(Mark One)
For the period ended March 31, 2001
Commission File No. 1-9973
THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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 twelve (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 _X_ NO __
As of May 8, 2001, there were 8,980,000 shares of the registrants common stock outstanding.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
See accompanying notes
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This report contains forward-looking statements subject to the safe harbor created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The company cautions readers that these projections are based upon future results or events and are highly dependent upon a variety of important factors which could cause such results or events to differ materially from any forward-looking statements which may be deemed to have been made in this report, or which are otherwise made by or on behalf of the company. Such factors include, but are not limited to, changing market conditions; the availability and cost of raw materials; the impact of competitive products and pricing; the timely development and market acceptance of the companys products; foreign exchange and political risks affecting international sales; and other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the companys Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including those discussed under Risk Factors in the companys Registration Statement on Form S-2 (Reg. No. 333-35397). Any forward looking statements contained in this report speak only as of the date of this filing. The company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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The following table sets forth certain consolidated statements of earnings items as a percentage of net sales for the periods.
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NET SALES. Net sales in the three-month period ended March 31, 2001 decreased 24% to $24.7 million as compared to $32.5 million in the three-month period ended April 1, 2000.
Sales of the Cooking Systems Group for the three-month period ended March 31, 2001 decreased 16% to $24.4 million from $28.9 million in the prior year. Within the Cooking Systems Group, sales of conveyor oven equipment declined by 32%, sales of core cooking equipment declined by 11% and sales of counterline equipment declined by 14%. Sales of all product lines were impacted by the slowdown in the U.S. and international economies. Additionally, sales of conveyor oven equipment were adversely impacted by the temporary slowdown in store openings of certain major restaurant chain customers. Sales of international specialty equipment increased 164% due to increased sales to a new major restaurant chain customer and the development of new products for the Asian market.
Sales of the International Distribution Division decreased 39% to $5.4 million from $8.8 million in the previous year period. The lower sales level reflects the slowdown of international expansion of major restaurant chains, the strengthening of the U.S. dollar and the slowdown of certain international economies affected by the U.S. market.
GROSS PROFIT. Gross profit decreased to $8.2 million from $11.2 million in the prior year period. As a percentage of sales, gross margins decreased from 34.5% in the prior year to 33.0 due to the net sales decline resulting in lower production efficiencies.
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 26% to $6.3 million as compared to $8.6 million in the prior year period. The reduction in expenses reflects a combination of savings from a lower cost structure resulting from prior year restructuring efforts, tightened controls on discretionary spending implemented during the slowdown, and lower variable expenses related to sales such as commissions and incentive compensation.
INTEREST AND DEFERRED FINANCING AMORTIZATION. Net financing costs decreased to $0.2 million from $0.5 million in the prior year as a result of reduced interest expense on lower outstanding debt.
OTHER EXPENSE. Other expenses were $0.2 million in the current year and $0.3 million in the prior year. The decrease from the prior year largely relates to reduced exchange losses at the companys operations in Asia and Europe.
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INCOME TAXES. A tax provision of $0.9 million, at an effective rate of 63%, was recorded during the quarter, primarily associated with taxable income reported at the companys operations in the United States and Europe. No benefit was recognized for losses at international subsidiaries within Asia.
During the three months ended March 31, 2001, cash and cash equivalents increased by $0.2 million to $2.3 million at March 31, 2001 from $2.1 million at December 30, 2000. Net borrowings increased from $8.5 million at December 30, 2000 to $13.1 million at March 31, 2001.
OPERATING ACTIVITIES. Net cash provided by operating activities before changes in assets and liabilities was $1.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2001 as compared to $2.3 million in the prior year period. Net cash used by operating activities after changes in assets and liabilities was $4.1 million as compared to $0.4 million in the prior year period.
During the three months ended March 31, 2001, accounts receivable decreased $2.0 million due to lower sales and improvements in receivable collections. Accounts payable decreased $2.2 million due lower inventory purchases. Accrued expenses and other liabilities decreased $4.6 million primarily as a result of payments under annual customer rebate programs and the funding of annual incentive compensation obligations.
INVESTING ACTIVITIES. During the three months ending March 31, 2001, the company had capital expenditures of $0.2 million.
FINANCING ACTIVITIES. Net borrowings under the revolving line of credit increased by $4.8 million during the three months ending March 31, 2001. The net borrowings during the first quarter were used primarily to fund operating activities.
At March 31, 2001, the company was in compliance with covenants pursuant to its revolving credit facility. Management believes that the company will have sufficient financial resources available to meet its anticipated requirements for working capital, growth strategies, capital expenditures and debt amortization for the foreseeable future.
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International Exposure
The company has manufacturing operations located in Asia and distribution operations in Asia, Europe and Latin America. The companys operations are subject to the impact of economic downturns, political instability, and foreign trade restrictions, which may adversely affect the financial results. The company anticipates that international sales will continue to account for a significant portion of consolidated net sales in the foreseeable future. Some sales by the foreign operations are in local currency and an increase in the relative value of the U.S. dollar against such currencies would lead to the reduction in consolidated U.S. dollar sales and earnings. Additionally, foreign currency exposures are not fully hedged and there can be no assurances that the companys future results of operations will not be adversely affected by currency fluctuations.
The company uses derivative financial instruments, principally foreign currency forward purchase and sale contracts with terms of less than one year, to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The companys primary exposure to changes in foreign currency rates results from intercompany loans made between Middleby affiliates to minimize the need for borrowings from third parties. The company does not currently enter into derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes. In managing its foreign currency exposures, the company identifies and aggregates naturally occurring offsetting positions and then hedges residual exposures. The following table summarizes the forward purchase contracts outstanding at March 31, 2001 entered into to hedge the aforementioned exposures:
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The company is exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates. The following table summarizes the maturity of the companys debt obligations.
Variable rate debt is comprised of borrowings under the companys $20.0 million revolving credit line, which includes a $2.2 million Yen denominated loan and a $10.9 million U.S. dollar denominated loan. Interest under the unsecured revolving credit facility is assessed based upon the banks reference rate in each respective country. The interest rate assessed to the Yen and U.S. denominated loans at March 31, 2001 were 1.0% and 5.8%, respectively.
The company was not required to report the information pursuant to Items 1 through 6 of Part II of Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2001, except as follows:
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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