SEC Form 10-Q filed by Escalade Incorporated

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

ESCALADE, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

See notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

 

ESCALADE, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

See notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

 

ESCALADE, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

 

See notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

 

ESCALADE, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

See notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

 

ESCALADE, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

Note A – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

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Presentation of Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements – The significant accounting policies followed by the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries for interim financial reporting are consistent with the accounting policies followed for its annual financial reporting. All adjustments that are of a normal recurring nature and are in the opinion of management necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods reported have been included in the accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements. The consolidated condensed balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2023 has been derived from the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of that date. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted. These consolidated condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Form 10-K annual report for 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Correction of Immaterial Errors

During the year ended December 31, 2023, management became aware of an error in reporting of common stock value within the consolidated balance sheet and statement of stockholders’ equity. Common stock previously was reported with a $1.00 stated value even though, per the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, the common stock has no par value. Additionally, components of equity that should have been reflected within common stock were improperly reported within retained earnings. We have reviewed historical activity reflected in common stock and retained earnings and have identified adjustments to be made to correct the immaterial reporting error. The consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity have been corrected and have been updated for prior years within this Form 10-Q.

 

We assessed the materiality of this error on prior periods' financial statements in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 99, Materiality, codified in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 250, Presentation of Financial Statements. We concluded that the error was not material to any prior annual or interim period and therefore, amendments of previously filed reports are not required. In accordance with ASC 250, we have corrected the reporting for all prior periods presented by revising the consolidated financial statements appearing herein. Periods not presented herein will be revised, as applicable, in future filings. The revisions had no impact on total assets, total liabilities, total shareholders' equity, net income or the cash flow statement.

 

The impact of this revision on our consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity as of September 30, 2023 was as follows:

 

		As Previously Reported				Correction				As Corrected
In Thousands
Common Stock		$	13,737			$	(9,802	)		$	3,935
Retained Earnings			147,433				9,802				157,235
Total Stockholders’ Equity		$	161,170				-			$	161,170

 

Assets Held For Sale

We classify assets as held for sale when our management approves and commits to a formal plan of sale that is probable of being completed within one (1) year. Assets designated as held for sale are recorded at the lower of their current carrying value or their fair market value, less costs to sell, beginning in the period in which the assets meet the criteria to be classified as held for sale.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company completed the sale of its Mexico facility for $6.6 million. The Company received cash proceeds of $5.9 million, with the remaining $0.7 million deposited in an escrow account. The Company recognized a gain of $3.9 million, included in operating income in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

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Note B ‑ Seasonal Aspects

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The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

 

Note C ‑ Inventories

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In thousands		September 30, 2024				December 31, 2023				September 30, 2023
Raw materials		$	3,663			$	4,050			$	5,048
Work in progress			2,948				2,308				2,874
Finished goods			78,874				86,104				97,345
		$	85,485			$	92,462			$	105,267

  

Note D – Fair Values of Financial Instruments

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Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 820, “Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures,” outlines a valuation framework and creates a fair value hierarchy for assets and liabilities as follows:

 

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Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;

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Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and

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Level 3: Unobservable inputs for which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring the Company to develop its own assumptions.

 

Due to their short-term nature, the fair value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and certain other liabilities approximated their carrying values at September 30, 2024, December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023. The Company believes the carrying value of borrowings under our senior secured revolving credit facility, due to variable rate interest, adequately reflects the fair value of these instruments.

 

The Company discloses the fair value of its term loan using Level 2 inputs, which are estimated using treasury rates for a similar instrument, as follows:

 

		September 30, 2024								December 31, 2023								September 30, 2023
In thousands		Carrying Value				Fair Value				Carrying Value				Fair Value				Carrying Value				Fair Value
Term Loan Facility		$	27,381			$	25,275			$	32,738			$	29,439			$	34,524			$	30,335

  

Note E – Stock Compensation

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The fair value of stock-based compensation is recognized in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 718, Stock Compensation.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company awarded 12,900 restricted stock units to directors and 130,800 restricted stock units to employees. The restricted stock units awarded to directors time vest over two years (one-half one year from grant date and one-half two years from grant date) provided that the director is still a director of the Company at the vest date. Director restricted stock units are subject to forfeiture, except for termination of services as a result of retirement, death or disability, if on the vesting date the director no longer holds a position with the Company. The 2024 restricted stock units awarded to employees time vest over three years (one-third one year from grant, one-third two years from grant and one-third three years from grant) provided that the employee continues to serve as an employee, director or consultant of the Company on the vesting date.

 

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For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recognized stock based compensation expense of $503 thousand and $1,429 thousand, respectively, compared to stock based compensation expense of $546 thousand and $1,463 thousand for the same periods in the prior year. At September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively, there was $1,838 thousand and $1,979 thousand in unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to non-vested stock awards. The unrecognized compensation expense of unvested restricted stock awards not yet recognized as of September 30, 2024 is expected to be recognized over the weighted average period of 1.4 years.

 

Note F ‑ Segment Information

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		For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2024
In thousands		Sporting Goods				Corp.				Total
Revenues from external customers		$	67,738			$	-			$	67,738
Operating income (loss)			8,756				(782	)			7,974
Net income (loss)			5,970				(303	)			5,667

 

		As of and for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024
In thousands		Sporting Goods				Corp.				Total
Revenues from external customers		$	187,568			$	-			$	187,568
Operating income (loss)			17,962				(2,471	)			15,491
Net income (loss)			11,588				(1,302	)			10,286
Total assets		$	241,347			$	3,583			$	244,930

 

 

		For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
In thousands		Sporting Goods				Corp.				Total
Revenues from external customers		$	73,358			$	-			$	73,358
Operating income (loss)			6,958				(513	)			6,445
Net income			4,089				186				4,275

 

		As of and for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
In thousands		Sporting Goods				Corp.				Total
Revenues from external customers		$	198,060			$	-			$	198,060
Operating income (loss)			14,485				(1,633	)			12,852
Net income (loss)			7,422				(457	)			6,965
Total assets		$	279,805			$	3,568			$	283,373

 

  

Note G – Dividend Payment

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On January 12, 2024, the Company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per common share to all shareholders of record on January 5, 2024. The total amount of the dividend was approximately $2.1 million and was charged against retained earnings.

 

On April 22, 2024, the Company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per common share to all shareholders of record on April 15, 2024. The total amount of the dividend was approximately $2.1 million and was charged against retained earnings.

 

On July 15, 2024, the Company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per common share to all shareholders of record on July 8, 2024. The total amount of the dividend was approximately $2.1 million and was charged against retained earnings.

 

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On October 14, 2024 the Company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per common share to all shareholders of record on October 7, 2024. The total amount of the dividend was approximately $2.1 million and was charged against retained earnings.

 

Note H ‑ Earnings Per Share

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The shares used in computation of the Company’s basic and diluted earnings per common share are as follows:

 

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
In thousands		September 30, 2024				September 30, 2023				September 30, 2024				September 30, 2023
Weighted average common shares outstanding			13,877				13,737				13,845				13,706
Dilutive effect of restricted stock units			156				150				162				140
Weighted average common shares outstanding, assuming dilution			14,033				13,887				14,007				13,846

  

Note I – New Accounting Standards and Changes in Accounting Principles

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With the exception of that discussed below, there have been no recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the recent accounting pronouncements described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, that are of significance, or potential significance to the Company.

 

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which enhances reporting requirements under Topic 280. ASU 2023-07 requires disclosure of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) and included within the segment measure of profit or loss, an amount and description of its composition for other segment items to reconcile to segment profit or loss, and the title and position of the entity’s CODM. ASU 2023-07 will be applied retrospectively and is effective for annual reporting periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim reporting periods in fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2024.

 

Note J – Revenue from Contracts with Customers

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Revenue Recognition – Revenue is recognized when a contract exists with a customer that specifies the goods to be provided at an agreed upon sales price and when the performance obligations under the terms of the contract are satisfied; generally this occurs with the transfer of control of our goods at a point in time based on shipping terms and transfer of title. Sales are made on normal and customary short-term credit terms or upon delivery of point-of-sale transactions. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for transferring goods. The Company expenses incremental costs of obtaining a contract due to the short-term nature of the contracts. These costs are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Sales, value add, and other taxes we collect concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue. Shipping and handling fees charged to customers are reported within revenue.

 

The Company enters into contractual arrangements with customers in the form of customer orders that specify goods, quantity, pricing, and associated order terms. The Company does not have long-term contracts that are satisfied over time. Due to the nature of the contracts, no significant judgment exists in relation to the identification of the customer contract, satisfaction of the performance obligations, or transaction price.

 

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Gross-to-net sales adjustments – We recognize revenue net of various sales adjustments to arrive at net sales as reported on the statement of operations. These adjustments are referred to as gross-to-net sales adjustments and primarily fall into one of three categories: returns, warranties and customer allowances.

 

Returns – The Company records an accrued liability and reduction in sales for estimated product returns based upon historical experience. An accrued liability and reduction in sales is also recorded for approved return authorizations that have been communicated by the customer.

 

Warranties – Limited warranties are provided on certain products for varying periods. We record an accrued liability and reduction in sales for estimated future warranty claims based upon historical experience and management’s estimate of the level of future claims. Changes in the estimated amounts recognized in prior years are recorded as an adjustment to the accrued liability and sales in the current year. The accrued liability amount attributable to warranties was $604 thousand as of September 30, 2024. There were no changes to the accrual due to a change in estimate during the current period.

 

Customer Allowances – Customer allowances are common practice in the industries in which the Company operates. These agreements are typically in the form of advertising subsidies, volume rebates and catalog allowances and are accounted for as a reduction to gross sales. The Company reviews such allowances on an ongoing basis and accruals are adjusted, if necessary, as additional information becomes available.

 

Contract Balances – Amounts relating to returns and customer allowances create contract liabilities, which were $5,985 thousand, $5,325 thousand and $5,866 thousand as of September 30, 2024, December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022.

 

Disaggregation of Revenue – We generate revenue from the sale of widely recognized sporting goods brands in basketball goals, archery, indoor and outdoor game recreation and fitness products. These products are sold through multiple sales channels that include: mass merchants, specialty dealers, key on-line retailers (“E-commerce”) and international. The following table depicts the disaggregation of revenue according to sales channel:

 

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
All Amounts in Thousands		September 30, 2024				September 30, 2023				September 30, 2024				September 30, 2023
Gross Sales by Channel:
Mass Merchants		$	32,725			$	35,931			$	72,877			$	72,101
Specialty Dealers			17,238				19,669				59,511				65,134
E-commerce			22,122				21,785				65,927				69,512
International			3,355				2,961				9,879				9,189
Other			881				892				2,683				3,206
Total Gross Sales			76,321				81,238				210,877				219,142
Less: Gross-to-Net Sales Adjustments
Returns			2,650				2,493				6,451				6,039
Warranties			336				358				1,191				988
Customer Allowances			5,597				5,029				15,667				14,055
Total Gross-to-Net Sales Adjustments			8,583				7,880				23,309				21,082
Total Net Sales		$	67,738			$	73,358			$	187,568			$	198,060

  

Note K – Leases

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We have operating leases for office, manufacturing and distribution facilities as well as for certain equipment. Our leases have remaining lease terms of 1 year to 8 years. As of September 30, 2024, the Company has not entered into any lease arrangements classified as a finance lease.

 

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We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, current operating lease liabilities and operating lease liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. The Company has elected an accounting policy to not recognize short-term leases (one year or less) on the balance sheet. The Company also elected the package of practical expedients which applies to leases that commenced before the adoption date. By electing the package of practical expedients, the Company did not need to reassess the following; whether any existing contracts are or contain leases, the lease classification for any existing leases and initial direct costs for any existing leases.

 

ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. When the implicit rate of the lease is not provided or cannot be determined, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date to determine the present value of future payments. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease and recognized in the presentation of the ROU assets and operating lease liabilities when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise those options. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Components of lease expense and other information is as follows:

 

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
All Amounts in Thousands		September 30, 2024				September 30, 2023				September 30, 2024				September 30, 2023
Lease Expense
Operating Lease Cost		$	374			$	388			$	1,125			$	1,137
Short-term Lease Cost			249				388				988				1,611
Variable Lease Cost			110				117				418				415
Total Operating Lease Cost		$	733			$	893			$	2,531			$	3,163
Operating Lease – Operating Cash Flows		$	267			$	266			$	782			$	759
New ROU Assets – Operating Leases		$	-			$	242			$	52			$	325

 

Other information about lease amounts recognized in our consolidated financial statements is summarized as follows:

 

		Nine Months Ended
All Amounts in Thousands		September 30, 2024				September 30, 2023
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term – Operating Leases (in years)			7.47				8.29
Weighted Average Discount Rate – Operating Leases			5.18	%			5.21	%

 

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of September 30, 2024 were as follows:

 

All Amounts in Thousands
Remainder of Year 1		$	374
Year 2			1,460
Year 3			1,416
Year 4			1,327
Year 5			1,077
Thereafter			4,257
Total future minimum lease payments			9,911
Less imputed interest			(1,703	)
Total		$	8,208
Reported as of September 30, 2024
Current operating lease liabilities			1,083
Long-term operating lease liabilities			7,125
Total		$	8,208

 

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Note L – Commitments and Contingencies

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The Company is involved in litigation arising in the normal course of business. The Company does not believe that the disposition or ultimate resolution of existing claims or lawsuits will have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of the Company.

 

 

Note M – Debt

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On January 21, 2022, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (“Restated Credit Agreement”) with its issuing bank, JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Chase”), and the other lenders identified in the Restated Credit Agreement (collectively, the “Lender”). Under the terms of the Restated Credit Agreement, Old National Bank has been added as a Lender. The Lenders have now made available to the Company a senior revolving credit facility with increased maximum availability of $65.0 million (the “Revolving Facility”), up from $50.0 million, plus an accordion feature that would allow borrowings up to $90.0 million under the Revolving Facility subject to certain terms and conditions. The maturity date of the revolving credit facility was extended to January 21, 2027. The Company may prepay the Revolving Facility, in whole or in part, and reborrow prior to the revolving loan maturity date. The Restated Credit Agreement further extended the maturity date for the term loan facility to January 21, 2027.

 

On July 18, 2022, the Company entered into the First Amendment to the Restated Credit Agreement. Under the terms of the First Amendment, the Lender increased the maximum availability under the senior revolving credit facility from $65.0 million to $75.0 million pursuant to the accordion feature in the Restated Credit Agreement. The First Amendment also adjusted the funded debt to EBITDA ratio financial covenant to 3:00 to 1:00 as of the end of the Company’s third and fourth fiscal quarters of 2022.

 

On October 26, 2022, the Company entered into the Second Amendment ("Second Amendment”) to the Restated Credit Agreement. Under the terms of the Second Amendment, the Lender increased the maximum availability under the senior revolving credit facility from $75.0 million to $90.0 million pursuant to the accordion feature in the Restated Credit Agreement. The Second Amendment adjusted the funded debt to EBITDA ratio financial covenant to 3:25 to 1:00 as of the end of the Company’s third and fourth fiscal quarters of 2022 and 3:00 to 1:00 as of the end of the Company’s first fiscal quarter of 2023. The Second Amendment also modified the EBITDA definition to permit add-backs of a) up to $2.0 million for disposition related expenses; and b) up to $2.0 million for unusual or non-recurring expenses which are incurred prior to the end of fiscal year 2023 and which are subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent.

 

On May 8, 2023, the Company entered into the Third Amendment (the “Third Amendment”) to the Restated Credit Agreement. The Third Amendment adjusted the funded debt to EBITDA ratio financial covenant to 4:25 to 1:00 as of the end of the Company’s second fiscal quarter of 2023, 3:00 to 1:00 as of the end of the Company’s third fiscal quarter of 2023, and 2:75 to 1:00 as of the end of the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter of 2023 and thereafter. The Third Amendment adjusted the fixed charge coverage ratio covenant to 1:10 to 1:00 commencing as of the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter of 2023 and 1:25 to 1:00 as of the end of the Company’s first fiscal quarter of 2024 and thereafter. For the Company’s second and third fiscal quarters in 2023, the Third Amendment suspended the fixed charge coverage ratio covenant and added a minimum EBITDA covenant of $22.5 million as of the end of each such fiscal quarter. Under the terms of the Third Amendment, the Company and the Lender also agreed to decrease the maximum availability under the senior revolving credit facility from $90.0 million to $75.0 million, upon the consummation of the sale of the Company’s Mexican subsidiary and the dissolution of Escalade Insurance, Inc. The proceeds from such sale and dissolution, respectively, will be used to partially prepay the amounts outstanding under the revolving credit facility. As reflected in the Fourth Amendment to the Restated Credit Agreement effective September 1, 2023, the maximum availability of the senior revolving credit facility was reduced to $85.0 million following the dissolution of Escalade Insurance, Inc.

 

On October 11, 2024, the Company entered into the Fifth Amendment (the “Fifth Amendment”) to the Restated Credit Agreement. The Fifth Amendment eliminated the fixed charge coverage ratio covenant and related provisions. The fixed charge ratio covenant was replaced by a new minimum interest coverage ratio covenant of 3.50 to 1:00 effective September 30, 2024. Under the terms of the Fifth Amendment, the Company and the Lender also agreed to decrease the maximum availability under the senior revolving credit facility from $75.0 million to $60.0 million, but added an accordion feature that could increase the facility in an amount not to exceed $85.0 million. The Fifth Amendment further revised the restricted payments covenant to provide that if at any time the Company’s Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio would exceed 1.75 to 1.0, then the aggregate combined total of cash dividends and Company share repurchases may not exceed $12.0 million in any trailing twelve month period.

 

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The Company was in compliance with the debt covenants set forth in the Restated Credit Agreement as of September 30, 2024.

 

As of September 30, 2024, the outstanding principal amount of the term loan was $27.4 million and total amount drawn under the Revolving Facility was $2.1 million.

 

Note N – Provision for Taxes

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The effective tax rate for the three months ending September 30, 2024 was 23.9% compared to 16.6% for the same three month period last year. The effective tax rate for the nine months ending September 30, 2024 was 23.9% compared to 19.0% for the same period last year. The increase in the effective tax rate for 2024 is primarily due to the recognition of gain on the sale of stock in Harvard Sports, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Escalade, Inc., which was completed during the three months ended September 30, 2024. Another factor causing an increase in rate from the prior year is the dissolution of the Company’s captive insurance company. In prior years, the premiums paid to the captive were included in book income, but were non-taxable, resulting in a decrease in tax rate. With the dissolution of the captive in 2023, Escalade no longer has this non-taxable income to reduce its income tax rate.

 

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Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This report contains forward-looking statements relating to present or future trends or factors that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These risks include, but are not limited to: Escalade’s ability to achieve its business objectives; Escalade’s ability to successfully achieve the anticipated results of strategic transactions, including the integration of the operations of acquired assets and businesses and of divestitures or discontinuances of certain operations, assets, brands, and products; the continuation and development of key customer, supplier, licensing and other business relationships; Escalade’s ability to develop and implement our own direct to consumer e-commerce distribution channel; the impact of competitive products and pricing; product demand and market acceptance; new product development; Escalade’s ability to successfully negotiate the shifting retail environment and changes in consumer buying habits; the financial health of our customers; disruptions or delays in our business operations, including without limitation disruptions or delays in our supply chain, arising from political unrest, war, terrorism, labor strikes, natural disasters, public health crises such as the coronavirus pandemic, and other events and circumstances beyond our control; the impact of management’s conclusion, in consultation with the Audit Committee, that material weaknesses existed in the Company’s internal control procedures over financial reporting; the evaluation and implementation of remediation efforts designed and implemented to enhance the Company’s control environment, which remediation efforts are ongoing; the potential identification of one or more additional material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control of which the Company is not currently aware or that have not yet been detected; the Company’s inability or failure to fully remediate material weaknesses in our internal control procedures over financial reporting or any other material weaknesses in the future could result in material misstatements in our financial statements; Escalade’s ability to control costs, including managing inventory levels; Escalade’s ability to successfully implement actions to lessen the potential impacts of tariffs and other trade restrictions applicable to our products and raw materials, including impacts on the costs of producing our goods, importing products and materials into our markets for sale, and on the pricing of our products; general economic conditions, including inflationary pressures; fluctuation in operating results; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; changes in the securities markets; continued listing of the Company’s common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market; the Company’s inclusion or exclusion from certain market indices; Escalade’s ability to obtain financing, to maintain compliance with the terms of such financing and to manage debt levels; the availability, integration and effective operation of information systems and other technology, and the potential interruption of such systems or technology; the potential impact of actual or perceived defects in, or safety of, our products, including any impact of product recalls or legal or regulatory claims, proceedings or investigations involving our products; risks related to data security or privacy breaches; the potential impact of regulatory claims, proceedings or investigations involving our products; potential residual impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic on Escalade’s financial condition and results of operations; and other risks detailed from time to time in Escalade’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Escalade’s future financial performance could differ materially from the expectations of management contained herein. Escalade undertakes no obligation to release revisions to these forward-looking statements after the date of this report.

 

Overview

 

Escalade, Incorporated (Escalade, the Company, we, us or our) is focused on growing its Sporting Goods business through organic growth of existing categories, strategic acquisitions, and new product development. The Sporting Goods business competes in a variety of categories including basketball goals, archery, billiards, indoor and outdoor game recreation and fitness products. Strong brands and on-going investment in product development provide a solid foundation for building customer loyalty and continued growth.

 

Within the sporting goods industry, the Company has successfully built a robust market presence in several niche markets. This strategy is heavily dependent on expanding our customer base, barriers to entry, strong brands, excellent customer service and a commitment to innovation. A key strategic advantage is the Company’s established relationships with major customers that allow the Company to bring new products to market in a cost effective manner while maintaining a diversified portfolio of products to meet the demands of consumers. In addition to strategic customer relations, the Company has substantial manufacturing and import experience that enable it to be a low cost supplier.

 

To enhance growth opportunities, the Company has focused on promoting new product innovation and development and brand marketing. In addition, the Company has embarked on a strategy of acquiring companies or product lines that complement or expand the Company's existing product lines or provide expansion into new or emerging categories in sporting goods. A key objective is the acquisition of product lines with barriers to entry that the Company can take to market through its established distribution channels or through new market channels. Significant synergies are achieved through assimilation of acquired product lines into the existing Company structure.

 

 

Management believes that key indicators in measuring the success of these strategies are revenue growth, earnings growth, new product introductions, and the expansion of channels of distribution.

 

As the most significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic appear to have waned, consumer demand for the Company’s products has slowed but remains above pre-COVID-19 demand. General economic conditions, inflation, recessionary fears, rising interest rates, changes in the housing market and declining consumer confidence also may impact the Company adversely. Management cannot predict the full impact of these factors on the Company. Due to the above circumstances and as described generally in this Form 10-Q, the Company’s results of operations for the period ended September 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for fiscal year 2024.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following schedule sets forth certain consolidated statement of operations data as a percentage of net revenue:

 

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30, 2024				September 30, 2023				September 30, 2024				September 30, 2023
Net revenue			100.0	%			100.0	%			100.0	%			100.0	%
Cost of products sold			75.2	%			75.3	%			75.3	%			76.9	%
Gross margin			24.8	%			24.7	%			24.7	%			23.1	%
Selling, administrative and general expenses			17.2	%			15.1	%			17.3	%			15.7	%
Amortization			1.6	%			0.8	%			1.2	%			0.9	%
Gain on sale of assets held for sale			(5.8	%)			-				(2.1	%)			-
Operating income			11.8	%			8.8	%			8.3	%			6.5	%

 

Revenue and Gross Margin

 

Total net sales declined 7.7% on a year-over-year basis in the third quarter, due to soft consumer demand and inventory destocking in most categories, partly offset by growth in the archery, safety, and basketball categories. During the third quarter, sales declined across most of our sales channels, partly offset by growth in our international and e-commerce. Our e-commerce channel experienced growth driven by our owned e-commerce sales.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, total net sales declined 5.3% compared to the same period in 2023 again due to soft consumer demand and channel destocking, partly offset by growth in the Company’s table tennis, basketball, and archery categories.

 

Gross margin increased to 24.8% for the third quarter of 2024 compared to 24.7% for the same period in 2023 primarily driven by improved fixed cost absorption, partly offset by increased cost of goods sold of $1.8 million due to non-recurring expenses associated with strategic cost rationalization initiatives, including the closure and sale of its Mexico operations.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) were $11.7 million for the third quarter of 2024 compared to $11.1 million for the same period in the prior year, an increase of $0.6 million or 5.5%. SG&A as a percent of sales is 17.2% for the third quarter of 2024 compared with 15.1% for the same period in the prior year.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, SG&A were $32.4 million compared to $31.1 million for the same period in the prior year, an increase of $1.3 million, or 4.2%. SG&A as a percent of sales is 17.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared with 15.7% for the same period in the prior year.

 

Provision for Income Taxes

 

The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was 23.9% compared to 19.0% for the same period last year.

 

 

Financial Condition and Liquidity

 

Total debt as of September 30, 2024 was $29.5 million, a decrease of $21.4 million from December 31, 2023. The following schedule summarizes the Company’s total debt:

 

In thousands		September 30, 2024				December 31, 2023				September 30, 2023
Current portion of long-term debt		$	7,143			$	7,143			$	7,143
Long term debt			22,353				43,753				64,896
Total Debt		$	29,496			$	50,896			$	72,039

 

As a percentage of stockholders’ equity, total debt was 17.3%, 30.9% and 44.7% at September 30, 2024, December 31, 2023, and September 30, 2023 respectively.

 

On January 21, 2022, the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Indian Industries, Inc. (“Indian”), entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “2022 Restated Credit Agreement”) with its issuing bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Chase”), and the other lenders identified in the Restated Credit Agreement (collectively, the “Lenders”). The 2022 Restated Credit Agreement amended and restated the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of January 21, 2019, as amended, in its entirety, and continues the existing Company’s credit facilities which have been in place since April 30, 2009. The Company’s indebtedness under the 2022 Restated Credit Agreement continues to be collateralized by liens on all of the present and future equity of each of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries and substantially all of the assets of the Company (excluding real estate). Under the terms of the 2022 Restated Credit Agreement, Old National Bank was added as a Lender. The Lenders made available to Escalade and Indian a senior revolving credit facility with increased maximum availability of $65.0 million (the “Revolving Facility”), up from $50.0 million, plus an accordion feature that would allow borrowings up to $90.0 million under the Revolving Facility subject to certain terms and conditions. The maturity date of the revolving credit facility was extended to January 21, 2027. The Company may prepay the Revolving Facility, in whole or in part, and reborrow prior to the revolving loan maturity date. The 2022 Restated Credit Agreement further extended the maturity date for the existing $50.0 million term loan facility to January 21, 2027.

 

In addition to the increased borrowing amount and extended maturity date, the 2022 Restated Credit Agreement provided a $7.5 million swingline commitment by Chase, replaced LIBOR with the replacement benchmark secured overnight financing rate, and adjusted certain financial covenants relating to the fixed charge coverage ratio.

 

On July 18, 2022, the Company entered into the First Amendment to the 2022 Restated Credit Agreement. Under the terms of the First Amendment, the Lender increased the maximum availability under the senior revolving credit facility from $65.0 million to $75.0 million pursuant to the accordion feature in the 2022 Restated Credit Agreement. The First Amendment also adjusted the funded debt to EBITDA ratio financial covenant to 3:00 to 1:00 as of the end of the Company’s third and fourth fiscal quarters of 2022.

 

On October 26, 2022, the Company entered into the Second Amendment ("Second Amendment”) to the 2022 Restated Credit Agreement. Under the terms of the Second Amendment, the Lender increased the maximum availability under the senior revolving credit facility from $75.0 million to $90.0 million pursuant to the accordion feature in the 2022 Restated Credit Agreement. The Second Amendment adjusted the funded debt to EBITDA ratio financial covenant to 3:25 to 1:00 as of the end of the Company’s third and fourth fiscal quarters of 2022 and 3:00 to 1:00 as of the end of the Company’s first fiscal quarter of 2023. The Second Amendment also modified the EBITDA definition to permit add-backs of a) up to $2.0 million for disposition related expenses; and b) up to $2.0 million for unusual or non-recurring expenses which are incurred prior to the end of fiscal year 2023 and which are subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent.

 

 

On May 8, 2023, the Company entered into the Third Amendment (the “Third Amendment”) to the Restated Credit Agreement. The Third Amendment adjusted the funded debt to EBITDA ratio financial covenant to 4:25 to 1:00 as of the end of the Company’s second fiscal quarter of 2023, 3:00 to 1:00 as of the end of the Company’s third fiscal quarter of 2023, and 2:75 to 1:00 as of the end of the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter of 2023 and thereafter. The Third Amendment adjusted the fixed charge coverage ratio covenant to 1:10 to 1:00 commencing as of the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter of 2023 and 1:25 to 1:00 as of the end of the Company’s first fiscal quarter of 2024 and thereafter. For the Company’s second and third fiscal quarters in 2023, the Third Amendment suspended the fixed charge coverage ratio covenant and added a minimum EBITDA covenant of $22.5 million as of the end of each such fiscal quarter. Under the terms of the Third Amendment, the Company and the Lender also agreed to decrease the maximum availability under the senior revolving credit facility from $90.0 million to $75.0 million, upon the consummation of the sale of the Company’s Mexican subsidiary and the dissolution of Escalade Insurance, Inc. The proceeds from such sale and dissolution, respectively, will be used to partially prepay the amounts outstanding under the revolving credit facility. As reflected in the Fourth Amendment to the Restated Credit Agreement effective September 1, 2023, the maximum availability of the senior revolving credit facility was reduced to $85.0 million following the dissolution of Escalade Insurance, Inc.

 

On October 11, 2024, the Company entered into the Fifth Amendment (the “Fifth Amendment”) to the Restated Credit Agreement. The Fifth Amendment eliminated the fixed charge coverage ratio covenant and related provisions. The fixed charge ratio covenant was replaced by a new minimum interest coverage ratio covenant of 3.50 to 1:00 effective September 30, 2024. Under the terms of the Fifth Amendment, the Company and the Lender also agreed to decrease the maximum availability under the senior revolving credit facility from $75.0 million to $60.0 million, but added an accordion feature that could increase the facility in an amount not to exceed $85.0 million. The Fifth Amendment further revised the restricted payments covenant to provide that if at any time the Company’s Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio would exceed 1.75 to 1.0, then the aggregate combined total of cash dividends and Company share repurchases may not exceed $12.0 million in any trailing twelve month period.

 

The Company was in compliance with the debt covenants set forth in the Restated Credit Agreement as of September 30, 2024.

 

As of September 30, 2024, the outstanding principal amount of the term loan was $27.4 million and total amount drawn under the Revolving Facility was $2.1 million.

 

The Company funds working capital requirements and shareholder dividends through operating cash flows and revolving credit agreements with its Lenders. The Company expects that cash generated from its 2024 operations and its access to adequate levels of revolving credit will provide it with sufficient cash flows for its operations and to meet growth needs.

 

Item 3.         QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Not Required.

 

Item 4.         CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Escalade maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure based closely on the definition of “disclosure controls and procedures” in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e). In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, could provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

 

In connection with the preparation of the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Company evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and identified material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of a company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

 

 

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2024. The Company did not design and maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures because of the following material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting:

 

●

Information technology general controls particularly as such controls related to user access, program change management, and ineffective complementary user-organization controls, which limited management’s ability to rely on technology dependent controls relevant to the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

●

Controls over the period end close process, including the review and approval process of journal entries, account reconciliations, segregation of duties conflicts, and consolidation of intercompany entries.

●

Documentation and design of controls related to various key financial statement accounts and assertions.

●

The risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, and monitoring components of the Company’s internal control framework such that internal control weaknesses were not detected, communicated, addressed with mitigating control activities, or remediated.

 

These material weaknesses did not result in a misstatement of the Company’s financial statements; however, they could have resulted in misstatements of interim or annual consolidated financial statements and disclosures that would result in a material misstatement that would not be prevented or detected.

 

Notwithstanding such material weaknesses, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the Quarterly Report are fairly stated in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America for each of the periods presented.

 

Remediation Plan and Status

 

The Company’s management and the Company’s Audit Committee are committed to achieving and maintaining a strong internal control environment. Management, with the Audit Committee’s oversight, is actively engaged in the planning for, and implementation of, remediation efforts to address the above described material weaknesses.

 

In response to the material weaknesses discussed above, we plan to continue efforts already underway to remediate internal control over financial reporting, including the following:

 

●

We engaged with a third-party resource to support our internal control testing and remediation efforts.

 

●

We have hired an Internal Auditor, a senior level position.

 

●

We conducted a risk assessment over our internal control environment, and we prioritized individual control deficiencies for remediation, including those which aggregated to the above material weaknesses.

 

●

We are in the process of documenting and executing remediation action items, including expansion of mitigating controls where appropriate.

 

●

We are implementing tools to enhance and centralize general information technology components.

 

Management and our Audit Committee will monitor these specific remedial measures and the effectiveness of our overall control environment. The identified material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting will only be considered remediated when the relevant controls have operated effectively for a sufficient period of time for management to conclude that they have been remediated. We can provide no assurance as to when the remediation of these material weaknesses will be completed to provide for an effective control environment.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Management of the Company has evaluated, under the supervision of and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the third quarter of 2024.

 

 

There have been no changes to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred since the beginning of the Company’s first quarter of 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

 

None.

 

Item 1A. RISK FACTORS.

 

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. These risks and uncertainties could materially and adversely affect our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. Our operations could also be affected by additional risks or uncertainties that are not presently known to us or that we currently do not consider material to our business. As of the date of this filing, there have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in the above-referenced Form 10-K, which risk factors are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

 

c) Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Period

(a) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased

(b) Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit)

(c) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs

(d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs

Share purchases prior to 6/30/2024 under the current repurchase program.

2,153,132

$

13.38

2,153,132

$

4,153,252

Third quarter purchases:

7/1/2024-7/31/2024

None

None

No Change

No Change

8/1/2024-8/31/2024

None

None

No Change

No Change

9/1/2024-9/30/2024

None

None

No Change

No Change

Total share purchases under the current program

2,153,132

$

13.38

2,153,132

$

4,153,252

 

The Company has one stock repurchase program which was established in February 2003 by the Board of Directors and which initially authorized management to expend up to $3,000,000 to repurchase shares on the open market as well as in private negotiated transactions. In February 2005, February 2006, August 2007 and February 2008 the Board of Directors increased the remaining balance on this plan to its original level of $3,000,000. In September 2019, the Board of Directors increased the stock repurchase program from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000. In December 2020, the Board of Directors increased the stock repurchase program to $15,000,000. From its inception date through September 30, 2024, the Company has repurchased 2,153,132 shares of its common stock under this repurchase program for an aggregate price of $28,812,686. The repurchase program has no termination date and there have been no share repurchases that were not part of a publicly announced program.

 

Item 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

 

None.

 

Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

 

Not applicable.

 

 

Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION.

 

None.

 

Item 6. EXHIBITS

 

Number	Description
3.1	Articles of Incorporation of Escalade, Incorporated. Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s 2007 First Quarter Report on Form 10-Q filed on April 13, 2007.
3.2	Amended By-laws of Escalade, Incorporated, as amended August 10, 2022. Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s 2022 Third Quarter Report on Form 10-Q filed on October 27, 2022.
10.1	Fifth Amendment dated October 11, 2024 to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of January 21, 2022 among Escalade, Incorporated, Indian Industries, Inc., each of their domestic subsidiaries, the lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on October 15, 2024.
31.1	Chief Executive Officer Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification.
31.2	Chief Financial Officer Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification.
32.1	Chief Executive Officer Section 1350 Certification.
32.2	Chief Financial Officer Section 1350 Certification.
101.CAL	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
101.INS	Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

ESCALADE, INCORPORATED
Date:         October 24, 2024	/s/ Stephen R. Wawrin Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (On behalf of the registrant and in his capacities as Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)