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, 2023

 

or

 

☐	Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Commission File Number 1-13752

 

SMITH-MIDLAND CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware		54-1727060
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

P.O. Box 300, 5119 Catlett Road

Midland, Virginia  22728

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (540) 439-3266

 

Securities Registered Under Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class	Trading Symbol	Name of exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share	SMID	NASDAQ

 

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 whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

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 financials 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 Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

 

The aggregate market value of the shares of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the average bid and asked price of such common equity as of June 30, 2023 (the last business day of the Company’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was $73,135,252. For the sole purpose of making this calculation, the term “non-affiliate” has been interpreted to exclude directors, officers, and holders of 10% or more of the Company’s common stock.

 

 

 

As of April 29, 2024, the Company had outstanding 5,266,401 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, net of treasury shares.

 

Documents Incorporated By Reference

None

 

1

 

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Annual Report and related documents include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the Company’s actual results, performance (financial or operating) or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements not to occur or be realized. Such forward looking statements generally are based upon the Company’s best estimates of future results, performance or achievement, based upon current conditions and the most recent results of operations. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “continue,” or similar terms, variations of those terms or the negative of those terms. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among other things, such factors as:

 

●

while the Company had net income for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 there are no assurances that the Company can remain profitable in future periods; in line with this risk, the Company incurred losses from operations for the quarters ended June 30, 2023, December 31, 2022, and March 31, 2022,

 

●

there can be no assurances of revenue growth; in line with this risk, the Company had lower revenues for the year ended December 31, 2022 than in the prior year,

 

●

while we have expended significant funds in recent years to increase manufacturing capacity and the barrier rental fleet, and plan to continue to increase manufacturing capacity, there is no assurance that we will achieve significantly greater revenues,

 

●

our debt level increased significantly in February 2022, and our ability to satisfy the same cannot be assured,

 

●

our cash resources were significantly reduced during 2022 and through the first quarter of 2023 reflecting the significant purchase of barrier and equipment and a significant increase in accounts receivables and there can be no assurance that the Company’s cash will not be further reduced,

 

●

our accounts receivables has increased during 2023, and is at a historically high level, and our ability to fully collect these balances cannot be assured,

 

●

we identified material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reports related to (i) the review procedures applied to the estimation of the allowance for credit losses; in this respect, we have designed and implemented enhanced control activities and management is still measuring the effectiveness of this process to determine proper remediation, and (ii) the review and posting of general ledger entries; in this respect, we are actively exploring potential functionality available with our general ledger system, as well as monitoring controls to effectively mitigate this weakness,

 

2

 

●

the continued availability of financing in the amounts, at the times, and on the terms required, to support our future business and capital projects,

 

●

cybersecurity incidents could disrupt business operations, result in the loss of critical and confidential information and adversely impact our reputation and results of operations; in this respect, we experienced a wire fraud incident in the second quarter of 2023,

 

●

the extent to which we are successful in developing, acquiring, licensing, or securing patents for proprietary products,

 

●

changes in economic conditions specific to any one or more of our markets (including the availability of public funds and grants for construction),

 

●

the Company’s operations in 2023 and 2022 were adversely impacted by inflation in the purchase of raw materials such as cement, aggregates, and steel, and also with labor costs, and continue to be adversely impacted,

 

●

changes in general economic conditions in our primary service areas,

 

●

adverse weather, which inhibits the demand for our products, or the installation or completion of projects,

 

·

our compliance with governmental regulations,

 

●

the outcome of future litigation, if any,

 

●

potential decreases in our year to year contract backlog,

 

●

our ability to produce and install product on material construction projects that conforms to contract specifications and in a time frame that meets the contract requirements,

 

●

the cyclical nature of the construction industry,

 

●

our exposure to increased interest expense payments should interest rates change, and

 

●

the other factors and information disclosed and discussed in other sections of this report and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Investors and shareholders should carefully consider such risks, uncertainties and other information, disclosures and discussions which contain cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those provided in the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

3

  

PART I

 

Item 1 Business

 

General

 

Smith-Midland Corporation (the “Company”) invents, develops, manufactures, markets, leases, licenses, sells, and installs a broad array of precast concrete products and systems for use primarily in the construction, highway, utilities and farming industries through its six wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company's precast, licensing, and barrier rental customers are primarily general contractors and federal, state, and local transportation authorities located in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Midwestern and Southeastern regions of the United States. The Company's operating strategy has involved producing and marketing innovative and proprietary products, including SlenderWall®, a patented, lightweight, energy efficient concrete and steel exterior wall panel for use in building construction; J-J Hooks® Highway Safety Barrier, a patented, positive-connected highway safety barrier; SoftSound™, a proprietary sound absorptive finish used on the face of sound barriers to absorb traffic noise; Sierra Wall™, a patented sound barrier primarily for roadside use; and Easi-Set® and Easi-Span® patented transportable concrete buildings. In addition, the Company's precast subsidiaries produce farm products such as cattleguards and water and feed troughs, custom order precast concrete products with various architectural surfaces, and generic highway sound barriers, retaining walls and utility vaults.

 

The Company was incorporated in Delaware on August 2, 1994. Prior to a corporate reorganization completed in October 1994, the Company conducted its business primarily through Smith-Midland Virginia, which was incorporated in 1960 as Smith Cattleguard Company, a Virginia corporation, and which subsequently changed its name to Smith-Midland Corporation in 1985. The Company’s principal offices are located at 5119 Catlett Road, Midland, Virginia 22728 and its telephone number is 540-439-3266. As used in this report, unless the context otherwise requires, the term the “Company” refers to Smith-Midland Corporation and its subsidiaries. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries consist of Smith-Midland Corporation, a Virginia corporation; Smith-Carolina Corporation, a North Carolina corporation; Smith-Columbia Corporation, a South Carolina corporation; Easi-Set Industries, Inc., a Virginia corporation doing business as Easi-Set Worldwide; Concrete Safety Systems, Inc., a Virginia corporation; and Midland Advertising and Design, Inc., a Virginia corporation doing business as Midland Advertising + Design.

 

Market

 

The Company's precast concrete products market and barrier rental market primarily consists of general contractors performing public and private construction contracts, including the construction of commercial buildings, public and private roads and highways, and airports, municipal utilities, and federal, state, and local transportation authorities, primarily located in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Midwestern and Southeastern states. Due to the lightweight characteristics of the SlenderWall® exterior cladding system, the Company has expanded its competitive services outside of the Mid-Atlantic states. The Company's licensing subsidiary licenses its proprietary products to precast concrete manufacturers nationwide and internationally in Canada, Belgium, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, and Trinidad.

 

The precast concrete products market is affected by the cyclical nature of the construction industry. In addition, the demand for construction varies depending upon weather conditions, the availability of financing at reasonable interest rates, overall fluctuations in the national and regional economies, past overbuilding, labor relations in the construction industry, and the availability of material and energy supplies. A substantial portion of the Company's business is derived from local, state, and federal building projects, which are further dependent upon budgets and, in some cases, voter-approved bonds.

 

Products

 

The Company's precast concrete products are cast in manufacturing facilities and delivered to a site for installation, in contrast to ready-mix concrete, which is produced offsite in a “batch plant,” and delivered with a concrete mixer truck where it is mixed and delivered to a construction site to be poured and set at the site. Precast concrete products are used primarily as parts of buildings or highway structures, and may be used architecturally as a decorative wall of a building. Structural uses include building walls, frames, floors, or roofs. The Company currently manufactures and sells a wide variety of products for use in the construction, transportation, and utility industries.

 

4

 

SlenderWall® Lightweight Construction Panels

 

The SlenderWall® system is a patented prefabricated, energy-efficient, lightweight exterior cladding system that is offered as a cost-effective alternative to the traditional cladding used for the exterior walls of buildings. The Company's SlenderWall® system combines the essential components of a wall system into a single panel ready for interior drywall mounting upon installation. The base components of each SlenderWall® panel consists of a galvanized stud frame with an exterior surface of approximately two-inch thick, steel reinforced, high-density, precast concrete (with integral water repellent), a thermal break, and various architectural surfaces. The exterior architectural concrete facing is attached to the interior steel frame by use of coated stainless steel fasteners that position the exterior concrete away from the steel frame to provide improved thermal performance.

 

SlenderWall® panels are approximately one-third the weight of traditional precast concrete walls of equivalent size, and are also significantly improved as to permanence and durability. The lighter weight translates into reduced construction costs resulting from less onerous structural and foundation requirements as well as lower shipping costs. Additional savings result from reduced installation time, ease of erection, and the use of smaller cranes for installation. Closed-cell foam insulation and windows can be plant-installed, further reducing cost and construction schedules.

 

The Company custom designs, manufactures, installs, and licenses the SlenderWall® exterior cladding system. The exterior of the SlenderWall® system can be produced in a variety of architectural finishes, such as concrete, exposed stone, granite, metal, or thin brick and can be integrated with other cladding materials.

 

Sierra Wall™

 

The Sierra Wall™ (“Sierra Wall”) combines the strength and durability of precast concrete with a variety of finishes to provide an effective and attractive sound and sight barrier for use alongside highways around residential, industrial, and commercial properties. With additional reinforcement, Sierra Wall can also be used as a retaining wall to retain earth in both highway and residential construction. Sierra Wall is typically constructed of four-inch thick, steel-reinforced concrete panels with an integral column creating a tongue and groove connection system. This tongue and groove connection system and its foundation connection make Sierra Wall easy to install and move if boundaries change or highways are relocated after the completion of a project. The patented Sierra Wall II one-piece extended post and panel design reduces installation time and cost.

 

The Company custom designs and manufactures Sierra Wall components to conform to the specifications provided by the contractor. The width, height, strength, and exterior finish of each wall varies depending upon the terrain and application. The Company also produces generic post and panel design sound barrier wall systems. These systems are constructed of steel or precast concrete columns (the Company manufactures the precast or prestressed columns) with precast concrete panels which slide down into the groove in each column.

 

Sierra Wall is used primarily for highway projects as a noise barrier as well as for residential purposes, such as privacy walls between homes, security walls or windbreaks, and for industrial or commercial purposes, such as to screen and protect shopping centers, industrial operations, institutions or highways. The variety of available finishes enables the Company to blend the Sierra Wall with local architecture, creating an attractive, as well as functional, barrier.

 

J-J Hooks® Highway Safety Barrier

 

The J-J Hooks® highway safety barriers (the “J-J Hooks Barriers”) are crash-tested (privately funded), positively connected, safety barriers that the Company sells, rents, delivers, installs, and licenses for use on roadways to separate lanes of traffic (in free-standing, bolted, or pinned installations) in construction work zones or for traffic control. Barriers are deemed to be positively connected when the connectors on each end of the barrier sections are interlocked with one another. J-J Hooks Barriers interlock without the need for a separate locking device. The primary advantage of a positive connection is that a barrier with such a connection can withstand vehicle crashes at higher speeds without separating. The Federal Highway Administration (“FHWA”) requires that states use only positively connected barriers, which meet NCHRP-350 or MASH crash test requirements. J-J Hooks Barriers that meet NCHRP-350 and MASH TL3 requirements are deemed eligible by the FHWA for federal-aid reimbursement. The Company has been issued patents with respect to J-J Hooks in the United States, Canada, and other countries.

 

5

 

The Company has received “design protection” in the U.S for the “end taper” on each end of the barrier sections. The United States has issued a “trade dress” registration for the “end taper” design feature. Accordingly, in the United States, these features cannot be legally copied by others.

 

The proprietary feature of J-J Hooks Barrier is the design of its positive connection. Protruding from each end of a J-J Hooks Barrier section is a fabricated bent steel connector; rolled in toward the end of the barrier, resembling the letter “J” when viewed from directly above. The connector protruding from each end of the barrier is rolled identically so that when one end of a barrier faces the end of another, the resulting “J-Hook” face each other. To connect one section of a J-J Hooks Barrier to another, a contractor simply positions the J-Hook of an elevated section of the barrier above the J-Hook of a set section and lowers the elevated section into place. The positive connection is automatically engaged using the cast-in alignment slot.

 

The Company believes that the J-J Hooks Barrier load transfer connection design is superior to other highway safety barriers that were positively connected through the “eye and pin” technique. Barriers incorporating this technique have eyes or loops protruding from each end of the barrier, which must be aligned during the setting process. Once set, a crew inserts pins or long bolts through the eyes which connects and bolts the barrier sections together. Compared to this technique, the J-J Hooks Barriers are easier and faster to install and remove, require a smaller crew, and eliminates the need for loose hardware to make the connection.

 

In March 1999, the FHWA approved the free-standing J-J Hooks Barrier (tested in accordance with NCHRP-350 Test Level 3) following successful crash testing in accordance with National Cooperative Highway Research Program requirements. In December 2012 the FHWA approved the pinned and bolted J-J Hooks and in March 2018 approved the free-standing J-J Hooks. In September 2018 the FHWA approved a 20-foot design originally tested to NCHRP-350 TL3 requirements and approved by the FHWA (tested in accordance with MASH Test Level 3) for use on federally aided highway projects following the successful completion of crash testing based on criteria from the AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware.

 

J-J Hooks NCHRP-350 free-standing barrier has been approved for use on state and federally funded projects by 42 states, plus Washington, D.C. The Company is in various stages of the application process in additional states and believes that approval in some of the states will be granted; however no assurance can be given that approval will be received from any or all of the remaining states or that such approval will result in the J-J Hooks Barrier being used in such states. In addition, J-J Hooks Barrier has been approved by the appropriate authorities for use in the countries of Canada (Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario), Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Germany and Chile.

 

J-J Hooks restrained (pinned or bolted) barrier successfully passed the MASH TL3 tests in August of 2012 and received FHWA Eligibility Letters in December 2012. Currently 42 states have approved the MASH restrained barrier and 42 states have approved the MASH free-standing design as an alternate to their state standard. New Zealand, Australia, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Nova Scotia, have approved the MASH tested barrier. The new J-J Hooks free-standing barrier successfully passed the two required MASH TL3 tests and in January 2018 and August 2018 received the FHWA federal-aid eligibility letters. The FHWA Eligibility letters B300 and B307 have been issued as of February 2018 and September 2018, respectively.

 

Easi-Set Precast Buildings and Easi-Span® Expandable Precast Buildings

 

Easi-Set Precast Buildings are transportable, prefabricated, single-story, all concrete buildings designed to be adaptable to a variety of uses ranging from housing communications operations, traffic control systems, mechanical and electrical stations, to inventory or supply storage, restroom facilities or kiosks. Easi-Set Precast Buildings and Restrooms are available in a variety of exterior finishes and in 38 standard sizes, or can be custom sized. The roof and floor of each Easi-Set Building is manufactured using the Company's second generation post-tensioned system, which helps seal the buildings against moisture. As freestanding units, the Easi-Set Buildings require no poured foundations or footings and can be easily installed within a few hours. After installation the buildings can be moved, if desired, and reinstalled in a new location. The Company has been issued patents in connection with this product in the United States and Canada.

 

The Company also offers Easi-Span® a line of expandable precast concrete buildings. Easi-Span® incorporates the technology of the Easi-Set Buildings, but are available in larger sizes and, through its modular construction, can be combined in varied configurations to permit expansion capabilities. Since these larger buildings have less competition from other materials and methods, they produce higher profit margins. Both the Easi-Span and Easi-Set Buildings offer lines of fully-outfitted restrooms with over a dozen standard models.

 

6

 

Easi-Set Utility Vault

 

The Company produces a line of precast concrete underground utility vaults ranging in size from 27 to 1,008 cubic feet. Each Easi-Set utility vault normally comes with a manhole opening on the top for ingress and egress and openings around the perimeter, in accordance with the customer's specifications, to access water and gas pipes, electrical power lines, telecommunications cables, or other such media of transfer. The utility vaults may be used to house equipment such as cable, telephone or traffic signal equipment, and for underground storage. The Company also manufactures custom-built utility vaults for special needs.

 

SoftSound™ Soundwall Panels

 

SoftSound™ soundwall panels utilize a “wood chip aggregate” material applied to the face of soundwall panels, which is used to absorb highway noise. SoftSound™ is a proprietary product developed and tested by the Company and is currently approved for use in Virginia, Maryland, seven additional states, and the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, Canada. Approvals are still pending in a number of additional states. The Company introduced this product line into its licensing program and is in the process of seeking to obtain approvals in all 50 states and the Canadian Provinces.

 

Beach Prisms™ Erosion Control Modules

 

Beach Prisms™ is a shoreline erosion control product that uses the preferred natural “soft” approach as opposed to the “hard” approach of seawalls and jetties, to solve this worldwide problem. Beach Prisms™ work by reducing the amount of energy in incoming waves before the waves reach the shoreline. Waves pass through the specially designed slots in the triangular 3-4 foot tall by 10 foot long Beach Prisms™ modules. The success of a Beach Prisms™ installation is dependent on the prevailing wind in relation to the shoreline, the tides, the fetch and the availability of sand in the surf. Beach Prisms™ are primarily for river- and bay-front property owners who want an alternative to traditional armor stone, or groins and jetties. The Company received “design protection” in the United States for the Beach Prisms™ in 2010. State and local approvals are necessary for installation of the product, and the Company has experienced for several years challenges receiving approvals in their local markets.

 

7

 

H2Out™ Secondary Drainage System

 

H2Out™ is the first “in the caulk joint” secondary drainage and street level leak detection product for panelized exterior cladding. A second line of caulking and drainage strip located behind the exterior line of caulking exits all water leakage to the exterior of the building preventing moisture and mold, and hence deterring lawsuits from tenants and owners of buildings. H2Out™ has been added as a feature of the SlenderWall® system and is being included in the product literature, website, and all sales presentations.

 

Although the Company is optimistic about the success of Beach Prisms™ and H2Out™, there can be no assurance of the commercial acceptance of these products and, in the case of Beach Prisms™, there can be no assurance of regulatory approvals.

 

Sources of Supply

 

All of the raw materials necessary for the manufacture of the Company's products are available from multiple sources. To date, the Company has experienced minor delays in obtaining materials, but believes that it will be able to obtain required materials from a number of suppliers at commercially reasonable prices.

 

Licensing

 

The Company presently grants licenses through its wholly-owned subsidiary Easi-Set Industries for the manufacturing and sale rights for certain proprietary products, such as the J-J Hooks® Barrier, Easi-Set®/Easi-Span® Precast Buildings, SlenderWall®, SoftSound™ and Beach Prisms™. Generally, licenses are granted for a point of manufacture. The Company receives an initial one-time training and administration license fee varying on the product licensed. License royalties vary depending upon the product licensed, and typically range from 4% to 6% of the net sales of the licensed product. In addition, Easi-Set®/Easi-Span® Buildings and SlenderWall® licensees pay the Company a monthly fee for co-op advertising & promotional programs. The Company produces and distributes advertising & promotional materials and promotes the licensed products through its own advertising subsidiary, Midland Advertising + Design.

 

The Company maintains 61 licensing agreements in the United States, 8 in Canada, 2 in New Zealand, and 1 each in Australia, Belgium, Mexico, and Trinidad, for a total of 75 licenses worldwide.

 

The Company is continually discussing new license arrangements with potential precast companies and, although no assurance can be given, expects to increase its licensing activities.

 

Marketing and Sales

 

The Company uses an in-house sales force and, to a lesser extent, independent sales representatives to market its precast concrete products through trade show attendance, sales presentations, virtual meetings, advertisements in trade publications, and direct mail to end users.

 

The Company has also established a cooperative advertising program in which the Company and its Easi-Set®/Easi-Span® Buildings and SlenderWall® licensees combine resources to promote certain precast concrete products. Licensees pay a monthly fee and the Company pays any additional amounts required to advertise the products across the country. Although the Company advertises nationally, the Company's precast subsidiaries marketing efforts are concentrated within a 450-mile radius from its facilities, which includes the majority of the eastern United States.

 

The Company's precast product sales and barrier rental sales result primarily from the submission of estimates or proposals to general contractors who then include the estimates in their overall bids to various government agencies and other end users that solicit construction contracts through a competitive bidding process. In general, these contractors solicit and obtain their construction contracts by submitting the most attractive bid to the party desiring the construction. The Company's role in the bidding process is to provide estimates to the contractors desiring to include the Company's products or services in the contractor's bid. If a contractor who accepts the Company's bid is selected to perform the construction, the Company provides the agreed upon products or services. In many instances, the Company provides estimates to more than one of the contractors bidding on a single project. The Company also occasionally negotiates with and sells directly to end-users.

 

8

 

Competition

 

The precast concrete industry is highly competitive and consists of a few large companies and many small to mid-size companies, several of which have substantially greater resources than the Company. Nationally, several large companies dominate the precast concrete market. However, due to the weight and costs of delivery of precast concrete products, competition in the industry tends to be limited by geographical location and distance from the construction site and is fragmented with numerous manufacturers in a large local area.

 

The Company believes that the principal competitive factors for its precast products are price, durability, ease of use and installation, speed of production and delivery time, ability to customize, FHWA and state approval, and customer service. The Company believes that its plants in Midland, Virginia, Reidsville, North Carolina, and Hopkins (Columbia), South Carolina compete favorably with respect to each of these factors in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States. Finally, the Company believes it offers a broad range of products that are highly competitive in these markets.

 

Intellectual Property

 

The Company seeks to protect our intellectual property rights by relying on federal, state and common law rights in the United States and other countries, as well as contractual restrictions. Our intellectual property assets include patents, patent applications, trade secrets, trademarks, trade dress, copyrights, operating and instruction manuals, crash tests, non-disclosure and other contractual arrangements. The patents for certain products have expired, however the regulatory testing, capital resources, and regulatory approvals needed to enter these markets has minimized new competitors entering the market with similar products. The Company continues to develop proprietary products that are protected by a variety of intellectual property including, but not limited to crash testing, independent laboratory testing, sales and marketing manuals and methods, production and installation manuals and methods, trade mark and trade dress protection, copyrights, brand names, FHWA approvals, state DOT approvals, as well as patents.

 

While the Company intends to vigorously enforce its patent rights against infringement by third parties, no assurance can be given that the patents or the Company's patent rights will be enforceable or provide the Company with meaningful protection from competitors or that its patent applications will be allowed. Even if a competitor’s products were to infringe patents held by the Company, enforcing the patent rights in an enforcement action could be very costly, and assuming the Company has sufficient resources, would divert funds and resources that otherwise could be used in the Company's operations. No assurance can be given that the Company would be successful in enforcing such rights, that the Company's products or processes do not infringe the patent or intellectual property rights of a third party, or that if the Company is not successful in a suit involving patents or other intellectual property rights of a third party, that a license for such technology would be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.

 

Government Regulation

 

The Company frequently supplies products and services pursuant to agreements with general contractors who have entered into contracts with federal or state governmental agencies. The successful completion of the Company’s obligations under such contracts is often subject to the satisfactory inspection or approval of such products and services by a representative of the contracting agency. Although the Company targets to satisfy the requirements of each such contract to which it is a party, no assurance can be given that the necessary approval of its products and services will be granted on a timely basis or at all and that the Company will receive any payments due to it. Any failure to obtain such approval and payment may have a material adverse effect on the Company's business.

 

The Company's operations are subject to extensive and stringent governmental regulations including regulations related to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and environmental protection. The Company believes that it is substantially in compliance with all applicable regulations. The cost of maintaining such compliance is not considered by the Company to be significant.

 

9

 

The Company's employees in its manufacturing division operate complicated machinery that may cause substantial injury or death upon malfunction or improper operation. The Company's manufacturing facilities are subject to the workplace safety rules and regulations of OSHA. The Company believes that it is in compliance with the requirements of OSHA.

 

During the normal course of its operations, the Company uses and disposes of materials, such as solvents and lubricants used in equipment maintenance, that are classified as hazardous by government agencies that regulate environmental quality. The Company attempts to minimize the generation of such waste as much as possible, and to recycle such waste where possible. Remaining wastes are disposed of in permitted disposal sites in accordance with applicable regulations.

 

In the event that the Company is unable to comply with the OSHA or environmental requirements, the Company could be subject to substantial sanctions, including restrictions on its business operations, monetary liability and criminal sanctions, any of which could have a material adverse effect upon the Company's business.

 

Human Capital Resources

 

As of March 12, 2024, the Company had a total of 247 employees, of which 172 are full-time, 10 are part-time, and 65 are temporary workers, with 168 located at the Company's Midland, Virginia facility, 39 are located at the Company's facility in Reidsville, North Carolina and 40 are located at the Company's facility in Hopkins (Columbia), South Carolina. None of the Company's employees are represented by labor organizations and the Company is not aware of any activities seeking such organization. Employees are competitively compensated with the local job markets at each facility. The Company considers its relationships with its employees to be satisfactory.

 

We manage our Company according to our vision, mission, and core principles. Included among these principles are respect for people, lead with humility, kaizen spirit, focus on process, seek perfection, assure quality at the source, create consistency of purpose, embrace scientific thinking, think systemically, and create value for the customer. We continue to focus on training and development of our associates at every level in the organization, and pride ourselves on safety, quality, delivery, morale, and cost. We expect that these approaches to leading and empowering our associates will create trust with our customers, creating sustainability and growth of the business.

 

The Company is committed to creating and maintaining a safe work-environment for all employees, customers, contractors, vendors, and the community. Through shared experiences and resources across all three facilities, the Company has cultivated a safety-first culture for all stakeholders.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 1C. Cybersecurity

 

Cybersecurity Risk Management and Strategy

 

The Company’s cybersecurity program is designed to protect its assets and information, and to maintain the secure storage and of proprietary information relating to our customers, employees, applicants, vendors, and other parties, including financial information and personal information. The Company’s cybersecurity program is formed using a risk-based approach with recommendations from cybersecurity consultants, cybersecurity insurers, and other third-party consultants.

Our cybersecurity program includes, among others:

 

	·	a cybersecurity education program with on-going employee activities, which include frequent phishing simulation and testing and annual training;
	·	access management and access controls with periodic reviews;
	·	when appropriate, use of external subject matter specialists, including assessors, insurers, and consultants, to provide incident response services and risk assessments;
	·	engagement in security practices that include physical, administrative, and technical safeguards of systems and hardware;

 

The Company continues to invest in its cybersecurity program and performs assessments to identify opportunities to enhance training and awareness and improve processes and technology used to identify, prevent, detect, respond, and recover from cybersecurity incidents.

 

Governance

 

Our Board of Directors has overall responsibility for risk oversight and oversees the implementation and continuous improvement of our cybersecurity program and compliance with disclosure requirements. The Board of Directors receives regular reports and periodic briefings from the Chief Financial Officer on cybersecurity matters, including key risks to the Company, recent developments, and risk mitigation activities. Our cybersecurity program is overseen by the Chief Financial Officer in conjunction with a third-party service provider. The third-party service provider has the primary responsibility for the Company’s cybersecurity risk management program. At the time an incident is identified, the Company completes an evaluation and summarizes the incident that is shared with the Board of Directors to effectively manage resources to reduce risk and prevent future incidents.

 

10

 

Incident Disclosure

 

To date, the Company has been subject to cyber related incidents, as previously disclosed in the Company’s Quarterly Report for the quarters ended June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023 and within this Annual Report. Since the identification of the incident, we have implemented additional safeguards designed to detect and prevent cybersecurity events that may have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

Item 2. Properties

 

Facilities

 

The Company operates three manufacturing facilities. The largest manufacturing operations facility is a 44,000 square foot manufacturing plant located on approximately 58 acres of land in Midland, Virginia, which the Company owns. The manufacturing facility houses two concrete mixers and one concrete blender. The plant also includes two environmentally controlled casting areas, three batch plants, a form fabrication shop, a welding and metal fabrication facility, a carpentry shop, a quality control center and a covered steel reinforcing fabrication area of approximately 8,000 square feet. The Company's Midland facility also includes a large storage yard for inventory and stored materials.

 

The Company owns an additional 19 acres in Midland, Virginia, approximately two miles from the operations facility, and is developed as a storage yard for the rental barrier division.

 

The Company's second manufacturing facility is located in Reidsville, North Carolina on 46 acres of owned land and includes a 15,000 square foot manufacturing plant and administrative offices with additional space for future expansion. The facility began production in the fourth quarter 2021. The Company is under contract to double the size of this facility and anticipates construction to be complete in the second half of 2024. The previous North Carolina facility, on 10 acres of owned land, including an 8,000 square foot manufacturing plant with administrative offices, remains operational with future use not determined at this time.

 

The Company's third manufacturing facility is located in Hopkins (Columbia), South Carolina. The facility is located on 39 acres of land owned by the Company and has approximately 40,000 square feet of production space and administrative offices. The South Carolina facility gives the Company sufficient capacity to cover additional territory from the Atlantic Coast region to the northern part of Florida.

 

The Company's present facilities are adequate for its current needs.

 

11

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

 

The Company is not presently involved in any litigation of a material nature.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not applicable.

 

12

 

PART II

 

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

 

The Company's Common Stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “SMID”.

 

As of April 29, 2024, there were approximately 40 record holders of the Company's Common Stock. Management believes there are at least 1,000 beneficial owners of the Company's Common Stock.

 

Dividends

 

Although the Company has historically paid special dividends, the Company did not declare a dividend in 2023. The Company cannot guarantee payment of dividends due to the internal need for funds in the development and expansion of its business. The declaration of dividends in the future will be at the election of the Board of Directors and will depend upon earnings, capital requirements and financial position of the Company, bank loan covenants, general economic conditions, and other pertinent factors.

 

Item 6. Reserved

 

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

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company (including the Notes thereto) included elsewhere in this report. Dollar amounts are in thousands, except for per share amounts.

 

The Company generates revenues primarily from the sale, leasing, licensing, shipping and installation of precast concrete products and systems for the construction, utility and farming industries. The Company's operating strategy has involved producing and marketing innovative and proprietary products, including SlenderWall™, a patent pending, lightweight, energy efficient concrete and steel exterior wall panel for use in building construction; J-J Hooks® Barrier, a patented positive-connected highway safety barrier; Sierra Wall™, a patented sound barrier primarily for roadside use; transportable concrete buildings; and SoftSound™, a highway sound attenuation system. In addition, the Company produces utility vaults; farm products such as cattleguards; and custom order precast concrete products with various architectural surfaces.

 

As a part of the construction industry, the Company's sales and net income may vary greatly from quarter to quarter over a given year. Because of the cyclical nature of the construction industry, many factors outside of the Company’s control, such as weather and project delays, affect the Company's production schedule, possibly causing a momentary slowdown in sales and net income. As a result of these factors, the Company is not always able to earn a profit for each period, therefore, please read Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the accompanying financial statements with these factors in mind.

 

13

 

Overview

 

Overall, the Company’s financial bottom line performance was essentially equal in 2023 when compared to 2022. The Company had net income for 2023 of $795 compared to net income of $800 for 2022. Total revenue increased by $9,449 to $59,580 in 2023 from $50,131 in 2022. The increase in sales is mainly from an increase in SlenderWall, soundwall, and miscellaneous wall sales. Fourth quarter 2023 revenues were $16,389 compared to $14,487 in the fourth quarter 2022. The increase in revenue for the fourth quarter 2023 as compared to the fourth quarter 2022 was primarily due to an increase in barrier rental and an increase in soundwall sales.

 

Cost of sales as a percentage of revenue, not including royalties, increased to 86% in 2023 compared to 85% in 2022 due to additional costs, approximately $400, incurred for the remaking of panels for a specific project in the second quarter of 2023. Cost of sales as a percentage of revenue, not including royalties, remained flat at 85% for the fourth quarter 2023 as compared to the fourth quarter 2022.

 

Operating income was $1,118 for 2023, as compared to $854 for 2022. Operating expenses for 2023 was $9,534 compared to $8,614 in 2022. The increase is due to increased selling costs associated with additional sales personnel and increased general and administrative costs due to increased insurance costs for a specific project in New York. Total operating expense was $2,580 for both the fourth quarter 2023 and the fourth quarter 2022.

 

Income tax expense for 2023 was $528, or an effective tax rate of 40.0%, as compared to $145, or an effective tax rate of 15.4% for 2022, adversely affecting net income in 2023. The increase was mainly due to an increase in state tax liability for a true-up of state tax expense.

 

As of March 12, 2024, the Company’s sales backlog was approximately $60.8 million, as compared to approximately $52.4 million around the same time in the prior year. It is estimated that most of the projects in the current sales backlog will be produced within 12 months, but a few will be produced over multiple years. The Company anticipates greater sales volumes throughout 2024, although no assurance can be provided. The Company also anticipates funding related to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to begin coming through the state and local governments in the latter half of 2024 and beyond to further promote growth in the revenue backlog related to the highway and transportation markets, although no assurance can be provided. The Company continues to increase marketing and sales efforts towards SlenderWall sales and barrier rentals, in line with long-term strategic objectives.

 

Results of Operations

 

Year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company had total revenue of $59,580 compared to total revenue of $50,131 for the year ended December 31, 2022, an increase of $9,449 or 19%. Revenue includes product sales, barrier rentals, royalty income, and shipping and installation revenues. Product sales are further divided into soundwall, architectural and SlenderWall™ panels, miscellaneous wall panels, highway barriers, Easi-Set®/Easi-Span® buildings, utility products, and miscellaneous precast products. The following table summarizes the revenue by type and a comparison for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):

 

Revenue by Type (Disaggregated Revenue)		2023				2022				Change				% Change
Product Sales:
Soundwall Sales		$	7,671			$	4,128			$	3,543				86	%
Architectural Sales			1,131				4,269				(3,138	)			(74	)%
SlenderWall Sales			5,312				1,489				3,823				257	%
Miscellaneous Wall Sales			6,418				3,475				2,943				85	%
Barrier Sales			7,827				6,717				1,110				17	%
Easi-Set and Easi-Span Building Sales			4,712				4,089				623				15	%
Utility Sales			2,857				2,023				834				41	%
Miscellaneous Sales			2,820				1,631				1,189				73	%
Total Product Sales			38,748				27,821				10,927				39	%
Barrier Rentals			6,330				6,545				(215	)			(3	)%
Royalty Income			2,633				2,498				135				5	%
Shipping and Installation Revenue			11,869				13,267				(1,398	)			(11	)%
Total Service Revenue			20,832				22,310				(1,478	)			(7	)%
Total Revenue		$	59,580			$	50,131			$	9,449				19	%

 

The revenue items: soundwall sales, architectural panel sales, SlenderWall sales, miscellaneous wall sales, miscellaneous sales, barrier rentals, and royalty income are recognized as revenue over time. The revenue items: barrier sales, Easi-Set and Easi-Span building sales, utility sales, and shipping and installation revenue are recognized as revenue at a point in time.

 

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Soundwall Sales – Soundwall panel sales increased by 86% in 2023 compared to 2022. The increase is mainly due to higher production volumes at the North Carolina and South Carolina plants reflecting larger soundwall projects than in the prior period. The Company expects soundwall panel sales to be similar in 2024 as compared to 2023, although no assurance can be provided.

 

Architectural Sales – Architectural panel sales decreased by 74% in 2023 compared to 2022. The decrease is from the completion of two architectural projects in the third quarter of 2022. Architectural sales are expected to be higher during 2024, as compared to 2023, although no assurance can be provided.

 

SlenderWall Sales – SlenderWall panel sales increased by 257% in 2023 compared to 2022. The increase is due to two projects being produced consecutively throughout 2023 in comparison to a single project in 2022, which production was completed in the first quarter of 2022. The Company continues to focus sales initiatives on SlenderWall, but no assurance can be given as to the success of this endeavor. SlenderWall sales are expected to be lower during 2024, as compared to 2023.

 

Miscellaneous Wall Sales – Miscellaneous wall sales are highly customized precast concrete products or retaining and lagging panels that do not fit other product categories. Miscellaneous wall sales increased by 85% in 2023 when compared to 2022 due to the increased amount of wall panel projects in Virginia and increased retaining wall projects in South Carolina. Miscellaneous sales are expected to trend similar in 2024, as compared to 2023, although no assurance can be provided.

 

Barrier Sales – Barrier sales increased by 17% in 2023 when compared to 2022. The increase is due to large barrier projects at all three manufacturing facilities that had significant production volumes in the first and third quarters of 2023. Barrier sales are expected to trend lower in 2024 than previous years as the Company continues to shift from barrier sales to barrier rentals.

 

Easi-Set® and Easi-Span® Building Sales – The Easi-Set® Buildings program includes Easi-Set®, plant assembled and Easi-Span®, site assembled, and an extensive line of pre-engineered restrooms. Building sales increased by 15% in 2023 as compared to 2022 due to increased sales at all locations, reflecting general product sale fluctuations. Building and restroom sales are expected to continue to trend similar during 2024 as compared to 2023, although no assurance can be provided.

 

Utility Sales – Utility products are mainly comprised of underground utility vaults used in infrastructure construction. Utility product sales increased by 41% in 2023 compared to 2022. The increase is related to the increase in the market for dry utility vaults to support the growth in data centers. Utility sales are expected to trend similar during 2024 as compared to 2023, although no assurance can be provided.

 

Miscellaneous Product Sales – Miscellaneous products are products that are produced or sold that do not meet the criteria defined for other revenue categories. Examples would include precast concrete slabs, blocks or small add-on items. For 2023, miscellaneous product sales increased by 73% when compared to 2022. The change is mainly attributed to specialty products produced at the South Carolina plant throughout 2023. Miscellaneous product sales are expected to trend lower during 2024 as compared to 2023, although no assurance can be provided.

 

15

 

Barrier Rentals – Barrier rentals decreased by 3% in 2023 as compared to 2022. Revenue from the Company’s core rental barrier fleet decreased by 43% in 2023 as compared to 2022. The decrease in barrier rental revenue from the core rental barrier fleet was due to additional revenue recognized in the prior period related to the barrier buy-back agreement, which was fully recognized as of December 31, 2022. Additionally, the decrease is related to a temporary slowdown in barrier rental projects during the first half of 2023, however the Company saw a significant increase in projects during the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease in barrier rental revenue from the core rental in the current year, was offset, in part, by an increase in barrier rental revenue from special barrier projects. Barrier rental revenue from special projects increased 157% in 2023 as compared to 2022. As indicated above, the Company is continuing to shift its focus to barrier rentals compared to barrier sales with the significant increase in the rental fleet that occurred during 2022. Barrier rental revenue, excluding revenue from special barrier projects, is expected to trend higher in 2024 as compared to barrier rental revenue, excluding revenue from special barrier projects, in 2023, as funding increases related to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, although no assurance can be given.

 

Royalty Income – Royalties increased by 5% in 2023 as compared to 2022. The increase in royalties is mainly due to the increase in barrier royalties during 2023 compared to 2022. As funding increases related to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Company expects 2024 royalties to increase compared to 2023, although no assurance can be given.

 

Shipping and Installation – Shipping revenue results from shipping our products to the customers' final destination and is recognized when the shipping services take place. Installation activities include installation of our products at the customers’ construction site. Installation revenue results when attaching architectural wall panels to a building, installing an Easi-Set® building at a customers' site, setting highway barrier, or setting any of our other precast products at a site specific to the requirements of the owner. Shipping and installation revenues decreased by 11% for 2023 when compared to 2022. The decrease is mainly attributed to the decrease in shipping and installation of SlenderWall and architectural panels. This is associated with the decreased production of SlenderWall and architectural panels that occurred in the third and fourth quarters of 2022 that would typically be shipped and installed throughout 2023.

 

Cost of Sales – Total cost of sales for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $48,928, an increase of $8,266, or 20%, from $40,662 for the year ended December 31, 2022. Total cost of sales as a percentage of total revenue, not including royalties, increased to 86% for the year ended December 31, 2023 from 85% for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in cost of sales as a percentage of revenue, not including royalties, is mainly due to additional costs incurred, approximately $400, for the production of panels remade for one specific project in the second quarter of 2023. To a lesser extent, the margins for the year ended December 31, 2023 were negatively impacted by the decrease in revenues derived from barrier rental revenue, which carry higher margins than product sales. Higher revenue levels in 2023 than in 2022 had a favorable affect on margins reflecting the absorption of fixed overhead costs. Increased material and labor costs also affected margins for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022.

 

General and Administrative Expenses – For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company's general and administrative expenses increased by $439, or 8%, to $5,990 from $5,551 during the same period in 2022. The increase is mainly attributed to increased insurance costs for a specific project in New York. The Company previously reported a loss due to a wire fraud incident in the second quarter of 2023. The Company recovered additional funds in the fourth quarter of 2023 resulting in a net loss of $25 for the full year 2023. General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 also increased over the prior year due to an increase in audit fees and an increase in salaries and wages.

 

Selling Expenses – Selling expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $480, or 16%, to $3,544 from $3,064 for the year ended December 31, 2022. Selling expenses increased during 2023 due to additional salespersons hired, increased commissions related to the increased sales, and increased spending for advertising. The Company expects selling expenses to increase in future periods with the plan for additional sales associates and increased advertising spending aligning with the strategy to increase SlenderWall sales and barrier rentals.

 

Operating Income – The Company had operating income for the year ended December 31, 2023 of $1,118 compared to operating income of $854 for the year ended December 31, 2022, an increase of $264, or 31%. The increase in operating income was mainly due to the increase in gross profit and decrease in operating expenses as a percent of revenue.

 

Income Tax Expense – The Company had income tax expense of $528 for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to income tax expense of $145 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Company had an effective rate of 40.0% for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to an effective rate of 15.4% for the same period in 2022. The increase in the effective tax rate is attributed to the increase in the Company’s state tax liability for a true-up of state tax expense.

 

Net Income – The Company had net income of $795 for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to net income of $800 for the same period in 2022. The basic and diluted earnings per share was $0.15 for 2023 compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.15 for the year ended December 31, 2022. There were 5,258 basic and 5,292 diluted weighted average shares outstanding in 2023, and 5,233 basic and 5,253 diluted weighted average shares outstanding in 2022.

 

16

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Company financed its capital expenditures for 2023 with cash balances on hand. The Company had $5,789 of debt obligations at December 31, 2023, of which $636 is scheduled to mature within twelve months. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, the Company made repayments of outstanding debt in the amount $627.

 

The Company has a mortgage note payable to Summit Community Bank (the “Bank”) for the construction of its North Carolina facility. The note carries a ten-year term at a fixed interest rate of 3.64% annually per the Promissory Note Rate Conversion Agreement, with monthly payments of $22, and is secured by all of the assets of Smith-Carolina and a guarantee by the Company. The balance of the note payable at December 31, 2023 was $1,398. 

 

The Company also has a note payable to the Bank in the amount of $2,701. The loan is collateralized by a first lien position on the Midland, VA plant, building, and assets. The refinance also released the lien on the Smith-Columbia plant in Hopkins, South Carolina (Columbia). The interest rate per the Promissory Note is fixed at 3.99% per annum, with principal and interest payments payable monthly over 120 months in the amount of $27. The loan matures on March 27, 2030. The balance of the note payable at December 31, 2023 was $1,814.

 

On February 10, 2022, the Company completed the financing for its acquisition of certain real property in Midland, VA from the fourth quarter of 2021, totaling approximately 29.8 acres, with a note payable to the Bank in the amount of $2,805. The loan is collateralized by a first lien position on the related real property. The interest rate is fixed at 4.09% per annum, with principal and interest payments payable monthly over 180 months for $21. The loan matures on February 10, 2037. The balance of the note payable on December 31, 2023 was $2,547.

 

The Company additionally has two smaller installment loans with annual interest rates of 2.90% and 3.99%, maturing in 2025, with balances totaling $29.

 

Under the loan covenants with the Bank, the Company is limited to annual capital expenditures of $5,000 and must maintain tangible net worth of $10,000. The Company is in compliance with all covenants pursuant to the loan agreements as of December 31, 2023.

 

In addition to the notes payable discussed above, the Company has a $5,000 line of credit with the Bank with no balance outstanding as of December 31, 2023. The line of credit is evidenced by a commercial revolving promissory note, which carries a variable interest rate of prime, with a floor of 3.50%, and matures on October 1, 2024. The loan is collateralized by a first lien position on the Company's accounts receivable and inventory and a second lien position on all other business assets. Key provisions of the line of credit require the Company (i) to obtain bank approval for capital expenditures in excess of $5,000 during the term of the loan and (ii) to obtain bank approval prior to its funding of any acquisition. On October 1, 2023, the Company received a Commitment Letter from the Bank to provide a guidance line of credit specifically to purchase business equipment in an amount up to $1,500. The commitment provides for the purchase of equipment for which a note payable will be executed with a term not to exceed five years with an interest rate at the Wall Street Journal prime rate plus 0.50% with a floor of 3.50% per annum. The loan is collateralized by a first lien position on all equipment purchased under the line. The commitment for the guidance line of credit matures on October 1, 2024. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had not purchased any equipment pursuant to the $1,500 commitment. 

 

17

 

At December 31, 2023, the Company had cash totaling $9,175 compared to cash totaling $6,726 at December 31, 2022. The increase in cash is primarily the result of cash provided from operations, more specifically related to the cash flow from barrier rentals in addition to an increase in customer deposits. Investing activities used $4,664 in cash primarily for the development of a storage lot for the barrier rental fleet and the purchase of a new batch plant system in South Carolina. Financing activities used $619 in cash in 2023 related to the repayment of notes payable throughout 2023.

 

Capital spending, including financed additions, decreased from $5,264 in 2022 to $5,010 in 2023. Capital expenditures in 2023 were primarily related to spending for the yard development for a storage lot for the barrier rental fleet, a new batch plant system for the South Carolina manufacturing facility, and the completion of the barrier buy-back. The Company anticipates capital spending for 2024 to be approximately $5,000, which includes expansion of the North Carolina manufacturing facility, soundwall forms for increased production capacity, and miscellaneous manufacturing equipment. Anticipated capital expenditures excludes acquisitions.

 

The Company's notes payable are financed at fixed rates of interest. This leaves the Company almost impervious to fluctuating interest rates. Increases in such rates will only affect the interest paid by the Company if new debt is obtained, or the available line of credit is drawn upon, with a variable interest rate.

 

The Company’s cash flow from operations is affected by production schedules set by contractors, which generally provide for payment 45 to 75 days after the products are produced and with some contracts, retainage may be held until the entire project is completed. This payment schedule could result in liquidity problems for the Company because it must bear the cost of production for its products before it receives payment. The Company's days sales outstanding (DSO) in 2023 and 2022 were 113 and 99 days, respectively. Although no assurances can be given, the Company believes that its current cash resources, anticipated cash flow from operations, and the availability under the line of credit will be sufficient to finance the Company’s operations for at least the next 12 months.

 

The Company’s accounts receivable balance, net of allowance for credit losses, at December 31, 2023 was $17,209, compared to accounts receivable balance, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, of $16,223 at December 31, 2022. The increase is primarily the result of increased revenue and to a lesser extent, lagging effects of turnover of the accounts receivable position throughout the later part of 2022 and through the first quarter of 2023. The Company expects DSO to trend downwards, with increased collection efforts, although no assurance can be provided.

 

The Company’s inventory at December 31, 2023 was $5,150 and at December 31, 2022 was $3,818, an increase of $1,331. The annual inventory turns for 2023 and 2022 were 15.0 and 14.1, respectively.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The Company’s significant accounting policies are more fully described in its Summary of Accounting Policies to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted within the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported in the accompanying financial statements and related notes. In preparing these consolidated financial statements, management has made its best estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the consolidated financial statements, giving due consideration to materiality. The Company does not believe there is a great likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported related to the accounting policies described below, however, application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and the use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

Allowance for Credit Losses-The Company evaluates the adequacy of its allowance for credit losses at the end of each quarter. In performing this evaluation, the Company analyzes the payment history of its significant past due accounts, subsequent cash collections on these accounts, comparative accounts receivable aging statistics, macro-economic conditions, and other customer specific considerations existing and known as of the time of the analysis. Based on this information, along with other related factors, the Company develops an estimate of the uncollectible amounts included in accounts receivable. This estimate involves significant judgment by the management of the Company. Actual uncollectible amounts may differ from the Company’s estimate.

 

Over-Time Revenue Recognition-The Company recognizes revenue on the sale of its standard precast concrete products, and the associated shipping and installation revenue, at shipment date, including revenue derived from any projects to be completed under short-term contracts. Leasing and royalties are recognized as revenue over time. Certain sales of soundwall, SlenderWall, and other architectural concrete products are recognized over time because as the Company's performance creates or enhances customer-controlled assets or creates or enhances an asset with no alternative use, and the Company has an enforceable right to receive compensation. Over time product contracts are estimated based on the number of units produced (output method) during the period multiplied by the unit rate stated in the contract. As the output method is driven by units produced, the Company recognizes revenues based on the value transferred to the customer relative to the remaining value to be transferred. The Company also matches the costs associated with the units produced. If a contract is projected to result in a loss, the entire contract loss is recognized in the period when the loss was first determined and the amount of the loss updated in subsequent reporting periods. Revenue recognition also includes an amount related to a contract asset or contract liability. If the recognized revenue is greater than the amount billed to the customer, a contract asset is recorded in accounts receivable trade - unbilled. Conversely, if the amount billed to the customer is greater than the recognized revenue, a contract liability is recorded in customer deposits. Changes in the job performance, job conditions and final contract settlements are factors that influence management’s assessment of total contract value and therefore, profit and revenue recognition.

 

18

 

Seasonality

 

The Company services the construction industry primarily in areas of the United States where construction activity may be inhibited by adverse weather during the winter. As a result, the Company may experience reduced revenues from December through February and realize the substantial part of its revenues during the other months of the year. The Company may experience lower profits, or losses, during the winter months, and as such, must have sufficient working capital to fund its operations at a reduced level until the spring construction season. The failure to generate or obtain sufficient working capital during the winter may have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

Inflation

 

Management believes that the Company's operations were affected by inflation in 2023 and 2022, particularly in the purchases of certain raw materials such as cement, aggregates, and steel, and with labor costs. The Company believes that raw material pricing and labor costs will increase in 2024, although no assurance can be given regarding future pricing or costs.

 

Backlog

 

As of March 12, 2024, the Company's sales backlog was approximately $60.8 million as compared to approximately $52.4 million at approximately the same time in 2023. It is estimated that most of the projects in the sales backlog will be produced within 12 months, but a few will be produced over multiple years. The increase in backlog was due to an increase in orders for products to be produced at all three manufacturing facilities, as well as an increase in the barrier rental backlog, as compared to the prior year. The Company expects the backlog to increase with continued bidding on large infrastructure and SlenderWall/architectural projects, although no assurance can be given.

 

The risk exists that recessionary economic conditions may adversely affect the Company more than it has experienced to date. To mitigate these economic and other risks, the Company has a broader product offering than most competitors and has historically been a leader in innovation and new product development in the industry. The Company is continuing this strategy through the development, marketing and sales efforts for its new products.

 

The Company continues to evaluate both production and administrative processes, and has streamlined many of these processes through lean activities. During 2023 and 2022, the Company, through lean activities, continued to see positive effects in production and office areas. The lean business philosophy is a long-term, customer focused approach to continuous improvement by eliminating waste and providing value. It is management's intention to continue on the lean journey while implementing a lean culture throughout the Company to help reach our goals for 2024. The Company's lean efforts are aimed to increase quality to the customer, significantly reduce defects, while increasing production capacity and sales volume. In order to meet these goals, substantial improvements through lean tools and lean thinking are being implemented company wide.

 

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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

The consolidated financial statements, which appear beginning on page F-1, are filed as part of this report.

 

Item 9. Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

In connection with the preparation of this report, an evaluation was carried out by certain members of the Company’s management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”)) as of December 31, 2023. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the CEO and the CFO, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

Due to the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting described below, management concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2023. Notwithstanding the existence of these material weaknesses, management believes that the consolidated financial statements in this annual report filed on Form 10-K present, in all material respects, the Company’s financial condition as reported, in conformity with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”).

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. This process includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to risk that the internal control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Management has completed an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). As a result of this assessment, management has concluded controls were not effective due to two identified material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is a control deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. At December 31, 2023, the following material weaknesses existed:

 

Allowance for Credit Losses–As previously reported, the Company identified a material weakness related to the review of its allowances that continued to exist as of December 31, 2023. Specifically, the Company did not design and maintain the adequate management review controls related to the review over the determination of expected credit losses.

 

Journal Entries–The Company did not design and maintain effective processes and controls to ensure all journal entries are properly reviewed and approved prior to posting to the general ledger. Additionally, the Company did not maintain proper segregation of duties within its general ledger system as it relates to logical access to post and approve manual journal entries.

 

20

 

As a result of these material weaknesses, the Company’s management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2023 the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was not effective based on the criteria in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013)issued by the COSO.

 

Management communicated the results of its assessment to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. As a “smaller reporting company”, the Company is exempt from the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. As a result, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm has not audited or issued an attestation report with respect to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023.

 

Remediation Efforts

 

Management is committed to the remediation of the material weaknesses described above.

 

To address the material weakness associated with the review of the allowance for credit losses, management has designed and implemented enhanced control activities that includes detailed documentation of matters considered while preparing and reviewing the allowance for credit losses. While management believes they have effectively designed and implemented an enhanced review control, the material weakness will not be considered remediated until the control operates for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing, that the control is operating effectively.

 

To address the material weakness associated with the review and posting of journal entries, management is actively exploring potential functionality available with the Company’s general ledger system, as well as the need for monitoring controls to effectively mitigate the risk.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Other than as described above, there were no other changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified in management’s evaluation pursuant to Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act during the quarter ended December 31, 2023 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B. Other Information

 

During the fiscal fourth quarter of 2023, none of our directors and officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act of 1934) adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” each as defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K.

 

Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections

 

Not applicable.

 

21

 

PART III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

Certain information with respect to our Directors and executive officers is set forth below.

 

Name		Age		Director or Executive Officer Since		Position
Ashley B. Smith		61		1994		Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, and President
James Russell Bruner		68		2018		Director
Matthew I. Smith		57		2023		Director, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, and President of Concrete Safety Systems
Read Van de Water		60		2023		Director
Richard Gerhardt		57		2016		Director
Stephanie Poe		34		2023		Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer

 

Background

 

The following is a brief summary of the background of each Director and executive officer of the Company:

 

Ashley B. Smith. Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, and President. Ashley B. Smith has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors since January 2023, Chief Executive Officer of the Company since 2018, President of the Company since 2012, and as a Director since 1994. Mr. Smith was Vice President of the Company from 1990 to 2011. He is a past Chairman of the National Precast Concrete Association. Mr. Smith serves on the Board of Trustees of Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Virginia. Mr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Bridgewater College. The Company believes that Mr. Smith’s education, experience in the precast concrete industry and business experience gives him the qualifications and skills necessary to serve in the capacity as a director of the Company.

 

James Russell Bruner. Director. Mr. Bruner has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company since 2018. Mr. Bruner has served as Chairman of Maersk Line, Limited (“Maersk Line”) since November 2016 and was President and Chief Executive Officer of Maersk Line from 2014 to 2017. Maersk Line owns and operates a fleet of container and tanker ships that are under the flag of the United States. These ships support military, government and humanitarian missions through the transportation of United States government cargo on an international basis. Maersk Line operates as a subsidiary of A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, an integrated transport and logistics company headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. Mr. Bruner attended Bridgewater College in Virginia. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan Executive Program and Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program. The Company believes that Mr. Bruner's current and past business-related experience provides him with the knowledge and skills necessary to serve in the capacity as a director of the Company.

 

22

 

Matthew I. Smith. Director, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, and President of Concrete Safety Systems. Mr. Smith has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company since December 2023. Mr. Smith is the Vice President of Sales & Marketing of the Company and the President of Concrete Safety Systems, the barrier rental division of Smith-Midland. He has served in these roles since 2008 and 2015, respectively. Prior to his appointment as a member of the Board of Directors, Mr. Smith served as an Advisor to the Board. He is active in the local community, serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Leadership Fauquier and as a Fauquier County Planning Commissioner. Mr. Smith is a past president and current board member of the Precast Concrete Association of Virginia. He has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bridgewater College. The Company believes that Mr. Smith’s education, experience in the precast concrete industry and business experience gives him the qualifications and skills necessary to serve in the capacity as a director of the Company.

 

Read Van de Water. Director. Ms. Van de Water has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company since December 2023. She has served as Senior Vice President of External Affairs Safran USA since 2011. Safran USA is an international high-technology aerospace, defense, and space company. Ms. Van de Water served as Chairman of the Board for the National Mediation Board from 2005 to 2009 and was a board member from 2003 to 2009. Ms. Van de Water served as the Assistant Secretary for Aviation & International Affairs for the U.S. Department of Transportation from 2001 to 2003 and as Legislative Counsel of International Trade and Health Care for The Business Roundtable from 1997 to 2001. Ms. Van de Water received her J.D. from The Georgetown University Law Center. She is also a graduate of Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University, and The University of the South: Sewanee. The Company believes that Ms. Van de Water’s current and past business-related experience provides her with the knowledge and skills necessary to serve in the capacity as a director of the Company.

 

Richard Gerhardt. Director. Mr. Gerhardt has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company since 2016. He is currently President of Sales Services International, Inc., a consulting firm, and Chief Sales Officer for IMEX Global Solutions, Inc., a logistics company, since April 2020, and is serving as a Fauquier County, Virginia Supervisor for the Cedar Run Magisterial District since 2016. From 2003 to 2014, Mr. Gerhardt served in an escalating succession of positions for three global shipping and logistic companies: DHL Global Mail, ESI Global Logistic and MSI Worldwide. His eight years as President, Chief Operating Officer, and shareholder of MSI Worldwide culminated in its acquisition by Belgian Post. Mr. Gerhardt holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a minor in Economics from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. The Company believes that Mr. Gerhardt's current and past business-related experience provides him with the knowledge and skills necessary to serve in the capacity as a director of the Company.

 

Stephanie Poe.Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer.Stephanie Poe has served as Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Company since January 2023. Prior to becoming the Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer, Ms. Poe served as the Controller for the Company since January 2022 and the Accounting Manager for the Company since 2017. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Poe worked at Ernst & Young as part of their tax practice. Ms. Poe is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Appalachian State University and a Master of Science degree in Accounting from George Mason University.

 

Code of Ethics

 

The Company adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Accounting Manager and persons performing similar functions. The Board of Directors approved the code of ethics at their meeting on June 3, 2020. A copy may be obtained without charge by requesting one in writing from Secretary, Smith-Midland Corporation, P.O. Box 300, 5119 Catlett Road, Midland, VA 22728. The code of ethics is also posted on the Company's website at www.smithmidland.com on the home page.

 

Insider Trading Policy

 

The Company has adopted an insider trading policy and related procedures governing the purchase, sale or other disposition of the Company’s securities by the Company and its directors, officers and employees, which are designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations and applicable listing standards. In addition, the insider trading policy prohibits short sales of the Company’s stock, certain forms of hedging or monetizing transactions, holding the Company’s stock in a margin account, or pledging the Company’s stock as collateral for a loan without prior advance approval from our Chief Executive Officer (no such advance approvals were granted to directors or named executives officers in 2023).

 

23

 

Audit Committee

 

The Company created an Audit Committee in 2018. The Audit Committee consists of James Russell Bruner, Read Van de Water, and Richard Gerhardt, the three independent board members. Mr. James Russell Bruner is an audit committee financial expert.

 

Changes To the Procedures by Which Security Holders May Recommend Nominees to the Company’s Board of Directors

 

On October 25, 2023, the Board adopted Amended and Restated By-laws (“By-laws”), which, among other things:

 

	(a)	update and expand the By-laws to comply with the procedure and disclosure requirements applicable to nominations of directors by stockholders under Rule 14a-19 of the Exchange Act, and include changes in response to certain amendments to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware;
	(b)	update and expand the requirements for the provision of background information and representations about stockholder director nominees to the Company including (i) completing a director’s questionnaire for any stockholder director nominee, and (ii) providing a written representation and agreement that such nominee is not and will not become a party to a voting arrangement relating to the Company that has not been disclosed to the Company and is not and will not become a party to any compensation, reimbursement or indemnification agreement in connection with such nominee’s service as a director other than as disclosed to the Company;
	(c)	update and expand the procedure and requirements for inclusion of stockholder director nominees in the Company’s proxy statement, such as (i) the details to be included in the stockholder notice regarding the stockholder giving notice and any beneficial owner of such stockholder, (ii) the details to be included in the stockholder notice regarding the nominee for director, (iii) a requirement for updating and supplementing the stockholder notice so that the information provided is current and accurate, (iv) inclusion of such other information as the Company or the Board requires, (v) compliance by the stockholder giving notice with all requirements of the Exchange Act, and (vi) a requirement that the stockholder giving notice (or representative thereof) appear at the stockholder meeting;
	(d)	change the timing for timely notice to stockholders for the annual meeting. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Company not earlier than the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day and not later than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be delivered not earlier the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the date of such annual meeting or if the public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than one hundred (100) days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the tenth (10th) day following the date on which the public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made by the Company.

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation

 

The following table sets forth the compensation paid by the Company for services rendered for 2023 and 2022 to the principal executive officer, as well as the other executive officer of the Company (the “named executive officers”):

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

		Year		Salary ($)(1)				Bonus ($)(2)				Stock Awards ($)				All Other Compensation ($)				Total ($)
Ashley B. Smith		2023		$	329,059			$	24,150				-			$	11,982			$	365,191
Chief Executive Officer and President (3)		2022			321,769				155,256				-				12,200				489,225
Stephanie Poe		2023		$	147,290			$	10,000				-			$	6,292			$	163,582
Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer (4)

 

(1)	Represents salaries paid in 2023 and 2022 for services provided by each named executive officer serving in the capacity listed.
(2)	Represents amounts paid for annual performance-based bonus related to operations for the prior year.
(3)	”All Other Compensation” includes Company matching contributions to the 401(k) plan in the amounts of $11,982 and $12,200 for the years 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(4)	”All Other Compensation” includes Company matching contributions to the 401(k) plan in the amounts of $6,292 for the year 2023.

 

24

 

Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End

 

The following table sets forth information for the named executive officers regarding any common share purchase options, stock awards or equity incentive plan awards that were outstanding as of December 31, 2023.

 

Name

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable

Option Exercise Price ($/Sh)

Option Expiration Date

Number of Shares or Units of Stock that have not Vested (#)

Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock that have not Vested ($)

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights that have not Vested (#)

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights that have not Vested

Ashley B. Smith

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Stephanie Poe

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

TOTAL

—

—

—

—

—

—

 

Compensation of Directors

 

Effective for 2024, all non-executive officer Directors receive, per annum, $40,000 in cash compensation and $15,000 in stock compensation for their services as Directors.

 

The Company does not pay any additional compensation to directors who are members of management or are employed by the Company, but the Company reimburses all directors for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending Board and committee meetings or otherwise in their capacity as directors.

 

Fiscal 2023 Director Compensation

 

Name		Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)				Stock Awards ($)				Option Awards ($)				Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation				Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings				All Other Compensation				Total ($)
Ashley B. Smith (1)			—				—				—				—				—				—				—
James Russell Bruner			12,000				15,008				—				—				—				—				27,008
Matthew I. Smith (2)			—				—				—				—				—				—				—
Read Van de Water (3)			—				—				—				—				—				—				—
Richard Gerhardt			12,000				15,008				—				—				—				—				27,008
Wesley A. Taylor			9,000				15,008				—				—				—				—				24,008

 

(1)	All compensation for Mr. A. Smith is reported in Item 11. Executive Compensation.
(2)	Mr. M. Smith is employed by the Company. No additional compensation paid related to his position as a director.
(3)	No compensation paid to Ms. Van de Water as she was appointed as a director after 2023 meetings were held.

 

25

 

Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment and Change in Control Arrangements.

 

The Company has entered into an employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”), dated as of November 11, 2020, with Ashley B. Smith pursuant to which Mr. Smith serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company.

 

The Employment Agreement was initially for a term of three years commencing on November 11, 2020 (the “Effective Date”) through and including November 10, 2023 (the “Employment Period”). Commencing on the first anniversary of the Effective Date, and on each annual anniversary thereafter (such date and each annual anniversary thereof shall be hereinafter referred to as the “Renewal Date”), unless previously terminated, the Employment Period shall be automatically extended so as to terminate three years from such Renewal Date, unless at least 180 days prior to the Renewal Date the Company shall give notice to Mr. Smith, or Mr. Smith shall give notice to the Company, that the Employment Period shall not be so extended. The Employment Agreement provided for an initial base salary (“Base Salary”) of $300,000 per year, with an increase of no less than 3% per annum, based on advice provided by a compensation consultant in 2019. Mr. Smith’s Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) pursuant to its normal performance review policies for senior executives and may be increased but not decreased. Mr. Smith is also entitled to receive an annual bonus incentive payment (the “Incentive Bonus Payment”) as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion and, if applicable, in accordance with the terms of any applicable incentive plan of the Company and subject to the achievement of any performance goals established by the Compensation Committee with respect to such fiscal year. Mr. Smith shall also be eligible to participate in long term cash and equity incentive plans and programs applicable to senior officers of the Company.

 

The Employment Agreement further provides that if Mr. Smith is terminated by the Company without Cause or leaves the Company with Good Reason (generally, for material diminution in Mr. Smith’s Base Salary, target Incentive Bonus Payment, or position, authority, duties or responsibilities, relocation of Mr. Smith’s principal place of business to a location more than 30 miles from Mr. Smith’s principal place of business or material breach by the Company of the Employment Agreement), Mr. Smith shall be paid his Base Salary pro-rated through the date of termination, any Incentive Bonus Payment earned for a prior award period but not yet paid, any accrued vacation or paid time off to the extent not paid and unreimbursed business expenses (collectively, the “Accrued Obligations”) and any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which Mr. Smith is eligible to receive through the date of termination (the “Other Benefits”). In the event such termination occurs within two years following a change of control, Mr. Smith shall also be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to the product of (a) 2.99 multiplied by (b) the sum of Mr. Smith’s Base Salary in effect prior to such termination and the Target Incentive Bonus Payment for the year of termination of employment (or, if higher, or if no Target Incentive Bonus Payment has been established for such year, the Incentive Bonus Payment for the year prior to the date of termination). In the event such termination does not occur within two years following a change of control, Mr. Smith shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount, payable in equal monthly cash payments over a period of 24 months, equal to the product of (a) 2.0 multiplied by (b) the sum of Mr. Smith’s Base Salary in effect prior to such termination and the Target Incentive Bonus Payment for the year of termination of employment (or, if higher, or if no Target Incentive Bonus Payment has been established for such year, the Incentive Bonus Payment for the year prior to the date of termination). The Company shall also continue to provide Mr. Smith and his dependents with health and other insurance coverage for 24 months following such termination.

 

If Mr. Smith’s employment is terminated for Cause, because Mr. Smith voluntarily resigns without Good Reason or due to the death of Mr. Smith, Mr. Smith, or his estate, as applicable, shall be paid the Accrued Obligations and the Other Benefits. If Mr. Smith’s employment is terminated due to disability, Mr. Smith shall be paid his Base Salary in equal monthly payments for one year commencing on the date of termination, the Target Incentive Bonus Payment for the year of termination of employment (or, if no Target Incentive Bonus Payment has been established for such year, the Incentive Bonus Payment for the year prior to the date of termination), the Accrued Obligations and the Other Benefits.

 

Mr. Smith is also subject to non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions during the Employment Period and for a period of two years thereafter.

 

The Company entered into a Change of Control Severance Agreement, dated as of January 8, 2024, with Stephanie Poe, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer.

 

The Severance Agreement provides that, in the event of departure of Ms. Poe, upon Ms. Poe’s last day of employment with the Company (the “Termination Date”), Ms. Poe shall receive her accrued but unpaid Base Pay and vacation along with reimbursement for valid business expenses and any vested Employee Benefits, regardless of whether Ms. Poe signs a release of claims against the Company (a “Release”). In addition, if Ms. Poe sustains a Qualifying Termination (the Company terminates Ms. Poe without Cause or Ms. Poe leaves the Company for Good Reason (generally, for material diminution in Ms. Poe’s Base Pay, or position, authority, duties or responsibilities, relocation of Ms. Poe’s principal place of business to a location more than 30 miles from Ms. Poe’s principal place of business or material breach by the Company of the Severance Agreement)) and executes and delivers a Release to the Company, the Company shall provide Ms. Poe with cash payments equal to one year of Base Pay, payable in substantially equal monthly installments over the twelve (12) month period following the Termination Date. For a twelve (12) month period, the Company shall also continue to provide Ms. Poe with Employee Benefits that are reasonably equivalent (and at the same cost to Ms. Poe) to the Employee Benefits provided to Ms. Poe immediately prior to the Termination Date and Ms. Poe shall be entitled to receive a single lump sum cash payment equal to the average of her prior three (3) year annual cash bonuses. In addition, if Ms. Poe’s Qualifying Termination occurs within 24 months following a Change in Control, as of the effective date of the Release, all of Ms. Poe’s (i) outstanding and unvested stock options shall become fully vested and exercisable and (ii) outstanding and unvested time-based restricted stock units shall become fully vested.

 

Ms. Poe is also subject to non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions during her employment with the Company and for a period of one year after the Termination Date. 

 

The Company has an agreement with its former Chief Executive Officer and former Chairman of the Board, Rodney I. Smith. Mr. Smith ceased providing services as Chief Executive Officer in May 2018. The agreement provides for an annual royalty fee of $99,000 payable as consideration for his assignment to the Company of all of Mr. Smith’s rights, title and interest in certain patents. Payment of the royalty continues for as long as the Company is using the inventions underlying the patents. Mr. Smith is currently being compensated with respect to royalty payments in accordance with the agreement.

 

26

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

No member of the Compensation Committee is an officer or employee of the Company or has or had at any time any relationship with the Company that requires disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K, except that Wesley A. Taylor, who resigned from the Board of Directors in 2023, was Vice President of Administration of the Company from 1989 until January 2017.

 

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

 

The following table sets forth, as of April 29, 2024, certain information concerning ownership of the Company’s Common Stock by (i) each person known by the Company to own of record or be the beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of the Company’s Common Stock, (ii) named executive officers and Directors, and (iii) all Directors and Executive Officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, the stockholders listed in the table have sole voting and investment powers with respect to the shares indicated.

 

		Number of Shares Beneficially Owned (1) (3)				Percentage of Class
Rodney I. Smith (2)(4)			549,499				10.4	%
Ashley B. Smith (2)(4)			195,626				3.7	%
James Russell Bruner (2)			12,594			*
Matthew I. Smith (2)(4)			5,878			*
Read Van de Water (2)			—				—
Richard Gerhardt (2)			7,131			*
Stephanie Poe (2)			828			*
Thompson Davis & Co., Inc. (5)			1,527,191				29.0	%
All directors and executive officers as a group (6 persons)			222,057				4.2	%

 

* Less than 1%.

 

(1)	Table does not include performance-based restricted stock grants under the Company’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (performance vesting at end of three years, date of grant April 2021) at minimum, target, or maximum, as the number of restricted shares to be awarded is not determinable at the time of grant and the recipients do not have the right to vote or other elements of beneficial ownership until vesting.
(2)	The address for each of Messrs. Rodney I. Smith, Ashley B. Smith, James Russell Bruner, Matthew I. Smith, Richard Gerhardt, and Mss. Read Van de Water and Stephanie Poe is c/o Smith-Midland Corporation, P.O. Box 300, 5119 Catlett Road, Midland, Virginia 22728.
(3)	Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, shares of Common Stock that an individual or group has a right to acquire within 60 days pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants are deemed to be outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of such individual or group, but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person shown in the table.
(4)	Ashley B. Smith and Matthew I. Smith are brothers and the sons of Rodney I. Smith. Each of Rodney I. Smith, Ashley B. Smith, and Matthew I. Smith disclaims beneficial ownership of the other’s shares of Common Stock.
(5)	Address of holder is 9030 Stony Point Pkwy, Ste 100, Richmond, VA 23235. Based on the Form 13-D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 7, 2024 by Thompson Davis & Co., Inc.

 

27

 

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

 

The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2023 regarding the Company's equity compensation plans.

 

Plan Category		(a) Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights				(b) Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights				(c) Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))(1)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders			—				—				—
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (1)			—				—				89,303
Total			—				—				89,303

 

(1)	A brief description of the Company's 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”) is contained in Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The Equity Plan has a balance of 89,303 shares of stock unissued and available for award at December 31, 2023.

 

On October 13, 2016, the Company's Board of Directors adopted the Equity Plan. Employees, directors and consultants of the Company are eligible to participate in the Equity Plan. The Equity Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors or the full Board during such times as no committee is appointed by the Board or during such times as the Board is acting in lieu of the committee (the “Committee”). The Equity Plan provides for the grant of equity-based compensation in the form of restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance cash and other share-based awards. The Committee has the authority to determine the type of award, as well as the amount, terms and conditions of each award, under the Equity Plan subject to the limitations and other provisions of the Equity Plan. An aggregate of 400,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share, were authorized for issuance under the Equity Plan, subject to adjustment for stock splits, dividends, distributions, recapitalizations and other similar transactions or events, of which amount 89,303 remains available for issuance at December 31, 2023. If any shares subject to an award are forfeited, expire, or otherwise terminate without issuance of such shares, such shares shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration, or termination, again be available for issuance under the Equity Plan.

 

28

 

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

 

There are three independent directors of the Company, Mr. James Russell Bruner, Mr. Richard Gerhardt, and Ms. Read Van de Water. The test utilized by the Company for the determination of independence is that under the NASDAQ listing standards.

 

On an ongoing basis, the Company reviews all “related party transactions” (those transactions that are required to be disclosed by SEC Regulation S-K, Item 404), if any, for potential conflicts of interest and all such transactions must be approved by the Board of Directors. No transactions for the year ended December 31, 2023 meet the criteria for disclosure.

 

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

On August 23, 2023, the Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee”) of the Board of Directors of the Company, approved the engagement of BDO USA, P.C. (“BDO”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2023.

 

The aggregate fees billed for each of the past two fiscal years for professional services rendered by BDO USA, P.C.; Richmond, VA, the principal accountant for the audit of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2023 and FORVIS, LLP; Richmond, VA, the principal accountant for the audit of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2022; for assurance and related services related to the audit; for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning; and for all other fees for products and services are shown in the table below (in thousands).

 

Audit Fees. Fees charged as audit fees are for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and review of financial statements included in the Company’s Forms 10-K and 10-Q’s or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

 

The Audit Committee has established pre-approval policies and procedures with respect to the engagement of the Company’s independent accountants and audit and permissible non-audit services, provided by the independent accountants. Such policies and procedures do not include the delegation of the responsibilities of the Audit Committee to management. All of the services provided by BDO and FORVIS described below (in thousands) for 2023 and 2022, respectively, were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

 

		2023				2022
Audit Fees		$	454			$	336
Tax Fees			—				—
Audit-Related Fees			—				—
All Other Fees			—				—
Total Fees		$	454			$	336

 

29

 

PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

(1)	The financial statements of the Company are included following Part IV of this Form 10-K.

 

(2)	Schedules have been omitted since they are either not applicable, not required or the information is included elsewhere herein.

 

(3)	The following exhibits are filed herewith:

 

Number		Description
3.1		Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (No. 33-89312) declared effective by the Commission on December 13, 1995).
3.2		Bylaws (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 2023).
4.1		Specimen Common Stock Certificate (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (No. 33-89312) declared effective by the Commission on December 13, 1995).
10.1		Employment Agreement, dated September 30, 2002, between the Company and Rodney I. Smith.  (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2003).
10.2		Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2008, between the Company and Rodney I. Smith (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008).

 

10.3		Commitment Letter, dated November 27, 2023, for the renewal of the equipment line of credit in the amount of $1,500,000 with Summit Community Bank (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 6, 2023).
10.4		Commercial Line of Credit Agreement and Note, dated October 1, 2023, for the renewal of the line of credit in the amount of $5,000,000 with Summit Community Bank (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 6, 2023).
10.5		Promissory Note, dated October 11, 2019, in the amount of $2,228,000 issued by the Company to Summit Community Bank (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 17, 2019).
10.6		Commercial Security Agreement, dated October 1, 2018, with Summit Community Bank (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018).
10.7		Deed of Trust dated October 11, 2019, related to the Promissory Note dated October 11, 2019 between the Company and Summit Community Bank (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 17, 2019).
10.8		Commercial Security Agreement dated October 11, 2019, related to the Promissory Note dated October 11, 2019 between the Company and Summit Community Bank (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 17, 2019).

 

30

 

10.9		Promissory Note, dated March 27, 2020, in the amount of $2,701,404 issued by the Company to Summit Community Bank (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2020).
10.10		Business Loan Agreement related to the Promissory Note dated March 27, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2020).
10.11		Modification and Supplemental Deed of Trust, dated March 27, 2020, between the Company and Summit Community Bank (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2020) to the Credit Line Deed of Trust, dated April 20, 2011 (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2010).
10.12		Modification Deed of Trust, dated March 27, 2020, between the Company and Summit Community Bank (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2022) to the Credit Line Deed of Trust, dated September 12, 2013 (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 12, 2013).
10.13		2016 Equity Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-214788) filed on November 23, 2016).
10.14		Employment Agreement, dated as of November 11, 2020, between the Company and Ashley B. Smith (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 17, 2020).
10.15		Smith-Midland Corporation Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2022).
10.16		Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated November 1, 2021, between the Company and Jeffrey A. Leonard, Patricia Ann Leonard and Al-Mara Farm Incorporation (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 19, 2021).
10.17		Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated November 1, 2021, between the Company and Rodney I. Smith (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 19, 2021).
10.18		Commercial Promissory Note, dated February 10, 2022, in the amount of $2,805,000 issued by the Company to Summit Community Bank (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 16, 2022).
10.19		Business Loan Agreement, dated February 10, 2022, between Summit Community Bank and the Company and (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 16, 2022).
10.20		Commercial Real Estate Deed of Trust, dated February 10, 2022, issued by the Company in favor of Summit Community Bank (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 16, 2022).
10.21		Severance Agreement, dated January 8, 2024, between the Company and Stephanie Poe (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 25, 2024).
19		Company Insider Trading Policy.
21.1		List of Subsidiaries of the Company (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1995).
23.1		Consent of BDO USA, P.C.
23.2		Consent of FORVIS, LLP.
31.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer.
31.2		Certification of Principal Financial Officer.
32.1		Certification pursuant 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adapted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
97		Company Clawback Policy.
101.INS		XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

 

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary

 

None

 

31

 

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.

 

	SMITH-MIDLAND CORPORATION
Date: May 23, 2024	By:	/s/ Ashley B. Smith
		Ashley B. Smith
		Chief Executive Officer and President
		(Principal Executive Officer)

 

Date: May 23, 2024	By:	/s/ Stephanie Poe
		Stephanie Poe
		Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial and Accounting 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 in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Name		Capacity		Date
/s/ Ashley B. Smith		Director		May 23, 2024
Ashley B. Smith
/s/ James Russell Bruner		Director		May 23, 2024
James Russell Bruner
/s/ Matthew I. Smith		Director		May 23, 2024
Matthew Smith
/s/ Read Van de Water		Director		May 23, 2024
Read Van de Water
/s/ Richard Gerhardt		Director		May 23, 2024
Richard Gerhardt

 

32

 

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Consolidated Financial Statements

Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

		Contents
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms(BDO USA, P.C., Richmond, VA, PCAOB ID#:243 and FORVIS, LLP, Richmond, VA, PCAOB ID#:686)		F-2
Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets		F-4
Consolidated Statements of Income		F-6
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity		F-7
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows		F-8
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements		F-10

 

F- 1

Table of Contents

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Shareholders and Board of Directors

Smith-Midland Corporation

Midland, Virginia

 

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Smith-Midland Corporation (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023, the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year 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 at December 31, 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year 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 audit. 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 audit 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 audit 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 audit 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 audit 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 audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Critical Audit Matter

 

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

 

Allowance for Credit Losses of Accounts Receivable – Trade Billed

 

As described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company recognized an allowance for credit losses of $0.8 million for its consolidated accounts receivable trade - billed as of December 31, 2023. The Company estimates expected credit losses by analyzing prior collection history with its customers, the related aging of past due balances, historical trends or past events, and forecasts of future economic conditions.

 

We identified the estimation of the allowance for credit losses of accounts receivable – trade billed as a critical audit matter. The principal considerations for our determination are that the allowance for credit losses involves significant judgement in assessing certain inputs and assumptions, including historical experience and current customer specific conditions. In addition, the Company identified a material weakness in its review of the estimate of the allowance for credit losses, which impacted the extent of our procedures. Auditing these elements involved especially challenging auditor judgment due to the nature and extent of audit effort required to address these matters.

 

The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included:

 

	·	Testing the collectability of certain past due accounts receivable balances by obtaining and assessing the underlying support for the collectability of such amounts, including collections occurring subsequent to year-end, review of contract retention provisions and their application to invoicing, inspection of customer correspondence, and inquiries of financial management.
	·	Performing a retrospective review over the allowance in prior periods as compared to actual write-offs.

 

/s/ BDO USA, P.C.

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2023.

 

Richmond, Virginia

May 23, 2024

   

F- 2

Table of Contents

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors

Smith-Midland Corporation

 

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Smith-Midland Corporation (the "Company") as of December 31, 2022, the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for year ended December 31, 2022, the summary of significant accounting policies, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "consolidated financial statements"). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022, and the results of its operations and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 audit.

 

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 audit 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 audit, 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 audit 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 include examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audit 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 audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/ FORVIS, LLP

 

We served as the Company’s auditor from 2022 to 2023.

 

Richmond, Virginia

April 17, 2023

 

F- 3

Table of Contents

 

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

		December 31,
		2023				2022
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash		$	9,175			$	6,726
Accounts receivable, net
Trade - billed (less allowances of $806 and $781), including contract retentions			17,209				16,223
Trade - unbilled			525				990
Inventories, net
Raw materials			2,329				1,776
Finished goods			2,821				2,042
Prepaid expenses			1,266				706
Refundable income taxes			—				477
Total current assets			33,325				28,940
Property and equipment, net			27,680				25,124
Other assets			343				249
Total assets		$	61,348			$	54,313

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F- 4

Table of Contents

 

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

(continued)

 

		December 31,
		2023				2022
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable - trade		$	7,336			$	5,816
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			831				799
Deferred revenue			2,717				2,243
Accrued compensation			1,203				788
Accrued income tax			473				146
Operating lease liabilities			43				77
Current maturities of notes payable			636				618
Customer deposits			2,779				737
Total current liabilities			16,018				11,224
Deferred revenue			4,424				2,174
Operating lease liabilities			2				45
Notes payable - less current maturities			5,092				5,730
Deferred tax liability			1,651				2,085
Total liabilities			27,187				21,258
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 1,000,000 shares, none issued and outstanding			—				—
Common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 8,000,000 shares; 5,349,599 and 5,345,189 issued and 5,308,679 and 5,304,269 outstanding, respectively			54				53
Additional paid-in capital			7,814				7,440
Treasury stock, at cost, 40,920 shares			(102	)			(102	)
Retained earnings			26,395				25,664
Total stockholders’ equity			34,161				33,055
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	61,348			$	54,313

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F- 5

Table of Contents

 

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Consolidated Statements of Income

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

		Year Ended December 31,
		2023				2022
Revenue
Product sales		$	38,748			$	27,821
Barrier rentals			6,330				6,545
Royalty income			2,633				2,498
Shipping and installation revenue			11,869				13,267
Total revenue			59,580				50,131
Cost of sales			48,928				40,662
Gross profit			10,652				9,469
General and administrative expenses			5,990				5,551
Selling expenses			3,544				3,064
Total operating expenses			9,534				8,615
Operating income			1,118				854
Other income (expense)
Interest expense			(255	)			(260	)
Interest income			24				14
Gain on sale of assets			346				109
Other income, net			90				228
Total other income (expense), net			205				91
Income before income tax expense			1,323				945
Income tax expense			528				145
Net income		$	795			$	800
Basic and diluted earnings per share		$	0.15			$	0.15

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F- 6

Table of Contents

 

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity

(in thousands, except share data)

 

		Common Stock								Treasury Stock								Additional Paid-in				Retained
		Shares				Amount				Shares				Amount				Capital				Earnings				Total
Balance, December 31, 2021			5,353,095			$	53				(40,920	)		$	(102	)		$	6,935			$	24,864			$	31,750
Vesting of restricted stock			—				—				—				—				505				—				505
Forfeiture of restricted stock			(7,906	)			—				—				—				—				—				—
Net income			—				—				—				—				—				800				800
Balance, December 31, 2022			5,345,189			$	53				(40,920	)		$	(102	)		$	7,440			$	25,664			$	33,055
Adjustment for Adoption of ASU 2016-13			—				—				—				—				—				(64	)			(64	)
Vesting of restricted stock			—				1				—				—				374				—				375
Issuance of restricted stock			4,410				—				—				—				—				—				—
Net income			—				—				—				—				—				795				795
Balance, December 31, 2023			5,349,599			$	54				(40,920	)		$	(102	)		$	7,814			$	26,395			$	34,161

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F- 7

Table of Contents

 

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

 

		Year Ended December 31,
		2023				2022
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Net income (loss)		$	795			$	800
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Depreciation and amortization			2,399				2,881
(Gain) loss on sale of fixed assets			(346	)			(109	)
Allowance for credit losses and doubtful accounts			(39	)			344
Stock compensation			375				505
Inventory Reserve			19				14
Deferred taxes			(434	)			130
(Increase) decrease in
Accounts receivable - billed			(1,010	)			(6,554	)
Accounts receivable - unbilled			464				(551	)
Inventories			(1,351	)			(987	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets			(678	)			(227	)
Refundable income taxes			478				(66	)
Increase (decrease) in
Accounts payable - trade			1,520				3,745
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			32				142
Deferred revenue			2,724				98
Accrued compensation			415				(248	)
Accrued income taxes			327				(1,887	)
Deferred buy-back lease obligation, net			—				(3,776	)
Customer deposits			2,042				(588	)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		$	7,732			$	(6,334	)

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F- 8

Table of Contents

 

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(continued)

 

		December 31,
		2023				2022
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment			(5,010	)			(2,749	)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets			346				118
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(4,664	)			(2,631	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from long-term borrowings			—				2,805
Repayments of long-term borrowings			(619	)			(581	)
Capitalized Loan Costs			—				(25	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(619	)			2,199
Net increase (decrease) in cash			2,449				(6,766	)
Cash, beginning of year			6,726				13,492
Cash, end of year		$	9,175			$	6,726
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash payments for interest		$	255			$	260
Cash payments for income taxes		$	189			$	2,260
Capital expenditures in accounts payable		$	2,049			$	2,014

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F- 9

Table of Contents

 

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1. NATURE OF BUSINESS

 

Smith-Midland Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Company”) develop, manufacture, license, sell and install precast concrete products and systems for the construction, transportation and utilities industries in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Midwestern and Southeastern regions of the United States.

 

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Smith-Midland Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries consist of Smith-Midland Corporation, a Virginia corporation, Smith-Carolina Corporation, a North Carolina corporation, Smith-Columbia Corporation, a South Carolina corporation, Easi-Set Industries, Inc., a Virginia corporation, Concrete Safety Systems, Inc., a Virginia corporation, and Midland Advertising and Design, Inc., doing business as Midland Advertising + Design, a Virginia corporation. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Cash

 

Cash is maintained at financial institutions and, at times, balances may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses related to these balances.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method, or net realizable value. Inventory reserves (in thousands) were approximately $108 and $88 at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment is stated at cost. Expenditures for ordinary maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Costs of improvements, renewals, and major replacements are capitalized. At the time properties are retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and allowance for depreciation are eliminated from the accounts and any gain or loss on disposition is reflected in income.

 

Depreciation expense is computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

 

		Years
Buildings and improvements			10-40
Trucks and automotive equipment			3-10
Shop machinery and equipment			3-10
Land improvements			10-15
Rental equipment			5-10
Office equipment			3-10

 

F- 10

Table of Contents

 

 Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(continued)

 

Income Taxes

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

The Company files tax returns in the U.S. Federal and various state jurisdictions. The Company recognizes, when applicable, interest and penalties related to income taxes in other income (expense) in its consolidated statement of income. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. or state tax examinations for the years prior to 2019. The Company does not have any uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2023, and believes there will be no material changes in unrecognized tax positions over the next twelve months.

 

Stock Compensation

 

On October 13, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan which allows the Company to grant up to 400,000 shares of common stock of the Company to employees, officers, directors and consultants. The grants may be in the form of restricted or performance shares of common stock of the Company. The fair value of each restricted stock grant is estimated to be the sales price of the common stock at the close of business on the day of the grant. In addition, the Company accounts for forfeitures of awards as they occur.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Product Sales - Over Time

 

The Company recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for goods or services provided. Revenue associated with contracts with customers for customized products is recognized over time as the Company's performance creates or enhances customer-controlled assets or creates or enhances an asset with no alternative use, which the Company has an enforceable right to receive compensation as defined under the contract for performance completed. To determine the amount of revenue to recognize over time, the Company recognizes revenue over the contract terms based on the output method. The Company applied the “as invoiced” practical expedient as the amount of consideration the Company has the right to invoice corresponds directly with the value of the Company's performance to date.

 

As the output method is driven by units produced, the Company recognizes revenues based on the value transferred to the customer relative to the remaining value to be transferred. The Company also matches the costs associated with the units produced. If a contract is projected to result in a loss, the entire contract loss is recognized in the period when the loss was first determined and the amount of the loss is updated in subsequent reporting periods. Revenue recognition also includes an amount related to a contract asset or contract liability. If the recognized revenue is greater than the amount billed to the customer, a contract asset is recorded in accounts receivable trade - unbilled. Conversely, if the amount billed to the customer is greater than the recognized revenue, a contract liability is recorded in customer deposits. Changes in the job performance, job conditions, and final contract settlements are factors that influence management’s assessment of total contract value and therefore, profit and revenue recognition.

 

A portion of the work the Company performs requires financial assurances in the form of performance and payment bonds at the time of execution of the contract. Some contracts include retention provisions of up to 10%, which are generally withheld from each progress payment as retainage until the contract work has been completed and approved. 

 

F- 11

Table of Contents

 

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(continued)

 

Product Sales - Point in Time

 

For certain product sales, that do not meet the over time criteria, the Company recognizes revenue when the product has been shipped to the destination in accordance with the terms outlined in the contract where a present obligation to pay exists and the customers have gained control of the product.

 

Accounts Receivable and Contract Balances

 

The timing of when we bill our customers is generally dependent upon advance billing terms, milestone billings based on the completion of certain phases of the work, or when services are provided or products are shipped. The Company’s Accounts receivable trade – billed (in thousands), arising from Topic 606 is $13,685, $13,702, and $7,649 as of December 31, 2023, December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021, respectively.

 

Projects with performance obligations recognized over time that have costs and estimated earnings recognized to date in excess of cumulative billings are reported on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as “Accounts receivable trade - unbilled” (contract assets). The Company’s Accounts receivable trade – unbilled (i.e. contract assets) balances (in thousands) are as follows:

 

		Year Ended December 31,
		2023				2022
Accounts receivable trade – unbilled, beginning of the period		$	990			$	439
Accounts receivable trade – unbilled, end of the period			525				990
Amounts invoiced in the period from amounts included at the beginning of the period			910				317

 

Projects with performance obligations recognized over time that have cumulative billings in excess of costs and estimate earnings recognized to date, are reported on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as “Customer deposits” (contract liabilities). The Company’s Customer deposits (i.e. contract liabilities) balances (in thousands) are as follows:

 

		Year Ended December 31,
		2023				2022
Customer deposits, beginning of the period		$	737			$	1,325
Customer deposits, end of the period			2,779				737
Revenue recognized in the period from amounts included at the beginning of the period			308				983

 

Any uncollected billed amounts for our performance obligations recognized over time, including contract retentions, are recorded within accounts receivable trade - billed. At December 31, 2023, December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021 accounts receivable included contract retentions (in thousands) of approximately $1,310, $932, and $1,139, respectively, which are considered contract assets.

 

Our billed and unbilled revenue may be exposed to potential credit risk if our customers should encounter financial difficulties, and we maintain an allowance for estimated expected credit losses. A considerable amount of judgment is required when determining expected credit losses. Estimates of such expected losses are recorded based on historical losses experienced by the Company, current macro- and micro-economic conditions, and expected macro- and micro-economic conditions. Additional reserves are accumulated when we believe a specific customer may not be able to meet its financial obligations due to deterioration in financial condition or credit rating. Factors relevant to our assessment include our prior collection history with our customers, the related aging of past due balances, projections of credit losses based on historical trends or past events, and forecasts of future economic conditions. At December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, total allowances for credit losses and doubtful accounts were $806 and $781, respectively.

 

The rollforward of our allowance for credit losses (in thousands) for the year ended December 31, 2023, was as follows:

 

Balance at December 31, 2022		$	781
Cumulative Effect of Adoption of ASU 2016-13			64
Provision for Expected Credit Losses			(39	)
Balance at December 31, 2023		$	806

 

Sale to Customer with a Buy-Back Guarantee - Lease Income

 

The Company entered into a buy-back agreement with one specific customer. Under this agreement, the Company guaranteed to buy-back barrier at a predetermined price at the end of the long-term project, subject to the condition of the product. Although the Company received payment in full when the product was produced, we were required to account for these transactions as operating leases. The amount of sale proceeds equal to the buy-back obligation was deferred until the buy-back was executed. The remaining sale proceeds were deferred in the same account and recognized on a straight-line basis over the usage period, such usage period commencing on delivery to the job-site and ending at the time the buy-back was executed. The Company capitalized the cost of the product on the consolidated balance sheet, and depreciated the value, less residual value, to cost of leasing revenue in “Cost of sales” over the estimated useful life of the asset. The deferred revenue and deferred costs related to the buy-back agreement were fully amortized as of December 31, 2022 and, therefore, the accounting as described has no impact for the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

Pursuant to an amendment entered into by the Company with the customer on April 13, 2022, the Company agreed to purchase barrier back in the amount equal to the buy-back guarantee. Accordingly, the Company settled any remaining deferred balances, in excess of the buy-back payment, to leasing revenue, and reclassified the net book value of the purchased product to “Property and equipment, net”. The revenue was recognized in accordance with Topic 842, Leases. See Note 7. Commitments and Contingencies for additional information regarding the amendment.

 

Barrier Rentals - Lease Income

 

Leasing fees are paid by customers at the beginning of the lease agreement. We record amounts billed to customers in excess of recognizable revenue, as deferred revenue on the balance sheet. Revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis each month as lease income for the duration of the lease, in accordance with Topic 842, Leases.

 

Royalty Income

 

The Company licenses certain products to other precast companies to produce the Company's products to engineering specifications under the licensing agreements. The agreements are typically for five-year terms and require royalty payments from 4% to 6% of total sales of licensed products, which are paid every month. The revenues from licensing agreements are recognized in the month earned.

F- 12

Table of Contents

  

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(continued)

 

Shipping and Installation

 

Shipping and installation revenues are recognized as a distinct performance obligation in the period the shipping and installation services are provided to the customer, in accordance with Topic 606.

 

Disaggregation of Revenue

 

In the following table, revenue is disaggregated by primary sources of revenue (in thousands):

 

Revenue by Type (Disaggregated Revenue)		2023				2022				Change				% Change
Product Sales:
Soundwall Sales		$	7,671			$	4,128			$	3,543				86	%
Architectural Sales			1,131				4,269				(3,138	)			(74	)%
SlenderWall Sales			5,312				1,489				3,823				257	%
Miscellaneous Wall Sales			6,418				3,475				2,943				85	%
Barrier Sales			7,827				6,717				1,110				17	%
Easi-Set and Easi-Span Building Sales			4,712				4,089				623				15	%
Utility Sales			2,857				2,023				834				41	%
Miscellaneous Sales			2,820				1,631				1,189				73	%
Total Product Sales			38,748				27,821				10,927				39	%
Barrier Rentals			6,330				6,545				(215	)			(3	)%
Royalty Income			2,633				2,498				135				5	%
Shipping and Installation Revenue			11,869				13,267				(1,398	)			(11	)%
Total Service Revenue			20,832				22,310				(1,478	)			(7	)%
Total Revenue		$	59,580			$	50,131			$	9,449				19	%

 

Smith-Midland products are typically sold pursuant to an implicit warranty as to merchantability only. Warranty claims are reviewed and resolved on a case by case method. Although the Company does incur costs for warranty claims, historically such amounts are minimal.

 

The revenue items: soundwall sales, architectural sales, SlenderWall sales, miscellaneous wall sales, miscellaneous sales, barrier rentals, and royalty income are recognized as revenue over time. The revenue items: barrier sales, Easi-Set and Easi-Span building sales, utility sales, and shipping and installation revenue are recognized as revenue at a point in time.

 

Concentration of Risk

 

Historically, various customers have comprised greater than 10% of revenue during a given quarter or year. These customers are typically not the same quarter to quarter or year to year. The Company views revenue details by jobs, and not by customers. In the event a customer were to go out of business during a project, it is likely that the owner of the project would assign a new contractor to the job, and the Company would complete its scope of work. Therefore, the Company believes that it does not have a short-term vulnerability of severe impact to operations. In cases where customers are less than 10% of revenue, the Company assesses if there is a near term severe impact. The Company has determined that no customer, if lost, would result in a near term severe impact to the Company’s operations.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company derived 14% of its revenue from one customer. For the year ended December 31, 2022, no customer represented more than 10% of the Company’s revenue. As of December 31, 2023, two customers’ outstanding receivable balance each equaled 10% of the total outstanding receivable balance. As of December 31, 2022, no customer’s outstanding receivable balance exceeded 10% of the total outstanding receivable balance.

 

Sales and Use Taxes

 

The Company excludes sales taxes as part of revenue, and includes use taxes on construction materials reported in cost of sales.

 

Segment Reporting

 

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available and evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company currently operates in one operating and reportable business segment for financial reporting purposes.

 

F- 13

Table of Contents

  

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(continued)

 

Risks and Uncertainties

 

The Company sells products to highway contractors operating under government funded highway programs and other customers and extends credit based on an evaluation of the customer’s financial condition, generally without requiring collateral. Exposure to losses on receivables is principally dependent on each customer’s financial condition. The Company monitors its exposure to credit losses and maintains allowances for anticipated losses. Management reviews accounts receivable on a regular basis to determine the probability of collection. In performing this evaluation, the Company analyzes the payment history and its significant past due accounts, subsequent cash collections on these accounts, comparative accounts receivable aging statistics, and other customer-specific considerations existing and known as of the time of the analysis. Based on this information, along with other related factors, the Company develops an estimate of the uncollectible amounts included in accounts receivable. Management believes the allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2023 is adequate. However, actual write-offs may exceed the recorded allowance. 

 

Due to inclement weather, the Company may experience reduced revenue from December through February and may realize a substantial part of its revenue during the other months of the year.  

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The carrying value for each of the Company’s financial instruments approximates fair value because of the short-term nature of those instruments. The estimated fair value of the long-term debt approximates carrying value based on current rates offered to the Company for debt of similar maturities. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt agreements were considered Level 2 liabilities.

 

Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Advertising Costs

 

The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expense (in thousands) was approximately $490 and $421 in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

Earnings Per Share

 

Earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock and dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution of securities that could share in earnings of the Company.

 

Long-Lived Assets

 

The Company reviews the carrying values of its long-lived assets including identifiable intangible assets for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable based on undiscounted estimated future operating cash flows. When any such impairment exists, the related assets will be written down to fair value. No impairment losses have been recorded during the two years ended December 31, 2023.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

The FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” This standard replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current U.S. GAAP with a methodology that reflects estimates of expected credit losses over their contractual life that are recorded at inception based on historical information, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts.. We adopted this standard, and all related amendments, effective January 1, 2023, on a modified retrospective basis.

 

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, to require the disclosure of segment expenses if they are (i) significant to the segment, (ii) regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), and (iii) included in each reported measure of a segment’s profit or loss. Public entities will be required to provide this disclosure quarterly. In addition, this ASU requires an annual disclosure of the CODM’s title and a description of how the CODM uses the segment’s profit/loss measure to assess segment performance and to allocate resources. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted, and is required to be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is evaluating the impact of the standard on its financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The guidance is intended to improve income tax disclosure requirements by requiring (i) consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and (ii) the disaggregation of income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The guidance makes several other changes to the income tax disclosure requirements. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted, and is required to be applied prospectively with the option of retrospective application. The Company is evaluating the impact of the standard on its financial statements and related disclosures. 

 

F- 14

Table of Contents

 

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(continued)

 

3. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

 

Property and equipment, net consists of the following (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2023				2022
Land and land improvements		$	8,579			$	7,245
Buildings and improvements			10,503				9,536
Machinery and equipment			16,240				15,139
Rental equipment			11,645				10,264
Total property and equipment			46,967				42,184
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization			(19,287	)			(17,060	)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization		$	27,680			$	25,124

 

Depreciation expense and amortization (in thousands) was approximately $2,378 and $2,892 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

4. NOTES PAYABLE

 

Notes payable consist of the following (in thousands):

 

		December 31,
		2023				2022
Note payable to Summit Community Bank (the “Bank”), maturing February 2037; with monthly payments of approximately $21 of principal and interest fixed at 4.09%; net of $22 and $24 of deferred loan costs, respectively; collateralized by the related real property.		$	2,525			$	2,668
Note payable to the Bank, maturing October 2029; with monthly payments of approximately $22 of principal and interest fixed at 3.64% under a Promissory Notes Rate Conversion Agreement; net of $16 and $18 of deferred loan costs, respectively; collateralized by all assets of Smith-Carolina Corporation and guaranteed by the Company.			1,382				1,590
Note payable to the Bank, maturing March 2030; with monthly payments of approximately $27 of principal and interest fixed at 3.99%; net of $22 and $25 of deferred loan costs, respectively; collateralized by the Company’s property, plant, and buildings.			1,792				2,039
Installment notes, collateralized by certain machinery and equipment maturing at various dates; with monthly payments varying from $0.9 to $3.4 with annual interest rates between 2.90% and 3.99%.			29				51
A revolving line of credit evidenced by promissory note with the Bank, with the available amount of $5,000, maturing October 1, 2024, which carries a variable interest rate of prime, and a floor of 3.50% and an initial rate of 8.50% adjustable monthly (8.50% at December 31, 2023). The amount available is based on the lower of the maximum $5,000 or eligible inventory and accounts receivable balances at the financial statement date. Key provisions of the line of credit require the Company (i) to obtain bank approval for capital expenditures in excess of $5,000 during the term of the loan and (ii) to obtain bank approval prior to its funding of any acquisition. The line of credit is collateralized by a first lien position on the Company's accounts receivable, inventory, and equipment.			—				—
A guidance line of credit to purchase business equipment in an amount up to $1,500, maturing October 1, 2024, with an interest rate of at the Wall Street Journal prime rate plus 0.50% with a floor of 3.50% per annum. The line of credit is collateralized by a first lien position on all equipment purchased under the line.			—				—
Total Notes Payable Outstanding			5,728				6,348
Less current maturities			(636	)			(618	)
Notes Payable-less current maturities		$	5,092			$	5,730

 

The total notes payable balance is offset by debt issuance costs associated with securing the loans summarized above and are amortized straight line over the term of the related loan, which approximates the effective interest rate method. The total unamortized costs (in thousands) as of December 31, 2023 is $60 and $68 as of December 31, 2022.

 

Under the loan covenants with the Bank, the Company is limited to annual capital expenditures of (in thousands) $5,000 and must maintain tangible net worth of $10,000.

 

F- 15

Table of Contents

  

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(continued)

 

The Company's notes payable includes certain restrictive covenants, which require the Company to maintain minimum levels of tangible net worth, places limits on annual capital expenditures, and limits on the payment of cash dividends. At December 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with all covenants.

 

The aggregate amounts of notes payable maturing in each of the next five years and thereafter are as follows (in thousands):

 

Year Ending December 31,
2024		$	636
2025			658
2026			671
2027			699
2028			727
Thereafter			2,337
		$	5,728

 

5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The Company has an employment agreement with its former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, Rodney I. Smith. Mr. Smith received his salary, pursuant to the terms of the agreement, through September 2021. While Mr. Smith has ceased providing executive officer services pursuant to such agreement, the agreement provides for an annual royalty fee of $99 thousand payable as consideration for his assignment to the Company of all of his rights, title and interest in certain patents. Payment of the royalty continues for as long as the Company is using the inventions underlying the patents. Mr. Smith also received compensation from the Company for his services as a Director and Chairman of the Board, until his resignation in January 2022.

 

F- 16

Table of Contents

  

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(continued)

 

6. INCOME TAXES

 

Income tax expense is comprised of the following (in thousands):

 

		December 31,
		2023				2022
Federal:
Current		$	467			$	(63	)
Deferred			(275	)			212
			192				149
State:
Current			495				78
Deferred			(159	)			(82	)
			336				(4	)
Income tax expense		$	528			$	145

 

The provision for income taxes differs from the amount determined by applying the federal statutory tax rate to pre-tax income as a result of the following (in thousands):

 

		December 31,
		2023								2022
Income taxes at statutory rate		$	278				21.0	%		$	199				21.0	%
Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of federal benefit			32				2.4	%			(22	)			(2.3	)%
Stock compensation			(2	)			(0.1	)%			(11	)			(1.2	)%
Provision-to-return			240				18.2	%			(2	)			(0.2	)%
Other			(20	)			(1.5	)%			(19	)			(1.9	)%
Income tax expense		$	528				40.0	%		$	145				15.4	%

 

F- 17

Table of Contents

 

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(continued)

 

Deferred tax assets (liabilities) are as follows (in thousands):

 

		December 31,
		2023				2022
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards		$	213			$	319
Allowance for credit losses and doubtful accounts			195				180
Accrued vacation			70				59
Deferred revenue			1,509				768
Equity Compensation			135
Right-of-use asset			11				28
Other			151				118
Gross deferred tax assets			2,284				1,472
Deferred tax liabilities:
Retainage			(299	)			(240	)
Fixed assets			(3,422	)			(3,195	)
Prepaid expenses			(188	)			(76	)
Amortization - intangibles			(15	)			(14	)
Realized gain loss			—				(4	)
Lease liability			(11	)			(28	)
Gross deferred tax liabilities			(3,935	)			(3,557	)
Net deferred tax liability		$	(1,651	)		$	(2,085	)

 

In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, management must determine that there will be sufficient taxable income to realize deferred tax assets. Based upon the historical and anticipated future positive earnings, management has determined that the deferred tax assets are realizable.

 

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had approximately $5,061 and $4,217 (in thousands), respectively, of state net operating losses (NOLs) available to offset future state taxable income. The state NOLs begin expiring at various times between 2028 and 2037.

 

7. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

 

The Company has a savings plan that qualifies under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). Participating employees may elect to contribute a percentage of their salary, subject to certain limitations. The Company contributes 50% of the participant's contribution, up to 4% of the participant's compensation, as a matching contribution. Total match contributions (in thousands) by the Company for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were approximately $248 and $225, respectively.

 

F- 18

Table of Contents

  

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(continued)

 

8. STOCK COMPENSATION

 

On October 13, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, which allows the Company to grant up to 400,000 shares of restricted common stock of the Company to employees, officers, directors and consultants and 89,303 share remain available to be granted as of December 31, 2023. The grants may be in the form of restricted or performance shares of common stock of the Company. The total intrinsic value (in thousands) of the outstanding shares of restricted stock at December 31, 2023 and 2022 is $510 and $608, respectively.

 

The fair value of restricted stock awards is estimated to be the market price of the Company's common stock at the close of date of grant. The Company assumes no forfeitures as they are granted to key executives and board members.

 

Restricted stock activity during the years ended December 31, 2023 is as follows:

 

		Number of Shares				Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share
Non-vested, December 31, 2022			47,859				12.70
Granted			4,410				19.15
Vested			9,991				18.19
Non-vested, December 31, 2023			42,278			$	12.07

 

In 2021, the Compensation Committee and Board of Directors approved a Long-Term Incentive Plan with respect to the grant of stock pursuant to the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan. The final equity amount earned is based on continued service through the three-year performance period ending on December 31, 2023, Board discretion, and performance results. The actual number of performance-based shares of common stock of the Company, if any, earned by the award recipients is determined based on measures that include Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”) margin, revenue growth, and free cash flow. The EBITDA margin and revenue growth performance targets have been set for each of the Minimum, Target, and Maximum levels. The actual performance amount received is determined by the Compensation Committee and may be adjusted for items determined to be unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence. As of the date of these financial statements, the final awarded amount has not been determined, however the stock compensation cost was recognized over the requisite performance/service period using the straight-line method and based on the probable number of shares to be awarded

 

Awards are being amortized to expense ratably, based upon the vesting schedule. Stock compensation expense (in thousands) for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was approximately $375 and $505, respectively, based upon the value at the date of grant. The Company recognized tax benefits (in thousands) of $9 and $53 related to stock compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The fair value of the shares vested (in thousands) for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $221 and $570, respectively, based upon the value at the date of vesting. There was $34 thousand of unrecognized compensation cost related to the non-vested restricted stock as of December 31, 2023 and will be recognized ratably over a 21 month period. All non-vested restricted vests and is earned based on continued service of the award recipients.

 

F- 19

Table of Contents

  

Smith-Midland Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(continued)

 

9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

On April 13, 2022, the Company and its customer entered into an amendment to the buy-back agreement described in ‘Revenue Recognition-Sale to Customer with a Buy-Back Guarantee-Lease Income’. Pursuant to the amendment, the Company agreed to purchase all of the barrier subject to the buy-back agreement, 210,000 linear feet, as well as approximately an additional 115,000 linear feet. The total estimated purchase price is $5,000, representing the barrier, associated loading, freight, and yarding. The deferred buy-back lease asset and obligation were fully reduced as the Company picked up the original 210,000 linear feet throughout 2022. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has picked up all barrier related to this purchase agreement and does not expect to incur any additional costs related to this purchase.

 

The Company is party to legal proceedings and disputes which may arise in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of the Company, it is unlikely that liabilities, if any, arising from legal disputes will have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position of the Company.

 

10. EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

Earnings per share are calculated as follows (in thousands, except earnings per share):

 

		December 31,
		2023				2022
Basic earnings per share
Income available to common shareholders		$	795			$	800
Weighted average shares outstanding			5,258				5,233
Basic earnings per share		$	0.15			$	0.15
Diluted earnings per share
Income available to common shareholders		$	795			$	800
Weighted average shares outstanding			5,258				5,233
Dilutive effect of restricted stock			34				20
Total weighted average shares outstanding			5,292				5,253
Diluted earnings per share		$	0.15			$	0.15

 

There was no restricted stock or other common stock equivalents excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

 

F- 20