Omega Flex, Inc.: Form 10-K for the period ended Dec 31, 2023

Overview of the Company

The Company is a leading manufacturer of flexible metal hose, which is used in a variety of ways to carry gases and liquids within their particular applications. Some of the more prominent uses include:

• carrying fuel gases within residential and commercial buildings;
• carrying gasoline and diesel gasoline products (both above and below the ground) in a double containment piping to contain any possible leaks, which is used in automotive and marina refueling, and fueling for back-up generation;
• using copper-alloy corrugated piping in medical or health care facilities to carry medical gases (oxygen, nitrogen, vacuum) or pure gases for pharmaceutical applications; and
• industrial applications where the customer requires the piping to have both a degree of flexibility and/or an ability to carry corrosive compounds or mixtures, or to carry at both very high and very low (cryogenic) temperatures.

The Company’s business is managed as a single operating segment that consists of the manufacture and sale of flexible metal hose (also described as corrugated tubing), as well as the sale of the Company’s related proprietary fittings and a vast array of accessories.

The Company manufactures flexible metal hose at its facilities in Exton, Pennsylvania and Houston, Texas in the United States (U.S.), and in Banbury, Oxfordshire in the United Kingdom (U.K.). The Company primarily sells its products through distributors, wholesalers and to original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) throughout North America and Europe, and to a lesser extent other global markets.

Industry Overview

The flexible metal hose industry is highly fragmented and diverse, with more than eight companies producing flexible metal hose in the U.S., and at least that many in Europe and Asia. Because of its simple and ubiquitous nature, flexible metal hose has been applied to a number of different applications across a broad range of industries.

The major market categories for flexible metal hose include (1) automotive, (2) aerospace, (3) residential, commercial, and institutional construction, and (4) general industrial. Omega Flex participates in the latter two markets for flexible metal hose. The residential and commercial construction market utilizes corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) primarily for flexible gas piping, double containment piping for conveying diesel fuel and gasoline from a storage tank to a dispenser or back-up generator. The Company produces corrugated copper tubing for medical gases in medical care facilities, including hospitals, clinics, dental and veterinary offices, and long-term care facilities. The general industrial market includes all the processing industries, the most important of which include primary steel, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and specialty applications for the transfer of fluids at both extremely low and high temperatures, (such as the conveying of cryogenic liquids) and a highly fragmented OEM market, as well as the maintenance and repair market.

None of our competitors appear to be dominant in more than one market. We believe that we are a leading supplier of flexible metal hose in each of the U.S. markets in which we participate. Our assessment of our overall competitive position is based on several factors. The flexible gas piping market in the U.S. is currently concentrated in the residential housing market. Based on the reports issued by the national trade groups on housing construction, the level of acceptance of flexible gas piping in the construction market, and the average usage of flexible gas piping in a residential building, we believe that we can estimate with a reasonable level of accuracy the size of the total gas piping market. In addition, the Company is a member of an industry trade group comprised of the largest manufacturers of CSST in the U.S., which compiles and distributes sales volume statistics for its members relative to flexible gas piping. Based on our sales and the statistics described above, the Company believes it can estimate its position within that market. For other applications, industry trade groups collect, and report data related to these markets, and we can then compare and estimate our status within that group as a whole. In addition, the customer base for the products that we sell, and the identity of the manufacturers aligned with those customers is fairly well known, which again allows the Company to extract information and estimate its market position. Lastly, the term “leading” implies a host of factors other than sales volume and market share position. It includes the range and capability of the product line, history of product development and new product launches, all of which information is in the public domain. Based on all this information, the Company is reasonably confident that it is indeed a leader in the major U.S. market segments in which it participates.

Development of Business

Incorporated in 1975 under the name of Tofle America, Inc., the Company was originally established as the subsidiary of a Japanese manufacturer of flexible metal hose. For a number of years, the Company was a manufacturer of flexible metal hose that was sold primarily to customers using the hose for incorporation into finished assemblies for industrial applications. The Company later changed its name to Omega Flex, Inc., and in 1996, the Company was acquired by Mestek, Inc. (Mestek).

In 2005, Mestek distributed its equity ownership in our common stock to Mestek shareholders and the shares of our common stock started trading on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC under the stock symbol “OFLX.”

Over the years, most of the Company’s business has been concentrated in North America, but the Company also has foreign subsidiaries located in the U.K. and France, which are largely focused on European and other international markets. The Company also has a U.S. subsidiary which owns the Company’s Exton, Pennsylvania real estate.

Overview of Current Business

Strategy

The Company’s strategy has been, and continues to be, focused on its core strengths in the development, manufacture, and sale of flexible metal hose for use in a variety of applications. We believe the Company is uniquely situated to exploit its capabilities in this area due to its long experience in engineering and bringing new products to market, and its proprietary rotary process, which permits the Company to manufacture flexible metal hose with superior quality and efficiency as compared to its competitors. The Company’s strategy is to develop flexible metal products in new and developing markets that would recognize and compensate for the value-added propositions that each product brings to that industry. Typically, this would involve a new flexible metal hose that replaces traditional rigid products, and thereby improves the quality of the installed product, increases installation efficiency, and provides an overall cost and time savings. Examples of such products are our flexible gas piping sold under the TracPipe® CounterStrike® trademarks, our MediTrac® corrugated medical gas tubing, our DoubleTrac® double-containment piping, and DEF-Trac® flexible piping. In each instance, we believe that the products we bring to market offer customers superior quality, expanded applications due to the products’ flexibility, and reduced total costs. The Company seeks to protect its investments in product development by obtaining patent protection for new and unique features of its products.

Sales, Products and Customers

We sell our products to customers scattered across a wide and diverse set of industries ranging from construction to pharmaceutical with close to 10,800 customers on record. These sales channels include sales through independent sales representatives, distributors, OEM, and direct sales. We utilize various distribution companies in the sale of our TracPipe® and Counterstrike® flexible gas piping, and these distribution customers in the aggregate represent a significant portion of our business. In particular, the Company has one significant distribution customer, whose various branches had sales in the range of 12% to 14% of total sales during the periods of 2021 to 2023 and was 19% of the Company’s accounts receivable balance over the last two years. All of this business is done on a purchase order basis for immediate resale commitments or stocking, and there are no long-term purchase commitments. In the event we were to lose an account, we would not expect any long-term reduction in our sales due to the broad end-user acceptance of our products. We would anticipate that in the event of a loss of any one or more distributors, that after an initial transition period, the sales of our products would resume at or near their historical levels. Furthermore, in the case of certain national distribution chains, which is the case regarding the Company’s largest customer noted above, and other distributors, it is possible that there would continue to be purchasing activity from one or more regional or branch distribution customers. We sell our products within North America, primarily in the U.S. and Canada, and we also sell our products internationally, primarily in Europe through our manufacturing facility located in Banbury, U.K. Our sales outside of North America were in the range of 4% to 7% of our total sales during the last three years, with most of the sales occurring in the U.K. and elsewhere in Europe. We do not have a material portion of our long-lived assets located outside of the U.S.

As mentioned previously, we sell our products primarily through independent outside sales organizations, including independent sales representatives, distributors, fabricating distributors, wholesalers, and OEMs. We have a limited internal sales function that sells our products to key accounts, including OEMs and distributors of bulk hose. We believe that within each geographic market in which the independent sales representative, distributor or wholesaler is located that our outside sales organizations are the first or second most successful outside sales organization for the particular product line within that geographic area.

TracPipe®

The Company has had the most success within the residential construction industry with its flexible gas piping products, TracPipe®, which was introduced in 1997, and its more robust counterpart TracPipe® CounterStrike®, which came to market in 2004. Partnered with the development of our AutoFlare® and AutoSnap® fittings and accessories, both have enjoyed wide acceptance due to their reliability and durability. In late 2023, we discontinued the AutoSnap® fitting, due to overwhelming market acceptance of the AutoFlare® fitting. Within the residential construction industry, the flexible gas piping products that we offer, and similar products offered by our competitors have sought to overcome the use of black iron pipe that has traditionally been used by the construction industry in the U.S. and Canada for the piping of fuel gases within a building. Prior to the introduction of the first CSST system in 1989, nearly all construction in the U.S. and Canada used traditional black iron pipe for gas piping. However, the advantages of CSST in areas subject to high incidence and likelihood of seismic events had been first demonstrated in Japan. In seismic testing, the CSST was shown to withstand the stresses on a piping system created by the shifting and movement of an earthquake better than rigid pipe. The advantages of CSST over the traditional black iron pipe also include lower overall installation costs because it can be installed in long uninterrupted lines within the building.

The flexibility of the tube allows it to be bent by hand without any tools when a change in direction in the line is required. In contrast, black iron pipe requires that each bend in the pipe have a separate fitting attached. This requires the installer to thread the ends of the black iron pipe, apply an adhesive to the threads, and then screw on the fitting, all of which is labor intensive and costly, including testing and rework if the work is not done properly. As a result of these advantages, the Company estimates that CSST now commands over one-half of the market for fuel gas piping in new and remodeled residential construction in the U.S., and the use of rigid iron pipe, and to a lesser degree copper tubing, accounts for the remainder of the market. The Company plans to continue its growth trend by demonstrating its advantages against other technologies, in both the residential and commercial markets, in both the U.S. and overseas in geographic areas that have access to natural gas distribution systems.

CounterStrike®

As previously mentioned, in 2004, the Company introduced a new brand of flexible gas piping sold under the registered trademark “CounterStrike®”. CounterStrike® is designed to be more resistant to damage from transient electrical arcing. In a lightning strike, the electrical energy of the lightning can energize all metal systems and components in a building. This electrical energy, in attempting to reach ground, may arc between metal systems that have different electrical resistance, and arcing can cause damage to the metal systems. In standard CSST systems, an electrical bond between the CSST and the building’s grounding electrode would address this issue, but lightning is an extremely powerful and unpredictable force. CounterStrike® CSST is designed to be electrically conductive and therefore disperse the energy of any electrical charge over the entire surface of the CounterStrike® line. In 2007, the Company introduced a new version of CounterStrike® CSST that was tested to be even more resistant to damage from electrical arcing than the original version, and substantially more effective than standard CSST products. As a result of its robust performance, the new version of CounterStrike® has been widely accepted in the market, and thus during 2011, the Company made the decision to sell exclusively CounterStrike® within the U.S. This move demonstrated the Company’s commitment to innovation and safety, and further enhanced its leadership in the marketplace.

DoubleTrac®

In 2008, the Company introduced its first double containment piping product – DoubleTrac®. DoubleTrac® double containment piping has earned stringent industry certifications for its ability to safely contain and convey liquid fuels. DoubleTrac® received certification from Underwriters Laboratory, the testing and approval agency, that our product is fully compliant with UL 971A, which is the product standard in the U.S. for metallic underground fuel piping, ULc S679 which is the product standard in Canada for metallic underground fuel piping, as well as approvals from other relevant state agencies that have more stringent testing procedures for the product. Additionally, DoubleTrac® is fully compliant with UL 1369, which is the bi-national U.S. and Canada standard for aboveground piping for flammable and combustible liquids. DoubleTrac® is one of a select few piping systems having listings and approvals for both belowground and aboveground piping systems. Similar to our flexible gas piping, DoubleTrac® provides advantages over older rigid pipe technologies. DoubleTrac® is made and can be installed in long continuous runs, eliminating the need for manually assembling rigid pipe junctions at the end of a pipe or at a turn in direction. In addition, DoubleTrac® has superior performance in terms of its ability to safely convey fuel from the storage tank to the dispenser, primarily because DoubleTrac® is essentially a zero permeation piping system, far exceeding the most stringent government regulations. Originally designed for applications involving automotive fueling stations running from the storage tank to the fuel dispenser, the ability of DoubleTrac® to handle a variety of installation challenges has broadened its applications to include refueling at marinas, fuel lines for back-up generators, and corrosive liquids at waste treatment plants. In short, in applications where double containment piping is required to handle potentially contaminating fluids or corrosive fluids, DoubleTrac® is engineered to handle those demanding applications.

DEF-Trac®

DEF-Trac®, a complementary product which is very similar to DoubleTrac®, was brought to the marketplace in 2011. DEF-Trac® piping is specifically engineered to handle the demanding requirements for diesel emissions fluid (DEF). Federal regulations require all diesel engines to use DEF to reduce the particulate contaminants from the diesel combustion process. However, DEF is highly corrosive and cannot be pre-mixed with diesel fuel. This requires that new diesel trucks and automobiles must have separate tanks built into the vehicle so that the diesel emissions fluid can be injected into the catalytic converter after the point of combustion. Similarly, a large portion of fueling stations carrying diesel fuel are now also selling DEF through a separate dispenser. In addition to being highly corrosive, DEF also has a high freezing temperature, requiring a heat trace in the piping in applications in northern areas of the U.S. DEF-Trac® flexible piping is uniquely suited to handle all of these challenges, as the stainless steel inner core is corrosion resistant, and DEF-Trac® also comes with options for heat trace that is extruded directly into the wall of the product. In summary, DEF-Trac® provides a complete solution to the demanding requirements of this unique application, as such, DEF-Trac® has been met with wide acceptance from the industry that was searching for a solution to the new environmental requirement. The advantageous market position of DEF-Trac® has leveraged the penetration of DoubleTrac® into the broader market for automotive fueling applications.

MediTrac® Corrugated Medical Tubing

In 2019, the Company commercialized MediTrac® corrugated medical tubing (“CMT”), following its 2018 launch with several beta sites. Developed for the healthcare industry, the product can be used in hospitals, ambulatory care centers, dental, physician and veterinary clinics, laboratories, and any facility that uses medical gases (oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc.). Made from a copper alloy with an exterior fire-retardant jacket, MediTrac® is made and sold in long continuous-length rolls. MediTrac® CMT’s flexible nature and storage in rolls allows it to be transported to and installed in health care facilities much more easily and quickly than traditional medical grade rigid copper pipe, which generally comes in 20 foot long sections. MediTrac® CMT is unrolled from a spool and installed in a medical facility in one long continuous length and is bent by hand when a change in direction is needed. The long lengths and ability to change direction with ease eliminates labor that would otherwise be needed to braze connections to straight sections of copper pipe or elbows or tees for changes in direction, while increasing installation efficiency and operational safety and minimizing downtime for healthcare facilities. Easy to assemble axial swaged brass fittings connect with all K, L and DWV medical tubing that is sized from ½” to 2” in diameter and provides a leak-tight seal using ordinary hand tools. The patented fitting also prevents tampering or disassembly using a tamper-proof sleeve that is required by the Health Care Facilities Code (NFPA 99 – 2018 edition). Rated at 185 psig, MediTrac® CMT can deliver the necessary volume of gas wherever it is needed across a facility. A recent case study comparing the installation of rigid copper pipe and MediTrac® CMT showed that MediTrac® CMT increases installation efficiency by a factor of five (i.e., a 500% increase in efficiency). By reducing the number of joints and brazed connections, MediTrac® CMT also reduces possible contamination into the medical gas system along with the fire risk associated with brazing. MediTrac® CMT is currently listed at UL 1365 and has an ASTM E84 rating of 25/50 and meets all 2018 requirements of the Health Care Facilities Code (NFPA 99 – 2018). MediTrac® CMT also meets Canadian standard Z7396.1, Medical Gas Pipeline Systems.

In 2020, the MediTrac® product line experienced increased sales in use and acceptance in the marketplace resulting from its ability to be quickly and safely installed to meet the unprecedented crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Numerous medical institutions and emergency medical centers used MediTrac® CMT to quickly install medical gas lines in tent hospitals or in converted facilities to handle the surging demand. For example, MediTrac® medical gas piping was installed in a City of New York temporary hospital located in Central Park and in the Cleveland Clinic for patients with COVID-19 infections and in need of supplemental oxygen treatments. On September 25, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a waiver allowing the use of CMT in new and existing healthcare facilities based on the provisions in NFPA 99 – 2018, allowing MediTrac® CMT to be installed in all facilities in the U.S.

Additional Market Applications

In addition to the flexible gas piping and other previously described markets, our flexible metal hose is used in a wide variety of other applications. Our involvement in these markets is important because just as the flexible gas piping applications have sprung from our expertise in manufacturing metal hose, other applications may also evolve from our participation in the industry. Flexible metal hose is used in a wide variety of industrial and processing applications where the characteristics of the flexible hose in terms of its flexibility, and its ability to absorb vibration and thermal expansion and contraction, have substantial benefits over rigid piping. For example, in certain pharmaceutical processing applications, the process of developing the specific pharmaceutical may require rapid freezing of various compounds through the use of liquefied gases, such as liquefied nitrogen, helium or hydrofluorocarbons. The use of flexible metal tubing is particularly appropriate in these types of applications. Flexible metal hose can accommodate the thermal expansion caused by the liquefied gases carried through the hose, and the total length of the hose will not significantly vary. In contrast, fixed or rigid metal pipe would expand and contract along its length as the liquid gases passed through it, causing stresses on the pipe junctions that would over time cause fatigue and failure. Alternatively, within certain industrial or commercial applications using steam, either as a heat source or in the industrial process itself, the pumps used to transfer the liquid or steam within the system are subject to varying degrees of vibration. Additionally, flexible metal hoses can also be used as connections between the pump and the intake of the fluids being transferred to eliminate the vibration effects of the pumps on the piping transfer system. All of these areas provide opportunities for the flexible metal hose arena, and thus the Company continues to participate in these markets, as it seeks new innovative solutions which will generate additional revenue streams for the future.

In each instance, whether the application is for CSST for fuel gases, flexible metal hose for handling specialty chemicals or gases, flexible double containment piping, unique industrial applications requiring the ability to withstand wide variations in temperature and vibration, or copper alloyed CMT for medical facilities, all of our success rests on our metal hose. Most of our flexible metal hoses range in diameter from 1/4” to 2” while certain applications require diameters of up to 16”. All of our smaller diameter pipe (2” inner diameter and smaller) are made by a proprietary process that is known as the rotary process. The proprietary process that we use to manufacture our annular hose is the result of a long-term development effort begun in 1995. Through continuous improvement over the years, we have developed and fine-tuned the process so that we can manufacture annular flexible metal hose on a high speed, continuous process. We believe that our own rotary process for manufacturing annular corrugated metal hose is the most cost efficient method in the industry, and that our rotary process provides us with a significant advantage in many of the industries in which we participate. As a result, we can generally provide our product on a demand basis. Over the years, the Company has had great success in achieving on-time delivery performance to the scheduled ship date. The quick inventory turnover reduces our costs for in-process inventory, and further contributes to our gross profit levels. We have also improved our productivity on a historical basis.

Markets and Competition

There are approximately eight manufacturers of flexible metal hose in the U.S., and at least that many in Europe and Asia. The U.S. manufacturers include Titeflex Corporation, Ward Manufacturing, Microflex Inc., Hose Master, Pennflex, and several smaller privately held companies. No one manufacturer, as a general rule, participates in more than two of the major market categories, automotive, aerospace, residential and commercial construction, and general industrial, with most concentrating on just one. We estimate that we are at or near the top position of the two major categories in which we participate regarding U.S. market share. In the flexible gas piping market, the U.S. market is currently concentrated in the residential housing market. Based on the reports issued by the national trade groups on housing construction, the level of acceptance of flexible gas piping in the construction market, and the average usage of flexible gas piping in a residential building, as well as through our sales position within that market, we can estimate with a high level of accuracy the size of the total gas piping market. In addition, the Company is a member of an industry trade group, which compiles and distributes sales statistics for its members relative to flexible gas piping. For other applications, industry trade groups collect and report on the size of the relevant market, and we can estimate our percentage of the relevant market based on our sales as compared to the market as a whole. The larger of our two markets, the construction industry, has seen a modest decrease in the number of residential housing starts in 2023, as compared to the previous year. As discussed elsewhere, black iron pipe or copper tubing was historically used by all builders of commercial and residential buildings until the advent of flexible gas piping and changes in the relevant building codes. Since that time, flexible gas piping has taken an increasing share of the total amount of fuel gas piping used in construction.

Due to the number of applications in which flexible metal hose may be used, and the number of companies engaged in the manufacture and sale of flexible metal hose, the general industrial market is very fragmented, and we estimate that no one company has a predominant market share of the business over other competitors. In the market for double containment piping, we compete primarily against rigid pipe systems that are more costly to install than DoubleTrac® double containment piping. For medical tubing applications, the main competitor is medical grade (Type K or Type L) rigid copper pipe. MediTrac® CMT is the only corrugated medical tubing in the U.S. that is approved to the stringent requirements of UL 1365. The general industrial markets within Europe are very mature and tend to offer opportunities that are interesting to us in niche markets or during periods in which a weak dollar increases the demand for our products on a competitive basis. Such has been the case for several years and has created new relationships for us. Currently, we are not heavily engaged in the manufacture of flexible metal hose for the aerospace or automotive markets, but we continue to review opportunities in all markets for our products to determine appropriate applications that will provide growth potential and high margins. In some cases, where the product offering is considered a commodity, price is the overriding competing factor. In other cases, a proprietary product offering, or superior performance will be the major factors with pricing being secondary, and in some cases, an even lesser factor. Most of our sales are to distributors and wholesalers, and our relationships with these customers are on an arms-length basis in that neither we nor the customers are so dependent on the other to yield any significant business advantage. See Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies — Significant Concentrations, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report for additional details. From our perspective, we can maintain a steady demand for our products due to broad acceptance of our products by end users, regardless of which distributor or wholesaler sells the product.

Resources and Raw Materials

We use various materials in the manufacture of our products, primarily stainless steel for our flexible metal hose and plastics for our jacketing material on TracPipe® CounterStrike® flexible gas piping and DoubleTrac® double containment piping, as well as a copper alloy for our MediTrac® CMT. We also purchase all of our proprietary fittings for use with the TracPipe® and CounterStrike® flexible gas piping, DoubleTrac® double containment piping, and MediTrac® CMT. We have multiple sources qualified for all of our major raw materials and components. Nickel is a prime material in stainless steel which the Company utilizes to manufacture CSST, and copper is a key component of the Company’s brass fittings and our MediTrac® CMT. Fortunately, the Company was able to maintain reasonably stable margins during 2023. This was mainly accomplished by implementing our own pricing actions to help offset the upward movements in the respective material markets. We believe that with our purchase commitments for stainless steel, polyethylene and for our proprietary fittings, we have adequate sources of supply for these raw materials and components. Like most other manufacturers, we had sporadic supply chain issues in 2023, but we believe our multiple suppliers have sufficient raw materials and capacity minimizing any potential disruption. We believe that the supply sufficiency of stainless steel will continue until there is a reduction in global capacity, such as mine closures, which would then cause constriction. Volatility in the commodities marketplace and competitive conditions in the sale of our products could potentially restrict us from passing along raw materials or component part price increases to our customers.

Business Seasonality

The demand for our flexible piping products that are related to construction activity including TracPipe® and Counterstrike® CSST, DoubleTrac® piping and MediTrac® CMT, may be affected by the construction industry’s demand, which generally tightens during the winter months of each year due to cold and inclement weather. Accordingly, sales are usually higher in the spring, summer, and fall.

Government Regulations, Including Environmental Regulations

The Company believes that its businesses and operations, including its manufacturing plants and equipment, are in substantial compliance with all applicable government laws and regulations, including those related to environmental, consumer protection, international trade, labor and employment, human rights, tax, anti-bribery, and competition matters. Any additional measures to maintain compliance are not expected to materially affect the Company’s capital expenditures (including expenditures for environmental control facilities), competitive position, financial position, or results of operations.

Various legislative and administrative regulations applicable to the Company in the matters noted above have become effective or are under consideration in many parts of the world. To date, such developments have not had a substantial adverse impact on the Company. However, if new or amended laws or regulations impose significant operational restrictions and compliance requirements upon the Company or its products, the Company’s business, capital expenditures, results of operations, financial condition and competitive position could be negatively impacted. Refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors for further information.

Human Capital

We believe that our employees are the foundation of the innovative ideas necessary for the advancement of our products, and success of our Company. Our employees are the conduits to successful relationships with our customers, vendors, and various business partners, as well as the custodians of the safe and efficient operation of our assets ending with a highly satisfied customer. The Company fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and safety-minded work environment, with a focus on ingenuity. We seek to identify the most highly qualified talent for our organization, enabling us to execute our strategic objectives of providing the most innovative and technologically advanced flexible metal hose products on the market. To attract and retain employees, the Company offers competitive wages across all levels, and maintains a superior package of employee benefits, including medical insurance, life insurance, and retirement and savings programs, for all employees, as well as executive compensation plans as described in our proxy statement.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had 168 employees. Most of our employees are located in our manufacturing facilities in Exton, Pennsylvania, which contain our factory personnel, engineering, finance, human resources and most of our sales staff. Our factory workforce in Exton, Pennsylvania, is not party to a collective bargaining agreement. A small number of employees work at our facility in Houston, Texas. A number of individual sales personnel are also scattered across the U.S. We also maintain a manufacturing facility in Banbury, U.K., which contains employees of similar functions to those in the U.S., but on a much smaller scale, as well as a small presence in France. The sales personnel in England and France handle all sales and service for our products in Europe, most notably the U.K., and most of our transactions with other international territories.

We are committed to fostering a work environment in which all employees treat each other with dignity and respect. This commitment extends to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities based on merit and experience. We continually strive to attract a diverse workforce by partnering with local organizations to identify potential candidates to advance and strengthen our human capital management program.

Intellectual Property

We have a comprehensive portfolio of intellectual property including over 120 patents issued in various countries around the world and trademarks registered around the world such as OmegaFlex®, AutoFlare®, TracPipe®, CounterStrike®, DoubleTrac®, and MediTrac®. We also have several patent applications pending in the U.S. and internationally covering improvements to our CounterStrike® and MediTrac® products. Finally, and as mentioned above, our unique rotary process for manufacturing flexible metal hose has been developed over a number of years and constitutes a valuable trade secret.

Available Information

You may learn more about our Company by visiting our website at www.omegaflex.com (http://www.omegaflex.com). Among other things, you can access our filings with the SEC on our website free of charge. These filings include proxy statements, annual reports (Form 10-K), quarterly reports (Form 10-Q), and current reports (Form 8-K), as well as Section 16 reports filed by our officers and directors (Forms 3, 4 and 5). All of these reports will be available on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we file the reports with the SEC. In addition, we have made available on our website under the heading “Compliance” the charters for the Audit, Compensation and Nominating/Governance Committees of our Board of Directors and our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. We intend to make available on our website any future amendments or waivers to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. The SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov (http://www.sec.gov) that also contains the Company’s various reports, proxy, and information statements and other filings. The information contained on or accessible through the websites referred to above is not incorporated by reference in, or otherwise a part of, this annual report, and any references to these websites are intended to be inactive textual references only.

You should carefully consider the following risk factors and all the other information contained in this annual report in evaluating our business and investment in our common stock. If any of these risks occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected. In that case, the market price of our common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also materially harm our business, operating results and financial condition and could result in a complete loss of your investment.

Risk Relating to Our Business – Sales and Competition

We are primarily dependent on one product line for most of our sales.

Most of our sales are derived from the sale of TracPipe® and CounterStrike® flexible gas piping systems, including Autoflare® fittings and a variety of accessories. Sales of our flexible metal hose for other applications represent a small portion of our overall sales and income. Any event or circumstance that adversely affects our TracPipe® or CounterStrike® flexible gas piping could have a greater impact on our business and financial results than if our business were more evenly distributed across several different product lines. The effects of such an adverse event or circumstance would be magnified in terms of our company as a whole as compared to one or more competitors whose product lines may be more diversified, or who are not as reliant on the sales generated by their respective flexible gas piping products. Therefore, risks relating to our TracPipe® and CounterStrike® flexible gas piping business – in particular, loss of distributors or sales channels, technological changes, loss of our key personnel involved in the flexible gas piping product line, increases in commodity prices, particularly in stainless steel, copper, and polyethylene – could damage our business, competitive position, results of operations or financial condition.

We face intense competition in all our markets.

The markets for flexible metal hose are intensely competitive. There are a number of competitors in all markets in which we operate, and generally none of these markets have one dominant competitor. One or more of our competitors may develop technologies and products that are more effective, or which may cost less than our current or future products or could potentially render our products noncompetitive or obsolete. Volumes of competing low price imports has increased, and may continue to increase, negatively affecting our earnings. Our prior success has been due to our ability to develop new products and product improvements and establish and maintain an effective distribution network, which to some extent came at the expense of several competing manufacturers. Our business, competitive position, results of operations or financial condition could be negatively impacted if we are unable to maintain and develop our competitive products.

We may not retain our independent sales organizations.

Almost all our products and product lines are sold by outside sales organizations. These independent sales organizations or sales representatives are geographically dispersed in certain territorial markets across the U.S., Canada and elsewhere. These outside sales organizations are independent of us and are typically owned by the individual principals of such firms. We enter into agreements with such outside sales organizations for the exclusive representation or distribution of our products, but such agreements are generally terminable on short notice. At the expiration of the agreement, the agent or distributor may elect to represent a different manufacturer. As a result, we have no ability to control which flexible metal hose manufacturer any such sales organization may represent or carry. The competition to retain quality outside sales organizations is also intense between manufacturers of flexible metal hose since it is these sales organizations that generally can direct the sales volume to distributors and, ultimately, contractors and installers in important markets across the country, and in other countries in which we operate. The failure to obtain the best outside sales organization within a particular geographic market can limit our ability to generate sales of our products. While we currently have a fully developed sales and distribution network of superior outside sales organizations, there can be no assurance that any one or more of the outside sales organizations will elect to remain with us, or that our competitors will not be able to disrupt our distribution network by causing one or more of our sales representatives to drop our product lines. Our business, competitive position, results of operations or financial condition could be negatively impacted if we cannot maintain adequate sales and distribution networks.

We are dependent on wholesale distribution channels for a significant portion of our business.

Of the various sales channels that we use to sell our products, a significant portion of such sales are made through our wholesale stocking distributors. These and other distributors purchase our products, and stock the goods in warehouses for resale, either to their own local branches or to end users. Because of the breadth and penetration of the distribution networks, and the range of complementary products they offer for sale, these wholesale distributors can sell large amounts of our products to end users across the U.S. and Canada. The decision by a major wholesaler distributor to stop distributing our products such as TracPipe® and CounterStrike® flexible gas piping, and to distribute a competitive flexible gas piping product, could significantly affect our business, competitive position, results of operations or financial condition.

Certain of our competitors may have greater resources, or they may acquire greater resources.

Some of our competitors have substantially more resources than are available to us as a stand-alone company. For example, in the CSST market, two of our competitors are divisions of large corporations with revenues measured in the billions of dollars. These competitors may be able to devote substantially greater resources to the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of their products than would be available to us as a stand-alone company. One or more competitors may acquire several other competitors, or may be acquired by a larger entity, and through a combination of resources be able to devote additional resources to their businesses. These additional resources could be devoted to product development, reduced costs in an effort to obtain market share, greater flexibility in terms of profit margin as part of a larger business organization, increased investment in plant, machinery, distribution and sales concessions. As a stand-alone company, the resources that may be devoted by us to meet any potential developments by larger, well-financed competitors may be limited.

Our business may be subject to the impact of Brexit.

Our main operating subsidiary outside of the U.S., Omega Flex Limited, is headquartered in Banbury, England in the U.K. The U.K. withdrew from the European Union (“Brexit”) in 2020. While an agreement with the European Union was reached in 2021, uncertainty still exists, and adherence to the new rules regarding border and customs controls could increase costs on materials imported into the U.K. and finished goods exported from the U.K. In addition, it is possible that logistical delays created by those controls could delay shipments of materials and supplies into the Banbury manufacturing plant and could also affect our ability to ship goods to customers outside of the U.K., into the European Union, Africa, and the Near East. However, most of the business of Omega Flex Limited is within the U.K. and should therefore not be unduly disrupted. To mitigate these impacts of Brexit, the Company formed a legal entity in France in 2022. The macroeconomic effects of Brexit on the economies of the U.K. and the European Union remain partially unknown, and those effects could dampen economic activity and the overall demand for our products in those markets.

Our business may be subject to macroeconomic effects caused by increased trade tariffs and reduced international trade.

Recent events have caused various governments around the world to impose increased trade tariffs on imported goods. These increased tariffs may cause the cost of materials to rise and may add additional expense on exported goods. However, we do not believe that increased tariffs will materially affect our sales or gross profits, as most of the raw materials and supplies used to manufacture our products are sourced domestically in the U.S. Further, exports of our flexible gas piping products from our Exton, Pennsylvania facility are primarily to Canada, which recently agreed to a revised North American trade treaty, and to a lesser extent to the Caribbean and South America. Sales to Europe, Asia and Africa are primarily handled from our U.K and France facilities, which are not affected by U.S. trade tariffs and retaliatory tariffs but may be subject to other constraints as discussed in the Brexit risk factor, above.

Our international sales subject us to additional risks that can adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial condition.

During 2023 and 2022, we derived 4% to 5% of our revenue from sales to customers located outside the U.S. Our ability to convince customers to expand their use of our products or renew their agreements with us is directly correlated to our direct engagement with such customers. To the extent that we are unable to engage with non-U.S. customers effectively, we may be unable to grow sales to international customers to the same degree we have experienced in the past.

Our international operations are subject to a variety of risks and challenges, including:

• general economic or geopolitical conditions in each country or region;
• the effects of a widespread outbreak of an illness or disease, or any other public health crisis, including the COVID-19 pandemic, in each country or region;
• economic uncertainty around the world; and
• compliance with laws and regulations imposed on foreign operations, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act, import and export control laws, tariffs, trade barriers, economic sanctions and other regulatory or contractual limitations on our ability to sell our products in certain foreign markets, and the risks and costs of non-compliance.

For example, in response to the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the U.S. has imposed and may further impose, and other countries may additionally impose, broad sanctions or other restrictive actions against governmental and other entities in Russia, and such sanctions or actions could cut off or impede the flow of raw materials for our products, including minerals, such as nickel, that are used in our stainless steel and copper alloys. Additionally, further escalation of geopolitical tensions could have a broader impact that extends into other markets where we do business. Any of these risks could adversely affect our international sales, reduce our international revenues, or increase our operating costs, adversely affecting our business, financial condition, or operating results.

Risk Relating to Our Business – Manufacturing and Operations

Our manufacturing plants may be damaged, destroyed or disrupted.

The majority of our manufacturing capacity is currently located in Exton, Pennsylvania, where we own two manufacturing facilities which are in close proximity to each other, and in Banbury, England in the U.K. where we lease a manufacturing facility. On a smaller scale we also have manufacturing operations in Houston, Texas. We do not have any operational manufacturing capacity for flexible metal hose outside of these locations. We cannot replicate our manufacturing methods at a supplier’s facility due to the confidential and proprietary nature of our manufacturing process. If one of the manufacturing facilities were destroyed or damaged in a significant manner or otherwise disrupted for more than a short time, we would likely experience a delay or some interruption of our flexible metal hose operations. This could lead to a reduction in sales volume if customers were to purchase their requirements from our competitors, claims for breach of contract by certain customers with contracts for delivery of flexible metal hose by a certain date, and costs to replace our destroyed or damaged manufacturing capacity. The fittings and accessories for the flexible metal hose are manufactured for us by suppliers not located at our manufacturing facilities, and we also have outside warehouses which contain finished goods inventory. Disruption of or damage to our supply of these items could damage our business, competitive position, results of operations or financial condition.

We are dependent on certain raw materials and supplies that could be subject to volatile price escalation.

As a manufacturer of flexible metal hose, we must use certain raw materials in the manufacture of the hose. The primary raw material is stainless steel that is used in the forming of the hose, and various other steel products used in the wire braid overlay over some flexible metal hoses for additional strength and durability, as well as copper alloy for MediTrac® CMT. We also use polyethylene in pellet form for the forming and extrusion of a polyethylene jacket over CSST for use in fuel gas applications, underground installations, and other installations that require that the metal hose be isolated from the environment. Finally, we also purchase brass and stainless steel for our proprietary fittings used with the flexible metal hose that provide a mechanical means of attaching the hose to an assembly or junction. We attempt to limit the effects of volatile raw material prices, and to ensure adequate and timely supply of material, by committing to annual purchase contracts for the bulk of our steel and polyethylene requirements, and for our fitting requirements. The contracts typically represent a significant portion of our annual planned usage and are set at a designated fixed price or a range of prices. These agreements sometimes require us to accept delivery of the commodity in the quantities committed, at the agreed upon prices. Transactions in excess of the pre-arranged commitments are conducted at current market prices at our discretion. We have identified multiple qualified vendors to produce or manufacture our critical purchase requirements. Although we tend to rely on more than one source for each or our primary components to leverage the relationship and pricing, there is no assurance that we would be able to eliminate all or most of the adverse effects of a sudden increase in the cost of materials or key components, or that the loss of one or more of our key sources would not lead to higher costs or a disruption in our business, which could damage our business, competitive position, results of operations or financial condition.

If we were to lose the services of one or more members of our senior management team, we may not be able to execute our business strategy.

Our future success depends in large part upon the continued service of key members of our senior management team. The senior executives are critical to the development of our products and our strategic direction and have a keen knowledge of business operations and processes. Their unique abilities, experience and expertise cannot be easily duplicated or replaced. Although, as much as possible, senior executives strive to educate and develop other layers of staff for succession planning purposes, and the recent retirement of senior executives and transition of their roles has gone smoothly, the loss of any members of our current senior management could seriously harm our business.

Risk Relating to Our Business – Legal

Susceptibility to litigation and significant legal costs or settlements.

In the ordinary and normal conduct of our business, we are subject to periodic lawsuits, investigations, and claims (collectively, the “Claims”). We have continued to receive repeat pattern Claims relating to our flexible gas piping products, although the pace of new Claims has generally declined. While we do not believe the Claims have legal merit, and have successfully defended against such Claims, we cannot predict whether the pace of Claims will increase or subside. Any significant increase in the number of Claims, the financial magnitude of Claims brought against us, the costs of defending the Claims, particularly under higher retentions of our current product liability insurance policies, could have a detrimental and material impact on our business, competitive position, results of operations or financial condition.

If we are not able to protect our intellectual property rights, we may not be able to compete as effectively.

We possess a wide array of intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and applications for the above, as well as trade secrets, manufacturing know-how, and other proprietary information. Certain of these intellectual property rights form the basis of our competitive advantage in the marketplace through a superior product design, a superior business process, superior manufacturing methods or other features that we believe provide an advantage over our competitors. Intellectual property rights are sometimes subject to infringement or misappropriation by other organizations, and failing an amiable resolution, we may be forced to resort to legal proceedings to protect our rights in such intellectual property.

In the past, we needed to protect our company and resort to legal action, in one instance regarding a trade secret, and other instances where we sued flexible gas pipe competitors for infringement of one or more of our U.S. patents covering our various piping and/or fitting products. In each instance, we received favorable rulings, thus solidifying the validity of our intellectual property. Although we had past success, the results we may obtain from resorting to any such legal proceedings are never assured, and it is possible that an adverse decision may be delivered in any particular proceeding. As a result, we may not be able to retain the exclusive rights to utilize and practice such intellectual property rights, and one or more of our competitors could utilize and practice such intellectual property rights. This development may lessen our competitive advantage vis-à-vis one or more competitors, and lead to a reduction in sales volume in one or more product lines, a reduction in profit margin in such product lines, or both, which would damage our business, competitive position, results of operations or financial condition.

Risk Relating to Our Business – General and Macroeconomic

Our business may be subject to the supply and availability of fuel gas supplies and infrastructure.

With increasing awareness of the effect of human activities on climate change, there has been a focus on transitioning energy and heating in buildings away from fossil fuels, such as natural gas and liquid propane, mainly to electric. Some states and several municipalities in the U.S. have announced policy decisions to move away from fossil fuel applications in the future, including prohibiting the new installation of appliances fueled by natural gas or liquid propane. Although there are significant technical and economic hurdles, it is possible that a large scale movement, in individual cities and states or on a federal level, away from fossil fuels may increase in the future. Such moves could reduce the demand for our flexible gas piping products that carry natural gas or liquid propane from the building’s meter to the gas-fired appliance, which represent a major part of our sales and net profits. As a result, it is possible in the future that proposals to limit or eliminate the use of fossil fuels could adversely impact our financial results, perhaps materially.

Our TracPipe® and CounterStrike® flexible gas piping products are used to convey fuel gas, primarily natural gas, but also propane, within a building from the exterior wall of the building to any gas-fired appliances within the building. Because those products are used in the transmission of fuel gas, the applications are limited to geographic areas where such fuel gas is available. Certain geographic areas of the U.S. and other countries do not have the infrastructure to make natural gas available. Other types of fuel gas may be used in areas where there are no natural gas pipelines, but these alternate fuel gas sources have other distribution issues that may constrict their availability. Our prospects for future growth of the TracPipe® and CounterStrike® products are largely limited to those areas that have natural gas transmission lines available for use in residences and commercial buildings.

We may substantially increase our debt in the future or be restricted from accessing funds.

We are currently not carrying any long-term debt, although we have a line of credit facility available for use as described in Note 6, Line of Credit and Other Borrowings, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report. We may consider borrowing funds for purposes of working capital, capital purchases, research and development, potential acquisitions, and business development. If we do use credit facilities, interest costs associated with any such borrowings and the terms of the loan could potentially adversely affect our profitability. Additionally, the current line of credit has debt covenants associated with it which may restrict the level of borrowing we may incur. Lack of access to financing or to reasonable terms could damage our business, competitive position, results of operations or financial condition.

Our credit facility bears a variable rate of interest that is based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which may have consequences for us that cannot be reasonably predicted and may adversely affect our liquidity, financial condition, and earnings.

Borrowings under our credit facility bear interest at a rate per annum of either, at our election, (i) Term SOFR plus a margin or (ii) the Prime Rate plus a margin, with the applicable margin depending on specified financial ratios. Since the initial publication of SOFR, daily changes in the rate have, on occasion, been more volatile than daily changes in comparable benchmark or market rates, and SOFR over time may bear little or no relation to the historical actual or historical indicative data. As of December 31, 2023, we had no outstanding borrowings under this credit facility. If we were to borrow under this credit facility, it is possible that the volatility of SOFR could result in higher borrowing costs for us and could adversely affect our liquidity, financial condition, or earnings.

Our business may be subject to varying demands based on market interest rates.

Our TracPipe® and CounterStrike® flexible gas piping products are used in the construction industry, both in residential, commercial, and industrial segments, for the piping of fuel gas within a building. The demand for new or remodeled construction in the construction industry – and in particular the residential construction industry – is susceptible to fluctuations in interest rates charged by banks and other financial institutions as well as consumer demand. The purchasers of new or remodeled construction generally finance the construction or acquisition of the residential, commercial, or industrial buildings, and increases in the interest rates on such financing raise the acquisition cost of the potential purchaser. Interest rates have been increasing and there is no guarantee that they will not continue to increase in the future. If costs continue to increase, a higher number of potential buyers may not be able to support the level of financing under a higher interest rate environment. Increased acquisition costs may lead to a continued decline in the demand for new or remodeled construction, and as a result may also lead to a continued, reduced demand for our products used in the construction industry, which could damage our business, competitive position, results of operations or financial condition.

Our business may be subject to cyclical demands.

The demand for our products may be subject to cyclical demand in the markets in which we operate. Our customers who use our products in industrial and commercial applications are generally manufacturing capital equipment for their customers. Similarly, our TracPipe® and CounterStrike® flexible gas piping products are used primarily in residential construction, both in single-family buildings, and in larger multi-unit buildings. Should there be any change in factors that affect the rate of new residential construction, our growth rate would likely be impacted. To the extent that interest rates increase, in conjunction with an economic cycle or as part of the general economic conditions in the U.S. or abroad, the demand for our products in such applications may decrease as well, which could damage our business, competitive position, results of operations or financial condition.

Our business may be subject to seasonal or weather related factors.

The demand for our products may be affected by factors relating to seasonal demand for the product, or a decline in demand due to inclement weather. Our TracPipe® and CounterStrike® flexible gas piping products are installed in new or remodeled buildings, including homes, apartment buildings, office buildings, warehouses, and other commercial or industrial buildings. Generally, the rate of new or remodeled buildings in the U.S. and in the other geographic markets in which we are present decline in the winter months due to the inability to dig foundations, challenges at the job site relating to snow, or generally due to low temperatures and stormy weather. As the rate of construction activity declines during the winter, the demand for our corrugated stainless steel tubing may also decrease or remain static.

Our business may be subject to the impact of currency volatility.

We have operations in the U.K. and France, and does business transactions elsewhere in the world outside of the U.S. While the magnitude of these transactions outside of the U.S. have thus far not been significant, and typically not in currencies of high volatility, it is possible that they could be material. Events such as Brexit, as described above, or other instances of political and economic turmoil or uncertainty, could create a weakened British Pound (“BP”) or Euro in comparison to other currencies. A weakened BP or Euro would in turn have a direct negative impact, as we would experience losses when settling transactions in other currencies, and experience unfavorable results due to the translation of financial statements with a lower exchange rate. During 2023 and 2022 there was not any notable impact due to currency volatility, but going forward, it is possible that the BP, Euro, and other currencies that we engage in may materially impact our financial position, operations, or liquidity.

A cybersecurity incident or other technology disruption could harm us.

We face certain cybersecurity threats and technology disruptions, including threats to our information technology (“IT”) infrastructure, attempts to gain access to our or our customers’ proprietary or confidential information, and failures of our technology tools and systems. Our IT networks and related systems are critical to the operation of our business and essential to our ability to successfully perform day-to-day operations. Cybersecurity threats, which include, but are not limited to, computer viruses, spyware, and malware, attempts to access information, denial of service attacks and other electronic security breaches, are persistent and evolve quickly. In general, such threats have increased in frequency, scope, and potential impact in recent years. Further, a variety of technological tools and systems, including both company-owned IT and technological services provided by outside parties, support our critical functions. These technologies are subject to failure and the user’s inability to have such technologies properly supported, updated, expanded, or integrated into other technologies and, in certain cases, may contain open source and third-party software which may unbeknownst to us contain defects or viruses that pose unintended risks. These risks, if not effectively mitigated or controlled, could materially harm our business or reputation. While we believe that we have implemented appropriate measures and controls, there can be no assurance that such actions will be sufficient to prevent disruptions to critical systems, unauthorized release of confidential information or corruption of data.

The security measures we have implemented may become subject to third-party security breaches, employee error, malfeasance, faulty password management or other irregularities. For example, third parties may attempt to fraudulently induce employees or customers into disclosing usernames, passwords, or other sensitive information, which may in turn be used to access our IT systems. These security systems cannot provide absolute security. To the extent we were to experience a breach of our systems and were unable to protect sensitive data, such a breach could materially damage business partner and customer relationships and curtail or otherwise impact the use of our IT systems. Moreover, if a security breach of our IT systems affects our computer systems or results in the release of personally identifiable or other sensitive information of customers, business partners, employees and other third parties, our reputation and brand could be materially damaged, use of our products and services could decrease, and we could be exposed to a risk of loss, litigation, and potential liability. Such an event could require significant management attention and resources, negatively impact our reputation among our customers and the public, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

A pandemic, like COVID-19 pandemic, may adversely affect our business.

The COVID-19 pandemic created significant uncertainty and adversely impacted many industries throughout the global economy. Although we have not seen a material impact from the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, financial position, liquidity, or ability to service customers or maintain critical operations, the extent to which a future pandemic may impact our business is difficult to predict, and it is dependent on many factors over which we have no control. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the duration and severity of the pandemic; government restrictions on businesses and individuals; potential significant adverse impacts on our employees, customers, suppliers, or service providers; the impact on U.S. and global economies, and the timing and rate of economic recovery.

In case of a future pandemic, we could face liquidity shortages, weaker product demand from our customers, disruptions in our supply chain, and/or staffing shortages in our workforce due to the direct and indirect effects of a pandemic.

Various other general and macroeconomic issues may impact the business.

Conflicts, wars, natural disasters, infectious disease outbreaks (such as COVID-19 pandemic), active shooter or other workplace violence, or terrorist acts could also cause significant damage or disruption to our operations, employees, facilities, systems, suppliers, supply chain, distributors, resellers, or customers in the U.S. and internationally for extended periods of time and could also affect demand for our products.

Risks Associated with Our Common Stock

The concentration of ownership of our common stock could impact on its market price.

As of December 31, 2023, approximately 65% of our issued and outstanding common stock was owned or controlled by certain of our directors and officers and their respective affiliates, with the largest holders being: The Estate of John E. Reed, Stewart B. Reed, and Kevin R. Hoben. Stewart B. Reed currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Mr. Hoben serves as the Executive Chairman of the Board. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of reducing the volume of trading of the common stock on the NASDAQ. A decrease in trading volume could result in lower prices for the common stock because there is not a sufficient supply of shares to create a vibrant market for our shares on the NASDAQ, or inversely could drive the common stock price higher when demand exceeds supply.

This concentration of ownership of common stock could exert significant influence over matters requiring approval by our shareholders, including the election of directors and the approval of mergers or other business combinations. This concentration also could have the effect of delaying, preventing, or deterring a change in control of our company.

Our IT networks and related systems are critical to the operation of our business and essential to our ability to successfully perform day-to-day operations. We have implemented security measures and controls to mitigate risks to our IT networks and related systems, including the risks of disruption, release of confidential information, and corruption of data. This includes a variety of technological tools and systems, including both company-owned IT and technology services provided by outside parties to support our critical functions, and in particular, the following:

• External port penetration testing;
• Security violation report reviewed routinely for any abnormalities;
• Ongoing employee training and testing on cyber risks;
• Site assessment, procedural review and testing in connection with cyber insurance renewals; and

Routine server back-up.

In terms of governance, the Company employs an IT director, with over 20 years of relevant experience, who supervises our other IT employees and is also responsible for our outside technology services. Our IT director reports directly to our President and reviews cybersecurity assessments with our President on at least a monthly basis. Our President is responsible for escalating any cybersecurity matters as appropriate, in consultation with our General Counsel. Our Board of Directors is ultimately responsible for oversight of cybersecurity risk management and receives regular reports from, and engages in regular dialogue with, Company management.

While we believe we have implemented appropriate measures and controls for our business, there can of course be no assurance that cyber incidents will be prevented or of their severity if they occur. To date, to our knowledge, there have been no incidents materially affecting the Company, but a material incident could result in disruption of critical IT networks and systems, impeding our operations, release of confidential information, and/or corruption of data. Such an incident could damage our reputation and brand and our future sales and could expose us to potential liability. See Item 1A. Risk Factors - A cyber security incident or other technology disruption could harm us.

The Company owns two facilities in Exton, Pennsylvania, which is located approximately one hour west of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These facilities contain approximately 113,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space. The Company leases an additional facility located near its Exton facilities, which provides another 11,000 square feet of space, used for warehousing. Most of the manufacturing of flexible metal hose is performed at the Exton facilities. In the U.S., the Company also leases a facility in Houston, Texas, which contains manufacturing, stocking and sales operations, and a corporate office located in Middletown, Connecticut. In the U.K., the Company leases a facility in Banbury, England, which manufactures products and serves sales, warehousing, and operational functions as well.

Additionally, the Company, with a lease commencement date of January 1, 2024, leases a facility in West Chester, Pennsylvania, providing approximately 28,000 square feet of warehousing and storage, quality control, distribution, and corporate office space. See Note 14. Subsequent Events to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.

See legal proceedings disclosure in Note 7, Commitments and Contingencies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this annual report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under the section titled “Risk Factors” or in other parts of this annual report. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this annual report. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any period in the future.

Overview

The Company is a leading manufacturer of flexible metal hose and is currently engaged in a number of different markets, including construction, manufacturing, transportation, petrochemical, pharmaceutical and other industries.

The Company’s business is managed as a single operating segment that consists of the manufacture and sale of flexible metal hose, fittings, and accessories. The Company’s products are concentrated in residential and commercial construction, and general industrial markets, with a comprehensive portfolio of intellectual property and patents issued in various countries around the world. The Company’s primary product, flexible gas piping, is used for gas piping within residential and commercial buildings. Through its flexibility and ease of use, the Company’s TracPipe® and TracPipe® CounterStrike® flexible gas piping, along with its fittings distributed under the trademark AutoFlare®, allows users to substantially cut the time required to install gas piping, as compared to traditional methods. The Company’s newest product line MediTrac® corrugated medical tubing (“CMT”) is used for piping medical gases (oxygen, nitrogen, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and medical vacuum) in health care facilities. Building on the recognized strengths and strategies employed in the flexible gas piping market, MediTrac® CMT can be used in place of rigid copper pipe, and due to its long continuous lengths and flexibility, it can be installed approximately five times faster than rigid copper pipe, saving on installation labor and construction schedules. The Company’s products are manufactured at its Exton, Pennsylvania and Houston, Texas facilities in the U.S., and in Banbury, Oxfordshire in the U.K. A majority of the Company’s sales across all industries are generated through independent outside sales organizations such as sales representatives, wholesalers and distributors, or a combination of both. The Company has a broad distribution network in North America and to a lesser extent in other global markets.

Changes in Financial Condition

The Company’s cash balance of $46,356,000 as of December 31, 2023 increased $8,653,000 (23.0%) from a $37,703,000 balance at December 31, 2022. The primary reason for the increase in cash is due to income generated from operations during 2023. This was partially offset by dividend payments during 2023 totaling $13,124,000, as detailed in Note 12, Shareholders’ Equity, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report. See the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for further details regarding the change in cash.

Accounts Receivable were $15,361,000 and $17,503,000 as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, decreasing $2,142,000 or 12.2%. This is mostly timing related, associated with greater cash collections resulting from higher sales during the fourth quarter of the previous year versus the current quarter.

Inventory was $15,597,000 and $17,764,000 as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, decreasing $2,167,000 or 12.2%. The decrease is mainly the result of lower inventory required to be on hand as the supply chain environment has recently stabilized and due to lower raw material costs.

Other Liabilities were $4,390,000 and $7,530,000 as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The decrease of $3,140,000 or 41.7% mainly relates to the payment of an accrual for legal and product liability matters associated with two cases provided for in the previous year, which were resolved through settlement.

Retained earnings were $68,493,000 and $60,954,000 as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, increasing $7,539,000 or 12.4%. The increase was primarily due to an increase from net income during the year, as provided on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations, partially offset by dividends declared during 2023, as discussed in detail in Note 12, Shareholders’ Equity, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.

Results of Operations

Twelve months ended December 31, 2023 vs. twelve months ended December 31, 2022

The Company reported comparative results from operations for the twelve month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 as follows:

Net Sales. The Company’s sales for the full year of 2023 were $111,465,000, reflecting a decrease of $14,022,000, or 11.2%, compared to $125,487,000 in 2022. The decrease in sales is mainly due to lower sales unit volumes as a result of the overall market being suppressed because of, among other factors, a decline in housing starts.

Gross Profit. The Company’s gross profit margins were 61.3% and 62.4% for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively. The decline in gross profit margin is mainly due to an increase in the provision for excess inventories for MediTrac® CMT products. Higher amounts of materials for MediTrac® CMT products were initially purchased for cost considerations and because of longer required lead times. Also, lower production, which caused lower absorption of factory labor and overhead costs, contributed to the lower gross profit margin. Lower raw material costs, mainly for strip, partly offset the above referenced reasons for the decline in gross profit margin.

Selling Expenses. Selling expenses consist primarily of employee salaries and associated overhead costs, commissions, and the cost of marketing programs such as advertising, trade shows and related communication costs, and freight. Selling expenses were $20,993,000 and $21,931,000 for 2023 and 2022, respectively, representing a decrease of $938,000, or 4.3%. The decreases are mostly related to commissions and freight. In the previous year, commissions increased partly because of a shift of more shipments from third party warehouses, whose shipments are subject to commission, compared to those directly from the manufacturing facilities, whose shipments are not subject to commission. Freight costs decreased because of lower sales volumes and lower carrier rates. These decreases were partially offset by higher staffing related costs and travel. As a percentage of net sales, selling expenses were 18.8% and 17.5% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of employee salaries, benefits for administrative, executive and finance personnel, legal and accounting, insurance, and corporate general and administrative services. General and administrative expenses were $17,705,000 and $20,625,000 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, decreasing $2,920,000, or 14.2% between periods. Product liability reserves and expenses were lower by $3,010,000, associated primarily with two cases, which were provided for in the previous year and subsequently resolved through settlement. There also was a decrease in the incentive compensation component which is aligned with profitability. These were partly offset by increases in staffing related costs, umbrella insurance premiums, and stock based compensation, which moves in relation to the Company’s stock price, as detailed in Note 8, Stock Based Compensation Plans. As a percentage of net sales, general and administrative expenses were 15.9% and 16.4% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Engineering Expenses. Engineering expenses consist of development expenses associated with the development of new products, and costs related to enhancements of existing products and manufacturing processes. Engineering expenses decreased $865,000 or 18.3% between periods, being $3,868,000 and $4,733,000 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, mainly associated with decreases in staffing related costs. As a percentage of net sales for the year, engineering expenses were 3.5% in 2023 and 3.8% in 2022.

Operating Profit. Reflecting all the factors mentioned above, operating profits decreased $5,217,000, or 16.8%, between periods, reflecting a profit of $25,799,000 in 2023, as compared to $31,016,000 in 2022.

Interest Income. Interest income is recorded on cash investments, and interest expense is recorded at times when the Company has debt amounts outstanding on its line of credit. The Company recorded interest income of $1,700,000 for 2023, compared to $174,000 for 2022. The increase in interest income was mainly due to the increase in interest rates during 2023. There were no borrowings on its line of credit during 2023 or 2022.

Other Income (Expense). Other income (expense) primarily consists of foreign currency exchange gains (losses) on transactions settled in currencies other than the Company’s local currency, typically related to the Company’s foreign U.K. and France subsidiaries. The Company recognized other income of $46,000 during 2023 and other expense of $211,000 during 2022.

Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense was $6,825,000 for 2023, compared to $7,327,000 for 2022. The $502,000 or 6.9% decrease in tax expense was largely the result of the decrease in income before taxes. The effective tax rate for 2023 and 2022 was at approximately 25% and 24% of income before taxes, respectively.

Twelve months ended December 31, 2022 vs. twelve months ended December 31, 2021

For a comparison of our results of operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 vs. twelve months ended December 31, 2021, see “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2023.

Commitments and Contingencies

See Note 7, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report for a detailed description of commitments and contingencies.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Historically, the Company’s primary cash needs have been related to working capital items, which the Company has largely funded through cash generated from operations.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had a cash balance of $46,356,000. Additionally, the Company has a $15,000,000 line of credit available, as discussed in detail in Note 6, Line of Credit and Other Borrowings, which had no borrowings outstanding against it as of December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had cash balances of $37,703,000 and $32,913,000, respectively, with no borrowings against the line of credit.

Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities is net income adjusted for certain non-cash items and changes in certain assets and liabilities, such as those included in working capital.

For 2023, the Company’s cash provided from operating activities was $23,422,000, compared to $15,246,000 of cash provided during 2022, and $25,149,000 of cash provided during 2021. This illustrates an increase of $8,176,000 during 2023, versus a decrease during 2022 of $9,903,000. For details of the operating cash flows refer to the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

As a general trend, the Company tends to deplete or generate lower amounts of cash early in the year, as significant payments are typically made for accrued promotional incentives, incentive compensation, and taxes. Cash has then historically shown a tendency to be restored and accumulated during the latter portion of the year.

Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities during 2023, 2022, and 2021 was $1,642,000, $942,000, and $971,000 respectively, all related to various capital expenditure projects.

Financing Activities

All financing activities relate to dividend payments, which are detailed in Note 12, Shareholders’ Equity, in the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report. Dividend payments for 2023, 2022, and 2021 amounted to $13,124,000, $9,489,000, and $14,867,000, respectively. The Company had no borrowings or payments on its line of credit during 2023, 2022, or 2021 as described in Note 6, Line of Credit and Other Borrowings.

Liquidity

We believe our existing cash and cash equivalents, along with our borrowing capacity, will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for at least the next twelve months. Our future capital requirements will depend upon many factors including our rate of revenue growth, the timing and extent of any expansion efforts, the potential for investments in, or the acquisition of any complementary products, businesses, or supplementary facilities for additional capacity.

The Company’s primary contractual obligations as of December 31, 2023, which are due over the next twelve months, are summarized in the following table and are more fully explained in Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(in thousands)

*Includes the estimated current portion of the West Chester, Pennsylvania lease, with a lease commencement date of January 1, 2024. See Note 14, Subsequent Events, in the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details.

As explained in Note 8, Stock Based Compensation Plans, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report, the Company is obligated to make payments to plan participants. Due to the uncertain nature of the payments, due to numerous variables, including the potential change in stock price, and employment status of participants and any applicable forfeitures, the amounts are not disclosed in the above table. The liability associated with this plan as of December 31, 2023, which is anticipated to be paid within the next year, is $206,000.

Future Impact of Known Trends or Uncertainties

The Company’s operations are sensitive to a number of market and extrinsic factors, any one of which could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, competitive position, results of operations or financial condition in any given year. See Item 1A, Risk Factors, for a detailed description.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report, includes a summary of the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We evaluate our estimates on an on-going basis. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, revenue recognition and related sales incentives, provisions for credit losses, inventory reserves, valuation of goodwill, product liability reserves, valuation of phantom stock, and accounting for income taxes. We base our estimates on historical experience and on 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 believe our judgments related to these accounting estimates are appropriate. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Revenue Recognition

The Company’s accounting policy relating to revenue recognition reflects the impact of the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, *Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“*ASC 606”), which is discussed further in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. As a result of the adoption of ASC 606, the Company records revenue based upon a five-step approach. The Company sells goods on typical, unmodified free on board (FOB) shipping point terms. As the seller, it can be determined that the shipped goods meet the agreed-upon specifications in the contract or customer purchase order (e.g., items, quantities, and prices) with the buyer, so customer acceptance would be deemed a formality, as noted in ASC 606-10-55-86. As a result, the Company has a legal right to payment upon shipment of the goods. Based upon the above, the Company has concluded that transfer of control substantively transfers to the customer upon shipment. Other than standard product warranty provisions, the sales arrangements provide for no other post-shipment obligations. The Company offers rebates and other sales incentives, promotional allowances, or discounts to certain customers, typically related to purchase volume, and are classified as a reduction of revenue and recorded at the time of sale. The Company periodically evaluates whether an allowance for sales returns is necessary. Historically, the Company has experienced minimal sales returns. If it is believed there are to be material potential sales returns, the Company will provide the necessary provision against sales.

Provision for Credit Losses

The Company maintains allowances for credit losses, which represent an estimate of expected losses over the remaining contractual life of its receivables considering current market conditions and estimates for supportable forecasts when appropriate. The estimate is a result of the Company’s ongoing assessments and evaluations of collectability, historical loss experience, and future expectations in estimating credit losses in its receivable portfolio. For accounts receivable, the Company uses historical loss experience rates and applies them to a related aging analysis while also considering customer and/or economic risk where appropriate. Determination of the proper amount of allowances requires management to exercise judgment about the timing, frequency and severity of credit losses that could materially affect the provision for credit losses and, as a result, net earnings. The allowances consider numerous quantitative and qualitative factors that include receivable type, historical loss experience, delinquency trends, collection experience, current economic conditions, estimates for supportable forecasts, when appropriate, and credit risk characteristics. Changes in allowances may occur in the future as the above referenced quantitative and qualitative factors change.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The cost of inventories is determined by the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The Company generally considers inventory quantities beyond two years of usage, measured on a historical usage basis, to be excess inventory and reduces the carrying value of inventory accordingly. These reductions to the inventory carrying values are estimates, which could vary significantly, either favorably or unfavorably, from actual amounts if future economic conditions, sales levels, or competitive conditions change.

Goodwill

In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (ASU 2017-04), using the simplified method as adopted, the Company performed an annual impairment test as of December 31, 2023. This test did not indicate any impairment of goodwill as the Company’s estimated fair value of the reporting unit exceeded carrying value. The test may be performed more frequently if we believe indicators of impairment might exist. These indicators may include changes in macroeconomic and industry conditions, overall financial performance, and other relevant entity-specific events.

Product Liability Reserves

Product liability reserves represent the estimated unpaid amounts under the Company’s insurance policies with respect to existing claims. The Company uses the most current available data to estimate claims. As explained more fully under Note 7, Commitments and Contingencies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report for various product liability claims covered under the Company’s general liability insurance policies, the Company must pay certain defense and settlement costs within its deductible or self-insured retention limits, ranging primarily from $250,000 to $3,000,000 per claim, depending on the terms of the policy and the applicable policy year, up to an aggregate amount. The Company is vigorously defending against all known claims. It is possible that the Company may incur increased litigation costs in the future due to a variety of factors, including a higher number of claims, higher legal costs, and higher insurance deductibles or retentions. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties and management is unable to predict the outcome of the pending suits and claims. From time to time, depending upon the nature of a particular case, the Company may decide to spend more than a deductible or retention to enable more discretion regarding the defense, although this is not common. It is possible that the results of operations or liquidity of the Company, as well as the Company’s ability to procure reasonably priced insurance, could be adversely affected by the pending litigation, potentially materially. The Company is currently unable to estimate the ultimate liability, if any, that may result from the pending litigation, or potential litigation from future claims or claims that have not yet come to our attention, and accordingly, the liability in the Consolidated Financial Statements primarily represents an accrual for legal costs for services previously rendered, settlements for Claims not yet paid, and anticipated settlements for claims within the Company’s remaining retention under its insurance policies.

Stock Based Compensation Plans

In 2006, the Company adopted a Phantom Stock Plan (the “Plan”), which allows the Company to grant phantom stock units (“Units”) to certain key employees, officers, or directors. The Units each represent a contractual right to payment of compensation in the future based upon the market value of the Company’s common stock and are accordingly recorded as liabilities. The Units follow a vesting schedule over three years from the grant date and are then paid upon maturity. In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, *Compensation - Stock Compensation (“*Topic 718”), the Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model as its method for determining the fair value of the Units. The liabilities for the Units are adjusted to market value over time from the grant dates to the related maturity dates. The Company recognizes the reversal of any previously recognized compensation expense on forfeited nonvested Units in the period the Units are forfeited.

The Plan has been amended and restated, for all grants made starting January 1, 2023, to set the vesting method to three-year cliff vesting following the grant date, with full value paid upon maturity. Additionally, for grants made starting January 1, 2023, upon retirement at age 67 or greater, and with one year of continuous service prior to retirement, vesting of the issued grant(s) would accelerate on a pro-rata basis, 1/3 per year from the grant date. The Company does not believe the amended and restated plan will have a material impact upon compensation expense.

Further details of the Plan are provided in Note 8, Stock Based Compensation Plans, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report. Any significant changes in the Company’s stock price may have a material impact upon the valuation of the Units.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for tax liabilities in accordance with the FASB ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes. Under this method the Company recorded tax expense and related deferred taxes and tax benefits.

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 from a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that these items will either expire before the Company is able to realize the benefit, or that future deductibility is uncertain. The Company’s accounting for deferred tax consequences represents the best estimate of those future events. Changes in estimates, due to unanticipated events or otherwise, could have a material effect on the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. The Company continually evaluates its deferred tax assets to determine if a valuation allowance is required.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, updated in December 2022 by ASU No. 2022-06, Deferral of Sunset Date of Topic 848. The ASUs apply to all entities that have contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The ASUs provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The expedients and exceptions provided by the ASUs do not apply to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated after December 31, 2024, except for hedging relationships existing as of December 31, 2024, that an entity has elected certain optional expedients for and that are retained through the end of the hedging relationship. ASU 2020-04, as updated by ASU 2022-06, is effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020, through December 31, 2024. The impact of the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The ASU expands public entities tax disclosures including improving disclosures surrounding the company’s rate reconciliation, cash taxes paid, and disaggregation of income tax expense (or benefit) from continuing operations. The amendment is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2023-09 on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Company does not engage in the purchase or trading of market risk sensitive instruments. The Company does not presently have any positions with respect to hedge transactions such as forward contracts relating to currency fluctuations. No market risk sensitive instruments are held for speculative or trading purposes.

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

We evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), as amended, as of December 31, 2023, the end of the period covered by this report on Form 10-K. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2023. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

(b) Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act and is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by our management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:

• Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets;
• Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and
• Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

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

Our management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. In making this assessment, the Company’s management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) in the Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013).

Based on the assessment, management has concluded that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria in the Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, RSM US LLP, audited the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. RSM US LLP’s report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, is included in this annual report.

(c) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the most recent quarter ended December 31, 2023, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.