SHAREOWNERS
S H A R E O W N E R S
ANNUAL
ANNUAL
REPORT
REPORT
2015
FY 2015
NASDAQ: TESS
Making Wireless Work
The convergence of wireless and the Internet is creating opportunities for new applications that are
revolutionizing the way we live, work and play. TESSCO enables organizations to capitalize on their
opportunities by providing end-to-end solutions and an extraordinary business experience. We
deliver the knowledge, product and supply chain solutions required to build, use, maintain or resell
wireless voice, data and video systems. Our goal is to achieve success - for customers, team members,
manufacturers and shareowners.
Supported Systems
Site Survey Test & Maintenance
Wi-Fi Networks
Mobile Devices & Accessories
Wireless Backhaul
In-Vehicle Communications
Machine to Machine
Internet of Things
Enhanced Cellular Coverage & Capacity
Wireless Base Stations
Dear Fellow Shareowner,
Fiscal year 2015 was one of both tremendous challenge and achievement for TESSCO. Our financial results did not meet
our expectations, primarily as a result of the dramatic pullback in purchases from wireless carrier customers, tentativeness
from private system operator customers and our increased expenses from investments in talent and technology to execute
our growth initiatives. At the same time, we made great strides on these initiatives, which are designed to reduce carrier
concentration, renew growth and improve profitability.
For the past few years, TESSCO has focused on serving the new market opportunities being created by the convergence of
wireless and the Internet. While we are still as committed as ever to serving the needs of our carrier customers, we also are
moving well beyond our historical concentration in that market, by capitalizing on the new wireless voice, data, video, con-
nectivity and control systems emerging in other sectors. As we work to “make the difference in our customers’ success,” we
expect to gain a leadership position in the markets we serve and to create superior shareholder value.
To achieve this objective, we have been executing on four key initiatives, which we believe are the road map for renewed
growth and profitability:
1) We are aggressively developing new and expanded end-to-end product and supply chain solution offerings to support
wireless systems. These include base station infrastructure, mobile communications, cellular devices, remote monitoring
and control, including machine-to-machine and the Internet of Things, testing, installation and maintenance, enhanced
cellular coverage and capacity, and Wi-Fi.
2) We are well on our way in the transition from reactive and transactional selling to relationship-based, end-to-end
solution selling. We expect this to improve the customer experience and grow strategic customer relationships,
cross-selling and ultimately sales.
3) We have invested in talent and technology to fully develop our data, digital and Internet marketing and sales systems
to develop customer sales opportunities, deliver an extraordinary customer experience and improve productivity.
4) We are working to value engineer our entire business. While this includes cost reductions and elimination of unproductive
resources and tasks, it also includes simplifying and standardizing our policies and procedures to provide an extraordinary
customer experience at every link in the value chain.
While our investments in new talent, technology and marketing engines negatively impacted our profitability in fiscal 2015,
we are beginning to see a return on our investments. We believe these initiatives will be the drivers of sustainable revenue
and profit growth.
As we look to fiscal 2016, we are excited about our opportunities. On the carrier front, we are confident that spending by the
major providers will begin to rebound. The carriers perpetually need to expand and upgrade their infrastructure in order to
satisfy end users’ insatiable demand for reliable wireless voice and data communication everywhere and anywhere. Thus, we
expect carrier construction activity to increase as the year progresses. When building and spending do resume, we believe we
are well positioned to capture market share within all segments of the carrier ecosystem that we serve, including: the carriers
themselves, OEMs, program managers, general contractors, integrators and cellular tower owners. In addition, we are poised
to satisfy a range of infrastructure system needs, such as macro sites, DAS, wireless backhaul, carrier Wi-Fi and small cell
deployments. While the timing of the carrier rebound lacks clear visibility, we believe our initiatives will allow us to grow in
enterprise, industrial and government private systems, and commercial and retail resellers markets.
In summary, we are transforming the way we do business and are now better positioned to capitalize on the expected growth
in our industry. We are committed to a strategy focused on earnings growth, and returning value to our shareholders includ-
ing through quarterly cash dividends.
Finally, thank you to our customers, manufacturers, team members and you, our shareowners, for your continued support of
TESSCO. We look forward to updating you on our progress throughout the year.
Robert B. Barnhill, Jr.
Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Leadership
Directors
Robert B. Barnhill, Jr.
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
of TESSCO Technologies Incorporated
Jay G. Baitler
Former Executive Vice President of Staples, Inc.,
Contract Division
John D. Beletic
Vice-Chairman of X-IO Technologies, Inc.,
an electronic storage company and Chairman of iPass,
an Internet access company
Benn R. Konsynski, Ph.D.
George S. Craft Professor of Business Administration
for Information Systems and Operations Management
at the Goizueta Business School of Emory University
Dennis J. Shaughnessy
Retired Chairman of the Board of FTI Consulting Inc.
Morton F. Zifferer, Jr.
Chairman and CEO of New Standard Corporation,
a metal products manufacturer
Jerome C. Eppler
Owner of Eppler & Company, a private financial advisor
(Director Emeritus)
Officers
Robert B. Barnhill, Jr.
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Douglas A. Rein
Senior Vice President of Performance Systems and Operations
Aric M. Spitulnik
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
P. Douglas Dollenberg, Jr.
Vice President
Marika Patto
Vice President
Thomas F. Foster
Vice President
James R. Gaarder
Vice President
Jeffrey A. Kaufman
Vice President
Cynthia L. King
Vice President
Harold S. Kuff
Vice President
Steven E. Lehukey
Vice President
Jeffrey K. Lime
Vice President
William A. Moten
Vice President
Craig A. Oldham
Vice President
Elizabeth S. Robinson
Vice President
Nicholas J. Salatino
Vice President
Jeffrey L. Shockey
Vice President
Mary Beth Smith
Vice President
Steven K. Tom
Vice President
Damon M. Weatherill
Vice President
Edward S. Winslow
Vice President
D. Mark Wymer
Vice President
Shareowner Information
Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of Shareowners of TESSCO Technologies Incorporated is scheduled
to be held at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at:
TESSCO Technologies Incorporated
375 West Padonia Road
Timonium, MD 21093
Investor Relations
Analysts, investors and shareowners seeking additional information about TESSCO Technologies
Incorporated are invited to contact:
Sharon Merrill
77 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
Telephone: 617.542.5300
Facsimile: 617.423.7272
Internet: www.investors.com
Aric M. Spitulnik
375 West Padonia Road
Timonium, MD 21093
Telephone: 410.229.1419
Facsimile: 410.229.1168
Email:
spitulnik@tessco.com
A copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission is available without charge on the SEC website, www.sec.gov, or upon request
to the address above.
TESSCO on NASDAQ
TESSCO’s common stock trades on the
NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol TESS.
Transfer Agent & Registrar
Wells Fargo Shareowner Services
P.O. Box 64874
Saint Paul, MN 55164
Corporate Counsel
Ballard Spahr LLP
Baltimore, MD
Independent Public
Accounting Firm
Ernst & Young LLP
Baltimore, MD
Corporate Governance
The highest ethical standards have always been integral to TESSCO’s culture and business success. Guided by the “TESSCO Way,” each direc tor,
officer and team member is expected to observe the highest standards of ethical behavior in the performance of his or her duties for the Company.
The Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics can be found in the Investors section of our website, www.tessco.com. From a corporate
governance perspective, our six member Board of Directors includes five independent directors. The four standing committees of the Board
of Directors are comprised of independent directors with the exception of Mr. Barnhill who is a member of the Risk and Strategy Committee. In
addition, each of the four committees is chaired by an independent director. TESSCO is an Affirmative Action-Equal Opportunity Employer
M/F/D/V.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report contains a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, all of which are based on current expectations. These forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of the words
“may,” “will,” “believes,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” and similar expressions. Our future results of operations and other for-
ward-looking statements contained in this report involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For a variety of reasons, actual results may differ
materially from those described in any such forward-looking statement. Consequently, the reader is cautioned to consider all forward-looking
statements in light of the risks to which they are subject.
We are not able to identify or control all circumstances that could occur in the future that may adversely affect our business and op-
erating results. In addition to risk elsewhere discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 29, 2015,
included among the risks that could lead to a materially adverse impact on our business or operating results are loss of significant cus-
tomers or relationships; the strength of the customers’, vendors’ and affinity partners’ business; failure of our information technology
system or distribution system; third-party freight carrier interruption; the termination or non-renewal of limited duration agreements
or arrangements with our vendors and affinity partners which are typically terminable by either party upon several months notice;
increased competition from competitors, including manufacturers or national and regional distributors of the products we sell, and the
absence of significant barriers to entry which could result in pricing and other pressures on profitability and market share; technology
changes in the wireless communications industry, which could lead to significant inventory obsolescence and/or our inability to offer
key products that our customers demand; loss of customers either directly or indirectly as a result of consolidation among large wireless
service carriers and others within the wireless communications industry; increasingly negative or prolonged adverse economic condi-
tions, including those adversely affecting consumer confidence or consumer or business spending, or otherwise adversely affecting
our vendors or customers, including their access to capital or liquidity or our customers’ demand for or ability to fund or pay for the
purchase of our products and services; our inability to access capital and obtain or retain financing as and when needed; transitional
and other risks associated with acquisitions of companies that we may undertake in an effort to expand our business; our dependence
on a relatively small number of suppliers and vendors, which could hamper our ability to maintain appropriate inventory levels and meet
customer demand; the possibility that, for unforeseen reasons, we may be delayed in entering into or performing, or may fail to enter
into or perform, anticipated contracts or may otherwise be delayed in realizing or fail to realize anticipated revenues or anticipated sav-
ings; inability to protect certain intellectual property, including systems and technologies on which we rely; and our inability to hire or
retain for any reason our key professionals, management and staff.
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
___________
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED March 29, 2015
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ______ TO ______
Commission file number 0-24746
TESSCO Technologies Incorporated
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
52-0729657
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
11126 McCormick Road, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (410) 229-1000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value NASDAQ Global Select Market
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 of the Act). Yes
No
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes
No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports),
and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes
No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive
Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes
No
1
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not
contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or other information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller
Non-accelerated
reporting company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Large accelerated filer
filer
Smaller reporting company
Accelerated filer
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
No
The aggregate market value of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, held by non-affiliates of the registrant based on the closing sales price
of the Common Stock as quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market as of September 28, 2014, was $182,901,110.
The number of shares of the registrant's Common Stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding as of May 26, 2015, was 8,266,863.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement for the registrant’s 2015 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, scheduled to be held July 21, 2015, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
2
`
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART 1
Business
Item 1.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Properties
Legal Proceedings
Mine Safety Disclosures
PART II
Item 5.
Item 6.
Item 7.
Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Selected Financial Data
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item 9B. Other Information
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Item 11.
Item 12.
Executive Compensation
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and
Related Stockholder Matters
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Item 14.
Part IV
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedule
Item 15.
Schedule II: Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Signatures
3
Item 1. Business.
General
Part I
TESSCO Technologies Incorporated (TESSCO, we, or the Company) is Your Total Source® for making wireless
work. The convergence of wireless and the internet is revolutionizing the way the world lives, works and plays. New
systems and applications are unlocking potential at an unprecedented rate. TESSCO is there, thinking in new ways for
exceptional outcomes. TESSCO architects and delivers the product and value chain solutions to organizations responsible
for building, operating, maintaining and reselling cellular, mobile communications, Wi-Fi, machine-to-machine, Internet
of Things and wireless backhaul systems.
Our customers include a diversified mix of carrier and public network operators, tower owners, program
managers, contractors and integrators, wireless internet service providers, industrial and enterprise self-maintained users
(including railroads, utilities, mining operators, oil and gas operators and technicians), governments, manufacturers, and
value-added resellers, tier 1, 2 and 3 retail carrier stores and their independent agents, dealers and consumers, as well as
other local and national retailers. We currently serve an average of approximately 12,400 non-consumer customers per
month.
We provide our customers with support, products and services to build and maintain these primary systems:
• Broadband Connectivity
• Base Station Infrastructure
• Critical Communications
•
Indoor Network Architecture
• Maintenance Repair and Assembly
• Outdoor Network Architecture
• Remote Monitoring and Control
• Mobility and User Devices
We offer products in these categories: base station infrastructure, network systems, mobile devices and
accessories, and installation, test and maintenance products. We source and develop our product offer from leading
manufacturers throughout the world.
Our operational platform allows customers and manufacturers the opportunity to streamline the supply chain
process and lower total inventories and costs by providing guaranteed availability and complete, on-time delivery to the
point of use.
We began our “total source” operations in 1982, reincorporated as a Delaware corporation in 1987, and have been
listed on the NASDAQ Market (currently, NASDAQ Global Select) (symbol: TESS), since 1994. We operate under ISO
9001:2008 and TL 9000 registrations.
For information regarding our website address and material available free of charge through the website, see the
information appearing under the heading “Available Information” included in Item 7 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 29, 2015.
Customers
4
We evaluate our business and customers as one segment. However, to provide investors with increased visibility
into the markets we serve, we report revenue and gross profit by the following customer market units: (1) public carriers,
contractors and program managers that are generally responsible for building and maintaining the infrastructure system
and provide airtime service to individual subscribers; (2) government system operators including federal agencies as well
as state and local governments that run wireless networks for their own use; (3) private system operators such as major
utilities and transportation companies that run wireless networks for their own use; (4) commercial dealers and resellers
that sell, install and/or service cellular telephone, wireless networking, broadband and two-way radio communications
equipment primarily for the enterprise market; (5) retailers, dealer agents and carriers; and (6) our Major 3PL relationship
with AT&T Mobility (AT&T) that was fully transitioned by the end of fiscal year 2013. Beginning in the third quarter of
fiscal 2015, we began reporting private system operators and government system operators as two separate market units.
Our financial statements reflect this change for all periods presented.
Public carriers, contractors and program managers are system operators that are generally responsible for building
and maintaining the public infrastructure system and providing airtime service to individual subscribers, and accounted
for approximately 23% of fiscal year 2015 revenue. Government system operators including federal agencies and state
and local governments accounted for 6% of fiscal 2015 revenues. Private system operators, including commercial entities,
major utilities, transportation companies, manufacturers, and installation centers, accounted for 16% of fiscal 2015
revenues. Commercial dealers and resellers include dealers and resellers that sell, install and/or service cellular telephone,
wireless networking, broadband and two-way radio communications equipment for the enterprise and consumer markets.
These resellers include local and national value-added resellers and retailers, and accounted for 24% of fiscal 2015
revenues. Our retailers, independent dealer agents and carriers market accounted for 31% of fiscal 2015 revenues. Finally,
our Major 3PL relationship contributed no revenue in fiscal year 2014 or 2015, as our relationship with AT&T was fully
transitioned by the end of fiscal 2013.
Our top ten customer relationships totaled 20% of our total revenue for fiscal 2015, and no customer relationship
accounted for more than 7% of our total revenues. In April 2012, we were notified by AT&T of their intention to
transition their third party logistics retail store supply chain business away from us. As of the close of our fiscal 2013, this
business was fully transitioned, and AT&T is no longer our largest customer. We continue to supply product to this
customer’s other programs and to supply proprietary Ventev® products to AT&T retail stores.
Approximately 98% of our sales have been made to customers in the United States during each of the past three
fiscal years, although we currently sell to customers in over 80 countries. Due to our diverse product offering and our
wide customer base, our business is not significantly affected by seasonality in the aggregate. However, sales to our
retailers generally peak in our second and third quarters in preparation for the winter holiday season. Also, our base
station infrastructure sales are typically affected by weather conditions in the United States, especially in our fourth
quarter.
For more detailed financial information regarding our operating segments for each of the past three fiscal years,
see Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended March 29, 2015.
Products and Services
We principally offer competitively priced, manufacturer brand-name products, ranging from simple hardware
items to sophisticated test equipment, with per item prices ranging from less than $1 to over $150,000 and gross profit
margins ranging from less than 5% to 98%. We offer products classified into our four business categories: base station
infrastructure; network systems; installation, test and maintenance products, and mobile devices and accessories, which
accounted for approximately 41%, 17%, 8%, and 34% of fiscal year 2015 revenues, respectively. Base station
infrastructure products are used to build, repair and upgrade wireless broadband systems. Products include base station
antennas, cable and transmission lines, small towers, lightning protection devices, connectors, power systems, enclosures,
grounding, jumpers, miscellaneous hardware, and mobile antennas. Our base station infrastructure service offering
5
includes connector installation, custom jumper assembly, site kitting and logistics integration. Network systems products
are used to build and upgrade public and private wireless broadband networks. Products include fixed and mobile
broadband radio equipment, wireless networking filtering systems, distributed antenna systems, two-way radios and
security and surveillance products. This product category also includes training classes, technical support and engineering
design services. Installation, test and maintenance products are used to install, tune, and maintain wireless
communications equipment. Products include sophisticated analysis equipment and various frequency-, voltage- and
power-measuring devices, as well as an assortment of tools, hardware, GPS, safety and replacement and component parts
and supplies required by service technicians. Mobile devices and accessory products include cellular and smart phone and
data device accessories such as replacement batteries, cases, screen protectors, speakers, mobile amplifiers, power
supplies, bluetooth and corded headsets, mounts, car antennas, music accessories and data and memory cards.
While we principally provide manufacturer brand-name products, a variety of products are developed,
manufactured and offered under TESSCO-owned brands including Ventev®, Wireless Solutions®, and TerraWave®. The
products we offer under these brands generally consist of device accessory products that fall into the mobile device and
accessory product category, as well as WLAN and network systems accessory products and remote monitoring and
control solutions that fall into the network systems category. Also, our WLAN certification training is offered under our
training unit GigaWave® trade name and is reported in the network systems category. We have not incurred significant
research and development expenditures in any of the last three fiscal years. Sales of proprietary products were 13% of our
total sales in fiscal year 2015.
Our products are sold as part of our integrated product and supply chain solutions. Our supply chain services for
all product areas are grouped under Knowledge, Configuration, Delivery and Control. Knowledge solutions include the
entire suite of TESSCO knowledge tools that focus on educating the industry, including product highlights, showcases
and/or comparisons, with comprehensive specifications on the products, solutions and applications that are offered and
reinforced by engineering, sales and technical support, as well as hands-on training programs. Configuration services are
comprised of customized product solution kitting and assembly, logistics management and consumer and retail
merchandising and marketing, allowing the products to be delivered ready for immediate use, installation or resale. Our
delivery system allows the customer to select speed of delivery options, to specific delivery locations, designed to
eliminate the customer’s need for staging and warehousing. Our services that increase customer control include
predetermined monthly pricing levels, the ability to monitor multi-site purchasing with pre-approved, customized
parameters indicating who is able to order how much of which specific products, order delivery tracking, product usage
tracking, history reporting and alternative financing options.
As part of our commitment to customer service, we typically allow most customers to return most products for
any reason, for credit, within 30 days of the date of purchase. Total returns and credits have been less than 3% of revenues
in each of the past three fiscal years.
Revenues from sales of products purchased from our largest vendor, CommScope Inc., accounted for 14% of total
fiscal 2015 revenues. Sales of products purchased from our ten largest vendors generated approximately 41% of our total
fiscal 2015 revenues.
The amount of purchases we make from each of our approximately 400 vendors may significantly increase or
decrease over time. As the level of business changes, we may request, or be requested by our vendors, to adjust the terms
of our relationships. Therefore, our ability to purchase and re-sell products from each of our vendors depends on being
able to reach agreements with these vendors on business terms. In addition, the agreements and arrangements on which
most of our larger vendor relationships are based are typically of limited duration and terminable for any or no reason by
either party upon notice of varying lengths, usually between several months and two years. Generally, we believe that
alternative sources of supply are available for many of the product types we carry.
The scope of products available for purchase from a given vendor may fluctuate, and is generally limited only by
the scope of the vendor’s catalog and available inventory. Therefore, we often source the same product type from multiple
6
vendors, although in some instances the availability of a branded product is limited to a particular vendor, or other
business concerns might dictate that we favor one vendor over another. The terms of the vendor contract typically apply to
all products purchased from a particular vendor, whether or not the item is specifically identified in the contract.
When negotiating with vendors, we seek the most favorable terms available under the circumstances. Our
preferred terms include among others, terms that provide for product warranty and return rights, as well as product
liability and intellectual property indemnification rights, in each case consistent with our preferred business methods and
objectives. We have not been able, nor do we expect in the future to be able, to negotiate the inclusion of all our preferred
terms, or our preferred language for those terms, in every contract. The degree of our success in this regard is largely a
function of the parties’ relative bargaining positions.
We are dedicated to superior performance, quality and consistency of service in an effort to maintain and expand
vendor relationships but there can be no assurance that we will continue to be successful in this regard in the future, or
that competitive pressures or other events beyond our control will not have a negative impact on our ability to maintain
these relationships or to continue to derive revenues from these relationships.
Method of Operation
We believe that we have developed a highly integrated, technologically advanced and efficient method of
operation based on the following key tenets:
• Understanding and anticipating customers' needs and building solutions by cultivating lasting relationships;
• Allowing customers to make the best decisions by delivering product knowledge, not just information,
through our knowledge tools, including The Wireless Journal®, and the TESSCO.com®, Solution and
Transaction System;
• Responding to what we refer to as "the moments of truth" by providing customers with sales, service and
technical support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year;
• Providing customers what they need, when and where they need it by delivering integrated product and
supply chain solutions; and
• Helping customers enhance their operations by providing real-time order tracking and performance
measurement.
We operate as a team of teams structured to enhance marketing innovation, customer focus and operational
excellence.
Market Development and Sales: In order to meet the needs of a dynamic and diverse marketplace, our sales and marketing
activities are organized on an end-market basis. Sales teams are focused on our customers: 1) public carriers, contractors,
and program managers, 2) government system operators 3) private system operators, 3) commercial dealers and resellers,
4) retailers, independent dealer agents and carriers, and 5) until its transition in fiscal 2013, our major 3PL relationship
with AT&T. This organization allows for the development of unique product and solution offerings to meet the needs of
our diverse customer base.
We attempt to understand and anticipate customers' needs and to build solutions by cultivating lasting
relationships. Our commercial customer database contains detailed information on approximately 219,000 existing
customers, including the names of key personnel, past contacts, inquiries, and buying and credit histories. Additionally,
we have information on approximately 610,000 contacts that serve as potential new customers in our market. This
extensive customer database enables us to identify and target potential customers and to market specific products to these
targeted customers. Potential customers are identified through their responses to TESSCO.com®, direct-marketing
materials, advertisements in trade journals and industry trade shows, as well as through referrals from other TESSCO
customers and vendors. Customer relationship representatives pursue these customer inquiries through distribution of our
7
Knowledge Tools and through phone contact, electronic communications, and field visits. The information technology
system tracks potential customer identification from the initial marketing effort through the establishment and
development of a purchasing relationship. Once a customer relationship is established, we carefully analyze purchasing
patterns and identify opportunities to encourage customers to make more frequent purchases of a broader array of
products. Scheduled contacts are made to each regularly purchasing customer for the purpose of information
dissemination, order generation, database maintenance, and the overall enhancement of the business relationship. The
process is aimed at attracting prospects to TESSCO, converting these prospects to buying customers, and ultimately
migrating them to loyal, total-source monthly buyers.
Solutions Development and Product Management: We actively monitor advances in technologies and industry trends,
both through market research and continual customer and manufacturer interaction, and continue to enhance our product
offering as new wireless communications products and technologies are developed. To complement our broad product
portfolio, we provide technical expertise and consultation to assist our customers in understanding technology and
choosing the right products for their specific application. Our Sale Architects offer applications engineering to market-
specific applications such as Positive Train Control, Smart Grid and fiber networks, custom integrated solutions for power
systems, and site kitting and flexible custom network design services for areas such as in-building coverage, tower design,
and wireless video surveillance systems.
In addition to determining the product offering, our Product and Solutions Development Teams provide the
technical foundation for both customers and our personnel. The Wireless Product Knowledge System (WPKS) is
continually updated to add new products and additional technical information in response to manufacturer specification
changes and customer inquiries. WPKS contains detailed information on each stock keeping unit (SKU) offered, including
full product descriptions, category classifications, technical specifications, illustrations, product cost, pricing and delivery
information, alternative and associated products, and purchase and sales histories. This information is available on a real-
time basis to all of our personnel for product development, procurement, technical support, cataloging and marketing.
Strategic Marketing – As a thought leader in the wireless industry, TESSCO’s marketing materials are used for both
educating the industry and for promoting TESSCO’s value. We utilize our WPKS to develop both broad-based and
customized product solution information materials. These materials are designed to encourage both existing and potential
customers to realize the value we provide in their product solution and supply chain decisions. These Knowledge Tools
are an integrated suite of informational print and electronic media. They include: The Wireless Guide®, our product
catalogue which is readily available electronically on TESSCO.com; The Wireless Journal®, a trade journal with a
bimonthly circulation of approximately 107,300, which is designed to introduce the reader to our capabilities and product
offerings, and contains information on significant industry trends and product reviews; The Wireless Update®, which is
emailed on a regular basis to an average of 92,000 different individuals and is uniquely produced for various portions of
our customer base; The Wireless Bulletin® family, including The Wireless Bulletin for Accessories for Handsets, Tablets
& Music Devices which has a bimonthly circulation of approximately 12,200, The Wireless Bulletin for Installation, Test
& Maintenance Products, The Wireless Bulletin for Security & Surveillance, The Wireless Bulletin for Site Planning, The
Wireless Bulletin for Training, and The Wireless Bulletin for Wireless Networking Solutions, which are distributed on an
as-need basis in a given year; Technical Application Notes, interactive Systems Supported Reference Drawings, and
White Papers, which provide in-depth planning and installation instructions and diagrams; and TESSCO.com®. In
addition, TESSCO publishes online, Web-browser-enabled, companion versions of its many printed publications,
including The Wireless Bulletin Online, The Wireless Guide Online, and The Wireless Journal Online.
TESSCO.com® is our e-commerce site and the gateway to Your Total Source® for the knowledge, products, and
solutions for building, using, and maintaining and reselling wireless broadband solutions. It offers online access to a real-
time system of Knowledge, Configuration, Delivery and Control of product and supply chain solutions and is intended for
our commercial customers. Its feature-rich capabilities include:
• Customer-specific home pages that offer customized presentations of relevant, market-specific content,
tailored to logged-in users’ specific roles in wireless;
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• Powerful product and knowledge search capabilities enabled by Google search engine logic;
• Real-time pricing and product availability;
• Easy ordering capabilities, including a Worksheet ordering tool which is the foundation for building end-to-
end solutions and requirements, and which allows for the construction and configuration of a total-source
order; Worksheets can be immediately converted to an order, as well as saved, copied, shared, uploaded and
emailed;
• A Knowledge Center that unlocks all assets of TESSCO.com and enables the streamlined navigation of
TESSCO’s knowledge content (articles, white papers, Systems Supported illustrations, videos, installation
guides, product selection guides, or any other content featured on TESSCO.com);
• A recommendation engine that offers product alternatives based on product attributes and past purchase
history;
• A variety of useful customer service, financial and technical support pages, including the Your Account
page which includes all of the tools necessary to manage or modify orders, update the account, find the
right support, review Worksheets, handle warranty claims, and explore TESSCO’s capabilities;
• Order confirmation – specifying the contents, order status, delivery date, tracking number and total cost of
an order;
• An Order Tracking Center that provides online order status, at every step of the way, of all order items,
available in the real-time Your Account Portal;
• Order reservations, order status, back-order details and four-month order history;
• The ability to view invoices online and customer-specific pricing, based on our tiered pricing levels tied to a
customer's aggregate purchase volume;
• Systems and Devices Supported pages feature interactive, how-to illustrations for a range of wireless
applications that help with system design or device accessory support; the illustrations show the product
required for a given application, allowing the user to configure an end-to-end solution and build a Worksheet;
• Manufacturer portal pages designed to showcase each manufacturer partner’s offer in a custom fashion;
• A Feedback Center that makes it easy for customers to provide input on our services, Knowledge Tools and
•
Website; and
Interactive versions of various Knowledge Tools, including: several customized versions of The Wireless
Bulletin®, The Wireless Update®, The Wireless Guide®, and The Wireless Journal®.
Our Knowledge Tools empower our customers to make better decisions by delivering product knowledge, rather than
just information. These tools also afford our manufacturers the opportunity to develop their brands and promote their
products to a broad and diverse customer base.
Customer Support and Order Entry: Our customer support teams are responsible for responding to what we refer to as
"the moments of truth" by delivering sales and customer support services through an effective and efficient transaction
system. We also continually monitor our customer service performance through report cards sent for each product
delivery, customer surveys and regular interaction with customers. By combining our broad product offering with a
commitment to superior customer service, we seek to reduce a customer's overall procurement costs by enabling the
customer to consolidate the number of suppliers from which it obtains products, while also reducing the customer's need
to maintain high inventory levels.
Our information technology system provides detailed information on every customer account, including recent
inquiries, buying and credit histories, separate buying locations within a customer account and contact diaries for key
personnel, as well as detailed product information, including technical, product availability and pricing information. The
information technology system increases sales productivity by enabling any customer support representative to provide
any customer with personalized service and also allows non-technical personnel to provide a high level of technical
product information and order assistance.
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We believe that our commitment to providing prompt, friendly and efficient customer service before, during and
after the sale enables us to maximize sales, customer satisfaction and customer retention. The monthly average number of
non-consumer customers decreased slightly from approximately 12,700 for fiscal year 2014 to approximately 12,400 in
fiscal year 2015. The average monthly purchase from customers remained flat at approximately $3,700 in fiscal year
2014 and fiscal year 2015.
Procurement and Inventory Management: Our product management and purchasing system aims to provide customers
with a total source of broad and deep product availability, while maximizing the return on our inventory investment.
We use our information technology system to monitor and manage our inventory. Historical sales results, sales
projections and information regarding vendor lead times are all used to determine appropriate inventory levels. The
information technology system also provides early warning reports regarding upcoming inventory requirements. As of
March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014, we had an immaterial level of backlog orders. Most backlog orders as of March 29,
2015, are expected to be filled within 90 days of fiscal year-end. For the fiscal years ended March 29, 2015 and March 30,
2014, inventory write-offs were 0.5% and 0.3% of total purchases, respectively. In many cases, we are able to return slow-
moving inventory to our vendors pursuant to stock rotation agreements. Inventory turns for fiscal years 2015 and 2014
were 6.2 and 6.9, respectively.
Fulfillment and Distribution: Orders are received at our Timonium, Maryland, Reno, Nevada and San Antonio, Texas
customer sales support centers. As orders are received, customer representatives have access to technical information,
alternative and complementary product selections, product availability and pricing information, as well as customer
purchasing and credit histories and recent inquiry summaries. An automated warehouse management system, which is
integrated with the product planning and procurement system, allows us to ensure inventory control, to minimize multiple
product shipments to complete an order and to limit inventory duplication. Bar-coded labels are used on every product,
allowing distribution center personnel to utilize radio frequency scanners to locate products, fill orders and update
inventory records in real-time, thus reducing overhead associated with the distribution functions. We contract with a
variety of freight line and parcel transportation carrier partners to deliver orders to customers.
Performance and Delivery Guarantee (PDG) charges are generally calculated on the basis of the weight of the
products ordered and on the delivery service requested, rather than on distance to the customer. We believe that this
approach emphasizes on-time delivery instead of shipment dates, enabling customers to minimize their inventories and
reduce their overall procurement costs while guaranteeing date specific delivery, thereby encouraging them to make us
their total source supplier.
Information Technology: Our information technology system is critical to the success of our operations. We have made
substantial investments in the development of this system, which integrates cataloging, marketing, sales, fulfillment,
inventory control and purchasing, financial control and internal and external communications. The information technology
system includes highly developed customer and product databases and is integrated with our Configuration, Fulfillment
and Delivery system. The information contained in the system is available on a real-time basis to all of our employees as
needed and is utilized in every area of our operations.
We believe that we have been successful to date in pursuing a highly integrated, technologically advanced and
efficient method of operations; however, disruption to our day-to-day operations, including failure of our information
technology system, distribution system, or freight carrier interruption, could impair our ability to receive and process
orders or to ship products in a timely and cost-efficient manner.
Competition
The wireless communications distribution industry is competitive and fragmented, and is comprised of
distributors, such as Brightstar, D&H, Genco ATC Logistics, Superior Communications and VoiceComm in our retail
market and Alliance Corporation, Anixter, Comstor, Graybar, Hutton Communication, KPG Logistics, Ingram Micro,
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Talley Communications, Tech Data, Site Pro 1, VAV Wireless, Westcon and Winncom in our other markets. In addition,
many manufacturers sell and fulfill directly to customers. Barriers to entry for distributors are relatively low, particularly
in the mobile devices and accessory market, and the risk of new competitors entering the market is high. In addition, the
agreements or arrangements with our customers or vendors looking to us for product and supply chain solutions are
typically of limited duration and are terminable by either party upon several months or otherwise short notice.
Accordingly, our ability to maintain these relationships is subject to competitive pressures and challenges. Some of our
current competitors have substantially greater capital resources and sales and distribution capabilities than we do. In
response to competitive pressures from any of our current or future competitors, we may be required to lower selling
prices in order to maintain or increase market share, and such measures could adversely affect our operating results. We
believe, however, that our strength in service, the breadth and depth of our product offering, our information technology
system, our knowledge and expertise in wireless technologies and the wireless marketplace, and our large customer base
and purchasing relationships with approximately 400 manufacturers, provide us with a significant competitive advantage
over new entrants to the market.
Continuing changes in the wireless communications industry, including risks associated with conflicting
technology, changes in technology, inventory obsolescence, and consolidation among wireless carriers, could adversely
affect future operating results.
We believe that the principal competitive factors in supplying products to the wireless communications industry
are the quality and consistency of customer service, particularly timely delivery of complete orders, breadth and quality of
products offered and total procurement costs to the customer. We believe that we compete favorably with respect to each
of these factors. In particular, we believe we differentiate ourselves from our competitors based on the breadth of our
product offering, our ability to quickly provide products and supply chain solutions in response to customer demand and
technological advances, our knowledge and expertise in wireless technologies and the wireless marketplace, the level of
our customer service and the reliability of our order fulfillment process.
Intellectual Property
We seek to protect our intellectual property through a combination of trademarks, service marks, confidentiality
agreements, trade secret protection and, if and when appropriate, patent protection. Thus far, we have generally sought to
protect our intellectual property, including our product data and information, customer information and information
technology systems, through trademark filings and nondisclosure, confidentiality and trade secret agreements. We
typically require our employees, consultants, and others having access to our intellectual property, to sign confidentiality
and nondisclosure agreements. There can be no assurance that these confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements will be
honored, or whether they can be fully enforced, or that other entities may not independently develop systems,
technologies or information similar to that on which we rely.
TESSCO Communications Incorporated, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TESSCO Technologies Incorporated,
maintains a number of registered trademarks and service marks in connection with our business activities, including: A
Simple Way of Doing Business Better®, Delivering Everything for Wireless®, Delivering What You Need…When and
Where You Need It®, GigaWave Technologies®, Going Beyond the Ordinary®, LinkUPS®, ORDERflow®, Solutions That
Make Wireless Work®, TerraWave Solutions®, TESSCO®, TESSCO Making Wireless Work®, TESSCO Technologies®,
TESSCO.com®, Ventev®, Ventev Innovations®, The Vital Link to a Wireless World®, The Wireless Bulletin®, The Wireless
Guide®, The Wireless Journal®, Wireless Solutions®, The Wireless Update®, Your Total Source®, Your Virtual Inventory®,
among many others. Our general policy is to file for trademark and service mark protection for each of our trademarks and
trade names and to enforce our rights against any infringement.
We currently hold one patent related to our online order entry system. We intend, if and when appropriate, to seek
patent protection for any additional patentable technology. The ability to obtain patent protection involves complex legal
and factual questions. Others may obtain patent protection for technologies that are important to our business, and as a
result, our business may be adversely affected. In response to patents of others, we may need to license the right to use
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technology patented by others, or in the event that a license cannot be obtained, to design our systems around the patents
of others.
Environmental Regulation
We are subject to various laws and governmental regulations concerning environmental matters and employee
safety and health in the United States. We are also subject to regulation by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration concerning employee safety and health matters. Compliance with these federal, state and local laws and
regulations related to protection of the environment and employee safety and health has had no material effect on our
business. There were no material capital expenditures for environmental projects in fiscal year 2015 and there are no
material expenditures planned for such purposes in fiscal year 2016.
Employees
As of March 29, 2015, we had 786 full-time equivalent employees. Of our full-time equivalent employees, 402
were engaged in customer and vendor service, marketing, sales and product management, 276 were engaged in fulfillment
and distribution operations and 108 were engaged in administration and technology systems services. No employees are
covered by collective bargaining agreements. We consider our employee relations to be excellent.
Executive Officers
Executive officers are appointed annually by the Board of Directors and, subject to the terms of any applicable
employment agreement, serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Information regarding our executive officers is
as follows:
Name
Age
Position
Robert B. Barnhill, Jr. .....
71 Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Aric Spitulnik ..................
43 Senior Vice President,
Secretary, and Chief
Financial Officer
Douglas A. Rein ..............
55 Senior Vice President of
Performance Systems and
Operations
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Robert B. Barnhill, Jr. has served as President and Chief
Executive Officer since founding the current business in
1982. Mr. Barnhill has been a director of the Company
since 1982, and has served, and continues to serve, as
Chairman of the Board since November 1993.
Aric Spitulnik joined the Company in 2000. Mr. Spitulnik
was appointed Controller in 2005 and Vice President in
2006. In 2012, he was appointed Corporate Secretary and
in 2014, he was appointed Senior Vice President. Since
October 2013, Mr. Spitulnik has served as the Company’s
Chief Financial Officer.
Douglas A. Rein joined the Company in July 1999 as
Senior Vice President of Performance Systems and
Operations. Previously, he was director of operations for
Compaq Computer Corporation and vice president,
distribution and
Intelligent
logistics operations
Electronics.
for
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We are not able to identify or control all circumstances that could occur in the future that may adversely affect our
business and operating results. The following are certain risk factors that could adversely affect our business, financial
position and results of operations. These risk factors and others described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should be
considered in connection with evaluating the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K
because these factors could cause the actual results and conditions to differ materially from those projected in the forward-
looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties that management is not aware of or focused on, or that management
currently deems immaterial may also adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations. If our
business, financial position and results of operations are adversely affected by any of these or other adverse events, our
stock price would also likely be adversely affected.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS
We face significant competition in the wireless communications distribution industry.
The wireless communications distribution industry is competitive and fragmented, and is comprised of several
national distributors, as well as numerous regional distributors. In addition, many manufacturers sell and fulfill directly to
customers. Barriers to entry for distributors are relatively low, particularly in the mobile devices and accessory market,
and the risk of new competitors entering the market is high. Some of our current competitors have substantially greater
capital resources and sales and distribution capabilities than we do. In response to competitive pressures from any of our
current or future competitors, we may be required to lower selling prices in order to maintain or increase market share,
and such measures could adversely affect our operating results.
We typically purchase and sell our products and services on the basis of individual sales or purchase orders, and even
in those cases where we have standing agreements or arrangements with our customers and vendors, those agreements
and arrangements typically contain no purchase or sale obligations and are otherwise terminable by either party upon
several months or otherwise short notice.
Our sales to customers and our purchases from vendors are largely governed by individual sales or purchase
orders, so there is no guarantee of future business. In some cases, we have formal agreements or arrangements with
significant customers or vendors, but they are largely administrative in nature and are terminable by either party upon
several months or otherwise short notice, and they typically contain no purchase or sale obligations. Many of our
customer and vendor contracts contain “evergreen” clauses, although this too is largely a matter of administrative
convenience, because the contracts are nevertheless typically terminable on short notice, and because no purchase and sale
obligation in any event arises other than pursuant to an accepted purchase order. When negotiating with customers and
vendors, we seek the most favorable terms available under the circumstances. Our preferred vendor terms include, among
others, terms that provide for product warranty and return rights, as well as product liability and intellectual property
indemnification rights, in each case consistent with our preferred business methods and objectives. We have not been
able, nor do we expect in the future to be able to negotiate the inclusion of all our preferred terms, or our preferred
language for those terms, in every contract. The degree of our success in this regard is largely a function of the parties’
relative bargaining positions.
When unable to negotiate the inclusion of our preferred terms or preferred language in a particular vendor
contract, we assess any increased risk presented, as well as mitigating factors, analyze our overall business objectives, and
then proceed accordingly. In some instances, we refuse the contract and seek other sources for the product, and in other
instances business objectives and circumstances are determined to outweigh or mitigate any increased risk, or otherwise
dictate that we proceed with the contract notwithstanding. We consistently seek to manage contractual risks, and are not
aware of any significant unanticipated losses resulting from a vendor contract not including our preferred terms or
language. However, even when we are successful in negotiating our preferred terms, performance of these terms is not
assured.
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If our vendors or suppliers refuse to, or for any reason are unable to supply products to us, and if we are not able
to procure those products from alternative sources, we may not be able to maintain appropriate inventory levels to meet
customer demand and our financial position and results of operations would be adversely affected. Similarly, if customers
decide to make purchases from other sources, experience significant changes in demand internally or from their own
customer bases, become financially unstable, or are acquired by another company, our ability to generate revenues from
these customers may be significantly affected, resulting in an adverse effect on our financial position and results of
operations.
The loss or any change in the business habits of key customers or vendors may have a material adverse effect on our
financial position and results of operations.
Because our standing arrangements and agreements with our customers and vendors typically contain no purchase
or sale obligations and are terminable by either party upon several months or otherwise relatively short notice, we are
subject to significant risks associated with the loss or change at any time in the business habits and financial condition of
key customers or vendors. In fiscal year 2013, sales to our largest customer relationship, AT&T Mobility, accounted for
approximately 30% of total revenues. The transition of this retail store supply chain business with AT&T was completed
in the fourth quarter of our fiscal 2013, and revenues from this business have therefore terminated.
After the transition of our relationship with AT&T, our customer concentration is now relatively small, with no
customer accounting for more than 7% of total revenues in fiscal 2015. However, customer mix can change rapidly, and
we may see changes in customer concentrations in the future.
Sales of products purchased from our largest vendor, CommScope Inc. generated approximately 14% of our total
revenues in fiscal 2015, and sales from our largest ten vendors generated approximately 41% of total revenues. As is the
case with many of our vendor and customer relationships, our contractual arrangement with CommScope Inc. is
terminable by either party upon several months notice. If this contract and our relationship with CommScope Inc., or other
significant vendor relationships, terminate for any reason and we are not able to procure those products from alternative
sources, we may not be able to maintain appropriate inventory levels to meet customer demand and our financial position
and results of operations would be adversely affected.
We have experienced the loss and changes in the business habits of significant customer and vendor relationships
in the past and expect to do so in the future. It is the nature of our business. Over the past decade, however, we have
generally been successful in replacing significant customer and vendor relationships when lost. However, the loss of
customer relationships like AT&T, and the corresponding reduction in the volume of product sales identified to those
relationships, can affect our negotiating ability with vendors supplying those products. This can affect our margins in
sales of those products to other customers. If we are unable to replace those products at favorable pricing and terms, or
if we are unable to acquire those products from vendors or offer those products to our customers on favorable terms, our
competitiveness may suffer and result in reduced revenues and profits. There can be no assurance that we will be
successful in replacing any of our past, present or future vendor or customer relationships if and when lost, or in the event
of, or in response to, a substantial reduction in revenues from or attributable to any such relationship.
Changes in customer or product mix could cause our gross margin percentage to decline.
We continually experience changes in customer and product mix that affects gross margin. Changes in customer
and product mix result primarily from changes in customer demand, customer acquisitions, selling and marketing
activities and competition. If rapid growth in the public carriers, contractors and program managers market, and
specifically for distributed antenna systems products, continues, we will face pressure to maintain current gross margins.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain historical gross margins in the future.
Our business depends on the continued tendency of wireless equipment manufacturers and network operators to
outsource aspects of their business to us in the future.
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We provide functions such as distribution, inventory management, fulfillment, customized packaging, e-
commerce solutions, and other outsourced services for many wireless manufacturers and network operators. Certain
wireless equipment manufacturers and network operators have elected, and others may elect, to undertake these services
internally. Additionally, our customer service levels, industry consolidation, competition, deregulation, technological
changes or other developments could reduce the degree to which members of the global wireless industry rely on
outsourced logistic services such as the services we provide. Any significant change in the market for our outsourced
services could have a material adverse effect on our business. Our outsourced services are generally provided under short-
term contractual arrangements. The failure to obtain renewals or otherwise maintain these agreements on terms, including
price, consistent with our current terms could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We require substantial capital to operate, and the inability to obtain financing on favorable terms will adversely impact
our business, financial position and results of operations.
Our business requires substantial capital to operate and to finance accounts receivable and product inventory that
are not financed by trade creditors. We have historically relied upon cash generated from operations, revolving credit
facilities and trade credit from our vendors to satisfy our capital needs and finance growth. As the financial markets
change and new regulations come into effect, the cost of acquiring financing and the methods of financing may change.
Changes in our credit rating or other market factors may increase our interest expense or other costs of capital, or capital
may not be available to us on competitive terms to fund our working capital needs. Our credit facilities and long-term debt
arrangements are of specified terms and contain various financial and other covenants that may limit our ability to borrow
or limit our flexibility in responding to business conditions. While we generally expect to either extend or replace our
credit facilities at term expirations, there can be no assurances that we will be able to do so on favorable terms, or at all.
The inability to maintain or when necessary obtain adequate sources of financing could have an adverse effect on our
business. Our current revolving credit facility expires in October 2016. Some of our existing financing instruments
involve variable rate debt, thus exposing us to risk of fluctuations in interest rates. Such fluctuations in interest rates could
have an adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations. We may in the future use interest rate
swaps in an effort to achieve a desired proportion of fixed and variable rate debt. We would utilize these derivative
financial instruments to enhance our ability to manage risk, including interest rate exposures that exist as part of our
ongoing business operations. However, our use of these instruments may not effectively limit or eliminate our exposure to
a decline in operating results due to changes in interest rates.
Our ability to borrow funds under our revolving credit agreement could be constrained by the level of eligible
receivables and inventory and by any other failure to meet certain covenants included in our revolving and other credit
agreements.
Our borrowing availability under our existing revolving credit facility is limited to certain amounts of eligible
accounts receivable and inventory. If the value of eligible accounts receivable and inventory were to decrease
significantly, the amount available for borrowing under the facility could decrease or our ability to borrow under our
credit facility could be suspended or terminate. As of the end of fiscal 2015, our asset balance continues to support the full
amount available under our current facility and our earnings have kept us in compliance with all current debt covenants.
Borrowing under our revolving credit facility is also conditioned upon compliance with the other terms of our revolving
credit agreement and other loan agreements, including the term loan secured by our Global Logistics Center. There are no
assurances, however, that we will continue to comply with all applicable covenants and agreements, and in the event that
we do not, our ability to borrow under our revolving credit facility could be suspended or terminate.
Compliance with regulations regarding the use of “conflict minerals” could limit the supply and increase the cost of
certain of our products, and customers may seek other sources if we are unable to demonstrate to their satisfaction that
our products are conflict free.
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Increased focus on environmental protection and social responsibility initiatives led to the passage of Section
1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the "Dodd-Frank Act"), and its
implementing SEC regulations. The Dodd-Frank Act imposes supply chain diligence and disclosure requirements for
certain manufacturers of products containing specific minerals that may originate in or near the Democratic Republic of
the Congo (the "DRC") and finance or benefit local armed groups. These "conflict minerals" are commonly found in
certain of the products that we acquire from vendors and distribute to customers and are also found in certain products in
our Ventev® product line that we contract to be manufactured by others or that we assemble. The implementation of these
new regulations may limit the sourcing and availability of some of the raw materials used in certain of these products.
This in turn may affect our ability to obtain sufficient quantities of our products and may affect related pricing. Because
we are considered a manufacturer of certain of our Ventev® products, we are subject to additional “conflict minerals”
diligence and disclosure requirements with regard to these products. Some of our customers may elect to disqualify us as
a supplier if we are unable to verify that the products we sell to them are DRC conflict free.
The ongoing weakness in the global economic environment may have significant effects on our customers and
suppliers that could result in material adverse effects on our business, operating results, and stock price.
Notwithstanding the slow economic recovery in the U.S., the ongoing weakness in the global economic
environment – which has included, among other things, significant reductions in available capital and liquidity from banks
and other providers of credit, substantial reductions and/or fluctuations in equity and currency values worldwide,
significant decreases in consumer confidence and consumer and business spending, high rates of unemployment and
concerns that the worldwide economy may continue to experience significant challenges – may materially adversely affect
our customers’ access to capital or willingness to spend capital on our products, and/or their levels of cash liquidity with
which to pay for our products. In addition, our suppliers’ access to capital and liquidity may continue to be affected,
which may in turn adversely impact their ability to maintain inventories, production levels, and/or product quality, or
cause them to raise prices or lower production levels, or result in their ceasing operation.
The potential effects of the weakness in the global economic environment are difficult to forecast and mitigate. As
a consequence, our operating results for a particular period may be more difficult to predict. Any of the foregoing effects
could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition, and could adversely affect our
stock price.
We may be unable to successfully execute our merchandising and marketing strategic initiatives.
We are focusing our sales and marketing efforts and initiatives to maximize sales. If we fail to successfully
execute these initiatives, our business, financial position and results of operations could be adversely affected.
The telecommunications products marketplace is dynamic and challenging because of the continued introduction of
new products and services.
We must constantly introduce new products, services and product features to meet competitive pressures. We may
be unable to timely change our existing merchandise sales mix in order to meet these competitive pressures, which may
result in increased inventory costs, inventory write-offs or loss of market share.
Additionally, our inventory may also lose value due to price changes made by our significant vendors, in cases
where our arrangements with these vendors do not provide for inventory price protection, or in cases that the vendor is
unable or unwilling to provide these protections.
Consolidation among wireless service carriers could result in the loss of significant customers.
The wireless service carrier industry has experienced significant consolidation in recent years. If any of our
significant customers or partners are acquired or consolidate with other carriers, or are otherwise involved in any
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significant transaction that results in them ceasing to do business with us, or significantly reducing the level of business
that they do with us, our revenues from those customers could be significantly affected, possibly resulting in an adverse
effect on our financial position and results of operations.
The failure of our information systems, or our inability to maintain or upgrade our information systems without
incident or delay, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations.
We are highly dependent upon our internal computer and telecommunication systems, many of which are
proprietary, to operate our business. These systems support all aspects of our business operations, including inventory and
order management, shipping, receiving and accounting. Most of our information systems contain a number of internally
developed applications. In addition, these systems require continued maintenance and also require upgrading or
replacement from time to time. There can be no assurance that our information systems will not fail or experience
disruptions, that we will be able to attract and retain qualified personnel necessary for the operation of such systems, that
we will be able to expand and improve our information systems, that we will be able to convert to new systems efficiently
as and when necessary, or that we will be able to integrate new programs effectively with our existing programs. Any of
such problems, or any significant damage or destruction of these systems, could have an adverse effect on our business,
financial position and results of operations.
We depend heavily on e-commerce, and website security breaches or Internet disruptions could have a material adverse
effect on our business, financial position and results of operations.
We rely on the Internet (including TESSCO.com®) for a significant percentage of our orders and information
exchanges with our customers. The Internet and individual websites have experienced a number of disruptions and
slowdowns, some of which were caused by organized attacks. In addition, some websites have experienced security
breakdowns. There can be no assurances that our website will not experience any material breakdowns, disruptions or
breaches in security. If we were to experience a security breakdown, disruption or breach that compromised sensitive
information, this could harm our relationship with our customers or suppliers. Disruption of our website or the Internet in
general could impair our order processing or more generally prevent our customers and suppliers from accessing
information or placing orders. This could have an adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of
operations.
System security breaches or data protection breaches could adversely disrupt our business and harm our reputation,
financial position and results of operations.
We manage and store various proprietary information and sensitive or confidential data relating to our business.
In addition, we routinely process, store and transmit large amounts of data, including sensitive and personally identifiable
information. Breaches of our security measures or the accidental loss, inadvertent disclosure or unapproved dissemination
of proprietary information or sensitive or confidential data about us or our customers or vendors, including the potential
loss or disclosure of such information or data as a result of fraud, trickery or other forms of deception, could expose us,
our customers or the individuals affected to a risk of loss or misuse of this information, result in litigation and potential
liability for us, damage our brand and reputation or otherwise harm our business. In addition, the cost and operational
consequences of implementing further data protection measures could be significant. Such breaches, costs and
consequences could adversely affect our business, results of operations or cash flows.
The inability to hire or retain certain key professionals, management and staff could adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
The nature of our business includes (but is not limited to) a high volume of transactions, business complexity,
wide geographical coverage, and broad scope of products, suppliers, and customers. In order to compete, we must attract,
retain and motivate executives and other key employees, including those in managerial, technical, sales, marketing and
support positions. Hiring and retaining qualified executives, information technology and business generation personnel are
17
critical to our business. We rely heavily upon our senior management team, and since February 2015 have announced that
the employment of two of our executive officers, Gerry Garland, who formerly served as Senior Vice President Product
Lines of Business, and Said Tofighi, who formerly served as Senior Vice President Global Manufacturer Supply Chain
and Ventev Innovations, would terminate. The loss of these individuals, or the loss of our President and the Chairman of
our Board of Directors, Robert B. Barnhill, Jr., particularly at this time following the departure of Mr. Garland and with
the pending departure of Mr. Tofighi, or the loss of any of the other members of our senior management team, could have
a material adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations.
To attract, retain and motivate qualified employees, we rely heavily on stock-based incentive awards such as
Performance Stock Units (PSUs). If performance targets associated with these PSUs are not met, or the value of such
stock awards does not appreciate as measured by the performance of the price of our common stock and/or if our other
stock-based compensation otherwise ceases to be viewed as a valuable benefit, our ability to attract, retain and motivate
our employees could be adversely impacted, which could negatively affect our business, financial position and results of
operations and/or require us to increase the amount we spend on cash and other forms of compensation. Our ability to
issue PSUs is also limited by the provisions of and our available shares under our current and/or future stock incentive
plans, which may be subject to shareholder approval. As of the end of the year, there were 426,260 shares available for
future awards under our incentive plans and we have no plans to seek shareholder approval at our 2015 Annual Meeting
for an increase in such number. In addition, if and when we do seek such shareholder approval, we may not be successful.
Therefore, our ability to offer stock-based incentive awards may be limited, which may have an adverse effect on our
continued ability to attract and retain, and motivate, our employees, and on our business, financial position and results of
operations.
The damage or destruction of any of our principal distribution or administrative facilities could materially adversely
impact our business, financial position and results of operations.
If any of our distribution centers in Hunt Valley, Maryland or Reno, Nevada, were to be significantly damaged or
destroyed, we could suffer a loss of product inventory and our ability to conduct our business in the ordinary course could
be materially and adversely affected. Similarly, if our office locations in Maryland, Nevada or Texas were to be
significantly damaged or destroyed, our ability to conduct marketing, sales and other corporate activities in the ordinary
course could be adversely affected.
We depend on third parties to manufacture products that we distribute and, accordingly, rely on their quality control
procedures.
Product manufacturers typically provide limited warranties directly to the end consumer or to us, which we
generally pass through to our customers. If a product we distribute for a manufacturer has quality or performance
problems, our ability to provide products to our customers could be disrupted, which could adversely affect our
operations.
We are subject to potential declines in inventory value.
We are subject to the risk that the value of our inventory will decline as a result of price reductions by vendors or
technological obsolescence. It is the policy of many of our vendors to protect distributors from the loss in value of
inventory due to technological change or the vendors’ price reductions. Some vendors (including those who manufacture
our proprietary products), however, may be unwilling or unable to pay us for price protection claims or products returned
to them under purchase agreements. No assurance can be given that such practices to protect distributors will continue,
that unforeseen new product developments will not adversely affect us, or that we will be able to successfully manage our
existing and future inventories.
Our future operating results depend on our ability to purchase a sufficient amount of finished goods and bulk
inventory to meet the demands of our customers.
18
Our ability to meet customers' demands depends, in part, on our ability to obtain timely and adequate delivery of
inventory from our suppliers. We have experienced shortages in the past that have negatively impacted our operations.
Although we work closely with our suppliers to avoid these types of shortages, there can be no assurances that we will not
encounter these problems in the future. Furthermore, certain of our components are available only from a single source or
limited sources. We may not be able to diversify sources in a timely manner. A reduction or interruption in supplies or a
significant increase in the price of supplies could have a negative impact on our results of operations or financial
condition.
If our business does not perform well, or if we otherwise experience a decline in the fair values of a portion or all of
our business, we may be required to recognize impairments of our intangible or other long-lived assets, which could
adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.
Goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets are initially recorded at fair value and are not amortized, but are
reviewed for impairment at least annually or more frequently if impairment indicators are present.
In assessing the recoverability of goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets, we make estimates and
assumptions about sales, operating margin, growth rates and discount rates based on our budgets, business plans,
economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and marketplace data. There are inherent uncertainties related to these
factors and management’s judgment in applying these factors. We first perform a qualitative analysis to determine if it is
more likely than not that goodwill or indefinite lived intangible assets are impaired. This analysis includes assumptions
and estimates related to macroeconomic, industry and company specific events and trends. In the event that we find it is
more likely than not that an impairment has occurred a quantitative analysis is performed. Goodwill and indefinite lived
asset valuations are calculated using an income approach based on the present value of future cash flows of each reporting
unit. We could be required to evaluate the recoverability of goodwill and indefinite lived assets prior to the annual
assessment if we experience disruptions to the business, unexpected significant declines in operating results, divestiture of
a significant component of our business or sustained market capitalization declines. These types of events and the
resulting analyses could result in goodwill and indefinite lived asset impairment charges in the future. Impairment charges
could substantially affect our financial results in the periods of such charges. In addition, impairment charges would
negatively impact our financial ratios and could limit our ability to obtain financing in the future. As of March 29, 2015,
we had $12.5 million of goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets, which represented approximately 6.6% of total
assets.
Deferred income tax represents the tax effect of the differences between the book and tax bases of assets and
liabilities. Deferred tax assets are assessed periodically by management to determine if they are realizable. Factors in
management’s determination include the performance of the business, projections of future taxable income, and the
feasibility of ongoing tax planning strategies. If based on available information, it is more likely than not that the deferred
income tax asset will not be realized then a valuation allowance must be established with a corresponding charge to net
income. Such charges could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
Our future results of operations may be impacted by the prolonged weakness in the current economic environment
which may result in an impairment of any goodwill recorded and/or other long lived assets or the recording of a valuation
allowance on our deferred tax assets, which could adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.
We primarily rely on trademark filings and confidentiality agreements to protect our intellectual property rights.
In an effort to protect our intellectual property, including our product data, customer information and information
technology systems, through trademark filings and nondisclosure, confidentiality and trade secret agreements, we
typically require our employees, consultants and others having access to this information or our technology to execute
confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements. These agreements, however, may not provide us with adequate protection
against improper use or disclosure of confidential information, and these agreements may be breached. A breach of
19
confidentiality could adversely affect our business. In addition, in some situations, these agreements may conflict with, or
be subject to, the rights of third parties with whom our employees, consultants and others have previous employment or
consulting relationships. Also, others may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and
techniques or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets. Adequate remedies may not exist in the event of unauthorized use
or disclosure of our confidential information. The disclosure of our proprietary information or trade secrets could impair
our competitive position and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of
operations. Others may obtain patent protection for technologies that are important to our business, and as a result, our
business, financial position and results of operations may be adversely affected. In response to patents of others, we may
need to license the rights to use the technology patented by others, or in the event that a license cannot be obtained, design
our systems around the patents of others. There can be no assurances as to our ability to obtain any such licenses or to
design around the patents of others, and our inability to do so could have an adverse effect on our business, financial
position and results of operations.
We offer credit to our customers and, therefore, are subject to significant credit risk.
We sell our products to a large and diverse customer base. We finance a significant portion of such sales through
trade credit, typically by providing 30-day payment terms. As a result, our business could be adversely affected in the
event of a deterioration of the financial condition of our customers, resulting in the customers’ inability to repay us. This
risk may increase if there is a general economic downturn affecting a large number of our customers and in the event our
customers do not adequately manage their business or properly disclose their financial condition.
We may explore additional growth through acquisitions.
As part of our growth strategy, we may continue to pursue the acquisition of companies that either complement or
expand our existing business. As a result, we regularly evaluate potential acquisition opportunities, which may be material
in size and scope. In addition to those risks to which our business and the acquired businesses are generally subject to, the
acquisition of these businesses gives rise to transactional and transitional risks, and the risk that the anticipated benefits
will not be realized.
Risks associated with the foreign suppliers from whom our products are sourced could adversely affect our financial
performance.
The products we sell are sourced from a wide variety of domestic and international suppliers. Global sourcing of
many of the products we sell is an important factor in our financial performance. Since the onset of the weakness in the
global economic environment in 2008, certain of our suppliers, particularly those in the far-east, have experienced
financial difficulties and we believe it is possible that a limited number of suppliers may either cease operations or require
increased prices in order to fulfill their obligations. Changes in our relationships with suppliers or increases in the costs of
purchased raw materials, component parts or finished goods could result in delays, inefficiencies or our inability to market
products. In addition, our profit margins would decrease if prices of purchased raw materials, component parts, or finished
goods increase and we are unable to pass on those increases to our customers.
We rely on independent shipping companies to deliver inventory to us and to ship products to customers.
We rely on arrangements with independent shipping companies, for the delivery of our products from vendors and
to customers. The failure or inability of these shipping companies to deliver products, or the unavailability of their
shipping services, even temporarily, could have a material adverse effect on our business. We may also be adversely
affected by an increase in freight surcharges due to rising fuel costs and added security. This could adversely impact our
selling, general and administrative expenses or lead to price increases to our customers which could decrease customer
demand for our products.
Changes in accounting rules could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.
20
We prepare our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States. These accounting principles are subject to interpretation by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and various other bodies formed to interpret and create appropriate accounting
policies. A change in these policies or a new interpretation of an existing policy could have a significant effect on our
reported results and may affect our reporting of transactions.
Changes in income tax and other regulatory legislation.
We operate in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and make plans for our structure and operations
based upon existing laws and anticipated future changes in the law. When new legislation is enacted with minimal
advance notice, or when new interpretations or applications of existing laws are made, we may need to implement
changes in our policies or structure. We are susceptible to unanticipated changes in legislation, especially relating to
income and other taxes, import/export laws, hazardous materials and other laws related to trade, accounting and business
activities. Such changes in legislation may have a significant adverse effect on our business.
We may be subject to litigation.
We may be subject to legal claims or regulatory matters involving stockholder, consumer, antitrust, intellectual
property and other issues. Litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. An
unfavorable ruling could include monetary damages or other adverse effects. Were an unfavorable ruling to occur, there
exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on our business, financial position and results of operations for the
period in which the ruling occurred or future periods.
We may incur product liability claims which could be costly and could harm our reputation.
The sale of our products subjects us to the risk of product liability claims. We have also been increasing our focus
on sales of TESSCO private labeled products and on providing an increased level of support services, including product
and network designs, which also subjects us to risk of product liability and performance claim risk. We seek to allocate
product liability risk to our vendors where available, but may not be successful in doing so. We currently maintain product
liability insurance, but our product liability insurance coverage is subject to various coverage exclusions and limits and
may not be obtainable in the future on terms acceptable to us, or at all. We do not know whether claims against us with
respect to our products and services, if any, would be successfully defended or whether we might be successful in
allocating that risk to others, or whether our insurance would be sufficient to cover liabilities resulting from such claims.
Any claims successfully brought against us could adversely affect our financial condition, and if substantial and relating
to our products or industry generally, could affect our business as a whole.
Our expanding offering of private labeled products may have a negative impact on our relationship with our
manufacturer partners.
Our product offering includes a growing number of our own proprietary products, which represented
approximately 13% of our sales in fiscal 2015. Our proprietary products often compete with other manufacturers' branded
items that we offer. A manufacturer may choose to not sell its products to us, or may substantially increase the price of
products to us, in response to the competition created by the sales of our proprietary branded products. Either could have a
material adverse effect on our business and financial performance.
Claims that our products infringe the proprietary rights of others could harm our business and cause us to incur
significant costs.
21
Our industry has increasingly been subject to patent and other intellectual property rights litigation. We expect
this trend to continue and accelerate and expect that we may be required to defend against this type of litigation, not only
asserted against our own intellectual property rights, but also against the intellectual property of products which we have
purchased for resale. Further, we may be obligated to indemnify and defend our customers if the products or services we
supply to them are alleged to infringe a third party’s intellectual property rights. While we may be able to seek
indemnification from our suppliers to protect our customers and us from such claims, there is no assurance that we will be
successful in negotiating contractual terms with our suppliers to provide for such indemnification, or that we will
otherwise be successful in obtaining such indemnification or that we will be protected from such claims. We may also be
prohibited from marketing products, could be forced to market products without desirable features, or could incur
substantial costs to defend legal actions, including where third parties claim that we or vendors who may or may not have
indemnified us are infringing upon their intellectual property rights. In recent years, individuals and groups have begun
purchasing intellectual property assets for the sole purpose of making claims of infringement and attempting to extract
settlements from target companies. Even if we believe that such infringement claims are without merit, the claims can be
time-consuming and costly to defend and divert management’s attention and resources away from our business. Claims of
intellectual property infringement may require us to enter into costly settlements or pay costly damage awards, or face a
temporary or permanent injunction prohibiting us from marketing or selling certain products or services, which could
affect our ability to compete effectively. If an infringement claim is successful, we may be required to pay damages or
seek royalty or license arrangements, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms. Even if we have an
agreement that indemnifies us against such costs, the indemnifying party may be unable or unwilling to uphold its
contractual obligations to us.
We may be adversely affected by future laws or regulations.
We are subject to various U.S. Federal, state and local, and non-U.S. laws and regulations. We cannot predict the
substance or impact of pending or future legislation or regulations, or the application thereof. The introduction of new
laws or regulations or changes in existing laws or regulations, or the interpretations thereof, could increase the cost of
doing business for us or our customers or vendors or restrict our actions and adversely affect our financial condition,
operating results and cash flows. An example of such changing regulation is the adoption by the SEC of annual disclosure
and reporting requirements for those SEC reporting companies who manufacture or contract to manufacture products that
contain conflict minerals, when such minerals are necessary to the production or functionality of such product. Each
reporting company is required to conduct a reasonable country of origin inquiry to determine whether such minerals were
mined from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC., or adjoining countries. In certain instances, further due
diligence measures are required, and the results of the reasonable country of origin inquiry and due diligence measures
must be disclosed annually. There are costs and uncertainties associated with complying with these disclosure
requirements, including for diligence to determine the sources of conflict minerals that we may find to be used in our
products. In addition, some of our customers may elect to disqualify us as a supplier if we are unable to verify that the
products we sell to them are DRC conflict free.
RISKS RELATED TO OWNERSHIP OF OUR COMMON STOCK
A significant portion of our voting stock is controlled by our executive officers, directors and beneficial owners of 5%
or more of our common stock.
Our executive officers, directors and beneficial owners of 5% or more of our common stock and their affiliates, in
the aggregate, beneficially owned approximately 66% of our outstanding common stock as of March 29, 2015. Robert B.
Barnhill, Jr., our chairman, president and chief executive officer beneficially owned approximately 22% of our
outstanding common stock as of March 29, 2015. Should these shareholders decide to act together, they would have the
ability to significantly influence all matters requiring shareholder approval, including the election of directors and any
significant corporate transaction requiring shareholder approval.
22
Without approval of our Board of Directors, it may be difficult for a third party to acquire control of the Company.
This could affect the price of our common stock.
Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, certain arrangements to which we are party, and
applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL) may each make it more difficult for or may
prevent a third party from acquiring control of us or changing our Board of Directors and management. These provisions
include advance notice bylaws and limitations on the removal of directors other than for cause, and then only upon the
affirmative vote of 75% of our outstanding common stock. We are also afforded the protections of Section 203 of the
DGCL, which will prevent us from engaging in a business combination with a person who acquires at least 15% of our
common stock for a period of three years from the date such person acquired such common stock, unless Board of
Director or shareholder approval were obtained. Some believe that the provisions described above, as well as any resulting
delay or prevention of a change of control transaction or changes in our Board of Directors or management, could deter
potential acquirers or prevent the completion of a transaction in which our shareholders could receive a substantial
premium over the then current market price for their shares. We, on the other hand, believe that these provisions serve to
protect our shareholders against abusive takeover tactics, to preserve and maximize the value of the Company for all
shareholders, and to better ensure that each shareholder will be treated fairly in the event of an unsolicited offer to acquire
the Company.
Potential uncertainty resulting from unsolicited acquisition proposals and related matters may adversely affect our
business.
In the past we have received, and in the future we may receive, unsolicited proposals to acquire our company or
our assets. For example, in September 2010, the Board of Directors received an unsolicited non-binding proposal from
Discovery Group for the acquisition of all of our stock not then owned by Discovery Group. At the time, Discovery
owned approximately 14% of the Company’s then outstanding common stock. The review and consideration of
acquisition proposals and related matters could require the expenditure of significant management time and personnel
resources. Such proposals may also create uncertainty for our employees, customers and vendors. Any such uncertainty
could make it more difficult for us to retain key employees and hire new talent, and could cause our customers and
vendors to not enter into new arrangements with us or to terminate existing arrangements. Additionally, we and members
of our board of directors could be subject to future lawsuits related to unsolicited proposals to acquire us. Any such future
lawsuits could become time consuming and expensive.
Our quarterly operating results are subject to significant fluctuation.
Our operating results have fluctuated from quarter to quarter in the past, and we expect that they will continue to
do so in the future. Our earnings may not continue to grow at rates similar to the growth rates achieved in recent years and
may fall short of either a prior fiscal period or investors’ expectations. Most of our operating expenses, such as
compensation expenses, do not vary directly with the amount of sales and are difficult to adjust in the short term. As a
result, if sales in a particular quarter are below expectations for that quarter, we may not proportionately reduce operating
expenses for that quarter, and therefore such a sales shortfall would have a disproportionate effect on our net income for
the quarter.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2. Properties.
Our corporate headquarters and primary distribution center, known as the Global Logistics Center (GLC), is
located in a Company-owned 184,000 square-foot facility north of Baltimore, in Hunt Valley, Maryland.
23
Our sales, marketing and administrative offices are located in 102,200 square feet of leased office space near the
GLC, in Timonium Maryland. The monthly rent payments now range from $162,600 to $177,700 throughout the
remaining lease term, which expires on December 31, 2017.
In addition, we lease 66,000 square feet of office and warehouse space adjacent to the GLC in Hunt Valley,
Maryland. The monthly rent for this facility ranges from $33,000 to $35,700 throughout the lease term, which expires on
July 17, 2017, subject to our annual option to terminate.
Additional sales and marketing offices are located in 13,100 square feet of leased office space in San Antonio,
Texas. Monthly rent payments range from $15,300 to $16,900 and the lease expires October 31, 2018.
West coast sales and fulfillment are facilitated by our Company-owned 115,000 square-foot Americas Sales &
Logistics Center (ALC) located in Reno, Nevada. The ALC is used to configure and fulfill product and supply chain
solutions, provide disaster backup for the GLC, and allow for future growth of staffing and increased fulfillment
capabilities.
While we anticipate the need for additional space, we believe our existing facilities are generally adequate for our
current requirements and that suitable additional space will be available as needed to accommodate future expansion of
our operations. The GLC is encumbered by a deed of trust as security for a term loan. See Note 7 to our Consolidated
Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
Lawsuits and claims are filed against us from time to time in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe
that any lawsuits or claims currently pending against the Company, individually or in the aggregate, are material, or will
have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. In addition, from time to time, we are
also subject to review from federal and state taxing authorities in order to validate the amounts of income, sales and/or use
taxes which have been claimed and remitted. No federal, state and local tax returns are currently under examination,
except for the following state sales tax audits:
• Maryland for the tax period of January 2011 through December 2014
• Florida for the tax period of November 2011 through October 2014
• New York for the tax period of June 2012 through February 2015
As we are routinely audited by state taxing authorities, we have estimated exposure and established reserves for
our estimated sales tax audit liability.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
24
Part II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities.
Our common stock has been publicly traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, since September 28, 1994,
under the symbol "TESS." The quarterly range of prices per share during fiscal years 2014 and 2015 are as follows:
High
Low
Dividends
Declared
Fiscal Year 2014
First Quarter ...................................................................................................................
Second Quarter ..............................................................................................................
Third Quarter .................................................................................................................
Fourth Quarter ................................................................................................................
$ 26.57 $ 18.60
26.35
34.32
32.55
41.99
31.28
41.24
Fiscal Year 2015
First Quarter ...................................................................................................................
Second Quarter ..............................................................................................................
Third Quarter .................................................................................................................
Fourth Quarter ................................................................................................................
$ 38.49 $ 30.05
29.37
32.76
26.67
34.28
21.63
29.45
$
$
0.18
0.18
0.18
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.20
As of May 26, 2015, the number of shareholders of record of the Company was 116. We estimate that the number
of beneficial owners as of that date was approximately 2,644.
On July 28, 2009, we announced that our Board of Directors decided to commence a dividend program and we
have since declared dividends on a quarterly basis. Any future declaration of dividends and the establishment of any
corresponding record and payment dates remains subject to further determination from time to time by the Board of
Directors. Additional information with respect to the quarterly dividends declared in fiscal years 2015 and 2014 is
contained in our Selected Financial Data. The declaration and payment of future dividends will depend on many factors,
including, but not limited to, our earnings, financial condition, business development needs and regulatory considerations,
and is at the discretion of our Board of Directors. Our revolving credit facility limits the amount of cash dividends that we
may pay to $8.0 million in any twelve month period. Additionally, on November 30, 2012 this agreement was further
amended to allow for a special one-time dividend of $0.75 per share of common stock, or $6.04 million, paid on
December 27, 2012.
On April 23, 2014, the Board of Directors expanded the Company’s existing stock buyback program and
authorized the purchase on a non-accelerated basis of up to $10.0 million of the Company’s stock over a 24-month period,
ending in April 2016. Shares may be purchased from time to time in the open market, by block purchase, or through
negotiated transactions, or possibly other transactions managed by broker-dealers. Through the end of fiscal year 2015, we
had repurchased 157,954 shares under the expanded stock buyback program for approximately $4.6 million, or an average
cost of $29.17 per share. No shares were repurchased during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. As of March 29, 2015, $5.4
million remained available for repurchase under this program.
We also withhold shares from our employees and directors from time to time to facilitate employees’ minimum
federal and state tax withholdings related to vested performance stock units, restricted stock and exercised stock options.
For fiscal years 2015 and 2014 the total value of shares withheld for taxes were $1,612,900 and $1,646,300, respectively.
25
Our revolving credit facility and term loan with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and SunTrust Bank limit
to $30.0 million the aggregate dollar value of shares that may be repurchased from May 31, 2007 forward. At March 29,
2015, we had the ability to repurchase approximately $11.7 million in additional shares of our common stock without
violating this covenant.
The information required by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K, pursuant to paragraph (a) of Item 5 of Form 10-K, is
incorporated by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Equity Compensation Plan Information” in the
Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which is anticipated to be filed pursuant to
Regulation 14A no later than one hundred twenty (120) days following the end of the fiscal year reported on.
26
Stock Performance Graph
The graph set forth below shows the value of an investment of $100 on March 28, 2010 in each of the Company’s
Common Stock, the Russell 2000 Index and a peer group for the period of March 28, 2010 to March 29, 2015. The graph
assumes that all dividends, if any, were reinvested.
COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among TESSCO Technologies Incorporated, the Russell 2000 Index,
and a Peer Group
$300
$250
$200
$150
$100
$50
$0
3/28/10
3/27/11
4/1/12
3/31/13
3/30/14
3/29/15
TESSCO Technologies Incorporated
Russell 2000
Peer Group
*$100 invested on 3/28/10 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.
Fiscal year ending March 29.
Copyright© 2015 Russell Investment Group. All rights reserved.
3/27/2011
$ 77.06
122.81
126.97
1 – The Peer Group consists of the following: Ingram Micro Inc., W.W. Grainger, Inc., Anixter International Inc., ScanSource, Inc., InfoSonics Corporation, and Tech
Data Corp.
TESSCO Technologies Incorporated
Russell 2000
Peer Group 1
3/29/2015
$ 195.36
195.40
192.86
3/28/2010
$ 100.00
100.00
100.00
3/30/2014
$ 262.15
179.10
209.15
3/31/2013
$ 157.68
146.04
170.72
4/1/2012
$ 173.43
125.56
166.44
The peer group was selected based on a review of publicly available information about these companies and the
Company’s determination that they are engaged in business similar to that of the Company.
27
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA
Revenues ...........................................
Cost of goods sold .............................
Gross profit .......................................
Selling, general and administrative
expenses ........................................
Restructuring charge .........................
Operating expenses ...........................
Income from operations ....................
Interest, net ........................................
Income before provision for income
taxes ..............................................
Provision for income taxes ...............
Net income ........................................
Diluted earnings per share ...............
Cash dividends declared per common
share .............................................
Percentage of Revenues
Revenues ...........................................
Cost of goods sold .............................
Gross profit .......................................
Selling, general and administrative
expenses ........................................
Restructuring charge .........................
Operating expenses ...........................
Income from operations ....................
Interest, net ........................................
Income before provision for income
taxes ..............................................
Provision for income taxes ...............
Net income ........................................
SELECTED OPERATING DATA
Average non-consumer buyers per
month ............................................
Return on assets (1) ............................
Return on equity (2) ...........................
BALANCE SHEET DATA
Working capital .................................
Total assets ........................................
Short-term debt .................................
Long-term debt .................................
Shareholders' equity ..........................
March 29, 2015
March 30, 2014
March 31, 2013
April 1, 2012
March 27, 2011
Fiscal Years Ended
$ 549,619,000
418,730,500
130,888,500
$ 560,086,600
421,928,700
138,157,900
115,936,700
573,400
116,510,100
14,378,400
167,300
14,211,100
5,576,800
8,634,300
1.04
$
$
0.80
$
$
$
$
111,668,000
--
111,668,000
26,489,900
177,700
26,312,200
10,063,100
16,249,100
1.94
0.74
100.0%
76.2
23.8
21.1
0.1
21.2
2.6
0.0
2.6
1.0
1.6
100.0%
75.3
24.7
19.9
0.0
19.9
4.7
0.0
4.7
1.8
2.9%
$ 752,565,000 $ 733,389,900 $ 605,219,200
471,938,600
133,280,600
584,733,700
148,656,200
605,525,800
147,039,200
117,820,600
--
117,820,600
29,218,600
224,200
121,652,400
--
121,652,400
27,003,800
292,900
117,305,100
--
117,305,100
15,975,500
420,600
28,994,400
26,710,900
15,554,900
11,200,500
17,793,900 $
10,274,000
16,436,900 $
5,536,700
10,018,200
2.15 $
2.03 $
1.47 $
0.55 $
1.27
0.40
$
$
$
100.0%
80.5
19.5
15.7
0.0
15.7
3.9
0.0
3.9
1.5
2.4%
100.0%
79.7
20.3
16.6
0.0
16.6
3.7
0.1
3.6
1.4
2.2%
100.0%
78.0
22.0
19.4
0.0
19.4
2.6
0.1
2.6
0.9
1.7%
12,400
4.6%
7.6%
12,700
8.5%
14.9%
13,000
9.0%
18.1%
13,000
9.1%
19.1%
12,700
6.4%
13.5%
$
86,076,900 $
88,090,400 $
76,551,700 $
189,600,700
250,700
1,957,500
113,142,100
186,960,300
250,200
2,208,200
114,828,100
194,300,000
249,700
2,458,300
102,802,600
65,779,800 $ 49,379,000
158,701,800
359,100
2,959,100
78,880,100
202,497,700
249,200
2,708,000
93,651,900
(1) Net income divided by the average total assets.
(2) Net income divided by the average total equity.
28
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition (MD&A) should be
read in conjunction with the other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including Part I, “Item 1: Business,” Part
II, “Item 6: Selected Financial Data,” and Part II, “Item 8: Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” The various
sections of this MD&A contain a number of forward-looking statements, all of which are based on our current
expectations and could be affected by the uncertainties and risk factors described throughout this filing, including Part I,
“Item 1A: Risk Factors.” Our actual results may differ materially from those described in any such forward-looking
statement.
Business Overview and Environment
TESSCO Technologies Incorporated (TESSCO, we, or the Company) architects and delivers innovative product
and value chain solutions to support wireless systems. Although we sell products to customers in over 80 countries,
approximately 98% of our sales are to customers in the United States. We have operations and office facilities in
Timonium and Hunt Valley, Maryland, Reno, Nevada and San Antonio, Texas.
We evaluate our business and customer base as one segment. This segment includes the following markets: (1)
public carriers, contractors, and program managers that are generally responsible for building and maintaining the
infrastructure system and provide airtime service to individual subscribers; (2) government system operators including
federal agencies and state and local governments that run wireless networks for their own use; (3) private system
operators including commercial entities such as major utilities and transportation companies that run wireless networks for
their own use; (4) commercial dealers and resellers that sell, install and/or service cellular telephone, wireless networking,
broadband and two-way radio communications equipment primarily for the enterprise market; (5) retailers, independent
dealer agents and carriers; and (6) our Major 3PL Relationship with AT&T, that was fully transitioned at the end of fiscal
2013. Beginning in the third quarter of fiscal 2015, we began reporting private system operators and government system
operators as two separate market units. Our financial statements included here reflect this change for all periods
presented.
We offer a wide range of products that are classified into four business categories: base station infrastructure;
network systems; installation, test and maintenance; and mobile devices and accessories. Base infrastructure products are
used to build, repair and upgrade wireless telecommunications. Sales of traditional base station infrastructure products,
such as base station radios, cable and transmission lines and antennas are in part dependent on capital spending in the
wireless communications industry. Network systems products are used to build and upgrade computing and Internet
networks. We have also been growing our offering of wireless broadband, network equipment, security and surveillance
products, which are not as dependent on the overall capital spending of the industry. Installation, test and maintenance
products are used to install, tune, and maintain wireless communications equipment. This category is made up of
sophisticated analysis equipment and various frequency-, voltage- and power-measuring devices, replacement parts and
components as well as an assortment of tools, hardware and supplies required by service technicians. Mobile devices and
accessory products include cellular phone and data device accessories. Our customers generally have the ability to
purchase any of our product categories.
The wireless communications distribution industry is competitive and fragmented, and is comprised of several
national distributors. In addition, many manufacturers sell direct. Barriers to entry for distributors are relatively low,
particularly in the mobile devices and accessory market, and the risk of new competitors entering the market is high.
Consolidation of larger wireless carriers has and will most likely continue to impact our current and potential customer
base. In addition, the agreements or arrangements with our customers or vendors looking to us for product and supply
chain solutions are typically of limited duration and are terminable by either party upon several months or otherwise short
notice. Our ability to maintain these relationships is subject to competitive pressures and challenges. We believe,
however, that our strength in service, the breadth and depth of our product offering, our information technology system,
our large customer base and our purchasing relationships with approximately 400 manufacturers provide us with a
29
significant competitive advantage over new entrants to the market.
Results of Operations
The following tables summarize the results of our operations for fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013:
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Market Revenues
2015
2014
2014 to 2015
$ Change % Change
2013
2013 to 2014
$ Change % Change
Public Carriers, Contractors & Program
Managers ..................................................... $ 127,426 $ 149,196
33,757
Government System Operators ....................
81,559
Private System Operators ............................
Commercial Dealers & Resellers ................ 134,195 140,552
Retailers, Independent Dealer Agents &
Carriers ........................................................ 169,778 155,023
Revenues, excluding Major 3PL
relationship .................................................. 549,619 560,087
Major 3PL relationship ................................
31,495
86,725
--
--
$ (21,770)
(2,262)
5,166
(6,357)
(14.6%)
(6.7%)
6.3%
(4.5%)
$ 111,146
35,857
85,456
138,737
$ 38,050
(2,100)
(3,897)
1,815
34.2%
(5.9%)
(4.6%)
1.3%
14,755
9.5%
167,895
(12,872)
(7.7%)
(10,468)
--
(1.9%)
--
539,091
213,474
20,996
(213,474)
3.9%
(100.0%)
Total Revenues .................................................. $ 549,619 $ 560,087
$ (10,468)
(1.9%)
$ 752,565
$(192,478)
(25.6%)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Market Gross Profit
2015
2014
2014 to 2015
$ Change % Change
2013
2013 to 2014
$ Change % Change
Public Carriers, Contractors & Program
Managers ..................................................... $ 24,081 $ 31,013
Government System Operators
Private System Operators ............................
Commercial Dealers & Resellers ................
Retailers, Independent Dealer Agents &
Carriers ........................................................
Gross Profit, excluding Major 3PL
relationship .................................................. 130,889 138,158
Major 3PL relationship ................................
8,283
22,926
37,977
8,497
23,110
39,396
37,622
36,142
--
--
$
(6,932)
(214)
(184)
(1,419)
(22.4%)
(2.5%)
(0.8%)
(3.6%)
$ 24,183
9,231
24,365
38,345
$
6,830
(734)
(1,255)
1,051
28.2%
(8.0%)
(5.2%)
2.7%
1,480
4.1%
35,903
239
0.7%
(7,269)
--
(5.3%)
--
132,027
15,012
6,131
(15,012)
4.6%
(100.0%)
Total Gross Profit ............................................... 130,889 138,158
(7,269)
(5.3%)
147,039
(8,881)
(6.0%)
Selling, general and administrative expenses .... 115,937 111,668
--
Restructuring Charge .........................................
Operating Expenses ........................................... 116,510 111,668
26,490
14,378
178
167
26,312
14,211
10,063
5,577
8,634 $ 16,249
Income from operations ..................................
Interest, net .........................................................
Income before provision for income taxes ......
Provision for income taxes ................................
Net income ...................................................... $
573
4,269
573
4,842
(12,112)
(11)
(12,101)
(4,486)
3.8%
--
4.3%
(45.7%)
(5.9%)
(46.0%)
(44.6%)
117,821
--
117,821
29,218
224
28,994
11,200
(6,153)
--
(6,153)
(2,728)
(46)
(2,682)
(1,137)
(5.2%)
--
(5.2%)
(9.3%)
(20.7%)
(9.3%)
(10.2%)
(7,615)
(46.9%)
$ 17,794
$
(1,545)
(8.7%)
Diluted earnings per share ................................. $
1.04 $
1.94
(0.90)
(46.3%)
$
2.15
$
(0.21)
(9.7%)
30
Fiscal Year 2015 Compared to Fiscal Year 2014
Revenues. Revenues for fiscal year 2015 decreased 1.9% as compared to fiscal year 2014. Revenue from the
public carriers, contractors and program managers market decreased by 14.6% due to a dramatic slowdown in purchases
by our cellular carriers, and primarily the two largest U.S. carriers and the general contractors and integrators doing work
on their behalf. . This slowdown also affected our commercial dealers and resellers market which decreased by 4.5%.
Revenue within the government system operators market decreased by 6.7% for fiscal year 2015 as compared to fiscal
year 2014. We expect to see growth within the government system operators market in fiscal 2016 due to an increase in
demand for the maintenance and operations of Land Mobile Radio networks coupled with our continued investment in
this market. These declines were partially offset by increases in the private system operators and the retail, independent
dealer agent and carriers markets of 6.3% and 9.5%, respectively. Growth in our retail, independent dealer agent and
carriers market was largely driven by the launch of various new Samsung and Apple devices.
Gross Profit. Gross profit decreased 5.3% in fiscal year 2015 compared to fiscal year 2014. This decrease was
primarily driven by a 22.4% decrease in our public carriers, contractors, and program managers market, and to a much
lesser extent by a 3.6% decrease in our commercial dealers and resellers market, a 2.5% decrease in our government
system operators market, and a 0.8% decrease in our private system operator market. The gross margin decline in the
public carriers, contractors and program manager market was largely a result of increased lower margin DAS projects
coupled with a decline in cellular site building and upgrades. Although we have seen growth in the private system
operator market, we have seen margin compression due to several larger sales of lower margin test equipment and DAS
products. These declines were partially offset by a 4.1% increase in retailers, independent dealer agents and carriers
market. Overall gross profit margin decreased to 23.8%, compared to 24.7% in fiscal year 2014, primarily due to changes
in customer and product mix.
Our ongoing ability to earn revenues and gross profits from customers and vendors looking to us for product and
supply chain solutions is dependent upon a number of factors. The terms, and accordingly the factors, applicable to each
relationship often differ. Among these factors are the strength of the customer’s or vendor’s business, the supply and
demand for the product or service, including price stability, changing customer or vendor requirements, and our ability to
support the customer or vendor and to continually demonstrate that we can improve the way they do business. In addition,
the agreements or arrangements on which our customer and vendor relationships are based are typically of limited
duration, typically do not include any obligation in respect of any specific product purchase or sale and are terminable by
either party upon several months or otherwise short notice. Our customer relationships could also be affected by wireless
carrier consolidation or the global financial crisis.
We account for inventory at the lower of cost or market, and as a result, write-offs/write-downs occur due to
damage, deterioration, obsolescence, changes in prices and other causes. These expenses have been less than 1% of
overall purchases of the last 3 fiscal years.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Total selling, general and administrative expenses increased by
3.8% during fiscal year 2015 as compared to fiscal year 2014. Total selling, general and administrative expenses as a
percentage of revenues increased from 19.9% in fiscal year 2014 to 21.1% in fiscal year 2015, primarily as a result of
investments in talent and technology. The following are descriptions of changes in significant components of selling,
general, and administrative expenses:
• Marketing expenses increased by $1.2 million, or 33.8%, in fiscal year 2015 as compared to fiscal year 2014,
primarily due to direct marketing costs associated with improved design and content of our TESSCO.com
website.
• Corporate support expense increased approximately $1.7 million, or 25.5%, in fiscal year 2015 as compared
to fiscal year 2014. This increase was primarily related to higher bad debt expense, as described below, in
addition to higher new product development costs associated with our proprietary products.
31
• Compensation and benefits expense increased by $3.2 million, or 5.4%, in fiscal year 2015 as compared to
fiscal year 2014, primarily due to investments in key business generation positions.
• Pay for performance bonus expense (including both cash and equity plans) decreased by $3.5 million in fiscal
year 2015 as compared to fiscal year 2014. Our bonus programs are all based on annual performance targets.
The relationship between targeted performance and actual performance led to lower bonus accruals in fiscal
2015 than in fiscal 2014.
We continually evaluate the credit worthiness of our existing customer receivable portfolio and provide an
appropriate reserve based on this evaluation. We also evaluate the credit worthiness of prospective and current customers
and make decisions regarding extension of credit terms to such customers based on this evaluation. Accordingly, we
recorded a provision for bad debts of $943,300 and $202,000 for fiscal year 2015 and fiscal year 2014, respectively.
During fiscal 2014, we experienced lower than normal bad debt expense due in part to changes in estimates of amounts
previously reserved.
Restructuring Charge. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2015, we incurred a one-time restructuring
charge of $0.6 million related to severance costs.
Interest, Net. Net interest expense decreased from $177,700 in fiscal year 2014 to $167,300 in fiscal year 2015.
Income Taxes, Net Income and Diluted Earnings Per Share. The effective tax rates in fiscal year 2015 and
2014 were 39.2% and 38.2%, respectively. As a result of the factors discussed above, net income and diluted earnings per
share for fiscal year 2015 decreased 46.9% and 46.3%, respectively, compared with fiscal year 2014.
Fiscal Year 2014 Compared to Fiscal Year 2013
Revenues. Revenues for fiscal year 2014 decreased 25.6% as compared to fiscal year 2013, largely due to the
completed transition of our Major 3PL retail store supply chain relationship, prior to the beginning of the first quarter of
fiscal 2014. Excluding the transitioned Major 3PL relationship, our revenues grew by 3.9% as compared to fiscal 2013.
Revenue from the public carriers, contractors and program managers market grew by 34.2%. This growth was primarily
driven by our customers need to increase bandwidth and upgrade their infrastructure to accommodate increasing wireless
traffic. The need for increased bandwidth was echoed in our commercial dealers and resellers market, with revenue
growth of 1.3%. Revenue within the private system operators and government system operators markets declined 4.6%
and 5.9%, respectively, which we attributed to economic uncertainties as well as government spending cuts. Revenues in
our retailers, independent dealer agents and carriers market decreased 7.7%, as a result of decreased sales to carriers,
independent agents and dealers, due in part to changes in the business models of tier 1 retail carriers, many of which are
now competing with us to sell to their customers. In April 2012, we were notified by AT&T of their intention to transition
their 3PL retail store supply chain business, which accounted for the vast majority of our historical AT&T revenues, away
from us beginning in the second quarter of our fiscal 2013. This transition was completed by the close of our fiscal 2013
and, therefore, there were no Major 3PL revenues in fiscal 2014.
Gross Profit. Gross profit decreased 6.0% in fiscal year 2014 compared to fiscal year 2013. This reflects a
reduction in gross profit due to our fully transitioned 3PL retail store supply chain relationship which was partially offset
by a 4.6% increase in gross profit in our other ongoing markets. This increase was primarily driven by a 28.2% increase in
our public carriers, contractors, and program managers market, and to a march lesser extent by a 2.7% increase in our
commercial dealers and resellers market, and a 0.7% increase in our retailers, independent dealer agents and carriers
market partially offset by an 8.0% decrease in our private system operators market and a 5.2% decrease in our government
system operator market. Overall gross profit margin increased to 24.7%, compared to 19.5% in fiscal year 2013, primarily
driven by the absence of the lower margin sales related to the transitioned Major 3PL relationship.
32
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Total selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by
5.2% during fiscal year 2014 as compared to fiscal year 2013. Total selling, general and administrative expenses as a
percentage of revenues increased from 15.7% in fiscal year 2013 to 19.9% in fiscal year 2014, primarily as a result of the
reduction in revenues related to the transitioned 3PL relationship.
The largest factors contributing to the overall decrease in total selling, general and administrative expenses were
decreased AT&T market development expenses, decreased pay for performance bonus expense, and lower corporate
support expenses, partially offset by increased compensation.
Marketing expenses decreased by $2.1 million, or 38.1%, in fiscal year 2014 as compared to fiscal year 2013,
primarily due to a decrease in 3PL market development expenses, which were completely variable to Major 3PL
relationship sales, partially offset by an increase in advertising and other direct marketing expenses.
Pay for performance bonus expense (including both cash and equity plans) decreased by $4.7 million in fiscal
year 2014 as compared to fiscal year 2013. Our bonus programs are all based on annual performance targets. The
relationship between targeted performance and actual performance led to lower bonus accruals in fiscal 2014 than in fiscal
year 2013.
Corporate support expense decreased approximately $1.4 million, or 17.0%, in fiscal year 2014 as compared to
the fiscal year 2013. This decrease was primarily related to lower bad debt expense in addition to lower new product
development costs.
Compensation expense increased by $2.2 million, or 4.8%, in fiscal year 2014 as compared to fiscal year 2013,
primarily due to growth in our business generation teams.
We continually evaluate the credit worthiness of our existing customer receivable portfolio and provide an
appropriate reserve based on this evaluation. We also evaluate the credit worthiness of prospective and current customers
and make decisions regarding extension of credit terms to such customers based on this evaluation. Accordingly, we
recorded a provision for bad debts of $202,000 and $1,197,300 for fiscal year 2014 and fiscal year 2013, respectively.
During fiscal 2014, we experienced lower than normal bad debt expense due in part to changes in estimates of amounts
previously reserved.
Interest, Net. Net interest expense decreased from $224,200 in fiscal year 2013 to $177,700 in fiscal year 2014,
primarily due to decreased average borrowings on our revolving credit facility, as well as a decrease in the interest rate on
our revolving credit facility, which occurred in the third quarter of fiscal year 2014.
Income Taxes, Net Income and Diluted Earnings Per Share. The effective tax rates in fiscal year 2014 and
2013 were 38.2% and 38.6%, respectively. As a result of the factors discussed above, net income and diluted earnings per
share for fiscal year 2014 decreased 8.7% and 9.8%, respectively, compared with fiscal year 2013.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
In summary, our cash flows were as follows:
Cash flow provided by operating activities ................ $
Cash flow used in investing activities ........................
Cash flow used in financing activities ........................
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents . $
11,079,800 $ 18,665,400
(4,715,500)
(2,947,600)
(6,950,000)
(12,076,100)
6,999,900
(3,943,900) $
$ 3,352,400
(5,354,000)
(11,742,000)
$(13,743,600)
2015
2014
2013
33
We generated $11.1 million of net cash from operating activities during fiscal year 2015. This inflow was driven
by net income (net of depreciation and amortization and non-cash stock compensation expense), a decrease in accounts
receivable, and an increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, partially offset by an increase in product
inventory, prepaid expenses and other current assets. The decrease in accounts receivable was primarily related to lower
sales volume in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 as compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. The increase in
inventory was primarily due to a $7.0 million increase in mobile device accessories inventory related to iPhone 6
products, the purchase of Apple connectors for our Ventev® charging solutions and increased inventory from key
suppliers. Inventory related to our base station infrastructure product has remained relatively flat. We increased inventory
levels in preparation of the build season, but this increase was almost fully offset by a payment from a tower owner of
approximately $8 million for inventory that we continue to hold on their behalf. Because the Company continues to hold
the inventory on the tower owner’s behalf, the cost of these goods is recorded in prepaid expenses and other current
assets, and we are unable to recognize the revenue and related cost of goods sold associated with the transaction until the
product physically ships. This tower owner operates in the public carrier, contractor and program manager market. The
$8.1 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and offsetting increase of $8.5 million in prepaid
expenses and other current assets is primarily due to the deferral of this transaction.
In fiscal year 2014 our cash inflow from operating activities of $18.7 million was driven by net income (net of
depreciation and amortization and non-cash stock compensation expense) and a decrease in accounts receivable, partially
offset by a decrease in trade accounts payable and accrued payroll, benefits, and taxes. The decrease in accounts
receivable was related to the AT&T transition. The decrease in trade accounts payable was caused by the timing of
inventory purchases in the fourth quarter. The decrease in accrued payroll, benefits, and taxes was driven by higher bonus
accruals in fiscal 2013 (and their subsequent payouts in fiscal 2014) compared to bonus accruals in fiscal 2014.
In fiscal year 2013 our cash inflow from operating activities was driven by net income (net of depreciation and
amortization and non-cash stock compensation expense) and a decrease in accounts receivable, partially offset by an
increase in product inventory and decreases in trade accounts payable and accrued payroll, benefits and taxes. The
decrease in accounts receivable was related to the transition of our Major 3PL relationship with AT&T. The increase in
inventory was intended to improve service levels to support increased customer demand and improve availability. The
decrease in trade accounts payable was related to the AT&T transition, causing lower AT&T inventory purchases and
lower accruals related to AT&T market development funds, partially offset by higher non-AT&T inventory purchases.
The decrease in accrued payroll, benefits and taxes was driven by higher bonus accruals in fiscal 2012 (and their
subsequent payouts in fiscal 2013) compared to bonus accruals in fiscal 2013.
Capital expenditures of $3.0 million in fiscal year 2015 were down from $4.7 million in fiscal year 2014. Fiscal
year 2015 and 2014 capital expenditures were largely comprised of investments in information technology of $2.6 million
and $4.3 million, respectively. Fiscal year 2013 capital expenditures were largely comprised of $1.6 million for leasehold
improvements and $1.0 million for furniture and fixtures expenditures, related to a build-out and reorganization of our
administrative offices and $2.2 million for investments in information technology. A portion of the leasehold
improvement expenditures for 2013 were reimbursed to us by our landlord during the respective fiscal year, pursuant to
the applicable terms of our lease. We received payments of $0.6 million in fiscal 2013 for tenant improvements.
Cash flows used in financing activities were primarily related to cash dividends paid to shareholders and
purchases of stock from employees and directors for minimum tax withholdings related to equity compensation, partially
offset by the excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation and proceeds from issuance of stock. The significant
increase in cash used in financing activities during fiscal 2015 was due to the purchase of shares under our expanded stock
buyback program, as discussed below. The significant increase in cash used in financing activities during fiscal 2013 was
caused primarily by the payment of a special dividend of $0.75 per share of common stock on December 27, 2012.
On April 23, 2014, the Board of Directors expanded the Company’s existing stock buyback program and
authorized the purchase on a non-accelerated basis of up to $10.0 million of the Company’s stock over a 24-month period,
34
ending in April 2016. Our Board of Directors believes that the repurchase of our shares, when appropriate, is an excellent
use of funds to enhance long-term shareholder value. Any purchases will be funded from working capital and/or our
revolving credit facility. Shares may be purchased from time to time in the open market, by block purchase, or through
negotiated transactions, or possibly other transactions managed by broker-dealers. During fiscal 2015, the Company
purchased 157,954 shares under the expanded stock buyback program for approximately $4.6 million, or an average cost
of $29.17 per share. As of March 29, 2015, $5.4 million remained available for repurchase under this program. No shares
were repurchased during fiscal years 2014 or 2013.
We also withhold shares from our employees and directors, at their request, equal to the minimum federal and
state tax withholdings related to vested equity grants. For fiscal years 2015 and 2014 this totaled $1,612,900 and
$1,646,300, respectively.
We have a term loan in the original principal amount of $4.5 million from Wells Fargo Bank, National
Association and SunTrust Bank, that is payable in monthly installments of principal and interest with the balance due at
maturity, on July 1, 2016. The note bears interest at a floating rate of LIBOR plus 2.00%. The note is secured by a first
position deed of trust encumbering our company-owned real property in Hunt Valley, Maryland. The loan is subject to
generally the same financial covenants as are applicable to our revolving credit facility described below, and had a
balance of $2.1 million as of March 29, 2015.
We are party to an unsecured revolving credit facility with SunTrust Bank and Wells Fargo Bank, National
Association, with interest payable monthly at the LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin. Borrowing availability under this
facility is determined in accordance with a borrowing base, and the applicable credit agreement includes financial
covenants, including a minimum tangible net worth, minimum cash flow coverage of debt service, and a maximum
funded debt to EBITDA ratio. These financial covenants also apply to the separate but related term loan secured by our
Hunt Valley, Maryland facility discussed below. The terms applicable to our revolving credit facility and term loan also
limit our ability to engage in certain transactions or activities, including (but not limited to) investments and acquisitions,
sales of assets, payment of dividends, issuance of additional debt and other matters. As of March 29, 2015 we had no
balance outstanding on our $35.0 million revolving credit facility; therefore, we had $35.0 million available on our
revolving line of credit facility, subject to the limitations imposed by the borrowing base and our continued compliance
with the other applicable terms, including the covenants discussed above. We have entered into several modification
agreements providing for term extensions and certain modifications to the provisions applicable to the credit facility. On
November 30, 2012, we entered into a Seventh Modification Agreement to allow for a special dividend paid during fiscal
2013.
During the third quarter of fiscal 2014, we entered into a Ninth Modification Agreement (the “Ninth Modification
Agreement”), dated as of October 16, 2013, further modifying the Credit Agreement and related promissory note for the
revolving credit facility discussed above. Pursuant to and in connection with the Ninth Modification Agreement, the term
of the revolving credit facility was extended from May 31, 2014 to October 1, 2016. In addition, the amount of dividend
payments allowable under the Credit Facility was increased from $6.25 million (the previous stated amount) to $8.0
million in any 12 month period, assuming continued compliance with the otherwise applicable terms. The Ninth
Modification Agreement also provides for decreases in the applicable margins (from a range of 2.25% to 3.25% to a new
range of 1.50% to 2.50%) and unused facility fees.
The terms of this revolving credit facility, as amended, allow us to repurchase up to $30.0 million of our common
stock (measured forward to the present date from the date of inception of the Credit Agreement, May 31, 2007). As of
March 29, 2015, we had repurchased an aggregate of $18.3 million of common stock since May 31, 2007, leaving $11.7
million available for future repurchases, without the consent of our lenders or a further amendment to the terms of the
facility.
On March 31, 2009, we entered into a term loan with the Baltimore County Economic Development Revolving
Loan Fund for an aggregate principal amount of $250,000. The term loan is payable in equal monthly installments of
35
principal and interest of $2,300, with the balance due at maturity on April 1, 2019. The term loan bears interest at 2.00%
per annum and is secured by a subordinate position on our Hunt Valley, Maryland facility. At March 29, 2015, the
principal balance of this term loan was approximately $108,200.
Working capital (current assets less current liabilities) decreased to $86.1 million as of March 29, 2015, from
$88.1 million as of March 30, 2014. Shareholders' equity decreased to $113.1 million as of March 29, 2015, from $114.8
million as of March 30, 2014, primarily due to increased retained earnings due to fiscal year 2015 net income, more than
offset by the combination of cash dividends paid and an increase in treasury stock due to the repurchase of shares under
our stock buyback program mentioned above.
We believe that our existing cash, payments from customers, and availability under our revolving line of credit
facility will be sufficient to support our operations for at least the next twelve months. To minimize interest expense, our
policy is to use excess available cash to pay down any balance on our revolving line of credit facility. We expect to meet
short-term and long-term liquidity needs through operating cash flow, supplemented by our revolving credit facility. In
doing so, the balance on our revolving credit facility could increase depending on our working capital and other cash
needs. If we were to undertake an acquisition or other major capital purchases that require funds in excess of its existing
sources of liquidity, we would look to sources of funding from additional credit facilities, debt and/or equity issuances.
There can be no assurances that such additional future sources of funding would be available on terms acceptable to us, if
at all.
In addition, our liquidity could be negatively impacted by decreasing revenues and profits resulting from a
decrease in demand for our products or a reduction in capital expenditures by our customers, or by the weakened financial
conditions of our customers or suppliers, in each case as a result of the downturn in the global economy, among other
factors.
Contractual Obligations
The following tables reflect a summary of our contractual cash obligations and other commercial commitments as of
March 29, 2015:
Payment Due by Fiscal Year
Total
Less Than
1 Year
Years 1-3
Years 4-5
More Than
5 Years
--
--
--
--
825,000
--
825,000
Long-Term Debt Obligations ................. $ 2,208,200 $
Revolving credit facility .........................
Lease Obligations ...................................
Interest payments (1) ..............................
Other Long-Term Liabilities (2) ............
Tax contingency reserves (3) .................
--
8,190,400
61,300
1,125,000
580,200
250,700 $ 1,927,900 $
--
3,032,100
45,300
--
--
--
5,003,600
15,700
150,000
--
29,600 $
--
154,700
300
150,000
--
Total contractual cash obligations .. $ 12,165,100 $ 3,328,100 $ 7,097,200 $ 334,600 $
(1) Interest payments include amounts owed on notes payable at their stated contractual rate, as well as interest payments on
the note for our long term loan at a variable rate of LIBOR plus 2.00%.
(2) Other Long-Term Liabilities reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheet include amounts owed under a Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plan.
(3) We are unable to make a reasonably reliable estimate of the period of the cash settlement with the respective taxing
authorities for the $0.6 million balance of our tax contingency reserves, net of federal tax benefits. See further discussion
in Note 12—"Income Taxes" to the consolidated financial statements set forth elsewhere herein.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
36
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of our operations are based on our consolidated
financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported
amount of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual
results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
We have identified the policies below as critical to our business operations and the understanding of our results of
operations:
Revenue Recognition. We record revenues when 1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, 2) delivery has
occurred or services have been rendered, 3) our price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and 4) collectability is
reasonably assured. Our revenue recognition policy includes evidence of arrangements for significant revenue transactions
through either receipt of a customer purchase order or a web-based order. We record revenues when risk of loss has
passed to the customer. In most cases, shipments are made using FOB shipping terms. For a portion of our sales, we use
FOB destination terms and record the revenue when the product is received by the customer. Our prices are always fixed
at the time of sale. Historically, there have not been any material concessions provided to or by customers, future
discounts, or other incentives subsequent to a sale. We sell under normal commercial terms and, therefore, we only record
revenues on transactions where collectability is reasonably assured.
Because a large portion of our sales transactions meet the conditions set forth in the Financial Accounting
Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) on revenue recognition, we recognize revenues
from sales transactions containing sales returns provisions at the time of the sale. These conditions require that 1) our
price be substantially fixed or determinable at the date of sale, 2) the buyer is obligated to pay us, and such obligation is
not contingent on their resale of the product, 3) the buyer’s obligation to us does not change in the event of theft or
physical destruction or damage of the product, 4) the buyer has economic substance apart from us, 5) we do not have
significant obligations for future performance to directly bring about resale of the product by the buyer, and 6) the amount
of future returns can be reasonably estimated. Because our normal terms and conditions of sale are consistent with
conditions 1-5 above, and we are able to perform condition 6, we make a reasonable estimate of product returns in sales
transactions and accrue a sales return reserve based on this estimate.
Our current and potential customers are continuing to look for ways to reduce their inventories and lower their
total costs, including distribution, order taking and fulfillment costs, while still providing their customers excellent
service. Some of these companies have turned to us to implement supply chain solutions, including purchasing inventory,
assisting in demand forecasting, configuring, packaging, kitting and delivering products and managing customer and
vendor relations, from order taking through cash collections. In performing these solutions, we assume varying levels of
involvement in the transactions and varying levels of credit and inventory risk. As our offerings continually evolve to
meet the needs of our customers, we constantly evaluate our revenue accounting based on the guidance set forth in
accounting standards generally accepted in the United States. When applying this guidance in accordance with the FASB
standard regarding revenue recognition for principal-agent considerations, we look at the following indicators: whether we
are the primary obligor in the transaction; whether we have general inventory risk; whether we have latitude in
establishing price; the extent to which we change the product or perform part of the service; whether we have
responsibility for supplier selection; whether we are involved in the determination of product and service specifications;
whether we have physical inventory risk; whether we have credit risk; and whether the amount we earn is fixed. Each of
our customer relationships is independently evaluated based on the above guidance and revenues are recorded on the
appropriate basis. Based on a review of the factors above, in the majority of our sales relationships, we have concluded
that we are the principal in the transaction and we record revenues based upon the gross amounts earned and booked.
However, we do have certain relationships where we are not the principal and we record revenues on a net fee basis,
regardless of amounts billed (less than 1% of our total revenues for fiscal 2015).
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. We use estimates to determine the amount of the allowance for doubtful
accounts necessary to reduce accounts receivable and unbilled receivables to their expected net realizable value. We
37
estimate the amount of the required allowance by reviewing the status of past-due receivables and analyzing historical bad
debt trends. Actual collection experience has not varied significantly from estimates, due primarily to credit policies,
collection experience and our stability as it relates to our current customer base. Typical payments from commercial
customers are due 30 days from the date of the invoice. We charge-off receivables deemed to be uncollectible to the
allowance for doubtful accounts. Accounts receivable balances are not collateralized.
Inventory Reserves. We establish inventory reserves for excess and obsolete inventory. We regularly review
inventory to evaluate continued demand and identify any obsolete or excess quantities of inventory. We record a provision
for the difference between excess and obsolete inventory and its estimated realizable value. Estimated realizable value is
based on anticipated future product demand, market conditions and liquidation values. Actual results differing from these
projections could have a material effect on our results of operations.
Impairment of Long-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Assets. Our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 29, 2015,
includes goodwill of approximately $11.7 million and other indefinite lived intangible assets of $850,000. We perform
annual impairment tests for goodwill and other indefinite lived assets on the first day of our fourth quarter. We also
periodically evaluate our long-lived assets for potential impairment indicators. The goodwill and intangible assets
impairment test involves an initial qualitative analysis to determine if it is more likely than not that an intangible asset’s
fair value is less than its carrying amount. If qualitative factors suggest a possible impairment the company then performs
an additional two-step approach. Our judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on estimated
future cash flows, market conditions, operational performance and legal factors. The key assumptions used to determine
the fair value of our goodwill reporting units include (a) a cash flow period; (b) a terminal value based on a growth rate;
and (c) a discount rate, which is based on our weighted average cost of capital adjusted for risks associated with our
operations. Based on the Company’s qualitative assessment for fiscal 2015, we have concluded that it is not more likely
than not that the carrying value of any of our reporting units with goodwill is above the fair value of the related reporting
unit. As a result, no quantitative testing was deemed necessary for fiscal 2015. Future events, such as significant changes
in cash flow assumptions, could cause us to conclude that impairment indicators exist and that the net book value of
goodwill, long-lived assets or intangible assets are impaired. We will continue to monitor our market capitalization as a
potential impairment indicator considering overall market conditions and specific industry events. Had the determination
been made that the goodwill and other indefinite lived intangible assets were impaired, the value of these assets would
have been reduced by an amount up to $12.5 million, resulting in a corresponding charge to operations.
The methods of assessing fair value for reporting units with goodwill as well as for indefinite lived assets require
significant judgments to be made by management, including future revenues, expenses, cash flows and discount rates.
Changes in such estimates or the application of alternative assumptions could produce significantly different results.
Classification of Expenses. Our cost of goods sold includes cost of products and freight from vendors to our
distribution centers. Product management, distribution, purchasing, receiving/inspection, warehousing, freight from our
distribution centers to our customers’ sites, and corporate overhead costs are included in selling, general and
administrative expenses. Accordingly, our gross margins may not be comparable to other entities that may include these
costs in cost of goods sold.
Income Taxes. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the differences between the financial
statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. We regularly review our deferred tax assets for
recoverability. This review is based on historical taxable income, projected future taxable income and the expected timing
of the reversals of existing temporary differences. Based on this review, we have not established a valuation allowance
because our deferred tax assets are more likely than not realizable. If we are unable to generate sufficient taxable income,
or if there is a material change in the actual effective tax rates or time period within which the underlying temporary
differences become taxable or deductible, we could be required to establish a valuation allowance against all or a
significant portion of our deferred tax assets that are not more likely than not realizable, resulting in a substantial increase
in our effective tax rate and a material adverse impact on our operating results.
38
We account for income taxes under the FASB’s ASC on accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in
an enterprise’s financial statements. This standard prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the
financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. It also
provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods,
disclosure and transition. As of March 29, 2015, we had total net unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $580,200, all
of which, if recognized, would favorably affect the effective income tax rate in future periods.
Stock-Based Compensation. We record stock-based compensation in accordance with the FASB standard
regarding stock compensation and share-based payments, which requires us to include in our calculation of periodic stock
compensation expense an estimate of future forfeitures. The standard also requires stock awards granted or modified after
the adoption of the standard that include both performance conditions and graded vesting to be amortized by an
accelerated method rather than the straight-line method.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no material off-balance sheet arrangements.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts
with Customers. This guidance will supersede Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, in addition to other industry-specific
guidance, once effective. The new ASU requires a company to recognize revenue in a manner that depicts the transfer of
promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be
entitled in exchange for those goods and services. The accounting standard is currently effective for annual periods
beginning after December 15, 2016. On April 29, 2015 the FASB issued for public comment a proposal to defer the
effective date of the standard by one year. We are currently in the process of assessing what impact this new standard may
have on our ongoing financial reporting and determining what transition method will be used.
In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, Compensation – Stock Compensation. This pronouncement
provides guidance on accounting for share-based awards where the performance target could be achieved after an
employee completes the requisite service period. We currently do not have any share-based arrangements of this type;
therefore, this guidance is not expected to have an impact on our results of operations or financial condition. See Note 15
of the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for details of our stock
based compensation.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Report may contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may generally be
identified by the use of the words “may,” “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” and similar
expressions, but the absence of these words or phrases does not necessarily mean that a statement is not forward looking.
Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from
those described in or contemplated by any such forward-looking statement for a variety of reasons, including those risks
identified in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, under the heading “Risk Factors” and otherwise. Consequently, the reader is cautioned to
consider all forward-looking statements in light of the risks to which they are subject.
We are not able to identify or control all circumstances that could occur in the future that may adversely affect our
business and operating results. Without limiting the risks that we describe in our periodic reports and elsewhere, among
the risks that could lead to a materially adverse impact on our business or operating results are the following: termination
or non-renewal of limited duration agreements or arrangements with our vendors and affinity partners which are typically
39
terminable by either party upon several months or otherwise relatively short notice; loss of significant customers or
relationships, including affinity relationships; loss of customers either directly or indirectly as a result of consolidation
among large wireless service carriers and others within the wireless communications industry; the strength of our
customers’, vendors’ and affinity partners’ businesses; increasingly negative or prolonged adverse economic conditions,
including those adversely affecting consumer confidence or consumer or business spending, or otherwise adversely
affecting our vendors or customers, including their access to capital or liquidity or our customers’ demand for our ability
to fund or pay for the purchase of our products and services; our dependence on a relatively small number of suppliers and
vendors, which could hamper our ability to maintain appropriate inventory levels and meet customer demand; failure of
our information technology system or distribution system; technology changes in the wireless communications industry,
which could lead to significant inventory obsolescence and/or our inability to offer key products that our customers
demand; third-party freight carrier interruption; increased competition from competitors, including manufacturers or
national and regional distributors of the products we sell and the absence of significant barriers to entry which could result
in pricing and other pressures on profitability and market share; our relative bargaining power and inability to negotiate
favorable terms with our vendors and customers; our inability to access capital and obtain or retain financing as and when
needed; transitional and other risks associated with acquisitions of companies that we may undertake in an effort to
expand our business; the possibility that, for unforeseen reasons, we may be delayed in entering into or performing, or
may fail to enter into or perform, anticipated contracts or may otherwise be delayed in realizing or fail to realize
anticipated revenues or anticipated savings; our inability to protect certain intellectual property, including systems and
technologies on which we rely; claims against us for breach of the intellectual property rights of third parties; product
liability claims; and our inability to hire or retain for any reason our key professionals, management and staff.
Available Information
Our Internet Web site address is: www.tessco.com. We make available free of charge through our Website, our
Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those
reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after such
documents are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. Also available on our
Website is our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. We have not incorporated herein by reference the information on
our Website, and it should not be considered a part of this filing.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Interest Rate Risk:
We are exposed to an immaterial level of market risk from changes in interest rates. We have from time to time
previously used interest rate swap agreements to modify variable rate obligations to fixed rate obligations, thereby
reducing our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. We do not have a current interest rate swap relating to our bank term
loan. Our variable rate debt obligations of approximately $2.1 million at March 29, 2015, expose us to the risk of rising
interest rates, but management does not believe that the potential exposure is material to our overall financial position or
results of operations. Based on March 29, 2015 borrowing levels, a 1.0% increase or decrease in current market interest
rates would have an immaterial effect on our statement of income.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk:
We are exposed to an immaterial level of market risk from changes in foreign currency rates. Over 99% of our
sales are made in U.S. Dollars so we have an immaterial amount of foreign currency risk. Those sales not made in U.S.
Dollars are made in Canadian Dollars.
40
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
TESSCO TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
March 29, 2015 March 30, 2014
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents ........................................................................................ $
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of
$661,900 and $1,080,300, respectively ...............................................................
Product inventory .....................................................................................................
Deferred tax assets, net .............................................................................................
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ................................................................
Total current assets ...............................................................................................
Property and equipment, net .........................................................................................
Goodwill, net ................................................................................................................
Other long-term assets ..................................................................................................
Total assets ........................................................................................................... $
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable ............................................................................................ $
Payroll, benefits and taxes ........................................................................................
Income and sales tax liabilities .................................................................................
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities .........................................................
Revolving line of credit ............................................................................................
Current portion of long-term debt ............................................................................
Total current liabilities .........................................................................................
Deferred tax liabilities, net ...........................................................................................
Long-term debt, net of current portion .........................................................................
Other long-term liabilities ............................................................................................
Total liabilities .....................................................................................................
7,524,000
$
11,467,900
59,572,100
72,363,600
3,856,000
10,868,900
154,184,600
21,111,800
11,684,700
2,619,600
189,600,700
51,804,200
5,531,900
1,832,400
8,688,500
--
250,700
68,107,700
3,360,100
1,957,500
3,033,300
$
$
67,495,700
61,955,700
6,913,000
2,336,600
150,168,900
22,765,400
11,684,700
2,341,300
186,960,300
50,756,900
7,670,100
2,477,700
923,600
--
250,200
62,078,500
4,260,700
2,208,200
3,584,800
76,458,600
72,132,200
Commitment and Contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 500,000 shares authorized and no shares issued
and outstanding
.................................................................................................
--
--
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 15,000,000 shares authorized, 13,817,239
shares issued and 8,159,592 shares outstanding as of March 29, 2015, and
13,627,098 shares issued and 8,180,484 shares outstanding as of March 30,
2014
Additional paid-in capital .........................................................................................
Treasury stock, at cost, 5,657,647 shares outstanding as of March 29, 2015 and
96,100
56,517,600
94,200
53,987,700
5,446,614 shares outstanding as of March 30, 2014 ............................................
Retained earnings .....................................................................................................
Total shareholders’ equity ....................................................................................
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity .............................................................. $
(56,307,900)
112,836,300
113,142,100
189,600,700
(50,084,600)
110,830,800
114,828,100
186,960,300
$
The accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
41
TESSCO TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Income
Fiscal Years Ended
March 29, 2015 March 30, 2014 March 31, 2013
Revenues ................................................................................ $ 549,619,000
418,730,500
Cost of goods sold ..................................................................
$ 560,086,600
421,928,700
$ 752,565,000
605,525,800
Gross profit .....................................................................
Selling, general and administrative expenses ........................
Restructuring Charge .............................................................
Operating Expenses ...............................................................
130,888,500
115,936,700
573,400
116,510,100
138,157,900
111,668,000
--
111,668,000
147,039,200
117,820,600
--
117,820,600
Income from operations ..................................................
14,378,400
26,489,900
29,218,600
Interest, net .............................................................................
167,300
177,700
224,200
Income before provision for income taxes ......................
14,211,100
26,312,200
28,994,400
Provision for income taxes ....................................................
5,576,800
10,063,100
11,200,500
Net income ...................................................................... $
8,634,300
Basic earnings per share ........................................................ $
Diluted earnings per share ..................................................... $
Cash dividends declared per common share .......................... $
1.05
1.04
0.80
$
$
$
$
16,249,100
1.98
1.94
0.74
$
$
$
$
17,793,900
2.22
2.15
1.47
The accompanying Notes to these Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these consolidated
statements.
42
TESSCO TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
Common Stock
Shares
7,744,528
Amount
88,000
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
45,135,900
Treasury
Stock
(46,276,400)
Retained
Earnings
94,704,400
Total
Shareholders’
Equity
93,651,900
24,908
(101,854)
300
--
486,500
--
--
(2,161,900)
320,318
3,200
2,533,600
--
--
--
--
486,800
(2,161,900)
2,536,800
Balance at April 1, 2012
Proceeds from issuance of
stock
Treasury stock purchases
Non-cash stock
compensation expense
Excess tax benefit from
stock-based
compensation
Cash dividends paid ...........................
Net income
--
--
--
7,987,900
--
--
91,500
--
2,325,600
--
--
50,481,600
--
--
--
(48,438,300)
--
(11,830,500)
17,793,900
100,667,800
2,325,600
(11,830,500)
17,793,900
102,802,600
Balance at March 31, 2013
Proceeds from issuance of
stock
Treasury stock purchases
Non-cash stock
compensation expense
Excess tax benefit from
stock-based
compensation
Cash dividends paid
Net income
Balance at March 30, 2014
Proceeds from issuance of
stock
Treasury stock purchases
Non-cash stock
compensation expense
Excess tax benefit from
stock-based
compensation
Cash dividends paid
Net income
Balance at March 29, 2015
23,542
(72,116)
200
--
602,800
--
--
(1,646,300)
241,158
2,500
2,084,600
--
--
--
--
603,000
(1,646,300)
2,087,100
--
--
--
--
--
--
8,180,484 $ 94,200
818,700
--
--
$ 53,987,700
818,700
(6,086,100)
16,249,100
$ (50,084,600) $110,830,800 $ 114,828,100
--
(6,086,100)
16,249,100
--
--
--
19,425
(211,033)
200
--
540,000
--
--
(6,223,300)
170,716
1,700
1,159,600
--
--
--
--
540,200
(6,223,300)
1,161,300
--
--
--
8,159,592
--
--
--
96,100
830,300
--
--
56,517,600
--
--
--
(56,307,900)
--
(6,628,800)
8,634,300
112,836,300
830,300
(6,628,800)
8,634,300
113,142,100
The accompanying Notes to these Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these consolidated
statements.
43
TESSCO TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Fiscal Years Ended
March 29, 2015 March 30, 2014 March 31, 2013
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income ............................................................................. $
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
8,634,300
$
16,249,100
$
17,793,900
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization ..........................................
Gain on sale of property and equipment ............................
Non-cash stock compensation expense .............................
Deferred income taxes and other .......................................
Change in trade accounts receivable ..................................
Change in product inventory ..............................................
Change in prepaid expenses and other
current assets ..................................................................
Change in trade accounts payable ......................................
Change in payroll, benefits and taxes ................................
Change in income and sales tax liabilities .........................
Change in accrued expenses and other
current liabilities ............................................................
Net cash provided by operating activities ..........................
4,583,600
(3,000)
1,161,300
1,347,200
7,923,600
(10,407,900)
(8,532,300)
1,047,300
(2,138,200)
(645,300)
8,109,200
11,079,800
4,865,000
(29,500)
2,087,100
(1,042,400)
14,681,900
(1,042,100)
1,145,700
(14,452,400)
(4,008,400)
(53,000)
264,400
18,665,400
4,979,400
(3,000)
2,536,800
(843,700)
6,570,600
(7,553,300)
(1,174,100)
(13,135,400)
(5,533,100)
(606,300)
320,600
3,352,400
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment ..................................
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment ......................
Net cash used in investing activities ..................................
(2,950,600)
3,000
(2,947,600)
(4,745,000)
29,500
(4,715,500)
(5,357,000)
3,000
(5,354,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Payments on long-term debt ...................................................
Proceeds from issuance of stock ............................................
Cash dividends paid ...............................................................
Purchases of treasury stock and repurchases of stock from
employees and directors for minimum tax withholdings ...
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation ...............
Net cash used in financing activities ..................................
(250,200)
195,900
(6,628,800)
(6,223,300)
830,300
(12,076,100)
(249,600)
213,300
(6,086,100)
(1,646,300)
818,700
(6,950,000)
(249,200)
174,000
(11,830,500)
(2,161,900)
2,325,600
(11,742,000)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents ................
(3,943,900)
6,999,900
(13,743,600)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period ......
11,467,900
4,468,000
18,211,600
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period ................ $
7,524,000
$
11,467,900
$
4,468,000
The accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
44
Note 1. Organization
TESSCO Technologies Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (TESSCO, we, or the Company), architects and
delivers innovative product and value chain solutions to support wireless systems. The Company provides marketing and
sales services, knowledge and supply chain management, product-solution delivery and control systems utilizing
extensive Internet and information technology. Approximately 98% of the Company’s sales are made to customers in the
United States. The Company takes orders in several ways, including phone, fax, online and through electronic data
interchange. Almost all of the Company’s sales are made in United States Dollars.
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Fiscal Year
The Company's fiscal year is the 52 or 53 weeks ending on the Sunday falling on or between March 26 and
April 1 to allow the financial year to better reflect the Company's natural weekly accounting and business cycle. The
fiscal years ended March 29, 2015, March 30, 2014 and March 31, 2013 each contain 52 weeks.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash and highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
The Company uses estimates to determine the amount of the allowance for doubtful accounts necessary to reduce
accounts receivable to their expected net realizable value. The Company estimates the amount of the required allowance
by reviewing the status of past-due receivables and analyzing historical bad debt trends and current economic conditions.
Actual collection experience has not varied significantly from estimates, due primarily to consistent credit policies,
collection experience, as well as the Company’s stability as it relates to its current customer base. Typical payments from
a large majority of commercial customers are due 30 days from the date of the invoice. The Company charges-off
receivables deemed to be uncollectible to the allowance for doubtful accounts. Accounts receivable balances are not
collateralized.
Product Inventory
Product inventory, consisting primarily of finished goods, is stated at the lower of cost or market, cost being
determined on the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method and includes certain charges directly and indirectly incurred in
bringing product inventories to the point of sale. Inventory is written down for estimated obsolescence equal to the
difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value, based upon specifically known inventory-related
risks (such as technological obsolescence and the nature of vendor terms surrounding price protection and product
returns), and assumptions about future demand. At March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014, the Company had a reserve for
excess and/or obsolete inventory of $5,780,600 and $4,086,100, respectively.
Property and Equipment
45
Property and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method over the
estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
Information technology equipment and software ....................................................
Configuration, Fulfillment and Delivery technology system ..................................
Furniture, telephone system, equipment and tooling ..............................................
Building, building improvements and leasehold improvements .............................
1-5 years
7 years
3-10 years
2-40 years
Useful lives
The Company capitalizes computer software costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining computer
software for internal use when both the preliminary project stage is completed and when management authorizes and
commits to funding the project and it is probable that the project will be completed. Development and acquisition costs
are capitalized when the software project is either for the development of new software, to increase the life of existing
software or to add significantly to the functionality of existing software. Capitalization ceases when the software project is
substantially complete and ready for its intended use.
Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their useful lives or the remaining lease term.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, including amortizable intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets may not be fully recoverable.
These events or changes in circumstances may include a significant deterioration of operating results, changes in business
plans, or changes in anticipated future cash flows. If an impairment indicator is present, the Company evaluates
recoverability by a comparison of the carrying amount of the assets to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be
generated by the assets. Assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely
independent of the cash flows generated by other asset groups. If the assets are impaired, the impairment recognized is
measured by the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the assets. Fair value is generally
determined by estimates of discounted cash flows. The discount rate used in any estimate of discounted cash flows would
be the rate required for a similar investment of like risk. There were no impairment charges in fiscal years 2015, 2014 or
2013.
Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying value or fair values, less estimated costs of disposal.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination
that are not individually identified and separately recognized. Goodwill amounts and indefinite lived intangible assets are
not amortized, but rather are tested for impairment at least annually or whenever an impairment indicator is identified.
The Company performs its annual impairment test on the first day of its fourth quarter. Intangible assets that are not
considered to have an indefinite useful life are amortized over their useful life of 4 to 6 years using the straight-line
method. Intangible assets other than goodwill are recorded within other long-term assets in the Company’s Consolidated
Balance Sheets. The goodwill impairment test involves an initial qualitative analysis to determine if it is more likely than
not that an intangible asset’s fair value is less than its carrying amount. If qualitative factors suggest a possible
impairment, the Company then performs an additional two-step approach. Under the first step, the Company determines
the fair value of each reporting unit to which goodwill has been assigned. The Company then compares the fair value of
each reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. The Company estimates the fair value of each reporting unit
using various valuation techniques, with the primary technique being a discounted cash flow or income approach, under
which the Company estimates the present value of the reporting unit’s future cash flows. Key assumptions used to
46
determine the present value of a reporting unit’s future cash flows include (a) a cash flow period; (b) a terminal value
based on a growth rate; and (c) a discount rate, which is based on the Company’s weighted average cost of capital
adjusted for risks associated with our operations. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, no impairment loss is
recognized. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, the goodwill of the reporting unit is considered potentially
impaired and the second step is completed in order to measure the impairment loss. Under the second step, the Company
calculates the implied fair value of goodwill by deducting the fair value of all tangible and intangible net assets, including
any unrecognized intangible assets, of the reporting unit from the fair value of the reporting unit as determined in the first
step. The Company then compares the implied fair value of goodwill to the carrying value of goodwill. If the implied fair
value of goodwill is less than the carrying value of goodwill, the Company recognizes an impairment loss equal to the
difference.
The indefinite lived intangible asset impairment test requires the determination of the fair value of the intangible
asset. If the fair value of the intangible asset is less than its carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized for an amount
equal to the difference. The intangible asset is then carried at its new fair value. Fair value is determined using estimates
of discounted cash flows. These estimates of discounted cash flows will likely change over time as impairment tests are
performed. Estimates of fair value are also adversely affected by increases in interest rates and the applicable discount
rate.
Based on the Company’s qualitative and/or quantitative impairment testing performed, the Company did not
recognize an impairment loss on goodwill or other indefinite lived intangible assets in fiscal years 2015, 2014 or 2013.
The methods of assessing fair value for reporting units with goodwill as well as for indefinite lived assets require
significant judgments to be made by management, including future revenues, expenses, cash flows and discount rates.
Changes in such estimates or the application of alternative assumptions could produce significantly different results.
Revenue Recognition
The Company records revenues when 1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, 2) delivery has occurred or
services have been rendered, 3) price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and 4) collectability is reasonably assured. The
Company’s revenue recognition policy includes evidence of arrangements for significant revenue transactions through
either receipt of a customer purchase order or a web-based order. The Company records revenues when risk of loss has
passed to the customer. In most cases, shipments are made using FOB shipping terms. FOB destination terms are used for
a portion of sales, and revenue for these sales is recorded when the product is received by the customer. Prices are always
fixed at the time of sale. Historically, there have not been any material concessions provided to or by customers, future
discounts provided by the company, or other incentives subsequent to a sale. The Company sells under normal
commercial terms and, therefore, only records sales on transactions where collectability is reasonably assured. The
Company recognizes revenues net of sales tax.
Because the Company’s sales transactions meet the conditions set forth in the Financial Accounting Standards
Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 605 and/or 606, it recognizes revenues from sales
transactions containing sales returns provisions at the time of the sale. These conditions require that 1) the price be
substantially fixed or determinable at the date of sale, 2) the buyer is obligated to pay, and the payment is not contingent
on their resale of the product, 3) the buyer’s obligation to the Company does not change in the event of theft or physical
destruction or damage of the product, 4) the buyer has economic substance apart from the Company, 5) the Company does
not have significant obligations for future performance to directly bring about resale of the product by the buyer, and 6)
the amount of future returns can be reasonably estimated. Because the Company’s normal terms and conditions of sale are
consistent with conditions 1-5 above, and the Company is able to perform condition 6, it makes a reasonable estimate of
product returns in sales transactions and accrues a sales return reserve based on this estimate.
Certain companies have turned to TESSCO to implement supply chain solutions, including purchasing inventory,
assisting in demand forecasting, configuring, packaging, kitting and delivering products and managing customer and
47
vendor relations, from order taking through cash collections. In performing these solutions, the Company assumes varying
levels of involvement in the transactions and varying levels of credit and inventory risk. As the Company’s solutions
offerings continually evolve to meet the needs of its customers, the Company constantly evaluates its revenue accounting
based on the guidance set forth in accounting standards generally accepted in the United States. When applying this
guidance in accordance with the ASC No. 605-45, the Company looks at the following indicators: whether it is the
primary obligor in the transaction; whether it has general inventory risk; whether it has latitude in establishing price; the
extent to which it changes the product or performs part of the service; whether it has discretion in supplier selection;
whether it is involved in the determination of product and service specifications; whether it has physical inventory risk;
whether it has credit risk; and whether the amount it earns is fixed. Each of the Company’s customer relationships is
independently evaluated based on the above guidance and revenues are recorded on the appropriate basis. Based on a
review of the factors above, in the majority of the Company’s sales relationships, the Company has concluded that it is the
principal in the transaction and records revenues based upon the gross amounts earned and booked. However, the
Company does have relationships where it is not the principal and records revenues on a net fee basis, regardless of
amounts billed (less than 1% of total revenues for fiscal 2015). If applying this revenue recognition guidance resulted in
recording revenues on a different basis from which the Company has previously concluded, or if the factors above change
significantly, revenues could increase or decrease; however, gross profit and net income would remain constant.
Service revenue associated with training and other services is recognized when the training or work is complete
and the four criteria discussed above have been met. Service revenues have represented less than 1% of total revenues for
fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013.
Other than sales relating to the Company’s private brands, we offer no product warranties in excess of original
equipment manufacturers’ warranties. The Company’s warranty expense is estimated and accrued at the time of sale.
Warranty expense was immaterial for fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013.
Vendor Programs
Funds received from vendors for price protection, product rebates and marketing/promotion are recorded in
accordance with ASC 605.
Classification of Expenses
Cost of goods sold includes cost of products and freight from vendors to our distribution centers. Product
management, distribution, purchasing, receiving/inspection, warehousing, freight from our distribution centers to our
customers’ sites, and corporate overhead costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Certain
selling, general and administrative expenses related to direct and indirect labor and certain freight-in expenses are
included in inventory. As of March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014, the amount of selling, general and administrative
expenses and freight in expenses included in inventory was $3,008,200 and $2,261,500, respectively.
Shipping and Handling Costs
Shipping costs incurred to ship products from our distribution centers to our customers’ sites are included in
selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income and totaled $13,700,000,
$13,364,600, and $13,674,300 for the fiscal years ended March 29, 2015, March 30, 2014, and March 31, 2013,
respectively.
Stock Compensation Awards Granted to Team Members
The Company records stock compensation expense for awards in accordance with ASC No. 718, which requires
the Company to include in its calculation of periodic stock compensation expense an estimate of future forfeitures. The
standard also requires stock awards granted or modified after the adoption of the standard that include both performance
48
conditions and graded vesting based on service to the Company to be amortized by an accelerated method rather than the
straight-line method.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method in accordance with ASC No. 740.
Under this method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities arise from differences between the tax basis of assets or
liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. Deferred tax balances are determined by using the
enacted tax rate to be in effect when the taxes are paid or refunds received. A valuation allowance related to deferred tax
assets is recorded when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
In accordance with ASC No. 740, the Company recognizes a provision for tax uncertainties in its financial
statements. See Note 12 for further discussion of the standard and its impact on the Company’s consolidated financial
statements.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of
revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, the Company reviews and evaluates its estimates
and assumptions, including but not limited to, those that relate to tax reserves, stock-based compensation, accounts
receivable reserves, inventory reserves and future cash flows associated with impairment testing for goodwill and other
long-lived assets. Actual results could significantly differ from those estimates.
Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with
Customers. This guidance will supersede Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, in addition to other industry-specific
guidance, once effective. The new standard requires a company to recognize revenue in a manner that depicts the transfer
of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to
be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. The accounting standard is effective for annual periods beginning
after December 15, 2016. On April 29, 2015 the FASB issued for public comment a proposal to defer the effective date of
the standard by one year. We are currently in the process of assessing what impact this new standard may have on our
ongoing financial reporting and determining what transition method will be used.
In June 2014, the FASB issue Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-12, Compensation – Stock Compensation.
This pronouncement provides guidance on accounting for share-based awards where the performance target could be
achieved after an employee completes the requisite service period. We currently do not have any share-based
arrangements of this type; therefore, this guidance is not expected to have an impact on our results of operations or
financial condition. See Note 15 for the details of our stock based compensation.
Note 3. Property and Equipment
All of the Company’s property and equipment is located in the United States. Property and equipment, and is
summarized as follows:
Land ................................................................................................... $
Building, building improvements and leasehold improvements ........
4,740,800
21,375,500
$
4,740,800
21,202,400
2015
2014
49
Information technology equipment and computer software ..............
Furniture, telephone system, equipment and tooling .........................
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization ..............................
Property and equipment, net .......................................................... $
25,751,500
7,809,400
59,677,200
(38,565,400)
21,111,800
24,625,800
7,734,000
58,303,000
(35,537,600)
22,765,400
$
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment was $4,583,600, $4,852,800, and $4,926,400 for fiscal
years 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Capitalized internally developed computer software, net of accumulated amortization, as of March 29, 2015 and
March 30, 2014 was $844,000 and $1,012,400, respectively. Amortization expense of capitalized internally developed
computer software was $797,800, $980,300, and $1,322,400 for fiscal years 2015, 2014, and 2013.
Note 4. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Other intangible assets, which are included in other long-term assets on the accompanying Consolidated Balance
Sheets as of March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014 consists of indefinite lived intangibles assets in the amount of
$850,000.Amortization expense relating to other intangible assets was $12,300 for fiscal year 2014 and $53,000 for fiscal
year 2013. At March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014, amortizable intangible assets were fully amortized. There were no
changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the fiscal years ended March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014.
Note 5. Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following:
Deferred Revenue ...............................................
Other Accrued Expenses ....................................
Total Accrued Expenses ...............................
March 29, 2015
$ 6,959,300
1,729,200
$ 8,688,500
March 30, 2014
$ --
923,600
$ 923,600
Note 6. Borrowings Under Revolving Credit Facility
On May 31, 2007, pursuant to a Credit Agreement, the Company established a revolving credit facility with both
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and SunTrust Bank. The facility is unsecured and provides for monthly payments
of interest accruing at a rate of LIBOR plus an applicable margin. The terms of the revolving credit facility require the
Company to meet certain financial covenants and ratios and contain other limitations, including certain restrictions on
dividend payments. Borrowing availability under the facility is also subject to a borrowing base, based on levels of trade
accounts receivable and inventory. This credit facility has been amended several times, most recently on October 16, 2013
(the Ninth Modification Agreement). Currently the credit facility has a maximum borrowing limit of $35.0 million and
has a term expiring in October 2016. The amount of dividend payments allowed to be made by the Company under the
Credit Facility is $8.0 million in any 12 month period, not including the onetime special dividend of $0.75 per share of
common stock on December 27, 2012, to shareholders of record on December 13, 2012. The dollar amount of stock
repurchases permitted under the term of the credit facility is $30.0 million. As of March 29, 2015, the Company had the
ability to purchase approximately $11.7 million in additional shares of common stock without violating this covenant
Numerous financial covenants have been amended from the original credit facility. The financial covenants included in
the Credit Agreement for the unsecured revolving credit facility are also applicable to the Company's existing Term Loan
with the same lenders. Accordingly, each amendment also has the effect of amending the financial covenants applicable to
50
the Term Loan.
The facility provides for monthly payments of interest accruing at a rate of LIBOR plus an applicable margin
ranging from 1.50% to 2.50%. The weighted average interest rate on borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit
facilities was 1.65%, 2.35%, and 2.68% for fiscal years 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. Interest expense on this
revolving credit facility for fiscal years 2015, 2014, and 2013 totaled $78,200, $53,400, and $77,400, respectively.
Average borrowings under this revolving credit facility totaled $4,672,300, $2,243,900, and $2,858,500 and maximum
borrowings totaled $17,331,900, $13,467,000, and $18,989,600, for fiscal years 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively.
As of March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014, the Company had no outstanding balance on its revolving credit
facility. Therefore, we had $35.0 million available on our revolving line of credit facility as of both March 29, 2015 and
March 30, 2014.
The Company was in compliance with the terms and financial covenants applicable to each of the revolving credit
facility and term loan facility at the end of fiscal years 2015, 2014, and 2013.
Note 7. Long-Term Debt
On June 30, 2004, the Company refinanced its previously existing term loan with a bank. The original principal
amount of the loan was $4.5 million, payable in monthly installments of principal and interest with the balance due at the
initial maturity date, June 30, 2011. On May 20, 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with Wells Fargo Bank,
National Association, and SunTrust Bank, effective July 1, 2011, to extend the maturity date of the existing term loan to
July 1, 2016. The interest rate on this term loan is LIBOR plus 2.00%. The note is secured by a first position deed of trust
encumbering Company-owned real property in Hunt Valley, Maryland. The loan is generally subject to the same financial
covenants as the Company’s revolving credit facility (see Note 6), which requires the Company to meet certain financial
covenants and ratios and contains other limitations, including certain restrictions on dividend payments. The balance of
this note at March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014 was $2,100,000 and $2,325,000, respectively. The weighted average
interest rate on borrowings under this note was 2.19%, 2.18%, and 2.21% for fiscal years 2015, 2014, and 2013,
respectively. Interest expense under this note was $48,400, $54,500, and $55,600 for fiscal years 2015, 2014, and 2013,
respectively.
On March 31, 2009, the Company entered into a term loan with the Baltimore County Economic Development
Revolving Loan Fund for an aggregate principal amount of $250,000. At March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014, the
principal balance of this term loan was $108,200 and $133,400, respectively. The term loan is payable in equal monthly
installments of principal and interest of $2,300, with the balance due at maturity on April 1, 2019. The term loan bears
interest at 2.00% per annum. Interest expense under this note was $2,400, $2,900, and $3,400 for fiscal years 2015, 2014,
and 2013, respectively. The term loan is secured by a subordinate position on Company-owned real property located in
Hunt Valley, Maryland.
As of March 29, 2015, scheduled annual maturities of long-term debt are as follows:
Fiscal year:
2016 ............................................................................................................................. $
250,700
2017 ............................................................................................................................. 1,901,200
26,700
2018 .............................................................................................................................
27,300
2019 .............................................................................................................................
2,300
2020 .............................................................................................................................
--
Thereafter ....................................................................................................................
$ 2,208,200
51
Note 8. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is committed to making rental payments under non-cancelable operating leases covering various
facilities and equipment. Rent expense for fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013 totaled $2,970,300, $3,004,300, and
$2,907,900, respectively.
The Company leases office space in Timonium, Maryland, where the Company’s sales, marketing and
administrative offices are located. This space is nearby to the Company’s Global Logistics Center in Hunt Valley,
Maryland. The Agreement of Lease expires on December 31, 2017. Monthly rent payments now range from $162,600 to
$177,700 for this office space through the remaining lease term.
The Company also leases approximately office and warehouse space in Hunt Valley, Maryland, adjacent to the
Company’s Global Logistics Center, expiring on July 31, 2017; however, the Company has an ongoing annual option to
terminate the lease. The monthly rental fee ranges from $33,000 to $35,700 through the lease term.
Additional sales and marketing offices are located in additional leased office space in San Antonio, Texas. This
space is leased pursuant to a lease agreement expiring on October 31, 2018. Monthly rent payments range from $15,300
to $16,900.
The Company’s minimum future obligations as of March 29, 2015 under existing operating leases are as follows:
Fiscal year:
2016 ................................................................................................................................. $ 3,032,100
2017 ................................................................................................................................. 2,983,100
2018 ................................................................................................................................. 2,020,500
143,600
2019 .................................................................................................................................
11,100
2020 .................................................................................................................................
--
Thereafter .........................................................................................................................
$ 8,190,400
Lawsuits and claims are filed against the Company from time to time in the ordinary course of business. The
Company does not believe that any lawsuits or claims pending against the Company, individually or in the aggregate, are
material, or will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. In addition,
from time to time, the Company is also subject to review from federal and state taxing authorities in order to validate the
amounts of income, sales and/or use taxes which have been claimed and remitted. No federal, state and local tax returns
are currently under examination, except for the following state sales tax audits:
• Maryland for the tax period of January 2011 through December 2014
• Florida for the tax period of November 2011 through October 2014
• New York for the tax period of June 2012 through February 2015
As the Company is routinely audited by state taxing authorities, the Company has estimated exposure and established
reserves for its estimated sales tax audit liability.
Note 9. Operating Segments
The Company evaluates its business as one segment, as the chief operating decision maker reviews results as one
unit. However, to provide investors with increased visibility into the markets it serves, the Company also reports revenue
and gross profit by the following customer markets: (1) public carriers, contractors and program managers that are
52
generally responsible for building and maintaining the infrastructure system and provide airtime service to individual
subscribers; (2) government system operators including federal agencies and state and local governments that run wireless
networks for their own use; (3) private system operators including commercial entities such as major utilities and
transportation companies that run wireless networks for their own use; (4) commercial dealers and resellers that sell,
install and/or service cellular telephone, wireless networking, broadband and two-way radio communications equipment
primarily for the enterprise market; (5) retailers, independent dealer agents and carriers; and (6) the Company’s Major
3PL relationship with AT&T that was fully transitioned at the end of fiscal 2013. Beginning in the third quarter of fiscal
2015, we began reporting private system operators and government system operators as two separate market units. All
prior period information below reflects this change.
The Company evaluates revenue, gross profit and net profit contribution, and income before provision for income
taxes in the aggregate. Net profit contribution is defined as gross profit less any expenses that can be directly attributed.
This includes sales, product management, purchasing, credit and collections and distribution team expenses, plus freight
out and internal and external marketing costs. Corporate support expenses includes administrative costs – finance, human
resources, information technology, operating facility occupancy expenses, depreciation, amortization and interest, plus the
company-wide pay on performance bonus expense.
Certain cost of sales and other applicable expenses have been allocated to each market based on a percentage of
revenues and/or gross profit, where appropriate.
Market activity for the fiscal years ended 2015, 2014 and 2013 is as follows (in thousands):
March 29,
2015
March 30,
2014
March 31,
2013
Revenues
Public Carriers, Contractors & Program Managers .................. $
Government System Operators .................................................
Private System Operators .........................................................
Commercial Dealers & Resellers .............................................
Retailer, Independent Dealer Agents & Carriers ......................
Revenue, excluding Major 3PL relationship ............................
Major 3PL relationship .............................................................
Total revenues ...........................................................................
Gross Profit
Public Carriers, Contractors & Program Managers ..................
Government System Operators .................................................
Private System Operators .........................................................
Commercial Dealers & Resellers .............................................
Retailer, Independent Dealer Agents & Carriers ......................
Gross profit, excluding Major 3PL relationship .......................
Major 3PL relationship .............................................................
Total gross profit ......................................................................
Selling, general, administrative, and interest expenses ............
Restructuring charge .................................................................
Operating and interest expenses ...............................................
Income before provision for income taxes ............................... $
127,426
31,495
86,725
134,195
169,778
549,619
--
549,619
24,081
8,283
22,926
37,977
37,622
130,889
--
130,889
116,104
573
116,677
14,211
$
$
149,196
33,757
81,559
140,552
155,023
560,087
--
560,087
31,013
8,497
23,110
39,396
36,142
138,158
--
138,158
111,846
--
111,846
26,312
$
$
111,146
35,857
85,456
138,737
167,895
539,091
213,474
752,565
24,183
9,231
24,365
38,345
35,903
132,027
15,012
147,039
118,045
--
118,045
28,994
53
The Company also reviews revenue and gross profit by its four product categories:
• Base station infrastructure products are used to build, repair and upgrade wireless telecommunications. Products
include base station antennas, cable and transmission lines, small towers, lightning protection devices, connectors,
power systems, miscellaneous hardware, and mobile antennas. Our base station infrastructure service offering
includes connector installation, custom jumper assembly, site kitting and logistics integration.
• Network systems products are used to build and upgrade computing and Internet networks. Products include
fixed and mobile broadband equipment, wireless networking, filtering systems, distributed antenna systems, two-
way radios and security and surveillance products. This product category also includes training classes, technical
support and engineering design services.
•
Installation, test and maintenance products are used to install, tune, and maintain wireless communications
equipment. Products include sophisticated analysis equipment and various frequency-, voltage- and power-
measuring devices, as well as an assortment of tools, hardware, GPS, safety and replacement and component parts
and supplies required by service technicians.
• Mobile devices and accessory products include cellular phone and data device accessories such as replacement
batteries, cases, speakers, mobile amplifiers, power supplies, headsets, mounts, car antennas, music accessories
and data and memory cards. Retail merchandising displays, promotional programs, customized order fulfillment
services and affinity-marketing programs, including private label Internet sites, complement our mobile devices
and accessory product offering.
Supplemental revenue and gross profit information by product category for the fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013
are as follows (in thousands):
Revenues
March 29, 2015
March 30, 2014
March 31, 2013
Base station infrastructure ........................................................
Network systems .......................................................................
Installation, test and maintenance .............................................
Mobile device accessories ........................................................
Total revenues ...........................................................................
224,135
96,399
41,790
187,295
549,619
$
$
Gross Profit
Base station infrastructure ........................................................
Network systems .......................................................................
Installation, test and maintenance .............................................
Mobile device accessories ........................................................
Total gross profit .......................................................................
60,960
16,064
9,400
44,465
130,889
$
$
$
$
252,983
89,411
45,343
172,350
560,087
69,451
16,040
10,286
42,381
138,158
$
$
$
227,510
78,989
47,766
398,300
752,565
65,472
14,887
11,151
55,529
147,039
Note 10. Restructuring Charge
In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, recognizing the ongoing challenging conditions caused by the carrier spending
slowdown, the Company took actions to restructure our costs, resulting in a $0.6 million pre-tax charge, which is included
in our Consolidated Statements of Income for fiscal year 2015. The restructuring charge primarily consists of severance-
related expenses associated with a reduction in headcount.
54
Note 11. Stock Buyback
On April 23, 2014, the Board of Directors expanded the Company’s existing stock buyback program and
authorized the purchase on a non-accelerated basis of up to $10.0 million of the Company’s stock over a 24-month period,
ending in April 2016. Shares may be purchased from time to time in the open market, by block purchase, or through
negotiated transactions, or possibly other transactions managed by broker-dealers. During fiscal 2015, the Company
purchased 157,954 shares under the expanded stock buyback program for approximately $4.6 million, or an average cost
of $29.17 per share. As of March 29, 2015, $5.4 million remained available for repurchase under this program.
The Company also withholds shares from its employees and directors, at their request, equal to the minimum
federal and state tax withholdings related to vested performance stock units, stock option exercises and restricted stock
awards. For fiscal years 2015, 2014, and 2013 the total value of shares withheld for taxes was $1,612,900, $1,646,300,
and $2,161,900, respectively.
Note 12. Income Taxes
A reconciliation of the difference between the provision for income taxes computed at statutory rates and the
provision for income taxes provided in the consolidated statements of income is as follows:
Statutory federal rate ........................................................................................
State taxes, net of federal benefit .....................................................................
Non-deductible expenses .................................................................................
Other ................................................................................................................
Effective rate ....................................................................................................
34.2%
4.1
0.9
0.0
39.2%
35.0%
3.3
0.7
(0.8)
38.2%
35.0%
2.9
0.5
0.2
38.6%
2015
2014
2013
The provision for income taxes was comprised of the following:
2015
2014
2013
State:
Federal: Current ........................................................................................... $ 3,035,400 $ 9,252,700
(396,600)
1,212,400
(5,400)
5,576,800 $10,063,100
Deferred .........................................................................................
Current ...........................................................................................
Deferred .........................................................................................
Provision for income taxes ............................................................................
1,964,800
398,500
178,100
$10,593,200
(929,600)
1,640,400
(103,500)
$11,200,500
Total deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as of March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014, and the sources of
the differences between financial accounting and tax basis of the Company's assets and liabilities which give rise to the
deferred tax assets and liabilities, are as follows:
Deferred tax assets:
Deferred compensation ..................................................................................................... $ 802,700 $ 1,260,000
428,700
Accrued vacation ..............................................................................................................
886,800
Deferred rent .....................................................................................................................
554,100
687,500
2015
2014
55
232,800
Allowance for doubtful accounts ......................................................................................
Inventory reserves ............................................................................................................. 2,175,500
459,600
Sales tax reserves .............................................................................................................
516,000
Other assets .......................................................................................................................
89,600
Restricted Stock ................................................................................................................
286,200
Tax contingency reserve ...................................................................................................
374,300
1,530,000
472,700
1,660,600
--
299,900
$ 5,804,000 $ 6,913,000
Total deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation and amortization .......................................................................................... 3,354,600
312,400
Other liabilities ..................................................................................................................
873,700
Accrued compensation .....................................................................................................
767,400
Prepaid expenses ...............................................................................................................
3,549,700
287,300
--
423,700
$ 5,308,100 $ 4,260,700
$ 495,900 $ 2,652,300
Total deferred tax liabilities
Net Deferred Tax Asset
The Company has reviewed its deferred tax assets realization and has determined that no valuation allowance is
required as of March 29, 2015 or March 30, 2014.
As of March 29, 2015, the gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $394,400 ($256,400 net of federal
benefit). As of March 30, 2014, the Company had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $1,665,000 ($309,400 net of federal
benefit).
The Company’s accounting policy with respect to interest and penalties related to tax uncertainties is to classify
these amounts as income taxes. The total amount of interest and penalties related to tax uncertainties recognized in the
consolidated statement of income for fiscal year 2015 was a benefit of $31,600 (net of federal expense) and the
cumulative amount included as a liability in the consolidated balance sheet as of march 29, 2015 was $323,800 (net of
federal expense). The total amount of interest and penalties related to tax uncertainties recognized in the consolidated
statement of income for fiscal year 2014 was a benefit of $23,300 (net of federal benefit) and the cumulative amount
included in the consolidated balance sheet as of March 30, 2014 was $295,500 (net of federal benefit). The total amount
of interest and penalties related to tax uncertainties recognized in the consolidated statement of income for fiscal year
2013 was an expense of $71,300 (net of federal benefit).
As of March 29, 2015, the total net amount of unrecognized tax benefits, inclusive of indirect tax benefits and
deferred tax benefits was $256,400 and associated penalties and interest were $323,800. The net amount of $580,200, if
recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. The Company’s unrecognized tax benefits increased by $1,189,000 during
the fiscal year ended March 30, 2014, due to its tax accounting method for certain accrued expenses. The Company’s
unrecognized tax benefit decreased by $1,189,000 and such amount was reclassified to income taxes payable during fiscal
2015 due to the Company filing an automatic change to its method of accounting for certain accrued expenses with the
IRS during the first quarter of fiscal 2015.
A reconciliation of the changes in the gross balance of unrecognized tax benefit amounts, net of interest, is as
follows:
Beginning balance of unrecognized tax benefit
Decrease due to reclassification to income tax payable
Increase related to prior period tax positions
2015
2014
2013
$ 1,665,000 $
(1,189,000)
--
631,100 $
--
1,189,000
561,600
--
--
56
Increases related to current period tax positions
Reductions as a result of a lapse in the applicable statute of limitations
Ending balance of unrecognized tax benefits
10,600
(92,200)
394,400 $ 1,665,000 $
22,800
(177,900)
69,500
--
631,100
$
The Company files income tax returns in U.S. federal, state and local jurisdictions. Income tax returns filed for
fiscal years 2008 and earlier are no longer subject to examination by U.S. federal, state and local tax authorities. No
federal, state and local income tax returns are currently under examination.
Certain income tax returns for fiscal years 2009 through 2015 remain open to examination by U.S. federal, state
and local tax authorities.
Note 13. Retirement Plans
The Company has a 401(k) plan that covers all eligible employees. Contributions to the plan can be made by
employees and the Company may make matching contributions at its discretion. Expense related to this matching
contribution was $524,200, $718,700, and $610,700 during fiscal years 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. As of March
29, 2015 plan assets included 127,693 shares of common stock of the Company.
The Company maintains a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Robert B. Barnhill, Jr., Chairman,
President and CEO of the Company. This plan is funded through life insurance policies for which the Company is the sole
beneficiary. The cash surrender value of the life insurance policies and the net present value of the benefit obligation of
approximately $1,769,600 and $941,300, respectively, as of March 29, 2015 and $1,491,300 and $822,200, respectively,
as of March 30, 2014 are included in other long-term assets and other long-term liabilities, respectively, in the
accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Note 14. Earnings Per Share
The Company calculates earnings per share considering ASC No. 260 in regards to accounting for participating
securities, which requires the Company to use the two-class method to calculate earnings per share. Under the two-class
method, earnings per common share are computed by dividing the sum of the distributed earnings to common
shareholders and undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common
shares outstanding for the period. In applying the two-class method, undistributed earnings are allocated to both common
shares and participating securities based on the weighted average shares outstanding during the period.
The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share:
Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts
2014
2013
2015
Earnings per share – Basic:
Net earnings ........................................................................................
Less: Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to
nonvested stock ...............................................................................
Earnings available to common shareholders – Basic .........................
$
$
Weighted average common shares outstanding – Basic ....................
8,634
$
16,249
$
17,794
(47)
8,587
8,171
(134)
16,115
$
$
8,134
(200)
17,594
7,929
Earnings per common share – Basic ..................................................
$
1.05
$
1.98
$
2.22
Earnings per share – Diluted:
Net earnings ........................................................................................
Less: Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to
nonvested stock ...............................................................................
$
8,634
$
16,249
$
17,794
(19)
(132)
(197)
57
Earnings available to common shareholders – Diluted ......................
$
8,615
$
16,117
$
17,597
Weighted average common shares outstanding – Basic ....................
Effect of dilutive options ....................................................................
Weighted average common shares outstanding – Diluted ................
8,171
102
8,273
8,134
192
8,326
7,929
271
8,200
Earnings per common share – Diluted ...............................................
$
1.04
$
1.94
$
2.15
There were no stock options with respect to shares of common stock outstanding as of March 29, 2015, March 30,
2014, or March 31, 2013. There were no anti-dilutive Performance Stock Units or Restricted Stock then outstanding.
Note 15. Stock-Based Compensation
The Company’s selling, general and administrative expenses for the fiscal years ended March 29, 2015, March 30,
2014, and March 31, 2013 includes $1,161,300, $2,087,100, and $2,536,800, respectively, of stock compensation
expense. Provision for income taxes for the fiscal years ended March 29, 2015, March 30, 2014, and March 31, 2013
includes $441,300, $797,300, and $979,800, respectively, of income tax benefits related to our stock-based compensation
arrangements. Stock compensation expense is primarily related to our Performance Stock Unit Program as described
below.
The Company’s stock incentive plan is the Second Amended and Restated 1994 Stock and Incentive Plan (the
1994 Plan). On July 21, 2011, the Company’s shareholders approved an amendment to the 1994 Plan increasing the
number of shares of common stock available for the grant of awards by 690,000 shares, from 2,638,125 to an aggregate of
3,553,125 shares of the Company's common stock. As of March 29, 2015, 439,028 shares were available for issue in
respect of future awards under the 1994 Plan. Subsequent to the Company’s 2015 fiscal year end, on May 11, 2015, based
on fiscal 2015 results, 74,500 shares related to Performance Stock Units (PSUs) were canceled, and as a result, these
shares were made available for future grants. Also on May 11, 2015, additional PSUs and restricted stock awards were
issued providing recipients with the opportunity to earn up to an aggregate of 103,000 and 10,000 additional shares,
respectively of the Company’s common stock. Accordingly, as of May 11, 2015, an aggregate of 400,528 shares were
available for issue pursuant to future awards.
No additional awards can be made under the 1994 Plan after July 21, 2016, without or unless made subject to
shareholder approval of an extension of the plan term. Stock Options, restricted stock and PSU awards have historically
been granted as awards under the 1994 Plan. Shares which are subject to outstanding PSU or other awards under the 1994
Plan, and which are not earned, are returned to the 1994 Plan and become available for future issuance in accordance with
and otherwise subject to the terms of the 1994 Plan.
Performance Stock Units: The Company’s equity-based compensation philosophy is generally focused on
granting performance-based and time-vested stock grants. Under a program established by the Board of Directors,
Performance Stock Units (PSUs) have been granted under the 1994 Plan to selected employees. Each PSU entitles the
participant to earn TESSCO common stock, but only after earnings per share and, for non-director employee participants,
individual performance targets are met over a defined performance cycle. Performance cycles, which are fixed for each
grant at the date of grant, are one year. Once earned, shares vest and are issued over a specified period of time determined
at the time of the grant, provided that the participant remains employed by or associated with the Company at the time of
share issuance. Earnings per share targets, which take into account the earnings impact of this program, are set by the
Board of Directors in advance for the complete performance cycle at levels designed to grow shareholder value. If actual
performance does not reach the minimum annual or threshold targets, no shares are issued. In accordance with ASC No.
718, the Company records compensation expense on its PSUs over the service period, based on the number of shares
management estimates will ultimately be issued. Accordingly, the Company determines the periodic financial statement
compensation expense based upon the stock price at the PSU grant date, net of the present value of dividends expected to
be paid on TESSCO common stock before the PSU vests, management’s projections of future EPS performance over the
58
performance cycle, and the resulting amount of estimated share issuances, net of estimated forfeitures. The Company
estimated the forfeiture rate primarily based on historical experience and expectations of future forfeitures. The
Company’s calculated estimated forfeiture rate is approximately 2%.
The following table summarizes the activity under the Company’s PSU program for fiscal years 2015, 2014 and
2013:
2015
2014
2013
Weighted-
Average
Fair Value
at Grant
Shares
317,127
91,000
(125,347)
(78,939)
$ 15.96
29.28
14.44
21.61
Weighted-
Average
Fair Value
at Grant
$ 12.77
19.91
10.22
18.47
Shares
455,979
112,000
(199,066)
(51,786)
Weighted-
Average
Fair Value
at Grant
9.81
$
19.31
8.64
17.69
Shares
604,844
156,200
(288,765)
(16,300)
203,841
$ 20.65
317,127
$ 15.96
455,979
$ 12.77
Outstanding, non-vested
beginning of period ....................
Granted .......................................
Vested .........................................
Forfeited/canceled ......................
Outstanding, non-vested
end of period ...............................
As of March 29, 2015, there was approximately $0.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost, net of
forfeitures, related to PSUs. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years. Total
fair value of shares vested during fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $4,364,500, $4,531,700 and $6,304,300,
respectively.
Of the 78,939 PSUs canceled during fiscal 2015, 49,979 related to the fiscal 2014 grant of PSUs and were
canceled in April 2014. The PSUs were canceled because the applicable fiscal 2014 performance targets were not fully
satisfied. The remaining 28,960 shares were forfeited due to employee departures during fiscal year 2015. Per the
provisions of the 1994 Plan, the shares related to these forfeited and canceled PSUs were added back to the 1994 Plan and
became available for future issuance.
Of the outstanding PSUs covering 203,841 non-vested shares, PSUs covering 74,500 shares were canceled in
May 2015, based on fiscal year 2015 activity. These PSUs were canceled because fiscal year 2015 earnings per share did
not fully reach the target performance set forth in the PSU grants. The remaining 129,341 shares have been earned based
on past performance, but are not yet vested as of March 29, 2015. Assuming the respective participants remain employed
by, or affiliated with, the Company on the vesting dates, these shares will vest and be issued on or about May 1 of 2015,
2016, and 2017, as follows:
Number of Shares
2015 ...........................................................................
2016 ...........................................................................
2017 ...........................................................................
87,107
31,468
10,766
129,341
Subsequent to the Company’s 2015 fiscal year end, on May 11, 2015, the Compensation Committee, with the
concurrence of the full Board of Directors, granted additional PSUs to selected key employees, providing them with the
opportunity to earn up to 103,000 additional shares of the Company’s common stock in the aggregate, depending upon
whether certain threshold or goal earnings per share targets are met and individual performance metrics are satisfied in
fiscal year 2016. These PSUs have only one measurement year (fiscal year 2016), with any shares earned at the end of
fiscal year 2016 to vest 25% on or about each of May 1 of 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, provided that the participant
remains employed by or affiliated with the Company on each such date.
59
Restricted Stock/Restricted Stock Units: During the second quarter of fiscal year 2007, the Company granted
225,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer as a restricted stock award
under the 1994 Plan. These shares vest ratably over ten fiscal years based on service, beginning on the last day of fiscal
year 2007 and ending on the last day of fiscal year 2016, subject, however, to the terms applicable to the award, including
terms providing for possible acceleration of vesting upon death, disability, change in control or certain other events. The
weighted average fair value for these shares at the grant date was $10.56. On both March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014,
22,500 shares of restricted stock were released and vested. As of March 29, 2015, there were 22,500 unvested shares and
approximately $0.2 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to restricted stock. Unrecognized
compensation costs related to this award are expected to be recognized ratably over a period of approximately one year.
On May 3, 2012, the Compensation Committee, with the concurrence of the full Board of Directors, granted an
aggregate of 20,100 restricted stock unit, or RSU, awards to the non-employee directors of the Company. These awards
provide for the issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock in accordance with a vesting schedule. These awards
have vested or will vest, and shares have been or will be issued, 25% on or about each of May 1 of 2013, 2014, 2015 and
2016, provided that the participant remains associated with the Company (or meets other criteria as prescribed in the
agreement) on each such date. As of March 29, 2015, there was approximately $0.1 million of total unrecognized
compensation costs related to these awards. Unrecognized compensation costs related to this award are expected to be
recognized ratably over a period of approximately one year.
On May 14, 2013, the Compensation Committee, with the concurrence of the full Board of Directors, granted an
aggregate of 15,000 RSU awards to the non-employee directors of the Company with the exception of one individual who
retired from the Board of Directors in July 2013. These awards provide for the issuance of shares of the Company’s
common stock in accordance with a vesting schedule. These awards have vested or will vest and shares have been or will
be issued, 25% on or about each of May 1 of 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, provided that the participant remains associated
with the Company (or meets other criteria as prescribed in the agreement) on each such date. As of March 29, 2015, there
was approximately $0.1 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to these awards. Unrecognized
compensation costs related to these awards are expected to be recognized ratably over a period of approximately two
years.
On May 8, 2014, the Compensation Committee, with the concurrence of the full Board of Directors, granted an
aggregate of 10,000 RSU to non-employee directors of the Company. These awards provide for the issuance of shares of
the Company’s common stock in accordance with a vesting schedule. These awards have vested or will vest, and shares
have been or will be issued, 25% on or about each of May 1 of 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, provided that the participant
remains associated with the Company (or meets other criteria as prescribed in the agreement) on each such date. As of
March 29, 2015, there was approximately $0.2 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to these awards.
Unrecognized compensation costs related to these awards are expected to be recognized ratably over a period of
approximately three years.
Subsequent to the Company’s 2015 fiscal year end, on May 11, 2015, the Compensation Committee, with the
concurrence of the full Board of Directors, granted an aggregate of 10,000 RSU awards to non-employee directors of the
Company. These awards provide for the issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock in accordance with a vesting
schedule. These awards will vest and shares will be issued 25% on or about each of May 1 of 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019,
provided that the participant remains associated with the Company (or meets other criteria as prescribed in the agreement)
on each such date.
Compensation expense on restricted stock is measured using the grant date price, net of the present value of
dividends expected to be paid on TESSCO common stock before the RSU award vests.
Team Member Stock Purchase Plan: The Company has a Team Member Stock Purchase Plan that permits
eligible employees to purchase up to an aggregate of 450,000 shares of the Company's common stock at 85% of the lower
of the market price on the first day of a six-month period or the market price on the last day of that same six-month
60
period. Expenses incurred for the Team Member Stock Purchase Plan during the fiscal years ended March 29, 2015,
March 30, 2014, and March 31, 2013 were $67,300, $68,400, and $59,400, respectively. During the fiscal years ended
March 29, 2015, March 30, 2014, and March 31, 2013, 8,547, 9,604, and 11,009 shares were sold to employees under this
plan, having a weighted average market value of $22.93, $22.21, and $15.80, respectively.
Note 16. Fair Value Disclosure
Assets and liabilities carried at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:
• Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
• Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or
liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active
markets, and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
• Level 3: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions
about the inputs used in pricing the asset or liability.
As of March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014, the Company has no assets or liabilities recorded at fair value.
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, product inventory, trade accounts
payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate their fair values as of March 29, 2015 and March 30,
2014 due to their short term nature.
Fair value of long term debt is calculated using current market interest rates, which we consider to be a Level 2
input as described in the fair value accounting guidance on fair value measurements, and future principle payments, as of
March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014 is estimated as follows:
2015
Carrying
Amount
Note payable to a Bank ......................................
Note payable to Baltimore County ......................
$
$
2,100,000
108,200
$
$
Note 17. Supplemental Cash Flow Information
2014
Fair
Value
2,031,400
102,300
Carrying
Amount
$ 2,325,000 $
133,400 $
$
Fair
Value
2,200,500
124,400
Cash paid for income taxes net of refunds, for fiscal years 2015, 2014, and 2013 totaled $4,914,000, $8,355,900,
and $11,847,300, respectively. Cash paid for interest during fiscal years 2015, 2014, and 2013 totaled $174,600,
$198,400, and $208,300, respectively. Interest of $3,400 was capitalized during fiscal 2015. No interest was capitalized
during fiscal years 2014 and 2013.
Note 18. Concentration of Risk
Sales to customers and purchases from vendors are largely governed by individual sales or purchase orders, so
there is no guarantee of future business. In some cases, the Company has more formal agreements with significant
customers or vendors, but they are largely administrative in nature and are terminable by either party upon several months
or otherwise short notice and they typically contain no obligation to make purchases from TESSCO. In the event a
significant customer decides to make its purchases from another source, experiences a significant change in demand
internally or from its own customer base, becomes financially unstable, or is acquired by another company, the
Company’s ability to generate revenues from these customers may be significantly affected, resulting in an adverse effect
on its financial position and results of operations.
61
The Company is dependent on third-party equipment manufacturers, distributors and dealers for all of its supply
of wireless communications equipment. For fiscal years 2015, 2014, and 2013, sales of products purchased from the
Company's top ten vendors accounted for 41%, 43%, and 42% of total revenues, respectively. In fiscal year 2015 and
2014, sales of product purchased from the Company’s largest vendor, CommScope Incorporated, accounted for
approximately 14% and 16% of revenue, respectively. In fiscal year 2013, sales of product purchased from the
Company’s largest vendor, Otter Products LLC, a significant portion of which were sold to the Company’s former largest
customer AT&T Mobility, accounted for approximately 9% of total revenues. The Company is dependent on the ability of
its vendors to provide products on a timely basis and on favorable pricing terms. Although the Company believes that
alternative sources of supply are available for many of the product types it carries, the loss of certain principal suppliers,
or the loss of one or more of certain ongoing affinity relationships, could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
As noted, the Company's future results could also be negatively impacted by the loss of certain customers, and/or
vendor relationships. For fiscal years 2015, 2014, and 2013, sales of products to the Company's top ten customer
relationships accounted for 20%, 19%, and 39% of total revenues, respectively. No customer accounted for more than 7%
of total revenues in fiscal 2015 and 2014. In fiscal year 2013, sales to the Company’s former largest customer
relationship, AT&T Mobility, accounted for approximately 30% of total revenues.
In April 2012, the Company was notified by AT&T of their intention to transition their third party logistics retail
store supply chain business away from TESSCO beginning in the second quarter of our fiscal 2013. This business fully
transitioned as of the close of fiscal 2013.
Note 19. Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)
Summarized quarterly financial data for the fiscal years ended March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014 is presented
in the table below:
Fiscal Year 2015 Quarters Ended
Fiscal Year 2014 Quarters Ended
Mar. 29,
2015
Dec. 28,
2014
Sept. 28,
2014
Jun. 29,
2014
Mar. 30,
2014
Dec. 29,
2013
Sept. 29,
2013
Jun. 30,
2013
Revenues ..................... $112,962,200 $ 135,188,700 $ 148,521,800 $ 152,946,300 $ 124,536,600 $ 144,915,200 $ 146,526,000 $144,108,800
108,670,900
Cost of goods sold .......
35,437,900
Gross profit ..................
117,697,500
35,248,800
108,772,800
36,142,400
94,451,800
30,084,800
113,085,800
35,436,000
102,675,800
32,512,900
85,271,400
27,690,800
110,033,200
36,492,800
Selling, general and
administrative
expenses ..................
Restructuring charges ..
Operating expenses .....
(Loss) income from
27,362,100
573,400
27,935,500
29,828,800
--
29,828,800
29,569,400
--
29,569,400
29,176,400
--
29,176,400
25,315,700
--
25,315,700
28,974,800
--
28,974,800
28,903,400
--
28,903,400
28,474,100
--
28,474,100
operations ...............
(244,700)
2,684,100
5,866,600
6,072,400
4,769,100
7,167,600
7,589,400
6,963,800
Interest, net ..................
(Loss) income before
provision for
income taxes ...........
Provision income taxes
Net (loss) income ........ $
Diluted (loss) earnings
28,200
61,300
49,400
28,400
18,300
37,800
67,000
54,600
(272,900)
(41,000)
6,909,200
2,617,000
(231,900) $ 1,681,200 $ 3,513,600 $ 3,671,400 $ 2,955,300 $ 4,420,500 $ 4,581,100 $ 4,292,200
4,750,800
1,795,500
5,817,200
2,303,600
7,129,800
2,709,300
6,044,000
2,372,600
2,622,800
941,600
7,522,400
2,941,300
per share .................. $
(0.03) $
0.20 $
0.42 $
0.44 $
0.35 $
0.53 $
0.55 $
0.51
Cash dividends
declared per
common share ......... $
0.20 $
0.20 $
0.20 $
0.20 $
0.20 $
0.18 $
0.18 $
0.18
Note 20. Subsequent Events
62
Effective May 26, 2015, pursuant to a mutually agreed Letter Agreement, Said Tofighi ceased to serve as Senior
Vice President of Global Manufacturer Supply Chain and Ventev Innovations of the Company. Mr. Tofighi will remain
employed by the Company in a transitional role until August 28, 2015, when his employment with the Company will
terminate.
The parties have agreed that Mr. Tofighi will receive a severance payment equal to 1.00 times his current base
salary ($345,000) to be paid in two equal installments, the first on August 28, 2015 and the second on April 1, 2016,
assuming certain conditions are satisfied. These include the delivery by Mr. Tofighi of a release, and his not accepting any
executive or senior management position (regardless of whether it is competitive with the Company), and not engaging in
any business competitive with the Company, through February 28, 2016.
Mr. Tofighi has also agreed that he will not be entitled to any “Value Share” payment that he otherwise may have
been entitled to for fiscal 2016, and that he is entitled to receive only previously earned Performance Shares that are
distributable prior to termination of his employment on August 28, 2015. He will not be entitled to receive any
Performance Shares that might have otherwise become distributable to him after that date. Accordingly, and assuming his
employment terminates on August 28, 2015 and the non-occurrence of an event resulting in accelerated vesting of
outstanding PSUs, an aggregate of 5,768 Performance Shares will then be forfeited.
63
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of
TESSCO Technologies Incorporated
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of TESSCO Technologies Incorporated and
subsidiaries as of March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income,
changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended March 29,
2015. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a). These financial
statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test
basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating
the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated
financial position of TESSCO Technologies Incorporated and subsidiaries at March 29, 2015 and March 30,
2014, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in
the period ended March 29, 2015, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in
our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial
statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States), TESSCO Technologies Incorporated and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting
as of March 29, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated
June 2, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Baltimore, Maryland
June 2, 2015
64
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures that is designed to provide reasonable assurance that
information, which is required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities
and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods
specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and is accumulated and communicated to
management in a timely manner. Our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have evaluated our disclosure
controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this annual report, and have concluded that our disclosure
controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting
as defined in Rule 13(a)-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Our system of
internal control is designed to provide reasonable assurance to management and the Board of Directors regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles.
Any system of internal control over financial reporting, no matter how well designed, has inherent limitations and
may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, internal control systems determined to be effective can only provide
reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation
of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may be inadequate because of changes in conditions,
or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based
on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations
of the Treadway Commission. This evaluation included review of the documentation of controls, evaluation of the design
effectiveness of controls, testing of the operating effectiveness of controls, and the conclusion of this evaluation. Based on
this evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of March 29,
2015.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of March 29, 2015 has been audited by Ernst
& Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included within this
Item 9A of Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There has not been any change in our internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of fiscal
year 2015 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial
reporting.
65
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of
TESSCO Technologies Incorporated
We have audited TESSCO Technologies Incorporated and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting
as of March 29, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria).
TESSCO Technologies Incorporated and subsidiaries’ management is responsible for maintaining effective
internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over
Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over
financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our
audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a
material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based
on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.
We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed 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. A company’s internal control over financial
reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in
reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2)
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 management and directors of the
company; and (3) 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. Also, 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.
In our opinion, TESSCO Technologies Incorporated and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects,
effective internal control over financial reporting as of March 29, 2015, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States), the consolidated balance sheets of TESSCO Technologies Incorporated and subsidiaries as of
March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in
shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended March 29, 2015 of
66
TESSCO Technologies Incorporated and our report dated June 2, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion
thereon.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Baltimore, Maryland
June 2, 2015
67
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
Part III
Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.
The information with respect to the identity and business experience of executive officers of the Company as
required to be included in Item 10 to this Form 10-K is set forth in Part I of this Form 10-K. The information otherwise
required by Items 10 through 14 will be contained in a definitive proxy statement for our Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, which we anticipate will be filed no later than 120 days after the end of our fiscal year pursuant to
Regulation 14A, and accordingly, these items have been omitted in accordance with General Instruction G (3) to Form 10-
K.
Part IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a)
The following documents are filed as part of this report:
1. The following consolidated financial statements are included in Item 8 of this report:
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014
Consolidated Statements of Income for the fiscal years ended March 29, 2015, March 30, 2014 and March 31,
2013
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the fiscal years ended March 29, 2015, March 30,
2014 and March 31, 2013
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended March 29, 2015, March 30, 2014 and March 31,
2013
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
2. The following financial statement schedules are required to be filed by Item 8 and paragraph (b) of this Item 15
included herewith:
Schedule II
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Schedules not listed above have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is
not applicable.
68
3. Exhibits
3.1.1
3.1.2
3.1.3
3.1.4
3.1.5
3.2.1
3.2.2
10.1.1
10.1.2
10.1.3
10.1.4
10.2.1
10.3.1
10.3.2
10.3.3
10.4.1
10.4.2
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of
Delaware on September 29, 1993 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.1 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-81834)).
Certificate of Retirement of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on January 13,
1994 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
(No. 33-81834)).
Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State
of Delaware on July 20, 1994 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.3 to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-81834)).
Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State
of Delaware on September 6, 1996 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.4 to the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K filed for the fiscal year ended March 28, 1997).
Certificate of Correction filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on February 7, 2007 to Certificate
of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of
Delaware on September 6, 1996 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.5 to the Company’s Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q filed for the fiscal quarter ended December 24, 2006).
Sixth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
April 28, 2011).
First Amendment to Sixth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on July 22, 2011).
Employment Agreement, dated August 31, 2006 with Robert B. Barnhill, Jr. (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on September 1, 2006).
Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated December 31, 2008 with Robert B. Barnhill, Jr.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the
fiscal year ended March 29, 2009).
Amendment No. 2 to Employment Agreement, dated May 7, 2010 with Robert B. Barnhill, Jr.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2010).
Amendment No. 3 to Employment Agreement, dated February 26, 2014 with Robert B. Barnhill, Jr.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26, 2014).
Employee Incentive Stock Option Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-81834)).
Team Member Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix No. 2 to the Company's
Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 15, 1999).
Form of Restricted Stock Award (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the fiscal quarter ended June 26, 2011).
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30, 2013).
TESSCO Technologies Incorporated Second Amended and Restated 1994 Stock and Incentive Plan,
dated as of July 24, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current
Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 29, 2008).
First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated 1994 Stock and Incentive Plan of TESSCO
Technologies Incorporated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report
on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 22, 2011).
69
10.4.3
10.4.4
10.5.1
10.5.2
10.6.1
10.6.2
10.6.3
10.6.4
10.6.5
10.6.6
10.6.7
10.6.8
Form of TESSCO Technologies Incorporated Performance Share Unit Agreement – Officers and
Employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
filed for the fiscal quarter ended June 27, 2004).
Form of TESSCO Technologies Incorporated Performance Share Unit Agreement – Non Employee
Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
filed for the fiscal quarter ended June 27, 2004).
Agreement of Lease by and between Atrium Building, LLC and TESSCO Technologies Incorporated
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the
fiscal quarter ended September 28, 2003).
Third Amendment to Agreement of Lease by and between Atrium Building, LLC and TESSCO
Technologies Incorporated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report
on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 18, 2011).
Credit Agreement, dated June 30, 2004, by and among the Company and affiliates, and Wells Fargo
Bank, National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association), SunTrust Bank and
the lenders party thereto from time to time (Term Loan) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the
Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the fiscal quarter ended September 26, 2004).
Joinder, Assumption, Ratification and Modification Agreement, dated as of August 29, 2006, by and
among the Company, various affiliates of the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as
successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association) and SunTrust Bank, as lenders (Term Loan)
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the
fiscal quarter ended September 24, 2006).
Second Amendment, dated as of May 31, 2007, by and among the Company, various affiliates of the
Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National
Association) and SunTrust Bank, as lenders (Term Loan) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 6,
2007).
Joinder, Assumption and Third Amendment, dated as of May 20, 2011, by and among the Company,
various affiliates of the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to Wachovia
Bank, National Association) and SunTrust Bank, as lenders (Term Loan) (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.7.4 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the fiscal year ended March 27,
2011).
Term Note of Company and affiliates, dated June 30, 2004, payable to Wells Fargo Bank, National
Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association) and SunTrust Bank (Term Loan)
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the
fiscal quarter ended September 26, 2004).
Guaranty Agreement, dated June 30, 2004, of TESSCO Incorporated, to and for the benefit of Wells
Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association), as agent
(Term Loan) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-
Q filed for the fiscal quarter ended September 26, 2004).
Credit Agreement, dated as of May 31, 2007, by and among the Company and its primary operating
subsidiaries as borrowers, and SunTrust Bank and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor
to Wachovia Bank, National Association), as lenders (Revolving Line of Credit Facility) (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on June 6, 2007).
First Modification Agreement, made effective as of June 30, 2008, to Credit Agreement dated as of May
31, 2007, by and among the Company and its primary operating subsidiaries as borrowers, and SunTrust
Bank and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National
Association), as lenders (Revolving Line of Credit Facility) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on July 7, 2008).
70
10.6.9
Second Modification Agreement, made effective as of November 26, 2008, to Credit Agreement dated as
of May 31, 2007, by and among the Company and its primary operating subsidiaries as borrowers, and
SunTrust Bank and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National
Association), as lenders (Revolving Line of Credit Facility) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on December 3, 2008).
10.6.10 Third Modification Agreement, made effective July 22, 2009, to Credit Agreement dated as of May 31,
2007, by and among the Company and its primary operating subsidiaries as borrowers, and SunTrust
Bank and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National
Association), as lenders (Revolving Line of Credit Facility) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the fiscal quarter ended June 28, 2009).
10.6.11 Fourth Modification Agreement, made effective April 28, 2010, to Credit Agreement dated as of May 31,
2007, by and among the Company and its primary operating subsidiaries as borrowers, and SunTrust
Bank and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National
Association), as lenders (Revolving Line of Credit Facility) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7.7
to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the fiscal year ended March 28, 2010).
Joinder, Assumption, and Fifth Modification Agreement, made effective May 20, 2011, to Credit
Agreement dated as of May 31, 2007, by and among the Company and its primary operating subsidiaries
as borrowers, and SunTrust Bank and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to Wachovia
Bank, National Association), as lenders (Revolving Line of Credit Facility) (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.7.12 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the fiscal year ended March 27,
2011).
10.6.12
10.6.13 Sixth Modification Agreement, made effective December 30, 2011, to Credit Agreement dated as of May
31, 2007, by an among the Company and its primary operating subsidiaries as borrowers, and SunTrust
Bank and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National
Association), as lenders (Revolving Line of Credit Facility) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January 5, 2012).
10.6.14 Seventh Modification Agreement, made effective November 30, 2012, to Credit Agreement dated as of
May 31, 2007, by and among the Company and certain subsidiaries, as borrowers, and SunTrust and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as lenders (Revolving Line of Credit Facility) (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on December 3, 2012).
10.6.15 Eighth Modification Agreement, made effective December 21, 2012, to Credit Agreement dated as of
May 31, 2007, by and among the Company and certain subsidiaries, as borrowers, and SunTrust Bank
and Wells Fargo Bank, national Association, as lenders (Revolving Line of Credit Facility) (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on December 26, 2012).
10.6.16 Ninth Modification Agreement, made effective October 16, 2013, to Credit Agreement dated as of May
31, 2007, by and among the Company and certain subsidiaries, as borrowers, and SunTrust Bank and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as lenders (Revolving Line of Credit Facility) (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on October 18, 2013).
10.6.17 Revolving Credit Note of Company and its primary operating subsidiaries, dated as of May 31, 2007,
payable to SunTrust Bank and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank,
National Association), as lenders (Revolving Line of Credit Facility) (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on June 6, 2007).
10.6.18 Mutual General Release, effective December 25, 2012, by and between the Company and David M.
Young (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 27, 2012).
71
10.7.1
10.7.2
10.8.1
10.8.2
10.8.3
10.8.4
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, between the Company and Robert B. Barnhill, Jr., (originally
filed as Exhibit C to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-81834))
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the
fiscal year ended March 29, 2009).
Amendment No. 1 to Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, dated as of December 31, 2008
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the
fiscal year ended March 29, 2009).
Form of Severance and Restrictive Covenant Agreement, dated February 9, 2009, and entered into
between the Company and each of Gerald T. Garland, Douglas A. Rein, and Said Tofighi (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.10.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the fiscal year
ended March 29, 2009).
Form of Severance and Restrictive Covenant Agreement, dated May 27, 2014, and entered into between
the Company and Aric Spitulnik.
Letter Agreement, dated as of February 18, 2015, by and between the Company and Gerald T. Garland
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on February 20, 2015).
Letter Agreement, dated as of May 26, 2015, by and between the Company and Said Tofighi
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on May 26, 2015).
11.1.1* Statement re: Computation of Per Share Earnings.
21.1.1* Subsidiaries of the Company.
23.1.1* Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
31.1.1* Rule 15d-14(a) Certification of Robert B. Barnhill, Jr., Chief Executive Officer.
31.2.1* Rule 15d-14(a) Certification of Aric Spitulnik, Chief Financial Officer.
32.1.1* Section 1350 Certification of Robert B. Barnhill, Jr., Chief Executive Officer.
32.2.1* Section 1350 Certification of Aric Spitulnik, Chief Financial Officer.
101.1* The following financial information from TESSCO Technologies Incorporated’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended March 29, 2015 formatted in XBRL: (i) Consolidated Statement of Income
for the years ended March 29, 2015, March 30, 2014 and March 31, 2013; (ii) Consolidated Balance
Sheet at March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014; (iii) Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the years
March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014; and (iv) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
*
Filed herewith
72
Schedule II: Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
For the fiscal years ended:
2015
2014
2013
Allowance for doubtful accounts:
Balance, beginning of period .............................................................................. $ 1,080,300 $ 1,274,700 $ 998,800
1,197,300
Provision for bad debts .......................................................................................
(921,400)
Write-offs and other adjustments .......................................................................
Balance, end of period ........................................................................................ $
661,900 $ 1,080,300 $ 1,274,700
943,300
(1,361,700)
202,000
(396,400)
2015
2014
2013
Inventory Reserve:
Balance, beginning of period .............................................................................. $ 4,086,100 $ 3,336,700 $ 3,268,900
Inventory reserve expense ..................................................................................
2,581,200
(678,700) (2,513,400)
Write-offs and other adjustments .......................................................................
2,098,800 1,428,100
(404,300)
Balance, end of period ........................................................................................ $ 5,780,600 $ 4,086,100 $ 3,336,700
73
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
TESSCO TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
/s/ Robert B. Barnhill, Jr.
By:
Robert B. Barnhill, Jr., President
June 2, 2015
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the
following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Robert B. Barnhill, Jr.
Robert B. Barnhill, Jr.
/s/ Aric Spitulnik
Aric Spitulnik
/s/ Jay G. Baitler
Jay G. Baitler
/s/ John D. Beletic
John D. Beletic
/s/ Benn R. Konsynski
Benn R. Konsynski
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer (principal executive officer)
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and
Corporate Secretary (principal financial and accounting
officer)
Director
Director
Director
/s/ Dennis J. Shaughnessy
Dennis J. Shaughnessy
Director
/s/ Morton F. Zifferer
Morton F. Zifferer
Director
June 2, 2015
June 2, 2015
June 2, 2015
June 2, 2015
June 2, 2015
June 2, 2015
June 2, 2015
74
Statement re: Computation of Per Share Earnings
Exhibit 11.1.1
The information required by this Exhibit is set forth in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the
Company contained in Item 8 of this Report.
75
Exhibit 21.1.1
Subsidiary
State of Incorporation
Subsidiaries of the Registrant
TESSCO Incorporated ............................................................................................................ Delaware
Wireless Solutions Inc. ........................................................................................................... Maryland
TESSCO Service Solutions, Inc. ............................................................................................ Delaware
TESSCO de Mexico S.A. de C.V. .......................................................................................... Mexico
TESSCO Communications Incorporated ................................................................................ Delaware
TESSCO Financial Corporation ............................................................................................. Delaware
TESSCO Business Services LLC .......................................................................................... Delaware
TESSCO Integrated Solutions, LLC ....................................................................................... Delaware
GW Services Solutions, Inc. .................................................................................................. Delaware
TCPM, Inc. ............................................................................................................................ Delaware
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Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Exhibit 23.1.1
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-95249) pertaining to the
TESSCO Technologies Incorporated Team Member Stock Purchase Plan and the Registration Statements (Form
S-8 No. 33-87178, Form S-8 No. 333-118177, Form S-8 No. 333-158758, and Form S-8 No. 333-179819),
pertaining to the TESSCO Technologies Incorporated Second Amended and Restated 1994 Stock and Incentive
Plan and Employee Incentive Stock Option Plan, of our reports dated June 2, 2015, with respect to the consolidated
financial statements and schedule of TESSCO Technologies Incorporated and subsidiaries, and the effectiveness of
internal control over financial reporting of TESSCO Technologies Incorporated and subsidiaries, included in this
Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended March 29, 2015.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Baltimore, Maryland
June 2, 2015
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