UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(mark one)

 

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2019

 

Or

 

☐ 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 001–34529

 

STR Holdings, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   27–1023344
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
10 Water Street, Enfield, Connecticut   06082
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(860) 272–4235

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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 has 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 ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non–accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b–2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ☐   Accelerated filer ☐
     
Non–accelerated filer ☐   Smaller reporting company ☒
    Emerging growth company filer ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b–2 of the Exchange Act). YES ☐   NO ☒

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

Title of each class Trading Symbol Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share STRI OTCQB Market

 

At April 30, 2019, there were 20,152,029 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDEX TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

STR Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

 

  PAGE
NUMBER
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION  
   
Item 1. Financial Statements 2
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (unaudited) 2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 (unaudited) 3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 (unaudited) 4
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 5
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 16
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 25
Item 4. Controls and Procedures 25
   
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION  
   
Item 1. Legal Proceedings 25
Item 1A. Risk Factors 26
Item 5. Other Information 26
Item 6. Exhibits 27
SIGNATURE 28

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

STR Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited)

All amounts in thousands except share and per share amounts

 

    March 31,
2019 		  December 31,
2018
ASSETS                
CURRENT ASSETS                
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 5,536     $ 5,639  
Accounts receivable, trade, less allowances for doubtful accounts of $2,502 and $2,163 in 2019 and 2018, respectively     1,731       2,261  
Inventories, net     1,691       1,808  
Prepaid expenses     643       501  
Other current assets     766       642  
Total current assets     10,367       10,851  
Property, plant and equipment, net     11,675       10,887  
Assets held for sale (Note 6)     5,336       5,336  
Other long-term assets     76       75  
Total assets   $ 27,454     $ 27,149  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
CURRENT LIABILITIES                
Accounts payable   $ 3,145     $ 2,218  
Accrued liabilities (Note 7)     1,670       1,348  
Income taxes payable     902       900  
Due to factor     248       374  
Total current liabilities     5,965       4,840  
Long-term debt     2,244       —  
Deferred tax liabilities     217       306  
Total liabilities     8,426       5,146  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 8)                
Stockholders’ Equity                
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding     —       —  
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 20,153,269 and 20,152,029 issued and outstanding, respectively, in 2019 and 20,153,269 and 20,152,029 issued and outstanding, respectively, in 2018     201       201  
Treasury stock, 1,240 shares at cost     (57 )     (57 )
Additional paid–in capital     232,345       232,345  
Accumulated deficit     (207,688 )     (204,832 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net     (5,773 )     (5,654 )
Total stockholders’ equity     19,028       22,003  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 27,454     $ 27,149  

 

See accompanying notes to these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

2

 

 

STR Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(unaudited)

All amounts in thousands except share and per share amounts

 

    Three Months Ended
March 31,
    2019   2018
Net sales   $ 1,817     $ 3,746  
Cost of sales     2,829       2,445  
Gross (loss) profit     (1,012 )     1,301  
Selling, general and administrative expenses     1,337       1,692  
Research and development expense     194       215  
Provision (recovery) for bad debt expense     304       (61 )
Operating loss     (2,847 )     (545 )
Interest expense, net     (1 )     (1 )
Other (expense) income, net     (25 )     1,020  
Foreign currency transaction loss     (71 )     (56 )
(Loss) earnings from operations before income tax (benefit) expense     (2,944 )     418  
Income tax (benefit) expense from operations     (88 )     99  
Net (loss) earnings from operations     (2,856 )     319  
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings:                
Foreign currency translation (net of tax effect of $(32) and $45, respectively)     (119 )     454  
Other (loss) earnings comprehensive     (119 )     454  
Comprehensive (loss) earnings   $ (2,975 )   $ 773  
Net (loss) earnings per share (Note 3):                
Basic from operations   $ (0.14 )   $ 0.02  
Basic   $ (0.14 )   $ 0.02  
                 
Diluted from operations   $ (0.14 )   $ 0.02  
Diluted   $ (0.14 )   $ 0.02  
Weighted–average shares outstanding (Note 3):                
Basic     20,152,029       19,571,947  
Diluted     20,152,029       19,709,356  

 

See accompanying notes to these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

3

 

 

STR Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

All amounts in thousands

 

    Three Months Ended
March 31,
    2019   2018
OPERATING ACTIVITIES                
Net (loss) earnings   $ (2,856 )   $ 319  
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) earnings to net cash used in operating activities:                
Depreciation     167       199  
Stock-based compensation expense     —       74  
Provision (recovery) for bad debt expense     304       (61 )
Provision for deferred taxes     (88 )     99  
Provision for inventory adjustment     101       —  
Customer forfeiture of deposit     —       (990 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
Accounts receivable     217       96  
Inventories, net     —       65  
Other current assets     (122 )     212  
Accounts payable     689       (548 )
Accrued liabilities     333       (62 )
Income taxes payable     1       2  
Other, net     176       160  
Total net cash used in operating activities     (1,078 )     (435 )
                 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES                
Capital investments     (1,183 )     (12 )
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets     —       225  
Total net cash (used in) provided by investing activities     (1,183 )     213  
                 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES                
Proceeds from long-term debt     2,244       —  
Factoring arrangement     (119 )     (189 )
Total net cash provided by (used in) financing activities     2,125       (189 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash     33       182  
                 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents     (103 )     (229 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period     5,639       13,499  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period   $ 5,536     $ 13,270  

 

See accompanying notes to these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

4

 

 

STR Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

All amounts in thousands except share amounts, per share amounts or unless otherwise noted

 

NOTE 1—BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the related interim information contained within the notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information and quarterly reports on the Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and the notes required for complete financial statements. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2018, included in STR Holdings, Inc.’s (the “Company”) Annual Report on Form 10–K filed with the SEC on March 27, 2019. The unaudited interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements, and in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, consisting of only normal and recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of future results.

 

The year-end Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.

 

The preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from management’s estimates.

 

Liquidity

 

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. Management has evaluated whether relevant conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, indicate that there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Substantial doubt exists when conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, indicate it is probable that the Company will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due during the next 12 months. The assessment is based on the relevant conditions that are known or reasonably knowable as of the date of this report.

 

If the Company does not generate sufficient cash flows from operations or obtain alternative or additional sources of capital to fund operations, the Company will not have sufficient liquidity to satisfy operating expenses, capital expenditures and other cash needs. This raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

The Company has historically incurred significant losses during its attempts to reduce cash burn, stabilize the existing platform and invest in new areas of growth. As of March 31, 2019, the Company had working capital of approximately $4,402, approximately $800 in outstanding commitments for capital expenditures, and approximately $5,536 of cash available to fund our operations. In March 2019, the Company entered into a term loan in the principal amount of €2,000 (approx. $2,244 as of March 31, 2019) to provide additional liquidity in support of its packaging initiative. See Note 12.

 

Based on the Company’s projected cash requirements for operations and capital expenditures, its current available cash of approximately $5,536 and its projected 2019 cash flow pursuant to management’s plans, management believes it will have adequate resources to fund operations and capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months. If we are unable to timely complete the sale of our Malaysia facility or execute our strategic plans, our liquidity and capital resources will be adversely affected and we may wind down or cease any or all of our operations. Any wind down or dissolution may be a lengthy, complex and costly process and, in such event, there can be no assurance that there will be any funds available for distribution to stockholders.

 

NOTE 2—SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Revenue is principally derived from the sale and licensing of highly engineered plastic sheet and film products.

 

5

STR Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

All amounts in thousands except share amounts, per share amounts or unless otherwise noted

 

NOTE 2— SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

The Company receives specific purchase orders for the manufacture, sale and delivery of these products that identify the goods and/or services to be transferred, the price for those goods and other commercial terms of the order. The goods are generally purchased under EXW (or EX-Works) terms, meaning that the customer is responsible for arranging the shipping of the goods and title passes when the goods are picked up from the Company’s dock. Revenue is recognized upon the transfer of title, and there are no price concessions, volume discounts, rebates, refunds, credits, incentives, performance bonuses, royalties or other types of variable consideration.

 

In the specific case of the Equipment Purchase Agreement and a Technology License Agreement (the “Agreements”) signed on January 16, 2018 for an aggregate transaction price of $6,000, the Company will purchase from a third party specialized equipment (the “Equipment”) for the production of one of the Company’s proprietary encapsulants (the “Encapsulant”), resell the Equipment to the customer, install the Equipment at a facility of the customer and train the

customer’s personnel in the Equipment’s use. Under the license agreement, the Company has granted the customer the right to use the formula for the Encapsulant and certain of the Company’s production techniques to make or have made the Encapsulant for use in photovoltaic (PV) modules manufactured by the customer. For revenue recognition purposes, the Company defines the following three distinct major performance obligations of the Agreements and the corresponding transaction price allocated to those performance obligations:

 

• Obligation 1 - $1,750 - Price Report, Formula and Sample
• Obligation 2 - $2,000 - Equipment, including delivery & installation (incl. training)
• Obligation 3 - $2,250 - License (perpetual)
     

Obligation 1 is considered to be separate and distinct from the other two obligations, in that the information provided under this obligation represents significant standalone value to the customer and the Company’s obligation to provide this information is separately identifiable from the other obligations in the agreements. Obligation 2 and Obligation 3 were also clearly identifiable, as defined by the Equipment Purchase Agreement (including delivery and installation by an agreed-upon date) and the license (“License”) granted pursuant to the Technology License Agreement (with an effective start date upon the receipt of an acceptance test payment).

 

The Company is applying a “cost-plus” approach to Obligation 1 and Obligation 2. As the Company had never before sold any type of license, had no established specific license pricing and had no knowledge of pricing for similar licenses, the Company is using the residual approach for Obligation 3. The License is perpetual, distinct and not combined with other goods and services, and is a right to use, rather than to access, functional intellectual property.

 

The Company also assessed whether it was acting in a principal or agent role in each performance obligation of the

Agreements. In all obligations, the Company determined it was acting in the role of principal and therefore revenue is recognized on a gross basis.

 

The Company is presently engaged in discussions of potential modifications to the Agreements with our client that may affect the timing, scope and overall value of the agreement.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).” This ASU requires a lessee to recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term and also requires additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures. ASU 2016-02 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. After a thorough assessment, the Company determined that this pronouncement had no impact on its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

There are no other new accounting pronouncements that the Company believes may have a material impact on its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

6

STR Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

All amounts in thousands except share amounts, per share amounts or unless otherwise noted

 

NOTE 3—(LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

The calculation of basic and diluted net (loss) earnings per share for the periods presented is as follows:

 

    Three Months Ended
March 31,
    2019   2018
Basic and diluted net (loss) earnings per share                
Numerator:                
Net (loss) earnings   $ (2,856 )   $ 319  
Denominator:                
Weighted–average shares outstanding     20,152,029       19,571,947  
Add:                
Dilutive effect of stock options     —       —  
Dilutive effect of restricted common stock     —       137,409  
Weighted–average shares outstanding with dilution     20,152,029       19,709,356  
                 
Net (loss) earnings per share:                
Basic   $ (0.14 )   $ 0.02  
Diluted   $ (0.14 )   $ 0.02  

 

Due to the loss from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019, the computation of dilutive weighted-average common shares outstanding does not include any stock options or any shares of unvested restricted common stock as these potential awards are anti-dilutive.

 

Because the effect would be anti-dilutive, there were 1,121,332 stock options outstanding that were not included in the computation of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.

 

NOTE 4—INVENTORIES

 

Inventories consist of the following:

 

    March 31,
2019 		  December 31,
2018
Finished goods   $ 433     $ 544  
Raw materials     1,363       1,274  
Reserve     (105 )     (10 )
Inventories, net   $ 1,691     $ 1,808  

 

NOTE 5—LONG–LIVED ASSETS

 

Impairment Testing

 

In accordance with ASC 360-Property, Plant and Equipment, the Company assesses the impairment of its long-lived assets whenever changes in events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. During each reporting period, the Company assessed if the following factors were present, which would cause an impairment review: overall negative solar industry conditions; a significant or prolonged decrease in net sales generated under its trademarks; loss of a significant customer or a reduction in demand for customers’ products; a significant adverse change in the extent to or manner in which the Company used its trademarks or proprietary technology; such assets becoming obsolete due to new technology or manufacturing processes entering the markets or an adverse change in legal factors; and the market capitalization of the Company’s common stock.

 

At March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company recorded valuation allowances against its deferred tax assets. The valuation allowances were recorded since the Company had three consecutive years of taxable losses and determined that its history of actual net losses was evidence that should be given more weight than future projections. The Company determined the recording of valuation allowances against deferred tax assets to be an indicator to test its long-lived assets, which consist solely of property, plant and equipment, for impairment. The Company assessed the specific

 

7

STR Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(unaudited)

All amounts in thousands except share amounts, per share amounts or unless otherwise noted

 

NOTE 5—LONG–LIVED ASSETS (Continued)

 

recoverability of its property, plant and equipment using updated real estate appraisals and other data for its other fixed assets, mainly production equipment. Based upon this analysis, the Company believes its property, plant and equipment carrying value was recoverable and depreciable lives were appropriate as of March 31, 2019. Therefore no impairment was recorded in 2019. If the Company experiences a significant reduction in future sales volume, further average selling price (“ASP”) reductions, lower profitability, a cessation of operations at any of its facilities, or negative changes in U.S. or Spain real estate markets, the Company’s property, plant and equipment may be subject to future impairment or accelerated depreciation.

 

NOTE 6—ASSETS HELD FOR SALE

 

In July 2015, the Company announced a restructuring plan that included the closure of its Johor, Malaysia facility effective August 2, 2015. Subsequent to the announcement, the Company engaged advisors and was actively trying to sell its land-use right, building and other fixed assets located at the facility. During 2016, the Company entered into a definitive

Purchase and Sale Agreement for the land-use right and the building for a purchase price of RM25,000 (approximately $6,123 as of March 31, 2019). Closing of the transaction was subject to customary conditions to closing of transactions of this type, including the approval of the Johor Port Authority (“JPA”). On July 31, 2017, the Company received a notice from the purchaser purporting to terminate the agreement, alleging that the JPA was seeking to impose certain conditions on the approval of the transfer of the facility to the purchaser that it found unacceptable. The Company was not successful in removing those conditions and the agreement terminated.

 

On November 1, 2018, the Company received a non-binding letter of intent from a potential buyer for its Johor, Malaysia facility for RM22,500 (approximately $5,400, after realtor fees, as of March 31, 2019) and subsequently entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with this buyer effective January 10, 2019. The agreement provides that the closing of the sale is subject to various customary and regulatory approvals and conditions, including the approval of the JPA. The agreement further provides that if the conditions to the closing are not net and the closing does not occur within six months either party may terminate the agreement, although the Company and the buyer expect to sign an amendment to extend the closing window by an additional six months to allow for potential delays in obtaining the necessary approvals. The sale of the property is part of the Company’s focus to reduce its footprint and operating costs.

 

In accordance with ASC 360-Property, Plant and Equipment, the Company assessed the asset group attributed to the sale for impairment. Based upon the Company’s assessment of the status of the Malaysia property, plant and equipment, all of the requirements (including the held for sale requirements) set forth in ASC 360-10-45-9 were met and the assets were classified on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 as assets held for sale.

 

NOTE 7—ACCRUED LIABILITIES

 

Accrued liabilities consist of the following:

 

    March 31,
2019 		  December 31,
2018
Salary and wages   $ 238     $ 181  
Accrued bonus     387       326  
Professional fees     317       238  
Restructuring severance and benefits (see Note 9)     103       102  
Environmental (see Note 8)     57       57  
Accrued franchise tax     222       164  
Client deposits     265       224  
Other     81       56  
Total   $ 1,670     $ 1,348  

 

NOTE 8—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

The Company is a party to claims and litigation in the normal course of its operations. Management believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

8

STR Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(unaudited)

All amounts in thousands except share amounts, per share amounts or unless otherwise noted

 

NOTE 8—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)

 

Product Performance Matters

 

The Company provides a short-term warranty that it has manufactured its products to the Company’s specifications. On limited occasions, the Company incurs costs to service its products in connection with specific product performance matters that do not meet the Company’s specifications. Anticipated future costs are recorded as part of cost of sales and accrued liabilities for specific product performance matters when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated.

 

On isolated occasions, the Company has also offered limited short-term performance warranties relating to its encapsulants not causing module power loss. The Company’s encapsulants are validated by long-term performance testing during product development prior to launch and during customer certification prior to mass production. The Company has operated its solar business since the 1970s and over 20 GW of solar modules incorporating its encapsulants have been installed in the field with no reported module power performance issues caused by the Company’s encapsulants and no related warranty claims to date. Based on this fact pattern, the Company has not accrued any warranty liability associated for this potential liability as its occurrence is deemed to be remote. If the Company was to ever receive a warranty claim for such matter, the Company would assess the need for a warranty accrual at that time.

 

The Company’s product performance liability that is recorded in accrued liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets was $0 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

 

Environmental

 

During 2010, the Company performed a Phase II environmental site assessment at its 10 Water Street, Enfield, Connecticut location. During its investigation, the site was found to contain a presence of volatile organic compounds. The Company has been in contact with the Department of Environmental Protection and has engaged a licensed contractor to remediate this circumstance. Based on ASC 450-Contingencies, the Company has accrued the estimated cost to remediate. The Company’s environmental liability that is recorded in accrued liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets was $57 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

 

Solaria

 

In October 2016, a complaint was filed by Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente S.A.U. (“Solaria”) against the Company and its Spanish subsidiary, Specialized Technology Resources España, S.A.U. (“STR Spain”), in the Court of the First Instance No. 8 in Oviedo, Spain, relating to a product quality claim in connection with a non-encapsulant product that

STR Spain purchased from a vendor in 2005 and 2006 and resold to Solaria. The Company stopped selling this product in 2006. Solaria was seeking approximately €3,300, plus interest, in damages.

 

A trial was held on April 6, 2017 in Oviedo, Spain. On January 9, 2019, the judge issued a ruling dismissing Solaria’s case, and the appeal period ended on February 8, 2019 with no appeal filed. As a result, no accrual relating to this complaint was recorded as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 and the Company considers the matter closed.

 

NOTE 9—COST – REDUCTION ACTIONS

 

In March 2017, the Company made the decision to wind down its China manufacturing operations substantially by the end of the second quarter of 2017. The decision was consistent with ongoing efforts to reorganize its business to better align with customer geography, to reduce losses related to unprofitable locations and to convert assets to cash for potential redeployment into more profitable endeavors. In connection with the restructuring, the Company does not expect any significant asset impairment charges and recorded $112 of severance charges and benefits in cost of sales and $29 of severance charges and benefits in selling, general and administrative expenses during 2017 and $67 of severance charges during 2018. The Company sold certain production and testing equipment from the China facility to its tolling partner in India during the third quarter of 2017.

 

In June 2018, the Company eliminated certain positions at its Spain facility, effective June 18, 2018. The Company recorded $635 of severance and benefits in cost of sales and $67 of severance and benefits in selling, general and administrative expenses during 2018.

 

9

STR Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(unaudited)

All amounts in thousands except share amounts, per share amounts or unless otherwise noted

 

NOTE 9—COST – REDUCTION ACTIONS (Continued)

 

The restructuring accrual consists of $102 for severance and benefits as of March 31, 2019. A rollforward of the severance and other exit cost accrual activity is as follows:

 

    March 31,
2019 		  March 31,
2018
Balance as of beginning of period   $ 102     $ 87  
Additions     —       67  
Reductions     —       (29 )
Balance as of end of period   $ 102     $ 125  

 

NOTE 10—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

The Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis in the financial statements. The hierarchy ranks the quality and reliability of inputs, or assumptions, used in the determination of fair value

and requires financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

 

• Level 1-quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;
• Level 2-unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and
• Level 3-unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

 

The following table provides the fair value measurements of applicable financial assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2019:

 

    Financial assets and liabilities at fair value
as of March 31, 2019
    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3
Money market funds (1)   $ 1,266     $ —     $ —  
Non-recurring fair value measurements (2)   $ —     $ —     $ 5,336  
Total   $ 1,266     $ —     $ 5,336  

 

The following table provides the fair value measurements of applicable financial assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2018:

 

    Financial assets and liabilities at fair value
as of December 31, 2018
    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3
Money market funds (1)   $ 2,494     $ —     $ —  
Non-recurring fair value measurements (2)   $ —     $ —     $ 5,336  
Total   $ 2,494     $ —     $ 5,336  

_________________

(1) Included in cash and cash equivalents on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The carrying amount of money market funds is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to the short-term maturity.
(2) Included in assets held for sale on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Refer to Note 6 for further information.

 

NOTE 11—FACTORING ARRANGEMENT

 

In October 2015, the Company’s wholly owned Spanish subsidiary, STR Spain, entered into a factoring agreement to sell, with recourse, certain European, U.S. and other foreign company-based receivables to Eurofactor Hispania S.A.U., who was later acquired by Credit Agricole Leasing and Factoring Sucursal en España during the first quarter of 2017. Under the current terms of the factoring agreement, the maximum amount of outstanding advances at any one time is €1,500 (approximately $1,683 as of March 31, 2019), which is subject to adjustment based on the level of eligible receivables, restrictions on concentrations of receivables and the historical performance of the receivables sold. The annual discount rate is 2% plus EURIBOR for Euro denominated receivables and 2% plus LIBOR for all other currencies. The term of the agreement is for one year, which will be automatically extended unless terminated by either party with 90 days prior written notice. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 the Company has recorded $248 and $374, respectively, as due to factor on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

10

STR Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(unaudited)

All amounts in thousands except share amounts, per share amounts or unless otherwise noted

 

NOTE 12—LONG-TERM DEBT

 

On March 13, 2019, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, STR Spain, entered into a Loan with Mortgage Guarantee (the “Loan Agreement”) with the Regional Society of Promotion of the Principality of Asturias, SA (the “Lender”), for a term loan (the “Loan”) in the aggregate principal amount of a €2,000 ($2,244 as of March 31, 2019). STR Spain is required to use the loan proceeds to help finance the launch and operation of its food packaging business. The Loan matures on December 31, 2025, with principal due and payable in equal quarterly installments of €100 each, commencing on March 31, 2021. Interest, which is payable quarterly in arrears, accrues at the annual EURIBOR rate (as such term is defined in the Loan agreement) plus an applicable margin. During the first two years, the applicable margin is 2%, and thereafter increases by 1% per year until the applicable margin is 5% in the fifth year of the Loan. The Loan may be prepaid at any time without premium or penalty. The Loan is secured by a mortgage of STR Spain’s business and certain facilities, and contains customary covenants, including a covenant prohibiting STR Spain from making distributions to the Company, as sole shareholder, without the prior approval of the Lender. In connection with the Loan, the Company has separately agreed to provide STR Spain with resources to support the Loan and the continuity of the packaging initiative.

 

NOTE 13—INCOME TAXES FROM OPERATIONS

 

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) was enacted into law in the United States. The legislation contains several key tax provisions including the reduction of the corporate income tax rate to 21% effective January 1, 2018, a one-time transition tax on foreign earnings which have not previously been subject to tax in the United States, as well as a variety of other changes, including limitation of the tax deductibility of interest expense, limitations for the deduction for net operating losses, new taxes on certain foreign-sourced earnings, and modification or repeal of many business deductions and credits.

 

The TCJA subjects a U.S. shareholder to tax on global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) earned by certain foreign subsidiaries for which an entity can make an accounting policy election to either recognize deferred taxes for

temporary basis differences expected to reverse as GILTI in future years or provide for the tax expense related to GILTI in the year the tax is incurred. In 2018, the Company made the election to use the period cost method and will treat taxes due related to GILTI as a current-period expense when incurred. As of March 31, 2019, the Company does not anticipate a GILTI inclusion for the taxable year.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $88 resulting in an effective tax rate of 3.0%. This effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2019 differs from the U.S. statutory tax rate primarily due to the effect of taxes on foreign earnings.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $99 resulting in an effective tax rate of 23.7%. This effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018 differs from the U.S. statutory tax rate primarily due to the effect of taxes on foreign earnings.

 

11

STR Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(unaudited)

All amounts in thousands except share amounts, per share amounts or unless otherwise noted

 

NOTE 14—STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

Changes in stockholders’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2019 are as follows:

 

    Common Stock   Treasury Stock   Additional
Paid-In 		  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive 		  Accumulated   Total
Stockholders’
    Issued   Amount   Acquired   Loss   Capital   Loss   Deficit   Equity
Balance at December 31, 2018     20,152,029     $ 201       1,240     $ (57 )   $ 232,345     $ (5,654 )   $ (204,832 )   $ 22,003  
Net earnings     —       —       —       —       —       —       (2,856 )     (2,856 )
Foreign currency translation, net of tax     —       —       —       —       —       (119 )     —       (119 )
Balance at March 31, 2019     20,152,029     $ 201       1,240     $ (57 )   $ 232,345     $ (5,773 )   $ (207,688 )   $ 19,028  

 

Common Stock

 

The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized 200,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value. At March 31, 2019, there were 20,153,269 shares issued and 20,152,029 shares outstanding of common stock. Each share of common

stock is entitled to one vote per share.

 

NOTE 15—STOCK – BASED COMPENSATION

 

On November 6, 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the Company’s 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”) which became effective on the same day. Effective May 14, 2013, the 2009 Plan was amended to increase the number of shares subject to the Plan. As a result, a total of 4,133,133 shares of common stock are reserved for issuance under the 2009 Plan. The 2009 Plan is administered by the Board of Directors or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, which has the authority to designate participants and determine the number and type of awards to be granted, the time at which awards are exercisable, the method of payment and any other terms or conditions of the awards. The 2009 Plan provides for the grant of stock options, including incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options, collectively, “options,” stock appreciation rights, shares of restricted stock, or “restricted stock,” rights to dividend equivalents and other stock-based awards, collectively, the “awards.” The Board of Directors or the committee will, with regard to each award, determine the terms and conditions of the award, including the number of shares subject to the award, the vesting terms of the award, and the purchase price for the award. Awards may be made in assumption of or in substitution for outstanding awards previously granted by the Company or its affiliates, or a company acquired by the Company or with which it combines. Options outstanding generally vest over a three or four-year period and expire ten years from date of grant. There were 317,323 shares available for grant under the 2009 Plan as of March 31, 2019.

 

12

STR Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(unaudited)

All amounts in thousands except share amounts, per share amounts or unless otherwise noted

 

NOTE 15—STOCK – BASED COMPENSATION (Continued)

 

The following table summarizes the options activity under the Company’s 2009 Plan for the three months ended March 31, 2019:

 

    Options Outstanding
    Number
of
Shares 		  Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price 		  Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(in years) 		  Weighted-
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value 		  Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value(1)
Balance at December 31, 2018     1,121,332     $ 1.52       —     $ 0.99     $ —  
Options granted     —     $ —       —     $ —     $ —  
Exercised     —     $ —       —     $ —     $ —  
Cancelled/forfeited     —     $ —       —     $ —     $ —  
Balance at March 31, 2019     1,121,332     $ 1.52       5.86     $ 0.99     $ —  
Vested and exercisable as of March 31, 2019     1,121,332     $ 1.52       5.86     $ 0.99     $ —  
Vested and exercisable as of March 31, 2019 and expected to vest thereafter     1,121,332     $ 1.52       5.86     $ 0.99     $ —  

_________________

(1) The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying awards and the closing stock price of $0.32 of the Company’s common stock on March 31, 2019 (to the extent that the closing stock price exceeds the exercise price).

 

As of March 31, 2019, there was $0 of unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding stock option awards. The Company did not receive any proceeds related to the exercise of stock options for the year ended March 31, 2019.

 

Stock-based compensation expense was included in the following Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) categories for operations:

 

    Three Months Ended
March 31,
    2019   2018
Selling, general and administrative expense   $ —     $ 74  
Total stock-based compensation expense   $ —     $ 74  

 

NOTE 16—GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

 

ASC 280-10-50, “ Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,” establishes standards for the manner in which companies report information about operating segments, products, geographic areas and major customers The method of determining what information to report is based on the way that management organizes the operating segment within the enterprise for making operating decisions and assessing financial performance. Since the Company has one product, sells to global customers in one industry, procures raw materials from similar vendors and expects similar long-term economic characteristics, the Company has one reporting segment and the information as to its operation is set forth below.

 

13

STR Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(unaudited)

All amounts in thousands except share amounts, per share amounts or unless otherwise noted

 

NOTE 16—GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION (Continued)

 

Operations by Geographic Area

 

    Three Months Ended
March 31,
    2019   2018
Net Sales                
Spain   $ 816     $ 1,476  
United States     455       1,814  
India     546       426  
China     —       30  
Total Net Sales   $ 1,817     $ 3,746  

 

Long – Lived Assets by Geographic Area

 

    March 31,
2019 		  December 31,
2018
Long-Lived Assets                
United States   $ 1,146     $ 1,180  
Spain     10,529       9,707  
China     —       —  
Hong Kong     —       —  
Total Long–Lived Assets   $ 11,675     $ 10,887  

 

Foreign sales are based on the country in which the sales originated. Net sales to two of the Company’s major customers that exceeded 10% of the Company’s consolidated net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $822. Net sales to two of the Company’s major customers that exceeded 10% of the Company’s consolidated net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $2,176.

 

Accounts receivable from two customers amounted to $2,158 as of March 31, 2019 and accounts receivable from one customer amounted to $2,051 as of December 31, 2018.

 

NOTE 17—RELATED PARTIES

 

Huhui Supply Agreement

 

The Company’s Chinese subsidiary, Specialized Technology Resources Solar (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. (“STR China”) entered into a supply agreement (the “Huhui Supply Agreement”) dated as of December 31, 2014 with Zhangjiagang Huhui Segpv Co. Ltd ("Huhui"), a solar module manufacturer and an affiliate of Zhenfa. Pursuant to the Huhui Supply Agreement, STR China agreed to supply Huhui with the Company's encapsulant products and Huhui agreed (i) to purchase not less than 535 MW worth of encapsulants (the “Minimum Amount”) during each contract year, (ii) to pay the Company a deposit equal to 10% of the Minimum Amount, and (iii) not to purchase encapsulant products from other encapsulant manufacturers. The initial term of the Huhui Supply Agreement was for one year; however, such initial term was extended due to failure by Huhui to purchase the Minimum Amount at the end of the first year anniversary of the effective date of the Huhui Supply Agreement. The Huhui Supply Agreement further provided that Huhui’s obligations were contingent (unless otherwise provided in the agreement) upon (i) the delivery by STR China of an initial shipment of products in accordance with the specifications and (ii) the qualification of the products by Huhui during a sample production run of not less than 30 days. As of December 31, 2017, Huhui had not commenced the sample production run. The Huhui Supply Agreement automatically renewed for additional one year terms if either party failed to notify the other party at least 90 days prior to the end of the then current term that it was electing to terminate the agreement. The Company believes that the terms and conditions set forth in the Huhui Agreement at that time were fair and reasonable to the Company. The Company received $1,148 as a deposit from Huhui during the year ended December 31, 2015, which was included in accrued liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

14

STR Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(unaudited)

All amounts in thousands except share amounts, per share amounts or unless otherwise noted

 

NOTE 17—RELATED PARTIES (Continued)

 

Huhui did not complete its 30 day production run as contemplated under the Supply Agreement and on March 27, 2018, following the approval of the Company’s Special Committee of Continuing Directors, STR China entered into an agreement to terminate the Supply Agreement (the “Termination Agreement”). Pursuant to the Termination Agreement,

Huhui agreed that STR China would retain the Deposit, and each of Huhui and STR China agreed to release the other from any liability or further obligations under the Supply Agreement. The Company recognized the full amount of the deposit as other income on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) in the first quarter of 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of our operations should be read together with our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. This discussion contains forward-looking statements, based on current expectations and related to future events and our future financial performance, that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those set forth under Item 1A,—Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Forward - Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements present our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business and are based on assumptions that we have made in light of our industrial experience and perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors management believes are appropriate under the circumstances. However, these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or financial or operating results. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the statements regarding the following: (1) incurring substantial losses for the foreseeable future, ability to achieve or sustain profitability in the future and our ability to continue as a going concern; (2) the potential impact of pursuing strategic alternatives, restructuring our business to align with our customers’ geography and our investment in and pursuit of new market opportunities in film packaging products; (3) our historical reliance on a single product line and our pursuit of new market opportunities; (4) the ability to successfully complete our investment in Spain on a timely basis or within budget, if at all, or that we will be able to achieve our anticipated revenue, earnings or payback from the production of packaging products; (5) that we will receive the required approvals to complete the sale of our facility in Johor, Malaysia on a timely basis, if at all; (6) our securing net sales to new customers, growing net sales to existing key customers and increasing our market share; (7) customer concentration in our business and our relationships with and dependence on key customers; (8) the outsourcing arrangements and reliance on third parties for the manufacture of a portion of our encapsulants; (9) technological changes in the solar energy industry or our failure to develop and introduce or integrate new technologies could render our encapsulants uncompetitive or obsolete; (10) competition; (11) excess capacity in the solar supply chain; (12) demand for solar energy in general and solar modules in particular; (13) our operations in India and our assets in India and China being subject to significant political and economic uncertainties; (14) limited legal recourse under the laws of India and China if disputes arise; (15) our ability to adequately protect our intellectual property, particularly during the outsource manufacturing of our products; (16) our lack of credit facility and our inability to obtain credit; (17) a significant reduction or elimination of government subsidies and economic incentives or a change in government policies that promote the use of solar energy; (18) volatility in commodity costs; (19) our customers’ financial profile causing additional credit risk on our accounts receivable; (20) our dependence on a limited number of third-party suppliers for raw materials for our encapsulants and other significant materials used in our process; (21) potential product performance matters and product liability; (22) our substantial international operations and shift of business focus to India; (23) the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on financial results, and the geographic distribution of revenues; (24) losses of financial incentives from government bodies in certain foreign jurisdictions; (25) our ability to enforce the equipment purchase agreement and related technology license agreement, or to negotiate a new arrangement with that customer, if at all; and (26) the other risks and uncertainties described under “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and in subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. You are urged to carefully review and consider the disclosure found in our filings, which are available on http://www.sec.gov or http://www.strsolar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of these assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement contained in this Quarterly Report, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

 

Overview

 

STR Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”) commenced operations in 1944 as a plastics and industrial materials research and development company. Based upon our expertise in polymer science, we evolved into a global provider of encapsulants to the solar industry. Our pioneering background in plastics also served as the foundation for a number of other plastics products we have manufactured over the years and led to our recent entrance into the high-end food packaging business.

 

16

 

We were the first to develop ethylene-vinyl acetate (“EVA”) based encapsulants for use in commercial solar module manufacturing. Our initial development effort was conducted while under contract to the predecessor of the U.S. Department of Energy in the 1970s. Since that time, we have expanded our solar encapsulant business by investing in research and development and global production capacity.

 

Recent Developments

 

Liquidity Needs. We continue to incur substantial losses. We incurred net losses of $2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and $5.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. As of March 31, 2019, our principal source of liquidity was $5.5 million of cash. In addition, our credit facilities are limited to our factoring arrangement in Spain and a €2.0 million economic development loan received in March 2019 from the regional government of Asturias, Spain. Unless and until our operating results improve, we do not expect that we will be able to obtain traditional bank debt. Furthermore, tight credit in the solar manufacturing industry may delay or prevent our customers from securing funding adequate to operate their businesses and purchase our products and could lead to an increase in our bad debt levels. We have recently entered into an agreement for the sale of our Johor, Malaysia facility for RM22.5 million (approximately $5.4 million, after realtor fees, as of March 31, 2019). The sale is subject to customary closing conditions, including the timely approval of the sale by the Johor Port Authority, and we cannot assure that we will be able to obtain the requisite approvals or that the sale will take place on a timely basis, if at all. If we do not generate sufficient cash flows from operations or obtain alternative or additional sources of capital to fund operations, we will not have sufficient liquidity to satisfy operating expenses, capital expenditures and other cash needs. This raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. If we are unable to timely complete the sale of our Malaysia facility or execute our strategic plans described in further detail herein, our liquidity and capital resources will be adversely affected and we may wind down or cease any or all of our operations. Any wind down or dissolution may be a lengthy, complex and costly process and, in such event, there can be no assurance that there will be any funds available for distribution to stockholders.

 

India Tolling Plan . At the beginning of 2017, our manufacturing operations in Asia were based in China. A review of our production in China revealed that our sales volume was shifting to customers in India. As a result, we decided to wind down our manufacturing operations in China in 2017 and entered into an agreement with a tolling partner in India. By the close of 2017, we effectively completed the wind down process in China, with only a small administrative team remaining in an office under a short-term lease, and commenced tolling operations in India. We sold our undamaged production line from STR China to this tolling partner, and in 2018 we sold an additional production line to our tolling partner to further increase its manufacturing capacity in India. The line became operational at the end of the third quarter of 2018.

 

We continue to reorganize our business to better align with customer geography, to reduce the cash burn related to unprofitable locations, to convert assets to cash for potential redeployment into more profitable endeavors and possible business opportunities and to evaluate other strategic alternatives. We cannot assure that any of these efforts will be successful.

 

High-End Food Packaging . In the fourth quarter of 2017, we initiated a significant investment through our wholly-owned subsidiary in Spain to enter the high-end food packaging business. This investment, which leverages our plastics expertise, includes the purchase of new, state-of-the-art plastics processing equipment and related building improvements along with the addition of experienced staff to pursue manufacturing and sales of high-end food packaging products. This project was supported in part by insurance proceeds we received for damage to our plastic manufacturing equipment that occurred in our China manufacturing facility in 2017. These insurance proceeds were available to the Company only if we invested in new plastics manufacturing equipment. We were advised by our insurer that our investment qualified for reimbursement under the terms of our policy and have received from them payments totaling approximately $2.6 million. Of this reimbursement, $0.8 million was received in October 2017 and $1.8 million was received during 2018. To further support this project, in March 2019, we obtained a €2.0 million loan from the Regional Promotion Society (“SRP”), an agency of the government of Asturias, Spain. By the close of 2018, we had substantially completed the necessary renovations to one of our buildings in Asturias, Spain, including the construction of a tower required to accommodate our new equipment, as well as the installation and interconnection of a new, state-of-the-art multi-layer blown film extrusion line. We expect this facility and equipment to allow us to begin to manufacture competitive barrier film structures for the food packaging industry in the second quarter of 2019. As of the date of this report, the new line has been installed and placed into operation, and initial trials of fully formulated, multi-layer barrier films have been completed. The food packaging business is highly competitive having market participants with substantially more resources and experience than us. We will be a new entrant in this market and we cannot assure that we will be successful in this new endeavor.

 

17

 

Equipment Purchase Agreement and Technology License Agreement. On January 16, 2018, we entered into an equipment purchase agreement and a technology license agreement (together, the “Agreements”) with a manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules (the “Purchaser”).

 

Under the equipment purchase agreement, we agreed to purchase from a third party specialized equipment (the “Equipment”) for the production of one of our proprietary encapsulants (the “Encapsulant”), resell the Equipment to the Purchaser, install the Equipment at a facility of the Purchaser and train Purchaser personnel in the Equipment’s use. Under the technology license agreement, we granted the Purchaser the right to use the formula for the Encapsulant and certain of our production techniques to make or have made the Encapsulant for use in PV modules manufactured by the Purchaser. The license granted to the Purchaser pursuant to the technology license agreement is exclusive with respect to specified types of PV modules manufactured by the Purchaser, and nonexclusive as to all other types of PV modules. The Purchaser may also sublicense its rights under the technology license agreement to licensees of its PV module manufacturing processes.

 

Under the equipment purchase agreements, the Purchaser agreed to pay us up to an aggregate of $6.0 million. Billing and payment under the Agreements follows a schedule involving certain milestones relating to the qualification of the Encapsulant and installation, acceptance and operation of the Equipment. We received the initial payment of $1.8 million during the first quarter of 2018. For revenue recognition purposes under Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (ASC 606), $1.8 million was recorded as revenue during the first quarter of 2018 as initial performance obligations were satisfied. See Note 2 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

The next milestone under the equipment purchase agreement, for which an additional $1.8 million would be due, is the completion of product qualification for the product being licensed. We have completed our testing of the product. However, the Purchaser is in default of its obligation under the equipment purchase agreement to diligently and in good faith pursue completion of the production qualification within 120 days of receipt of the product sample, and has entered into discussions with us to modify the Agreements. Such discussions include a proposal for the parties to enter into a more traditional customer relationship, whereby we would serve as an encapsulant manufacturer and supplier to the Purchaser. Such arrangement would also require successful completion of product qualification. We cannot assure that the parties will enter into an alternative arrangement, or that, if entered into, such alternative arrangement will be on terms favorable to us. We also cannot assure that we will be able to meet the Purchaser’s product qualification standards under the original or any modified arrangement. If we are not otherwise successful in negotiating an alternative arrangement, and the Purchaser does not complete its product qualification or otherwise fulfill its obligations under the Agreements, we intend to explore our legal remedies against the Purchaser. Due to the inherent uncertainties in pursing any such remedies, and the associated costs, expense and diversion of management time and resources, any ongoing dispute with the Purchaser could adversely affect our results of operations and cash flow.

 

2014 Transaction with Zhenfa

 

In 2014, we entered into certain definitive agreements with Zhenfa Energy Group Co., Ltd., a Chinese limited liability company (“Zhenfa”), and its indirect wholly owned subsidiary, Zhen Fa New Energy (U.S.) Co., Ltd., a Nevada corporation (“Zhenfa U.S.”).

 

Purchase Agreement.

 

On August 11, 2014, we entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Zhenfa U.S., pursuant to which Zhenfa U.S. acquired approximately 51% of our then outstanding shares of common stock on December 15, 2014 (the “Closing Date”).

 

Sales Service Agreement.

 

In connection with the execution of the Purchase Agreement, Specialized Technology Resources, Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a sales service agreement (the "Sales Service Agreement") with Zhenfa, whereby Zhenfa agreed, among other things, to assist us in a number of endeavors, including, without limitation, marketing and selling our products in China, acquiring local raw materials, hiring and training personnel in China, and complying with Chinese law. The Sales Service Agreement became effective on the date of Closing, for an initial term of two years, and automatically renews for one year periods unless terminated earlier. The Sales Service Agreement may also be terminated by either party at such time as Zhenfa and its affiliates own less than 10% of our outstanding common stock.

 

18

 

As we have substantially discontinued operations in China, Zhenfa is not currently providing us with any material services under this agreement. Any activities with Zhenfa under the Sales Service Agreement are subject to the oversight of our Special Committee of Continuing Directors.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The preparation of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, net sales and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. We continually evaluate our estimates, including those related to bad debts, valuation of inventory, long-lived assets, product performance matters, income taxes, stock–based compensation and deferred tax assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The accounting policies we believe to be most critical to understand our financial results and condition and that require complex and subjective management judgments are discussed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Critical Accounting Policies” in our Annual Report on Form 10–K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2019.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Condensed Consolidated Results of Operations

 

The following tables set forth our condensed consolidated results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018:

 

    Three Months Ended
March 31,
    2019   2018
Net sales   $ 1,817     $ 3,746  
Cost of sales     2,829       2,445  
Gross (loss) profit     (1,012 )     1,301  
Selling, general and administrative expenses     1,337       1,692  
Research and development expense     194       215  
Provision (recovery) for bad debt expense     304       (61 )
Operating loss     (2,847 )     (545 )
Interest expense, net     (1 )     (1 )
Other (expense) income, net     (25 )     1,020  
Foreign currency transaction loss     (71 )     (56 )
(Loss) earnings from operations before income tax (benefit) expense     (2,944 )     418  
Income tax (benefit) expense from operations     (88 )     99  
Net (loss) earnings from operations   $ (2,856 )   $ 319  

 

Net Sales

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2019   2018   Change
    Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   %
Net sales   $ 1,817       100.0 %   $ 3,746       100 %   $ (1,929 )     (51.5 )%

 

The decrease in net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the corresponding period in 2018 was driven by recognition of $1.8 million related to completed performance obligations under the equipment purchase agreement and the technology license agreement in 2018 combined with a $0.2 million reduction in encapsulant sales. The decrease in encapsulant sales was primarily attributable to an approximate 16% decrease in our average selling price (“ASP”) that was partially offset by an approximate 7% increase in sales volume.

 

19

 

The volume improvement was primarily driven by significant volume increases in India through our tolling partner and in the U.S., partially offset by a decrease in volume in Spain primarily due to the further weakening of the European module manufacturing environment. The decrease in ASP was primarily attributable to our lower priced sales in India.

 

Cost of Sales

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2019   2018   Change
    Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   %
Cost of sales   $ 2,829       155.7 %   $ 2,445       65.3 %   $ 384       15.7 %

 

The increase in our cost of sales for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the corresponding period in 2018 was primarily driven by a 7% increase in encapsulant sales volume combined with an approximate 18% increase in raw material cost per unit. The higher raw material cost per unit was primarily driven by a 12% decrease in paperless sales mix. Direct labor decreased by $0.1 million partially attributable to the sales volume decrease in Spain. Overhead costs decreased by $0.2 million primarily due to continued cost-reduction actions.

 

Gross (Loss) Profit

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2019   2018   Change
    Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   %
Gross (loss) profit   $ (1,012 )     (55.7 )%   $ 1,301       34.7 %   $ (2,313 )     (177.8 )%

 

Gross (loss) profit as a percentage of net sales declined for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the corresponding period in 2018 mainly as a result of recognition of $1.8 million related to completed performance obligations under the equipment purchase agreement and the technology license agreement during 2018.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (“SG&A”)

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2019   2018   Change
    Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   %
SG&A   $ 1,337       73.6 %   $ 1,692       45.2 %   $ (355 )     (21.0 )%

 

SG&A decreased by $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to 2018. This decrease was primarily driven by a $0.2 million decrease in professional fees, a $0.1 million decrease in non-cash stock compensation expense and a $0.1 million decrease in restructuring charges.

 

Research and Development Expense (“R&D”)

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2019   2018   Change
    Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   %
Research and development expense   $ 194       10.7 %   $ 215       5.7 %   $ (21 )     (9.8 )%

 

Research and development expense decreased by less than $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to 2018, mainly due to activities related to our entrance into the packaging business in 2018.

 

 

20

 

Provision (recovery) for Bad Debt Expense

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2019   2018   Change
    Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   %
Provision (recovery) for bad debt expense   $ 304       16.7 %   $ (61 )     (1.6 )%   $ 365       598.4 %

 

The provision for bad debt expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 primarily related to the aging of accounts receivable under our policy, primarily in the U.S and India.

 

The recovery for bad debt expense recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2018 primarily related to receiving cash for previously aged accounts receivable that were reserved for under our policy, primarily in China.

 

Other (Expense) Income

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2019   2018   Change
    Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   %
Other (expense) income   $ (25 )     1.4 %   $ 1,020       27.2 %   $ (1,045 )     (102.5 )%

 

On March 27, 2018, following the approval of the Company’s Special Committee of Continuing Directors, STR China entered into an agreement to terminate the Huhui Supply Agreement (the “Termination Agreement”). Pursuant to the Termination Agreement, Huhui agreed that STR China would retain the deposit, and each of Huhui and STR China agreed to release the other from any liability or further obligations under the Supply Agreement. As a result of the Termination Agreement, we recorded other income of $1.0 million during the first quarter of 2018.

 

Foreign Currency Transaction Loss

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2019   2018   Change
    Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   %
Foreign currency transaction loss   $ (71 )     (3.9 )%   $ (56 )     (1.5 )%   $ (15 )     (26.8 )%

 

The foreign currency transaction impact was a loss of less than $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018. This change was primarily the result of volatility in the Euro spot exchange rate versus the U.S. dollar.

 

Our primary foreign currency exposures are intercompany loans, U.S. dollar cash balances in foreign locations and some U.S. dollar denominated accounts receivable at our Spain and China facilities.

 

Income Tax (Benefit) Expense

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2019   2018   Change
    Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   % of
Total
Net
Sales 		  Amount   %
Income tax (benefit) expense   $ (88 )     (4.8 )%   $ 99       2.6 %   $ (187 )     (188.9 )%

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we recorded an income tax benefit of $0.1 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 3.0%. This effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2019 differs from the U.S. statutory tax rate primarily due to the effect of taxes on foreign earnings.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we recorded an income tax expense of $0.1 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 23.7%. This effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018 differs from the U.S. statutory tax rate primarily due to the effect of taxes on foreign earnings.

 

21

 

Cost-Reduction Actions

 

On March 7, 2017 we made the decision to wind down our China manufacturing operations substantially by the end of the second quarter of 2017. The decision was consistent with ongoing efforts to reorganize our business to better align with customer geography, to reduce losses related to unprofitable locations and to convert assets to cash for potential redeployment into more profitable endeavors. In connection with the restructuring, we recorded $0.1 million of severance charges during the first quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018. The Company sold certain production and testing equipment from the China facility to its tolling partner in India during the third quarter of 2017.

 

In June 2018, we eliminated certain positions at our Spain facility effective June 18, 2018. We recorded $0.6 million of severance and benefits in cost of sales and $0.1 million of severance and benefits in selling, general and administrative expenses during 2018.

 

A roll-forward of the severance and other exit cost accrual activity is as follows:

 

    March 31,
2019 		  March 31,
2018
Balance as of beginning of year   $ 0.1     $ 0.1  
Additions     —       0.1  
Reductions     —       (0.1 )
Balance as of end of period   $ 0.1     $ 0.1  

 

The restructuring accrual consists of $0.1 million and $0.1 million for severance and benefits as of March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We continue to incur substantial losses. We incurred net losses of $2.9 million and $5.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and for the year ended December 31, 2018, respectively. As of March 31, 2019, our principal source of liquidity was $5.5 million of cash. In addition, our credit facilities are limited to our factoring arrangement in Spain and a €2.0 million economic development loan received in March 2019 from the regional government of Asturias, Spain. Unless and until our operating results improve, we do not expect that we will be able to obtain traditional bank financing. Furthermore, tight credit in the solar manufacturing industry may delay or prevent our customers from securing funding adequate to operate their businesses and purchase our products and could lead to an increase in our bad debt levels. We have recently entered into an agreement for the sale of our Johor, Malaysia facility for RM22.5 million (approximately $5.4 million, after realtor fees, as of March 31, 2019). The sale is subject to customary closing conditions, including the timely approval of the sale by the Johor Port Authority, and we cannot assure that we will be able to obtain the requisite approvals or that the sale will take place on a timely basis, if at all. If we are unable to timely complete the sale of our Malaysia facility, or execute our strategic plans, our liquidity and capital resources will be adversely affected and we may wind down or cease any or all of our operations. Any wind down or dissolution may be a lengthy, complex and costly process and, in such event, there can be no assurance that there will be any funds available for distribution to stockholders.

 

Our independent auditors have indicated in their report on our December 31, 2018 financial statements that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. This “going concern” opinion indicates that the financial statements have been prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern and do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets, or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result if planned events do not occur or do not occur timely and we do not continue as a going concern. Therefore, you should not rely on our consolidated balance sheet as an indication of the amount of proceeds that would be available to satisfy claims of creditors, and potentially be available for distribution to stockholders, in the event of liquidation. If we are unable to continue as a going concern we cannot assure that any funds will be available for distribution to stockholders.

 

Management has evaluated whether relevant conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, indicate that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Substantial doubt exists when conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, indicate it is probable that we will be unable to meet our obligations as they become due during the next 12 months. The assessment is based on the relevant conditions that are known or reasonably knowable as of the date of this report.

 

22

 

If we do not generate sufficient cash flows from operations or obtain alternative or additional sources of capital to fund operations, we will not have sufficient liquidity to satisfy operating expenses, capital expenditures and other cash needs. This raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

Our wholly owned Spanish subsidiary, Specialized Technology Resources España, S.A.U. (“STR Spain”), has a factoring agreement to sell, with recourse, certain European, U.S. and other foreign company-based receivables to Eurofactor Hispania S.A.U., who was later acquired by Credit Agricole Leasing & Factoring Sucursal en España during the first quarter of 2017. Under the current terms of the factoring agreement, the maximum amount of outstanding advances at any one time is €1.5 million (approximately $1.7 million as of March 31, 2019), which is subject to adjustment based on the level of eligible receivables, restrictions on concentrations of receivables and the historical performance of the receivables sold. The annual discount rate is 2% plus EURIBOR for Euro-denominated receivables and 2% plus LIBOR for all other currencies. The agreement renews annually unless terminated by either party with 90 days prior written notice. As of March 31, 2019, €0.2 million (approximately $0.2 million as of March 31, 2019) was outstanding, and €1.3 million (approximately $1.5 million as of March 31, 2019) was available (subject to receivables then outstanding) under the factoring agreement.

 

On November 1, 2018, we received a non-binding letter of intent from a potential buyer for our Malaysia facility for RM22.5 million (approximately $5.4 million, after realtor fees, as of March 31, 2019) and subsequently entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with this buyer effective January 10, 2019. The agreement provides that the closing of the sale is subject to various customary and regulatory approvals and conditions, including the approval of the Johor Port Authority. The agreement further provides that if the conditions to the closing are not met and the closing does not occur within six months, either party may terminate the agreement, although the Company and the buyer expect to sign an amendment to extend the closing window an additional six months to allow for potential delays in obtaining the necessary approvals.

 

In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company initiated a significant investment through STR Spain to enter the high-end food packaging business. This ongoing investment, which leverages our plastics expertise, includes the purchase of new, state-of-the-art plastics processing equipment and related building improvements along with the addition of experienced staff to pursue manufacturing and sales of high-end food packaging products. We have received and applied certain conditional insurance proceeds to this project, helping to offset our net capital investment. These insurance proceeds were available to the Company only if we invested in new plastics manufacturing equipment. We were advised by our insurer that our investment qualified for reimbursement under the terms of our policy and, accordingly, they have paid our U.S. entity the amount of $0.8 million in October 2017, to cover the cost of the deposit for the primary capital equipment. Our U.S. entity also received an additional $1.8 million reimbursement during 2018 as we continued to make qualifying capital investment under the packaging project. On March 13, 2019, STR Spain also obtained a €2.0 million ($2.2 million as of March 31, 2019) loan (the “STR Spain Loan”) from the regional government of Asturias, Spain to further support the project. STR Spain is required to use the loan proceeds to help finance the launch and operation of its food packaging products business. The STR Spain Loan matures on December 31, 2025, with principal due and payable in equal quarterly installments of €0.1 million each, commencing on March 31, 2021. Interest, which is payable quarterly in arrears, accrues at the annual EURIBOR rate (as such term is defined in the loan agreement) plus an applicable margin. During the first two years, the applicable margin is 2%, and thereafter increases by 1% per year until the applicable margin is 5% in the fifth year of the loan. The loan may be prepaid at any time without premium or penalty. The loan is secured by a mortgage of STR Spain’s business and certain facilities, and contains customary covenants, including a covenant prohibiting STR Spain from making distributions to us, as sole shareholder, without the prior approval of the lender. In connection with the STR Spain Loan, we have also agreed to provide STR Spain with resources to support the loan and the continuity of the packaging initiative.

 

We remain open to exploring possible business opportunities, alternate geographic markets, as well as other strategic alternatives. We cannot assure that we will be able to successfully pursue any such potential opportunities. If we are successful in pursuing any such opportunities, we may be required to expend significant funds, incur debt or other obligations or issue additional securities, any of which could significantly dilute our current stockholders and may negatively affect our operating results and financial condition. We cannot assure that any such strategic opportunities or related transactions, or any financing in connection therewith, would be available on favorable terms, if at all, or that we will realize any anticipated benefits from any such transactions that we complete. In the event that we are not successful in restructuring our business or pursuing other strategic opportunities, we also intend to consider alternatives, including, without limitation, the acquisition of another business, the divestiture of all or certain of our assets, joint ventures and other transactions outside the ordinary course of business.

 

23

 

Our cash and cash equivalents balance is located in the following geographies (dollars in thousands):

 

    March 31, 2019
     
United States   $ 2,674  
Spain     2,372  
Malaysia     100  
China     305  
Hong Kong     85  
India     1  
Consolidated   $ 5,536  

 

Due to the difficulty repatriating cash to the U.S., among other factors, we may have limited access to the $0.3 million of cash located in China for use outside the country. In addition, the STR Spain Loan prohibits STR Spain from distributing cash to us without the consent of the lender. In 2017 we applied for, and received approval for, a reduction of the registered capital associated with STR China, enabling us to move $5.0 million out of China. In 2018, we received a further reduction of $3.0 million that was used to settle intercompany loans ultimately flowing back to the United States.

 

We do not permanently re-invest our Malaysia subsidiary’s earnings. Based upon the Malaysia subsidiary’s liabilities to us, we expect the undistributed earnings of our Malaysia subsidiary will be repatriated to the U.S. in a tax-free manner. We do not permanently re-invest our Spain earnings, so this cash balance is available for dividend repatriation (less any applicable withholding taxes). We have not elected to permanently re-invest our Hong Kong and China earnings and plan to utilize our cash located in Hong Kong and China to fund working capital requirements and wind-down costs. Our goal is to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency in each of our manufacturing locations to meet local cash requirements. We cannot assure that we will continue to fund the manufacturing operations in any location, if such operations would require investment of additional cash from other jurisdictions.

 

Cash Flows

 

Cash Flow from Operating Activities from Operations

 

Net cash used in operating activities from operations was $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Net loss plus and minus non-cash adjustments (“cash loss”) declined by $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the same period in 2018. This decline was primarily driven by the receipt of the initial payment of $1.8 million under the equipment purchase agreement and the technology license agreement during 2018.

 

Cash Flow from Investing Activities from Operations

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $1.2 million and net cash provided by investing activities was $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. We expect remaining 2019 consolidated capital expenditures to be approximately $0.8 million related to the high-end food packaging equipment.

 

Cash Flow from Financing Activities from Operations

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was $2.1 million and net cash used in financing activities was $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, primarily due to funds received by our Spanish entity related to the STR Spain Loan.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We have no significant off–balance sheet financing arrangements.

 

Effects of Inflation

 

Inflation generally affects us by increasing costs of raw materials, labor and equipment. During the first three months of 2019, we were not materially affected by inflation.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

There are no new accounting pronouncements that we believe will have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

24

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

We are not required to provide this Item 3 because we are a smaller reporting company.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and our Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.

 

As of March 31, 2019, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and our Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and our Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the first fiscal quarter of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time, we are and have been a party to litigation that arises in the ordinary course of our business.

 

In October 2016, a complaint was filed by Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente S.A. (“Solaria”) against the Company and its Spanish subsidiary, STR Spain, in the Court of the First Instance No. 8 in Oviedo, Spain, relating to a product quality claim in connection with a non-encapsulant product that STR Spain purchased from a vendor in 2005 and 2006 and resold to Solaria. The Company stopped selling this product in 2006. Solaria was seeking approximately €3.3 million (approximately $3.7 million as of March 31, 2019), plus interest, in damages. A trial was held on April 6, 2017, in Oviedo, Asturias, Spain. On January 9, 2019, the judge issued a ruling dismissing Solaria’s case, and the appeal period ended on February 8, 2019 with no appeal filed. The Company now considers the matter closed.

 

In 2016, the Company filed suit against CEEG (Nanjing) Renewable Energy Co., Ltd. (“NRE”), the parent company of our former customer CSUN in Nanjing Jiangning District People’s Court, China (the “Nanjing Court”). In a hearing held on August 10, 2016, the Nanjing Court found NRE delinquent in making payment against bona fide invoices dating back to April 2015 and ordered NRE to pay the Company the amount of RMB8.8 million for encapsulant sold to CSUN, court fees, interest and attorney fees. Following the subsequent failure of NRE to pay according to the order of the Nanjing Court, the Company initiated enforcement proceedings in the enforcement department of Nanjing Court and ultimately agreed to accept installment payments managed through the Nanjing Court, the first of which came due on February 28, 2018 and remains unpaid. The Company has since filed an application for the resumption of enforcement, for which the Nanjing Court has acknowledged receipt. The Nanjing Court has informed the Company that it will schedule another hearing to take further actions against NRE and its Chairman, Mr. Lu Tingxiu, to compel NRE to pay the Company according to the court order currently in force.

 

25

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “ Item 1A. Risk Factor s” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, which could materially affect our business, financial position and results of operations. There have been no material changes to the risk factors as disclosed in Part I, “ Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

None.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

*10.1   English translation of Mortgage Loan, dated as of March 20, 2019, by and between Specialized Technology Resources España, S.A. and Sociedad Regional de Promoción del Principado de Asturias, S.A. (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 14, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference).
     
*10.2   English translation of Comfort Letter, dated as of January 8, 2019, by and between Specialized Technology Resources, S.A.U. and Sociedad Regional de Promoción del Principado de Asturias, S.A. (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 14, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference).
     
*23.1   Consent of UHY LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
     
31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
32.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
101.INS   XBRL Instance Document
     
101.SCH*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
     
101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
     
101.DEF   XBRL Definition Linkbase Document
     
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
     
101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

_________________

* Filed herewith.

 

 

27

 

SIGNATURE

 

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

 

  STR HOLDINGS, INC.
  (Registrant)
   
Date: May 14, 2019 /s/ Thomas D. Vitro
  Name:   Thomas D. Vitro
  Title: Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
    (Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28

 

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