Burnham Holdings, Inc. Announces Year 2017 Financial Results And Declares Dividend

Consolidated Statements of Income

(In thousands, except per share data)

Years Ended December

2017

2016

Net sales 

$     176,660

$     172,447

Cost of goods sold

139,296

135,972

             Gross profit

37,364

36,475

Selling, general and administrative expenses

30,343

30,179

Goodwill impairment loss (Note 4)

6,000

-

             Operating income

1,021

6,296

Other income (expense):

(Loss) gain on sale of property (Note 3)

(50)

1,107

Interest and investment income

414

236

Interest expense

(1,020)

(1,014)

329

Income before income taxes

365

6,625

Income tax (benefit) expense

(605)

1,988

NET INCOME

$            970

$         4,637

BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE (Note 1)

$           0.21

$           1.02

DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE (Note 1)

$           0.21

$           1.02

COMMON STOCK DIVIDENDS PAID

$           0.88

$           0.88

BOOK VALUE PER COMMON SHARE

$         19.02

$         18.72

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands and data is unaudited (see Notes))

December

2017

2016

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

$         5,515

$         7,563

Trade accounts receivable, less allowances

22,461

23,016

Inventories

42,834

39,585

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

1,338

1,293

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

72,148

71,457

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net

49,532

45,752

OTHER ASSETS, net of goodwill impairment charge of $6,000 and $0

16,725

22,433

TOTAL ASSETS

$     138,405

$     139,642

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

2017

2016

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Accounts and taxes payable & accrued expenses

$       22,149

$       17,127

Current portion of long-term liabilities

134

157

22,283

17,284

LONG-TERM DEBT

15,342

15,582

OTHER POSTRETIREMENT LIABILITIES (Notes 6 and 7)

10,221

18,243

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES (Note 6)

3,830

3,289

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Preferred Stock

530

530

Class A Common Stock 

3,500

3,486

Class B Convertible Common Stock

1,444

1,458

Additional paid-in capital

15,798

15,684

Retained earnings

109,019

112,081

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Note 6)

(25,572)

(29,997)

Treasury stock, at cost 

(17,990)

(17,998)

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

86,729

85,244

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

$     138,405

$     139,642

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Years Ended December 31,

(in thousands and data is unaudited (see Notes))

2017

2016

     Net income

$         970

$      4,637

     Loss (gain) on sale of property (Note 3)

50

(1,107)

     Depreciation and amortization

3,942

4,245

     Goodwill impairment loss (Note 4)

6,000

     Pension and postretirement liabilities expense

(329)

(252)

     Contributions to pension trust (Note 6)

     Other net adjustments

(1,300)

(3,750)

446

(956)

     Changes in operating assets and liabilities

(230)

2,226

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

9,549

5,043

     Net cash used in the purchase of assets

(8,291)

(3,161)

     Proceeds from sale of property, net (Note 3)

532

2,254

     Proceeds from borrowings

72

3,664

     Proceeds from stock option exercise and Treasury activity, net

122

140

     Principal payments on debt and lease obligations

-

(1,264)

     Dividends paid

(4,032)

(4,025)

(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH, CASH  EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH

(2,048)

2,651

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH AT BEGINNING OF YEAR

7,563

4,912

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH AT END OF YEAR 

$      5,515

$      7,563

Notes To Financial Statements:

(1)

Basic earnings per share are based upon weighted average shares outstanding for the period.  Diluted earnings per share assume the conversion of outstanding rights into common stock.

(2)

Common stock outstanding at December 31, 2017 includes 3,100,456 of Class A shares and 1,443,838 of Class B shares.

(3)

On July 23, 2013, a Company subsidiary sold property located in Lancaster, PA. to the Lancaster County Solid Waste Authority for $1.35 million. The book value plus expenses of sale was $76 thousand, resulting in a book gain of $1.274 million. On November 30, 2016, a Company subsidiary sold a portion of its property located in Lancaster, PA for $2.0 million. The book value plus expenses of sale was $893 thousand, resulting in a book gain of $1.107 million.

(4)

During the annual impairment testing of goodwill in 2017,  the Company determined that certain conditions had changed causing it to adjust several assumptions regarding subsidiaries that service the commercial boiler market.  As a result, the Company recorded a $6.0 million charge for goodwill impairment in 2017 results (See Note 2 - Other Assets in the 2017 Annual Report for more details).

(5)

Mark-to-Market adjustments are a result of changes (non-cash) in the fair value of interest rate agreements. These agreements are used to exchange the interest rate stream on variable rate debt for payments indexed to a fixed interest rate. These non-operational, non-cash charges reverse themselves over the term of the agreements.

(6)

Accounting rules require that the funded status of pension and other postretirement benefits be recognized as a non-cash asset or liability, as the case may be, on the balance sheet.  For December 31, 2017 and 2016, projected benefit obligations exceeded plan assets.  The resulting non-cash presentation on the balance sheet is reflected in "Deferred income taxes", "Other postretirement liabilities", and "Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)", a non-cash sub-section of "Stockholders' Equity" (See Note 10 of the 2017 Annual Report for more details).

(7)

For the years 2017 and 2016, the Company made voluntary pre-tax contributions of $1.30 million and $3.75 million, respectively to its defined benefit pension plan.  These payments increased the trust assets available for benefit payments (reducing "Other postretirement liabilities"), and did not impact the Statements of Income.

(8)

Unaudited results, forward looking statements, and certain significant estimates and risks.  This note has been expanded to include items discussed in detail within the Annual Report.

Unaudited Results and Forward Looking Statements. The accompanying unaudited financial statements contain all 

adjustments that are necessary for a fair presentation of results for such periods and are consistent with policies and 

procedures employed in the audited year-end financial statements.  These consolidated financial statements should be 

read in conjunction with the Annual Report for the period ended December 31, 2017, which will be available on or about

March 21, 2018.  Statements other than historical facts included or referenced in this Report are forward-looking

statements subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially

from those projected.  We undertake no duty to update or revise these forward-looking statements.

Certain Significant Estimates and Risks.  Certain estimates are determined using historical information along with

assumptions about future events.  Changes in assumptions for such items as warranties, pension assumptions, medical

cost trends, employment demographics and legal actions, as well as changes in actual experience, could cause these

estimates to change.  Specific risks, such as those included below, are discussed in the Company's Quarterly and 

Annual Reports to provide regular knowledge of relevant matters.  Estimates and related reserves are more fully

explained in the 2017 Annual Report.

Retirement Plans:  The Company maintains a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan, covering both union and non-union employees, that has been closed to new hires for a number of years.  Benefit accrual ceased in 2009, or earlier depending on the employee group, with the exception of a limited, closed group of union production employees.  While not 100% frozen, these actions were taken to protect benefits for retirees and eligible employees, and have materially reduced the growth of the pension liability.  Lancaster Metal Manufacturing, a Company subsidiary, also contributes to a separate union-sponsored multiemployer-defined benefit pension plan that covers its collective bargaining employees. Variables such as future market conditions, investment returns, and employee experience could affect results.

Medical Health Coverage: The Company and its subsidiaries are self-insured for most of the medical health insurance provided for its employees, limiting maximum exposure per occurrence by purchasing third-party stop-loss coverage.  

Retiree Health Benefits:  The Company pays a fixed annual amount that assists a specific group of retirees in purchasing medical and/or prescription drug coverage from providers. Additionally, certain employees electing early retirement have the option of receiving access to an insured defined benefit plan at a yearly stipulated cost or receiving a fixed dollar amount to assist them in covering medical costs. 

Insurance: The Company and its subsidiaries maintain insurance to cover product liability, general liability, workers' compensation, and property damage. Well-known and reputable insurance carriers provide current coverage. All policies and corresponding deductible levels are reviewed on an annual basis. Third-party administrators, approved by the Company and the insurance carriers, handle claims and attempt to resolve them to the benefit of both the Company and its insurance carriers. The Company reviews claims periodically in conjunction with administrators and adjusts recorded reserves as required. 

General Litigation, including Asbestos: In the normal course of business, certain subsidiaries of the Company have been named, and may in the future be named, as defendants in various legal actions including claims related to property damage and/or personal injury allegedly arising from products of the Company's subsidiaries or their predecessors. A number of these claims allege personal injury arising from exposure to asbestos-containing material allegedly contained in certain boilers manufactured many years ago, or through the installation or removal of heating systems. The Company's subsidiaries, directly or through insurance providers, are vigorously defending all open asbestos cases, many of which involve multiple claimants and many defendants, which may not be resolved for several years. Asbestos litigation is a national issue with thousands of companies defending claims.  While the large majority of claims have historically been resolved prior to the completion of trial, from time to time some claims may be expected to proceed to a potentially substantial verdict against subsidiaries of the Company.  Any such verdict would be subject to a potential reduction or reversal of verdict on appeal, any set-off rights, and/or a reduction of liability following allocation of liability among various defendants.  For example, on July 23, 2013 and December 12, 2014, New York City State juries found numerous defendant companies, including a subsidiary of the Company, responsible for asbestos-related damages in cases involving multiple plaintiffs.  The subsidiary, whose share of the verdicts amounted to $42 million and $6 million, respectively, before offsets, filed post-trial motions and appeals seeking to reduce and/or overturn the verdicts, and granting of new trials.  On February 9, 2015, the trial court significantly reduced the 2013 verdicts, reducing the subsidiary's liability from $42 million to less than $7 million.  Additionally, on May 15, 2015, the trial court reduced the subsidiary's liability in the 2014 verdict to less than $2 million.  On October 30, 2015, the subsidiary settled these verdicts for significantly less than the trial courts' reduced verdicts, with all such settled amounts being covered by applicable insurance.  The Company believes, based upon its understanding of its available insurance policies and discussions with legal counsel, that all pending legal actions and claims, including asbestos, should ultimately be resolved (whether through settlements or verdicts) within existing insurance limits and reserves, or for amounts not material to the Company's financial position or results of operations. However, the resolution of litigation generally entails significant uncertainties, and no assurance can be given as to the ultimate outcome of litigation or its impact on the Company and its subsidiaries. Furthermore, the Company cannot predict the extent to which new claims will be filed in the future, although the Company currently believes that the great preponderance of future asbestos claims will be covered by existing insurance. There can be no assurance that insurers will be financially able to satisfy all pending and future claims in accordance with the applicable insurance policies, or that any disputes regarding policy provisions will be resolved in favor of the Company.

Litigation Expense, Settlements, and Defense: The 2017 charges for all uninsured litigation of every kind, was $108 thousand.  The amount  included one asbestos claim, while it is rare for an asbestos suit not to be covered by insurance, a few such claims exist, depending on the alleged time period of asbestos exposure.  Expenses for legal counsel, consultants, etc., in defending these various actions and claims for the year was   $108 thousand.  Prior year's settlements and expenses are disclosed in the 2017 Annual Report.

Permitting Activities (excluding environmental): The Company's subsidiaries are engaged in various matters with respect to obtaining, amending or renewing permits required under various laws and associated regulations in order to operate each of its manufacturing facilities. Based on the information presently available, management believes it has all necessary permits and expects that all permit applications currently pending will be routinely handled and approved.

Environmental Matters: The operations of the Company's subsidiaries are subject to a variety of Federal, State, and local environmental laws. Among other things, these laws require the Company's subsidiaries to obtain and comply with the terms of a number of Federal, State and local environmental regulations and permits, including permits governing air emissions, wastewater discharges, and waste disposal. The Company's subsidiaries periodically need to apply for new permits or to renew or amend existing permits in connection with ongoing or modified operations. In addition, the Company generally tracks and tries to anticipate any changes in environmental laws that might relate to its ongoing operations. The Company believes its subsidiaries are in material compliance with all environmental laws and permits.

As with all manufacturing operations in the United States, the Company's subsidiaries can potentially be responsible for response actions at disposal areas containing waste materials from their operations. In the past five years, the Company has not received any notice that it or its subsidiaries might be responsible for remedial clean-up actions under government supervision. However, one pre-2008 issues covered by insurance policies remain open as of this date and are fully disclosed in the year-end 2017 Annual Report. While it is not possible to be certain whether or how any new or old matters will proceed, the Company does not presently have reason to anticipate incurring material costs in connection with any matters.