UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

☒	Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024

 

OR

 

☐	Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from __________ to __________

 

NORTECH SYSTEMS INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Commission file number 0-13257

State of Incorporation: Minnesota

IRS Employer Identification No. 41-1681094

Executive Offices: 7550 Meridian Circle N #150, Maple Grove, MN 55369

Telephone number: (952) 345-2244

 

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

 

Title of each class		Trading Symbol		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share		NSYS		NASDAQ Capital Market

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

 

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. 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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

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 has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 (b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

 

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

 

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

 

The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the closing price of $13.65 per share, was $17,705,142  as of June 30, 2024.

 

Shares of common stock outstanding as of February 28, 2025: 2,760,793.

 

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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for Registrant’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 14, 2025 have been incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K. The Proxy Statement is expected to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) within 120 days after December 31, 2024, the end of our fiscal year.

 

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NORTECH SYSTEMS INCORPORATED

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I		PAGE
Item 1.	Business	3-6
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	6-16
Item 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	16
Item 1C.	Cybersecurity	16-17
Item 2.	Properties	17
Item 3.	Legal Proceedings	17
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	17
PART II
Item 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	18
Item 6.	Selected Financial Data	18
Item 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	19-26
Item 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	26
Item 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	27-49
Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	50
Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures	50
Item 9B.	Other Information	50
PART III
Item 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	51
Item 11.	Executive Compensation	51
Item 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners, Management and Related Stockholder Matters	51-52
Item 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence	52
Item 14.	Principal Accountant Fees and Services	52
PART IV
Item 15.	Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules	53
	Signatures	54
	Index to Exhibits	55

 

 

NORTECH SYSTEMS INCORPORATED

FORM 10-K

For the Year Ended December 31, 2024

 

PART I

 

Item 1. Business

 

General

 

Nortech Systems Incorporated, (“the Company”, “we”, “our”) organized in December 1990, is a provider of engineering design and manufacturing solutions for complex electromedical devices, electromechanical systems, assemblies and components headquartered in Maple Grove, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota. We maintain facilities and operations in Minnesota in the United States; Monterrey, Mexico; and Suzhou, China.

 

We offer a full range of value-added engineering, technical and manufacturing services and support including project management, designing, testing, prototyping, manufacturing, supply chain management and post-market services. Our manufacturing and engineering services include complex electromedical and electromechanical products including medical devices, wire and cable assemblies, printed circuit board assemblies, complex higher-level assemblies and other box builds for a wide range of industries. In the design phase, we provide technical support, subject matter expertise in design for manufacturing and testing capabilities that allow our customer programs to get to production faster while meeting both their quality and cost requirements.

 

Our breadth of manufacturing, technical expertise and experience make us attractive to our broad customer base. Our customers are original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) in the Medical Device, Medical Imaging, Aerospace and Defense and Industrial markets. The diversity in the markets we serve is an advantage to mitigate the effects of fluctuations from the economy and competition. Our customers rely on our experience and capabilities in manufacturing and supply chain to manage and reduce total overall cost over the life cycle of their products. This requires a strong relationship with our customers based on a trusting partnership as we perform as an extension of their operations. Most of our net sales are derived from products built to the customer’s unique design specifications.

 

Our quality systems and processes are based on ISO standards with all facilities certified to at least one of the following: ISO 9001, ISO 13485 or AS9100. These certifications and registrations provide our customers assurance of our capabilities and proven processes. Our Milaca operation is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) registered facility, and our Suzhou operation is a China National Medical Imaging Administration certified facility. In addition to industry standard certifications, we actively manage quality metrics throughout product life cycle at all levels of the organization to provide real-time, pro-active support to our customers and their projects. Process validation is performed through the strict phases of installation qualification, operation qualification and performance qualification.

 

Business Segment

 

The Company operates in the Medical Device, Medical Imaging, Aerospace and Defense, and Industrial markets with over 50% of its net sales coming from the medical-related markets. All of our operations fall under the Contract Manufacturing segment within the Electronic Manufacturing Services (“EMS”) industry. We strategically direct production between our various manufacturing facilities based on a number of considerations to best meet our customers’ needs. Our plants generate net sales over several of the markets the Company serves. We share resources for sales, marketing, engineering, supply chain, information services, human resources, payroll, and all corporate accounting functions. Our financial information is evaluated regularly on a consolidated basis by the chief operating decision maker in assessing performance and allocating resources.

 

 

Business Strategy

 

The EMS industry has evolved into a dynamic, high-tech, regulated global electronics contract services industry. We continue to expand our capabilities and footprint to better meet these changing market requirements. Along with offering technical expertise in our quality processes, engineering design applications and testing, we continue to transform our business model from one that is less transactional, and price/commodity driven to a solution-based model. Our model is focused on value-added customer and supplier-managed inventory solutions and the underlying cost drivers throughout the global supply chain. We continue to pursue strategic opportunities that may include acquisitions, mergers, and/or joint ventures with complementary companies to expand our service offering, advance our competitive edge, grow our customer base and increase net sales. Our strategic objectives and our history have been based on both organic and acquired growth.

 

We are committed to quality, cost effectiveness and responsiveness to customer requirements. To achieve these objectives, we have invested in equipment, plant capacity studies, people, enterprise resource planning systems, lean manufacturing and supply chain management techniques at our facilities. We have also invested in fiber optic technologies to provide a lighter weight, data-driven and environmentally cleaner solution to our customers. We are committed to continuous improvement and have invested in training our people to identify and act on improvement opportunities. We maintain a diversified customer base and expand into other capabilities and services when there is a fit with our core competencies and strategic vision.

 

Marketing

 

We concentrate our marketing efforts in the Medical Device, Medical Imaging, Aerospace and Defense, and Industrial markets. Our marketing strategy emphasizes our breadth, expertise and experience in each of our markets. Our expertise helps our customers save time and money and also reduces their risks. The breadth of our manufacturing, supply chain, engineering services and complete turnkey solutions assist our customers in getting their products to market quickly while managing the total cost solution. Our strength is managing low to moderate volume components and assemblies with high mix customer demand. This requires us to have close customer relationships and operational flexibility to manage the variation of product demands.

 

Our customer emphasis continues to be on companies that require an electronic manufacturing partner with a high degree of manufacturing and quality sophistication, including statistical process control, statistical quality control, ISO standards, military specifications, AS9100 and FDA facility registration. We continue efforts to penetrate our existing customer base and expand market opportunities with participation in industry forums and selected trade shows. We target customers who value proven manufacturing performance, design, project management and application engineering expertise and who value the flexibility to manage the supply chain of a high mix of products and services. We market our services through a mix of traditional marketing outreach, a specialized business development team and in limited circumstances, independent manufacturers’ representatives. For more information on our marketing and service offerings see our website at www.nortechsys.com. The information on our Company’s website is not part of this filing.

 

Sources and Availability of Materials

 

We currently purchase most of our electronic components globally and directly from electronic component manufacturers and large electronic distributors. During the COVID pandemic, we, like many other companies in our industries, experienced significant supply chain and shipping disruptions. More recently, we are experiencing shifts in customer order patterns as they seek to reduce fulfillment times, which requires changes to our procurement strategies and inventory investments. We attempt to overcome these changes through advanced supply chain solutions we develop in partnership with our customers, a commitment to strong supplier partnerships and risk management tools.

 

 

Major Customers

 

One customer individually, accounted for at 27.7% of net sales for the year ended December 31, 2024, and two customers, individually, accounted for 25.7% and 10.3%, respectively, of net sales for the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

Patents and Licenses

 

Our success depends on our technical expertise, trade secrets, supply chain and manufacturing skills. During the normal course of business, we obtain or develop proprietary product requiring licensing, patent, copyright or trademark protection.

 

Competition

 

The contract manufacturing EMS industry’s competitive makeup includes small closely held contract manufacturing companies, large global full-service contract manufacturers, company-owned in-house manufacturing facilities and foreign contract manufacturers. We do not believe that the small closely held operations pose a significant competitive threat in the markets and customers we serve, as they generally do not have the complete manufacturing and engineering services or capabilities required by our target customers. We believe the larger global full service and foreign manufacturers are more focused on higher volume customer engagements and we do not see them as our primary competition. We continue to see opportunities with OEM companies that have their own in-house electronic manufacturing capabilities as they evaluate their internal costs and investments against outsourcing to contract manufacturers like us. We see trends of the low volume, high mix customer demand going to a regional supply base. This is a good fit with our operations in US, Mexico and China. We continue to study and investigate other regions and global alternatives to meet our competitive challenges and customer requirements.

 

Research and Development

 

We perform research and development for customers on an as requested, project and program basis for development of conceptual engineering and design activities as well as products moving into production. We spent approximately $1.2 million on product research and development in each of the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. We continue to explore opportunities for developing proprietary manufacturing methods or products, particularly in complex wire and cable interconnect technologies.

 

Environmental Law Compliance

 

We believe that our manufacturing facilities are currently operating in compliance with local, state, and federal environmental laws. We plan to continue acquiring environmentally efficient equipment and incurring the expenditures we deem necessary for compliance with applicable laws. Expenditures relating to compliance for operating facilities incurred in the past have not significantly affected our capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position.

 

Government Regulation

 

As a medical device manufacturer, we have additional compliance requirements. We are required to register with the FDA and are subject to periodic inspection by the FDA for compliance with the FDA’s Quality Management System Regulation (“QMSR”) requirements, which require manufacturers of medical devices to adhere to certain regulations, including testing, quality control and documentation procedures. Compliance with applicable regulatory requirements is subject to continual review and is rigorously monitored through periodic inspections and product field monitoring by the FDA. To support the quality requirements of our Aerospace and Defense market customers, all our US locations are International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) compliant.

 

 

Human Capital Resources

 

We have 701 full-time and 43 part-time/temporary employees as of December 31, 2024, none which are covered by union agreements. Manufacturing personnel, including direct, indirect support and sales functions, comprise 657 employees, while general administrative employees total 44.

 

Foreign Operations and Export Sales from Our Domestic Operations

 

We have leased manufacturing facilities in Monterrey, Mexico and Suzhou, China. Monterrey, Mexico has approximately $687,000 and $747,000 in long-term assets, and $1,758,000 and $2,123,000 of net operating lease assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Suzhou, China has approximately $812,000 and $861,000 in long-term assets, and $685,000 and $278,000 of net operating lease assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Export sales from our U.S. domestic operations represented 3.4% and 4.1% of net sales for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

Available Information

 

Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports are available free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable, after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These reports are available on our website at http://www.nortechsys.com and on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Information included on our website is not deemed to be incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

In evaluating our Company, careful consideration should be given to the following risk factors, in addition to the other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Each of these risk factors could adversely affect our business, operating results and/or financial condition, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our common stock. In addition to the following disclosures, please refer to the other information contained in this report, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes.

 

Risks Related to our Business

 

A large percentage of our net sales have been made to a small number of customers, and the loss of a major customer, if not replaced, would adversely affect us.

 

One customer accounted for at 27.7% of net sales for the year ended December 31, 2024, and two customers, individually, accounted for 25.7% and 10.3%, respectively, of net sales for the year ended December 31, 2023. The loss of a substantial portion of net sales to our largest customers could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

We are dependent on suppliers for components and raw materials and may experience shortages, extended lead times, cost premiums and shipment delays that would adversely affect our customers and us.

 

We purchase raw materials, commodities and components for use in our production process. Increased costs of these materials could have an adverse effect on our production costs if we are unable to pass along price increases or reduce the other cost of goods produced through cost improvement initiatives. Fuel and energy cost increases could also adversely affect our freight and operating costs. Due to customer specifications and requirements, we are dependent on suppliers to provide critical electronic and other components and materials for our operations that could result in shortages of some of the components needed for production. Component shortages may result in an inability to deliver products on time or at all, expedited freight, overtime premiums and increased component costs. In addition to the financial impact on operations from lost net sales and increased cost, there could potentially be harm to our customer relationships. To reduce the effects of supply chain disruption for our customers, we purchase and hold raw material and finished goods inventory, which results in a reduction of cash available. If we are unable to sell such inventory or sell such inventory within a reasonable timeframe, it may adversely affect our operations and financial results.

 

 

Our customers cancel orders, change order quantity, timing and specifications that if not managed would have an adverse effect on the timing of net sales and inventory carrying costs.

 

We face, through the normal course of business, customer cancellations and rescheduled orders and are not always successful in recovering the costs of such cancellations or rescheduling. With every new product or substantial redesign of a product, we utilize our new product introduction process. Such process is intended to improve the manufacturability, compliance with customer specifications and quality standards relating to the product but may result in delays in commencement of production impacting the timing of net sales. In addition, excess and obsolete inventory losses as a result of customer order changes, cancellations, product changes and contract termination could have an adverse effect on our operations. We record inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for exposures related to the estimated impact from these possibilities.

 

We depend heavily on our people and may from time to time have difficulty attracting and retaining skilled employees and the cost of labor may continue to increase.

 

Our operations depend upon the continued contributions of our key management, marketing, technical, financial, accounting, product development engineers, salespeople and operations personnel. We also believe that our continued success will depend upon our ability to attract, retain and develop highly skilled managerial and technical resources and direct labor resources within our highly competitive industries. Not being able to attract or retain these employees could have a material adverse effect on net sales and earnings. In addition, the cost of attracting and retaining direct and indirect labor may continue to increase, which will increase our operating costs and may reduce our profitability.

 

Our engineering net sales depend on our ability to deliver quality value-added engineering services required by our customers.

 

The markets for our engineering services are characterized by rapidly changing technology and evolving process development. The continued success of our business to generate engineering net sales will depend upon our ability to hire and retain qualified engineering personnel and maintain and enhance our technological leadership. Although we believe that we currently can provide the value-added engineering services that are required by our customers, there is no certainty that we will develop the capabilities required by our customers in the future. The emergence of new technology, industry standards or customer requirements may render the engineering services we currently provide obsolete or uncompetitive. The acquisition and implementation of new engineering knowledge, technical skills and related equipment may require significant expense that could adversely affect our operating results, as could our failure to anticipate and adapt to our customers’ changing technological requirements.

 

We operate in highly competitive industries, and we depend on continuing outsourcing by Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEM”).

 

We compete against many companies that engineer and manufacture complex electromedical and electromechanical medical device, medical imaging, aerospace and defense, and industrial products. The larger global competitors have more resources and greater economies of scale and have more geographically diversified international operations. We also compete with OEM operations that are continually evaluating manufacturing products internally against the advantages of outsourcing or delaying their decision to outsource. We may also be at a competitive disadvantage with respect to price when compared to manufacturers with excess capacity, lower cost structures and availability of lower cost labor.

 

 

Competitive factors in our targeted markets are believed to be product and service pricing, quality, the ability to meet delivery schedules, customer service, value-added engineering, technology solutions and geographic location. We also expect that our competitors will continue to improve the performance of their current products or services, to reduce their current products or service sales prices and improve services that may be offered. Any of these could cause a decline in net sales, loss of market share, or lower profit margin.

 

The availability of excess manufacturing capacity of our competitors also creates competitive pressure on price and winning new business. We must continue to provide a quality product, be responsive and flexible to customers’ requirements, and deliver to customers’ expectations. Our lack of execution could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

The manufacture and sale of products carries potential risk for product liability claims and warranty claims.

 

We generally are required to represent and warrant to our customers that the goods and services we deliver are free from defects in material and workmanship generally for one year. Certain customers require longer warranty periods. If a product liability claim results in our being liable, it could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial position. We have insurance coverage for product liability claims, but there can be no assurances that the amount of coverage will be adequate or that insurance proceeds will be available for a particular claim. Our insurance may not cover claims for non-conformance or defective products that are not product liability claims from customers.

 

The Company is majority owned by one group of shareholders, and those shareholders may be able to take actions that do not reflect the will or best interests of other shareholders.

 

Curtis Squire, Inc. and the Kunin family, collectively as a group, own a majority of our common stock. As a result, our majority shareholder group will have the ability to elect all of the members of our Board of Directors and thereby control our policies and operations, including the appointment of management, future issuances of our common stock or other securities, the payment of dividends, if any, on our common stock, the incurrence or modification of debt by us, amendments to our articles of incorporation, as amended and amended and restated bylaws and the entering into of extraordinary transactions, and their interests may not in all cases be aligned with interests of other shareholders.

 

In addition, the majority shareholder group may have an interest in pursuing transactions that, in its judgment, could enhance its investment, even though such transactions might be inconsistent with your investment objectives.

 

As a majority owned or controlled company, NASDAQ does not require the Company to comply with certain corporate governance rules including that we are not required to have a majority of independent directors on the board, an independent compensation committee, or an independent nominating and corporate governance committee. The Company is required to have an audit committee comprised of independent directors. Having fewer independent directors or fewer independent members of the Compensation and Talent Committee or the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may result in increased influence of the majority ownership group over business operations.

 

Operating in foreign countries exposes our operations to risks that could adversely affect our operating results.

 

We operate manufacturing facilities in Mexico and China. Our operations in those countries are subject to risks that could adversely impact our financial results and costs, such as economic or political volatility, foreign legal and regulatory requirements, international trade relations factors (such as tariffs, trade sanctions, duties, export controls and other trade restrictions), protection of our and our customers’ intellectual property and proprietary technology in certain countries, potentially burdensome taxes, crime, employee turnover, staffing, managing personnel in diverse culture, labor instability, transportation delays, and foreign currency fluctuations. Legal and regulatory requirements in Mexico and China are continually changing which may and has affected our ability to predict timing and/or whether we will receive applicable tax refunds such as VAT tax refunds. The changing regulatory environment may impact negatively the timing and recognition of such net sales and/or whether we ultimately collect cash from these net sales.

 

 

We face risks arising from the restructuring of our operations.

 

In recent years, we have undertaken initiatives to restructure our business operations with the intention of improving utilization and realizing cost savings. These initiatives have included reducing the size of our workforce, changing the number and location of our production facilities in an effort to align our capacity and infrastructure with current and anticipated customer demand. The process of restructuring entails, among other activities, moving production between facilities, transferring programs from higher cost geographies to lower cost geographies, closing facilities, reducing size of our workforce, realigning our business processes and reorganizing our management.

 

Restructurings could adversely affect us, including a decrease in employee morale, delays encountered in finalizing the scope of, and implementing, the restructurings, failure to achieve targeted cost savings, and failure to meet operational targets and customer requirements due to the restructuring process. These risks are further complicated by our extensive international operations, which subject us to different legal and regulatory requirements that govern the extent and speed of our ability to reduce our manufacturing capacity and workforce.

 

We have and may be required to take additional restructuring charges in the future to align our operations and cost structures with global economic conditions, market demands, cost competitiveness, and our geographic footprint as it relates to our customers’ production requirements or following divestitures. We may consolidate or divest certain manufacturing facilities or transfer certain of our operations to other geographies. If we are required to take additional restructuring charges in the future, our operating results, financial condition, and cash flows could be adversely impacted.

 

Risks Related to our Assets

 

We are dependent on our information technology systems for order, inventory and production management, financial reporting, communications and other functions. If our information systems fail or experience major interruptions due to physical damage or loss of power on our business and our financial results could be adversely affected.

 

We rely on our information technology systems to effectively manage our operational and financial functions. Our computer systems, web sites, telecommunications, and data networks are vulnerable to damage or interruption from power loss, natural disasters and other sources of physical damage or disruption to the equipment which maintains, stores and hosts our information technology systems. We have taken steps to protect and create redundancies for the equipment that facilitates the use of our management information systems, but these steps may not be adequate to ensure that our operations are not disrupted by events within and outside of our control.

 

 

Disruptions to our information systems, including security breaches, losses of data or outages, cyber attacks and other security issues, have and could in the future adversely affect our operations and/or financial results.

 

We rely on information systems, some of which are managed by third parties, to store, process and transmit confidential information, including financial reporting, inventory management, procurement, invoicing and electronic communications, belonging to our customers, our suppliers, our employees and/or us. We monitor and mitigate our exposure to cybersecurity issues and modify our systems when warranted and we have implemented certain business continuity items, including leveraging our multiple sites for redundancies, as well as backup and restore methods inclusive of off-site, secure hosted and cloud based third-party providers. Nevertheless, these systems are vulnerable to, and at times have suffered from, among other things, damage from power loss or natural disasters, computer system and network failures, loss of telecommunication services, physical and electronic loss of data, terrorist attacks, computer viruses, cyberattacks and security breaches, ranging from uncoordinated individual attempts to gain unauthorized access to our information technology systems to sophisticated and targeted measures. These include data theft, malware, phishing, ransomware attacks, or other cybersecurity threats or incidents. The increased use of mobile technologies and the internet of things can heighten these and other operational risks. If we, or the third parties who own and operate certain of our information systems, are unable to prevent such breaches, losses of data and outages, our operations could be disrupted. Also, the time and funds spent on monitoring and mitigating our exposure and responding to breaches, including the training of employees, the purchase of protective technologies and the hiring of additional employees and consultants to assist in these efforts could adversely affect our financial results. The increasing sophistication of cyberattacks requires us to continually evaluate the threat landscape and new technologies and processes intended to detect and prevent these attacks. There can be no assurance that the security measures and systems configurations we choose to implement will be sufficient to protect the data we manage. Any theft or misuse of information resulting from a security breach could result in, among other things, loss of significant and/or sensitive information, litigation by affected parties, financial obligations resulting from such theft or misuse, higher insurance premiums, governmental investigations, negative reactions from current and potential future customers (including potential negative financial ramifications under certain customer contract provisions) and negative publicity and any of these could adversely affect our financial results.

 

In addition, we must comply with increasingly complex regulations intended to protect business and personal data in the U.S. and globally. In many cases, these laws apply not only to third-party transactions, but also restrict transfers of personal information among the Company and its international subsidiaries. Several jurisdictions have passed laws in this area, and additional jurisdictions are considering imposing additional restrictions or have laws that are pending. These laws continue to develop and may be inconsistent from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Complying with emerging and changing requirements causes the Company to incur substantial costs and has required and may in the future require the Company to change its business practices. Compliance with these regulations can be costly and any failure to comply could result in legal and reputational risks as well as penalties, fines and damages that could adversely affect our financial results.

 

We are investing in new technologies which are inherently risky.

 

We have made investments in research and development (“R&D”) of new technologies that we believe if successful will strengthen our relationships with customers. Our intent is that the Company own intellectual property arising from R&D activities. To the extent that those investment efforts are unsuccessful, our competitive position may be harmed, and we may not realize a return on our investments.

 

To compete more successfully, we believe it is advantageous to maintain an effective R&D program to develop new products and manufacturing processes that will benefit our customers. Our R&D efforts are currently funded through investment of capital generated from operations, and we incurred R&D expenses of approximately $1.2 million in each of the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. We are focusing our R&D efforts across several key areas, including development of fiber optic technologies for a wide range of applications like active optical cables, expanded beam technology and physical contact cables.

 

 

We do not expect all our R&D investments to be successful. Some of our efforts to develop and market new products and technologies fail or fall short of our expectations, or will not be well-received by customers, who may adopt competing technologies.

 

Our investments in new products and technologies are inherently risky and are a departure from historical business operations.

 

Developing Company owned technology and products is different than our historical manufacturing business. While we believe that this is an important step to further cultivate relationships with customers and partners, the Company has not historically developed its own technologies or products; rather, it has historically developed and manufactured products designed by our customers.

 

Development of new products and technologies may expose us to potential product liability risks that are inherent in the design, manufacture and marketing of those products. As a result, we face an inherent risk of damage to our reputation if one or more of our products or technologies are, or are alleged to be, defective. Although we carry product liability insurance, we may be exposed to product liability and warranty claims in the event that our products actually or allegedly fail to perform as expected or the use of our products results, or is alleged to result, in bodily injury and/or property damage. Product liability, warranty and recall costs may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Financial Risks

 

If we fail to comply with the covenants contained in our credit agreement, we may be unable to secure additional financing and repayment obligations on our outstanding indebtedness may be accelerated.

 

Our credit agreement contains financial and operating covenants with which we must comply. Effective as of February 29, 2024, we entered into a new credit agreement with Bank of America (the “Revolver”.) Our Revolver contains financial and operating covenants with which we must comply. Our compliance with these covenants is dependent on our financial results, which are subject to fluctuation as described elsewhere in these risk factors. We were not in compliance with financial covenants related to the maximum operating expense contributions to our Mexican operations in the first and second quarters of 2024. We received a waiver of the Mexican operating expenses event of default from the bank in August 2024. On March 27, 2025, we amended the Revolver agreement to waive the leverage ratio and minimum charge coverage ratio events of default as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025 and to further defer the Company’s compliance with these ratios until the third quarter of 2025, and reset compliance thresholds for our covenant ratios for 2025. We have included the Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, Waiver, and Consent as an exhibit to this filing and any description of that document contained in this risk factor is only a summary and is qualified by its entirety by the Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, Waiver, and Consent. If we fail to comply with the covenants in the future or if our lender does not agree to waive any future non-compliance, we may be unable to borrow funds and any outstanding indebtedness could become immediately due and payable, which could materially harm our business.

 

Our exposure to financially troubled customers, start-up businesses or suppliers may adversely affect our financial results.

 

We provide manufacturing services to companies and industries that have in the past, and may in the future, experience financial difficulty. Also, we provide services and products to new and high growth companies. If our customers experience financial difficulty or lack of funding for operations, we could have difficulty recovering amounts owed to us from these customers, or demand for our services or products from these customers could decline. Additionally, if our suppliers experience financial difficulty, we could have difficulty sourcing supply necessary to fulfill production requirements and meet scheduled shipments. If one or more of our customers were to become insolvent or otherwise were unable to pay for the services provided by us on a timely basis, or at all, our operating results and financial condition could be adversely affected. Such adverse effects could include one or more of the following: an increase in expenses for expected accounts receivable credit losses and inventory write-offs, a reduction in net sales, and an increase in our working capital requirements due to higher inventory levels and in days our accounts receivables are outstanding.

 

 

Changes in foreign currency translation rates could adversely impact our net sales and earnings.

 

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates will impact our reported net sales and earnings. Substantially all our net sales are transacted in U. S. Dollars. A majority of our manufacturing and cost structure is based in the United States and transacted in U.S. Dollars. We have exposures to local currencies for certain net sales in China denominated in Chinese Yuan, value added tax receivables denominated in the Mexican Peso, as well as certain costs incurred at our facilities in China and Mexico that are denominated in their respective local currencies. Significant fluctuations in foreign exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies may adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Our Mexico facility operates as a maquiladora, and its financial records are kept in Mexican Pesos. As the function currency of the maquiladora is the U. S. Dollar, we translate the Mexican Pesos financial records into U. S. Dollars and record a currency translation gain or loss in the statement of operations. These translation gains or losses may be material to the financial results of the Company. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we recorded translation losses of $137 thousand and $54 thousand, respectively. The majority of these losses were related to the translation of value added tax receivables denominated in Mexican Pesos.

 

We do not expect to pay dividends for the foreseeable future, and we may never pay dividends; investors must rely on stock appreciation for any return on investment in our common stock.

 

We currently intend to retain any future earnings to support the development and expansion of our business and do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Our payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors after taking into account various factors, including but not limited to, our financial condition, operating results, cash needs, growth plans, and the terms of any credit agreements that we may be a party to at the time. In addition, our ability to pay dividends on our common stock may be limited by state law. Accordingly, investors must rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize certain returns on their investment. As a result, investors must rely on stock appreciation and a liquid trading market for any return on investment in our common stock.

 

We expect volatility in the price of our common stock, which may subject us to securities litigation.

 

The market for our common stock may be characterized by significant price volatility when compared to other issuers, and we expect that our share price will be more volatile than other issuers for the indefinite future. In the past, plaintiffs have often initiated securities class action litigation against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of their securities. We may in the future be the target of similar litigation. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and liabilities and could divert management’s attention and resources.

 

If we fail to maintain effective systems of internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud.

 

Effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud and operate successfully as a public company. Any failure to develop or maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures could harm our reputation or operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. As we expand our business operations both within the United States and internationally, we will need to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures.

 

 

Our services involve other inventory risk.

 

Our production services primarily provide that we purchase some, or all, of the required materials and components based on customer forecasts or orders. Although, in general, our contracts with our customers obligate our customers to ultimately purchase inventory ordered to support their forecasts or orders, we generally finance these purchases initially. In addition, suppliers may require us to purchase materials and components in minimum order quantities that may exceed customer requirements. A customer’s cancellation, delay or reduction of forecasts or orders can also result in excess inventory or additional expense to us. Engineering changes by a customer or a product’s end-of-life may result in obsolete materials or components. While we attempt to cancel, return or otherwise mitigate excess and obsolete inventory, as well as require customers to reimburse us for these items and/or price our services to address related risks, we may not actually be reimbursed timely or in full, be able to collect on these obligations or adequately reflect such risks in our pricing. In addition to increasing inventory in certain instances to support new program ramps, we may also increase inventory if we experience component shortages or longer lead-times for certain components in order to maintain a high level of customer service. In such situations, we may procure components earlier, which leads to an increase in inventory in the short term and may lead to increased excess or obsolete inventory in the future. Excess or obsolete inventory, the need to acquire increasing amounts of inventory due to shortages, customer demand or otherwise, or other failures to manage our working capital, could adversely affect our operating results, including our return on invested capital.

 

In addition, we provide managed inventory programs for some of our customers under which we hold and manage finished goods or work-in-process inventories. These managed inventory programs may result in higher inventory levels, further reduce our inventory turns and increase our financial exposure with such customers. In addition, our inventory may be held at a customer’s facility or warehouse, or elsewhere in a location outside of our control, which may increase the risk of loss. Even though our customers generally have contractual obligations to purchase such inventories from us, we remain subject to customers’ credit risks as well as the risk of potential customer default and the need to enforce those obligations.

 

Market Risks

 

The economic conditions around the world could adversely affect demand for our products and services and the financial health of our customers.

 

Demand for our products and services depends upon worldwide economic conditions, including but not limited to overall economic growth rates, construction, tariffs, taxes, consumer spending and confidence, financing availability, employment rates, interest rates, inflation, defense spending levels, global politics and conflict, and the profits, capital spending, and liquidity of industrial companies.

 

 

An economic downturn or financial market turmoil may depress demand for our products and/or services in all major geographies and markets. If customers are unable to purchase our products or services because of unavailable credit or unfavorable credit terms, depressed end-user demand, or are simply unwilling to purchase our products or services, our net sales and earnings will be adversely affected. Also, we are subject to the risk that our customers will have financial difficulties, which could harm their ability to satisfy their obligation to pay accounts receivable. Further, an economic downturn may affect our ability to satisfy the financial covenants in our financing arrangements.

 

Pandemics or disease outbreaks could adversely affect our operations, supply chains, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Outbreaks of epidemic, pandemic, or contagious diseases, such as, historically, the COVID-19 virus, Ebola virus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or the H1N1 virus, could cause a disruption to our business. Business disruptions could include temporary closures of our facilities or the facilities of our suppliers, reduced demand from customers, unavailability or restricted availability of our material portions of our workforce, raw materials or components necessary to manufacture our products, or disruptions or restrictions on our ability to travel or to distribute our products. Any disruption of our operations, our suppliers or our customers would likely impact our net sales and operating results. In addition, a significant outbreak of epidemic, pandemic, or contagious diseases in the human population could result in a widespread health crisis that could adversely affect the economies and financial markets of many countries, resulting in an economic downturn that could affect demand for our products and services. Any of these events could negatively impact our net sales and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

Legal and Regulatory Risks

 

We are subject to extensive government regulations and industry standards and the terms of complex contracts; a failure to comply with current and future regulations and standards, or the terms of our contractual arrangements, could have an adverse effect on our business, customer relationships, reputation and profitability.

 

We are subject to extensive government regulation and industry standards relating to the products we manufacture as well as how we conduct our business, including regulations and standards relating to labor and employment practices, workplace health and safety, the environment, sourcing and import/export practices, the market sectors we support, privacy and data protection, the regulations that apply to government contracts, and many other facets of our operations. The regulatory climate in the U.S. and other countries has become increasingly complex and fragmented, and regulatory activity has increased in recent periods. Failure or noncompliance with such regulations or standards could have an adverse effect on our reputation, customer relationships, profitability and results of operations. In addition, we regularly enter into a large number of complex contractual arrangements as well as operate pursuant to the terms of a significant number of ongoing intricate contractual arrangements. Our failure or our customers’ failure to comply with the terms of such arrangements could expose us to claims or other demands and could have an adverse effect on our reputation, customer relationships, profitability and results of operations.

 

We may not meet regulatory quality standards applicable to our manufacturing and quality processes which could have an adverse effect on our business.

 

We are registered with the FDA and are subject to periodic inspection by the FDA for compliance with its Quality Management System Regulation/Medical Device Good Manufacturing Practices requirements, which require manufacturers of medical devices to adhere to certain regulations, including testing, quality control and documentation procedures.

 

Also, our US facilities are ITAR compliant which is required for our manufacturing of defense related products. Compliance with applicable regulatory requirements is subject to continual review and is rigorously monitored through periodic inspections and product field monitoring. If any inspection reveals noncompliance with these regulations, it could adversely affect our operations.

 

Our international operations are, and will continue to be, subject to risks relating to changes in foreign legal and regulatory requirements.

 

It can be costly and time-consuming for the Company and our customers to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals and certifications to operate in these markets. Product approvals subject to regulations might not be granted for new medical devices on a timely basis, if at all. Proposed new regulations or changes to regulations could result in the need to incur significant additional costs to comply. Failure of the Company or any of its customers operating in these markets to effectively respond to changes to applicable laws and regulations or comply with existing and future laws and regulations may have a negative effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

 

Complying with securities laws, tax laws, accounting policies and regulations, and subsequent changes, may be costly for us and adversely affect our financial statements.

 

New or changing laws, regulations, policy and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including SEC and Nasdaq regulations, domestic or international tax legislation and the implementation of significant changes in U.S. GAAP, present challenges due to complexities, assumptions and judgements required to implement. We apply judgments based on our understanding, interpretation and analysis of the relevant facts, circumstances, historical experience and valuations, as appropriate. As a result, actual amounts could differ from those estimated at the time the financial statements are issued. In addition, implementation may change the financial accounting or reporting standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements or authoritative entities could reverse their previous interpretations or positions on how various financial accounting or reporting standards should be applied. These changes may be difficult to predict and implement and could materially or otherwise impact how we prepare and report our estimates, uncertainties, financial statements, operating results and financial condition. Our efforts to comply with evolving laws, regulations, accounting policies and standards have resulted in, and are likely to continue to result in, increased general and administrative expenses and management time and attention from net sales-generating activities to compliance activities and may have an adverse effect on our financial statements, including cash flows.

 

Anti-Corruption and Trade Laws - We may incur costs and suffer damages if our employees, agents, or suppliers violate anti-bribery, anti-corruption or trade laws and regulations.

 

Laws and regulations related to bribery, corruption and trade, and enforcement thereof, are increasing in frequency, complexity and severity on a global basis. The continued geographic expansion of our business into China and Mexico increases our exposure to, and cost of complying with, these laws and regulations. If our internal controls and compliance program do not adequately prevent or deter our employees, agents, suppliers and other third parties with whom we do business from violating anti-corruption laws, we may incur defense costs, fines, penalties, reputational damage and business disruptions.

 

Non-compliance with environmental laws may result in restrictions and could adversely affect operations.

 

Our operations are regulated under a number of federal, state, and foreign environmental and safety laws and regulations that govern the discharge of hazardous materials into the air and water, as well as the handling, storage, and disposal of such materials. These laws and regulations include the Clean Air Act; the Clean Water Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; as well as similar federal, state and foreign laws. Compliance with these environmental laws is a major consideration for us due to our manufacturing processes and materials. It is possible we may be subject to potential financial liability for costs associated with the investigation and remediation at our sites; this may have an adverse effect on operations. We have not incurred significant costs related to compliance with environmental laws and regulations and we believe that our operations comply with all applicable environmental laws.

 

Environmental laws could also become more stringent over time, imposing greater compliance costs and increasing risks and penalties associated with violation. We operate in environmentally sensitive locations and are subject to potentially conflicting and changing regulatory agendas of political, business, and environmental groups. Changes or restrictions on discharge limits; emissions levels; or material storage, handling, or disposal might require a high level of unplanned capital investment or relocation. It is possible that environmental compliance costs and penalties from new or existing regulations may harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

 

Global climate change and related regulations could negatively affect the Company.

 

Changes in environmental and climate change laws or regulations, including laws relating to Green House Gas (“GHG”) emissions, could lead to new or additional investment in the Company’s facilities and could increase environmental compliance expenditures. Changes in climate change concerns including GHG emissions, and the regulation of such concerns including climate-related disclosures, could subject the Company to additional costs and restrictions, including increased energy and raw material costs and other compliance requirements which could negatively impact the Company’s reputation, business, capital expenditures, results of operations and financial position.

 

Natural disasters, such as tornadoes and earthquakes, and possible future changes in climate could negatively impact our business and supply chain. Our properties may be exposed to rare catastrophic weather events, such as severe storms and/or floods. If the frequency of extreme weather events increases due to climate change, our exposure to these events could increase.

 

If we use hazardous materials in a manner that causes contamination or injury, we could be liable for resulting damages.

 

We are subject to Federal, State, and local laws, rules and regulations governing the use, discharge, storage, handling, and disposal of biological material, chemicals, and waste. We cannot eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or injury to employees or third parties from the use, storage, handling, or disposal of these materials. In the event of contamination or injury, we could be held liable for any resulting damages, remediation costs, and any related penalties or fines. This liability could exceed our resources or any applicable insurance coverage we may have. The cost of compliance with these laws and regulations may become significant, and our failure to comply may result in substantial fines or other consequences, and either could have a significant impact on our operating results.

 

If we are not able to comply with Department of Defense cybersecurity requirements, our net sales from defense contractors could be reduced.

 

In 2019, the U.S. Department of Defense announced the development of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (“CMMC”) as a framework to assess and enhance the cybersecurity posture of the Defense Industrial Base (“DIB”), particularly as it relates to controlled unclassified information within the supply chain. CMMC is designed to ensure that contractors providing services to the U.S. Department of Defense have implemented cybersecurity controls and processes to adequately protect information that resides on DIB systems and networks. We are working to comply with CMMC requirements with the intention of seeking CMMC level 2 compliance in 2025. If we are unsuccessful in our efforts to timely comply with CMMC requirements, our ability to maintain contracts with customers that are defense contractors and resulting net sales may be impacted negatively.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

 

As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide the information required by this Item.

 

Item 1C. Cybersecurity

 

We recognize the critical importance of maintaining the safety and security of our systems and data and have a process for overseeing and managing cybersecurity and related risks. This process is supported by both management, as well as our Board of Directors and our Science and Technology Committee. The current chair of our Science and Technology Committee is a National Association of Corporate Directors (“NACD”) certified cybersecurity expert.

 

Our Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing our enterprise risk management activities in general, and each of our Board committees assists the Board in the role of risk oversight. The full Board receives an update on the Company’s risk management process and the risk trends related to cybersecurity at least annually.

 

Our Science and Technology Committee specifically assists the Board in its oversight of risks related to cybersecurity. To help ensure effective oversight, the Science and Technology Committee receives reports on information security and cybersecurity from the Company’s information technology managers at least four times a year.

 

 

Our approach to cybersecurity risk management includes the following key elements:

 

Item 2. Properties

 

Administration

 

Our corporate headquarters consists of an approximately 14,000 square feet building located in Maple Grove, Minnesota, a northwestern suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and its lease expires August 2033.

 

Manufacturing facilities

 

Our manufacturing facilities are in good operating condition, and we believe our overall production capacity is sufficient to handle our foreseeable manufacturing needs and customer requirements. The following are our manufacturing facilities as of December 31, 2024:

 

								Manufacturing Space				Office Space				Total
Location		Own/Lease				Lease End Date		Square Feet				Square Feet				Square Feet
Bemidji, MN			Lease			August 31, 2035			56,000				13,000				69,000
Blue Earth, MN (1)			Own						92,000				48,000				140,000
Milaca, MN			Lease			June 30, 2030			15,000				5,000				20,000
Mankato, MN			Lease			August 31, 2035			43,000				15,000				58,000
Monterrey, Mexico			Lease			January 24, 2029			67,000				10,000				77,000
Suzhou, China			Lease			February 28, 2024			27,000				3,000				30,000
Suzhou, China			Lease			January 20, 2027			15,000				-				15,000
Suzhou, China			Lease			October 17, 2026			15,000				-				15,000
Suzhou, China			Lease			November 22, 2028			2,000				-				2,000

 

(1)

In December 2024 we ceased manufacturing at our Blue Earth, MN facility and are currently seeking to sell this facility and underlying land.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time, we are involved in ordinary, routine or regulatory legal proceedings incidental to the business. When a loss is deemed probable and reasonably estimable an amount is recorded in our consolidated financial statements.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not applicable.

 

 

PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

As of March 12, 2025, there were 590 shareholders of record. Our stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “NSYS”. We intend to invest our profits into the growth of our operations and, therefore, do not plan to pay out dividends to shareholders in the foreseeable future. We did not declare or pay a cash dividend in 2024 or 2023. Future dividend policy and payments, if any, will depend upon earnings, our financial condition, our need for funds, limitations on payments of dividends present in our current or future debt agreements and other factors.

 

Stock price comparisons (NASDAQ):

 

During the Three Months Ended		Low				High
March 31, 2024		$	9.13			$	14.35
June 30, 2024		$	10.19			$	19.15
September 30, 2024		$	11.00			$	15.55
December 31, 2024		$	9.53			$	13.90
March 31, 2023		$	10.37			$	16.52
June 30, 2023		$	9.00			$	11.26
September 30, 2023		$	8.76			$	10.89
December 31, 2023		$	7.45			$	10.27

 

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

 

In May 2024, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing up to $100,000 in share repurchases. This share repurchase program commenced in August 2024 and expired in October 2024 upon completion of the program. We purchased 8,185 shares of the Company’s common stock at an average price of $12.09 per share.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

Certain information with respect to our equity compensation plans are contained in Part III, Item 12 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data [Reserved]

 

 

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Overview

 

We are a Minnesota, United States based full-service global EMS contract manufacturer in the Medical Device, Medical Imaging, Aerospace and Defense and Industrial markets offering a full range of value-added engineering, technical and manufacturing services and support including project management, design, testing, prototyping, manufacturing, supply chain management and post-market services. Our products are complex electromedical and electromechanical products including medical devices, wire and cable assemblies, printed circuit board assemblies, complex higher-level assemblies and other box builds for a wide range of industries. As of December 31, 2024, we have facilities in Minnesota: Bemidji, Mankato, Milaca and Maple Grove. We closed our facility in Blue Earth, Minnesota in December 2024 and are currently seeking to sell this facility. We also have facilities in Monterrey, Mexico and Suzhou, China.

 

Our net sales are derived from complex designed products built to the customers’ specifications. The products we manufacture are engineered and designed products that require sophisticated manufacturing support. Quality, on-time delivery, and reliability are of upmost importance. Our goal is to expand and diversify our customer base by focusing on sales and marketing efforts that fit our value-added service, early engagement design, and development strategy. We continue to focus on lean manufacturing initiatives, quality and on-time delivery improvements to increase asset utilization, reduce lead times and provide competitive pricing.

 

Our strategic investments have positioned us to capitalize on growth opportunities in the medical markets and improve our competitiveness by expanding our global footprint. Our industrial and defense markets are focused on improving our asset utilization and profitability while transforming to a value added, solution-sell business model that supports early engagement, design for manufacturability and rapid prototyping.

 

All dollar amounts are stated in thousands of U.S. dollars.

 

 

Operating Results

 

Net Sales. Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $128,133 and $139,332, respectively, a year over year decrease of $11,199 or 8.0%. The following is a summary of net sales by our major industry markets:

 

		Year Ended December 31,
		2024				2023				Increase (Decrease)
Medical Device		$	34,636			$	38,758			$	(4,122	)			(10.6	)%
Medical Imaging			37,492				39,908				(2,416	)			(6.1	)%
Industrial			35,517				40,113				(4,596	)			(11.5	)%
Aerospace and Defense			20,488				20,553				(65	)			(0.3	)%
Total net sales		$	128,133			$	139,332			$	(11,199	)			(8.0	)%

 

	●	Medical Device: Net sales to our Medical Device customers decreased $4,122, or 10.6%, in the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared with the same period in 2023. The decrease was primarily due to inventory re-balancing with existing customers and timing of customer product launches.
	●	Medical Imaging: Net sales to our Medical Imaging customers decreased $2,416, or 6.1%, in the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared with the same period in 2023. The decrease was primarily due to inventory re-balancing with existing customers, timing of customer product launches and lower average sales prices as we moved several programs to our Monterrey, Mexico facility.
	●	Industrial: Net sales to our Industrial customers decreased $4,596, or 11.5%, in the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared with the same period in 2023. The decrease in net sales was primarily due to Industrial customers’ efforts to reduce their inventory investments, delayed program launches with several customers as well as sales headwinds in several markets for which we provide products for these customers.
	●	Aerospace and Defense: Net sales to our Aerospace and Defense customers decreased $65, or 0.3%, in the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared with the same period in 2023. Growth in this market was negatively impacted by the closure of Blue Earth facility in December 2024 and the movement of these customers programs to our Bemidji facility as well as the timing of customer approvals to approve this move. As a result, fourth quarter net sales in this market decreased from $6,055 in 2023 to $2,609 in 2024.

 

Backlog. Our 90-day shipment backlog as of December 31, 2024 was $26,451, down 24.8% from December 31, 2023. Our 90-day backlog consists of firm purchase orders we expect to ship in the next 90 days, with any remaining amounts to be shipped within 180 days.

 

Our total order backlog as of December 31, 2024 was $65,852, a 28.2% decrease from December 31, 2023. As the supply chain lead times have normalized, customers are returning to their pre-pandemic ordering practices, which has resulted in a decrease in our backlog. We continue to experience reduced visibility to net sales in the next several quarters as customers are rebalancing their inventories and, therefore, deferring the placement of some orders, as well as shortening their order to fulfilment lead teams.

 

90-day and total shipment backlog by our major industry markets are as follows:

 

		December 31, 2024								December 31, 2023								% Change
		90 Day				Total				90 Day				Total				90 Day				Total
Medical Device		$	6,953			$	21,706			$	10,350			$	34,471				(32.8	)%			(37.0	)%
Medical Imaging			7,168				10,353				7,757				13,122				(7.6	)%			(21.1	)%
Industrial			5,173				7,306				8,644				13,857				(40.2	)%			(47.3	)%
Aerospace and Defense			7,157				26,487				8,416				30,234				(15.0	)%			(12.4	)%
Total backlog		$	26,451			$	65,852			$	35,167			$	91,684				(24.8	)%			(28.2	)%

 

The 90-day and total backlog as of December 31, 2024 includes orders already recognized in net sales and included in the contract asset value of $13,792.

 

 

Operating Costs and Expenses.

 

Net sales, cost of goods sold, gross profit, and operating costs were as follows:

 

		Year Ended December 31,
		2024				2023				Increase/(Decrease)
Net sales		$	128,133			$	139,332			$	(11,199	)			(8.0	)%
Cost of goods sold			111,411				116,228				(4,817	)			(4.1	)%
Gross profit			16,722				23,104				(6,382	)			(27.6	)%
Gross margin percentage (1)			13.1	%			16.6	%			(353 )	bpc(2)
Selling			3,446				3,598				(152	)			(4.2	)%
% of Net sales			2.7	%			2.6	%
General and administrative			11,709				12,354				(645	)			(5.2	)%
% of Net sales			9.1	%			8.9	%
Research and development			1,191				1,199				(8	)			(0.7	)%
% of Net sales			0.9	%			0.9	%
Restructuring charges			571				-				571				-	%
% of Net sales			0.4	%			-	%
Operating (loss) income			(195	)			5,953				(6,148	)			(103.3	)%
% of Net sales			(0.2	)%			4.3	%

 

	(1)	Gross margin percentage is defined as gross profit as a percentage of net sales.
	(2)	Basis points change in gross margin percentage.

 

Gross profit and gross margins. Gross profit as a percent of net sales was 13.1% and 16.6% for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of net sales in 2024 as compared with the same prior-year periods was the result of lower net sales, as discussed above, and corresponding lower operating leverage from reduced production at a number of our manufacturing facilities, as well as incremental costs associated included in costs of goods sold related to the closure of our Blue Earth facility and moving production to our Bemidji facility.

 

Selling expenses. Selling expenses decreased slightly in the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared with 2023 as the result of lower incentive compensation expense in 2024.

 

General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased $645, or 5.2% in the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared with the 2023 as the result of lower incentive compensation expense in 2024.

 

Restructuring charges. Restructuring charges were $571 in the year ended December 31, 2024 for employee retention bonuses, disposal and moving costs associated with the closure of our Blue Earth facility.

 

Operating (loss) income. Operating (loss) income for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $(195), or (0.2)% of net sales, and as compared with $5,953, or 4.3% of net sales, respectively. The decreases were driven by lower in net sales and resulting gross margin, incremental costs associated with the closure of the Blue Earth facility included in costs of sales as well as restructuring expense, offset by lower incentive compensation of $1,643 in 2024 as we did not meet our bonus objectives.

 

Other expense

 

Interest expense. Interest expense was $744 and $487 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. This increase was driven by higher borrowings under our line of credit arrangement. Refer to “Liquidity and Capital Resources” for further discussion of financing arrangements.

 

Income taxes. Our effective tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were (37.9)% and 25.8%, respectively. The primary drivers of the change in the effective tax rates relate to changes in pretax book income between the years and the 2023 recording of a $2.6 million tax benefit from the reduction of our valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.

 

Net (Loss) Income. Our net loss in 2024 was $1,295 or $0.47 per diluted and basic common share. Our net income in 2023 was $6,874 or $2.38 per diluted and $2.53 per basic common share.

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We believe that our existing financing arrangements, anticipated cash flows from operations, and cash on hand will be sufficient to satisfy our working capital needs, capital expenditures and debt repayments for the next year from the date of this filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Credit Facilities

 

On February 29, 2024, we replaced the asset backed line of credit agreement with a $15,000 Senior Secured Revolving Line of Credit with Bank of America (the “Revolver”). The Revolver allows for borrowings at a defined base rate, or at the one, three or six month Secured Overnight Finance Rate, also known as “SOFR,” plus a defined margin. If the Company prepays SOFR borrowings before their contractual maturity, the Company has agreed to compensate the bank for lost margin, as defined in the Revolver agreement. The Company is required to quarterly pay a 20-basis point fee on the unused portion of the Revolver.

 

The Revolver requires the Company to maintain no more than 2.5 times leverage ratio and at least a 1.25 times minimum fixed charges coverage ratio, both of which are defined in the Revolver agreement. These ratios are calculated based on trailing twelve-month results. There are no subjective acceleration clauses under the Revolver that would accelerate the maturity of outstanding borrowings. The Revolver contains certain covenants which, among other things, require the Company to adhere to regular reporting requirements, abide by shareholder dividend limitations, maintain certain financial performance, and limit the amount of annual capital expenditures. The Revolver is secured by substantially all the Company’s assets and expires on February 28, 2027. We were not in compliance with financial covenants related to the maximum operating expense contributions to our Mexican operations in the first and second quarters of 2024. We have received a waiver of this event of default from the bank. On March 27, 2025, we amended (the “Amendment”) the Revolver to waive our non-compliance with the leverage ratio and minimum fixed charge ratio as of December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2025. Further, the Amendment defers the Company’s compliance with these ratios until the third quarter of 2025 at which time the Company must maintain (a)  a leverage ratio of 3.5 times or less in the third quarter of 2025, and 2.5 times or less for each subsequent quarter; and (b)  a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio to 1.25 times for the third quarter of 2025 and each quarter thereafter.  The Company must also maintain EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes depreciation and amortization) as of the end of the second quarter and third quarter of at least $1,600. In addition, the Amendment requires the Company to maintain unrestricted cash and Revolver availability of at least $2.5 million at each month end in the second quarter of 2025, $2.75 million at month end July 2025 and $3.0 million at the end of August and September 2025.  The Amendment also requires the Company to provide incremental monthly reporting and increased the Company’s borrowing rate by one percent until the Company is in compliance with the original terms of the Revolver. We have included the Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, Waiver, and Consent as an exhibit to this filing and any description of that document contained in this risk factor is only a summary and is qualified by its entirety by the Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, Waiver, and Consent.

 

Under the amended Bank of America credit agreement signed February 29, 2024, the line of credit is subject to variations in the SOFR index rate. Under the prior credit agreement with Bank of America, the line of credit borrowing availability was restricted by a defined asset borrowing base, and interest was based on variations in the Bloomberg Short-Term Bank Yield (BSBY) index rate. Our line of credit bears interest at a weighted-average interest rate of 7.7% and 8.3% as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We had borrowings on our line of credit of $8,695 and $5,846 outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024 we had unused availability on the line of credit of $6,305.

 

The Company has an interim funding agreement as of December 31, 2024 with a bank related to $345 of deposits made on equipment purchases that will be funded through a finance lease when the equipment is received and operational. As of December 31, we have $345 outstanding on the interim funding agreement for equipment.

 

The line of credit is shown net of debt issuance costs of $61 and $31 on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

 

Our China operation has a financing agreement with China Construction Bank which provides for a line of credit arrangement of 10,000,000 Renminbi (RMB) (approximately 1.4 million USD) that expires on September 9, 2025. No amounts were outstanding under this financing arrangement as of December 31, 2024 or 2023. The interest rate as of December 31, 2024 was approximately 4%.

 

 

Cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are summarized as follows:

 

		2024				2023
Cash flows provided by (used in):
Operating activities		$	(2,250	)		$	1,769
Investing activities			(1,263	)			(1,284	)
Financing activities			2,765				(1,281	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash			(11	)			(10	)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		$	(759	)		$	(806	)

 

Cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $2,250 compared with cash provided by operations of $1,769 for the year ended December 31, 2023. In 2024, the cash used in operating activities was driven by the timing of accounts payable payments and the payment of accrued bonus expenses. In 2023, the cash provided by operating activities was driven by net income.

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $1,263 for the year ended December 31, 2024 and net cash used in investing activities was $1,284 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Cash used in investing activities in both years primarily relates to the purchase of property and equipment.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities in 2024 of $2,765 consisted primarily of net proceeds from the line of credit of $2,849 and proceeds from notes payable of $345. The cash used by financing activities in 2023 of $1,281 consisted primarily of net payments on the line of credit of $1,050 and capital lease payments of $390.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our audited consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of our consolidated financial statements, the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting periods presented, as well as our disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions, including, but not limited to, valuation allowance for inventories, allowance for credit losses, realizability of deferred tax assets and long-lived asset impairment testing.

 

We base our estimates and assumptions on our historical experience and on various other information available to us at the time that these estimates and assumptions are made. We believe that these estimates and assumptions are reasonable under the circumstances and form the basis for our making judgments about the carrying values of our assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results and outcomes could differ from our estimates primarily due to incorrect sales forecasting. We utilize a pipeline generated by our sales team and speak directly with all departments regarding estimates and assumptions. If, for any reason, those estimates, and assumptions vary substantially it would also impact our financial results.

 

 

Our accounting policies are described in “Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We believe that the following discussion addresses our critical accounting policies and reflects those areas that require more significant judgments and use of estimates and assumptions in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Our net sales are comprised of product, engineering services and repair services. All net sales are recognized when the Company satisfies its performance obligation(s) under the contract by transferring the promised product or service to our customer either when (or as) our customer obtains control of the product or service, with the majority of our net sales being recognized over time including goods produced under contract manufacturing agreements and services net sales. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct product or service to a customer. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation. Most of our contracts have a single performance obligation and require that we provide services and products that are unique to each customer’s designed products and have no alternative usage. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has recorded a contract asset of $13,792 for unbilled customer net sales included in net sales. Net sales are recorded net of returns, allowances and customer discounts. Our net sales for services were less than 10% of our total sales for all periods presented, and accordingly, are included in net sales in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income. Sales, value added, and other taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are accounted for on a net (excluded from net sales) basis. Shipping and handling costs charged to our customers are included in net sales, while the corresponding shipping expenses are included in cost of goods sold.

 

Long-Lived Assets Impairment

 

We evaluate long-lived assets, primarily property and equipment, whenever current events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. Recoverability for assets to be held and used is based on our projection of the undiscounted future operating cash flows of the underlying assets. To the extent such projections indicate that future undiscounted cash flows are not sufficient to recover the carrying amounts of related assets, a charge might be required to reduce the carrying amount to equal estimated fair value. As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s common stock was trading at a value less than the Company’s net equity value. As such, the Company evaluated future undiscounted cash flows and determined that no long-lived asset impairment was required as of December 31, 2024.

 

 

Inventory Valuation

 

Inventory are recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable value for inventory that may have a lower net realizable value than cost or quantities in excess of future production needs. Certain raw material inventories are purchased solely to meet a customer’s unique manufacturing requirements. We seek to require our customers to prepay for end of life or certain inventory in excess of current customer order quantities. We have an evaluation process to assess the value of the inventory that is slow moving, excess or obsolete on a quarterly basis. This process includes an evaluation of our inventory based on current usage and the latest forecasts of product demand and production requirements from our customers. We periodically review the underlying inventory reserve assumptions based on recent trends. As of December 31, 2024, we had an inventory reserve of $1,446.

 

Income Taxes

 

Significant judgment is required in evaluating our tax positions and in determining income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and any valuation allowance recorded against our deferred tax assets. We evaluate the recoverability of deferred tax assets based on available evidence. This process involves significant management judgment about assumptions that are subject to change from period to period based on changes in tax laws or variances between future projected operating performance and actual results. We establish a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets if we determine, based on available evidence at the time the determination is made, that it is more likely than not (defined as a likelihood of more than 50%) that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In making this determination, we evaluate all positive and negative evidence as of the end of each reporting period. Future adjustments (either increases or decreases) to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance are determined based upon changes in the expected realization of the net deferred tax assets. In 2023, we recorded a $2,600 tax benefit as we reversed a previously established valuation allowance against our net U.S. deferred tax assets. During 2024, we concluded that it was more likely than not we would realize our recorded net deferred tax assets. The realization of the deferred tax assets ultimately depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income or tax liability in either the carryback or carry-forward periods under the tax law. Due to significant estimates used to establish the valuation allowance and the potential for changes in facts and circumstances, it is reasonably possible that we will be required to record additional adjustments to the valuation allowance in future reporting periods that could have a material effect on our results of operations.

 

We establish reserves for uncertain tax positions when, despite our belief that our tax return positions are fully supportable, we believe that certain positions are likely to be challenged and that we may or may not prevail. If we determine that a tax position is more likely than not of being sustained upon audit, based solely on the technical merits of the position, we recognize the benefit. We measure the benefit by determining the amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement. We presume that all tax positions will be examined by a taxing authority with full knowledge of all relevant information. The calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. We regularly monitor our tax positions and tax liabilities. We reevaluate the technical merits of our tax positions and recognize an uncertain tax benefit, or derecognize a previously recorded tax benefit, when there is (i) a completion of a tax audit, (ii) effective settlement of an issue, (iii) a change in applicable tax law including a tax case or legislative guidance, or (iv) the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations. Significant judgment is required in accounting for tax reserves. Although we believe that we have adequately provided for liabilities resulting from tax assessments by taxing authorities, positions taken by these tax authorities could have a material impact on our results of operations. Our reserve for uncertain tax positions aggregated $97 as of December 31, 2024.

 

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

Information regarding new accounting pronouncements is included in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K, including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We may also make forward-looking statements in other reports filed with the SEC, in materials delivered to stockholders and in press releases. Such statements generally will be accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” or other similar words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Although we believe these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they are based upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions, any or all of which may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Discussion of these factors is incorporated in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” and should be considered an integral part of Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed herein could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included in this Form 10-K are expressly qualified in their entirety by the forgoing cautionary statements. We undertake no obligations to update publicly any forward-looking statement (or its associated cautionary language) whether as a result of new information or future events.

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Not applicable.

 

 

NORTECH SYSTEMS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

		PAGE
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB Firm ID 23)		28
Consolidated Financial Statements:
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023		29
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023		30
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023		31
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023		32
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements		33-49

 

(The remainder of this page was intentionally left blank.)

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the shareholders and the board of directors of Nortech Systems Incorporated and Subsidiaries:

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Nortech Systems Incorporated and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows, for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Critical Audit Matters

 

Critical audit matters are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved or are especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. We determined that there are no critical audit matters.

 

/s/ Baker Tilly US, LLP

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.

 

Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

March 31, 2025

 

 

NORTECH SYSTEMS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)

 

		2024				2023
Net sales		$	128,133			$	139,332
Cost of goods sold			111,411				116,228
Gross profit			16,722				23,104
Operating expenses
Selling			3,446				3,598
General and administrative			11,709				12,354
Research and development			1,191				1,199
Restructuring charges			571				-
Total operating expenses			16,917				17,151
(Loss) income from operations			(195	)			5,953
Other expense
Interest expense			(744	)			(487	)
(Loss) income before income taxes			(939	)			5,466
Income tax expense (benefit)			356				(1,408	)
Net (loss) income		$	(1,295	)		$	6,874
Net (loss) income per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$	(0.47	)		$	2.53
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)			2,755,041				2,722,135
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$	(0.47	)		$	2.38
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted (in shares)			2,755,041				2,885,879
Other comprehensive (loss) income
Foreign currency translation			(445	)			(162	)
Comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax		$	(1,740	)		$	6,712

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

NORTECH SYSTEMS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)

 

		2024				2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash		$	916			$	960
Restricted cash			-				715
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $196 and $358			14,875				19,279
Inventories, net			21,638				21,660
Contract assets			13,792				14,481
Prepaid assets and other assets			4,094				1,698
Total current assets			55,315				58,793
Property and equipment, net			6,232				6,513
Operating lease assets			8,139				6,917
Deferred tax assets			2,575				2,641
Other intangible assets, net			174				263
Total assets		$	72,435			$	75,127
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	11,582			$	15,924
Accrued payroll and commissions			1,841				4,138
Customer deposits			5,140				4,068
Current portion of operating leases			1,175				1,033
Current portion of finance lease obligations			143				356
Other accrued liabilities			1,547				1,063
Total current liabilities			21,428				26,582
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term line of credit			8,634				5,815
Long-term operating lease obligations, net of current portion			7,773				6,763
Long-term finance lease obligations, net of current portion			311				209
Other long-term liabilities			284				414
Total long-term liabilities			17,002				13,201
Total liabilities			38,430				39,783
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $1 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; 250,000 shares issued and outstanding			250				250
Common stock - $0.01 par value; 9,000,000 shares authorized; 2,760,793 and 2,740,178 shares issued and outstanding, respectively			28				27
Additional paid-in capital			17,329				16,929
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(977	)			(532	)
Retained earnings			17,375				18,670
Total shareholders’ equity			34,005				35,344
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$	72,435			$	75,127

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

NORTECH SYSTEMS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023

(IN THOUSANDS)

 

		2024				2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net (loss) income		$	(1,295	)		$	6,874
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation			1,649				1,891
Amortization			89				159
Compensation on stock-based awards			461				423
Deferred taxes			(12	)			(2,362	)
Change in accounts receivable allowance			(162	)			24
Change in inventory reserves			280				26
Gain on disposal of property and equipment			(23	)			-
Changes in current operating items
Accounts receivable			4,405				(3,432	)
Employee retention credit receivable			-				2,650
Inventories			(400	)			716
Contract assets			689				(4,514	)
Prepaid expenses			(2,049	)			(147	)
Income taxes			(333	)			(832	)
Accounts payable			(3,956	)			483
Accrued payroll and commissions			(2,289	)			(661	)
Customer deposits			1,071				553
Other accrued liabilities			(375	)			(82	)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(2,250	)			1,769
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			7				-
Purchases of property and equipment			(1,270	)			(1,284	)
Net cash used in investing activities			(1,263	)			(1,284	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from line of credit			129,793				124,552
Payments to line of credit			(126,944	)			(125,602	)
Proceeds from notes payable			345				-
Principal payments on financing leases			(367	)			(390	)
Share repurchases			(100	)			-
Stock option exercises			38				159
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			2,765				(1,281	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash			(11	)			(10	)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents			(759	)			(806	)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year			1,675				2,481
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year		$	916			$	1,675
Reconciliation of cash and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets:
Cash		$	916			$	960
Restricted cash			-				715
Total cash and restricted cash reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows		$	916			$	1,675
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest		$	764			$	503
Cash paid for income taxes			473				1,751
Supplemental noncash investing and financing activities:
Property and equipment purchases in accounts payable		$	254			$	680
Property acquired under operating leases			2,336				261
Equipment acquired under finance leases			256				-

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

NORTECH SYSTEMS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023

(IN THOUSANDS)

 

																						Accumulated
																		Additional				Other								Total
		Preferred Stock								Common Stock								Paid-In				Comprehensive				Retained				Shareholders’
		Shares				Amount				Shares				Amount				Capital				Loss				Earnings				Equity
Balance as of December 31, 2022			250			$	250				2,691			$	27		-	$	16,347			$	(370	)		$	11,826			$	28,080
Net income			-				-				-				-		-		-				-				6,874				6,874
Foreign currency translation adjustment			-				-				-				-				-				(162	)			-				(162	)
Compensation on stock-based awards			-				-				-				-				423				-				-				423
Stock option exercises			-				-				49				-				159				-				-				159
Cumulative adjustment related to adoption of ASC 326 (current expected credit loss)			-				-				-				-		(30)		-				-				(30	)			(30	)
Balance as of December 31, 2023			250			$	250				2,740			$	27		(30)	$	16,929			$	(532	)		$	18,670			$	35,344
Balance			250			$	250				2,740			$	27		(30)	$	16,929			$	(532	)		$	18,670			$	35,344
Net loss			-				-				-				-		-		-				-				(1,295	)			(1,295	)
Net income (loss)			-				-				-				-		-		-				-				(1,295	)			(1,295	)
Foreign currency translation adjustment			-				-				-				-				-				(445	)			-				(445	)
Compensation on stock-based awards			-				-				-				-				461				-				-				461
Stock option exercises			-				-				29				2				38				-				-				38
Stock repurchases			-				-				(8	)			(1	)			(99	)			-				-				(100	)
Balance as of December 31, 2024			250			$	250				2,761			$	28		-	$	17,329			$	(977	)		$	17,375			$	34,005
Balance			250			$	250				2,761			$	28		-	$	17,329			$	(977	)		$	17,375			$	34,005

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

NORTECH SYSTEMS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA)

 

NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Nortech Systems Incorporated and Subsidiaries (“the Company”, “we”, “our”) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

Nature of Business

 

The Company, organized in December 1990, is a provider of engineering design and manufacturing solutions for complex electromedical devices, electromechanical systems, assemblies and components headquartered in Maple Grove, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota. We maintain facilities and operations in Minnesota in the United States; Monterrey, Mexico; and Suzhou, China.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Nortech Systems Incorporated and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Manufacturing Assembly Solutions of Monterrey, Inc. and Nortech Systems Hong Kong Company, Limited as well as its wholly-owned subsidiary, Nortech Systems Suzhou Company, Limited. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our consolidated financial statements. Estimates also affect the reported amounts of net sales and expense during the reporting period. Significant items subject to estimates and assumptions include the valuation allowance for inventories, allowance for doubtful accounts, realizability of deferred tax assets and long-lived asset recovery. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Restricted Cash

 

Cash and cash equivalents classified as restricted cash on our consolidated balance sheets are restricted as to withdrawal or use under the terms of certain contractual agreements. Restricted cash as of December 31, 2023 was $715. The December 31, 2023 restricted cash balance included lockbox deposits that are temporarily restricted due to timing at the period end. The lockbox deposits are applied against our line of credit the next business day.

 

 

 

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Expected Losses

 

We grant credit to customers in the normal course of business. Accounts receivable is unsecured and presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for expected losses was $196 and $358 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

When we record customer receivables and contract assets arising from net sales transactions, we record an allowance for credit losses for the current expected credit losses (“CECL”) inherent in the asset over its expected life. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account deducted from the cost basis of the assets to present their net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected. Each period, the allowance for credit losses is adjusted through earnings to reflect expected credit losses over the remaining lives of the assets.

 

We estimate expected credit losses based on relevant information about past events, including historical write-offs of bad debts, customer concentrations, customer creditworthiness, current economic trends and changes in customer payment terms that affect the collectability of the reported amount. When measuring expected credit losses, we pool assets with similar country risk and credit risk characteristics. Changes in the relevant information may significantly affect the estimates of expected credit losses.

 

Assets are written off when we determine them to be uncollectible. Write-offs are recognized as a deduction from the allowance for credit losses.

 

Inventories

Inventories consist of finished goods, raw materials and work-in-process and are stated at the lower of average cost (which approximates first-in, first-out) or net realizable value. Costs include material, labor, and overhead required in the production of our products. Inventory reserves are maintained for inventories that may have a lower value than stated or quantities in excess of future production needs.

 

We regularly review inventory quantities on-hand for excess and obsolete inventory and, when circumstances indicate, incur charges to write down inventories to their net realizable value. The determination of a reserve for excess and obsolete inventory involves management exercising judgment to determine the required reserve, considering future demand, product life cycles, introduction of new products and current market conditions.

 

Inventories are as follows as of December 31:

 

 SCHEDULE OF INVENTORIES

		2024				2023
Raw materials		$	21,122			$	20,863
Work in process			892				1,033
Finished goods			1,070				934
Reserves			(1,446	)			(1,170	)
Total		$	21,638			$	21,660

 

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Additions, improvements and major renewals are capitalized, while maintenance and minor repairs are expensed as incurred. When assets are retired or disposed of, the assets and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is reflected in operations. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or their remaining lease terms. All other property and equipment are depreciated by the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

SCHEDULE OF ESTIMATED USEFUL LIVES

		(in years)
Building		39
Leasehold improvements		3 - 15
Manufacturing equipment		3 - 7
Office and other equipment		3 - 7

 

Property and equipment as of December 31, 2024 and 2023:

 SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

		2024				2023
Land		$	148			$	148
Building and leasehold improvements			6,027				6,041
Manufacturing equipment			20,807				19,877
Office and other equipment			6,523				7,385
Accumulated depreciation and amortization			(27,273	)			(26,938	)
Total property and equipment, net		$	6,232			$	6,513

 

Long-Lived Asset Impairment

 

We evaluate long-lived assets, primarily property and equipment, whenever current events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. Recoverability for assets to be held and used is based on our projection of the undiscounted future operating cash flows of the underlying assets. To the extent such projections indicate that future undiscounted cash flows are not sufficient to recover the carrying amounts of related assets, a charge might be required to reduce the carrying amount to equal estimated fair value. As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s common stock was trading at a value less than the Company’s net equity value. As such, the Company evaluated future undiscounted cash flows and determined that no long-lived asset impairment was required as of December 31, 2024. No impairment of long-lived assets was recorded during the years ended December 31, 2024 or 2023.

 

Assets Held for Sale

 

We classify long-lived assets as held-for-sale when the criteria for such classification are met. These criteria include management’s commitment to a plan to sell the asset, the asset being available for immediate sale in its present condition, an active program to locate a buyer, the sale being probable and expected to be completed within one year, and the asset being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Preferred stock issued is non-cumulative and nonconvertible. The holders of the preferred stock are entitled to a non-cumulative dividend of 12% when and if declared. In liquidation, holders of preferred stock have preference to the extent of $1.00 per share plus dividends declared but unpaid. No preferred stock dividends were declared or paid during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Our net sales are comprised of product, engineering services and repair services. All net sales are recognized when the Company satisfies its performance obligation(s) under the contract by transferring the promised product or service to our customer either when (or as) our customer obtains control of the product or service, with the majority of our net sales being recognized over time including goods produced under contract manufacturing agreements and services net sales. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct product or service to a customer. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation. The majority of our contracts have a single performance obligation, as the promise to transfer products or services is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contract and, therefore, not distinct.

 

Net sales are measured as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for transferring products or providing services. As such, net sales are recorded net of returns, allowances and customer discounts. Sales, value add, and other taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are accounted for on a net (excluded from net sales) basis. Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of goods sold.

 

 

The majority of our net sales are derived from the transfer of goods produced under contract manufacturing agreements which have no alternative use, and we have an enforceable right to payment for our performance completed to date. Our performance obligations within our contract manufacturing agreements are generally satisfied over time as the goods are produced based on customer specifications and we have an enforceable right to payment for the goods produced. If these requirements are not met, the net sales are recognized at a point in time, generally upon shipment. Net sales under contract manufacturing agreements that was recognized over time accounted for approximately 76% and 79% of our net sales for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Net sales under these agreements are generally recognized over time using an input measure based upon the proportion of actual costs incurred.

 

Accounting for contract manufacturing agreements involves the use of various techniques to estimate total net sales and costs. We estimate profit on these agreements as the difference between total estimated net sales and expected costs to complete the performance obligation within the terms of the agreement and recognize the respective profit as the goods are produced. The estimates to determine the profit earned on the performance obligation are based on contractual selling prices and historical cost of goods sold and represent our best judgement at the time. Changes in judgements on these above estimates could impact the timing and amount of net sales recognized with a resulting impact on the timing and amount of associated profit.

 

On occasion our customers provide materials to be used in the manufacturing process and the fair value of the materials is included in net sales as noncash consideration at the point in time when the manufacturing process commences along with the same corresponding amount recorded as cost of goods sold. The inclusion of noncash consideration has no impact on overall profitability.

 

Contract Assets

 

Contract assets, recorded as such in the consolidated balance sheets, consist of unbilled amounts related to net sales recognized over time. Changes in the contract assets balance during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:

 

SCHEDULE OF CONTRACT ASSETS

Balance outstanding as of December 31, 2022		$	9,982
Increase (decrease) attributed to:
Amounts transferred over time to contract assets			110,195
Allowance for current expected credit losses			(12	)
Amounts invoiced during the period			(105,684	)
Balance outstanding as of December 31, 2023		$	14,481
Increase (decrease) attributed to:
Amounts transferred over time to contract assets			97,724
Allowance for current expected credit losses			4
Amounts invoiced during the period			(98,417	)
Balance outstanding as of December 31, 2024		$	13,792

 

We expect substantially all the remaining performance obligations for the contract assets recorded as of December 31, 2024, to be transferred to receivables within 90 days, with any remaining amounts to be transferred within 180 days. We bill our customers upon shipment with payment terms of up to 120 days.

 

 

The following tables summarize our net sales by market for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:

 

 SCHEDULE OF NET SALES BY MARKET

		Product/ Service Transferred Over Time				Product Transferred at Point in Time				Noncash Consideration				Total Net Sales by Market
		Year Ended December 31, 2024
		Product/ Service Transferred Over Time				Product Transferred at Point in Time				Noncash Consideration				Total Net Sales by Market
Medical Device		$	24,085			$	7,487			$	3,064			$	34,636
Medical Imaging			29,362				8,104				26				37,492
Industrial			25,652				8,620				1,245				35,517
Aerospace and Defense			18,625				1,658				205				20,488
Total net sales		$	97,724			$	25,869			$	4,540			$	128,133

 

		Product/ Service Transferred Over Time				Product Transferred at Point in Time				Noncash Consideration				Total Net Sales by Market
		Year Ended December 31, 2023
		Product/ Service Transferred Over Time				Product Transferred at Point in Time				Noncash Consideration				Total Net Sales by Market
Medical Device		$	28,359			$	8,095			$	2,304			$	38,758
Medical Imaging			32,147				7,704				57				39,908
Industrial			31,384				7,403				1,326				40,113
Aerospace and Defense			18,305				1,847				401				20,553
Total net sales		$	110,195			$	25,049			$	4,088			$	139,332

 

Noncash consideration represents material provided by the customer used in the build of the product.

 

Product Warranties

 

We provide limited warranty for the replacement or repair of defective product within a specified time period after the sale at no cost to our customers. We make no other guarantees or warranties, expressed or implied, of any nature whatsoever as to the goods including, without limitation, warranties to merchantability, fit for a particular purpose or non-infringement of patent or the like unless agreed upon in writing. We estimate the costs that may be incurred under our limited warranty and provide a reserve based on actual historical warranty claims coupled with an analysis of unfulfilled claims at the balance sheet date. Our warranty claim costs are not material given the nature of our products and services.

 

Advertising

 

Advertising costs are charged to operations as incurred and aggregated to $83 and $84 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

Income Taxes

 

We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized annually for differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. We recognize interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits as a component on income tax expense.

 

We recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such positions are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution. Management must also assess whether uncertain tax positions as filed could result in the recognition of a liability for possible interest and penalties if any. Our estimates are based on the information available to us at the time we prepare the income tax provisions. Our income tax returns are subject to audit by federal, state, and local governments, generally three years after the returns are filed. These returns could be subject to material adjustments or differing interpretations of the tax laws.

 

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

We use a Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the grant date fair value of our service-based incentive awards and recognize the expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. We determine the grant date fair value of our market-based incentive awards using a lattice simulation model and recognize the expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The grant date fair value of restricted stock units is determined based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, with compensation expense recognized ratably over the applicable vesting period. See Note 8 – “Incentive Plans” for additional information.

 

Net (Loss) Income Per Common Share

 

Basic net (loss) income per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Dilutive net (loss) income per common share assumes the exercise and issuance of all potential common stock equivalents in computing the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding using the treasury stock method, unless their effect is antidilutive. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, there were restricted stock units and stock options totaling 477,541 and 81,445, respectively, excluded from the computation of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding as their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.  For the year ended December 31, 2023, the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options and non-vested restricted stock units were 163,744 equivalent common shares and were included in the computation of diluted net income per common share.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The carrying amounts of all financial instruments approximate their fair values. The carrying amounts for cash, accounts receivable, ERC receivable, accounts payable, and other assets and liabilities approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. Based on the borrowing rates currently available to us for bank loans with similar terms and average maturities, the carrying value of our long-term debt and line of credit approximates its fair value.

 

Fair value is defined as the price 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. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

 

The fair value framework requires the categorization of assets and liabilities into one of three levels based on the assumptions (inputs) used in valuing the asset or liability. Level 1 provides the most reliable measure of fair value, while Level 3 generally requires significant management judgment. The three levels are defined as follows:

 

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, reflecting the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing.

 

Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurements requires judgment and may affect the valuation of the assets and liabilities being measured and their placement within the fair value hierarchy. We endeavor to use the best available information in measuring fair value. Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. See Note 3 – “Other Intangible Assets”, for more detail.

 

 

Foreign Currency Transactions

 

The functional currency for our Mexico subsidiary is the US dollar. Foreign exchange transaction gains and losses attributable to exchange rate movements related to transactions made in the local currency and on intercompany receivables and payables not deemed to be of a long-term investment nature are recorded in general and administrative expense. The functional currency for our China subsidiary is the Renminbi (“RMB”). Assets and liabilities of the China subsidiary are translated from RMB into U.S. dollars at period-end rates, while income and expense are translated at the weighted-average exchange rates for the period. The related translation adjustments are reflected as a foreign currency translation adjustment in accumulated other comprehensive loss within shareholders’ equity. Foreign currency translation losses decreased consolidated shareholders’ equity by $445 and $162 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income. Net foreign currency transaction losses included in the determination of net (loss) income was $137 and $54 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

 

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326). The ASU introduces a new credit loss methodology, Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”), which requires earlier recognition of credit losses, while also providing additional transparency about credit risk. The CECL methodology utilizes a lifetime “expected credit loss” measurement objective for the recognition of credit losses for loans, held-to-maturity securities and other receivables at the time the financial assets are originated or acquired. The expected credit losses are adjusted each period for changes in expected lifetime credit losses. The methodology replaces the multiple existing impairment methods in current U.S. GAAP, which generally require that a loss be incurred before it is recognized. On January 1, 2023, we adopted the guidance prospectively with a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings and recognized an allowance for credit losses related to accounts receivable and contract assets of $30, net of tax, and a decrease in retained earnings of $30 associated with the increased estimated credit losses.

 

 

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting Topic (280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosure. The ASU supplements reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses We adopted ASU 2023-07 during the year ended December 31, 2024. See Note 9 – “Segment Information” in the accompanying notes to these consolidated financial statements.

 

Recently Issued New Accounting Standards

 

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The ASU enhances the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures and is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024 on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03 (Subtopic 220-40), Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses. The ASU requires public entities to disaggregate, in a tabular presentation, certain income statement expenses into different categories, such as purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation, and intangible asset amortization. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, with early adoption permitted, and may be applied retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the new ASU on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

NOTE 2. CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and accounts receivable. We maintain our excess cash balances in checking accounts at two high-credit quality financial institutions. These accounts may at times exceed federally insured limits. We grant credit to customers in the normal course of business and do not require collateral on our accounts receivable.

 

We have certain customers whose net sales individually represented 10% or more of net sales, or whose accounts receivable balances individually represented 10% or more of total accounts receivable. One customer accounted for at 27.7% of net sales for the year ended December 31, 2024, and two customers, individually, accounted for 25.7% and 10.3%, respectively, of net sales for the year ended December 31, 2023. Two customers, individually, accounted 23.2% and 12.5%, respectively, of accounts receivable as of December 31, 2024 and 22.1% and 12.7% of accounts receivable as of December 31, 2023.

 

NOTE 3. OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

Finite life intangible assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 are as follows:

 

 SCHEDULE OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS

		Customer Relationships				Patents				Total
Balance as of January 1, 2023		$	216			$	206			$	422
Amortization			144				15				159
Balance as of December 31, 2023		$	72			$	191			$	263
Balance		$	72			$	191			$	263
Amortization			72				17				89
Balance as of December 31, 2024		$	-			$	174			$	174
Balance		$	-			$	174			$	174

 

Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The weighted average remaining amortization period of our intangible assets is 5.1 years. Of the patents value as of December 31, 2024, $89 are being amortized and $85 are in process as patents have not yet been issued.

 

Amortization expense of finite life intangible assets was $89 and $159 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

Estimated future annual amortization expense (except projects in process) related to these assets is approximately as follows:

 

 SCHEDULE OF ESTIMATED FUTURE ANNUAL AMORTIZATION EXPENSE

Year		Amount
2025		$	18
2026			18
2027			18
2028			18
2029			12
Thereafter			5
Total		$	89

 

 

NOTE 4. FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

 

We had a $16,000 asset backed line of credit agreement with Bank of America which, as amended, was to expire on June 15, 2026. Under this credit agreement, line of credit borrowing availability was restricted by a defined asset borrowing base, and interest was based on variations in the Bloomberg Short-Term Bank Yield (BSBY) index rate. This line of credit weighted-average interest rate was 8.3% as of December 31, 2023. We had borrowings on our line of credit of $5,815 as of December 31, 2023 and we had unused availability under our line of credit of $9,400 supported by our borrowing base. The line of credit is shown net of debt issuance costs of $31 on the consolidated balance sheets for the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

On February 29, 2024, we replaced the asset backed line of credit agreement with a $15,000 Senior Secured Revolving Line of Credit with Bank of America (the “Revolver”). The Revolver allows for borrowings at a defined base rate, or at the one, three or six month Secured Overnight Finance Rate, also known as “SOFR,” plus a defined margin. If the Company prepays SOFR borrowings before their contractual maturity, the Company has agreed to compensate the bank for lost margin, as defined in the Revolver agreement. The Company is required to quarterly pay a 20-basis point fee on the unused portion of the Revolver.

 

The Revolver requires the Company to maintain no more than 2.5 times leverage ratio and at least a 1.25 times minimum fixed charges coverage ratio, both of which are defined in the Revolver agreement. These ratios are calculated based on trailing twelve-month results. There are no subjective acceleration clauses under the Revolver that would accelerate the maturity of outstanding borrowings. The Revolver contains certain covenants which, among other things, require the Company to adhere to regular reporting requirements, abide by shareholder dividend limitations, maintain certain financial performance, and limit the amount of annual capital expenditures. The Revolver is secured by substantially all the Company’s assets and expires on February 28, 2027. We were not in compliance with financial covenants related to the maximum operating expense contributions to our Mexican operations in the first and second quarters of 2024. We have received a waiver of this event of default from the bank. On March 27, 2025, we amended (the “Amendment”) the Revolver to waive our non-compliance with the leverage ratio and minimum fixed charge ratio as of December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2025. Further, the Amendment defers the Company’s compliance with these ratios until the third quarter of 2025 at which time the Company must maintain (a)  a leverage ratio of 3.5 times or less in the third quarter of 2025, and 2.5 times or less for each subsequent quarter; and (b)  a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio to 1.25 times for the third quarter of 2025 and each quarter thereafter.  The Company must also maintain EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes depreciation and amortization) as of the end of the second quarter and third quarter of at least $1,600. In addition, the Amendment requires the Company to maintain unrestricted cash and Revolver availability of at least $2.5 million at each month end in the second quarter of 2025, $2.75 million at month end July 2025 and $3.0 million at the end of August and September 2025.  The Amendment also requires the Company to provide incremental monthly reporting and increased the Company’s borrowing rate by one percent until the Company is in compliance with the original terms of the Revolver.  We have included the Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, Waiver, and Consent as an exhibit to this filing and any description of that document contained herein is only a summary and is qualified by its entirety by the Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, Waiver, and Consent.

 

Under the amended Bank of America credit agreement signed February 29, 2024, the line of credit is subject to variations in the SOFR index rate. Under the prior asset backed line of credit agreement with Bank of America, the line of credit borrowing availability was restricted by a defined asset borrowing base, and interest was based on variations in the Bloomberg Short-Term Bank Yield (BSBY) index rate. Our line of credit bears interest at a weighted-average interest rate of 7.7% and 8.3% as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We had borrowings on our line of credit of $8,695 and $5,846 outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, we had unused availability on the line of credit of $6,305. The line of credit is shown net of debt issuance costs of $61 and $31 on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

 

The Company has an interim funding agreement as of December 31, 2024 with a bank related to $345 of deposits made on equipment purchases that will be funded through a finance lease when the equipment is received and operational. As of December 31, we have $345 outstanding on the interim funding agreement for equipment.

 

Our China operation has a financing agreement with China Construction Bank which provides for a line of credit arrangement of 10,000,000 Renminbi (RMB) (approximately 1.4 million USD) that expires on September 9, 2025. No amounts were outstanding under this financing arrangement as of December 31, 2024 or 2023. The interest rate as of December 31, 2024 was approximately 4%.

 

 

NOTE 5. LEASES

 

We have operating leases for certain manufacturing sites, office space, and equipment. Most leases include the option to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from one to five years or more. Right-of-use lease assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of the remaining lease payments over the lease term which includes renewal periods we are reasonably certain to exercise. Our leases do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. As of December 31, 2024, we do not have material lease commitments that have not commenced. We have financing leases for certain property and equipment used in the normal course of business.

 

The components of lease expense were as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

SCHEDULE OF COMPONENTS OF LEASE EXPENSE

Lease Cost		2024				2023
Operating lease cost		$	2,318			$	2,290
Finance lease interest cost			25				39
Finance lease amortization expense			451				727
Total lease cost		$	2,794			$	3,056

 

Supplemental balance sheets information related to leases was as follows as of December 31:

 

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS INFORMATION RELATED TO LEASES

		Balance Sheets Location		2024				2023
Assets
Operating lease assets		Operating lease assets		$	8,139			$	6,917
Finance lease assets		Property, plant and equipment			411				636
Total leased assets				$	8,550			$	7,553
Liabilities
Current
Current operating lease liabilities		Current portion of operating lease obligations		$	1,175			$	1,033
Current finance lease liabilities		Current portion of finance lease obligations			143				356
Noncurrent
Long-term operating lease liabilities		Long term operating lease liabilities, net			7,773				6,763
Long term finance lease liabilities		Long term finance lease obligations, net			311				209
Total lease liabilities				$	9,402			$	8,361

 

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION

		2024				2023
Operating Leases
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities		$	1,821			$	1,792
Operating lease assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations		$	2,336			$	261

 

The operating lease assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations in the year ended December 31, 2024 was largely due to the renewal of our lease in Maple Grove and Milaca, Minnesota, as well as leasing of additional space in our Suzhou, China facility.

 

Future maturities of lease liabilities were as follows:

 

SCHEDULE OF FUTURE PAYMENTS OF LEASE LIABILITIES

		Operating Leases				Finance Leases				Total
		Operating Leases				Finance Leases				Total
2025		$	1,842			$	165			$	2,007
2026			1,857				168				2,025
2027			1,570				60				1,630
2028			1569				60				1,629
2029			986				44				1,030
Thereafter			4,670				-				4,670
Total lease payments		$	12,494			$	497			$	12,991
Less: interest			(3,546	)			(43	)			(3,589	)
Present value of lease liabilities		$	8,948			$	454			$	9,402

 

 

The lease term and discount rate as of December 31, 2024 were as follows:

 

SCHEDULE OF LEASE TERM AND DISCOUNT RATE

Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)
Operating leases			7.7
Finance leases			3.4
Weighted-average discount rate
Operating leases			7.7	%
Finance leases			5.7	%

 

NOTE 6. INCOME TAXES

 

The income tax expense consists of the following for the years ended December 31:

 SCHEDULE OF INCOME TAX EXPENSE

		2024				2023
Current
Federal		$	(287	)		$	388
State			22				75
Foreign			633				491
Deferred
Federal			127				(2,360	)
State			(119	)			(241	)
Foreign			(20	)			239
Income tax expense (benefit)		$	356			$	(1,408	)

 

The statutory rate reconciliation is as follows for the years ended December 31:

 SCHEDULE OF INCOME TAX STATUTORY RATE RECONCILIATION

		2024				2023
Statutory rate		$	(200	)		$	1,148
State income tax			(101	)			79
Effect of foreign operations			(126	)			(124	)
Research and development			(121	)			(316	)
Valuation allowance			-				(2,563	)
Maquiladora tax			176				158
US permanent differences			(48	)			(44	)
Global intangible low-taxed income effect			484				7
Withholding tax			143				318
Other			149				(71	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		$	356			$	(1,408	)

 

Income and loss from operations before income taxes was derived from the following jurisdictions for the years ended December 31:

 SCHEDULE OF INCOME AND LOSS FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAX

		2024				2023
United States		$	(3,284	)		$	3,307
Foreign			2,345				2,159
Total		$	(939	)		$	5,466

 

 

Deferred tax assets (liabilities) consist of the following for the years ended December 31:

 SCHEDULE OF DEFERRED TAX ASSETS (LIABILITIES)

		2024				2023
Deferred tax assets
Inventory		$	535			$	423
Net operating losses			241				-
Accrued bonus			-				440
Stock-based compensation			277				206
Other accruals			94				415
Lease accounting lease liability			1,624				1,229
Capitalized research expenses			928				1,007
Tax credit carryforwards			151				94
Intangibles			422				477
Other			542				139
Total deferred tax assets			4,814				4,430
Deferred tax liabilities
Lease accounting lease asset			(1,562	)			(1,168	)
Withholding tax			(219	)			(239	)
Prepaid expenses			(186	)			(213	)
Property and equipment			(278	)			(276	)
Other			(213	)			(133	)
Total deferred tax liabilities			(2,458	)			(2,029	)
Net deferred tax assets		$	2,356			$	2,401

 

We regularly assess the need for a valuation allowance related to our deferred income tax assets to determine, based on the weight of the available positive and negative evidence, whether it is more likely than not that some or all of such deferred assets will not be realized. In our assessments, the Company considers recent financial operating results, potential sources of taxable income, the reversal of existing taxable differences, taxable income in prior carryback years, if permitted under tax law, and tax planning strategies. Based on our most recent assessment, for the year ended December 31, 2024, we have concluded that our deferred income tax assets are more likely than not to be realized. Our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2024 have a deferred tax asset of $2,575 related to our US taxable operations and a $219 deferred tax liability included other long-term liabilities related to our Chinese taxes, for a net deferred tax asset of $2,356.

 

As of December 31, 2024, for U.S. state purposes, we have a Minnesota research and development credit carry forward of $123, which will begin to expire in 2029.

 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) was enacted on December 22, 2017 and includes the requirement to capitalize and amortize over years research and experimental expenditures beginning in 2022. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023 the deferred tax asset associated with capitalized research and experimental expenditures was $928 and $1,007, respectively.

 

 

The tax effects from uncertain tax positions can be recognized in our consolidated financial statements, only if the position is more likely than not to be sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. We recognize the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For positions meeting the more likely than not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. The following tables set forth changes in our total gross unrecognized tax benefit liabilities, excluding accrued interest, for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:

 SCHEDULE OF UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFIT LIABILITIES

Balance as of January 1, 2023		$	50
Tax positions - additions			81
Tax positions - reductions			-
Balance as of December 31, 2023			131
Tax positions - additions			13
Tax positions - reductions			(47	)
Balance as of December 31, 2024		$	97

 

Our policy is to accrue interest related to potential underpayment of income taxes with a corresponding increase in income tax expense. The liability for accrued interest as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 was not significant. Interest is computed on the difference between our uncertain tax benefit positions and the amount deducted or expected to be deducted in our filed tax returns.

 

We are subject to income taxes in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to federal and state and local income tax examinations for years before 2020.

 

NOTE 7. 401(K) RETIREMENT PLAN

 

We have a 401(k) profit sharing plan (the “401(k) Plan”), a defined contribution plan, covering substantially all of our U.S. employees. Employees are eligible to participate in the Plan after completing three months of service and attaining the age of 18. Employees are allowed to contribute up to 60% of their wages to the 401(k) Plan. We match 50% of the employees’ contributions up to 6% of covered compensation. We made contributions, net of forfeitures, of approximately $725 and $465 during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

NOTE 8. INCENTIVE PLANS

 

In May 2017, the shareholders approved the 2017 Stock Incentive Plan which authorized the issuance of 350,000 shares. An additional 50,000, 175,000, 100,000 and 100,000 shares were authorized by the shareholders in March 2020, May 2022, May 2023 and May 2024, respectively.

 

Stock Options

 

We estimate the fair value of share-based awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income over the requisite service periods. Because share-based compensation expense is based on awards that are ultimately expected to vest, share-based compensation expense will be reduced to account for estimated forfeitures. We estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and revise the estimate, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.

 

 

We used the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to calculate the fair value of option-based awards. Our determination of fair value of option-based awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model is affected by our stock price as well as assumptions regarding several subjective variables. These variables include, but are not limited to, our expected stock price, volatility over the term of the awards, risk-free interest rate, and the expected life of the options. The risk-free interest rate is based on a treasury instrument whose term is consistent with the expected life of our stock options. The expected volatility and holding period are based on our historical experience. For all grants, the amount of compensation expense recognized has been adjusted for an estimated forfeiture rate, which is based on historical data. Weighted average stock option fair value assumptions and the weighted average grant date fair value of stock options granted were as follows:

 

SCHEDULE OF WEIGHTED AVERAGE GRANT DATE FAIR VALUE OF STOCK OPTIONS GRANTED

		2024				2023
Stock option fair value assumptions:
Risk-free interest rate			3.83 - 4.40	%			3.45-4.34	%
Expected life (years)			6.0				6.5
Dividend yield			0	%			0	%
Expected volatility			58	%			60	%
Weighted average grant date fair value of stock options granted		$	6.49			$	5.73

 

Total compensation expense related to stock options was $243 and $256 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, there was $781 of unrecognized compensation which will vest and expense over the next 3.4 years.

 

Following is the status of option activity as of and for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 as follows:

 

SCHEDULE OF OPTION ACTIVITY

		Shares				Weighted- Average Exercise Price Per Share				Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)				Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding – January 1, 2023			452,700			$	5.97
Granted			94,000				9.36
Exercised			(39,044	)			4.09
Forfeited			(48,956	)			7.77
Outstanding – December 31, 2023			458,700			$	6.63				6.53			$	1,432
Granted			23,000				11.08
Exercised			(12,300	)			4.55
Forfeited			(16,000	)			10.23
Outstanding – December 31, 2024			453,400			$	6.79				5.70			$	1,654
Exercisable on December 31, 2024			291,100			$	5.01				4.38			$	1,559

 

 

Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”)

 

Total compensation expense related to the RSUs were $218 and $167 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Total unrecognized compensation expense related to the RSUs was $87, which will vest over the next 0.3 years.

 

Following is the status of restricted stock activity as of and for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 as follows:

 

SCHEDULE OF RESTRICTED STOCK ACTIVITY

		Shares				Weighted- Average Remaining Vesting Term (in years)				Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding – January 1, 2023			21,000
Granted			22,500
Vested			(10,500	)
Forfeited			(6,000	)
Outstanding – December 31, 2023			27,000				1.0			$	254
Granted			15,141
Vested			(16,500	)
Forfeited			(1,500	)
Outstanding – December 31, 2024			24,141				0.3			$	248

 

NOTE 9. SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

Our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 represent a single operating and reporting segment referred to as Contract Manufacturing within the EMS industry. The Company operates in the Medical Device, Medical Imaging, Aerospace and Defense, and Industrial markets with over 50% of its net sales coming from the medical-related markets. We strategically direct production between our various manufacturing facilities based on a number of considerations to best meet our customers’ needs. Our plants generate net sales over several of the markets the Company servers. We share resources for sales, marketing, engineering, supply chain, information services, human resources, payroll, and all corporate accounting functions. Our chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”) is the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. The CODM regularly evaluates financial information on a consolidated basis to assess performance and allocate resources.

 

The following table presents selected financial information with respect to the Company’s single operating segment for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:

 

SCHEDULE OF SEGMENT INFORMATION

		2024				2023
Net sales		$	128,133			$	139,332
Cost of goods sold			111,411				116,228
Gross profit			16,722				23,104
Operating expenses:
Selling			3,446				3,598
General and administrative			11,709				12,354
Research and development			1,191				1,199
Restructuring charges			571
Total operating expenses			16,917				17,151
(Loss) income from operations			(195	)			5,953
Other expense:
Interest expense			(744	)			(487	)
(Loss) income before income taxes			(939	)			5,466
Income tax expense (benefit)			356				(1,408	)
Net (loss) income		$	(1,295	)		$	6,874

 

 

The Company’s long-lived tangible assets, including the Company’s operating lease assets recognized on the consolidated balance sheets were located as follows:

 

 SCHEDULE OF LONG LIVED TANGIBLE ASSETS

		2024				2023
United States		$	10,429			$	9,421
Mexico			2,445				2,870
China			1,497				1,139
Total long-lived tangible assets		$	14,371			$	13,430

 

Export net from our U.S. domestic operations represent approximately 3.4% and 4.1% of consolidated net sales for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Net sales by our major EMS industry markets for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are as follows:

 

 SCHEDULE OF NET SALES BY EMS INDUSTRY MARKETS

		2024				2023
Medical Device		$	34,636			$	38,758
Medical Imaging			37,492				39,908
Industrial			35,517				40,113
Aerospace and Defense			20,488				20,553
Total net sales		$	128,133			$	139,332

 

NOTE 10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Litigation

 

We are subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. In our opinion, the amount of any ultimate liability with respect to these actions will not materially affect our consolidated financial statements or results of operations.

 

Change of Control Agreements

 

Since 2002, we entered into Change of Control Agreements (the Agreement(s)) with certain key executives (the Executive(s)). The Agreements provide an inducement for each Executive to remain as an employee in the event of any proposed or anticipated change of control in the organization, including facilitating an orderly transition, and to provide economic security for the Executive after a change in control has occurred.

 

In the event of an involuntary termination in connection with a change of control as defined in the agreements, each Executive would receive their base salary, annual bonus at time of termination, and continued participation in health, disability and life insurance plans for a period of three years for officers and two years for all other participants.

 

 

NOTE 11. RESTUCTURING CHARGES

 

During the year ended December 31, 2024, we incurred restructuring charges of $571 related to the closure and consolidation of our Blue Earth, Minnesota production facility, which was substantially completed in the fourth quarter of 2024. There were no restructuring charges or amounts accrued or incurred in the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

NOTE 12. EMPLOYEE RETENTION CREDIT AND PAYROLL TAX DEFERRAL

 

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was signed into law which allowed for the deferral of the employer portion of social security taxes incurred through the end of calendar 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company remitted $1,158 to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) related to the deferral of payroll taxes, of which $785 was recorded as a refund receivable as of December 31, 2023, with a corresponding liability due. These amounts were settled during the first quarter of 2024.

 

NOTE 13. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

David Kunin, our Chairman, is a minority owner of Abilitech Medical, Inc. We had accounts receivable related to Abilitech of $226 as of December 31, 2023. Payments of $33 were received during the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 and we wrote off the remaining receivables during 2024. Abilitech has ceased operations and therefore we do not believe that Abilitech will pay the Company for outstanding accounts receivable. The Company believes that transactions with Abilitech were on terms comparable to those that the Company could reasonably expect in an arm’s length transaction with an unrelated third party.

 

David Kunin, our Chairman, is a minority owner (less than 10%) of Marpe Technologies, LTD an early-stage medical device company dedicated to the early detection of skin cancer through full body scanners. Mr. Kunin is also a member of the Board of Directors of Marpe Technologies. The Company worked with Marpe Technologies to apply for a grant from the Israel-United States Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation, a legal entity created by Agreement between the Government of the State of Israel and the Government of the United States of America (“BIRD Foundation”). The parties were successful in receiving approval for a $1,000 conditional grant. The Company and Marpe Technologies will each receive $500 from the BIRD Foundation and, among other obligations under the grant, each is required to contribute $500 to match grant funds from the BIRD Foundation. The Company met its obligation by providing certain services at cost or with respect to administrative services at no cost to Marpe Technologies. The total value of the Company’s contribution will not exceed $500. Marpe is engaged in raising funds for its operations, which funds are necessary to pay for the Company’s services beyond its contribution. The Company will receive a 10-year exclusive right to manufacture the products of Marpe Technologies. There can be no assurances that Marpe Technologies’ medical device operations will be commercially successful, that Marpe Technologies will be successful in raising additional funds to finance its operations or, if commercially successful, the Company will recover the value of services provided to Marpe if not paid when the services are provided. The transactions between the Company and Marpe Technologies have been approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to the Company Related-Party Transactions Policy. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we recognized net sales to Marpe Technologies of $8 and $163, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, we have outstanding accounts receivable of $20. In January 2025, we received a payment of $20 from the BIRD Foundation. The Company believes that transactions with Marpe are on terms comparable to those that the Company could reasonably expect in an arm’s length transaction with an unrelated third party.

 

NOTE 14. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

On March 27, 2025, the Company amended its Revolver line of credit agreement as discussed in Note 4 – “Financing Arrangements.”

 

During February 2025, the Company determined its intent to sell the Blue Earth, Minnesota facility and classified the net book value of the property as held for sale. We are currently seeking to sell this facility in 2025.

 

 

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

None.

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

 

In accordance with Rule 13a-15(b) of the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company’s management evaluated, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act). These controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s Exchange Act reports is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported in a timely manner, and (2) accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based upon their evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures as of the date of the evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to management and the board of directors regarding the effectiveness of our internal control processes over the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.

 

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

 

We have assessed the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024. In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control – Integrated Framework of 2013. Based on our assessment, we concluded that, as of December 31, 2024, our internal control over financial reporting was effective.

 

Changes in Internal Controls

 

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B. Other Information

 

None.

 

Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans

 

During the three months ended December 31, 2024, none of the Company’s directors or Section 16 officers adopted, modified or terminated any “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements” or any “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements” (in each case, as defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K).

 

 

PART III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

Information regarding the directors and executive officers of the Registrant will be included in the Registrant’s proxy statement relating to its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 14, 2025 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2024, the end of our fiscal year, and said portions of the proxy statement are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Our Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (“Code of Conduct”) that applies to all of our officers, directors and employees. We have posted a copy of our Code of Conduct on our website at www.nortechsys.com. We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirements under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding amendments to, or waivers from, the Code of Conduct by posting such information on our website. We are not including the information contained on our website as part of, or incorporating it by reference into, this Annual Report.

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation

 

Information regarding executive compensation of the Registrant will be included in the Registrant’s proxy statement relating to its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 14, 2025 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2024, the end of our fiscal year, and said portions of the proxy statement are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

 

Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management of the Registrant will be included in the Registrant’s proxy statement relating to its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 14, 2025 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2024, the end of our fiscal year, and said portions of the proxy statement are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Information regarding executive compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) as of the end of the last fiscal year, on two categories of equity compensation plans (that is, plans that have been approved by security holders and plans that have not been approved by security holders) will be included in the Registrant’s proxy statement relating to its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 14, 2025 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2024, the end of our fiscal year, and said portions of the proxy statement are incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

The following table provides information about our equity compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) as of December 31, 2024.

 

Plan category		Number of securities to be issued upon the exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (1)				Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights				Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in the first column) (2)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders			154,000			$	6.79				146,782
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders			-				-				-
Total			154,000			$	6.79				146,782

 

(1)	Represents common shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options granted under the 2017 Incentive Compensation Plan (the 2017 Plan).

 

(2)	Represents common shares remaining available for issuance under the 2017 Plan of 146,782.

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

 

The information required by this Item will be included in the Registrant’s proxy statement relating to its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 14, 2025 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2024, the end of our fiscal year, and said portions of the proxy statement are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

The information required by this Item will be included in the Registrant’s proxy statement relating to its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 14, 2025 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2024, the end of our fiscal year, and said portions of the proxy statement are incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statements Schedules

 

1.	Consolidated Financial Statements - Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes are included in Part II, Item 8, and are identified in the Index on Page 25.

 

2.	Consolidated Financial Statement Schedule - The following financial statement schedule and the Auditors’ report thereon is included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

 

All schedules are omitted because it is not required information, or the information is presented in the consolidated financial statements or related notes.

 

3.	The following exhibits are incorporated herein by reference:

 

	3.1	Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 filed July 16, 1996 (File No. 333-00888)
	3.2	Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Form 10-K filed on April 1, 2019)
	10.1	Lease Agreement dated April 1, 2015 between the Company and LSOP 3 MN 3, LLC (incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed April 9, 2015)
	10.2	Lease Agreement dated November 12, 2015 between the Company and Suzhou Industrial Park Biotech Development Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Form 10-K filed March 22, 2016).
	10.3	2017 Stock Incentive Plan approved by shareholders May 3, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the Definitive Proxy Statement filed March 22, 2017).**
	10.4	Lease Agreement dated February 21, 2018 by and between Manufacturing Assembly Solutions of Monterrey, Inc., a wholly owned Mexican subsidiary of the Company, and OPERADORA STIVA, S.A. DE C.V. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed February 27, 2018)
	10.5	Employment Agreement with John Lindeen dated September 9, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed September 11, 2019).**
	10.6	First Amendment to Lease Agreement dated September 17, 2018 between the Company and AR Meridian Circle Owner, LLC, as successor to LSOP 3 MN 3, LLC. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to Form 10-K filed March 19, 2020).
	10.7	Lease Agreement between the Company and Essjay Investment Company, LLC dated August 27, 2020 relating to the Company’s Bemidji facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed September 1, 2020)
	10.8	Lease Agreement between the Company and Essjay Investment Company, LLC dated August 27, 2020 relating to the Company’s Mankato facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed September 1, 2020)
	10.9	Employment Agreement with Jay D. Miller dated February 27, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed March 3, 2022).**
	10.10	Credit Agreement dated as of February 29, 2024, by and between Nortech Systems Incorporated and Bank of America, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed March 5, 2024).
	10.11	Employment Agreement with Andrew D. C. LaFrence dated December 1, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed December 5, 2023).**
	10.12	Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, Waiver, and Consent by and between Nortech Systems Incorporated and Bank of America, N.A. dated March 27, 2025.*
	10.13	First Amendment to Employment Agreement with Jay D. Miller dated March 27, 2025.*
	10.14	First Amendment to Employment Agreement with Andrew D. C. LaFrence dated March 28, 2025.*
	10.15	First Amendment to Employment Agreement with John Lindeen dated March 28, 2025.*
	19.1	Policy on Insider Trading*
	21	Subsidiaries of Nortech Systems Incorporated*
	23	Consent of Baker Tilly US, LLP*
	31.1	Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and President pursuant to Rule 13a-20(a) and Rule 15d-20(a), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.*
	31.2	Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-20(a) and Rule 15d-20(a), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.*
	32.1	Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and President and Chief Financial Officer, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
	97.1	Nortech Systems Incorporated Clawback Policy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 97.1 to Form 10-K filed March 20, 2024)
	101	Financial statements from the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss), (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (iv) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.*
	104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
	*	Filed electronically herewith.
	**	Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement in which directors or executive officers are eligible to participate

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Nortech Systems Incorporated

Registrant

 

By:	/s/ Jay D. Miller	March 31, 2025
Jay D. Miller
President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:	/s/ Jay D. Miller	March 31, 2025
Jay D. Miller
President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Director
By:	/s/ Andrew D. C. LaFrence	March 31, 2025
Andrew D. C. LaFrence
Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer)
By:	/s/ David B. Kunin	March 31, 2025
David B. Kunin, Chairman and Director
By:	/s/ Stacy A. Kruse	March 31, 2025
Stacy A. Kruse, Director
By:	/s/ Ryan P. McManus	March 31, 2025
Ryan P. McManus, Director
By:	/s/ Debarati Sen	March 31, 2025
Debarati Sen, Director
By:	/s/ Amy Fredregill	March 31, 2025
Amy Fredregill, Director
By:	/s/ Dan Sachs	March 31, 2025
Dan Sachs, Director
By:	/s/ Jose A. Peris	March 31, 2025
Jose A. Peris, Director

 

 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

DESCRIPTIONS OF EXHIBITS

 

	3.1	Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 filed July 16, 1996 (File No. 333-00888)
	3.2	Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Form 10-K filed on April 1, 2019)
	10.1	Lease Agreement dated April 1, 2015 between the Company and LSOP 3 MN 3, LLC (incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed April 9, 2015)
	10.2	Lease Agreement dated November 12, 2015 between the Company and Suzhou Industrial Park Biotech Development Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Form 10-K filed March 22, 2016).
	10.3	2017 Stock Incentive Plan approved by shareholders May 3, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the Definitive Proxy Statement filed March 22, 2017).**
	10.4	Lease Agreement dated February 21, 2018 by and between Manufacturing Assembly Solutions of Monterrey, Inc., a wholly owned Mexican subsidiary of the Company, and OPERADORA STIVA, S.A. DE C.V. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed February 27, 2018)
	10.5	Employment Agreement with John Lindeen dated September 9, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed September 11, 2019).**
	10.6	First Amendment to Lease Agreement dated September 17, 2018 between the Company and AR Meridian Circle Owner, LLC, as successor to LSOP 3 MN 3, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to Form 10-K filed March 19, 2020).
	10.7	Lease Agreement between the Company and Essjay Investment Company, LLC dated August 27, 2020 relating to the Company’s Bemidji facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed September 1, 2020)
	10.8	Lease Agreement between the Company and Essjay Investment Company, LLC dated August 27, 2020 relating to the Company’s Mankato facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed September 1, 2020)
	10.9	Employment Agreement with Jay D. Miller dated February 27, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed March 3, 2022).**
	10.10	Credit Agreement dated as of February 29, 2024, by and between Nortech Systems Incorporated and Bank of America, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed March 5, 2024).
	10.11	Employment Agreement with Andrew D. C. LaFrence dated December 1, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed December 5, 2023).**
	10.12	Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, Waiver, and Consent by and between Nortech Systems Incorporated and Bank of America, N.A. dated March 27, 2025.*
	10.13	First Amendment to Employment Agreement with Jay D. Miller dated March 27, 2025.*
	10.14	First Amendment to Employment Agreement with Andrew D. C. LaFrence dated March 28, 2025.*
	10.15	First Amendment to Employment Agreement with John Lindeen dated March 28, 2025.*
	19.1	Policy on Insider Trading*
	21	Subsidiaries of Nortech Systems Incorporated*
	23	Consent of Baker Tilly US, LLP*
	31.1	Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and President pursuant to Rule 13a-20(a) and Rule 15d-20(a), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.*
	31.2	Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-20(a) and Rule 15d-20(a), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.*
	32.1	Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and President and Chief Financial Officer, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
	97.1	Nortech Systems Incorporated Clawback Policy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 97.1 to Form 10-K filed March 20, 2024)
	101	Financial statements from the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss), (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (iv) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.*
	104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
	*	Filed electronically herewith.
	**	Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement in which directors or executive officers are eligible to participate.