For the quarterly period ended May 31, 2004
Table of Contents

Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended May 31, 2004

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from              to              .

 

Commission file number 0-12490

 


 

ACR GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Texas   74-2008473.

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

3200 Wilcrest Drive, Suite 440, Houston, Texas   77042-6039.
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(713) 780-8532

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


 

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, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as filed in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     Yes  ¨    No  x.

 

Shares of Common Stock outstanding at June 30, 2004 - 10,681,294.

 



Table of Contents

ACR GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

                   Page

   

PART I

  

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

    
        

Item 1.

  

Financial Statements

    
             

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – May 31, 2004 (Unaudited) and February 29, 2004

   3
             

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) – Quarters Ended May 31, 2004 and 2003

   5
             

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) – Quarters Ended May 31, 2004 and 2003

   6
             

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

   7
        

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   11
        

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

   15
        

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

   15
   

PART II

  

OTHER INFORMATION

    
        

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

   16
        

Item 6.

  

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

   16
   

SIGNATURES

   17
   

CERTIFICATIONS

   18

 

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Table of Contents

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. - Financial Statements

 

ACR GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

 

ASSETS

 

    

May 31,

2004


   February 29,
2004


     (Unaudited)     

Current assets:

             

Cash

   $ 58    $ 52

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $987 and $793

     23,198      18,120

Inventory

     30,498      27,833

Prepaid expenses and other

     1,059      1,120

Deferred income taxes

     1,204      1,167
    

  

Total current assets

     56,017      48,292
    

  

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation

     4,445      4,461

Goodwill, net of accumulated amortization

     5,258      5,258

Other assets

     793      716
    

  

Total assets

   $ 66,513    $ 58,727
    

  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part

of these condensed financial statements.

 

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ACR GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

    

May 31,

2004


   

February 29,

2004


 
     (Unaudited)        

Current liabilities:

                

Current maturities of long-term debt and capital lease Obligations

   $ 399     $ 407  

Accounts payable

     24,975       18,756  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     3,619       3,248  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     28,993       22,411  
    


 


Revolving line of credit

     21,230       21,086  

Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, less current maturities

     1,546       1,645  

Deferred Income Taxes

     224       219  
    


 


Total long-term obligations

     23,000       22,950  
    


 


Shareholders’ equity:

                

Common stock

     107       107  

Deferred restricted stock compensation

     117       —    

Additional paid-in capital

     41,691       41,691  

Accumulated deficit

     (27,395 )     (28,432 )
    


 


Total shareholders’ equity

     14,520       13,366  
    


 


Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 66,513     $ 58,727  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part

of these condensed financial statements.

 

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ACR GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended
May 31,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Sales

   $ 50,045     $ 42,317  

Cost of sales

     38,887       33,012  
    


 


Gross profit

     11,158       9,305  

Selling, general and administrative costs

     9,247       8,233  
    


 


Operating income

     1,911       1,072  

Interest expense

     364       385  

Other non-operating (income)

     (142 )     (103 )
    


 


Income before income taxes

     1,689       790  

Provision for income taxes:

                

Current

     684       154  

Deferred

     (32 )     148  
    


 


Net income

   $ 1,037     $ 488  
    


 


Earnings per share:

                

Basic

   $ .10     $ .05  
    


 


Diluted

   $ .09     $ .05  
    


 


Weighted average shares outstanding:

                

Basic

     10,681       10,681  
    


 


Diluted

     10,996       10,681  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part

of these condensed financial statements.

 

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ACR GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended
May 31,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Operating activities:

                

Net income

   $ 1,037     $ 488  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                

Depreciation and amortization

     240       258  

Provision for doubtful accounts

     194       166  

Gain on sale of assets

     (2 )     —    

Deferred income tax (benefits) expense

     (32 )     148  

Deferred restricted stock compensation

     117       —    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                

Accounts receivable, net

     (5,272 )     (3,874 )

Inventory

     (2,665 )     (1,404 )

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     (16 )     (412 )

Accounts payable

     6,219       5,923  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     369       533  
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     189       1,826  
    


 


Investing activities:

                

Acquisition of property and equipment

     (222 )     (127 )

Proceeds from disposition of assets

     2       179  
    


 


Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (220 )     52  
    


 


Financing activities:

                

Net borrowings (payments) on revolving credit facility

     144       (1,809 )

Payments on long-term debt

     (107 )     (123 )
    


 


Net cash provided (used in) by financing activities

     37       (1,932 )
    


 


Net increase (decrease) in cash

     6       (54 )

Cash at beginning of year

     52       104  
    


 


Cash at end of period

   $ 58     $ 50  
    


 


Non-cash sale of subsidiary’s inventory and tangible capital assets for issuance of a note receivable

   $ —       $ 244  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part

of these condensed financial statements.

 

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ACR GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

1 - Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed historical financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required for complete financial statements, and therefore should be reviewed in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes thereto contained in the Company’s annual report for the year ended February 29, 2004 filed on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Actual operating results for the three months ended May 31, 2004, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2005.

 

Certain reclassifications were made to the prior year’s financial statements to conform with current year presentation.

 

2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

For a description of these policies, refer to Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 29, 2004 and to Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, below.

 

In accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) Number 123, “Accounting for Stock-based Compensation”, as amended by SFAS 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123,” the Company has elected to follow the Accounting Principles Board Opinion (“APB”) 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, and related interpretations in accounting for its employees stock-based compensation plans. Under APB 25, if the exercise price of employee stock options equals or exceeds the fair value of the underlying stock on the date of grant, no compensation expense is recognized.

 

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Had compensation expense been determined consistent with SFAS 123, the Company’s net income and earnings per share would have been changed to the following pro forma amounts:

 

     Three Months Ended
May 31,


     2004

   2003

Net income applicable to common shareholders as reported

   $ 1,037    $ 488

Total stock-based employee compensation expense under fair value method for all awards, net of tax

     38      —  
    

  

Pro forma income applicable to common Shareholders

   $ 999    $ 488
    

  

Basic earnings per share:

             

As reported

   $ .10    $ .05
    

  

Pro forma

   $ .09    $ .05
    

  

Diluted earnings per share:

             

As reported

   $ .10    $ .05
    

  

Pro forma

   $ .09    $ .05
    

  

 

3 - Contingent Liabilities

 

The Company has an arrangement with an HVACR equipment manufacturer and a bonded warehouse agent whereby HVACR equipment is held for sale in bonded warehouses located at the premises of certain of the Company’s operations, with payment due only when products are sold. The supplier retains legal title and substantial management control with respect to the consigned inventory. The Company is responsible for damage to and loss of inventory that may occur at its premises. The Company has the ability to return consigned inventory, at its sole discretion, to the supplier for a specified period of time after receipt of the inventory. Such inventory is accounted for as consigned merchandise and is not recorded on the Company’s balance sheet. As of May 31, 2004, the cost of such inventory held in the bonded warehouses was approximately $ 6,761,000.

 

The terms of the consignment agreement further provide that the Company may be required to purchase inventory not sold within a specified period of time. Historically, most consigned inventory is sold before the specified purchase date, and the supplier has never enforced its right to demand payment, instead permitting such inventory to remain on consignment. As of May 31, 2004, inventory of approximately $168,000 remained on consignment although it had been held in excess of the allowable period of time.

 

4 - Goodwill

 

Goodwill represents the excess cost of companies acquired over the fair value of their tangible net assets. The Company accounts for goodwill in accordance with SFAS Number 142. Goodwill attributable to each of the Company’s reporting units is tested for impairment by comparing the fair value of each reporting unit with its carrying value. These impairment tests are required to be performed at least annually. On an ongoing basis (absent any impairment indicators), the Company performs the annual impairment test as of the end of its fiscal year.

 

5 - Stock Option Agreements and Equity Transactions

 

Effective March 1, 2004, both the Chief Financial Officer and the General Counsel of the Company entered into employment contracts that each provide for the contingent issuance of 500,000

 

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shares of Stock upon both continuation of employment and attainment of specified financial performance objectives by the Company. Up to 125,000 shares will vest for each officer on each of the four succeeding anniversary dates of the grant if the performance objectives are also satisfied. Any such shares not fully vested as of March 1, 2009, will be forfeited and returned to the Company. For the quarter ended May 31, 2004, the Company recognized $109,375 as compensation expense related to the expected results of the performance objectives under the employment agreements.

 

Effective March 1, 2004, the two outside directors of the Company each received restricted stock grants of 42,000 shares, subject to continuation of service as a director for four years. The shares will vest annually pro-rata over such period. The Company will recognize $121,800 as compensation expense ratably over the four-year period for the restricted stock grant. For the quarter ended May 31, 2004, the Company recognized $7,613 compensation expense related to the directors restricted stock grants.

 

The Company has a stock option plan for key employees and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries. The plan provides for the granting of up to 500,000 non-qualified and/or incentive stock options. The options expire after five years and can be extended for a period of two years. On March 23, 2004, a total of 93,500 options granted under the plan in March 1999 were extended until March 23, 2006. The extension created a new measurement date for valuing the options. No compensation expense was recognized because the market price of the stock was equal to the option price on the date of extension.

 

6 - New Accounting Pronouncements

 

In January 2003, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) reached a final consensus on EITF Issue No. 02-16, “Accounting by a Customer (Including a Reseller) for Certain Consideration Received from a Vendor”. EITF 02-16 clarifies certain aspects for accounting and recording of consideration received from vendors. Certain provisions of the EITF are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2002, and other provisions of the EITF are effective for arrangements entered into after November 21, 2003. The Company’s accounting for consideration received from vendors is consistent with the provisions of EITF 02-16 as of May 31, 2004.

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. In general, a variable interest entity is a corporation, partnership, trust, or other legal structure used for business purposes that either (a) does not have equity investors with voting rights or (b) has equity investors that do not provide sufficient financial resources for the entity to support its activities. Interpretation 46 requires a variable interest entity to be consolidated by a company if that company is subject to a majority of the risk of loss from the variable interest entity’s activities or entitled to receive a majority of the entity’s residual returns or both. The Interpretation is effective for all Variable Interest Entities created after January 31, 2003, and is effective for special purpose entities created before February 1, 2003 for the first reporting period after December 15, 2003 and for non-special purpose entities for the first reporting period beginning after March 15, 2004. The adoption of the Interpretation did not have nor is expected to have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

7 - Income Taxes

 

The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. The Company uses the liability method in accounting for income taxes. Under the liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse.

 

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8 - Debt

 

The Company has a revolving line of credit arrangement with a commercial bank. The maximum amount that may be borrowed under the revolving line of credit is $25 million, and $1 million for capital expenditures. At May 31, 2004, the Company had available credit of $2.2 and $0.2 million under the revolving credit line and the capital expenditure term loan facility, respectively. The terms of the agreement allow the line of credit to be extended for one year terms unless either party gives notification of its intent to terminate the agreement. As discussed below, the Company is seeking alternative financing and has notified the commercial bank of its intent to terminate the agreement upon successful completion of a new revolving line of credit agreement.

 

The Company has agreed in principle to the terms of a new bank loan agreement, which would replace all of the credit facilities described above. The new loan agreement provides for a $30 million revolving line of credit and a $5 million credit facility for purchases of equipment and real estate. The interest rate on borrowings under the new loan agreement is expected to be 75 to 125 basis points less than the Company’s current rate. The new loan agreement is expected to close at or about the end of the second quarter ending August 31, 2004. The Company has excluded from current liabilities $21.2 million related to the outstanding revolving line of credit agreement because the terms of the new financing arrangement provide for a maturity in excess of one year. The Company intends to consummate refinancing under its existing agreement if the proposed new financing does not close.

 

9 - Earnings Per Share

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended May 31, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands except per share data):

 

     Three Months Ended
May 31,


     2004

   2003

Numerator:

             

Net income

   $ 1,037    $ 488

Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share – income available to common shareholders

   $ 1,037    $ 488
    

  

Denominator:

             

Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average shares

     10,681      10,681

Effect of dilutive securities:

             

Stock options

     44      —  

Restricted stock grants

     271      —  
    

  

Denominator for diluted earnings per share – adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions

     10,996      10,681
    

  

Basic earnings per share

   $ .10    $ .05
    

  

Diluted earnings per share

   $ .09    $ .05
    

  

 

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

 

INTRODUCTION

 

ACR Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) is an independent distributor of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration (“HVACR”) equipment and related parts and supplies. The Company is among the ten largest such distributors in the United States. Substantially all of the Company’s sales are to contractor dealers and institutional end-users. Generally accepted accounting principles allow the aggregation of an enterprise’s segments if they are similar. Although the Company operates in different geographic areas, the Company’s management has reviewed the aggregation criteria and determined that the Company operates as a single segment based on the high degree of similarity of the Company’s operations.

 

This report on Form 10-Q includes certain statements that may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially. Such risks and uncertainties may include the availability of debt or equity capital to fund the Company’s working capital requirements, unusual weather conditions, the effects of competitive pricing, the strength of construction markets and general economic conditions. Our expectations and beliefs are expressed in good faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them, but there can be no assurance that our expectations, beliefs or projections will be achieved or accomplished. The forward-looking statements in this document are intended to be subject to the safe harbor protection provided under the securities laws.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2004 COMPARED TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2003

 

The Company recognized net income of $1,037,000 for the quarter ended May 31, 2004 (fiscal 2005) compared to $488,000 for the quarter ended May 31, 2003 (fiscal 2004), an increase of 113%, and represented the most profitable first fiscal quarter in the Company’s history. Each of the Company’s six business units, except for the Texas-based unit, generated operating income at least 10% greater than the preceding year. The Texas-based unit was adversely affected by unusually high rainfall in April and early May, which reduced demand for the Company’s products. Business units based in Colorado and California generated the highest rate of growth in net income over the previous year. A resurgence in economic development in Colorado enabled that business unit to earn its highest first quarter income since fiscal 2001. The California business unit sustained the momentum it developed in fiscal 2004.

 

Consolidated sales increased 18% to $50.0 million during the quarter ended May 31, 2004, compared to $42.3 million for the quarter ended May 31, 2003. Same-store sales for the first quarter increased 16% over the quarter ended May 31, 2003. In the first five months of calendar 2004, same-store sales also increased 16% over 2003, compared to a 12% increase in industry-wide product shipments during the same period based on data compiled by a leading industry trade association. Same-store comparisons exclude two non-core business units that were sold in fiscal 2004, a branch closed in fiscal 2004 and four new branches opened since June 2003. Sales under a contract with a customer that commenced in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 represented 3 percentage points of the increase in consolidated and same-store sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2005. An analysis of sales growth by business unit for the quarter is comparable to the analysis of changes in income presented in the preceding paragraph.

 

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The Company’s consolidated gross margin percentage on sales was 22.3% for the quarter ended May 31, 2004, compared to 22.0% for the quarter ended May 31, 2003. The increase in gross margin percentage was broad-based across all business units and resulted from continuous improvement in both purchasing terms with suppliers and customer pricing disciplines. The Company earns a relatively low gross margin percentage on the large volume contract described in the preceding paragraph; sales under this contract decreased consolidated gross margin percentage for the quarter ended May 31, 2004 by 0.5 percentage points.

 

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses increased by 11% in the quarter ended May 31, 2004, compared to the same quarter of 2003. Same-store SG&A expenses increased 10% over the same periods, generally because of the much higher sales volumes in fiscal 2005. Expressed as a percentage of sales, SG&A expenses decreased in the first quarter from 19.5% in 2003 to 18.3% in 2004.

 

Interest expense decreased 5% from May 31, 2004 to May 31, 2003 because of a decrease in the average interest rates on the Company’s indebtedness. Average funded indebtedness increased 4% in the quarter ended May 31, 2004, compared to the preceding year, as the Company utilized its revolving credit line for working capital requirements associated with the increase in sales over the preceding year.

 

The Company has estimated a combined federal and state income tax rate of 38.6% for the quarter ended May 31, 2004, compared to 38.2% for the quarter ended May 31, 2003, with the difference attributable to additional state income taxes. In the first quarter of fiscal 2004, slightly less than half of the provision for income taxes was charged to deferred taxes because of federal income tax loss carryforwards. The Company has no loss carryforwards to utilize in fiscal 2005.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

In the quarter ended May 31, 2004, the Company generated cash flow from operations of $189,000, compared to $1,826,000 in the same quarter of 2003, as cash was utilized for working capital needed to support new branches and higher sales volumes. Gross accounts receivable represented 42 days of gross sales as of May 31, 2004 compared to 39 days at May 31, 2003, with the increase attributed to the fact that the last three days of May 2004 were a holiday weekend. Inventory at May 31, 2004 was 10% greater than at May 31, 2003, with the majority of the additional inventory located at branches opened since June 2003.

 

The Company has credit facilities with a commercial bank (“Bank”) which include an $25 million revolving line of credit, and $1 million for capital expenditures. Outstanding borrowings on the revolving credit line change daily depending on cash collections and disbursements. During the quarter ended May 31, 2004, the Company did not borrow additional funds from its capital expenditure facility. At May 31, 2004, the Company had available credit of $2.2 and $0.2 million under the revolving credit line and the capital expenditure term loan facility, respectively. As of May 31, 2004, borrowings under both credit facilities bear interest at either the prime rate or LIBOR plus 2.50%, and the Company had elected the LIBOR option on substantially all outstanding borrowings. The Company has a fixed interest rate on $8 million of borrowings under the facility through April 2005, and the balance of borrowings bears interest at a floating rate. As of May 31, 2004, the average interest rate on all borrowings was 5.68%.

 

The Company has agreed in principle to the terms of a new bank loan agreement, which would replace all of the credit facilities described above. The new loan agreement provides for a $30 million revolving line of credit and a $5 million credit facility for purchases of equipment and real estate. The interest rate on borrowings under the new loan agreement is expected to be 75 to 125 basis points less than the Company’s current rate. The new loan agreement is expected to close at or about the end of the second quarter ending August 31, 2004. The Company has excluded from current liabilities $21.2 million related to the outstanding revolving line of credit agreement because the terms of the new financing arrangement provide for a maturity in excess of one year. The Company intends to consummate refinancing under its existing agreement if the proposed new financing does not close.

 

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Management believes that availability under the present revolving credit facility is adequate to meet the Company’s working capital requirements of its existing operations, debt service requirements and anticipated capital expenditures. In addition to reducing the average interest rate on borrowings, the new loan agreement, if it is closed as presently anticipated, would provide additional funds to both finance additional growth through new branch operations or small acquisitions and enable the Company to take advantage of certain advantageous payment terms with suppliers.

 

SEASONALITY

 

The Company’s sales volume and, accordingly, its operating income vary significantly during its fiscal year. The highest levels of sales occur during the times of the year when climatic conditions require the greatest use of air conditioning, since the Company’s operations are concentrated in the warmer sections of the United States. Accordingly, sales will be highest in the Company’s second quarter ending August 31, and will be lowest in its fourth quarter.

 

INFLATION

 

The Company does not believe that inflation has had a material effect on its results of operations in recent years. Generally, manufacturer price increases attributable to inflation uniformly affect both the Company and its competitors, and such increases are passed through to customers as an increase in sales prices.

 

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In January 2003, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) reached a final consensus on EITF Issue No. 02-16, “Accounting by a Customer (Including a Reseller) for Certain Consideration Received from a Vendor”. EITF 02-16 clarifies certain aspects for accounting and recording of consideration received from vendors. Certain provisions of the EITF are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2002, and other provisions of the EITF are effective for arrangements entered into after November 21, 2003. The Company’s accounting for consideration received from vendors is consistent with the provisions of EITF 02-16 as of May 31, 2004.

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. In general, a variable interest entity is a corporation, partnership, trust, or other legal structure used for business purposes that either (a) does not have equity investors with voting rights or (b) has equity investors that do not provide sufficient financial resources for the entity to support its activities. Interpretation 46 requires a variable interest entity to be consolidated by a company if that company is subject to a majority of the risk of loss from the variable interest entity’s activities or entitled to receive a majority of the entity’s residual returns or both. The Interpretation is effective for all Variable Interest Entities created after January 31, 2003, and is effective for special purpose entities created before February 1, 2003 for the first reporting period after December 15, 2003 and for non-special purpose entities for the first reporting period beginning after March 15, 2004. The adoption of the Interpretation did not have nor is expected to have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The accounting policies discussed below are critical to the Company’s business operations and an understanding of the Company’s financial statements. The financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make assumptions and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in each reporting period. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results, once known, may vary from management’s estimates.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company’s revenues consist of sales of HVACR products. The Company recognizes revenue when the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (2) delivery has occurred, (3) the amounts recognized are fixed and determinable, and (4) collectibility is reasonably assured.

 

Vendor Rebates

 

The Company receives rebates from certain vendors based on the volume of product purchased from the vendor. The Company records rebates when they are earned, and when specified purchase volume levels are reached. Vendor rebates attributable to unsold inventory are carried as a reduction of the carrying value of inventory until such inventory is sold, at which time the related rebates are used to reduce cost of sales.

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

The Company records an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability to collect accounts receivable from customers. The Company establishes the allowance based on historical experience, credit risk of specific customers and transactions, and other factors. Management believes that the lack of customer concentration is a significant factor that mitigates the Company’s accounts receivable credit risk. The number of customers and their distribution across the geographic areas served by the Company help to reduce the Company’s credit exposure to a single customer or to economic events that affect a particular geographic region. Although the Company believes that its allowance for doubtful accounts is adequate, any future condition that would impair the ability of a broad section of the Company’s customer base to make payments on a timely basis may require the Company to record additional allowances

 

Inventory

 

Inventories consist of HVACR equipment, parts and supplies and are valued at the lower of cost or market value using the average cost method. Substantially all inventories represent finished goods held for sale; raw materials represent less than 1% of inventories. When necessary, the carrying value of obsolete or excess inventory is reduced to estimated net realizable value. The process for evaluating the value of obsolete or excess inventory requires estimates by management concerning future sales levels and the quantities and prices at which such inventory can be sold in the ordinary course of business.

 

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The Company holds a substantial amount of HVACR equipment inventory at several branches on consignment from a supplier. The terms of this arrangement provide that the inventory is held for sale in bonded warehouses at the branch premises, with payment due only when products are sold. The supplier retains legal title and substantial management control with respect to the consigned inventory. The Company is responsible for damage to and loss of inventory that may occur at its premises. The Company has the ability to return consigned inventory, at its sole discretion, to the supplier for a specified period of time after receipt of the inventory. The terms of the arrangement further provide that the supplier may require the Company to purchase consigned inventory not sold within a specified period of time. Historically, most consigned inventory is sold before the specified purchase date, and the supplier has never enforced its right to demand payment, instead permitting such inventory to remain on consignment.

 

This consignment arrangement allows the Company to have inventory available for sale to customers without incurring a payment obligation for the inventory prior to a sale. Because of the control retained by the supplier and the uncertain time when a payment obligation will be incurred, the Company does not record the consigned inventory as an asset upon receipt with a corresponding liability. Rather, the Company records a liability to the supplier only upon sale of the inventory to a customer. The amount of the consigned inventory is disclosed in the Company’s financial statements as a contingent obligation.

 

Item 3. - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

The Company is subject to market risk exposure related to changes in interest rates on its senior credit facility, which includes revolving credit and term notes. These instruments carry interest at a pre-agreed upon percentage point spread from either the prime interest rate or LIBOR. Under its senior credit facility the Company may, at its option, fix the interest rate for certain borrowings based on a spread over LIBOR for 30 days to 6 months. At May 31, 2004 the Company had $22.7 million outstanding under its senior credit facility, of which $14.7 million is subject to variable interest rates. Based on this balance, an immediate change of one percent in the interest rate would cause a change in interest expense of approximately $147,000, or $.01 per basic and diluted share, on an annual basis.

 

Item 4. - Controls and Procedures

 

The Company carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Securities Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. This evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective in producing the timely recording, processing, summarizing and reporting of information and in accumulating and communicating of information to management as appropriate to allow for timely decisions with regard to required disclosure.

 

No changes were made to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the last fiscal quarter that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over the financial reporting.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. - Legal Proceedings

 

None

 

Item 4. –Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

None

 

Item 6. - Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

(a) Exhibits

 

31.1   Certificate of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 dated August 14, 2003,
31.1   Certificate of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 dated August 14, 2003,
32.1   Certification from the Chief Executive Officer of ACR Group, Inc. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2   Certification from the Chief Financial Officer of ACR Group, Inc. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

(b) Reports on Form 8-K.

 

The Company filed an 8-K on May 20, 2004; filing its financial results for its fiscal year ended February 29, 2004. A copy of the Company’s press release was attached as Exhibit 99.1 to the Form 8-K.

 

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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.

 

    ACR GROUP, INC.

July 15, 2004

 

/s/ Anthony R. Maresca


      Date

 

Anthony R. Maresca

Senior Vice-President and

Chief Financial Officer

 

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