Table of Contents

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

 

FORM 10-Q10-Q

 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended July 31, 20202021

 

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

or organization)

(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 ☐

 

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, 7,537,0877, 2021, 7,566,171 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, no par value, were outstanding.

 

 

 

 

optical cable corporationOPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

 

Form 10-Q Index

 

Nine Months Ended July 31, 20202021

 

Page

PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Page
   
 

Item1.

Financial Statements (unaudited)

 
   

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – July 31, 20202021 and October 31, 20192020

2
   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations – Three Months and Nine Months Ended July 31, 20202021 and 20192020

3
   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity – Three Months and Nine Months Ended July 31, 20202021 and 20192020

4
   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Nine Months Ended July 31, 20202021 and 20192020

5
   

Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

6
   
 

Item2. 

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

16

14

   
 

Item4.

Controls and Procedures

31

29

   

PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

 
  30
 

Item6. Exhibits

Exhibits32

   

SIGNATURES

3837

 

1


 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

  

July 31,

  

October 31,

 

 

 

2021

  

2020

 
Assets      

Current assets:

        

Cash

 $121,213  $140,839 

Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $535,445 at July 31, 2021 and $524,617 at October 31, 2020

  9,111,279   7,561,334 

Income taxes refundable - current

  0   25,003 

Other receivables

  3,646,308   23,145 

Inventories

  15,735,456   17,099,767 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  317,181   472,516 

Total current assets

  28,931,437   25,322,604 

Property and equipment, net

  8,155,200   8,811,863 

Intangible assets, net

  654,185   665,731 

Other assets, net

  1,683,125   1,757,614 

Total assets

 $39,423,947  $36,557,812 

Liabilities and ShareholdersEquity

        

Current liabilities:

        

Note payable, SBA PPP Loan - current

 $0  $1,615,404 

Current installments of long-term debt

  321,583   312,109 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

  3,649,073   2,861,343 

Accrued compensation and payroll taxes

  1,505,240   1,463,307 

Income taxes payable

  8,367   13,986 

Total current liabilities

  5,484,263   6,266,149 

Note payable, SBA PPP Loan - noncurrent

  0   3,365,996 

Note payable, revolver - noncurrent

  5,630,213   4,988,660 

Long-term debt, excluding current installments

  4,610,669   4,853,457 

Other noncurrent liabilities

  1,604,984   1,823,632 

Total liabilities

  17,330,129   21,297,894 

Shareholders’ equity:

        

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

  0   0 

Common stock, no par value, authorized 50,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 7,566,171 shares at July 31, 2021 and 7,537,087 shares at October 31, 2020

  14,219,584   14,002,130 

Retained earnings

  7,874,234   1,257,788 

Total shareholders’ equity

  22,093,818   15,259,918 

Commitments and contingencies

          

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 $39,423,947  $36,557,812 

 

See accompanying condensed notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

  

July 31,

  

October 31,

 

 

 

2020

  

2019

 
Assets        

Current assets:

        

Cash

 $998,662  $537,330 

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 

Income taxes refundable - current

  50,618   25,004 

Other receivables

  60,467   69,727 

Inventories

  17,129,461   18,095,627 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  259,173   304,713 

Total current assets

  25,297,922   29,379,998 

Property and equipment, net

  9,064,679   10,010,223 

Income taxes refundable - noncurrent

  0   25,003 

Intangible assets, net

  664,561   659,280 

Other assets, net

  1,885,924   32,430 

Total assets

 $36,913,086  $40,106,934 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

        

Current liabilities:

        

Note payable, SBA PPP loan - current

 $2,469,042  $0 

Current installments of long-term debt

  308,979   738,955 

Note payable to bank, revolver - current

  0   5,650,000 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

  3,421,487   5,459,352 

Accrued compensation and payroll taxes

  1,379,677   1,763,338 

Income taxes payable

  11,843   15,382 

Total current liabilities

  7,591,028   13,627,027 
         

Note payable, SBA PPP loan - noncurrent

  2,512,358   0 

Note payable, revolver - noncurrent

  4,577,521   0 

Long-term debt, excluding current installments

  4,932,239   5,169,668 

Other noncurrent liabilities

  1,674,301   71,339 

Total liabilities

  21,287,447   18,868,034 

Shareholders’ equity:

        

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

  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 

Retained earnings

  1,664,113   7,385,566 

Total shareholders’ equity

  15,625,639   21,238,900 

Commitments and contingencies

          

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 $36,913,086  $40,106,934 

 

See accompanying condensed notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

2

2

 

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

 

Net sales

 $15,634,760  $13,639,169  $43,252,447  $41,389,993 

Cost of goods sold

  11,544,514   10,167,008   32,033,595   31,516,942 

Gross profit

  4,090,246   3,472,161   11,218,852   9,873,051 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

  4,530,563   4,559,970   13,428,079   14,933,595 

Royalty (income) expense, net

  4,809   193,062   (44,958)  208,093 

Amortization of intangible assets

  11,756   10,806   33,661   30,973 

Loss from operations

  (456,882)  (1,291,677)  (2,197,930)  (5,299,610)

Other income (expense), net:

                

Interest expense

  (175,122)  (135,725)  (530,085)  (397,198)

Gain on debt extinguishment─PPP Loan

  5,041,723   0   5,041,723   0 

Other, net

  966,816   (1,436)  4,280,786   (3,015)

Other income (expense), net

  5,833,417   (137,161)  8,792,424   (400,213)

Income (loss) before income taxes

  5,376,535   (1,428,838)  6,594,494   (5,699,823)

Income tax expense (benefit)

  3,768   4,992   (21,952)  15,076 

Net income (loss)

 $5,372,767  $(1,433,830) $6,616,446  $(5,714,899)

Net income (loss) per share: Basic and diluted

 $0.71  $(0.20) $0.88  $(0.78)

 

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)

 

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 

  

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 

  

Nine Months Ended July 31, 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

     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 
                 

Share-based compensation, net

  30,055   75,087   0   75,087 

Net income

     0   5,372,767   5,372,767 

Balances at July 31, 2021

  7,566,171  $14,219,584  $7,874,234  $22,093,818 

 

See accompanying condensed notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

  

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 

See accompanying condensed notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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 

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

        

Net income (loss)

 $6,616,446  $(5,714,899)

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

        

Depreciation and amortization

  914,403   1,082,809 

Bad debt expense

  10,828   431,746 

Share-based compensation expense

  217,454   101,638 

Gain on debt extinguishment─PPP Loan principal

  (4,981,400)  0 

Loss on sale of property and equipment

  3,167   10,305 

(Increase) decrease in:

        

Trade accounts receivable

  (1,560,773)  3,116,310 

Other receivables

  (3,623,163)  9,260 

Inventories

  1,364,311   966,166 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  155,335   45,540 

Income taxes refundable

  25,003   (611)

Other assets

  (25,099)  (8,180)

Increase (decrease) in:

        

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

  789,056   (2,470,420)

Accrued compensation and payroll taxes

  41,933   (383,661)

Income taxes payable

  (5,619)  (3,539)

Other noncurrent liabilities

  (151,981)  381,682 

Net cash used in operating activities

  (210,099)  (2,435,854)

Cash flows from investing activities:

        

Purchase of and deposits for the purchase of property and equipment

  (128,984)  (94,536)

Investment in intangible assets

  (22,115)  (36,254)

Net cash used in investing activities

  (151,099)  (130,790)

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

  42,637,013   5,530,583 

Payments on note payable to bank, revolver

  0   (6,000,000)

Payments on note payable, revolver

  (41,995,460)  (953,062)

Principal payments on long-term debt

  (233,314)  (667,405)

Payments for financing costs

  (66,667)  (213,540)

Net cash provided by financing activities

  341,572   3,027,976 

Net increase (decrease) in cash

  (19,626)  461,332 

Cash at beginning of period

  140,839   537,330 

Cash at end of period

 $121,213  $998,662 

 

See accompanying condensed notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION
Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Nine Months Ended July 31, 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 nine months ended July 31, 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 July 31, 2021, there were approximately 333,000 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, 2021 was $75,087 and $217,454, respectively, and for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2020 was $40,605 and $101,638, 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.

6

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION
Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Nine Months Ended July 31, 2021
(Unaudited)

During the three months ended July 31, 2021, OCC granted restricted stock awards totaling 30,055 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 $9,242 and $81,076, respectively, during the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2021 and recorded expense totaling $35,917 and $95,245, respectively, during the three and nine months ended July 31, 2020 related to the grants to non-employee Directors.

Restricted stock award activity during the nine months ended July 31, 2021 consisted of restricted stock grants totaling 30,055 and restricted shares 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.

As of July 31, 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 1.6 year weighted-average period is approximately $285,000.

(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, 2021 and 2020 follows:

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Balance at beginning of period

 $524,617  $99,562 

Bad debt expense

  10,828   431,746 

Balance at end of period

 $535,445  $531,308 

(4)

Inventories

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

  

July 31,

  

October 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Finished goods

 $4,420,160  $4,663,978 

Work in process

  3,795,368   4,165,289 

Raw materials

  7,282,036   8,010,794 

Production supplies

  237,892   259,706 

Total

 $15,735,456  $17,099,767 

(5)

Product Warranties

As of July 31, 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 nine months ended July 31, 2021 totaled $4,443 and $60,714, respectively. Warranty claims expense for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2020 totaled $44,347 and $55,736, respectively.

7

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION
Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Nine Months Ended July 31, 2021
(Unaudited)

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s accrual for product warranties during the nine months ended July 31, 2021 and 2020:

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Balance at beginning of period

 $85,000  $120,000 

Liabilities accrued for warranties issued during the period

  86,287   141,033 

Warranty claims and costs paid during the period

  (50,714)  (65,736)

Changes in liability for pre-existing warranties during the period

  (25,573)  (85,297)

Balance at end of period

 $95,000  $110,000 

(6)

Long-term Debt and Notes Payable

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”) and a Revolving Credit Master Promissory Note and related agreements (collectively, the “Revolver”).

Effective July 15, 2021, Northeast Bank purchased both the Virginia Real Estate Loan and the North Carolina Real Estate Loan from Pinnacle Bank (“Pinnacle”), with all terms of the real estate loans remaining the same. The real estate loans 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, 2021 and October 31, 2020 consists of the following:

  

July 31,

  

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 $3,318,029 due May 1, 2024

 $3,954,778  $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 $711,773 due May 1, 2024

  977,474   1,045,716 

Total long-term debt

  4,932,252   5,165,566 

Less current installments

  321,583   312,109 

Long-term debt, excluding current installments

 $4,610,669  $4,853,457 

In fiscal year 2020, the Company obtained an unsecured Paycheck Protection Program loan (“PPP Loan”) implemented by the United States Small Business Administration (“SBA”) 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 was fixed at 1.00% per year, and the Company accrued interest of $60,323 on the PPP Loan. Under the CARES Act and The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020, all or a portion of the loan (principal and interest) would be forgiven if certain requirements were met. The Company 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. On July 1, 2021, the SBA forgave the entire balance of the PPP Loan (including accrued interest). As a result, the Company recognized a gain on the extinguishment of debt totaling $5,041,723 (principal amount of $4,981,400 plus accrued interest totaling $60,323) in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

8

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION
Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Nine Months Ended July 31, 2021
(Unaudited)

The Revolver with North Mill Capital LLC (now doing business as SLR Business Credit, “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 July 31, 2021, the Revolver accrued interest at the prime lending rate plus 1.5% (resulting in a 4.75% rate at July 31, 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 July 31, 2021 the Company had $5.6 million of outstanding borrowings on its Revolver and $2.2 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 equipment under operating leases with initial 60 month terms.

9

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION
Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Nine Months Ended July 31, 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 $1,117,247 and $1,265,194 were included in other assets at July 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020, respectively. Operating lease liabilities of $378,161 and $828,512, respectively, were included in accounts payable and accrued expenses, and other noncurrent liabilities at July 31, 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 nine months ended July 31, 2021 totaled $103,333 and $303,902, respectively. Operating lease expense recognized during the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2020 totaled $99,327 and $293,756, respectively.

The weighted average remaining lease term was 37.9 months and the weighted average discount rate was 5.0% as of July 31, 2021.

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

Fiscal Year

 

Future Payments

 

2021   (1)

 $106,182 

2022

  432,485 

2023

  382,716 

2024

  331,438 

Thereafter

  55,023 

Total undiscounted lease payments

  1,307,844 

Present value discount

  (101,171)

Total operating lease liability

 $1,206,673 

(1) Remaining three months of fiscal year 2021

For the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2021, cash paid for operating lease liabilities totaled $106,182 and $301,156, respectively. 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, 2021 and 2020, right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities totaled $208,390 and $1,462,817, respectively.

10

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION
Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Nine Months Ended July 31, 2021
(Unaudited)

(8)

Fair Value Measurements

The carrying amounts reported in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of July 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020 for cash, trade accounts receivable, income taxes refundable – current, other receivables, note payable, 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 July 31, 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

  

Nine months ended

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

 

Net income (loss) (numerator)

 $5,372,767  $(1,433,830) $6,616,446  $(5,714,899)

Shares (denominator)

  7,547,877   7,352,673   7,540,083   7,354,579 

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share

 $0.71  $(0.20) $0.88  $(0.78)

Weighted average unvested shares for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2020 totaling 173,115 and 125,877, 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).

(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, 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.

11

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION
Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Nine Months Ended July 31, 2021
(Unaudited)

For the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2021, 20.9% and 20.0% of consolidated net sales were attributable to 1 national distributor customer. For the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2020, 16.1% and 13.7% of consolidated net sales was attributable to 1 national distributor customer.

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.

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 $108,552 as of July 31, 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 $131,702 as of July 31, 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.

12

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION
Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Nine Months Ended July 31, 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 nine months ended July 31, 2021 and 2020:

  

Three months ended

  

Nine months ended

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

 

United States

 $12,922,510  $11,086,545  $35,007,855  $33,432,451 

Outside the United States

  2,712,250   2,552,624   8,244,592   7,957,542 

Total net sales

 $15,634,760  $13,639,169  $43,252,447  $41,389,993 

(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 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 qualified 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 during its second fiscal quarter and $964,550 during its third fiscal quarter of 2021 for a total of $4,340,365. The $964,550 is included in other income on the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended July 31, 2021, and the $4,340,365 is included in other income on the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended July 31, 2021. The Company was able to use $710,303 of the ERTC during the third quarter of fiscal year 2021 to offset payroll taxes in the months of May and June 2021. The remaining $3,630,062 of the ERTC is included in other receivables on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as of July 31, 2021.

(13)

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 (including its variant strains) 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).

13

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION
Condensed Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Nine Months Ended July 31, 2021
(Unaudited)

In response to the continued uncertainty of the impact of COVID-19, the Company continues to maintain certain protocols at each of its facilities including: 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 (including its variant strains), 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.

(14)

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 adoption of ASU 2019-12 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity or 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.

14

Item 2. Managements 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®”), 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 from: (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 spending by the United States government, including, but not limited to military spending; ability to recruit and retain key personnel; poor labor relations; increasing labor costs; delays, extended lead times and/or changes in availability of needed raw materials, equipment and/or supplies; shipping and other logistic challenges; impact of inflation on costs and ability to pass along any increased costs to customers; 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; 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 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, 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

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant negative impact on businesses and individuals in the United States and globally—including OCC. Actions taken by governments and private industry to limit the spread of the disease (including its variant strains) has resulted in an unprecedented disruption of normal activities as businesses were forced to shut down or operate on a limited basis.

Since March 20, 2020, we have been obligated and have continued to operate 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).

OCC’s sales, production volumes and many costs were significantly and negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the pandemic began, 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 has monitored and continues to monitor the latest CDC, federal, state and other regulatory guidance, works to secure personal protective equipment, finds ways to help mitigate risk, and identifies opportunities for us to meet or exceed health and safety guidelines and recommended protocols.

In response to the continued uncertainty of the impact of COVID-19, we continue to maintain certain protocols at each of our facilities 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 our facilities. We have encouraged all of our employees to be vaccinated, but have not implemented a vaccination mandate at this time.

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.

We have begun to see positive indicators of future strengthening in many of our markets particularly during the second and third quarters of fiscal year 2021, with increasing sales and production volumes compared to those in fiscal year 2020. We have also begun to see increases in our sales order backlog/forward load and drawdowns of finished goods inventories to fill incoming orders. We believe that we will continue to benefit from improvement in our markets during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021. However, we cannot fully anticipate or reasonably estimate the continuing impacts of the pandemic on our various markets and customers─including impacts from emerging variants of COVID-19 (such as the Delta variant) in our various markets.

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will affect OCC in the future will depend on ongoing developments, which are still uncertain, including, but not limited to, the duration and severity of the outbreak, the timing of recovery in certain of OCC’s markets, any resurgence of the virus (including its variant strains), the successful distribution and administration of any current or future vaccines and boosters, as well as a variety of other unknowable factors.

Overview of Optical Cable Corporation

Optical Cable Corporation (or “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® 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® 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 Corporation™, OCC®, Procyon®, Superior Modular Products™, SMP Data Communications™, Applied Optical Systems™, Centric Solutions™ and associated logos are trademarks of Optical Cable Corporation.

Summary of Company Performance for Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2021

Consolidated net sales for the third quarter of fiscal year 2021 increased 14.6% to $15.6 million, compared to $13.6 million for the same period last year.

 

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