Techprecision Corp: Form 10-Q for the period ended Jun 30, 2013

Statement Regarding Forward Looking Disclosure

The following discussion of the results of our operations and financial condition should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes herein. This quarterly report on Form 10Q, including this section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” or MD&A, may contain predictive or “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that express our intentions, beliefs, expectations, strategies, predictions or any other statements relating to our future activities or other future events or conditions. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our business based in part on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may, and probably will, differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Those factors include those risks discussed in this Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” in this Form 10-Q and those described in any other filings which we make with the SEC. In addition, such statements could be affected by risks and uncertainties related to recurring operating losses and the availability of appropriate financing facilities impacting our ability to continue as a going concern, to change the composition of our revenues and effectively reduce our operating expenses, our ability to generate business on an on-going basis, to obtain any required financing, to receive contract awards from the competitive bidding process, maintain standards to enable us to manufacture products to exacting specifications, enter new markets for our services, marketing and customer acceptance, our reliance on a small number of customers for a significant percentage of our business, competition, government regulations and requirements, pricing and development difficulties, our ability to make acquisitions and successfully integrate those acquisitions with our business, as well as general industry and market conditions and growth rates, and general economic conditions. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this report, except as required by applicable law. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report. Investors should evaluate any statements made by us in light of these important factors.

Overview

We offer a full range of services required to transform metallic raw materials into precise finished products. Our manufacturing capabilities include: fabrication operations (cutting, press and roll forming, assembly, welding, heat treating, blasting and painting) and machining operations including CNC (computer numerical controlled) horizontal and vertical milling centers. We also provide support services to our manufacturing capabilities: manufacturing engineering (planning, fixture and tooling development, manufacturing), quality control (inspection and testing), materials procurement, production control (scheduling, project management and expediting) and final assembly.

All U.S. manufacturing is done in accordance with our written quality assurance program, which meets specific national and international codes, standards, and specifications. Ranor holds several certificates of authorization issued by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors. The standards used are specific to the customers’ needs, and our manufacturing operations are conducted in accordance with these standards.

Because our revenues are derived from the sale of goods manufactured pursuant to a contract, and we do not sell from inventory, it is necessary for us to constantly seek new contracts. There may be a time lag between our completion of one contract and commencement of work on another contract. During such periods, we may continue to incur overhead expense but with lower revenue resulting in lower operating margins. Furthermore, changes in either the scope of an existing contract or related delivery schedules may impact the revenue we receive under the contract and the allocation of manpower. Although we provide manufacturing services for large governmental programs, we usually do not work directly for the government or its agencies. Rather, we perform our services for large governmental contractors and large utility companies. However, our business is dependent in part on the continuation of governmental programs which require services and products from our customers.

We historically have experienced, and continue to experience, customer concentration. Our five largest customers collectively accounted for 74% of our revenue for fiscal 2013. For the three months ended June 30, 2013, our five largest customers accounted for approximately 74% of reported net sales.

Our contracts are generated both through negotiation with the customer and from bids made pursuant to a request for proposal. Our ability to receive contract awards is dependent upon the contracting party’s perception of such factors as our ability to perform on time, our history of performance, including quality, our financial condition and our ability to price our services competitively. Although some of our contracts contemplate the manufacture of one or a limited number of units, we are seeking more long-term projects with a more predictable cost structure. For the three months ended June 30, 2013, our net sales and net loss were $7.1 million and $1.4 million, as compared to net sales of $7.1 million and net loss of $0.7 million, for the three months ended June 30, 2012. Our gross margins for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 were 6% and 15%, respectively. The three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 were negatively impacted by $0.8 and $0.1 million, respectively, of contract losses and cost overruns incurred on first article projects and prototyping for customers of Ranor. Our sales order backlog as of June 30, 2013 was approximately $19.4 million compared with a backlog of $16.4 million as of March 31, 2013.

We invested in our WCMC subsidiary to meet shifting demands from key customers, and simultaneously had to weather slowdowns in our alternative energy business. The impact on our Ranor facility was significant because manufacturing for their largest customer was transferred to China. We replaced the transferred business by backfilling our Ranor facility with orders from existing and new customers that required domestic production capacity. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, or fiscal 2012, WCMC received a purchase agreement from an existing customer for up to $9.5 million in sapphire chamber orders over the term of the purchase agreement. As of June 30, 2013, we have received purchase orders and delivered $2.1 million of sapphire chambers under this purchase agreement. This purchase agreement expired on February 28, 2013.

At June 30, 2013, we were in default and continue to be in default with the Loan Agreement with the Bank. At March 31, 2013, we were not in compliance with our financial covenants in the Loan Agreement, and the Bank did not agree to waive the non-compliance with the covenants. As a result, we were in default at March 31, 2013. In addition, the Bank also did not renew the revolving credit facility which expired on July 31, 2013. The Bank has the right to accelerate payment of the debt in full upon 60 days' written notice. As a consequence, all amounts under the Loan Agreement are classified as a current liability at June 30, 2013 ($5.6 million) and March 31, 2013 ($5.8 million).

These factors raise substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern. Our financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

Growth Strategy

Our strategy is to leverage our core competence as a manufacturer of high-precision, large-scale metal fabrications and machined components to optimize profitability of our current business and expand into stronger markets that have shown increasing demand. We aim to establish our expertise in Program and Project Management and develop and expand a repeatable customer business model in our strongest markets.

Medical Industry

For several years we have been providing production services to Mevion Medical Systems, or Mevion, for the manufacture of its proprietary proton beam radiotherapy system. Mevion received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, in June 2012 to market its proton radiotherapy device. Presently Mevion has eleven systems currently under development with customers in the U.S. In January 2013, we announced a five-year agreement with Mevion to exclusively produce precision components for Mevion’s proton beam system. During fiscal 2013, Mevion became our largest customer and accounted for $7.7 million in net sales. We expect that sales volume to Mevion will increase as Mevion further expands the market launch of its innovative proton therapy device.

Alternative Energy

Historically alternative energy has been our largest market served and has comprised a significant amount of annual net sales. The primary products we have manufactured for alternative energy customers, including GT Advanced Technologies, or GTAT, have been multi-crystalline and mono-crystalline solar furnaces, sapphire furnaces as well as polysilicon reactor vessels. During fiscal 2013 and 2012, the pace at which solar and sapphire manufactures increased their production capacity was slow. As a result our sales volume to customers within the alternative energy sector comprised only 28.5% of total sales for fiscal 2013, as compared with 43.5% in fiscal 2012.

LED Lighting/Enabled Products

Growing global demand for LED lighting and LED enabled products has increased the worldwide demand for Heat Exchanger Method (HEM) sapphire, a core component in high-end LED products. Accordingly, many polysilicon companies, including our customer GTAT, are expanding into the field of HEM sapphire and existing players in the HEM sapphire industry are expanding their production capacity. The production of HEM sapphire requires robust high temperature vacuum furnaces much like those we have been producing for the processing of polysilicon within the solar industry.

We believe the HEM sapphire field is a growing sector where our manufacturing expertise and experience with similar products for the solar industry can be directly leveraged. We are in active dialogue with existing customers regarding our capability and capacity to manufacture furnaces for the HEM sapphire industry. In February 2012, WCMC received a twelve month purchase agreement from an existing customer for up to $9.5 million in sapphire chamber orders. We shipped production units for $2.1 million of sapphire chambers under this purchase agreement prior to its expiration on February 28, 2013.

Defense and Aerospace

Our Ranor subsidiary performs precision fabrication and machining for the defense and aerospace industries, delivering turnkey defense components to our customers stringent design specifications, as well as quality and safety manufacturing standards specifically for defense component fabrication and machining. Defense components the Ranor team has delivered include critical sonar housings and fairings, vertical launch missile tubes, and magnetic motor system components. In addition, the team at Ranor has successfully developed new, effective approaches to fabrication that continue to be utilized at their facility and at our customer’s own defense component manufacturing facilities. We have developed and built Tier 1 and Tier 2 relationships with our customers and will continue to seek opportunities in this sector where we are in a Tier 1 or Tier 2 supplier relationship.

Over the course of the past year, we have increased our business development efforts with large prime defense contractors. Based upon these efforts, we believe there are additional opportunities to secure increased outsourcing business with existing and new defense contractors who are actively looking to increase outsourced content on certain expanding defense programs over the next several years. We believe that the military quality certifications we maintain and our ability to offer turn-key fabrication and manufacturing services at a single facility position us as an attractive outsourcing partner for prime contractors looking to increase outsourced production.

Nuclear

In February 2013, we completed the initial manufacture of Type B radioactive isotope transport casks on behalf of our customer, Alpha-Omega Services, Inc. We have been working with this customer for several years while it was seeking U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or NRC, license approval of its proprietary Type B radioactive isotope transport casks. As this customer’s cask design meets the NRC’s most recent regulatory requirements for Type B transport casks, we and our customer expect increased demand for this product as the NRC requires companies that transport radioactive isotopes to replace their existing Type B transport casks with casks that meet the latest NRC requirements.

Over the next 10 years, 26 nuclear power plants are scheduled to be built in China, six in the United States and five in Europe (including three in the United Kingdom). The 2011 nuclear tragedy in Japan has bolstered demand for advanced nuclear reactor designs with passive safety systems. Because Ranor is one of the few facilities in the United States that has the certifications required to produce the necessary components for these plants, this pipeline of new nuclear projects could create a significant opportunity. Because of our manufacturing capabilities, our certification from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and our historic relationships with suppliers in the nuclear power industry, we believe that we are well positioned to benefit from any increased activity in the nuclear sector. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to develop any significant business from the nuclear industry.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of the unaudited consolidated financial statements requires that we make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. We continually evaluate our estimates, including those related to contract accounting, inventories, recovery of long-lived assets, income taxes and the valuation of equity transactions. These estimates and assumptions require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments. Actual results may differ under different assumptions or conditions.

Our significant accounting policies are set forth in detail in Note 2 to the 2013 Form 10-K. There were no significant changes in the critical accounting policies during the three months ended June 30, 2013, nor did we make any changes to our accounting policies that would have changed these critical accounting policies.

New Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 3 – Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q for a discussion of recently adopted accounting guidance and other new accounting guidance.

Results of Operations

Our results of operations are affected by a number of external factors including the availability of raw materials, commodity prices (particularly steel), macroeconomic factors, including the availability of capital that may be needed by our customers, and political, regulatory and legal conditions in the United States and foreign markets.

Our results of operations are also affected by our success in booking new contracts and when we are able to recognize the related revenue, delays in customer acceptances of our products, delays in deliveries of ordered products and our rate of progress in the fulfillment of our obligations under our contracts. A delay in deliveries or cancellations of orders would cause us to have inventories in excess of our short-term needs, and may delay our ability to recognize, or prevent us from recognizing, revenue on contracts in our order backlog. At June 30, 2013 our backlog was $19.4 million.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2013 and 2012

The following table sets forth information from our statements of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, in dollars and as a percentage of revenue:

(dollars in thousands)

Net Sales

For the three months ended June 30, 2013, net sales decreased by $49,047, or less than 1%, to $7.1 million. Net sales to our Commercial industry customers increased by $0.7 million compared with the same three month period in fiscal 2013. This amount was offset by a decrease in sales of $0.7 and $0.1 million to customers in the Defense and Nuclear markets, respectively. The increases and decreases in net sales are reflective of the frequent changes in demand we see from our customers for different products and markets when comparing periods year over year. For the three months ended June 30, 2013, net sales originating at our WCMC division totaled $0.1 million compared with $0.3 million in the three months ended June 30, 2012, as a result of weak demand from our largest customer in China.

Cost of Sales and Gross Margin

Our cost of sales for the three months ended June 30, 2013 increased by $0.6 million 11% to $6.7 million. Gross margins during the three months ended June 30, 2013 were 5.9% compared with 15.5% for the same period in fiscal 2013. Gross margin in any reporting period is impacted by the mix of services we provide on projects completed and in-process within that period. The first quarter of fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013 included a significant volume of custom first article and prototyping projects, which generally carry lower margins. Contract losses when incurred also lower gross margins. During the first quarter of fiscal 2014 $0.8 million of contract losses were recorded compared with contract losses of $0.1 million recorded during the same quarter one year ago. The majority of the contract loss provision recorded during June 30, 2013 relates to projects initiated during the current quarter that are expected to be completed and shipped during the second and third quarters of fiscal 2014.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Total SG&A expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2013 were $1.8 million compared with $2.0 million for the same period in fiscal 2013, representing a decrease of $0.2 million or 12%. The make-up of the decrease is lower spending of $0.1 million for compensation and benefits and $0.1 million for outside services and advisory fees in fiscal 2014.

Other Income (Expense)

The following table reflects other income (expense) and interest expense for the three months ended June 30:

Interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2013 decreased when compared with the same prior year period as our levels of debt continued to decrease. Non –cash interest expense reflects the amortization of deferred loan costs in connection with our Series A and Series B bonds.

Income Taxes

For the three months ended June 30, 2013, we recorded zero tax expense or benefit. For the three months ended June 30, 2012, we recorded a tax benefit of $0.3 million. The lack of a tax benefit for fiscal 2014 was primarily the result of maintaining a full valuation allowance on our net deferred tax assets. A valuation allowance must be established for deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that they will not be realized. The assessment was based on the weight of negative evidence at the balance sheet date, our recent operating losses and unsettled circumstances that, if unfavorably resolved, would adversely affect future operations and profit levels.

Our future effective tax rate would be affected if earnings were lower than anticipated in countries where we have lower statutory rates and higher than anticipated in countries where we have higher statutory rates, by changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities, or by changes in tax laws, regulations, accounting principles, or interpretations thereof. We regularly assess the effects resulting from these factors to determine the adequacy of our provision for income taxes.

Net Loss

As a result of the foregoing, our net loss was $1.4 million or $0.07 per share basic and fully diluted, for the three months ended June 30, 2013, as compared to net loss of $0.7 million or $0.04 per share basic and fully diluted for the three months ended June 30, 2012.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At June 30, 2013, we were in default and continue to be in default with the Loan Agreement with the Bank. At March 31, 2013, we were not in compliance with the fixed charges and interest coverage financial covenants under the Loan Agreement, and the Bank did not agree to waive our non-compliance with the covenants. In addition, the Bank did not renew the revolving credit facility which expired on July 31, 2013. The Bank has the right to accelerate payment of the debt in full upon 60 days' written notice. As a consequence, all amounts under the Loan Agreement are classified as a current liability at June 30, 2013 ($5.6 million) and March 31, 2013 ($5.8 million). The Bank continues to evaluate its course of action and has not yet demanded repayment. We continue to make payments pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement. If the Bank were to make such a demand for repayment, we would be unable to pay the obligation as we do not have existing facilities or sufficient cash on hand to satisfy these obligations and would need to seek alternative financing. The covenants under the loan agreement are no longer being tested on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis.

We have incurred an operating loss of $1.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013, and $2.4 million and $2.1 million for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. At June 30, 2013, we had cash and cash equivalents of $2.4 million, of which $0.2 million is located in China and which we may not be able to repatriate for use in the U.S. without undue cost or expense, if at all. We borrowed $0.5 million under our revolving line of credit during the three months ended March 31, 2013, and repaid this borrowing in full in July 2013. In addition, we have $1.0 million of restricted cash with the Bank (included in our other current assets) that could be used toward satisfying our obligation under the Loan Agreement.

These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. In order for us to continue operations beyond the next twelve months and be able to discharge our liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business, we must secure long-term financing on terms consistent with our business plans. In addition, we must increase our backlog and change the composition of our revenues to focus on recurring unit of delivery projects rather than custom first article and prototyping projects which do not efficiently use our manufacturing capacity, and reduce our operating expenses to be in line with current business conditions in order to increase profit margins and decrease the amount of cash used in operations. If successful in changing the composition of revenue and reducing costs, we expect that fiscal 2014 operating results will reflect positive operating cash flows. However, we plan to closely monitor our expenses and, if required, will further reduce operating costs and capital spending to enhance liquidity.

The consolidated financial statements for the three months ended June 30, 2013, and for the year ended March 31, 2013, were prepared on the basis of a going concern which contemplates that we will be able to realize assets and discharge liabilities in the normal course of business. Accordingly, they do not give effect to adjustments that would be necessary should we be required to liquidate assets. Our ability to satisfy our total liabilities of $10.1 million at June 30, 2013 and to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the availability of and our ability to timely secure long-term financing and the successful execution of our operating plan. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.

Our failure to obtain new or additional financing could impair our ability to both serve our existing customer base and develop new customers and could result in our failure to continue to operate as a going concern. To the extent that we require new or additional financing, we cannot assure you that we will be able to get such financing on terms equal to or better than the terms of our Loan Agreement. If we are unable to raise funds through a credit facility, it may be necessary for us to conduct an offering of debt and/or equity securities on terms which may be disadvantageous to us or have a negative impact on our outstanding securities and the holders of such securities. In the event of an equity offering, it may be necessary that we offer such securities at a price that is significantly below our current trading levels which may result in substantial dilution to our investors that do not participate in the offering and a new low trading level for our common stock.

Our liquidity is highly dependent on our available financing facilities and ability to improve our gross profit and operating income. If we successfully secure an acceptable financing facility and execute on our business plans, then we believe that our available cash, together with additional reductions in operating costs and capital expenditures, will be sufficient to fund our operations, capital expenditures and principal and interest payments under our debt obligations through the next twelve months.

At June 30, 2013, we had working capital of $2.1 million as compared with working capital of $3.1 million at March 31, 2013, representing a decrease of $1.0 million or 32%. The following table sets forth information as to the principal changes in the components of our working capital:

(dollars in thousands)

The following table summarizes our primary cash flows for the periods presented:

(dollars in thousands)

Operating activities

Cash used in operations for the three months ended June 30, 2013 was $0.4 million compared with cash provided by operations of $1.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012. When compared to the same three month period in fiscal 2013, cash flows used in operations in fiscal 2014 were impacted by significant reductions in accounts payable and advanced billings as we 1) paid suppliers and vendors for materials and services, and 2) received progress payments on customer projects that were lower than last year. Cash flows from operations should begin to improve during the second half of fiscal 2014 as we change the composition of our revenues to focus on recurring unit of delivery projects and close out the remaining lower margin first article production and prototyping projects. Cash provided by operations for the same comparable period in fiscal 2013 were positively impacted by the receipt of milestone payments and deposits of approximately $3.0 million.

Investing activities

The periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, were marked by nominal cash outflows for capital spending of $56,424 and $20,024, respectively. We anticipate lower spending levels for new plant and equipment in fiscal 2014.

Financing activities

For the three month period ended in fiscal 2014, cash used in financing activities was $0.2 million to make principal payments on our outstanding debt. For the comparable period end in fiscal 2013, cash used in financing activities was $0.3 million related to principal payments for long-term debt. Obligations under the Term Note, Revolving Note, Capital Expenditure Note and Staged Advance Note are guaranteed by TechPrecision and Ranor. Collateral securing such notes comprises all personal property of TechPrecision and Ranor, including cash, accounts receivable, inventories, equipment, financial and intangible assets. We have no off-balance sheet assets or liabilities.

All of the above activity resulted in a net decrease in cash for fiscal 2014 of $0.6 million, compared with a net increase in cash of $1.6 million for fiscal 2013.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of June 30, 2013, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our executive chairman and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or Exchange Act. Based on the evaluation, our chief executive chairman and chief financial officer have concluded that, as of June 30, 2013, our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting were not effective because of the material weakness described in Item 9A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2013 as filed with the SEC on August 16, 2013.

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed with the objective of ensuring that (i) information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and (ii) information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our executive chairman and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

We are making progress remediating the material weakness identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2013 which are described in the next section. Notwithstanding the material weakness described in Item 9A of the 2013 Form 10-K, we believe our condensed consolidated statements presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly represent, in all material respects, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented herein.

Changes in Internal Controls

Except as identified below, there has been no change to our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act) during the three months ended June 30, 2013, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. During the three months ended June 30, 2013 we began implementing stronger manual controls that support our financial reporting process by 1) providing guidelines for account reconciliations and enhancing documentation to support sub-ledger account reconciliations. As we continue to remediate the material weakness described above, we will determine the appropriate complement of corporate and divisional accounting personnel required to consistently operate management review controls.

There have been no material changes to the risk factors discussed in Part I, "Item 1A. Risk Factors," in the 2013 Form 10-K. You should carefully consider the risks described in our 2013 Form 10-K which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in our 2013 Form 10-K are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results. If any of the risks actually occur, our business, financial condition and/or results of operations could be negatively affected.