnacle”), have a fixed interest rate of 3.95% and are secured by a first lien deed of trust on the Company’s real property.

Long-term debt as of July 31, 2020 and October 31, 2019 consists of the following:

  

July 31,

  

October 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Virginia Real Estate Loan ($6.5 million original principal) payable in monthly installments of $31,812, including interest (at 3.95%), with final payment of $3,644,211 due May 1, 2024

 $4,173,324  $4,580,173 

North Carolina Real Estate Loan ($2.24 million original principal) payable in monthly installments of $10,963, including interest (at 3.95%), with final payment of $1,255,850 due May 1, 2024

  1,067,894   1,328,450 

Total long-term debt

  5,241,218   5,908,623 

Less current installments

  308,979   738,955 

Long-term debt, excluding current installments

 $4,932,239  $5,169,668 

On April 15, 2020, the Company obtained an unsecured PPP Loan through Pinnacle in the amount of $4,981,400. The loan was made through the SBA as part of the PPP under the CARES Act. The interest rate is fixed at 1.00% per year. Under the CARES Act, all or a portion of this loan may be forgiven if certain requirements are met. If the loan is not forgiven, the Company will pay principal and interest payments of $280,335 every month, beginning seven months from the effective date of the PPP Loan. The Company can repay the PPP Loan without any prepayment penalty. All remaining principal and accrued interest is due and payable two years from the effective date of the PPP Loan ( April 15, 2022). As of July 31, 2020, the current portion of the PPP Loan was $2,469,042 and the noncurrent portion was $2,512,358.

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2020

(Unaudited)

On July 24, 2020, OCC terminated its Revolving Credit Note with Pinnacle and, along with its wholly owned subsidiaries, entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) with North Mill Capital LLC (“North Mill”). As part of the refinancing transaction, OCC also entered into a Revolving Credit Master Promissory Note with North Mill dated July 24, 2020 (the “Revolver”) and a Collateral Assignment of Patents and Trademarks (“Collateral Assignment”) dated July 24, 2020 along with certain other supporting ancillary documents.

Under the Loan Agreement, North Mill agreed to provide the Company with one or more advances in an amount up to: (a) 85% of the aggregate outstanding amount of eligible accounts (the “eligible accounts loan value”); plus (b) the lowest of (i) an amount up to 35% of the aggregate value of eligible inventory, (ii) $5,000,000, and (iii) an amount not to exceed 100% of the then outstanding eligible accounts loan value; minus (c) $1,500,000.

The maximum aggregate principal amount subject to the Revolver is $18,000,000. Interest accrues on the daily balance at the per annum rate of 1.5% above the Prime Rate in effect from time to time, but not less than 4.75% (the “Applicable Rate”). In the event of a default, interest may become 6% above the Applicable Rate. As of July 31, 2020, the Revolver accrued interest at the prime lending rate plus 1.5% (resulting in a 4.75% rate at July 31, 2020). The initial term of the Revolver is three years, with a termination date of July 24, 2023. After the initial term and unless otherwise terminated, the loan may be extended in one year periods subject to the agreement of North Mill.

The Revolver is secured by all of the following assets: properties, rights and interests in property of the Company whether now owned or existing, or hereafter acquired or arising, and wherever located; all accounts, equipment, commercial tort claims, general intangibles, chattel paper, inventory, negotiable collateral, investment property, financial assets, letter-of-credit rights, supporting obligations, deposit accounts, money or assets of the Company, which hereafter come into the possession, custody, or control of North Mill; all proceeds and products, whether tangible or intangible, of any of the foregoing, including proceeds of insurance covering any or all of the foregoing; any and all tangible or intangible property resulting from the sale, lease, license or other disposition of any of the foregoing, or any portion thereof or interest therein, and all proceeds thereof; and any other assets of the Company which may be subject to a lien in favor of North Mill as security for the obligations under the Loan Agreement.

Prior to the refinancing of the Revolver with North Mill Capital on July 24, 2020, the Revolving Credit Note with Pinnacle (as amended and modified) provided the Company with a $6.5 million revolving line of credit for its working capital needs. Under the Revolving Credit Note, Pinnacle provided the Company with one or more revolving loans in a collective maximum principal amount of $6.5 million. The Company could borrow, repay, and reborrow at any time or from time to time while the Revolving Credit Note was in effect.

As of July 31, 2020 the Company had $4.6 million of outstanding borrowings on its Revolver and $2.2 million in available credit. As of October 31, 2019, the Company had $5.7 million of outstanding borrowings on its Revolving Credit Note and $850,000 in available credit.

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2020

(Unaudited)

(7)

Leases

The Company elected the optional transition method provided by the FASB in ASU 2018-11,Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, and as a result, has not restated its condensed consolidated financial statements for prior periods presented. The Company has elected the package of practical expedients upon transition which allowed the Company to retain the lease classification for any leases that existed prior to adoption, to not reassess whether any contracts entered into prior to adoption are leases, and to not reassess initial direct costs for any leases that existed prior to adoption.

The Company has an operating lease agreement for approximately 34,000 square feet of office, manufacturing and warehouse space in Plano, Texas (near Dallas). The initial lease term expired November 30, 2019, and was amended shortly thereafter to run through November 30, 2024.

The Company entered into an operating lease agreement in April 2015 for approximately 36,000 square feet of warehouse space in Roanoke, Virginia. The lease term was for twelve months and terminated on April 30, 2016. The Company exercised all four (4) one year options to renew the lease extending the lease term to April 30, 2020. On February 6, 2020 the Company entered into a First Amendment to the lease agreement dated April 25, 2015 extending the term of the lease for an additional thirty-six months, extending its lease termination date until April 30, 2023.

The Company also leases certain office equipment under operating leases with initial 60 month terms.

The Company’s lease contracts may include options to extend or terminate the lease. The Company exercises judgment to determine the term of those leases when such options are present and include such options in the calculation of the lease term when it is reasonably certain that it will exercise those options.

The Company includes contract lease components in its determination of lease payments, while non-lease components of the contracts, such as taxes, insurance, and common area maintenance, are expensed as incurred. At commencement, right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are measured at the present value of future lease payments over the lease term. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on information available at the time of lease commencement to measure the present value of future payments.

Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Short term leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are expensed as incurred. The Company’s short term leases have month-to-month terms.

Operating lease right-of-use assets of $1,349,149 were included in other assets at July 31, 2020. Operating lease liabilities of $327,869 and $1,030,929, respectively, were included in accounts payable and accrued expenses and other noncurrent liabilities at July 31, 2020. Operating lease expense recognized during the three month and nine month periods ended July 31, 2020 totaled $99,327 and $293,756, respectively.

The weighted average remaining lease term was 47.1 months and the weighted average discount rate was 5.1% as of July 31, 2020.

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2020

(Unaudited)

The Company’s future payments due under operating leases reconciled to the lease liability are as follows:

Fiscal Year

  

Future Payments

 

2020   (1)

  $96,681 

2021

   389,398 

2022

   389,807 

2023

   327,071 

2024

   274,132 

Thereafter

   26,370 

Total undiscounted lease payments

   1,503,459 

Present value discount

   (144,661)

Total operating lease liability

  $1,358,798 

(1) Remaining three months of fiscal year 2020.

For the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2020, cash paid for operating lease liabilities totaled $96,681 and $286,131, respectively. For the nine months ended July 31, 2020, right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities totaled $1,462,817.

(8)

Fair Value Measurements

The carrying amounts reported in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of July 31, 2020 and October 31, 2019 for cash, trade accounts receivable, income taxes refundable – current, other receivables, note payable to bank, revolver, note payable, SBA PPP Loan – current and accounts payable and accrued expenses, including accrued compensation and payroll taxes, approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. The carrying values of the Company’s note payable, SBA Loan – noncurrent, note payable, revolver - noncurrent and long-term debt approximate fair value based on similar long-term debt issues available to the Company as of July 31, 2020 and October 31, 2019. Fair value is defined as the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

(9)

Net Loss Per Share

Basic net loss per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net loss available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net loss per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the net loss of the Company.

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2020

(Unaudited)

The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the net loss per share computations for the periods presented:

  

Three months ended

  

Nine months ended

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 

Net loss (numerator)

 $(1,433,830) $(1,085,294) $(5,714,899) $(5,012,739)

Shares (denominator)

  7,352,673   7,319,274   7,354,579   7,409,465 

Basic and diluted net loss per share

 $(0.20) $(0.15) $(0.78) $(0.68)

Weighted average unvested shares for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2020 totaling 173,115 and 125,877, respectively, while issued and outstanding, were not included in the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2020 (because to include such shares would have been antidilutive, or in other words, to do so would have reduced the net loss per share for those periods).

Weighted average unvested shares for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2019 totaling 141,257 and 124,242, respectively, while issued and outstanding, were not included in the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2019 (because to include such shares would have been antidilutive, or in other words, to do so would have reduced the net loss per share for those periods).

(10)

Segment Information and Business and Credit Concentrations

The Company provides credit, in the normal course of business, to various commercial enterprises, governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations. Concentration of credit risk with respect to trade receivables is normally limited due to the Company’s large number of customers. The Company also manages exposure to credit risk through credit approvals, credit limits and monitoring procedures. Management believes that credit risks as of July 31, 2020 have been adequately provided for in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Six Months Ended April 30, 2021

(Unaudited)

(1)

General

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Optical Cable Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “OCC®”) have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10‑Q and Regulation S‑X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the six months ended April 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the fiscal year ending October 31,2021 because the following items, among other things, may impact those results: impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic including (but not limited to) related government and private industry mandates in the areas of the world in which we operate, changes in market conditions, seasonality, changes in technology, competitive conditions, timing of certain projects and purchases by key customers, significant variations in sales resulting from high volatility and timing of large sales orders among a limited number of customers in certain markets, ability of management to execute its business plans, continued ability to maintain and/or secure future debt and/or equity financing to adequately finance ongoing operations; as well as other variables, uncertainties, contingencies and risks set forth as risks in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended October 31,2020 (including those set forth in the “Forward-Looking Information” section), or as otherwise set forth in other filings by the Company as variables, contingencies and/or risks possibly affecting future results. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and condensed notes are presented as permitted by Form 10‑Q and do not contain certain information included in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and notes. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended October 31,2020.

(2)

Stock Incentive Plans and Other ShareBased Compensation

As of April 30, 2021, there were approximately 363,000 remaining shares available for grant under the Optical Cable Corporation 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (“2017 Plan”).

Share-based compensation expense for employees, a consultant and non-employee Directors recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months and six months ended April 30, 2021 was $101,762 and $142,367, respectively, and for the three months and six months ended April 30, 2020 was $26,677 and $61,033, respectively. Share-based compensation expense is entirely related to expense recognized in connection with the vesting of restricted stock awards or other stock awards. No restricted stock awards have been granted to employees since fiscal year 2018.

Restricted and Other Stock Awards

The Company has granted, and anticipates granting from time to time, restricted stock awards subject to approval by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Since fiscal year 2004, the Company has exclusively used restricted stock awards for all share-based compensation of employees and consultants, and restricted stock awards or stock awards to non-employee members of the Board of Directors.

Restricted stock award activity during the six months ended April 30, 2021 consisted of restricted stock forfeited totaling 971 shares. OCC restricted stock grants provide the participant with the option to surrender shares to pay for withholding tax obligations resulting from any vesting restricted shares, or to pay cash to the Company or taxing authorities in the amount of the withholding taxes owed on the value of any vesting restricted shares in order to avoid surrendering shares.

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Six Months Ended April 30, 2021

(Unaudited)

As of April 30, 2021, the estimated amount of compensation cost related to unvested equity-based compensation awards in the form of service-based and operational performance-based shares that the Company will recognize over a 1.8 year weighted-average period is approximately $249,000.

(3)

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts for Trade Accounts Receivable

A summary of changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts for trade accounts receivable for the six months ended April 30, 2021 and 2020 follows:

  

Six Months Ended

 
  

April 30,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Balance at beginning of period

 $524,617  $99,562 

Bad debt expense

  4,616   452,060 

Balance at end of period

 $529,233  $551,622 

(4)

Inventories

Inventories as of April 30, 2021 and October 31,2020 consist of the following:

  

April 30,

  

October 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Finished goods

 $5,102,624  $4,663,978 

Work in process

  3,754,777   4,165,289 

Raw materials

  7,718,396   8,010,794 

Production supplies

  256,814   259,706 

Total

 $16,832,611  $17,099,767 

(5)

Product Warranties

As of April 30, 2021 and October 31,2020, the Company’s accrual for estimated product warranty claims totaled $95,000 and $85,000, respectively, and is included in accounts payable and accrued expenses. Warranty claims expense for the three months and six months ended April 30, 2021 totaled $37,923 and $56,271, respectively. Warranty claims expense for the three months and six months ended April 30, 2020 totaled $48,646 and $11,389, respectively.

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Six Months Ended April 30, 2021

(Unaudited)

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s accrual for product warranties during the six months ended April 30, 2021 and 2020:

  

Six Months Ended

 
  

April 30,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Balance at beginning of period

 $85,000  $120,000 

Liabilities accrued for warranties issued during the period

  77,122   92,769 

Warranty claims and costs paid during the period

  (46,271)  (46,389)

Changes in liability for pre-existing warranties during the period

  (20,851)  (81,380)

Balance at end of period

 $95,000  $85,000 

(6)

Long-term Debt and Notes Payable to Bank

The Company has credit facilities consisting of a real estate term loan, as amended and restated (the “Virginia Real Estate Loan”), a supplemental real estate term loan, as amended and restated (the “North Carolina Real Estate Loan”), a Revolving Credit Master Promissory Note and related agreements (collectively, the “Revolver”) and a Paycheck Protection Program loan (“PPP Loan”) implemented by the United States Small Business Administration (“SBA”).

Both the Virginia Real Estate Loan and the North Carolina Real Estate Loan are with Pinnacle Bank (“Pinnacle”), have a fixed interest rate of 3.95% and are secured by a first lien deed of trust on the Company’s real property.

Long-term debt as of April 30, 2021 and October 31, 2020 consists of the following:

  

April 30,

  

October 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Virginia Real Estate Loan ($6.5 million original principal) payable in monthly installments of $31,812, including interest (at 3.95%), with final payment of $3,644,211 due May 1, 2024

 $3,991,745  $4,119,850 

North Carolina Real Estate Loan ($2.24 million original principal) payable in monthly installments of $10,963, including interest (at 3.95%), with final payment of $1,255,850 due May 1, 2024

  992,781   1,045,716 

Total long-term debt

  4,984,526   5,165,566 

Less current installments

  292,112   312,109 

Long-term debt, excluding current installments

 $4,692,414  $4,853,457 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Six Months Ended April 30, 2021

(Unaudited)

In fiscal year 2020, the Company obtained an unsecured PPP Loan through Pinnacle in the amount of $4,981,400. The loan was made through the SBA as part of the PPP under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). The interest rate is fixed at 1.00% per year, and the Company has accrued but unpaid interest of $51,998 on the PPP Loan as of April 30, 2021, which is included in accounts payable and accrued expenses. Under the CARES Act and The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020, all or a portion of this loan (principal and interest) may be forgiven if certain requirements are met. The Company believes it has met these requirements and applied for forgiveness of the entire balance of the loan (including accrued interest), submitting an application to Pinnacle on February 22, 2021. If the loan is not forgiven, the Company will pay principal and interest payments of approximately $560,000 every month, beginning ten months following the coverage period which ended September 29, 2020. The Company can repay the PPP Loan without any prepayment penalty. All remaining principal and accrued interest is due and payable two years from the effective date of the PPP Loan ( April 15, 2022). As of April 30, 2021, the full amount of the PPP loan is reflected as a current liability.

The Revolver with SLR Business Credit, formerly known as North Mill Capital LLC, (“SLR”) provides the Company with one or more advances in an amount up to: (a) 85% of the aggregate outstanding amount of eligible accounts (the “eligible accounts loan value”); plus (b) the lowest of (i) an amount up to 35% of the aggregate value of eligible inventory, (ii) $5,000,000, and (iii) an amount not to exceed 100% of the then outstanding eligible accounts loan value; minus (c) $1,500,000.

The maximum aggregate principal amount subject to the Revolver is $18,000,000. Interest accrues on the daily balance at the per annum rate of 1.5% above the Prime Rate in effect from time to time, but not less than 4.75% (the “Applicable Rate”). In the event of a default, interest may become 6.0% above the Applicable Rate. As of April 30, 2021, the Revolver accrued interest at the prime lending rate plus 1.5% (resulting in a 4.75% rate at April 30, 2021). The initial term of the Revolver is three years, with a termination date of July 24, 2023. After the initial term and unless otherwise terminated, the loan may be extended in one year periods subject to the agreement of SLR.

The Revolver is secured by all of the following assets: properties, rights and interests in property of the Company whether now owned or existing, or hereafter acquired or arising, and wherever located; all accounts, equipment, commercial tort claims, general intangibles, chattel paper, inventory, negotiable collateral, investment property, financial assets, letter-of-credit rights, supporting obligations, deposit accounts, money or assets of the Company, which hereafter come into the possession, custody, or control of SLR; all proceeds and products, whether tangible or intangible, of any of the foregoing, including proceeds of insurance covering any or all of the foregoing; any and all tangible or intangible property resulting from the sale, lease, license or other disposition of any of the foregoing, or any portion thereof or interest therein, and all proceeds thereof; and any other assets of the Company which may be subject to a lien in favor of SLR as security for the obligations under the Loan Agreement.

As of April 30, 2021 the Company had $5.9 million of outstanding borrowings on its Revolver and $2.5 million in available credit. As of October 31, 2020, the Company had $5.0 million of outstanding borrowings on its Revolver and $1.6 million in available credit.

(7)

Leases

The Company has an operating lease agreement for approximately 34,000 square feet of office, manufacturing and warehouse space in Plano, Texas (near Dallas). The lease term expires on November 30, 2024.

The Company has an operating lease agreement for approximately 36,000 square feet of warehouse space in Roanoke, Virginia. The lease term expires on April 30, 2023.

The Company also leases certain office equipment under operating leases with initial 60 month terms.

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Six Months Ended April 30, 2021

(Unaudited)

The Company’s lease contracts may include options to extend or terminate the lease. The Company exercises judgment to determine the term of those leases when such options are present and include such options in the calculation of the lease term when it is reasonably certain that it will exercise those options.

The Company includes contract lease components in its determination of lease payments, while non-lease components of the contracts, such as taxes, insurance, and common area maintenance, are expensed as incurred. At commencement, right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are measured at the present value of future lease payments over the lease term. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on information available at the time of lease commencement to measure the present value of future payments.

Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Short term leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are expensed as incurred. The Company’s short term leases have month-to-month terms.

Operating lease right-of-use assets of $1,204,711 and $1,265,194 were included in other assets at April 30, 2021 and October 31, 2020, respectively. Operating lease liabilities of $370,951 and $926,034, respectively, were included in accounts payable and accrued expenses and other noncurrent liabilities at April 30, 2021. Operating lease liabilities of $332,329 and $946,653, respectively, were included in accounts payable and accrued expenses and other noncurrent liabilities at October 31, 2020.

Operating lease expense recognized during the three months and six months ended April 30, 2021 totaled $100,203 and $200,568, respectively. Operating lease expense recognized during the three months and six months ended April 30, 2020 totaled $98,558 and $194,429, respectively.

The weighted average remaining lease term was 40.7 months and the weighted average discount rate was 5.0% as of April 30, 2021.

The Company’s future payments due under operating leases reconciled to the lease liability are as follows:

Fiscal Year

 

Future Payments

 
2021  (1) $212,364 

2022

  432,485 

2023

  382,716 

2024

  331,438 

Thereafter

  55,023 

Total undiscounted lease payments

  1,414,026 

Present value discount

  (117,041)

Total operating lease liability

 $1,296,985 

(1) Remaining six months of fiscal year 2021

For the three months and six months ended April 30, 2021, cash paid for operating lease liabilities totaled $97,674 and $194,974, respectively. For the three months and six months ended April 30, 2020, cash paid for operating lease liabilities totaled $95,251 and $189,450, respectively.

For the six months ended April 30, 2021 and 2020, right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities totaled $208,390 and $1,462,817, respectively.

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Six Months Ended April 30, 2021

(Unaudited)

(8)

Fair Value Measurements

The carrying amounts reported in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of April 30, 2021 and October 31, 2020 for cash, trade accounts receivable, income taxes refundable – current, other receivables, note payable, SBA PPP Loan – current, and accounts payable and accrued expenses, including accrued compensation and payroll taxes, approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. The carrying values of the Company’s note payable, revolver – noncurrent, and long-term debt approximate fair value based on similar long-term debt issues available to the Company as of April 30, 2021 and October 31, 2020. Fair value is defined as the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

(9)

Net Income (Loss) Per Share

Basic net income (loss) per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income (loss) per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the net income (loss) of the Company.

The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the net income (loss) per share computations for the periods presented:

  

Three months ended

  

Six months ended

 
  

April 30,

  

April 30,

 
  

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

 

Net income (loss) (numerator)

 $3,385,159  $(1,689,181) $1,243,679  $(4,281,069)

Shares (denominator)

  7,536,116   7,350,427   7,536,121   7,351,897 

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share

 $0.45  $(0.23) $0.17  $(0.58)

Weighted average unvested shares for the three months and six months ended April 30, 2020 totaling 105,645, while issued and outstanding, were not included in the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share for the three months and six months ended April 30, 2020 (because to include such shares would have been antidilutive, or in other words, to do so would have reduced the net loss per share for those periods).

(10)

Segment Information and nine months ended July 31, 2020, 16.1%Business and 13.7%Credit Concentrations

The Company provides credit, in the normal course of business, to various commercial enterprises, governmental entities and not‑for‑profit organizations. Concentration of credit risk with respect to trade receivables is normally limited due to the Company’s large number of customers. The Company also manages exposure to credit risk through credit approvals, credit limits and monitoring procedures. Management believes that credit risks as of April 30, 2021 have been adequately provided for in the condensed consolidated financial statements. The Company includes all entities under common ownership for the purpose of calculating business concentrations.

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Six Months Ended April 30, 2021

(Unaudited)

For the three months and six months ended April 30, 2021, 16.6% and 19.5% of consolidated net sales were attributable to one national distributor customer. For the three months and six months ended April 30, 2020, 10.6% and 12.5% of consolidated net sales was attributable to a national distributor customer.

The Company has a single reportable segment for purposes of segment reporting.

(three11 months ended July 31, 2019, 15.1% of consolidated net sales was attributable to 1 customer. For the nine months ended July 31, 2019, 14.5% and 14.1% of consolidated net sales were attributable to two customers.)

Revenue Recognition

The Company has a single reportable segment for purposes of segment reporting.

(11)

Revenue Recognition

Revenues consist of product sales that are recognized at a specific point in time under the core principle of recognizing revenue when control transfers to the customer.  The Company considers customer purchase orders, governed by master sales agreements or the Company’s standard terms and conditions, to be the contract with the customer.  For each contract, the promise to transfer the control of the products, each of which is individually distinct, is considered to be the identified performance obligation. The Company evaluates each customer’s credit risk when determining whether to accept a contract.

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2020

(Unaudited)

In determining transaction prices, the Company evaluates whether fixed order prices are subject to adjustment to determine the net consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled. Contracts do not include financing components, as payment terms are generally due 30 to 90 days after shipment. Taxes assessed by governmental authorities and collected from the customer including, but not limited to, sales and use taxes and value-added taxes, are not included in the transaction price and are not included in net sales.  

The Company recognizes revenue at the point in time when products are shipped or delivered from its manufacturing facility to its customer, in accordance with the agreed upon shipping terms.  Since the Company typically invoices the customer at the same time that performance obligations are satisfied, no contract assets are recognized. The Company’s contract liability represents advance consideration received from customers prior to transfer of the product.  This liability was $110,937 as of July 31, 2020 and $19,850 as of October 31, 2019.  

Sales to certain customers are made pursuant to agreements that provide price adjustments and limited return rights with respect to the Company’s products.  The Company maintains a reserve for estimated future price adjustment claims, rebates and returns as a refund liability. The Company’s refund liability was $118,675 as of July 31, 2020 and $273,512 as of October 31, 2019.

Revenues consist of product sales that are recognized at a specific point in time under the core principle of recognizing revenue when control transfers to the customer.  The Company considers customer purchase orders, governed by master sales agreements or the Company’s standard terms and conditions, to be the contract with the customer.  For each contract, the promise to transfer the control of the products, each of which is individually distinct, is considered to be the identified performance obligation. The Company evaluates each customer’s credit risk when determining whether to accept a contract.

In determining transaction prices, the Company evaluates whether fixed order prices are subject to adjustment to determine the net consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled. Contracts do not include financing components, as payment terms are generally due 30 to 90 days after shipment. Taxes assessed by governmental authorities and collected from the customer including, but not limited to, sales and use taxes and value-added taxes, are not included in the transaction price and are not included in net sales.  

The Company recognizes revenue at the point in time when products are shipped or delivered from its manufacturing facility to its customer, in accordance with the agreed upon shipping terms.  Since the Company typically invoices the customer at the same time that performance obligations are satisfied, no contract assets are recognized. The Company’s contract liability represents advance consideration received from customers prior to transfer of the product.  This liability was $64,138 as of April 30, 2021 and $63,283 as of October 31, 2020.  

Sales to certain customers are made pursuant to agreements that provide price adjustments and limited return rights with respect to the Company’s products.  The Company maintains a reserve for estimated future price adjustment claims, rebates and returns as a refund liability. The Company’s refund liability was $110,110 as of April 30, 2021 and $119,989 as of October 31, 2020.  

 

The Company offers standard product warranty coverage which provides assurance that its products will conform to contractually agreed-upon specifications for a limited period from the date of shipment. Separately-priced warranty coverage is not offered. The warranty claim is generally limited to a credit equal to the purchase price or a promise to repair or replace the product for a specified period of time at no additional charge.   

 

The Company accounts for shipping and handling activities related to contracts with customers as a cost to fulfill its promise to transfer control of the related product.  Shipping and handling costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

The Company incurs sales commissions to acquire customer contracts that are directly attributable to the contracts.  The commissions are expensed as selling expenses during the period that the related products are transferred to customers.

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Six Months Ended April 30, 2021

(Unaudited)

Disaggregation of Revenue

 

The following table presents net sales attributable to the United States and all other countries in total for the three months and ninesix months ended JulyApril 30, 2021 and 2020:

  

Three months ended

  

Six months ended

 
  

April 30,

  

April 30,

 
  

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

 

United States

 $12,381,735  $11,857,559  $22,085,345  $22,345,906 

Outside the United States

  3,359,379   3,005,869   5,532,342   5,404,918 

Total net sales

 $15,741,114  $14,863,428  $27,617,687  $27,750,824 

(12)

Employee Retention Tax Credit

The Employee Retention Tax Credit (“ERTC”), created in the March 2020 CARES Act and then subsequently amended by the Consolidated Appropriation Act (“CAA”) of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) of 2021, is a refundable payroll credit for qualifying businesses keeping employees on their payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Under CAA and ARPA amendments, employers can claim a refundable tax credit against the employer share of social security tax equal to 70% of the qualified wages (including certain health care expenses) paid to employees after December 31, 2020 andthrough 2019:December 31, 2021.  Qualified wages are limited to $10,000 per employee per calendar quarter in 2021 so the maximum ERTC available is $7,000 per employee per calendar quarter. 

 

  

Three months ended

  

Nine months ended

 
  

July 31

  

July 31

 
  

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 

United States

 $11,086,545  $14,421,221  $33,432,451  $43,460,603 

Outside the United States

  2,552,624   2,945,847   7,957,542   9,614,308 

Total net sales

 $13,639,169  $17,367,068  $41,389,993  $53,074,911 

OCC is an eligible small employer under the gross receipts decline test when comparing the 14first

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes2021 to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Nine Months Endedthe same quarter in calendar year July 31, 20202019,

(Unaudited)

which qualifies the company to claim ERTC in both the first and second calendar quarters of 2021 under the amended ERTC program. The Company qualified for a refundable payroll tax credit totaling $3,375,815 which is included in other receivables on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as of April 30, 2021 and in other income on the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three and six months ended April 30, 2021.

 

 

(1213)

Contingencies

 

From time to time, the Company is involved in various claims, legal actions and regulatory reviews arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on businesses and individuals in the United States and globally. Actions taken by governments and private industry to limit the spread of the disease have resulted in an unprecedented disruption of normal activities as businesses have been forced to shut down or operate on a limited basis. The Company is obligated and continues to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic because the Company’s workforce is classified a “Defense Industrial Base Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce” under guidelines from the U.S. Department of Defense and an “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce” under guidelines by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

 

While continuing

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Notes to operate, the Company has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic: revenues in its markets, production volumes and operations and access to capital markets have all been negatively impacted. The Company also experienced some minor disruptions in its supply chain as well as delays in cash receipts from customers.Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Six Months Ended April 30, 2021

(Unaudited)

The Company made a number of changes to business operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including: severely limiting business travel and face-to-face meetings, having a portion of its non-manufacturing employees work remotely, and implementing strict social distancing, symptom self-assessments and mask protocols within its facilities.

 

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will affect the Company in the future will depend on ongoing developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be reasonably predicted, including, but not limited to, the duration and severity of the outbreak, the timing and extent of the easing of restrictions on businesses and individuals, the timing of recovery in certain of the Company’s markets, the potential for a resurgence of the virus, as well as a variety of other unknowable factors. The longer the various impacts of COVID-19 persist, the greater the potential negative financial effects on the Company.

 

 

(1314)

New Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

 

In December 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”), which is intended to simplify various aspects related to accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. ASU 2019-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2019-12 is not expected to have a material impact on itsthe Company’s results of operations, financial position andor liquidity andor its related financial statement disclosures.

 

There are no other new accounting standards issued, but not yet adopted by the Company, which are expected to materially impact the Company’s financial position, operating results or financial statement disclosures.

 

 

Item 2. Management’sManagements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Forward-Looking Information

 

This Form 10-Q may contain certain forward-looking information within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The forward-looking information may include, among other information, (i) statements concerning our outlook for the future, (ii) statements of belief, anticipation or expectation, (iii) future plans, strategies or anticipated events, and (iv) similar information and statements concerning matters that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown variables, uncertainties, contingencies and risks that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from our expectations. Such known and unknown variables, uncertainties, contingencies and risks (collectively, “factors”) may also adversely affect Optical Cable Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “OCC®“OCC®”), the Company’s future results of operations and future financial condition, and/or the future equity value of the Company. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences from our expectations or that could adversely affect the Company include, but are not limited to: the level of sales to key customers, including distributors; timing of certain projects and purchases by key customers; the economic conditions affecting network service providers; corporate and/or government spending on information technology; actions by competitors; fluctuations in the price of raw materials (including optical fiber, copper, gold and other precious metals, plastics and other materials); fluctuations in transportation costs; our dependence on customized equipment for the manufacture of certain of our products in certain production facilities; our ability to protect our proprietary manufacturing technology; market conditions influencing prices or pricing in one or more of the markets in which we participate, including the impact of increased competition; our dependence on a limited number of suppliers for certain product components; the loss of or conflict with one or more key suppliers or customers; an adverse outcome in any litigation, claims and other actions, and potential litigation, claims and other actions against us; an adverse outcome in any regulatory reviews and audits and potential regulatory reviews and audits; adverse changes in state tax laws and/or positions taken by state taxing authorities affecting us; technological changes and introductions of new competing products; changes in end-user preferences for competing technologies relative to our product offering; economic conditions that affect the telecommunications sector, the data communications sector, certain technology sectors and/or certain industry market sectors (for example, mining, oil & gas, military, and wireless carrier industry market sectors); economic conditions that affect U.S.-based manufacturers; economic conditions or changes in relative currency strengths (for example, the strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to certain foreign currencies) and import and/or export tariffs imposed by the U.S. and other countries that affect certain geographic markets, industry market sector, and/or the economy as a whole; changes in demand for our products from certain competitors for which we provide private label connectivity products; changes in the mix of products sold during any given period (due to, among other things, seasonality or varying strength or weaknesses in particular markets in which we participate) which may impact gross profits and gross profit margins or net sales; variations in orders and production volumes of hybrid cables (fiber and copper) with high copper content, which tend to have lower gross profit margins; significant variations in sales resulting fromfrom: (i) high volatility within various geographic markets, within targeted markets and industries, for certain types of products, and/or with certain customers (whether related to the market generally or to specific customers’ business in particular), (ii) timing of large sales orders, and (iii) high sales concentration among a limited number of customers in certain markets, particularly the wireless carrier market; terrorist attacks or acts of war, any current or potential future military conflicts, and acts of civil unrest; changes in the level of military spending or other spending by the United States government, including, but not limited to reductions in government spending due to automatic budget cuts or sequestration; ability to recruit and retain key personnel; poor labor relations; increasing labor costs; the impact of cybersecurity risks and incidents and the related actual or potential costs and consequences of such risks and incidents, including costs to limit such risks; the impact of data privacy laws and the General Data Protection Regulation and the related actual or potential costs and consequences; the impact of changes in accounting policies and related costs of compliance, including changes by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”), the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), and/or the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”); our ability to continue to successfully comply with, and the cost of compliance with, the provisions of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or any revisions to that act which apply to us; the impact of changes and potential changes in federal laws and regulations adversely affecting our business and/or which result in increases in our direct and indirect costs, including our direct and indirect costs of compliance with such laws and regulations; rising healthcare costs; the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and any revisions to those acts that apply to us and the related legislation and regulation associated with those acts, which directly or indirectly result in increases to our costs; the impact of changes in state or federal tax laws and regulations increasing our costs and/or impacting the net return to investors owning our shares; any changes in the status of our compliance with covenants with our lenders; our continued ability to maintain and/or secure future debt financing and/or equity financing to adequately finance our ongoing operations; impact of failing to receive forgiveness of all or substantially all of the principal balance of the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Payroll Protection Program Loan we received in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of future consolidation among competitors and/or among customers adversely affecting our position with our customers and/or our market position; actions by customers adversely affecting us in reaction to the expansion of our product offering in any manner, including, but not limited to, by offering products that compete with our customers, and/or by entering into alliances with, making investments in or with, and/or acquiring parties that compete with and/or have conflicts with our customers; voluntary or involuntary delisting of the Company’s common stock from any exchange on which it is traded; the deregistration by the Company from SEC reporting requirements as a result of the small number of holders of the Company’s common stock; adverse reactions by customers, vendors or other service providers to unsolicited proposals regarding the ownership or management of the Company; the additional costs of considering, responding to and possibly defending our position on unsolicited proposals regarding the ownership or management of the Company; impact of weather, natural disasters and/or epidemic or pandemic diseases (such as disease caused by COVID-19) in the areas of the world in which we operate, market our products and/or acquire raw materials; an increase in the number of shares of the Company’s common stock issued and outstanding; economic downturns generally and/or in one or more of the markets in which we operate; changes in market demand, exchange rates, productivity, market dynamics, market confidence, macroeconomic and/or other economic conditions in the areas of the world in which we operate and market our products; and our success in managing the risks involved in the foregoing.

 

 

We caution readers that the foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. Furthermore, we incorporate by reference those factors included in current reports on Form 8-K,8‑K, and/or in our other filings.

 

Dollar amounts presented in the following discussion have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand, except in the case of amounts less than one million and except in the case of the table set forth in the “Results of Operations” section, the amounts in which both cases have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

 

Overview of COVID-19 Effects

 

Our results of operations are affected by economic conditions, including macroeconomic conditions and levels of business and consumer confidence. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant negative impact on businesses and individuals in the United States and globally.globally—including OCC. Actions taken by governments and private industry to limit the spread of the disease have resulted in an unprecedented disruption of normal activities as businesses have beenwere forced to shut down or operate on a limited basis. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the level of volatility and uncertainty globally and has created economic disruption.

 

OCC continuesWe were obligated to continue to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic because our workforce is classified a “Defense Industrial Base Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce” under guidelines from the U.S. Department of Defense and an “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce” under guidelines by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

 

While continuing to operate, we have beenOCC’s sales, production volumes and many costs were significantly and negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic: revenues in our markets, production volumes and operations, and access to capital have all been negatively impacted. OCC also experienced some minor disruptions in its supply chain as well as delays in cash receipts from customers.pandemic.

 

As of July 31, 2020, our facilities continue to operate at reduced production levels with personnel levels similar to those prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

OCC made a number of changes to business operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic including: severely limiting business travel and face-to-face meetings, having a portion of its non-manufacturing employees work remotely, and implementing strict social distancing, symptom self-assessments and mask protocols within its facilities. We are following or exceeding all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and public officials’ guidelines. We continue to take precautionary measures, make contingency plans and improve our response to the developing situation. We havebegan, OCC assembled a team charged with overseeing our efforts to ensure the health and safety of all employees while continuing to supply product to our customers. That team constantly monitorshas monitored and continues to monitor the latest CDC, Federal, state and other regulatory guidance, works to secure personal protective equipment, finds new ways to help mitigate risk, and identifies opportunities for us to meet or exceed recommendations.health and safety guidelines and recommended protocols.

As a result of the foregoing, OCC made a number of changes to business operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic including, but not limited to: limiting business travel and face-to-face meetings, having a portion of our non-manufacturing employees work remotely, and implementing strict social distancing, symptom self-assessments, and sanitation and mask protocols within its facilities.

We believe we have followed and are continuing to follow or exceed all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and public officials’ guidelines as such guidelines have changed from time to time during the pandemic.

As vaccination rates have increased and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have begun to recede, we have begun to adjust our precautionary measures, as appropriate. We have modified our protocols with respect to certain travel and meeting restrictions, while maintaining appropriate social distancing, symptom self-assessments, sanitation, and mask protocols. We have encouraged all of our employees to be vaccinated, but have not implemented a vaccination mandate at this time.

 

We have implemented preventative or protective actions at our facilities, our corporate headquarters and with field sales personnel. In orderbegun to mitigate the spreadsee positive indicators of the virus, we have instructed our employees to practice social distancing—both at OCC and away from OCC. Efforts for social distancing include working from home, where possible, revising our production processes to allow for compliance with our social distancing efforts, suspending or limiting air and other travel and enabling technologies to allow employees to effectively perform their functions remotely. Face masks have been distributed to employees across allfuture strengthening in many of our facilitiesmarkets particularly during the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, with increasing sales and handwashing and sanitizingproduction volumes. We are being encouraged by providing sufficient supplies forhopeful that purpose. Disinfecting supplies are being provided for high-touch items and areas across work facilities.we will continue to benefit from improvement in our markets during the second half of fiscal year 2021.

 

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will affect OCC in the future will depend on ongoing developments, which are highlystill uncertain, and cannot be reasonably predicted, including, but not limited to, the duration and severity of the outbreak, the timing and extent of the easing of restrictions on businesses and individuals, the timing of recovery in certain of OCC’s markets, the potential for aany resurgence of the virus, the successful distribution and administration of any current or future vaccines and boosters, as well as a variety of other unknowable factors. The longer COVID-19 persists, the greater the potential negative financial effects on OCC.

Since we cannot predict the duration or scope of the pandemic, we cannot fully anticipate or reasonably estimate all the ways in which the current global health crisis and financial market conditions could adversely impact our business in the future.

Net sales for our fourth quarter will likely be negatively impacted and this trend could continue until the pandemic subsides and macroeconomics, particularly in the United States, return to normal. At this time, it is uncertain how long the pandemic and its impact on our net sales will continue and, as a result, we may see additional impacts into fiscal year 2021.  As the impact of COVID-19 evolves, we will continue to evaluate our financial position and liquidity needs in light of future developments.

 

Overview of Optical Cable Corporation

 

Optical Cable Corporation (or OCC®OCC®) is a leading manufacturer of a broad range of fiber optic and copper data communication cabling and connectivity solutions primarily for the enterprise market and various harsh environment and specialty markets (collectively, the non-carrier markets), and also the wireless carrier market, offering integrated suites of high quality products which operate as a system solution or seamlessly integrate with other providers’ offerings. Our product offerings include designs for uses ranging from enterprise network, data center, residential, campus and Passive Optical LAN (“POL”) installations to customized products for specialty applications and harsh environments, including military, industrial, mining, petrochemical and broadcast applications, and for the wireless carrier market. Our products include fiber optic and copper cabling, hybrid cabling (which includes fiber optic and copper elements in a single cable), fiber optic and copper connectors, specialty fiber optic, copper and hybrid connectors, fiber optic and copper patch cords, pre-terminated fiber optic and copper cable assemblies, racks, cabinets, datacom enclosures, patch panels, face plates, multimedia boxes, fiber optic reels and accessories and other cable and connectivity management accessories, and are designed to meet the most demanding needs of end-users, delivering a high degree of reliability and outstanding performance characteristics.

 

 

OCC®OCC® is internationally recognized for pioneering the design and production of fiber optic cables for the most demanding military field applications, as well as of fiber optic cables suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, and creating a broad product offering built on the evolution of these fundamental technologies. OCC is also internationally recognized for pioneering the development of innovative copper connectivity technology and designs used to meet industry copper connectivity data communications standards.

 

Founded in 1983, Optical Cable Corporation is headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia with offices, manufacturing and warehouse facilities located in Roanoke, Virginia, near Asheville, North Carolina, and near Dallas, Texas. We primarily manufacture our fiber optic cables at our Roanoke facility which is ISO 9001:2015 registered and MIL-STD-790G certified, primarily manufacture our enterprise connectivity products at our Asheville facility which is ISO 9001:2015 registered, and primarily manufacture our harsh environment and specialty connectivity products at our Dallas facility which is ISO 9001:2015 registered and MIL-STD-790G certified.

 

OCC designs, develops and manufactures fiber optic and hybrid cables for a broad range of enterprise, harsh environment, wireless carrier and other specialty markets and applications. We refer to these products as our fiber optic cable offering. OCC designs, develops and manufactures fiber and copper connectivity products for the enterprise market, including a broad range of enterprise and residential applications. We refer to these products as our enterprise connectivity product offering. OCC designs, develops and manufactures a broad range of specialty fiber optic connectors and connectivity solutions principally for use in military, harsh environment and other specialty applications. We refer to these products as our harsh environment and specialty connectivity product offering.

 

We market and sell the products manufactured at our Dallas facility through our wholly owned subsidiary Applied Optical Systems, Inc. (“AOS”) under the names Optical Cable Corporation and OCC®OCC® by the efforts of our integrated OCC sales team.

 

The OCC team seeks to provide top-tier communication solutions by bundling all of our fiber optic and copper data communication product offerings into systems that are best suited for individual data communication needs and application requirements of our customers and the end-users of our systems.

 

OCC’s wholly owned subsidiary Centric Solutions LLC (“Centric Solutions”) provides cabling and connectivity solutions for the data center market. Centric Solutions’ business is located at OCC’s facility near Dallas, Texas.

 

Optical Cable CorporationCorporation™, OCC®OCC®, Procyon®Procyon®, Superior Modular ProductsProducts™, SMP Data CommunicationsCommunications™, Applied Optical SystemsSystems™, Centric SolutionsSolutions™ and associated logos are trademarks of Optical Cable Corporation.

 

Summary of Company Performance for ThirdSecond Quarter of of Fiscal Year 20202021

 

 

Consolidated net sales for the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2020 were $13.62021 increased 5.9% to $15.7 million, down 21.5% compared to $17.4$14.9 million for the same period last year, as sales continued to be negatively impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.year. Sequentially, net sales decreased 8.2%increased 32.5% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020, compared to net sales of $14.9 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2020.2021, compared to net sales of $11.9 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021.

 

 

Gross profit was $3.5increased 20.6% to $4.8 million in the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2020, a decrease of 22.7%2021, compared to $4.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2019. Sequentially, gross profit decreased 13.1% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020, compared to gross profit of $4.0 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2020. Sequentially, gross profit increased 108.7% in the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, compared to gross profit of $2.3 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021.

 

 

Gross profit margin (gross profit as a percentage of net sales) was 25.5%increased to 30.6% during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2020,2021, compared to 25.9%26.9% for the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2019.2020.

 

 

SG&A expenses decreased 15.8%17.3% to $4.6 million during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2020,2021, compared to $5.4$5.5 million during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2019.2020.

 

 

Net lossincome was $1.4$3.4 million, or $0.20$0.45 per share, during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2020,2021, compared to $1.1a net loss of $1.7 million, or $0.15$0.23 per share, for the comparable period last year.

 

 

On February 22, 2021, we submitted to our lender our application for forgiveness of the entire principal balance and accrued interest on the United States Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Paycheck Protection Program loan in the amount of $5.0 million (“PPP Loan”) we received on April 15, 2020, with the entire loan amount and accrued interest included in our current liabilities at April 30, 2021.

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, we qualified for a $3.4 million Employee Retention Tax Credit (“ERTC”), which is reflected as income under other income (expense), net, and as a receivable under current assets—other receivables. We refinancedexpect that we will receive credits totaling approximately $900,000 for the remainder of the second calendar quarter that will be recorded as other income in our revolving credit facility formerly with Pinnacle Bank through North Mill Capital on July 24, 2020, providing additional flexibility for our working capital needs.fiscal third quarter of 2021.

 

Results of Operations

 

We sell our products internationally and domestically to our customers which include major distributors, various regional and smaller distributors, original equipment manufacturers and value-added resellers. All of our sales to customers outside of the United States are denominated in U.S. dollars. We can experience fluctuations in the percentage of net sales to customers outside of the United States and in the United States from period to period based on the timing of large orders, coupled with the impact of increases and decreases in sales to customers in various regions of the world. Sales outside of the U.S. can also be impacted by fluctuations in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar compared to other currencies.

 

Net sales consist of gross sales of products by the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis less discounts, refunds and returns. Revenue is recognized at the time product is transferred to the customer (including distributors) at an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange for the product. Our customers generally do not have the right of return unless a product is defective or damaged and is within the parameters of the product warranty in effect for the sale.

 

Cost of goods sold consists of the cost of materials, product warranty costs and compensation costs, and overhead and other costs related to our manufacturing operations. The largest percentage of costs included in cost of goods sold is attributable to costs of materials.

 

Our gross profit margin percentages are heavily dependent upon product mix on a quarterly basis and may vary based on changes in product mix. To the extent not negatively impacted by product mix, gross profit margins tend to be higher when we achieve higher net sales levels, as certain fixed manufacturing costs are spread over higher sales. Hybrid cables (containing fiber and copper) with higher copper content tend to have lower gross profit margins.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A expenses”) consist of the compensation costs for sales and marketing personnel, shipping costs, trade show expenses, customer support expenses, travel expenses, advertising, bad debt expense, the compensation costs for administration and management personnel, legal, accounting, advisory and professional fees, costs incurred to settle litigation or claims and other actions against us, and other costs associated with our operations.

 

Royalty income (expense), net consists of royalty income earned on licenses associated with our patented products, net of royalty and related expenses.

 

Amortization of intangible assets consists of the amortization of the costs, including legal fees, associated with internally developed patents that have been granted. Amortization of intangible assets is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the intangible assets.

 

Other income (expense)(expense), net consists of interest expense and other miscellaneous income and expense items not directly attributable to our operations.

 

The following table sets forth and highlights fluctuations in selected line items from our condensed consolidated statements of operations for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

     

Nine Months Ended

     

Three Months Ended

     

Six Months Ended

    
 

July 31,

  

Percent

  

July 31,

  

Percent

  

April 30,

  

Percent

  

April 30,

  

Percent

 
 

2020

  

2019

  

Change

  

2020

  

2019

  

Change

  

2021

  

2020

  

Change

  

2021

  

2020

  

Change

 

Net sales

 $13,639,000  $17,367,000  (21.5

)%

 $41,390,000  $53,075,000  (22.0

)%

 $15,741,000  $14,863,000  5.9

%

 $27,618,000  $27,751,000  (0.5

)%

Gross profit

 3,472,000  4,491,000  (22.7

)%

 9,873,000  13,363,000  (26.1

)%

 4,819,000  3,997,000  20.6

%

 7,129,000  6,401,000  11.4

%

SG&A expenses

 4,560,000  5,418,000  (15.8

)%

 14,934,000  17,969,000  (16.9

)%

 4,590,000  5,550,000  (17.3

)%

 8,898,000  10,374,000  (14.2

)%

Net loss

 (1,434,000) (1,085,000) 32.1

%

 (5,715,000) (5,013,000) 14.0

%

Net income (loss)

 3,385,000  (1,689,000) 300.4

%

 1,244,000  (4,281,000) 129.1

%

 

Three Months Ended July 31,April 30, 2021 and 2020 and 2019

 

Net Sales

 

Consolidated net sales for the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2020 were $13.62021 increased 5.9% to $15.7 million, a decrease of 21.5%, compared to net sales of $17.4$14.9 million for the same period last year. We experienced a decreasean increase in net sales in both our enterprise and specialty markets, including the wireless carrier market, in the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2020,2021, compared to the same period last year.

 

Sequentially, net sales increased 32.5% in the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, compared to net sales of $11.9 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021.

We believe net sales during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 20202021 were positively impacted by the lifting of some restrictions and the reopening of certain markets that had been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as certain businesses limited operations and/or reduced or delayed product purchases.pandemic.

 

Net sales to customers in the United States decreased 23.1%increased 4.4% and net sales to customers outside of the United States decreased 13.4%increased 11.8% in the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2020,2021, compared to the same period last year. The decreases,We believe that we believe, werewill continue to see a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effectspositive impact on our customers.  Specifically, we have seen certain projects in ournet sales pipeline that we believe have been put on hold temporarily as a result of the impact COVID-19 is having on our customers and end-users.  We expect that once the impact of COVID-19 on our customers and end-users declines,declines.

We are beginning to see some positive indicators of future strengthening in some of our markets and are hopeful we will begincontinue to see a positive impact onbenefit from improvement in our net sales.

Sequentially, net sales decreased 8.2% inmarkets during the third quartersecond half of fiscal year 2020, compared to net sales2021. However, we cannot fully anticipate or reasonably estimate the continuing impacts of $14.9 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2020, with decreases inpandemic on our enterprisevarious markets and military markets, partially offset by slight increases in certain specialty markets, including the wireless carrier market.customers.

 

Gross Profit

 

Our gross profit was $3.5$4.8 million in the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2020, a decrease2021, an increase of 22.7%20.6% compared to gross profit of $4.5$4.0 million in the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2019.2020. Gross profit margin, or gross profit as a percentage of net sales, was 25.5%increased to 30.6% in the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 20202021 compared to 25.9%26.9% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2019. Sequentially, gross profit decreased 13.1% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020 compared to the second quarter of fiscal year 2020.

 

Sequentially, gross profit increased 108.7% in the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, compared to gross profit of $2.3 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021.

 

Our gross profit margins tend to be higher when we achieve higher net sales levels, as certain fixed manufacturing costs are spread over higher sales. This operating leverage, which is beneficial at higher sales levels, was the primary factor putting downward pressure onpositively impacted our gross profit margin during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2020, as fixed costs were spread over lower sales.

During fiscal year 2019,2021. Additionally, actions that we took actionsin fiscal years 2020 and 2019 contributed to reduce employee related coststhe increase in cost of goods sold anticipated to create savings during fiscal year 2020. We believe many benefits of these actions were attained duringour gross profit margin in the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2020,2021 when compared to the second quarter of fiscal year 2020. Our gross profit margin percentages are also heavily dependent upon product mix on a quarterly basis and expect the benefits will be more fully realized as sales increase.may vary based on changes in product mix from quarter to quarter.

 

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

 

SG&A expenses decreased 15.8%17.3% to $4.6 million during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2020,2021, compared to $5.4$5.5 million for the same period last year. SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales were 33.4%29.2% in the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2020,2021, compared to 31.2%37.3% in the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2019.2020.

 

The decrease in SG&A expenses during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 20202021 compared to the same period last year was primarily the result of decreases in bad debt expense totaling $447,000, decreases in employee related costs totaling $430,000, decreases in travel expenses totaling $154,000, decreases in shipping costs totaling $122,000$387,000 and decreases in marketing expenses totaling $121,000.$138,000. During the second quarter of fiscal year 2020, our bad debt expense increased significantly due to concerns about collectability of certain customer accounts during the COVID-19 pandemic environment. Such collectability concerns did not recur during the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, therefore, our bad debt expense has decreased significantly and has returned to a more typical level. Included in employee related costs are employee incentives and commissionscompensation costs which decreased due to the financial results during the third quarter of fiscal year 2020 and decreases in compensation costs primarily due to terminations, net of new hires. Shipping costshires, which were impacted by our ongoing cost control initiatives. Marketing expenses decreased primarily due to the decrease in net sales in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020 compared to the same period last year. Both marketing and travel expenses decreased due to the decline/halt in business travel andcontinuing cancellation of tradeshows during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 20202021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decreases in employee related costs, shipping costs, marketing expenses and travel expenses were partially offset by increases in legal and professional fees totaling $139,000 primarily due to non-capitalizable fees associated with legal advice related to, among other things, various financing strategies under consideration by us as well as certain related professional services.

 

Royalty ExpenseIncome (Expense), Net

 

We recognized royalty expense,income, net of royalty income,and related expenses, totaling $193,000$43,000 during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 20202021 compared to $216$3,000 during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2019.2020. Royalty expenseincome and/or incomeexpense may fluctuate based on sales of related licensed products and estimates of amounts for non-licensed product sales, if any.

 

Amortization of Intangible Assets

 

We recognized $11,000 of amortization expense, associated with intangible assets, during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2020,2021, compared to $10,000 during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2019.2020.

 

Other Expense,Income (Expense), Net

 

We recognized other expense,income, net in the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 20202021 of $137,000$3.1 million, compared to $136,000other expense, net of $124,000 in the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2019.2020. Other expense,income, net for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2021 is comprised primarily of the ERTC, partially offset by interest expense together withand other miscellaneous items.

Loss Before Income Taxes

We reported a loss before The change in other income, taxes of $1.4 million fornet during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2020,2021 compared to $1.1 million for the third quarter of fiscalsame period last year 2019. The increase was primarily due to the decreaseERTC.

The ERTC, created in gross profit of $1.0 million, partially offsetthe March 2020 CARES Act and then subsequently amended by the decreaseConsolidated Appropriation Act (“CAA”) of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) of 2021, is a refundable payroll credit for qualifying businesses keeping employees on their payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Under CAA and ARPA amendments, employers can claim a refundable tax credit against the employer share of social security tax equal to 70% of the qualified wages (including certain health care expenses) paid to employees after December 31, 2020 through December 31, 2021.  Qualified wages are limited to $10,000 per employee per calendar quarter in SG&A expenses of $858,000 compared to2021 so the same period in fiscal year 2019.maximum ERTC available is $7,000 per employee per calendar quarter. 

 

 

OCC is an eligible small employer under the gross receipts decline test when comparing the first calendar quarter of 2021 to the same quarter in calendar year 2019, which qualifies us to claim ERTC in both the first and second calendar quarters of 2021 under the amended ERTC program. During the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, we qualified for a refundable payroll tax credit totaling $3.4 million. We expect that we will receive credits totaling approximately $900,000 for the remainder of the second calendar quarter that will be recorded as other income in our fiscal third quarter of 2021.

Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes

We reported income before income taxes of $3.4 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, compared to a net loss of $1.7 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2020. The change was primarily due to the ERTC of $3.4 million, the increase in gross profit of $822,000 and the decrease in SG&A expenses of $960,000 compared to the same period in 2020.

Income Tax Expense

 

Income tax expense totaled $5,000$7,000 in the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2020,2021, compared to $13,000$5,000 in the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2019.2020. Our effective tax rate was less than one percent for the second quarter of fiscal year 2021 and less than negative one percent for the third quarterssecond quarter of both fiscal years 2020 and 2019.year 2020.

 

Fluctuations in our effective tax rates are primarily due to permanent differences in U.S. GAAP and tax accounting for various tax deductions and benefits, but can also be significantly different from the statutory tax rate when income or loss before taxes is at a level such that permanent differences in U.S. GAAP and tax accounting treatment have a disproportional impact on the projected effective tax rate.

 

During fiscal year 2015, we established a valuation allowance against all of our net deferred tax assets. As a result of establishing a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets, if we generate sufficient taxable income in subsequent periods to realize a portion or all of our net deferred tax assets, our effective income tax rate could be unusually low due to the tax benefit attributable to the necessary decrease in our valuation allowance. Further, if we generate losses before taxes in subsequent periods, our effective income tax rate could also be unusually low as any increase in our net deferred tax asset from such a net operating loss for tax purposes would be offset by a corresponding increase to our valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets.

 

If we generate sufficient income before taxes in subsequent periods such that U.S. GAAP would permit us to conclude that the removal of any valuation allowance against our net deferred tax asset is appropriate, then during the period in which such determination is made, we will recognize the non-cash benefit of such removal of the valuation allowance in income tax expense on our consolidated statement of operations, which will increase net income and will also increase the net deferred tax asset on our consolidated balance sheet. If we do not generate sufficient income before taxes in subsequent periods such that U.S. GAAP would permit us to conclude that the reduction or removal of any valuation allowance against our net deferred tax asset is appropriate, then no such non-cash benefit would be realized. There can be no assurance regarding any future realization of the benefit by us of all or part of our net deferred tax assets. As of October 31, 2020, the valuation allowance against our total gross deferred tax assets totaled $4.8 million.

 

Net LossIncome (Loss)

 

Net lossincome for the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 20202021 was $1.4$3.4 million compared to $1.1a net loss of $1.7 million for the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 2019.2020. This increasechange was primarily due to the increase in lossincome before income taxes of $356,000.$5.1 million.

 

NineSix Months Ended July 31,April 30, 2021 and 2020 and 2019

 

Net Sales

 

Consolidated net sales for the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 20202021 were $41.4$27.6 million, a decrease of less than one percent compared to net sales of $53.1$27.8 million for the same period last year, a decrease of 22.0%.year. We experienced a decreaseslight decreases in net sales in both our enterprise and specialty markets in the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2020,2021, compared to the same period last year. The decrease in net sales when comparing the two periods is primarily due to the fact that we recognized net sales totaling, in the aggregate, approximately $7.5 million as the result of a number of large orders for one customer in the first nine months of fiscal year 2019 that did not recur at the same levels in the first nine months of fiscal year 2020. Net sales to this customer totaled, in the aggregate, $1.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2020, for a total decrease in sales to this customer of $5.6 million.

 

We also believe net sales during the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2020 was2021, specifically beginning in our second fiscal quarter, were positively impacted by the lifting of some restrictions and the reopening of certain markets that had been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic which ceased or significantly reduced operationspandemic. Net sales to customers in the United States decreased 1.2% while net sales to customers outside of many businesses, including OCC customers and suppliers, beginningthe United States increased 2.4% in March 2020 and continuingthe first half of fiscal year 2021, compared to the present.  Specifically, we have seen certain projects in our sales pipelinesame period last year. We believe that we believe have been put on hold temporarily aswill continue to see a resulttrend of improving net sales to the impact COVID-19 is having on our customers and end-users.  We expect that onceextent the impact of COVID-19 on our customers and end-users declines,declines.

We are beginning to see some positive indicators of future strengthening in some of our markets and are hopeful we will begincontinue to see a positive impact onbenefit from improvement in our net sales.  Excluding the one domestic customer mentioned above, consolidated net sales would have decreased 13.4%markets during the first nine monthssecond half of fiscal year 2020 compared to2021. However, we cannot fully anticipate or reasonably estimate the same period last year. 

Net sales to customers in the United States decreased 23.1% in the first nine months of fiscal year 2020 compared to the same period last year, primarily due to the $5.6 million decrease in net sales to the one domestic customer and the impact on net salescontinuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on our customers in the first nine months of fiscal year 2020 compared to the same period last year. Net sales to customers outside of the United States decreased 17.2% we believe as a result of the COVID-19 pandemicvarious markets and its effects on our customers.

 

Gross Profit

 

Our gross profit was $9.9$7.1 million in the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2020, a decrease2021, an increase of 26.1%11.4% compared to gross profit of $13.4$6.4 million in the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2019.2020. Gross profit margin or gross profit as a percentage of net sales, was 23.9%increased to 25.8% in the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 20202021 compared to 25.2%23.1% in the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2019.2020.

 

Our gross profit margins tend to be higher when we achieve higher net sales levels, as certain fixed manufacturing costs are spread over higher sales. This operating leverage, which is beneficial at higher sales levels, was the primary factor putting downward pressure onpositively impacted our gross profit margin during the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2021, particularly beginning in the second fiscal quarter. Additionally, actions that we took in fiscal years 2020 and 2019 contributed to the increase in our gross profit margin in the first half of fiscal year 2021, resulting in an improved gross profit margin when compared to the first half of fiscal year 2020, as fixed costs were spread over lower sales.

During fiscal year 2019, we took actionseven considering the slight decrease in sales when comparing the two periods. Our gross profit margin percentages are also heavily dependent upon product mix on a quarterly basis and may vary based on changes in product mix from quarter to reduce employee related costs in cost of goods sold anticipated to create savings during fiscal year 2020. We believe many benefits of these actions were attained during the first nine months of fiscal year 2020, and expect the benefits will be more fully realized as sales increase.quarter.

 

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

 

SG&A expenses decreased 16.9%14.2% to $14.9$8.9 million forduring the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2020 from $18.02021, compared to $10.4 million for the same period last year. SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales were 36.1%32.2% in the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 20202021, compared to 33.9%37.4% in the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2019.2020.

 

The decrease in SG&A expenses during the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 20202021 compared to the first nine months of fiscalsame period last year 2019 was primarily the result of decreases in employee related costs totaling $2.2 million,$823,000, decreases in shipping costsbad debt expense totaling $336,000,$410,000, decreases in travel expenses totaling $165,000 and decreases in marketing expenses totaling $288,000 and decreases in travel expenses totaling $366,000.$160,000. Included in employee related costs are employee incentives and commissionscompensation costs which decreased due to the financial results during the first nine months of fiscal year 2020 and decreases in compensation costs primarily due to terminations, net of new hires. Shipping costs decreased due to the decrease in net sales inhires, which were impacted by our ongoing cost control initiatives. During the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2020, when compared to the same period last year. Both marketing and travel expenses decreased due to the decline/halt in business travel and cancellation of a number of tradeshows during the first nine months of fiscal year 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decreases in employee related costs, shipping costs, marketing expenses and travel expenses were partially offset by an increase inour bad debt expense totaling $377,000increased due to concerns about collectability of certain customer accounts during this unprecedentedthe COVID-19 pandemic environmentenvironment. Such collectability concerns did not recur during the first half of fiscal year 2021, therefore, our bad debt expense has decreased significantly and increases in legalhas returned to a more typical level. Travel expenses and professional fees totaling $210,000marketing expenses decreased primarily due to non-capitalizable fees associated with legal advice relatedthe decrease in business travel and the continuing cancellation of tradeshows during the first half of fiscal year 2021 due to among other things, various financing strategies under consideration by us as well as certain related professional services.    the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Royalty Income (Expense), Net

 

We recognized royalty expense, net of royalty income, totaling $208,000 during the first nine months of fiscal year 2020, compared to royalty income, net of royalty and related expenses, totaling $1,000$50,000 during the same period last year.first half of fiscal year 2021 compared to royalty expense, net of royalty income, of $15,000 during the first half of fiscal year 2020. Royalty expenseincome and/or incomeexpense may fluctuate based on sales of related licensed products and estimates of amounts for non-licensed product sales, if any.

 

Amortization of Intangible Assets

 

We recognized $31,000$22,000 of amortization expense, associated with intangible assets, forduring the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2020,2021, compared to $28,000$20,000 during the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2019.2020.

 

Other Expense,Income (Expense), Net

 

We recognized other expense,income, net in the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 20202021 of $400,000$3.0 million, compared to $389,000other expense, net of $263,000 in the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2019.2020. Other expense,income, net for the first half of fiscal year 2021 is comprised primarily of the ERTC, partially offset by interest expense together withand other miscellaneous items. The change in other income, net during the first half of fiscal year 2021 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to the ERTC.

The ERTC, created in the March 2020 CARES Act and then subsequently amended by the CAA of 2021 and the ARPA of 2021, is a refundable payroll credit for qualifying businesses keeping employees on their payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Under CAA and ARPA amendments, employers can claim a refundable tax credit against the employer share of social security tax equal to 70% of the qualified wages (including certain health care expenses) paid to employees after December 31, 2020 through December 31, 2021.  Qualified wages are limited to $10,000 per employee per calendar quarter in 2021 so the maximum ERTC available is $7,000 per employee per calendar quarter. 

OCC is an eligible small employer under the gross receipts decline test when comparing the first calendar quarter of 2021 to the same quarter in calendar year 2019, which qualifies us to claim ERTC in both the first and second calendar quarters of 2021 under the amended ERTC program. During the first half of fiscal year 2021, we qualified for a refundable payroll tax credit totaling $3.4 million.

 

LossIncome (Loss) Before Income Taxes

 

We reported a lossincome before income taxes of $5.7$1.2 million for the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 20202021, compared to $5.0a net loss of $4.3 million for the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2019.This increase2020. The change was primarily due to the decreaseERTC of $3.4 million, the increase in gross profit of $3.5 million, partially offset by$728,000 and the decrease in SG&A expenses of $3.0$1.5 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2020, compared to the same period in fiscal year 2019.2020.

 

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

 

Income tax expensebenefit totaled $15,000$26,000 in the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 20202021, compared to income tax benefitexpense of $9,000 for$10,000 in the same period infirst half of fiscal year 2019.2020. Our effective tax rate was negative 2.1% for the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2020 was2021 and less than negative one percent compared to less than one percent for the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2019.2020.

 

Fluctuations in our effective tax rates are primarily due to permanent differences in U.S. GAAP and tax accounting for various tax deductions and benefits, but can also be significantly different from the statutory tax rate when income or loss before taxes is at a level such that permanent differences in U.S. GAAP and tax accounting treatment have a disproportional impact on the projected effective tax rate.

 

During fiscal year 2015, we established a valuation allowance against all of our net deferred tax assets. As a result of establishing a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets, if we generate sufficient taxable income in subsequent periods to realize a portion or all of our net deferred tax assets, our effective income tax rate could be unusually low due to the tax benefit attributable to the necessary decrease in our valuation allowance. Further, if we generate losses before taxes in subsequent periods, our effective income tax rate could also be unusually low as any increase in our net deferred tax asset from such a net operating loss for tax purposes would be offset by a corresponding increase to our valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets.

 

If we generate sufficient income before taxes in subsequent periods such that U.S. GAAP would permit us to conclude that the removal of any valuation allowance against our net deferred tax asset is appropriate, then during the period in which such determination is made, we will recognize the non-cash benefit of such removal of the valuation allowance in income tax expense on our consolidated statement of operations, which will increase net income and will also increase the net deferred tax asset on our consolidated balance sheet. If we do not generate sufficient income before taxes in subsequent periods such that U.S. GAAP would permit us to conclude that the reduction or removal of any valuation allowance against our net deferred tax asset is appropriate, then no such non-cash benefit would be realized. There can be no assurance regarding any future realization of the benefit by us of all or part of our net deferred tax assets.

October 31, 2020, the valuation allowance against our total gross deferred tax assets totaled $4.8 million.

 

Net LossIncome (Loss)

 

Net lossincome for the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 20202021 was $5.7$1.2 million compared to a net loss of $5.0$4.3 million for the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2019.2020. This increasechange was primarily due to the increase in lossincome before income taxes of $678,000 in the first nine months of fiscal year 2020, compared to the same period in fiscal year 2019.$5.5 million.

 

Financial Condition

 

Total assets decreased $3.2increased $3.9 million, or 8.0%10.7%, to $36.9$40.5 million at July 31, 2020,April 30, 2021, from $40.1$36.6 million at October 31, 2019.2020. This decreaseincrease was primarily due to a $3.5$3.4 million decreaseincrease in other receivables due to the ERTC and a $1.1 million increase in trade accounts receivable, net, and a $966,000 decrease in inventories, partially offset by an increase of $1.9 million in other assets, net resulting primarily from the addition of right-to-use assets of $1.3 million related to the adoption of ASC 842. The decrease in trade accounts receivable, net largely resulted from the decreaseincrease in net sales in the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal year 20202021 when compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019. Inventories decreased largely as the result of the timing of certain raw material purchases as well as lower replenishment rates due to lower sales and the timing of sales of stock inventory.2020.

 

Total liabilities increased $2.4$2.5 million, or 12.8%11.9%, to $21.3$23.8 million at July 31, 2020,April 30, 2021, from $18.9$21.3 million at October 31, 2019.2020. The increase in total liabilities was primarily due to the $5.0 million PPP Loan obtained in April 2020 and an increase of $1.6 million in other noncurrent liabilities resulting from the addition of an operating lease liability of $1.4 million related to the adoption of ASC 842, partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses including accrued compensation and payroll taxes, totaling $2.4$1.5 million primarily resulting from the timing of raw material purchases and certain vendor payments, andpayments. Also contributing to the increase in total liabilities was an increase in note payable, revolver – noncurrent totaling $948,000 due to net repaymentsborrowings on our revolvers totaling $1.1 million.revolver.

 

Total shareholders’ equity at July 31, 2020 decreased $5.6April 30, 2021 increased $1.4 million in the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2020.2021. The decreaseincrease resulted primarily from a net lossincome of $5.7 million.$1.2 million and share-based compensation, net of $142,000.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our primary capital needs have been to fund working capital requirements and to make principal payments on long-term debt. Our primary source of capital for these purposes has been existing cash, cash provided by operations and borrowings under our revolving credit facilities and the proceeds from our PPP Loan.Revolver (see “Credit Facilities” below).

 

Our cash totaled $999,000$361,000 as of July 31, 2020,April 30, 2021, an increase of $461,000,$220,000, compared to $537,000$141,000 as of October 31, 2019.2020. The increase in cash for the ninesix months ended July 31, 2020April 30, 2021 primarily resulted from proceeds received from the PPP Loan totaling $5.0 million,net cash provided by financing activities of $717,000, partially offset by netcapital expenditures totaling $90,000 and cash used in operating activities of $2.4 million, capital expenditures totaling $95,000 and net repayments on our revolver and long-term debt totaling $1.7 million.$392,000.

 

On July 31, 2020,April 30, 2021, we had working capital of $17.7$18.2 million compared to $15.8$19.1 million on October 31, 2019.2020. The ratio of current assets to current liabilities as of July 31, 2020April 30, 2021 was 3.32.6 to 1.0 compared to 2.24.0 to 1.0 as of October 31, 2019.2020. The increasedecrease in working capital and in the current ratio was primarily due to the $2.4$3.4 million decreasereclassification of a portion of the PPP Loan from noncurrent to current, based on the maturity date of the loan (without considering our pending PPP Loan forgiveness application), and the $1.5 million increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses, including accrued compensation and payroll taxes, and the payment of the $5.7 million balance on our Revolving Credit note with Pinnacle upon the refinancing with North Mill, partially offset by the $3.5increase in other receivables of $3.4 million decreasedue to the ERTC and the $1.1 million increase in trade accounts receivable, net, the $966,000 decrease in inventories and the $2.5 million increase in note payable, SBA PPP loan - current which reflects the portion of our PPP Loan that would be required to be repaid within twelve months if not otherwise forgiven or extended by pending or future legislation.net.

 

As of July 31, 2020April 30, 2021 and October 31, 2019,2020, we had outstanding loan balances under our revolving credit facilitiesRevolver totaling $4.6$5.9 million and $5.7$5.0 million, respectively. As of July 31, 2020April 30, 2021 and October 31, 2019,2020, we had outstanding loan balances, excluding our revolving credit facility,Revolver, totaling $10.2$10.0 million and $5.9$10.1 million, respectively.

 

Net Cash

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $2.4 million$392,000 in the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2020,2021, compared to $47,000$816,000 in the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2019.2020. Net cash used in operating activities during the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2021 primarily resulted from an increase in other receivables totaling $3.4 million and the cash flow impact of increases in trade accounts receivable, net totaling $1.1 million, partially offset by certain adjustments to reconcile net income of $1.2 million to net cash used in operating activities including depreciation and amortization of $641,000 and share-based compensation expense of $142,000. Additionally, the cash flow impact of increases in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $1.5 million further contributed to offset net cash used in operating activities.

Net cash used in operating activities during the first half of fiscal year 2020 primarily resulted from the cash flow impact of increases in accounts payable and accrued expenses, including accrued compensation and payroll taxes, totaling $2.9$1.2 million, partially offset by decreases in the cash flow impact of trade accounts receivable, net totaling $3.1$2.1 million, decreases in inventories totaling $966,000$1.1 million and certain adjustments to reconcile a net loss of $5.7$4.3 million to net cash used in operating activities including depreciation and amortization of $1.1 million,$775,000 and bad debt expense of $432,000 and share-based compensation of $102,000.

Net cash used in operating activities during the first nine months of fiscal year 2019 primarily resulted from an increase in inventories totaling $1.3 million and a decrease in accrued compensation and payroll taxes totaling $1.6 million, partially offset by a decrease in the cash flow impact of decreases in trade accounts receivable, net totaling $2.8 million and certain adjustments to reconcile a net loss of $5.0 million to net cash used in operating activities including depreciation and amortization of $1.3 million and share-based compensation expense of $941,000. Additionally, the cash flow impact of increases in accounts payable and accrued expense totaling $2.7 million further contributed to offset net cash used in operating activities.$452,000.

 

Net cash used in investing activities totaled $131,000$105,000 in the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2020,2021, compared to $541,000$104,000 in the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2019.2020. Net cash used in investing activities during the first nine months ofhalf fiscal years 20202021 and 20192020 resulted primarily from purchases of property and equipment and deposits for the purchase of property and equipment.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities totaled $3.0$717,000 in the first half of fiscal year 2021, compared to $4.7 million in the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2020, compared to $1.5 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2019.2020. Net cash provided by financing activities in the first nine monthshalf of fiscal year 2021 resulted primarily from net proceeds on our revolving line of credit totaling $948,000, partially offset by principal payments on long-term debt totaling $181,000. Net cash provided by financing activities in the first half of fiscal year 2020 resulted from proceeds received from a PPP Loan totaling $5.0 million and advances on our revolving lines of credit totaling $5.9 million, partially offset by payments on our revolving lines of credit totaling $7.0 million, principal payments on long-term debt totaling $667,000 and deferred financing costs of $214,000. Net cash provided by financing activities in the first nine months of fiscal year 2019 resulted primarily from proceeds from a note payable to our bank under our line of credit net of repayments, totaling $2.7 million,$350,000, partially offset by payroll taxes withheld and remitted totaling $943,000 related to vesting of operational performance-based restricted stock, and principal payments on long-term debt totaling $195,000.$592,000.

 

We have a plan (the “Repurchase Plan”), approved by our Board of Directors on July 14, 2015 to purchase and retire up to 400,000 shares of our common stock, or approximately 6.0% of the shares then outstanding.outstanding (the “Repurchase Plan”). When the Repurchase Plan was approved, we had anticipated that the purchases would be made over a 24- to 36-month period, but there was no definite time period for repurchase or plan expiration. As of July 31, 2020April 30, 2021 we had 398,400 shares remaining to purchase under this Repurchase Plan, and we have made no specific determination whether and over what period these shares may or may not be purchased. Until future notice, we have suspended the Repurchase Plan and have no current plans to repurchase and retire our common stock.stock and have suspended the Repurchase Plan.

 

Credit Facilities

 

We have credit facilities consisting of a real estate term loan, as amended and restated (the “Virginia Real Estate Loan”), a supplemental real estate term loan, as amended and restated (the “North Carolina Real Estate Loan”), a Revolving Credit Master Promissory Note and related agreements (collectively, the “Revolver”) and a PPP Loan implemented by the SBA.

 

Both the Virginia Real Estate Loan and the North Carolina Real Estate Loan are with Pinnacle Bank (“Pinnacle”), have a fixed interest rate of 3.95% and are secured by a first lien deed of trust on our real property.

 

On April 15,In fiscal year 2020, we obtained an unsecured PPP Loan through Pinnacle in the amount of $5.0 million. The loan was made through the SBA as part of the PPP under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act.Act”). The interest rate is fixed at 1.00% per year.year, and the Company has accrued but unpaid interest of $51,998 on the PPP Loan as of April 30, 2021, which is included in accounts payable and accrued expenses. Under the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020, all or a portion of this loan (principal and interest) may be forgiven if certain requirements are met. We believe we have met those requirements and we applied for forgiveness of the entire balance of the loan (including accrued interest), submitting an application to our lender on February 22, 2021. If the loan is not forgiven, we will pay principal and interest payments of $280,335approximately $560,000 every month, beginning seventen months fromfollowing the effective date of the PPP Loan.coverage period which ended September 29, 2020. We can repay the PPP Loan without any prepayment penalty. All remaining principal and accrued interest is due and payable two years from the effective date of the PPP Loan.Loan (April 15, 2022).

 

On July 24, 2020, we terminated our Revolving Credit NoteOur Revolver with Pinnacle and, along with our wholly owned subsidiaries, entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) with North Mill.  As part of the refinancing transaction, we also entered into a Revolving Credit Master Promissory Note with North Mill dated July 24, 2020 (the “Revolver”) and a Collateral Assignment of Patents and Trademarks (“Collateral Assignment”) dated July 24, 2020 along with certain other supporting ancillary documents.

Under the Loan Agreement, North Mill agreed to provideSLR provides us with one or more advances in an amount up to: (a) 85% of the aggregate outstanding amount of eligible accounts (the “eligible accounts loan value”); plus (b) the lowest of (i) an amount up to 35% of the aggregate value of eligible inventory, (ii) $5,000,000,$5.0 million, and (iii) an amount not to exceed 100% of the then outstanding eligible accounts loan value; minus (c) $1,500,000.$1.5 million.

 

The maximum aggregate principal amount subject to the Revolver is $18,000,000.$18.0 million. Interest accrues on the daily balance at the per annum rate of 1.5% above the Prime Rate in effect from time to time, but not less than 4.75% (the “Applicable Rate”). In the event of a default, interest may become 6.0% above the Applicable Rate. As of July 31, 2020,April 30 2021, the Revolver accrued interest at the prime lending rate plus 1.5% (resulting in a 4.75% rate at July 31, 2020)April 30, 2021). The initial term of the Revolver is three years, with a termination date of July 24, 2023. After the initial term and unless otherwise terminated, the loan may be extended in one year periods subject to the agreement of North Mill.SLR.

 

The Revolver is secured by all of the following assets: properties, rights and interests in property of the Company whether now owned or existing, or hereafter acquired or arising, and wherever located; all accounts, equipment, commercial tort claims, general intangibles, chattel paper, inventory, negotiable collateral, investment property, financial assets, letter-of-credit rights, supporting obligations, deposit accounts, money or assets of the Company, which hereafter come into the possession, custody, or control of North Mill;SLR; all proceeds and products, whether tangible or intangible, of any of the foregoing, including proceeds of insurance covering any or all of the foregoing; any and all tangible or intangible property resulting from the sale, lease, license or other disposition of any of the foregoing, or any portion thereof or interest therein, and all proceeds thereof; and any other assets of the Company which may be subject to a lien in favor of North MillSLR as security for the obligations under the Loan Agreement.

 

Prior to the refinancing of the Revolver with North Mill on July 24, 2020, the Revolving Credit Note with Pinnacle (as amended and modified) provided us with a $6.5 million revolving line of credit for our working capital needs. Under the Revolving Credit Note, Pinnacle provided us with one or more revolving loans in a collective maximum principal amount of $6.5 million. We could borrow, repay, and reborrow at any time or from time to time while the Revolving Credit Note was in effect.

As of July 31, 2020,April 30, 2021, we had $4.6$5.9 million of outstanding borrowings on our Revolver and $2.2$2.5 million in available credit.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

We did not have any material commitments for capital expenditures as of July 31, 2020. During our 2020April 30, 2021. We expect capital expenditures in fiscal year budgeting process, we included an estimate for capital expenditures of $1.5 million for the year.2021 will not exceed $750,000. We anticipate these expenditures, to the extent made, will be funded out of our working capital, cash provided by operations or borrowings including under our credit facility.Revolver, as appropriate. Capital expenditures are reviewed and approved based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, current cash flow considerations, the expected return on investment, project priorities, impact on current or future product offerings, availability of personnel necessary to implement and begin using acquired equipment, and economic conditions in general. Historically, we have spent less than our budgeted capital expenditures in most fiscal years and expect that to be the trend during the remainder of fiscal year 2020.

 

Corporate acquisitions and other strategic investments, if any, are considered outside of our annual capital expenditure budgeting process.

 

Future Cash Flow Considerations

 

We believe that our future cash flow from operations, our cash on hand and our existing credit facilities will be adequate to fund our operations for at least the next twelve months.

 

From time to time, we are involved in various claims, legal actions and regulatory reviews arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

Seasonality

 

We typically expect net sales to be relatively lower in the first half of each fiscal year and relatively higher in the second half of each fiscal year, and excluding other volatility, we would normally expect 48% of total net sales to occur during the first half of a fiscal year and 52% of total net sales to occur during the second half of a fiscal year. We believe this historical seasonality pattern is generally indicative of an overall trend and reflective of the buying patterns and budgetary considerations of our customers. However, this pattern may be substantially altered during any quarter or year asbased on a variety of factors. We believe our seasonality pattern in fiscal year 2020 was impacted by the caseCOVID-19 pandemic, resulting in significantly lower total net sales for all of fiscal year 2020, and no typically anticipated seasonal increase in total net sales during the second half of the fiscal year. Our typical seasonality was also impacted in fiscal years 2019 and 2018, by the quarterly and annual volatility of orders received for the wireless carrier market, the timing of larger projects, the timing of orders from larger customers, other economic factors impacting our industry or impacting the industries of our customers and end-users, and macroeconomic conditions. Along these same lines, we believe our seasonality pattern in fiscal year 2020 has been, and will continue to be, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in lower net sales in the second half of the fiscal year than would typically be anticipated when compared to net sales levels in the first half of the fiscal year. Consequently, whileWhile we believe seasonality may be a factor that impacts our quarterly net sales results, particularly when excluding the volatility of sales in the wireless carrier market, we are not able to reliably predict the effects of seasonality on net sales based on seasonality because these other factors can also substantially impact our net sales patterns during the year. Our trend for the last three fiscal years has been that an average

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying condensed notes that have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q10‑Q and Regulation S-X.S‑X. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements filed with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 20192020 provides a summary of our significant accounting policies. Those significant accounting policies detailed in our fiscal year 20192020 Form 10-K did not change during the period from November 1, 20192020 through July 31, 2020 other than to reflect changes required by the adoption of ASC 842 related to leases and ASU 2018-07 related to stock compensation.April 30, 2021.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issuedNew Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases. The FASB has subsequently issued amendments to the initial guidance under ASU 2017-13, ASU 2018-10, ASU 2018-11, ASU 2018-20 and ASU 2019-01 (collectively, “ASC 842”). ASC 842 requires the recognition of a separate lease liability representing the required lease payments over the lease term and a separate lease asset representing the right to use the underlying asset during the same lease term. Additionally, ASC 842 provides clarification regarding the identification of certain components of contracts that would represent a lease as well as requires additional disclosures in the notes to the financial statements. We adopted ASC 842 effective November 1, 2019.  Upon adoption, we recorded right-of-use assets and lease liabilities relating to operating leases of $138,834 and $139,367, respectively.  Unamortized deferred rent liability balances were eliminated such that no cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings was required. 

In June 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2018-07, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2018-07”). ASU 2018-07 expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. ASU 2018-07 also clarifies that Topic 718 does not apply to share-based payments used to effectively provide (1) financing to the issuer or (2) awards granted in conjunction with selling goods or services to customers as part of a contract accounted for under Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). We adopted ASU 2018-07 effective November 1, 2019.  The adoption did not have a material impact on our opening balance of retained earnings, results of operations, financial position or liquidity or our related financial statement disclosures.

New Accounting Standards

 

In December 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”), which is intended to simplify various aspects related to accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. ASU 2019-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of theThe adoption of ASU 2019-12 is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position andor liquidity andor our related financial statement disclosures.

 

There are no other new accounting standards issued, but not yet adopted by us, which are expected to be applicable to our financial position, operating results or financial statement disclosures.

 

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that are designed to be effective in providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in reports under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed and summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Our management evaluated, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer), the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of July 31, 2020.April 30, 2021. Based on this evaluation process, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of July 31, 2020,April 30, 2021, and that there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2020April 30, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

PART II.OTHER INFORMATIOnINFORMATION

 

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No. Description
   

3.1

 

Articles of Amendment filed November 5, 2001 to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended through November 5, 2001 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Company’s Form 8-A12G filed with the Commission on November 5, 2001).

   

3.2

Articles of Amendment filed July 5, 2002 to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended through July 5, 2002 (incorporated herein by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Form 14A filed July 5, 2002).

   

3.3

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Optical Cable Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter ended July 31, 2011).

   

4.1

 

Form of certificate representing Common Stock (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter ended July 31, 2004 (file number 0-27022)).

   

4.2

 

Form of certificate representing Common Stock (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter ended July 31, 2012).

   

4.3

 

Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement dated as of October 28, 2011, between Optical Cable Corporation and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent, including as Exhibit A The Forms of Rights Certificate and Election to Exercise (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-A12G filed with the Commission on November 1, 2011).

   

4.4

 

Credit Line Deed of Trust dated May 30, 2008 between Optical Cable Corporation as Grantor, LeClairRyan as Trustee and Valley Bank as Beneficiary (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.17 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2008 filed January 29, 2009).

   

4.5

 

Deed of Trust, Security Agreement and Fixtures Filing dated May 30, 2008 by and between Superior Modular Products Incorporated as Grantor, LeClairRyan as Trustee and Valley Bank as Beneficiary (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.18 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2008 filed January 29, 2009).

   

4.6

 

Security Agreement dated May 30, 2008 between Optical Cable Corporation and Superior Modular Products Incorporated and Valley Bank (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.19 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2008 filed January 29, 2009).

 

 

PART II.OTHER INFORMATIOnINFORMATION

 

 

4.7

 

Credit Agreement dated April 26, 2016 by and between Optical Cable Corporation as borrower and Pinnacle Bank (successor by merger with Bank of North Carolina) as lender (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 3, 2016).

   

4.8

 

Revolving Credit Note in the amount of $7,000,000 by Optical Cable Corporation dated April 26, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 3, 2016).

   

4.9

 

Term Loan A Note in the amount of $1,816,609 by Optical Cable Corporation dated April 26, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 3, 2016).

   

4.10

 

Term Loan B Note in the amount of $5,271,411 by Optical Cable Corporation dated April 26, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 3, 2016).

   

4.11

 

Modification of Credit Line Deed of Trust dated April 26, 2016 by and between Optical Cable Corporation (successor by merger to Superior Modular Products Incorporated) as Grantor, Andrew B. Agee (in substitution of LeClairRyan) as Trustee and Pinnacle Bank (successor by merger with Bank of North Carolina) as Beneficiary, modifying that certain Credit Line Deed of Trust dated May 30, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 3, 2016).

   

4.12

 

Modification of Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, and Assignment of Leases and Rents dated April 26, 2016 by and between Optical Cable Corporation (successor by merger to Superior Modular Products Incorporated) as Grantor, Andrew B. Agee (in substitution of LeClairRyan) as Trustee and Pinnacle Bank (successor by merger with Bank of North Carolina) as Beneficiary, modifying that certain Deed of Trust, Security Agreement and Assignment of Leases and Rents dated May 30, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 3, 2016).

   

4.13

 

Security Agreement dated April 26, 2016 between Optical Cable Corporation and Pinnacle Bank (successor by merger with Bank of North Carolina) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 3, 2016).

   

4.14

 

Loan Modification Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between Optical Cable Corporation and Pinnacle Bank (successor by merger with Bank of North Carolina) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 21, 2016).

   

4.15

 

Second Loan Modification Agreement dated February 28, 2017 by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Pinnacle Bank (successor by merger with Bank of North Carolina) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 2, 2017).

   

4.16

 

Third Loan Modification Agreement dated April 27, 2017 by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Pinnacle Bank (successor by merger with Bank of North Carolina) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 28, 2017).

 

 

PART II.OTHER INFORMATIOnINFORMATION

 

 

4.17

 

Fourth Loan Modification Agreement dated April 10, 2018 by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Pinnacle Bank (successor by merger with Bank of North Carolina) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 13, 2018).

   

4.18

 

Modification of Credit Line Deed of Trust dated May 2, 2018 by and between Optical Cable Corporation (successor by merger to Superior Modular Products Incorporated) as Grantor, W. Todd Ross (in substitution of LeClairRyan) as Trustee and Pinnacle Bank (successor by merger with Bank of North Carolina) as Beneficiary, modifying that certain Credit Line Deed of Trust dated May 30, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.20 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the second quarter ended April 30, 2018).

   

4.19

 

Modification of Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, and Assignment of Leases and Rents dated May 2, 2018 by and between Optical Cable Corporation (successor by merger to Superior Modular Products Incorporated) as Grantor, W. Todd Ross (in substitution of LeClairRyan) as Trustee and Pinnacle Bank (successor by merger with Bank of North Carolina) as Beneficiary, modifying that certain Deed of Trust, Security Agreement and Assignment of Leases and Rents dated May 30, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.21 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the second quarter ended April 30, 2018).

   

4.20

 

Fifth Loan Modification Agreement dated October 15, 2018 by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Pinnacle Bank (successor by merger with Bank of North Carolina) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 17, 2018).

   

4.21

 

Sixth Loan Modification Agreement dated April 30, 2019 by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Pinnacle Bank (successor by merger with Bank of North Carolina) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 1, 2019).

   

4.22

 

Seventh Loan Modification Agreement dated September 11, 2019 by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Pinnacle Bank (successor by merger with Bank of North Carolina) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.22 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated September 16, 2019).

   

4.23

 

Eighth Loan Modification Agreement dated January 22, 2020 by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Pinnacle Bank (successor by merger with Bank of North Carolina) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.25 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended October 31, 2019 filed January 27, 2020).

   

4.24

 

Ninth Loan Modification Agreement dated March 10, 2020 by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Pinnacle Bank (successor to merger with Bank of North Carolina) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.24 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated March 16, 2020).

 

 

PART II.OTHER INFORMATIOnINFORMATION

 

 

4.25

 

Tenth Loan Modification Agreement dated April 15, 2020 by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Pinnacle Bank (successor to merger with Bank of North Carolina) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 21, 2020).

   

4.26

 

Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program Loan dated April 15, 2020 by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Pinnacle Bank (successor to merger with Bank of North Carolina) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 21, 2020).

   

4.27

 

Eleventh Loan Modification Agreement dated April 30, 2020 by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Pinnacle Bank (successor to merger with Bank of North Carolina) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 6, 2020).

   

4.28

 

Loan and Security Agreement dated July 24, 2020 by and among Optical Cable Corporation along with its subsidiaries Applied Optical Systems, Inc., and Centric Solutions LLC, and North Mill Capital LLC (now known as SLR Business Credit) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 30, 2020).

   

4.29

 

Revolving Credit Master Promissory Note dated July 24, 2020 by Optical Cable Corporation along with its subsidiaries Applied Optical Systems, Inc., and Centric Solutions LLC in favor of North Mill Capital LLC (now known as SLR Business Credit) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 30, 2020).

   

4.30

 

Payoff Letter from Pinnacle Bank to North Mill Capital LLC (now known as SLR Business Credit) and Optical Cable Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 30, 2020).

   

10.1*

 

Optical Cable Corporation 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Form 14A filed February 23, 2011).

   

10.2*

 

Optical Cable Corporation Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Form 14A filed February 27, 2013).

   

10.3*

 

Optical Cable Corporation Second Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Form 14A filed March 4, 2015).

   

10.4*

 

Optical Cable Corporation 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Form 14A filed March 13, 2017).

   

10.5*

 

Form of time vesting award agreement under the Optical Cable Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, 2011 Stock Incentive Plan and Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended April 30, 2006 filed June 14, 2006).

 

 

PART II.OTHER INFORMATIOnINFORMATION

 

 

10.6*

 

Form of operational performance (Company financial performance measure) vesting award agreement under the Optical Cable Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, 2011 Stock Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan and 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended April 30, 2009 filed June 12, 2009).

   

10.7

 

Redemption Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and BB&T Capital Markets dated July 14, 2015 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 14, 2015).

   

10.8*

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Neil D. Wilkin, Jr. effective April 11, 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 15, 2011).

   

10.9*

 

Amendment, effective December 18, 2012, to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Neil D. Wilkin, Jr. effective April 11, 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.16 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2013 filed March 15, 2013).

   

10.10*

 

Second Amendment, effective March 14, 2014, to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Neil D. Wilkin, Jr. effective April 11, 2011, as amended December 18, 2012 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2014 filed March 17, 2014).

   

10.11*

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Tracy G. Smith effective April 11, 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 15, 2011).

   

10.12*

 

Amendment, effective December 18, 2012, to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Tracy G. Smith effective April 11, 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2013 filed March 15, 2013).

   

10.13*

 

Second Amendment, effective March 14, 2014, to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Tracy G. Smith effective April 11, 2011, as amended December 18, 2012 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2014 filed March 17, 2014).

   

10.14*

 

Form of vesting award agreement for non-employee Board members under the Optical Cable Corporation 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended April 30, 2017 filed June 13, 2017).

 

 

PART II.OTHER INFORMATIOnINFORMATION

 

 

11.1

 

Statement regarding computation of per share earnings (incorporated by reference to note 9 of the Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained herein).

   

31.1

 

Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. FILED HEREWITH.

   

31.2

 

Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. FILED HEREWITH.

   

32.1

 

Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. FURNISHED HEREWITH.

   

32.2

 

Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. FURNISHED HEREWITH.

   

101

 

The following materials from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2020,April 30, 2021, formatted in iXBRL (Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at July 31, 2020April 30, 2021 and October 31, 2019,2020, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months and ninesix months ended July 31,April 30, 2021 and 2020, and 2019, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the ninethree months and six months ended July 31,April 30, 2021 and 2020, and 2019, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the ninesix months ended July 31,April 30, 2021 and 2020, and 2019, and (v) Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. FILED HEREWITH.

   

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

 



*

Management contract or compensatory plan or agreement.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

(Registrant)

 

(Registrant)

 

   

Date: September 10, 2020 

By:June 14, 2021

/s/ Neil D. Wilkin, Jr.

Neil D. Wilkin, Jr.

Chairman of the Board of Directors,

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Date: September 10, 2020

 

By:

Date: June 14, 2021/s/ Tracy G. Smith

Tracy G. Smith

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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