LaBarge, Inc. Form 10-Q

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

[X] Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

     

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     

For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2006

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:  1-5761

                                                                                                                                                              

LaBarge, Inc.

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

                              

                               

                                

Delaware

                            

73-0574586

                              

                  

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

         

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

            

                                                     

                                                             

    

9900 Clayton Road, St. Louis, Missouri

   

63124

    

 

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(314) 997-0800

 

 

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

 

                                                                                                    

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

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 [X]  No [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.  See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one): 

Large Accelerated Filer [   ]             Accelerated filer [X]             Non-Accelerated Filer [   ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes [  ]   No [X]

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the Issuer’s classes of common stock as of February 5, 2007: 15,235,307 shares of common stock.

This document constitutes part of a prospectus covering securities that have been registered under
the Securities Act of 1933.


LaBarge, Inc.

 

FORM 10-Q

 

For the Quarter Period Ended December 31, 2006

 

Table of Contents

                                                                                                                                                                            

 

Part I

                

Financial Information (Unaudited)

 

   

                

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

 

                                 

Consolidated Statements of Income

                                  

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

                

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

                

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

                

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

 

Part II

Other Information

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

  

Item 4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

     

Signature

 


Table of Contents


LaBARGE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)

(Amounts In Thousands -- Except Per-Share Amounts)

                

             

                        

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

January 1,

 

December 31,

January 1,

 

 

 

2006

2006

 

2006

2006

 

Net sales

    

$

60,820

    

$

48,147

   

$

110,720

   

$

87,786

                                                                                                                                                                                              

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

              

      

 

 

 

Cost of sales

                       

48,314

37,680

87,557

67,821

 

 

 

Selling and administrative expense

     

6,800

5,835

    

12,791

  

11,460

 

 

 

Interest expense

564

449

1,215

853

 

 

 

Other expense and (income), net

(64

)

  

(114

)

    

(20

)

(146

)

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

      

5,206

4,297

9,177

7,798

 

Income tax expense

2,009

1,634

3,569

3,105

  

 

Net earnings

     

   

$

3,197

$

2663

$

5,608

$

4,693

                   

 

Basic net earnings per common share:

              

                   

Basic net earnings

$

0.21

$

0.18

$

0.37

$

0.31

                                                                      

 

Average common shares outstanding

15,112

15,149

15,116

15,116

                                                                    

                             

 

 

                

 

  

                   

   

  

                 

 

Diluted net earnings per share:

  

Diluted net earnings

$

0.20

$

0.17

$

0.35

$

0.29

                                                                     

  

Average diluted common
  shares outstanding


16,008


16,056


16,040


16,065

   

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



LaBARGE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts In Thousands -- Except Share Amounts)

   

 

December 31,
2006

July 2,
2006

(Unaudited)

                                                                                                                    

                 

    

                   

ASSETS

 

                      

 

 

Current assets:

 

    

              

    

                   

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

  

$

1,535

       

   

$

947

 

 

Accounts and other receivables, net

 

27,940

 

29,759

 

 

Inventories

 

57,055

53,819

 

 

Prepaid expenses

 

1,129

 

1,743

 

 

Deferred tax assets, net

 

1,278

1,395

 

  

Total current assets

 

88,937

87,663

 

  

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

    

20,976

20,453

 

Intangible assets, net

 

2,361

 

2,743

 

Goodwill, net

24,292

 

24,292

Other assets, net

 

5,436

 

5,199

 

  

Total assets

 

  

$

142,002

   

$

140,350

 

  

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

                                                      

Current liabilities:

 

              

      

          

 

Short-term borrowings

  

$

12,350

   

$

19,475

 

Current maturities of long-term debt

 

6,301

5,791

 

 

Trade accounts payable

 

19,089

 

15,714

 

 

Accrued employee compensation

 

9,141

 

7,783

 

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

1,996

 

1,961

 

Cash advances

6,571

 

5,395

 

Total current liabilities

 

55,448

56,119

 

Long-term advances from customers for purchase of materials

 

2,219

2,760

 

Deferred tax liabilities, net

---

 

235

Long-term debt

 

13,381

16,402

 

  

Stockholders’ equity:

 

                                                      

 

Common stock, $.01 par value.  Authorized 40,000,000 shares; 15,773,253 issued at December 31, 2006 and July 2, 2006, including
shares in treasury

 

  

158

      

 

158

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

15,909

 

15,185

 

 

Retained earnings

 

58,040

52,431

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(53

)

---

Less cost of common stock in treasury, shares of 537,867 at
December 31, 2006 and 606,262 at July 2, 2006


(3,100


)


(2,940


)

  

Total stockholders’ equity

 

70,954

 

64,834

 

  

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

  

$

142,002

   

$

140,350

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



LaBARGE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(Amounts In Thousands)

 

Six Months Ended

 

                                                                                          

 

December 31,
2006

  

January 1,
2006

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

   

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

5,608

 

$

4,693

 

 

 

Adjustments to reconcile net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

2,485

 

2,236

 

 

Stock-based compensation

672

846

 

Realized gain on sale of investment

---

(30

)

 

Other than temporary impairment of investments

105

          

---

 

Deferred taxes

 

 

(170

)

 

(350

)

 

Other

 

 

(1

)

 

1

 

 

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

 

 

              

 

 

 

 

Accounts and notes receivable, net

 

 

1,799

 

(4,342

)

 

 

 

Inventories

 

 

(3,236

)

 

(6,277

)

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses

 

 

614

 

(229

)

 

Trade accounts payable

3,256

5,663

 

 

 

Accrued liabilities

 

 

1,519

 

(3,260

)

 

Advance payments

635

(4,218

)

 

Net cash (used) provided by operating activities

13,286

(5,267

)

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additions to property, plant and equipment

(2,284

)

(2,052

)

 

Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment

25

62

 

 

Additions to other assets and intangibles

(569

)

(399

)

 

Proceeds from sale of securities available for sale

---

89

 

Net cash (used) by investing activities

(2,828

)

(2,300

)

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

   

 

 

Borrowings on revolving credit facility

27,000

30,975

 

Payments of revolving credit facility

(34,125

)

(21,900

)

 

Borrowings of long-term debt

258

---

 

 

Repayments of long-term senior debt

(2,769

)

(2,223

)

 

Excess tax benefits from stock option

194

73

 

 

Issuance of stock

461

353

 

 

Purchase of treasury stock

(889

)

(96

)

 

 

Net cash (used) provided by financing activities

(9,870

)

7,182

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

588

(385

)

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

947

820

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

1,535

$

435

                                                                                          

             

  

Non-cash transactions:

             

            

 

Increase in capital lease obligations

 

$

8

         

       

$

664

        


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


Table of Contents

               

LaBarge, Inc.

        

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1.

  

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2006, the related consolidated statements of income for the three and six months ended December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the three and six months ended December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006, have been prepared by LaBarge, Inc. (the “Company”) without audit.  In the opinion of management, adjustments, all of a normal and recurring nature, necessary to present fairly the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows for the aforementioned periods, have been made.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted.  These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 2, 2006.

Stock-Based Compensation
For the six months ended December 31, 2006 total stock-based compensation was $0.7 million ($0.4 million after tax), equivalent to earnings per basic and diluted share of $0.03. For the six months ended January 1, 2006, total stock based compensation was $0.8 million ($0.5 million after tax), or $0.04 and $0.03 for basic and diluted earnings per share, respectively.

As of December 31, 2006, the total unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested awards was $0.7 million pretax, and the period over which it is expected to be recognized is approximately 1.2 years. At January 1, 2006, the total unrecognized compensation expense, including stock options and performance units, was $0.9 million pretax, and the period over which it was expected to be recognized was 1.4 years.

No stock options were issued in the six months ended December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006, respectively. On January 11, 2005, the Company awarded performance units to certain key executives tied to fiscal year 2007 financial performance. Compensation expense related to this award was recognized in the six months ended December 31, 2006, but no shares are included in the dilutive shares, as the performance condition had not been met at December 31, 2006.

All stock options outstanding at December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006 were dilutive and included in the computation of diluted earnings per share.  These options expire in various periods through 2014.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation Number (“FIN”) 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”).  FIN 48 establishes a recognition threshold and measurement for income tax positions recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.”  FIN 48 also prescribes a two-step evaluation process for tax positions.  The first step is recognition and the second is measurement.  For recognition, an enterprise judgmentally determines whether it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position.  If the tax position meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold it is measured and recognized in the financial statements as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized.  If a tax position does not meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the benefit of that position is not recognized in the financial statements.

Tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the effective date of FIN 48 may be recognized or, continue to be recognized, upon adoption of FIN 48.  The cumulative effect of applying the provisions of FIN 48 shall be reported as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings for that fiscal year.  FIN 48 will apply to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, with earlier adoption permitted.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact FIN 48 will have on its consolidated financial statements when it becomes effective for the Company in fiscal 2008 and is unable, at this time, to quantify the impact, if any, to retained earnings at the time of adoption.

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS No. 157”) to clarify the definition of fair value, establish a framework for measuring fair value and expand the disclosures on fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e., an exit price). SFAS No. 157 also stipulates that, as a market-based measurement, fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, and establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between (a) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (i.e., observable inputs) and (b) the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (i.e., unobservable inputs). SFAS No. 157 becomes effective for the Company in its fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of SFAS No. 157 on its consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 06-4, “Accounting for Deferred Compensation and Postretirement Benefits Aspects of Endorsement Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements”(“EITF 06-4”).  This addresses only endorsement split-dollar life insurance arrangements that provide a benefit to an employee that extends to postretirement periods. In an endorsement split-dollar arrangement, the employer owns and controls the policy, and the employer and an employee split the insurance policy’s cash surrender value and/or death benefits.

The EITF consensus would require that the deferred-compensation or postretirement benefit aspects of an endorsement-type split-dollar life insurance arrangement be recognized as a liability by the employer and that the obligation is not effectively settled by the purchase of a life insurance policy. The liability for future benefits would be recognized based on the substantive agreement with the employee, which may be either to provide a future death benefit or to pay for the future cost of the life insurance.

If ratified, EITF 06-4 becomes effective for the Company in its fiscal year ending June 30, 2009.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of EITF 06-4 on its consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, FASB’s EITF reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 06-05, “Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance—Determining the Amount That Could Be Realized in Accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4, Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance” (“EITF 06-5”).  This consensus explains how to determine “the amount that could be realized” from a life insurance contract, which is the measurement amount for the asset in accordance with Technical Bulletin 85-4. The consensus would require policyholders to determine the amount that could be realized under a life insurance contract assuming individual policies are surrendered.

If ratified, EITF 06-5 becomes effective for the Company in its fiscal year ending June 29, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of EITF 06-5 on its consolidated financials.

2.

  

GROSS AND NET SALES

Gross and net sales consist of the following:
(dollars in thousands)

                                                               

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

December 31,

January 1,

 

December 31,

January 1,

   

2006

2006

2006

2006

Gross sales

 

$

61,115

  

 

$

48,407

 

$

111,161

 

$

88,314

Less sales discounts

295

260

441

528

Net sales

$

60,820

$

48,147

$

110,720

$

87,786


Geographic Information
The Company has no sales offices or facilities outside of the United States.  Export sales did not exceed 10% of total sales in any period.

For the three months ended December 31, 2006, the Company’s three largest customers were Schlumberger Ltd., 12.9%; Northrop Grumman Corp., 11.4%; and L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc., 9.9%.  For the six months ended December 31, 2006, the Company’s three largest customers were Schlumberger, Ltd., 13.4%; Northrop Grumman Corp., 10.4%; and L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc., 8.6%.

3.

  

ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Accounts and other receivables consist of the following:
(dollars in thousands)

                                                                                         

December 31,

 

July 2,

2006

2006

Billed shipments, net of progress payments

  

$

28,003

          

$

28,886

 

Less allowance for doubtful accounts

198

 

174

 

Trade receivables, net

27,805

28,712

 

Other current receivables

135

 

1,047

 

$

27,940

 

$

29,759

 

Progress payments are payments from customers in accordance with contractual terms for contract costs incurred to date.  These payments are recognized as revenue when the completed units are shipped.

At December 31, 2006, the amounts due from the three largest accounts receivable debtors and the percentage of total accounts receivable represented by those amounts were $4.4 million, 16%; $2.6 million, 9%; and $2.6 million, 9%. This compares with $4.9 million, 17%; $2.4 million, 8%; and $2.1 million, 7% at July 2, 2006.

4.

  

INVENTORIES

Inventories consist of the following:
(dollars in thousands)

  

         

                  

         

   

December 31,

   

    

    

July 2,

   

 

                                                                          

2006

2006

 

Raw materials

$

36,651

   

  

$

35,889

           

Work in progress

  

20,404

   

17,930

 

   

   

$

57,055

$

53,819

 

In accordance with contractual agreements, the U.S. Government has a security interest in inventories identified with related contracts for which progress payments have been received.

For the three months ended December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006, expense for obsolescence charged to income before taxes was $306,000 and $171,000, respectively.  For the six months ended December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006, expense for obsolescence charged to income before taxes was $528,000 and $287,000, respectively.

5.

  

INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

Intangible assets, net, is summarized as follows:
(dollars in thousands)

  

         

                  

         

   

December 31,

   

    

    

July 2,

    

 

                                                                   

2006

2006

Software

    

$

3,368

$

3,228

Less accumulated amortization

     

2,843

 

      

2,661

      

  

Net software

525

567

Customer list

3,400

3,400

Less accumulated amortization

1,634

1,351

  

Net customer list

1,766

2,049

 

Other, net

70

127

   

Total intangible assets, net

$

2,361

$

2,743

 

Intangibles are amortized over a three- to six-year period.  Amortization expense was $608,000 and $349,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006, respectively.

The Company anticipates that amortization expense will approximate $1.2 million for fiscal year 2007, $1.2 million for fiscal year 2008, $1.1 million for fiscal year 2009 and $0.7 million for fiscal year 2010.

6.

  

GOODWILL

Goodwill is summarized as follows:
(dollars in thousands)

  

                                                                        

December 31,

   

    

    

July 2,

   

 

 

2006

2006

 

Goodwill

$

24,492

     

  

$

24,492

           

Less accumulated amortization

   

200

   

200

  Net goodwill

$

24,292

$

24,292

 

Impairment is tested annually in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, or more frequently if events or circumstances change.  There was no impairment of goodwill at December 31, 2006 and July 2, 2006.

7.

  

OTHER ASSETS

Other assets is summarized as follows:
(dollars in thousands)

  

                                                                          

December 31,

   

    

    

July 2,

   

 

2006

2006

 

Cash value of life insurance

$

4,545

     

  

$

4,285

           

Deposits, licenses and other, net

   

536

   

390

Securities held for sale

72

264

Deferred financing costs, net

        

141

173

Long-term deferred tax asset

86

---

Other

56

87

                                                                

$

5,436

$

5,199

The Company’s investment in securities held for sale of $72,000 at December 31, 2006 consists of approximately 1.6 million shares of Norwood Abbey Ltd.  This investment is the result of shares and options acquired as a partial settlement of a note receivable and is marked to market each quarter.

In the quarter ended December 31, 2006, the Company booked an $87,000 ($53,000 after-tax) as an other comprehensive loss. For the six months ended December 31, 2006, the Company recorded a $192,000 reduction of the investment with $87,000 treated as a temporary impairment and $105,000 treated as an other-than-temporary impairment.

8.

  

SHORT- AND LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS

Short-term borrowings, long-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt consist of the following:
(dollars in thousands)

  

                                                                          

December 31,

   

    

    

July 2,

   

 

2006

2006

Short-term borrowings:

             

            

 Revolving credit agreement:

  Balance at quarter-end

$

12,350

$

19,475

  Interest rate at quarter-end

7.13

%

7.28

%

  Average amount of short-term borrowings

  

   outstanding during period

$

13,753

$

8,729

  Average interest rate for period

7.38

%

6.85

%

  Maximum short-term borrowings at

   any month-end

$

13,200

   

$

19,475

Senior long-term debt:

                    

 Senior lender:

   Term loan

$

13,250

$

15,750

   Mortgage loan

    

5,355

 

5,483

 

 Other

1,077

960

 

Total senior long-term debt

19,682

22,193

Less current maturities

6,301

5,791

Long-term debt, less current maturities

$

13,381

$

16,402

 

The average interest rate was computed by dividing the sum of daily interest costs by the sum of the daily borrowings for the respective periods.

The Company entered into a senior loan agreement on February 17, 2004, which was amended in February 2006.  The Company incurred $330,000 of financing costs that have been deferred and are being amortized over a period beginning May 2004 and ending February 2009.  At December 31, 2006, the unamortized amount was $141,000.

Senior Lender:

The Company entered into a senior secured loan agreement with a group of banks on February 17, 2004 that was amended on February 10, 2006, increasing the revolving credit facility by $10.0 million.  The following is a summary of the agreement:

 •

 

A revolving credit facility, up to $30.0 million available for direct borrowings or letters of credit.  The facility is based on a borrowing base formula equal to the sum of 85% of eligible receivables and 35% of eligible inventories. As of December 31, 2006, outstanding loans under the revolving credit facility were $12.3 million.  Letters of credit outstanding were $1.5 million, and $16.2 million was available at December 31, 2006. This credit facility matures on February 17, 2009.

            

     

 

                                                                                                                                        

 •

 

A $25.0 million term loan amortized beginning May 2004, at a quarterly rate of $1.0 million, increased to $1.25 million in May 2006 and increasing to $1.5 million in May 2007.  Final maturity is February 2009.  As of December 31, 2006, the amount outstanding was $13.3 million.

    

 

     

 •

On April 15, 2004, the Company entered into an Interest Rate Cap Agreement with a bank.  This Cap Agreement caps the Company’s exposure to increases in LIBOR at 4% for a period of three years on a notional amount beginning at $24.0 million and amortizing on a schedule that matches amortization of the $25.0 million term loan dated February 17, 2004. As a result of this Cap Agreement, for the three and six months ended December 31, 2006, interest expense was reduced by $49,000 and $99,000, respectively.

                          

 •

Interest on both loans is at a percentage of prime or a stated rate over LIBOR based on certain ratios.  For the quarter ended December 31, 2006, the average rate including the effect of the interest rate cap was approximately 6.34%. For the six months ended December 31, 2006, the average rate including the effect of the interest rate cap was approximately 6.44%.

     

 

                                                                                                                                               

 •

 

Both loans are secured by substantially all the assets of the Company other than real estate.

 

                 

 •

Covenants and performance criteria consist of Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”) in relation to debt, EBITDA in relation to fixed charges and minimum net worth. The Company is in compliance with its borrowing agreement covenants as of December 31, 2006.

    

 

                                                                                                                                             

 

Other Long-term Debt:
Mortgage Loan:
The Company has a $6.4 million term loan secured by the Company’s headquarters building in St. Louis, Missouri.  The loan repayment schedule is based on a 25-year amortization with a final balloon payment due in October 2009.  The balance at December 31, 2006 was $5.4 million.  Interest is at a percentage of prime or a stated rate over LIBOR based on certain ratios.  For the six months ended December 31, 2006, the average rate was approximately 5.93%.


Industrial Revenue Bonds:
In July 1998, the Company acquired tax-exempt Industrial Revenue Bond financing in the amount of $1.3 million.  The debt is payable over 10 years with an interest rate of 5.28%.  This funding was used to expand the Berryville, Arkansas, facility.  The outstanding balance at December 31, 2006 was $290,000.

Capital Lease Obligations:
In fiscal year 2005, the Company entered into a capital lease agreement to fund the purchase of machinery with a fair market value of $664,000. The lease is for five years with an interest rate of 6.18%. The obligation outstanding at December 31, 2006 was $534,000.

City of Joplin Loan:

In September 2006, the Company acquired a loan from the City of Joplin, Missouri, in the amount of $250,000. The debt is to be repaid at the end of a five-year loan period with annual interest payments at an interest rate of 3%. This funding was used to expand the Joplin, Missouri, facility.

The aggregate maturities of long-term obligations are as follows:
(dollars in thousands)

Fiscal Year

2007

……………………………………………………… 

$

3,024

 

2008

……………………………………………………… 

    

6,558

 

2009

……………………………………………………… 

     

4,938

 

2010

……………………………………………………… 

     

4,861

 

2011

……………………………………………………… 

     

51

 

Thereafter

……………………………………………………… 

     

250

 

    Total

……………………………………………………… 

 $

19,682

 

9.

  

CASH FLOWS

Total cash payments for interest for the three months ended December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006 amounted to $0.6 million and $0.4 million, respectively.  Total cash payments for interest for the six months ended December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006 amounted to $1.2 million and $0.7 million, respectively.  Net cash payments for both federal and state income taxes were $3.0 million for the three and six months ended December 31, 2006, compared with $3.9 million and $4.6 million for the three and six months ended January 1, 2006, respectively.

10.

  

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share are computed as follows:
(amounts in thousands, except per-share amounts)

                                                                  

Three Months Ended

   

Six Months Ended

 

 

December 31,

January 1,

 

December 31,

January 1,

 

                                                                

2006

2006

2006

2006

 

Net earnings

$

3,197

$

2,663

   

$

5,608

$

4,693

 

     

              

            

        

            

     

            

 

Basic net earnings per share

$

0.21

 

$

0.18

$

0.37

$

0.31

 

    

            

              

 

Diluted earnings per share

$

0.20

$

0.17

$

0.35

$

0.29

 

Basic earnings per share are calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted earnings per share are calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of dilutive common share options by using the treasury stock method.

(share amounts in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

December 31,

 

January 1,

December 31,

January 1,

                                                                    

2006

2006

2006

2006

Average common shares outstanding -- basic

15,112

 

  

15,149

 

   

 

15,116

 

15,116

Dilutive options and nonvested
 restricted shares


896

      


907

  


924


949

Adjusted average common shares
  outstanding -- diluted  


16,008

     


16,056


16,040

  


16,065

 

 

All stock options outstanding and nonvested restricted shares at December 31, 2006 were dilutive for the three and six months ended on that date. These options expire in various periods through 2014. The restricted shares vest over the next two fiscal years. The Company has awarded certain key executives performance units tied to the Company’s fiscal year 2007 financial performance. The compensation expense related to these awards is recognized quarterly, but no shares are included in the dilutive shares as the performance condition had not been met at December 31, 2006.

11.

  

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company has established the 1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan, the 1995 Incentive Stock Option Plan, and the 1999 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (collectively, the “Plans”). The Plans provide for the issuance of up to 2,200,000 shares to be granted in the form of stock-based awards to key employees of the Company. In addition, pursuant to the 2004 Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”), the Company provides for the issuance of up to 850,000 shares to be granted in the form of stock-based awards to certain key employees and nonemployee directors. The Company may satisfy the awards upon exercise with either new or treasury shares. The Company’s stock compensation awards outstanding at December 31, 2006 include stock options, restricted stock and performance units.

Also, the Company has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan that allows any eligible employee to purchase common stock at the end of each quarter at 15% below the market price as of the first or last day of the quarter, whichever is lower. The Company has always recognized as expense the difference between the price the employee pays and the market price of the stock on the last day of the quarter.

For the three months ended December 31, 2006, stock-based compensation attributable to the adoption of Share-Based Payment No. 123R, (“SFAS No. 123R”) was $0.00 ($0.00 after tax), equivalent to $0.00 per basic and diluted share. For the three months ended January 1, 2006 stock-based compensation attributable to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R was $371,000 ($232,000 after tax), or $0.02 for basic and $0.01 for diluted earnings per share.

For the six months ended December 31, 2006, stock-based compensation attributable to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R was $62,000, ($38,000 aftertax) equivalent to $0.00 per basic and diluted shares.

As of December 31, 2006, the total unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested awards was $0.7 million pretax, and the period over which it is expected to be recognized is approximately 1.2 years. As of January 1, 2006, the total unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested awards, including stock options, restricted shares and performance units, was $0.9 million pretax, and the period over which it was expected to be recognized was approximately 1.2 years.

A summary of the Company’s Stock Option Plans as of December 31, 2006 is presented below:

 

                                                           

Number of
Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

 

Number of
Shares
Exercisable

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

 

Outstanding at July 2, 2006

1,771,151

   

$

3.94

1,573,119

     

$

3.52

Canceled

(2,000

)

8.54

             

---

               

---

Exercised

(51,275

)

3.10

---

---

Outstanding at October 1, 2006

1,717,876

     

$

3.88

  

1,717,876

$

3.88

        

                                                              

Canceled

---

---

---

$

---

Exercised

(2,000

)

3.43

---

---

Outstanding at December 31, 2006

1,715,876

$

3.88

  

1,715,876

$

3.88

        

  

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding:

 

                                               

Outstanding and Exercisable Options

 

 

Range of
Exercise Prices

Number Outstanding at
December 31, 2006

  

Weighted Average
Remaining Contractual Life
(In Years)

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

  

Aggregate Intrinsic Value (1)
(In Millions)

 

   $2.50 - 3.56

 

1,384,086

         

   

4.1

      

 

$

2.81

       

---

 

   $3.57 - 5.96

27,513

0.6

5.86

  

      

---

 

   $5.97 - 8.54

304,277

7.7

8.54

---

 

1,715,876

4.7

 

$

3.88

$

6.7

 

 

 

The intrinsic value of a stock option is the amount by which the current market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the option.

The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the three and six months ended December 31, 2006 was $15,000 and $265,000, respectively. The exercise period for all stock options generally may not exceed 10 years from the date of grant. Stock option grants to individuals generally become exercisable over a service period of one to five years.

There were no stock options granted in the three and six months ended December 31, 2006 or January 1, 2006.

Performance Units

The Company made awards under the LTIP in January 2005. The Company’s LTIP provides for the issuance of performance units, which will be settled in stock subject to the achievement of the Company’s financial goals. Settlement will be made pursuant to a range of opportunities relative to net earnings. No settlement will occur for results below the minimum threshold and additional shares shall be issued if the performance exceeds the targeted goals. The compensation cost of performance units is subject to adjustment based upon the attainability of the target goals.

Upon achievement of the performance goals, restricted shares are awarded in the employee’s name, but are still subject to a two-year vesting condition. Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors, if employment is terminated (other than due to death or disability) prior to the vesting period, the shares are forfeited. Compensation expense is recognized over the performance period plus vesting period. The awards are treated as a liability award during the performance period and as an equity award once the performance targets are settled.

During the six months ended December 31, 2006, the Company issued 79,693 shares of restricted stock, subject to the two-year vesting condition, associated with the fiscal 2006 award. In addition, the Company recorded compensation expense for the awards granted for fiscal 2007. During the six months ended January 1, 2006, the Company issued 57,751 shares of restricted stock subject to the two-year vesting condition associated with the 2005 award.

Compensation expense of $309,000 ($190,000 after tax) related to the LTIP was recorded in the three-month period ended December 31, 2006, compared with $218,000 ($136,000 after tax) in the three-month period ended January 1, 2006.

The weighted-average grant date fair value of the restricted stock issued during the six months ended December 31, 2006 was $13.27 per share. The weighted-average grant date fair value of the restricted stock issued during the three months ended January 1, 2006 was $18.00 per share.


Table of Contents

                            

LaBARGE, INC.

                           

Item 2.

FORM 10-Q

                                                                                                            

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Forward-Looking Statements

       Certain sections of this report contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that relate to future events or our future financial performance.  We have attempted to identify these statements by terminology including “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “seek,” “goal,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “can,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.  These statements include statements about our market opportunity, our growth strategy, competition, expected activities, and the adequacy of our available cash resources.  These statements may be found in the sections of this report entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Business” and “Legal Proceedings.”  Although we believe that, in making any such statement, our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, readers are cautioned that matters subject to forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including economic, regulatory, competitive and other factors that may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.  These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions as discussed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended July 2, 2006.

       Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements.  Unless otherwise required by law, the Company disclaims an obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

General
General Development of Business and Information about Business Activity
LaBarge, Inc. (“LaBarge” or the “Company”) is a Delaware corporation that manufactures and designs high-performance electronics and interconnect systems for customers in diverse technology-driven markets.  The Company’s core competencies are to provide complete electronic systems solutions, including the manufacturing, engineering and design of interconnect systems, circuit card assemblies and high-level assemblies for its customers’ specialized applications.

The Company markets its services to customers who are looking for a manufacturing and engineering partner capable of developing and providing high-reliability electronic equipment, including products capable of performing in harsh environmental conditions, such as high and low temperatures, severe shock and vibration.  The Company serves customers in a variety of markets including defense, government systems, aerospace, natural resources, industrial and other commercial markets.  The Company’s manufacturing and engineering facilities are located in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas.  The Company employs approximately 1,255 people, including approximately 1,065 people, (of which 48 are engineers) who provide support for production activities and approximately 190 people provide administrative support.

Results of Operations - Three and Six Months Ended December 31, 2006
Net Sales
(dollars in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

  

December 31, 

January 1,

 

December 31,

 

January 1,

                    

2006 

2006

 

2006

 

2006

Net sales

  

$

60,820

 

  

   

$

48,147

   

$

110,720

 

$

87,786

The largest contributor to fiscal 2007 second-quarter revenues was shipments to defense customers that generated $18.9 million of sales, versus $19.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2006. During the current fiscal year’s second quarter, LaBarge provided cables and electronic assemblies for a variety of defense applications, including military aircraft, radar systems, missile systems and shipboard programs.  In addition, shipments of capital equipment to natural resources customers, including downhole tools and mining systems, represented $14.5 million of fiscal 2007 second-quarter revenues, compared with $11.9 million in the year-ago period.  Sales to industrial customers represented $8.7 million of fiscal 2007 second-quarter revenues, compared with $7.2 million in the year-ago period. Sales to government systems customers represented $8.3 million of fiscal 2007 second-quarter revenue, compared with $4.2 million in the year-ago period, largely due to the shipments of postal automation equipment. Sales to commercial aerospace customers represented $6.7 million of fiscal year 2007 second-quarter revenues compared with $2.4 million in the year-ago period.

For the six months ended December 31, 2006, shipments to defense customers generated $37.4 million of sales, versus $23.6 million in 2006. During the current fiscal year’s first six months LaBarge provided cables and electronic assemblies for a variety of defense applications, including military aircraft, radar systems, missile systems and shipboard programs. In addition, shipments of capital equipment to natural resources customers, including downhole tools and mining systems, represented $25.6 million of fiscal 2007 year-to-date revenues, compared with $20.2 million in the year-ago period. Sales to industrial customers represented $16.3 million of fiscal 2007 revenues, compared with $14.4 million in the year-ago period. Sales to government systems customers represented $14.3 million of fiscal 2007 revenues, compared with $5.9 million in the year-ago period, largely due to the shipments of postal automation equipment. Sales to commercial aerospace customers generated $11.1 million of fiscal 2007 revenues, compared with $5.2 million in the year-ago period.

Sales to the Company’s 10 largest customers represented 72.4% of total revenue in the second quarter of fiscal 2007, compared with 71.3% for the same period of fiscal 2006.  The Company’s top three customers and the portion of total second-quarter sales they represented were as follows:  Schlumberger, Ltd., 12.9%; Northrop Grumman Corp., 11.4%; L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.; 9.9%.

The backlog of unshipped orders at December 31, 2006 was $209.4 million, compared with  $183.9 million at July 2, 2006, and $179.0 million at January 1, 2006.  The growth in backlog is the result of a sales and marketing effort that focuses on the needs of targeted large customers in a variety of industries. Approximately $50.7 million of the backlog at December 31, 2006 is scheduled to ship beyond the next 12 months pursuant to the shipment schedules contained in those contracts. This compares with $38.9 million at fiscal year end 2006.

Gross Profit
(dollars in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

December 31,

 

January 1,

 

December 31,

 

January 1,

                                                    

2006

2006

 

2006

2006

Gross profit

  

$

12,506

 

$

10,467

 

$

23,163

 

$

19,965

Gross margin

  

20.6

%

 

21.7

%

20.9

%

22.7

%

The Company’s gross profit margin percentage generally runs in a range of 20% to 23%, and gross margins for the three and six months ended December 31, 2006 were in this range. 

Selling and Administrative Expenses
(dollars in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

      

December 31,  

January 1,

December 31,

 

January 1,

                                                           

2006  

2006

2006

2006

Selling and administrative expenses

   

$

6,800

 

$

5,835

 

$

12,791

 

$

11,460

Percent of sales

11.2

%

 

12.1

%

11.6

%

13.1

%


Total selling and administrative expenses increased in the three months ended December 31, 2006 from the year-ago period due to:  higher salaries and wages ($0.4 million) as a result of increased head count and wage inflation; higher accrued incentive compensation expense ($0.3 million); and, a $0.1 million increase in sales commissions due to higher sales levels.

For the six months ended December 31, 2006, selling and administrative expenses increased versus the year-ago period primarily due to:  higher salaries and wages ($0.7 million) on increased headcount and wage inflation; higher accrued incentive compensation expense ($0.3 million); and, a $0.2 million increase in commissions due to higher sales levels.

For both the three- and six-month periods ended December 31, 2006, included in selling and administrative expenses was $61,000, attributable to the adoption of SFAS 123R, “Share-Based Payment.”

Interest Expense
(dollars in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

December 31,

January 1,

December 31,

January 1,

                                                     

2006

2006

2006

2006

Interest expense 

$

564

    

$

449

    

     

$

1,215

 

   

$

853

Interest expense increased in the three and six months ended December 31, 2006, compared with the year-ago period due to higher average interest rates on higher average levels of short-term borrowings.

Average debt levels for the three- and six-month periods ended December 31, 2006 were $32.3 million and $34.9 million, respectively.

Average debt levels for the three- and six-month periods ended January 1, 2006 were $31.4 million and $29.6 million, respectively.

Average interest rates in the quarter ended December 31, 2006 were 6.34%, compared with 5.24% in the year-ago period. For the six months ended December 31, 2006, average interest rates were 6.44%, compared with 5.18% in the year-ago period.

Tax Expense
(dollars in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

December 31,

January 1,

December 31,

January 1,

                                                         

2006

2006

2006

2006

Tax expense

$

2,009

    

$

1,634

    

$

3,569

   

$

3,105

The effective income tax rate for the three- and six-month periods ended December 31, 2006 was 38.3%.  For the three- and six-month periods ended January 1, 2006, the effective income tax rate was 37.5%.

Financial Condition and Liquidity
The following table shows LaBarge’s equity and total debt positions:

Stockholders’ Equity and Debt
(dollars in thousands)

                                                           

December 31,

July 2,

                                                              

2006

2006

                                                           

                                        

                                      

Stockholders’ equity

    

$

70,920

           

     

$

64,834

        

Debt

             

32,032

     

   

41,668

The Company’s operations provided $13.3 million of net cash for the six months ended December 31, 2006.

Senior Lender:
The Company entered into a senior secured loan agreement with a group of banks on February 17, 2004 that was amended on February 10, 2006, increasing the revolving credit facility by $10.0 million.  The following is a summary of the agreement:

 •

 

A revolving credit facility, up to $30.0 million available for direct borrowings or letters of credit.  The facility is based on a borrowing base formula equal to the sum of 85% of eligible receivables and 35% of eligible inventories. As of December 31, 2006, outstanding loans under the revolving credit facility were $12.3 million.  Letters of credit outstanding were $1.5 million, and $16.2 million was available at December 31, 2006. This credit facility matures on February 17, 2009.

            

     

 

                                                                                                                                        

 •

 

A $25.0 million term loan amortized beginning May 2004, at a quarterly rate of $1.0 million, increased to $1.25 million in May 2006 and increasing to $1.5 million in May 2007.  Final maturity is February 2009.  As of December 31, 2006, the amount outstanding was $13.3 million.

    

 

     

 •

On April 15, 2004, the Company entered into an Interest Rate Cap Agreement with a bank.  This Cap Agreement caps the Company’s exposure to increases in LIBOR at 4% for a period of three years on a notional amount beginning at $24.0 million and amortizing on a schedule that matches amortization of the $25.0 million term loan dated February 17, 2004. As a result of this Cap Agreement, for the three and six months ended December 31, 2006, interest expense was reduced by $49,000 and $99,000, respectively.

                          

 •

Interest on both loans is at a percentage of prime or a stated rate over LIBOR based on certain ratios.  For the quarter ended December 31, 2006, the average rate including the effect of the interest rate cap was approximately 6.34%. For the six months ended December 31, 2006, the average rate including the effect of the interest rate cap was approximately 6.44%.

     

 

                                                                                                                                               

 •

 

Both loans are secured by substantially all the assets of the Company other than real estate.

 

                 

 •

Covenants and performance criteria consist of Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”) in relation to debt, EBITDA in relation to fixed charges and minimum net worth. The Company is in compliance with its borrowing agreement covenants as of December 31, 2006.

    

 

                                                                                                                                             

 

Other Long-term Debt:
Mortgage Loan:
The Company has a $6.4 million term loan secured by the Company’s headquarters building in St. Louis, Missouri.  The loan repayment schedule is based on a 25-year amortization with a final balloon payment due in October 2009.  The balance at December 31, 2006 was $5.4 million.  Interest is at a percentage of prime or a stated rate over LIBOR based on certain ratios.  For the six months ended December 31, 2006, the average rate was approximately 5.93%.


Industrial Revenue Bonds:
In July 1998, the Company acquired tax-exempt Industrial Revenue Bond financing in the amount of $1.3 million.  The debt is payable over 10 years with an interest rate of 5.28%.  This funding was used to expand the Berryville, Arkansas, facility.  The outstanding balance at December 31, 2006 was $290,000.

Capital Lease Obligations:
In fiscal year 2005, the Company entered into a capital lease agreement to fund the purchase of machinery with a fair market value of $664,000. The lease is for five years with an interest rate of 6.18%. The obligation outstanding at December 31, 2006 was $534,000.

City of Joplin Loan:

In September 2006, the Company acquired a loan from the City of Joplin, Missouri, in the amount of $250,000. The debt is to be repaid at the end of a five-year loan period with annual interest payments at an interest rate of 3%. This funding was used to expand the Joplin, Missouri, facility.

The aggregate maturities of long-term obligations are as follows:
(dollars in thousands)

Fiscal Year

2007

……………………………………………………… 

$

3,024

 

2008

……………………………………………………… 

    

6,558

 

2009

……………………………………………………… 

     

4,938

 

2010

……………………………………………………… 

     

4,861

 

2011

……………………………………………………… 

     

51

 

Thereafter

……………………………………………………… 

     

250

 

    Total

……………………………………………………… 

 $

19,682

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements.

Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.  In preparing these financial statements, management has made its best estimates and judgment of certain amounts included in the financial statements.  The Company believes there is a likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions related to the accounting policies described below.  Application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.  The Company’s senior management discusses the accounting policies described below with the audit committee of the Company’s Board of Directors on a periodic basis.

The following discussion of critical accounting policies is intended to bring to the attention of readers those accounting policies that management believes are critical to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and other financial disclosures.  It is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all of our significant accounting policies that are more fully described in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 2, 2006.

Revenue Recognition and Cost of Sales
Revenue is generally recognized on the percentage-of-completion method based upon the units delivered.  The percentage-of-completion method gives effect to the most recent contract value and estimates of cost at completion. When appropriate, contract prices are adjusted for increased scope and other changes ordered or caused by the customer.  When percentage-of-completion is not appropriate, the Company recognizes revenue when title transfers, which is usually upon shipment. On a very limited number of contracts, at a customer’s request, the Company will recognize revenue when ownership passes. As of December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006, the Company has recognized revenue under these arrangements of $4.3 million and $4.1 million, respectively. The Company recognizes revenue for storage and other related services when the services are provided.

Management’s estimates of material, labor and overhead costs on long-term contracts are critical to the Company.  Since some contracts extend over a long period of time, revisions in cost during the progress of work have the effect of adjusting current period earnings applicable to performance in prior periods.  When the current contract cost estimate indicates a loss, provision is made for the total anticipated loss in the period the loss becomes evident.

Inventories
Inventories, which consist of materials, labor and manufacturing overhead, are carried at the lower of cost or market value. Inventory that has been held beyond specific time limits is automatically reserved. In addition, management regularly reviews inventory for obsolescence to determine whether any additional write-down is necessary.  Various factors are considered in making this determination, including expected program life, recent sales history, predicted trends and market conditions.  If actual demand or market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required.  For the quarters ended December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006, expense for obsolete or slow-moving inventory charged to income before income taxes was $0.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

Goodwill and Other Intangibles
The Company has adopted SFAS No. 142. Under the provisions of this standard, intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives and goodwill are not subject to amortization.  All other intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives.  Goodwill and other intangible assets not subject to amortization are tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.  This testing requires comparison of carrying values to fair values, and when appropriate, the carrying value of impaired assets is reduced to fair value.  During the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company completed its annual impairment test and determined that estimates of fair value are reasonable. Different assumptions regarding such factors as sales levels and price changes, labor and material cost changes, interest rates and productivity could affect such valuations.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation Number (“FIN”) 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”).  FIN 48 establishes a recognition threshold and measurement for income tax positions recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.”  FIN 48 also prescribes a two-step evaluation process for tax positions.  The first step is recognition and the second is measurement.  For recognition, an enterprise judgmentally determines whether it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position.  If the tax position meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold it is measured and recognized in the financial statements as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized.  If a tax position does not meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the benefit of that position is not recognized in the financial statements.

Tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the effective date of FIN 48 may be recognized or, continue to be recognized, upon adoption of FIN 48.  The cumulative effect of applying the provisions of FIN 48 shall be reported as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings for that fiscal year.  FIN 48 will apply to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, with earlier adoption permitted.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact FIN 48 will have on its consolidated financial statements when it becomes effective for the Company in fiscal 2008 and is unable, at this time, to quantify the impact, if any, to retained earnings at the time of adoption.

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS No. 157”), to clarify the definition of fair value, establish a framework for measuring fair value and expand the disclosures on fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e., an exit price). SFAS No. 157 also stipulates that, as a market-based measurement, fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, and establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between (a) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (i.e., observable inputs) and (b) the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (i.e., unobservable inputs). SFAS No. 157 becomes effective for the Company in its fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of SFAS No. 157 on its consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 06-4, “Accounting for Deferred Compensation and Postretirement Benefits Aspects of Endorsement Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements”(“EITF 06-4”).  This addresses only endorsement split-dollar life insurance arrangements that provide a benefit to an employee that extends to postretirement periods. In an endorsement split-dollar arrangement, the employer owns and controls the policy, and the employer and an employee split the insurance policy’s cash surrender value and/or death benefits.

The EITF consensus would require that the deferred-compensation or postretirement benefit aspects of an endorsement-type split-dollar life insurance arrangement be recognized as a liability by the employer and that the obligation is not effectively settled by the purchase of a life insurance policy. The liability for future benefits would be recognized based on the substantive agreement with the employee, which may be either to provide a future death benefit or to pay for the future cost of the life insurance.

If ratified, EITF 06-4 becomes effective for the Company in its fiscal year ending June 30, 2009.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of EITF 06-04 on its consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, FASB’s EITF reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 06-05, “Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance—Determining the Amount That Could Be Realized in Accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4, Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance,” (“EITF 06-5”).  This consensus explains how to determine “the amount that could be realized” from a life insurance contract, which is the measurement amount for the asset in accordance with Technical Bulletin 85-4. The consensus would require policyholders to determine the amount that could be realized under a life insurance contract assuming individual policies are surrendered.

If ratified, EITF 06-5 becomes effective for the Company in its fiscal year ending June 29, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of EITF 06-5 on its consolidated financials.


Table of Contents

ITEM 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

                        

                                                                                                                                                       

Foreign Currency Risk
No information has been included hereunder because the Company’s foreign sales in each of the three and six months ended December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006 were less than 10% of total Company revenue.  All foreign contracts are paid in U.S. dollars and the Company is not significantly exposed to foreign currency translation.  However, if the significance of foreign sales grows, management will continue to monitor whether it would be appropriate to use foreign currency risk management instruments to mitigate any exposures.

Interest Rate Risk
As of December 31, 2006, the Company had $32.0 million in total debt.  Industrial revenue bonds totaling $291,000 and the City of Joplin Loan for $250,000 have a fixed rate and are not subject to interest rate risk.   The interest rate on the remaining $31.5 million is subject to fluctuation. On April 15, 2004, the Company entered into an Interest Rate Cap Agreement with a bank.  This Agreement caps the Company's exposure to 90-day LIBOR at 4% for a period of three years on a notional amount beginning at $24.0 million and amortizing on a schedule that matches amortization of the $25.0 million term loan dated February 17, 2004. The additional interest cost to the Company if interest rates increased 1% would be approximately $227,000 for one year.

 

 

ITEM 4.        

Controls and Procedures

                                  

                         

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, and the Company’s Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, have conducted an evaluation of the design and effectiveness the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as of the end of the period covered by this report.

The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are functioning effectively at the reasonable assurance level.  The Company’s disclosure controls are based upon a chain of financial and general business reporting lines that converge in the headquarters of the Company in St. Louis, Missouri.  The disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files with or submits to the Securities and Exchange Commission is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms.

During our first fiscal quarter, there were no significant changes in internal controls over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation that have materially affected or that are reasonably likely to materially affect these controls.


PART II

Table of Contents

ITEM 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

                      

                                                                                                                                               

Repurchases:

                         

                        

                         

                                



Period

Total Number of Shares (or Units)
Purchased

Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit)

Total Number of Shares (or Units)
Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
(1)

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

                                          

                  

   

      

                 

                          

                                  

   

October 2 - October 29

---

   

---

---

        

---

  

  

                                

October 30 - November 26

---

---

---

---

   

November 27 - December 31

21,300

$

13.52

21,300

867,300

  Total

21,300

$

13.52

21,300

867,300

  

(1)  Shares repurchased under resolution of the Board of Directors dated August 23, 2006, authorizing repurchase of up to 1,000,000 shares. Authorization expires on August 23, 2007.

ITEM 4.        Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

The Company held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on November 15, 2006.

At the meeting, Messrs. Helmkamp and LeGrand were elected as Class B Directors with terms expiring in 2009.  The votes with respect to each nominee and with respect to the other matter voted on by shareholders at the meeting are set forth below:

Proposal No. 1

Number of Votes FOR

Withheld Authority to Vote

                                                             

                                                 

                                                  

  John G. Helmkamp, Jr.

14,065,693

82,126

  Lawrence J. LeGrand

14,065,472

82,347

                                                              

                                                   

   

                                             

Proposal No. 2

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTAIN


Ratification of KPMG LLP as Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm


14,054,358


79,790


13,671

                                                                                        

                         

                      

                        


 

           

                                                                             

ITEM 6.

Exhibits

                       

                                                                                                                                                    

31.1

       

Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14 and 15d-14, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  

           

31.2

Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14 and 15d-14, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

                                                                                                                                                   

32.1

Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

32.2

Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

10.2(f)

Fourth Amendment to the Loan Agreement dated December 1, 2006 by and among the Company, LaBarge, Electronics, Inc., as borrowers, U.S. Bank Nation Association and National City Bank of Pennsylvania, as lenders; and U.S. Bank National Association, as
agent for lenders.


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.


LaBARGE, Inc.

                                                                                          

                                                                                  

Date:  February 5, 2007



By:  /S/DONALD H. NONNENKAMP

Name:  Donald H. Nonnenkamp

Title:    Vice President and Chief Financial Officer