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 March 31, 2019

 

(  ) 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 000-51372

 

Omega Flex, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Pennsylvania   23-1948942

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
451 Creamery Way, Exton, PA   19341
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(610) 524-7272

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 [ x ] No [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, 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 [ x ] No [  ]

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer [  ] Accelerated filer [ x ] Non-accelerated filer [  ] Smaller reporting Company [  ]

 

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

 

APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS

DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 12 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by the courts.

 

The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2019 was 10,091,822.

 

 

 

     
     

 

OMEGA FLEX, INC.

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2019

 

INDEX

 

Page No.
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION  
   
Item 1 – Financial Statements 3
   
Condensed consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2019 (unaudited) and December 31, 2018 3
 
Condensed consolidated statements of income for the three-months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 (unaudited) 4
 

Condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three-months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 (unaudited)

5
 
Condensed consolidated statements of shareholder’s equity for the three-months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 (unaudited) 6
   
Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the three-months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 (unaudited) 7
   
Notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited) 8
   
Item 2- Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 24
   
Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Information About Market Risks 37
   
Item 4 – Controls and Procedures 37
   
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION  
   
Item 1 – Legal Proceedings 37
   
Item 1A – Risk Factors 38
   
Item 2 – Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 39
   
Item 3 – Defaults Upon Senior Securities 39
   
Item 4 – Mine Safety Disclosures 39
   
Item 5 – Other Information 39
   
Item 6 - Exhibits 39
   
SIGNATURES 40

 

  - 2 -  
 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1 - Financial Statements

 

OMEGA FLEX, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Amounts in Thousands)

 

    March 31, 2019     December 31, 2018  
    (unaudited)        
ASSETS                
Current Assets:                
Cash and Cash Equivalents   $ 20,951     $ 32,392  
Accounts Receivable - less allowances of $975 and $985, respectively     17,006       16,451  
Investments     22,760       14,944  
Inventories-Net     8,839       7,976  
Other Current Assets     1,446       1,859  
                 
Total Current Assets     71,002       73,622  
                 
Right-Of-Use Assets     666        
Property and Equipment - Net     8,530       8,378  
Goodwill - Net     3,526       3,526  
Deferred Taxes     3       3  
Other Long Term Assets     1,360       1,307  
                 
Total Assets   $ 85,087     $ 86,836  
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
Current Liabilities:                
Accounts Payable   $ 2,024     $ 2,775  
Accrued Compensation     1,296       5,295  
Accrued Commissions and Sales Incentives     2,974       4,246  
Dividends Payable           2,422  
Taxes Payable     686       58  
Lease Liability     322        
Other Liabilities     4,134       3,591  
                 
Total Current Liabilities     11,436       18,405  
                 
Lease Liability     364        
Deferred Taxes     421       566  
Long Term Taxes Payable     690        
Other Long Term Liabilities     1,336       1,544  
                 
Total Liabilities     14,247       20,515  
                 
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 5)                
                 
Shareholders’ Equity:                
Omega Flex, Inc. Shareholders’ Equity:                
Common Stock – par value $0.01 share: authorized 20,000,000 shares:                
10,153,633 shares issued and 10,091,822 outstanding at both March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018     102       102  
Treasury Stock     (1 )     (1 )
Paid-in Capital     10,808       10,808  
Retained Earnings     60,492       56,110  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss     (868 )     (950 )
Total Omega Flex, Inc. Shareholders’ Equity     70,533       66,069  
Noncontrolling Interest     307       252  
                 
Total Shareholders’ Equity     70,840       66,321  
                 
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity   $ 85,087     $ 86,836  

 

See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  - 3 -  
 

 

OMEGA FLEX, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Amounts in Thousands except Earnings per Common Share)

 

    For the three-months ended  
    March 31,  
    2019     2018  
    (unaudited)  
Net Sales   $ 26,788     $ 25,397  
                 
Cost of Goods Sold     9,842       10,364  
                 
Gross Profit     16,946       15,033  
                 
Selling Expense     4,510       4,414  
General and Administrative Expense     5,504       4,089  
Engineering Expense     1,341       1,030  
                 
Operating Profit     5,591       5,500  
                 
Interest Income     220       51  
Other Income     38       36  
                 
Income Before Income Taxes     5,849       5,587  
                 
Income Tax Expense     1,418       1,384  
                 
Net Income     4,431       4,203  
Less: Net Income attributable to the Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax     (49 )     (40 )
                 
Net Income attributable to Omega Flex, Inc.   $ 4,382     $ 4,163  
                 
Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share   $ 0.43     $ 0.41  
                 
Basic and Diluted Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding     10,092       10,092  

 

See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  - 4 -  
 

 

OMEGA FLEX, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Amounts in Thousands)

 

    For the three-months ended  
    March 31,  
    2019     2018  
    (unaudited)  
Net Income   $ 4,431     $ 4,203  
                 
Other Comprehensive Income:                
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment     88       430  
Other Comprehensive Income     88       430  
                 
Comprehensive Income     4,519       4,633  
                 
Less: Comprehensive Income Attributable to the Noncontrolling Interest     (55 )     (63 )
                 
Total Other Comprehensive Income   $ 4,464     $ 4,570  

 

See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  - 5 -  
 

 

OMEGA FLEX, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Amounts in Thousands)

 

    Common Stock Outstanding    

Common

Stock

   

Treasury

Stock

    Paid In Capital     Retained Earnings    

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Income (Loss)

   

Noncontrolling

Interest

   

Shareholders’

Equity

 
January 1, 2019     10,091,822     $ 102     $ (1 )   $ 10,808     $ 56,110     $ (950 )   $ 252     $ 66,321  
                                                                 
Net Income                                     4,382               49       4,431  
Cumulative Translation Adjustment                                             82       6       88  
                                                                 
March 31, 2019     10,091,822     $ 102     $ (1 )   $ 10,808     $ 60,492     $ (868 )   $ 307     $ 70,840  

 

    Common Stock Outstanding    

Common

Stock

   

Treasury

Stock

    Paid In Capital     Retained Earnings    

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Income (Loss)

   

Noncontrolling

Interest

   

Shareholders’

Equity

 
January 1, 2018     10,091,822     $ 102     $ (1 )   $ 10,808     $ 45,457     $ (908 )   $ 611     $ 56,069  
                                                                 
Net Income                                     4,163               40       4,203  
Cumulative Translation Adjustment                                             407       23       430  
                                                                 
March 31, 2018     10,091,822     $ 102     $ (1 )   $ 10,808     $ 49,620     $ (501 )   $ 674     $ 60,702  

 

See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  - 6 -  
 

 

OMEGA FLEX, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Amounts in Thousands)

 

    For the three-months ended  
    March 31,  
    2019     2018  
    (unaudited)  
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:                
Net Income   $ 4,431     $ 4,203  
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to                
Net Cash Used In Operating Activities:                
Non-Cash Compensation     746       (63 )
Depreciation and Amortization     150       124  
Provision for Losses on Accounts Receivable, net of
write-offs and recoveries
    (13 )     (15 )
Deferred Taxes     (145 )     83  
Provision for Inventory Reserves     (70 )     (215 )
Changes in Assets and Liabilities:                
Accounts Receivable     (503 )     327  
Inventories     (764 )     268  
Right-Of-Use Assets     (666 )      
Other Assets     362       539  
Accounts Payable     (762 )     (560 )
Accrued Compensation     (4,007 )     (3,599 )
Accrued Commissions and Sales Incentives     (1,293 )     (1,410 )
Lease Liability     686        
Other Liabilities
    892       211  
Net Cash Used In Operating Activities     (956 )     (107 )
                 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:                
Purchase of Investments     (22,816 )      
Net Proceeds from Sale of Investments     15,000        
Capital Expenditures     (299 )     (397 )
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities     (8,115 )     (397 )
                 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:                
Dividend Paid     (2,422 )     (2,220 )
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities     (2,422 )     (2,220 )
                 
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents     (11,493 )     (2,724 )
Translation effect on cash     52       365  
Cash and Cash Equivalents – Beginning of Period     32,392       37,938  
Cash and Cash Equivalents – End of Period   $ 20,951     $ 35,579  
                 
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:                
                 
Cash paid for Income Taxes   $ 245     $ 336  
                 
Cash paid for Interest   $     $  

 

See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  - 7 -  
 

 

OMEGA FLEX, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Omega Flex, Inc. (Omega) and its subsidiaries (collectively the “Company”). The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP), and with the instructions of Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading. It is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s latest shareholders’ annual report (Form 10-K). All material inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. It is Management’s opinion that all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods have been made, and that all adjustments are of a normal recurring nature or a description is provided for any adjustments that are not of a normal recurring nature.

 

Description of Business

 

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

 

The Company is a leading manufacturer of flexible metal hose, which is used in a variety of ways to carry gases and liquids within their particular applications. Some of the more prominent uses include carrying fuel gases within residential and commercial buildings, the transfer of liquefied gases in certain processing applications, vibration absorbers in high vibration applications, industrial applications where the customer requires the piping to have both a degree of flexibility and/or an ability to carry corrosive compounds or mixtures, or to carry at both very high and very low (cryogenic) temperatures, and the Company’s corrugated tubing can also be used in the healthcare industry to carry various medical related gases.

 

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

 

  - 8 -  
 

 

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. The most significant estimates and assumptions relate to revenue recognition and related sales incentives, accounts receivable allowances, investment valuations, inventory valuations, goodwill valuation, product liability reserve, stock-based compensation valuations and accounting for income taxes. Actual amounts could differ significantly from these estimates.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the requirements of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) . The standard is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires revenue to be recognized in a manner to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange for those goods or services.

 

The guidance permits two methods of adoption: retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (full retrospective method), or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial application (the modified retrospective approach). The Company selected the modified retrospective approach however there was no material impact which required a cumulative effect adjustment.

 

The principle of Topic 606 was achieved through applying the following five-step approach:

 

Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer — a contract with a customer exists when the Company enters into an enforceable contract with a customer, typically a purchase order initiated by the customer, that defines each party’s rights regarding the goods to be transferred and identifies the payment terms related to these goods.

 

Identification of the performance obligations in the contract — performance obligations promised in a contract are identified based on the goods that will be transferred to the customer that are distinct, whereby the customer can benefit from the goods on their own or together with other resources that are readily available from third parties or from us. Persuasive evidence of an arrangement for the sale of product must exist. The Company ships product in accordance with the purchase order and standard terms as reflected within the Company’s order acknowledgments and sales invoices.

 

  - 9 -  
 

 

Determination of the transaction price —the transaction price is determined based on the consideration to which the Company will be entitled in exchange for transferring goods to the customer. This would be the agreed upon quantity and price per product type in accordance with the customer purchase order, which is aligned with the Company’s internally approved pricing guidelines.

 

Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract — if the contract contains a single performance obligation, the entire transaction price is allocated to the single performance obligation. This applies to the Company as there is only one performance obligation to ship the goods.

 

Recognition of revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies a performance obligation — the Company satisfies performance obligations at a point in time when control of the goods transfers to the customer. Determining the point in time when control transfers requires judgment. Indicators considered in determining whether the customer has obtained control of a good include:

 

  The Company has a present right to payment
     
  The customer has legal title to the goods
     
  The Company has transferred physical possession of the goods
     
  The customer has the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods
     
  The customer has accepted the goods

 

It is important to note that the indicators are not a set of conditions that must be met before the Company can conclude that control of the goods has transferred to the customer. The indicators are a list of factors that are often present if a customer has control of the goods.

 

The Company has typical, unmodified FOB shipping point terms. As the seller, the Company can determine that the shipped goods meet the agreed-upon specifications in the contract or customer purchase order (e.g. items, quantities, and prices) with the buyer, so customer acceptance would be deemed a formality, as noted in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606-10-55-86. As a result, the Company has a legal right to payment upon shipment of the goods.

 

Based upon the above, the Company has concluded that control substantively transfers to the customer upon shipment.

 

Other considerations of Topic 606 include the following:

 

Contract Costs - costs to obtain a contract (e.g. customer purchase order) include sales commissions. Under Topic 606, these costs may be expensed as incurred for contracts with a duration of one year or less. The majority of the customer purchase orders are fulfilled (e.g. goods are shipped) within two days of receipt.
     
Warranties - the Company does not offer customers to purchase a warranty separately. Therefore there is not a separate performance obligation. The Company does account for warranties as a cost accrual and the warranties do not include any additional distinct services other than the assurance that the goods comply with agreed-upon specifications. There is no impact of warranties under Topic 606 upon the financial reporting of the Company.

 

  - 10 -  
 

 

Returned Goods - from time to time, the Company provides authorization to customers to return goods. If deemed to be material, the Company would record a “right of return” asset for the cost of the returned goods which would reduce cost of sales. Upon implementation of Topic 606, the Company will monitor pending authorized returns of goods and, if deemed appropriate, record the right of return asset accordingly.
     
Volume Rebates (Promotional Incentives) - volume rebates are variable (dependent upon the volume of goods purchased by our eligible customers) and, under Topic 606, must be estimated and recognized as a reduction of revenue as performance obligations are satisfied (e.g. upon shipment of goods). Also under Topic 606, to ensure that revenue recognized would not be probable of a significant reversal, the four following factors are considered:

 

The amount of consideration is highly susceptible to factors outside the company’s influence.

 

The uncertainty about the amount of consideration is not expected to be resolved for a long period of time.

 

The Company’s experience with similar types of contracts is limited.

 

The contract has a large number and broad range of possible consideration amounts.

 

If it was concluded that the above factors were in place for the Company, it would support the probability of a significant reversal of revenue. However, as none of the four factors apply to the Company, promotional incentives are recorded as a reduction of revenue based upon estimates of the products expected to be sold.

 

Regarding disaggregated revenue disclosures, as previously noted, the Company’s business is controlled as a single operating segment that consists of the manufacture and sale of flexible metal hose. Most of the Company’s transactions are very similar in nature, contract, terms, timing, and transfer of control of goods. As indicated within Note 2, under the caption “Significant Concentration”, the majority of the Company’s sales were geographically contained within North America, with the remainder scattered internationally. All performance assessments and resource allocations are generally based upon the review of the results of the Company as a whole.

 

Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents include investments in an institutional money market fund, which invests in U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and/or repurchase agreements, backed by such obligations. Carrying value approximates fair value. Cash and cash equivalents are deposited at various area banks, which at times may exceed federally insured limits. The Company monitors the viability of the banking institutions carrying its assets on a regular basis, and has the ability to transfer cash to various institutions during times of risk. The Company has not experienced any losses related to these cash balances, and believes its credit risk to be minimal.

 

  - 11 -  
 

 

Accounts Receivable and Provision for Doubtful Accounts

 

Accounts receivable are reduced by an allowance for amounts that may become uncollectible in the future. The estimated allowance for uncollectible amounts is based primarily on specific analysis of accounts in the receivable portfolio and historical write-off experience. While management believes the allowance to be adequate, if the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in their inability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

 

The allowance for doubtful accounts reflects the Company’s best estimate of probable losses inherent in the accounts receivable balance. The Company determines the allowance based on any known collection issues, historical experience, and other currently available evidence. The reserve for future credits, discounts, and doubtful accounts was $975,000 and $985,000 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. In regards to identifying uncollectible accounts, the Company reviews an aging report on a consistent basis to determine past due accounts, and utilizes a well-established credit rating agency. The Company charges off those accounts that are deemed uncollectible once all collection efforts have been exhausted.

 

Investments

 

The Company invests excess funds in liquid interest earning instruments including US Treasury bills and bank time deposits. These investments are stated at fair value, which approximates amortized cost, and are classified as available-for-sale in accordance with ASC 320, Investments – Debt and Equity Securities . Investments were $22,760,000 and $14,944,000 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Maturities, from the date of purchase, were six months or less.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The cost of inventories is determined by the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The Company generally considers inventory quantities beyond two-years usage, measured on a historical usage basis, to be excess inventory and reduces the carrying value of inventory accordingly.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are initially recorded at cost. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets or, for leasehold improvements, the life of the lease, if shorter. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in other income or expense for the period. The cost of maintenance and repairs is expensed as incurred; significant improvements are capitalized.

 

Goodwill

 

In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other , the Company performed an annual impairment test in accordance with this guidance as of December 31, 2018. This analysis did not indicate any impairment of goodwill. There were no circumstances that indicate that goodwill might be impaired at March 31, 2019.

 

  - 12 -  
 

 

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

 

In 2006, the Company adopted a Phantom Stock Plan (the “Plan”), which allows the Company to grant phantom stock units (“Units”) to certain key employees, officers or directors. The Units each represent a contractual right to payment of compensation in the future based upon the market value of the Company’s common stock. The Units follow a vesting schedule of three years from the grant date, and are then paid upon maturity. In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation , the Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model as its method for determining the fair value of the Units. Further details of the Plan are provided in Note 6.

 

Product Liability Reserves

 

Product liability reserves represent the estimated unpaid amounts under the Company’s insurance policies with respect to existing claims. The Company uses the most current available data to estimate claims. As explained more fully under Note 5, Commitments and Contingencies, for various product liability claims covered under the Company’s general liability insurance policies, the Company must pay certain defense and settlement costs within its deductible or self-insured retention limits, ranging primarily from $25,000 to $1,000,000 per claim, depending on the terms of the policy in the applicable policy year, up to an aggregate amount. The Company is vigorously defending against all known claims.

 

Leases

 

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the requirements of FASB ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) which defines a lease as any contract that conveys the right to use a specific asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Leases are classified as a finance lease, formerly called a capital lease, if any of the following criteria are met:

 

1. The lease transfers ownership of the underlying asset to the lessee by the end of the lease term.
     
2. The lease grants the lessee an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise.
     
3. The lease term is for the major part of the remaining economic life of the underlying asset.
     
4. The present value of the sum of lease payments and any residual value guaranteed by the lessee equals or exceeds substantially all of the fair value of the underlying asset.
     
5. The underlying asset is of such a specialized nature that it is expected to have no alternative use to the lessor at the end of the lease term.

 

For any leases that do not meet the criteria identified above for finance leases, the Company treats such leases as operating leases. As of March 31, 2019, each of the Company’s leases are classified as operating leases.

 

  - 13 -  
 

 

Under the new guidance, both finance and operating leases are reflected on the balance sheet as lease or “right-of-use” assets and lease liabilities. It should be noted that under previous guidance operating leases (non-capital leases) were not required to be recorded as an asset on the balance sheet.

 

There are some exceptions, which the Company has elected in its accounting policies. For leases with terms of twelve months or less, or below the Company’s general capitalization policy threshold, the Company elects an accounting policy to not recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for all asset classes. The Company recognizes lease expense for such leases generally on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

 

The Company determines if a contract is a lease at the inception of the arrangement. The Company reviews all options to extend, terminate, or purchase its right-of-use assets at the inception of the lease and accounts for these options when they are reasonably certain to be exercised. Certain leases contain non-lease components, such as common area maintenance, which are generally accounted for separately. In general, the Company will assess if non-lease components are fixed and determinable, or variable, when determining if the component should be included in the lease liability. For purposes of calculating the present value of the lease obligations, the Company utilizes the implicit interest rate within the lease agreement when known and/or determinable, and otherwise utilizes its incremental borrowing rate at the time of the lease agreement.

 

As permitted under ASU 2018-11, the Company elected the optional transition method to adopt the new leases standard. Under this new transition method, the Company initially applied the new leases standard at the adoption date of January 1, 2019 and would have recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment, if appropriate, to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. No cumulative-effect adjustment was recognized. The Company’s reporting for the comparative periods prior to 2019 in the financial statements will be presented in accordance with existing GAAP in effect for 2018 and earlier (ASC Topic 840, Leases ).

 

The impact of the adoption of this new standard resulted in an increase to the Company’s operating lease assets and liabilities on January 1, 2019 of approximately $800,000. The implementation did not have a material impact on our consolidated statements of income and statements of cash flows.

 

Fair Value of Financial and Nonfinancial Instruments

 

The Company measures financial instruments in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures . The accounting standard defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP, and enhances disclosures about fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The standard creates a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels as follows: Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The Company relies upon Level 1 inputs in determining the fair value of investments and the fair value of the Company’s reporting unit in its annual impairment test as described in the FASB ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other .

 

  - 14 -  
 

 

Earnings per Common Share

 

Basic earnings per share have been computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. For the periods presented, there are no dilutive securities. Consequently, basic and dilutive earnings per share are the same.

 

Currency Translation

 

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, most of which relate to the Company’s United Kingdom subsidiary whose functional currency is British pound sterling, are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates prevailing on the balance sheet dates. The statements of income are translated into U.S. dollars at average exchange rates for the period. Adjustments resulting from the translation of financial statements are excluded from the determination of income and are accumulated in a separate component of shareholders’ equity. Exchange gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the statements of income (other expense) in the period in which they occur.

 

Income Taxes

 

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

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that these items will either expire before the Company is able to realize the benefit, or that future deductibility is uncertain.

 

The FASB ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes , clarifies the criteria that an individual tax position must satisfy for some or all of the benefits of that position to be recognized in a company’s financial statements. This guidance prescribes a recognition threshold of more-likely than-not, and a measurement attribute for all tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return, in order for those tax positions to be recognized in the financial statements.

 

  - 15 -  
 

 

The Company follows the provisions of ASC 740-10 relative to accounting for uncertainties in tax positions. These provisions provide guidance on the recognition, de-recognition and measurement of potential tax benefits associated with tax positions.

 

The Company reflected the effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) in its financial statements during the 2017 enactment period. This included the effects of the change in the US Corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% on deferred tax assets and liabilities, and a provision related to previously deferred taxes on earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiary. The Company’s tax expense for the periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 included the continuing effect of the reduction in the U.S. federal tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective for those respective tax years. The Company’s tax provision also reflects other changes as a result of the Act, including the impact of the Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (“GILTI”) provisions, and changes effecting the deductibility of certain executive compensation.

 

Other Comprehensive Income

 

For the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, the components of other comprehensive income consisted solely of foreign currency translation adjustments.

 

Significant Concentration

 

The Company has one significant customer which represented more than 10% of the Company’s Accounts Receivable at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. That same customer represented more than 10% of the Company’s total Net Sales for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018. Geographically, the Company has a significant amount of sales in the United States versus internationally. These concentrations are consistent with those discussed in detail in the Company’s December 31, 2018 Form 10-K.

 

Subsequent Events

 

The Company evaluates all events or transactions through the date of the related filing that may have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements. Refer to Note 10 of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In January 2017, the FASB amended ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (issued under ASU 2017-04, “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment”). This amendment simplifies the test for goodwill impairment by only requiring an entity to perform an annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognize an impairment charge for the amount that the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. Any loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The amendment requires adoption on January 1, 2020. The Company does not expect that the adoption of ASU 2017-04 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

  - 16 -  
 

 

3. INVENTORIES

 

Inventories, net of reserves of $298,000 and $363,000 at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, consisted of the following:

 

    March 31, 2019     December 31, 2018  
    (dollars in thousands)  
Finished Goods   $ 5,279     $ 4,756  
Raw Materials     3,560       3,220  
                 
Inventories - Net   $ 8,839     $ 7,976  

 

4. LINE OF CREDIT

 

On December 1, 2017, the Company agreed to a new Amended and Restated Revolving Line of Credit Note and Third Amendment to the Loan Agreement with Santander Bank, N.A. (the “Bank”). The Company established a line of credit facility in the maximum amount of $15,000,000, maturing on December 1, 2022, with funds available for working capital purposes and other cash needs. The loan is unsecured. The loan agreement provides for the payment of any borrowings under the agreement at an interest rate range of either LIBOR plus 0.75% to plus 1.75% (for borrowings with a fixed term of 30, 60, or 90 days), or, Prime Rate up to Prime Rate plus 0.50% (for borrowings with no fixed term other than the December 1, 2022 maturity date), depending upon the Company’s then existing financial ratios. Currently, the Company’s ratio would allow for the most favorable rate under the agreement’s range, which would be a rate of 3.24%. The Company is also required to pay on a quarterly basis an unused facility fee of 10 basis points of the average unused balance of the note. The Company may terminate the line at any time during the five year term, as long as there are no amounts outstanding.

 

As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had no outstanding borrowings on its line of credit, and was in compliance with all debt covenants.

 

5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Commitments:

 

Under a number of indemnity agreements between the Company and each of its officers and directors, the Company has agreed to indemnify each of its officers and directors against any liability asserted against them in their capacity as an officer or director, or both. The Company’s indemnity obligations under the indemnity agreements are subject to certain conditions and limitations set forth in each of the agreements. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company is contingently liable for costs which may be incurred by the officers and directors in connection with claims arising by reason of these individuals’ roles as officers and directors. The Company has obtained directors’ and officers’ insurance policies to fund certain obligations under the indemnity agreements.

 

  - 17 -  
 

 

The Company has salary continuation agreements with one current employee, and one former employee who retired at the end of 2010. These agreements provide for monthly payments to each of the employees or their designated beneficiary upon the employee’s retirement or death. The payment benefits range from $1,000 per month to $3,000 per month with the term of such payments limited to 15 years after the employee’s retirement. The agreements also provide for survivorship benefits if the employee dies before attaining age 65, and severance payments if the employee is terminated without cause; the amount of which is dependent on the length of company service at the date of termination. The net present value of the retirement payments associated with these agreements is $467,000 at March 31, 2019, of which $455,000 is included in Other Long Term Liabilities, and the remaining current portion of $12,000 is included in Other Liabilities, associated with the retired employee previously noted who is now receiving benefit payments. The December 31, 2018 liability of $462,000 had $450,000 reported in Other Long Term Liabilities, and a current portion of $12,000 in Other Liabilities.

 

The Company has obtained and is the beneficiary of three life insurance policies with respect to the two employees discussed above, and one other employee policy. The cash surrender value of such policies (included in Other Long Term Assets) amounts to $1,356,000 at March 31, 2019 and $1,296,000 at December 31, 2018.

 

As disclosed in detail in Note 7 and in the Company’s December 31, 2018 Form 10-K, Note 8, under the caption “Leases”, the Company has several lease obligations in place that will be paid out over time. Most notably, the Company leases a facility in Banbury, England that serves the manufacturing, warehousing and distribution functions.

 

Contingencies:

 

In the ordinary and normal conduct of the Company’s business, it is subject to periodic lawsuits, investigations and claims (collectively, the “Claims”). Most of the Claims, including a putative class-action claim, relate to potential lightning damage to the Company’s flexible gas piping products, which impact legal and product liability related expenses. The Company does not believe the Claims have legal merit, and therefore has commenced a vigorous defense in response to the Claims. It is possible that the Company may incur increased litigation costs in the future due to a variety of factors, including a higher number of Claims, higher legal costs, and higher insurance deductibles or retentions.

 

In 2010, the Company took its first Claim to trial in Pennsylvania, and the jury returned a verdict that the Company was not negligent in designing and selling the TracPipe ® product, but also returned a verdict for plaintiff on strict liability. The Company appealed that portion of the verdict, and in December 2014, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled in favor of the Company, and returned the case to the trial court for further hearings. The cash bond of $1,600,000, which was previously included in Other Long Term Assets and posted as security for a subsequent appeal, was returned to the Company in May 2018. This case was finally settled and closed on August 7, 2018.

 

  - 18 -  
 

 

In March 2017, a putative class action case was re-filed against the Company and other parties in Missouri state court after the predecessor case was dismissed without prejudice by the federal court. The Company successfully removed the case to federal court and is currently vigorously defending the case.

   

The Company has in place commercial general liability insurance policies that cover most Claims, which are subject to deductibles or retentions, ranging primarily from $25,000 to $1,000,000 per claim (depending on the terms of the policy and the applicable policy year), up to an aggregate amount. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties and management is unable to predict the outcome of the pending suits and claims. The potential liability for a given claim could range from zero to a maximum of $1,000,000, depending upon the circumstances, and insurance deductible or retention in place for the respective claim year. The aggregate maximum exposure for all current open Claims as of March 31, 2019 is estimated to not exceed approximately $2,400,000, which represents the potential costs that may be incurred over time for the Claims within the applicable insurance policy deductibles or retentions. From time to time, depending upon the nature of a particular case, the Company may decide to spend in excess of a deductible or retention to enable more discretion regarding the defense, although this is not common. It is possible that the results of operations or liquidity of the Company, as well as the Company’s ability to procure reasonably priced insurance, could be adversely affected by the pending litigation, potentially materially. The Company is currently unable to estimate the ultimate liability, if any, that may result from the pending litigation, or potential litigation from future claims or claims that have not yet come to our attention, and accordingly, the liability in the consolidated financial statements primarily represents an accrual for legal costs for services previously rendered, and outstanding or anticipated settlements for Claims. The liabilities recorded on the Company’s books at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 were $180,000 and $150,000, respectively, and are included in Other Liabilities. 

 

6. STOCK BASED PLANS

 

Phantom Stock Plan

 

Plan Description. On April 1, 2006, the Company adopted the Omega Flex, Inc. 2006 Phantom Stock Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan authorizes the grant of up to one million units of phantom stock to employees, officers or directors of the Company. The phantom stock units (“Units”) each represent a contractual right to payment of compensation in the future based on the market value of the Company’s common stock. The Units are not shares of the Company’s common stock, and a recipient of the Units does not receive any of the following:

 

  ownership interest in the Company
     
  shareholder voting rights
     
  other incidents of ownership to the Company’s common stock

 

  - 19 -  
 

  

The Units are granted to participants upon the recommendation of the Company’s CEO, and the approval of the Compensation Committee. Each of the Units that are granted to a participant will be initially valued by the Compensation Committee, at an amount equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date, but are recorded at fair value using the Black-Sholes method as described below. The Units follow a vesting schedule, with a maximum vesting of three years after the grant date. Upon vesting, the Units represent a contractual right of payment for the value of the Unit. The Units will be paid on their maturity date, one year after all of the Units granted in a particular award have fully vested, unless an acceptable event occurs under the terms of the Plan prior to one year, which would allow for earlier payment. The amount to be paid to the participant on the maturity date is dependent on the type of U nit granted to the participant.

 

The Units may be Full Value, in which the value of each Unit at the maturity date, will equal the closing price of the Company’s common stock as of the maturity date; or Appreciation Only , in which the value of each Unit at the maturity date will be equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock at the maturity date minus the closing price of the Company’s common stock at the grant date.

 

On December 9, 2009, the Board of Directors authorized an amendment to the Plan to pay an amount equal to the value of any cash or stock dividend declared by the Company on its common stock to be accrued to the phantom stock units outstanding as of the record date of the common stock dividend. The dividend equivalent will be paid at the same time the underlying phantom stock units are paid to the participant.

 

In certain circumstances, the Units may be immediately vested upon the participant’s death or disability. All Units granted to a participant are forfeited if the participant is terminated from his relationship with the Company or its subsidiary for “cause,” which is defined under the Plan. If a participant’s employment or relationship with the Company is terminated for reasons other than for “cause,” then any vested Units will be paid to the participant upon termination. However, Units granted to certain “specified employees” as defined in Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code will be paid approximately 181 days after termination.

 

Grants of Phantom Stock Units. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had 17,805 unvested units outstanding, all of which were granted at Full Value . On February 15, 2019, the Company granted an additional 6,050 Full Value Units with a fair value of $65.40 per unit on grant date, using historical volatility. In February 2019, the Company paid $746,000 for the 10,460 fully vested and matured units that were granted during 2015, including their respective earned dividend values. As of March 31, 2019, the Company had 15,635 unvested units outstanding.

 

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model as its method for determining fair value of the Units. The Company uses the straight-line method of attributing the value of the stock-based compensation expense relating to the Units. The compensation expense (including adjustment of the liability to its fair value) from the Units is recognized over the vesting period of each grant or award.

 

The FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation , requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates in order to derive the Company’s best estimate of awards ultimately to vest.

 

  - 20 -  
 

 

Forfeitures represent only the unvested portion of a surrendered Unit and are typically estimated based on historical experience. Based on an analysis of the Company’s historical data, which has limited experience related to any stock-based plan forfeitures, the Company applied a 0% forfeiture rate to Plan Units outstanding in determining its Plan Unit compensation expense as of March 31, 2019.

 

The total Phantom Stock related liability as of March 31, 2019 was $1,691,000 of which $812,000 is included in Other Liabilities, as it is expected to be paid in February 2020, and the balance of $879,000 is included in Other Long Term Liabilities. At December 31, 2018, the total Phantom Stock liability was $1,692,000, with $599,000 in Other Liabilities, and $1,093,000 included in Other Long Term Liabilities.

 

Related to the Phantom Stock Plan, in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation , the Company recorded compensation expense of approximately $746,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019, and compensation income of $63,000 for the first quarter of 2018. Compensation income or expense for a given period largely depends upon fluctuations in the Company’s stock price.

 

The following table summarizes information about the Company’s nonvested phantom stock Units at March 31, 2019:

 

    Units     Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value
 
Number of Phantom Stock Unit Awards:                
Nonvested at December 31, 2018     17,805     $ 46.08  
Granted     6,050     $ 65.40  
Vested     (8,220 )   $ 39.94  
Forfeited            
Canceled            
Nonvested at March 31, 2019     15,635     $ 56.79  
Phantom Stock Unit Awards Expected to Vest     15,635     $ 56.79  

 

The total unrecognized compensation costs calculated at March 31, 2019 are $1,014,000 which will be recognized through February of 2022. The Company will recognize the related expense over the weighted average period of 1.6 years.

 

7. LEASES

 

In the United States, the Company owns its two main operating facilities located in Exton, PA. In addition to the owned facilities, the Company also has operations in other locations that are leased, as well as other leased assets. In conjunction with the new guidance for leases, as defined by the FASB with ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), the Company has described the existing leases, which are all classified as operating, pursuant to the below.

 

Facility leases within the United States include a warehousing and distribution center in Houston, Texas, which currently provides manufacturing, stocking and sales operations, with the lease term running through October 2019. Additionally, the Company leases its corporate office space in Middletown, CT, with the lease term expiring in 2022.

 

  - 21 -  
 

 

In the United Kingdom, the Company leases a facility in Banbury, England, which serves sales, warehousing and operational functions with the lease term ending in March 2021.

 

In addition to the above property leases, the Company also has lease agreements in place for various fleet vehicles and equipment with various lease terms.

 

In the March 31, 2019 condensed consolidated balance sheet, the Company has recorded right-of-use assets of $666,000, and a lease liability of $686,000, of which $322,000 is reported as a current liability. The respective weighted average remaining lease term and discount rate are approximately 2.30 years and 3.81%.

 

As of March 31, 2019, payment of the lease liability over the next five years, which includes the related interest, is as follows:

 

Twelve Months Ending
March 31,
  Lease Liability Payments  
      (in thousands)  
2020   $ 322  
2021     276  
2022     72  
2023     16  
2024      
Thereafter      
         
Total Lease Payments     686  

 

A similar description of the lease obligations for the previous year is disclosed in the Company’s December 31, 2018 Form 10-K.

 

Lease expense for the operating leases was approximately $75,000 for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019. Lease expense is allocated to each portion of the business generally based upon use, with the majority absorbed by manufacturing (cost of goods sold), and the remainder apportioned to selling, administrative and engineering.

 

8. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had authorized 20,000,000 common stock shares with par value of $0.01 per share. At these dates, the number of shares issued was 10,153,633, and the total number of outstanding shares was 10,091,822, with the 61,811 variance representing shares held in Treasury.

 

  - 22 -  
 

 

During 2019 and 2018, upon approval of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) the Company has made regular quarter dividend payments, as set forth in the following table:

 

Dividend Declared   Dividend Paid on or Before
Date   Price Per Share     Date   Amount  
December 13, 2018   $ 0.24     January 3, 2019   $ 2,422,000  
September 11, 2018   $ 0.24     October 2, 2018   $ 2,422,000  
June 6, 2018   $ 0.24     July 3, 2018   $ 2,422,000  
April 10, 2018   $ 0.22     April 30, 2018   $ 2,220,000  
December 13, 2017   $ 0.22     January 3, 2018   $ 2,220,000  

 

The number of shares outstanding during each dividend period was 10,091,822.

 

In addition to the above dividend amounts, there was a dividend that was paid by the Company’s foreign subsidiary during April 2018, which amounted to an outlay of cash of $491,000 to the foreign subsidiary’s noncontrolling interest. It should also be noted that from time to time, the Board may elect to pay special dividends, in addition to or in lieu of the regular quarterly dividends, depending upon the financial condition of the Company.

 

During 2018, the Board approved and granted a total of 2,000 restricted stock unit awards (the “Awards”) to be allocated to the existing non-employee directors of the Company. The Awards must be approved by the shareholders’ of the Company at the annual meeting scheduled for June 11, 2019, or the Awards will be forfeited. A Form S-8 registration statement, and the restricted stock unit award agreements, were filed with the SEC on December 13, 2018. No compensation cost has been recognized related to the Awards through March 31, 2019.

 

On April 4, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized an extension of its stock repurchase program without expiration, up to a maximum amount of $1,000,000. The original program established in December 2007 authorized the purchase of up to $5,000,000 of its common stock. The purchases may be made from time-to-time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, depending on market and business conditions. The Board retained the right to cancel, extend, or expand the share buyback program, at any time and from time-to-time. Since inception, the Company has purchased a total of 61,811 shares for approximately $932,000, or approximately $15 per share. The Company has not made any stock repurchases since 2014.

 

9. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

From time to time the Company may have related party transactions (“RPTs”). In short, RPTs represent any transaction between the Company and any Company employee, director or officer, or any related entity, or relative, etc. The Company performs a review of transactions each year to determine if any RPTs exist. Through this investigation, the Company is currently not aware of any RPTs between the Company and any of its current directors or officers outside the scope of their normal business functions or expected contractual duties. The Company does on occasion share a small amount of services with its former parent Mestek, Inc., mostly related to board meeting expenses. Additionally, the Company is aware of transactions between a few service providers which employ individuals indirectly associated to Omega Flex employees, but these have been determined to be independent transactions with no indication that they are influenced by the related relationships. The Company had note agreement assets with related parties amounting to approximately $5,000 at December 31, 2018, which were contractually secured by the Company. In February 2019, the amounts due from related parties were collected.

 

10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

The Company evaluated all events or transactions that occurred through the date of this filing. During this period, the Company did not have any material subsequent events that impacted its consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

  - 23 -  
 

 

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

 

This report contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to inherent uncertainties. These uncertainties include, but are not limited to, variations in weather, changes in the regulatory environment, customer preferences, general economic conditions, increased competition, the outcome of outstanding litigation, and future developments affecting environmental matters. All of these are difficult to predict, and many are beyond the ability of the Company to control.

 

Certain statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not historical facts, but rather reflect the Company’s current expectations concerning future results and events, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believes”, “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “hopes”, “likely”, “will”, and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to differ materially from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

 

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s view only as of the date of this Form 10-Q. The Company undertakes no obligation to update the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, conditions or circumstances.

 

OVERVIEW

 

The Company is a leading manufacturer of flexible metal hose (also described as corrugated tubing), and is currently engaged in a number of different markets, including construction, manufacturing, transportation, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, healthcare and other industries.

 

The Company’s business is managed as a single operating segment that consists of the manufacture and sale of flexible metal hose, as well as the sale of the Company’s related proprietary fittings and a vast array of accessories. The Company’s products are concentrated in residential and commercial construction, and general industrial markets, with a comprehensive portfolio of intellectual property and patents issued in various countries around the world. The Company’s primary product, flexible gas piping, is used for gas piping within residential and commercial buildings. Through its flexibility and ease of use, the Company’s TracPipe ® and TracPipe ® CounterStrike ® flexible gas piping, along with its fittings distributed under the trademarks AutoSnap ® and AutoFlare ® , allows users to substantially cut the time required to install gas piping, as compared to traditional methods. The Company’s products are manufactured at its Exton, Pennsylvania facilities in the United States, and in Banbury, Oxfordshire in the United Kingdom. Through the use of its broad network of independent outside sales organizations, such as sales representatives, the Company primarily sells its products to distributors, wholesalers and OEM’s, mostly throughout North America, and to a lesser extent in other global markets.

 

  - 24 -  
 

 

CHANGES IN FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

For the period ended March 31, 2019 vs. December 31, 2018

 

The Company’s cash balance of $20,951,000 at March 31, 2019, decreased $11,441,000 (35.3%) from the $32,392,000 balance at December 31, 2018. The Company made a net purchase of investments of $7,816,000 and paid a regular quarterly dividend of $2,422,000 during the first quarter of 2019 which was accrued at December 31, 2018. Additionally, consistent with prior years, the Company paid a significant amount of cash during the first quarter for obligations that were accrued as of the end of the preceding year, such as sales promotional incentive programs and various incentive related compensation. Those cash outflows were partially offset by income generated from operations during 2019.

 

Investments were $22,760,000 and $14,944,000 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, increasing $7,816,000 or 52.3%. During the first quarter 2019, the Company invested excess funds in various liquid interest earning instruments including US Treasury bills. These investments are stated at fair value, which approximates amortized cost, and are classified as available-for-sale in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 320, Investments – Debt and Equity Securities (or “ASC 320”). Maturities, from the date of purchase, were six months or less.

 

Accrued Compensation was $1,296,000 at March 31, 2019, compared to $5,295,000 at December 31, 2018, decreasing $3,999,000 (75.5%). A significant portion of the liability that existed at year end related to incentive compensation earned in 2018. As is customary, the liability was then paid during the first quarter of the following year, or 2019, thus diminishing the balance. The liability now represents amounts earned during the current year.

 

Dividends Payable was $2,422,000 at the end of 2018, reflecting the $0.24 regular quarterly dividend declared by the Board during December 2018. This dividend was then paid to shareholders’ in January of 2019, thus reducing the balance to zero at March 31, 2019. This also reduced the Company’s cash balance, as described above.

 

  - 25 -  
 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Three-months ended March 31, 2019 vs. March 31, 2018

 

The Company reported comparative results from continuing operations for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 as follows:

 

   

Three-months ended March 31,

 
    (in thousands)  
      2019       2019       2018       2018  
    ($000)     %     ($000)     %  
Net Sales   $ 26,788       100.0 %   $ 25,397       100.0 %
Gross Profit   $ 16,946       63.3 %   $ 15,033       59.2 %
Operating Profit   $ 5,591       20.9 %   $ 5,500       21.7 %

 

Net Sales. The Company’s 2019 first quarter sales of $26,788,000 increased $1,391,000 or 5.5% over the first quarter of 2018, which generated sales of $25,397,000. The increase in sales resulted mostly from a combination of increased unit volume, and pricing actions which the Company took to offset material cost pressure and protect margins.

 

Gross Profit. The Company’s gross profit margins were 63.3% and 59.2% for the three-months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

Selling Expenses . Selling expenses consist primarily of employee salaries and associated overhead costs, commissions, and the cost of marketing programs such as advertising, trade shows and related communication costs, and freight. Selling expense was $4,510,000 and $4,414,000 for the three-months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, representing an increase of $96,000 or 2.2%. Selling expenses as a percent of net sales compared to last year, were 16.8% for the three-months ended March 31, 2019, and 17.4% for the three-months ended March 31, 2018, decreasing slightly.

 

General and Administrative Expenses . General and administrative expenses consist primarily of employee salaries, benefits for administrative, executive and finance personnel, legal and accounting, and corporate general and administrative services. General and administrative expenses were $5,504,000 and $4,089,000 for the three-months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, thus increasing by $1,415,000 or 34.6%. The Company experienced a surge in its stock price during the first quarter of 2019, in contrast to a decrease in stock price during the same period in 2018, which increased the phantom stock portion of incentive compensation expense between years, and was a primary factor in an overall $842,000 increase in incentive compensation between periods. The Company also had additional legal and product liability related defense costs in 2019 of $592,000 mostly related to the ongoing class action case which is being rigorously defended. As a percentage of sales, general and administrative expenses increased to 20.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from 16.1% for the three-months ended March 31, 2018.

 

  - 26 -  
 

 

Engineering Expense . Engineering expenses consist of development expenses associated with the development of new products and enhancements to existing products, and manufacturing engineering costs. Engineering expenses were $1,341,000 and $1,030,000 for the three-months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, increasing by $311,000 or 30.2%, partially associated with the progression of the Company’s new MediTrac ® corrugated medical tubing product, as well as other promising applications pertaining to the DoubleTrac ® offerings. Engineering expenses increased as a percentage of sales, being 5.0% for the three-months ended March 31, 2019, and 4.1% for the same period in 2018.

 

Operating Profits . Reflecting all of the factors mentioned above, operating profits were $5,591,000 and $5,500,000 for the quarters ending March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, increasing by $91,000 or 1.7%.

 

Interest Income (Expense)-Net. Interest income is recorded on cash investments, and interest expense is recorded at times when the Company has debt amounts outstanding on its line of credit. The Company recorded $220,000 and $51,000 of interest income during the first quarters of 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

Other Income (Expense)-Net . Other Income (Expense)-net primarily consists of foreign currency exchange gains (losses) on transactions with Omega Flex Limited, our UK subsidiary. There was income of $38,000 recorded during the first quarter 2019, and income of $36,000 during the first quarter of 2018.

 

Income Tax Expense . Income Tax Expense was $1,418,000 for the first three months of 2019, compared to $1,384,000 for the same period in 2018. The $34,000 or 2.5% increase in the tax expense was largely the result of the increase in income before taxes. A lower rate was in effect during the first quarter of both 2019 and 2018 attributable to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted at the end of 2017. The Act reduced the U.S. federal tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective for the Company’s 2018 tax year. The Company’s tax provision also reflects other changes as a result of the Act, including the impact of the Global Intangible Low Taxed Income provisions, and changes effecting the deductibility of certain executive compensation.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND USE OF ESTIMATES

 

Financial Reporting Release No. 60, released by the Securities and Exchange Commission, requires all companies to include a discussion of critical accounting policies or methods used in the preparation of financial statements. Note 2 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include a summary of the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements. The following is a discussion of the Company’s significant accounting policies.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the dates of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. The most significant estimates and assumptions relate to revenue recognition and related sales incentives, accounts receivable valuations, investment valuations, inventory valuations, goodwill valuation, product liability reserve, stock-based compensation valuations and accounting for income taxes. Actual amounts could differ significantly from these estimates.

 

  - 27 -  
 

 

Our critical accounting policies and significant estimates and assumptions are described in more detail as follows:

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the requirements of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) . The standard is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires revenue to be recognized in a manner to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange for those goods or services.

 

The guidance permits two methods of adoption: retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (full retrospective method), or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial application (the modified retrospective approach). The Company selected the modified retrospective approach however there was no material impact which required a cumulative effect adjustment.

 

The principle of Topic 606 was achieved through applying the following five-step approach:

 

  Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer — a contract with a customer exists when the Company enters into an enforceable contract with a customer, typically a purchase order initiated by the customer, that defines each party’s rights regarding the goods to be transferred and identifies the payment terms related to these goods.
     
  Identification of the performance obligations in the contract — performance obligations promised in a contract are identified based on the goods that will be transferred to the customer that are distinct, whereby the customer can benefit from the goods on their own or together with other resources that are readily available from third parties or from us. Persuasive evidence of an arrangement for the sale of product must exist. The Company ships product in accordance with the purchase order and standard terms as reflected within the Company’s order acknowledgments and sales invoices.
     
  Determination of the transaction price —the transaction price is determined based on the consideration to which the Company will be entitled in exchange for transferring goods to the customer. This would be the agreed upon quantity and price per product type in accordance with the customer purchase order, which is aligned with the Company’s internally approved pricing guidelines.

 

  - 28 -  
 

 

  Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract — if the contract contains a single performance obligation, the entire transaction price is allocated to the single performance obligation. This applies to the Company as there is only one performance obligation to ship the goods.
     
  Recognition of revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies a performance obligation — the Company satisfies performance obligations at a point in time when control of the goods transfers to the customer. Determining the point in time when control transfers requires judgment. Indicators considered in determining whether the customer has obtained control of a good include:

 

  The Company has a present right to payment
     
  The customer has legal title to the goods
     
  The Company has transferred physical possession of the goods
     
  The customer has the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods
     
  The customer has accepted the goods

 

It is important to note that the indicators are not a set of conditions that must be met before the Company can conclude that control of the goods has transferred to the customer. The indicators are a list of factors that are often present if a customer has control of the goods.

 

The Company has typical, unmodified FOB shipping point terms. As the seller, the Company can determine that the shipped goods meet the agreed-upon specifications in the contract or customer purchase order (e.g. items, quantities, and prices) with the buyer, so customer acceptance would be deemed a formality, as noted in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606-10-55-86. As a result, the Company has a legal right to payment upon shipment of the goods.

 

Based upon the above, the Company has concluded that control substantively transfers to the customer upon shipment.

 

Other considerations of Topic 606 include the following:

 

  Contract Costs - costs to obtain a contract (e.g. customer purchase order) include sales commissions. Under Topic 606, these costs may be expensed as incurred for contracts with a duration of one year or less. The majority of the customer purchase orders are fulfilled (e.g. goods are shipped) within two days of receipt.
     
  Warranties - the Company does not offer customers to purchase a warranty separately. Therefore there is not a separate performance obligation. The Company does account for warranties as a cost accrual and the warranties do not include any additional distinct services other than the assurance that the goods comply with agreed-upon specifications. There is no impact of warranties under Topic 606 upon the financial reporting of the Company.
     
  Returned Goods - from time to time, the Company provides authorization to customers to return goods. If deemed to be material, the Company would record a “right of return” asset for the cost of the returned goods which would reduce cost of sales. Upon implementation of Topic 606, the Company will monitor pending authorized returns of goods and, if deemed appropriate, record the right of return asset accordingly.

 

  - 29 -  
 

 

  Volume Rebates (Promotional Incentives) - volume rebates are variable (dependent upon the volume of goods purchased by our eligible customers) and, under Topic 606, must be estimated and recognized as a reduction of revenue as performance obligations are satisfied (e.g. upon shipment of goods). Also under Topic 606, to ensure that revenue recognized would not be probable of a significant reversal, the four following factors are considered:

 

  The amount of consideration is highly susceptible to factors outside the company’s influence.
     
  The uncertainty about the amount of consideration is not expected to be resolved for a long period of time.
     
  The Company’s experience with similar types of contracts is limited.
     
  The contract has a large number and broad range of possible consideration amounts.

 

If it was concluded that the above factors were in place for the Company, it would support the probability of a significant reversal of revenue. However, as none of the four factors apply to the Company, promotional incentives are recorded as a reduction of revenue based upon estimates of the products expected to be sold.

 

Regarding disaggregated revenue disclosures, as previously noted, the Company’s business is controlled as a single operating segment that consists of the manufacture and sale of flexible metal hose. Most of the Company’s transactions are very similar in nature, contract, terms, timing, and transfer of control of goods. As indicated within Note 2, under the caption “Significant Concentration”, the majority of the Company’s sales were geographically contained within North America, with the remainder scattered internationally. All performance assessments and resource allocations are generally based upon the review of the results of the Company as a whole.

 

Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents include investments in an institutional money market fund, which invests in U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and/or repurchase agreements, backed by such obligations. Carrying value approximates fair value. Cash and cash equivalents are deposited at various area banks, which at times may exceed federally insured limits. The Company monitors the viability of the banking institutions carrying its assets on a regular basis, and has the ability to transfer cash to various institutions during times of risk. The Company has not experienced any losses related to these cash balances, and believes its credit risk to be minimal.

 

  - 30 -  
 

 

Accounts Receivable and Provision for Doubtful Accounts

 

Accounts receivable are reduced by an allowance for amounts that may become uncollectible in the future. The estimated allowance for uncollectible amounts is based primarily on specific analysis of accounts in the receivable portfolio and historical write-off experience. While management believes the allowance to be adequate, if the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in their inability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

 

The allowance for doubtful accounts reflects the Company’s best estimate of probable losses inherent in the accounts receivable balance. The Company determines the allowance based on any known collection issues, historical experience, and other currently available evidence. The reserve for future credits, discounts, and doubtful accounts was $975,000 and $985,000 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. In regards to identifying uncollectible accounts, the Company reviews an aging report on a consistent basis to determine past due accounts, and utilizes a well-established credit rating agency. The Company charges off those accounts that are deemed uncollectible once all collection efforts have been exhausted.

 

Investments

 

The Company invests excess funds in liquid interest earning instruments including US Treasury bills and bank time deposits. These investments are stated at fair value, which approximates amortized cost, and are classified as available-for-sale in accordance with ASC 320, Investments – Debt and Equity Securities . Investments were $22,760,000 and $14,944,000 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Maturities, from the date of purchase, were six months or less.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The cost of inventories is determined by the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The Company generally considers inventory quantities beyond two-years usage, measured on a historical usage basis, to be excess inventory and reduces the carrying value of inventory accordingly.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are initially recorded at cost. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets or, for leasehold improvements, the life of the lease, if shorter. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in other income or expense for the period. The cost of maintenance and repairs is expensed as incurred; significant improvements are capitalized.

 

Goodwill

 

In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other , the Company performed an annual impairment test in accordance with this guidance as of December 31, 2018. This analysis did not indicate any impairment of goodwill. There were no circumstances that indicate that goodwill might be impaired at March 31, 2018.

 

  - 31 -  
 

 

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

 

In 2006, the Company adopted a Phantom Stock Plan (the “Plan”), which allows the Company to grant phantom stock units (“Units”) to certain key employees, officers or directors. The Units each represent a contractual right to payment of compensation in the future based upon the market value of the Company’s common stock. The Units follow a vesting schedule of three years from the grant date, and are then paid upon maturity. In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation , the Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model as its method for determining the fair value of the Units. Further details of the Plan are provided in Note 6.

 

Product Liability Reserves

 

Product liability reserves represent the estimated unpaid amounts under the Company’s insurance policies with respect to existing claims. The Company uses the most current available data to estimate claims. As explained more fully under Note 5, Commitments and Contingencies, for various product liability claims covered under the Company’s general liability insurance policies, the Company must pay certain defense and settlement costs within its deductible or self-insured retention limits, ranging primarily from $25,000 to $1,000,000 per claim, depending on the terms of the policy in the applicable policy year, up to an aggregate amount. The Company is vigorously defending against all known claims.

 

Leases

 

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the requirements of FASB ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) which defines a lease as any contract that conveys the right to use a specific asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Leases are classified as a finance lease, formerly called a capital lease, if any of the following criteria are met:

 

  1. The lease transfers ownership of the underlying asset to the lessee by the end of the lease term.
     
  2. The lease grants the lessee an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise.
     
  3. The lease term is for the major part of the remaining economic life of the underlying asset.
     
  4. The present value of the sum of lease payments and any residual value guaranteed by the lessee equals or exceeds substantially all of the fair value of the underlying asset.
     
  5. The underlying asset is of such a specialized nature that it is expected to have no alternative use to the lessor at the end of the lease term.

 

For any leases that do not meet the criteria identified above for finance leases, the Company treats such leases as operating leases. As of March 31, 2019, each of the Company’s leases are classified as operating leases.

 

  - 32 -  
 

 

Under the new guidance, both finance and operating leases are reflected on the balance sheet as lease or “right-of-use” assets and lease liabilities. It should be noted that under previous guidance operating leases (non-capital leases) were not required to be recorded as an asset on the balance sheet.

 

There are some exceptions, which the Company has elected in its accounting policies. For leases with terms of twelve months or less, or below the Company’s general capitalization policy threshold, the Company elects an accounting policy to not recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for all asset classes. The Company recognizes lease expense for such leases generally on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

 

The Company determines if a contract is a lease at the inception of the arrangement. The Company reviews all options to extend, terminate, or purchase its right-of-use assets at the inception of the lease and accounts for these options when they are reasonably certain to be exercised. Certain leases contain non-lease components, such as common area maintenance, which are generally accounted for separately. In general, the Company will assess if non-lease components are fixed and determinable, or variable, when determining if the component should be included in the lease liability. For purposes of calculating the present value of the lease obligations, the Company utilizes the implicit interest rate within the lease agreement when known and/or determinable, and otherwise utilizes its incremental borrowing rate at the time of the lease agreement.

 

As permitted under ASU 2018-11, the Company elected the optional transition method to adopt the new leases standard. Under this new transition method, the Company initially applied the new leases standard at the adoption date of January 1, 2019 and would have recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment, if appropriate, to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. No cumulative-effect adjustment was recognized. The Company’s reporting for the comparative periods prior to 2019 in the financial statements will be presented in accordance with existing GAAP in effect for 2018 and earlier (ASC Topic 840, Leases ).

 

The impact of the adoption of this new standard resulted in an increase to the Company’s operating lease assets and liabilities on January 1, 2019 of approximately $800,000. The implementation did not have a material impact on our consolidated statements of income and statements of cash flows.

 

Fair Value of Financial and Nonfinancial Instruments

 

The Company measures financial instruments in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures . The accounting standard defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP, and enhances disclosures about fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The standard creates a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels as follows: Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The Company relies upon Level 1 inputs in determining the fair value of investments and the fair value of the Company’s reporting unit in its annual impairment test as described in the FASB ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other .

 

  - 33 -  
 

 

Earnings per Common Share

 

Basic earnings per share have been computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. For the periods presented, there are no dilutive securities. Consequently, basic and dilutive earnings per share are the same.

 

Currency Translation

 

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, most of which relate to the Company’s United Kingdom subsidiary whose functional currency is British pound sterling, are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates prevailing on the balance sheet dates. The statements of income are translated into U.S. dollars at average exchange rates for the period. Adjustments resulting from the translation of financial statements are excluded from the determination of income and are accumulated in a separate component of shareholders’ equity. Exchange gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the statements of income (other expense) in the period in which they occur.

 

Income Taxes

 

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

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that these items will either expire before the Company is able to realize the benefit, or that future deductibility is uncertain.

 

The FASB ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes , clarifies the criteria that an individual tax position must satisfy for some or all of the benefits of that position to be recognized in a company’s financial statements. This guidance prescribes a recognition threshold of more-likely than-not, and a measurement attribute for all tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return, in order for those tax positions to be recognized in the financial statements.

 

  - 34 -  
 

 

The Company follows the provisions of ASC 740-10 relative to accounting for uncertainties in tax positions. These provisions provide guidance on the recognition, de-recognition and measurement of potential tax benefits associated with tax positions.

 

The Company reflected the effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) in its financial statements during the 2017 enactment period. This included the effects of the change in the US Corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% on deferred tax assets and liabilities, and a provision related to previously deferred taxes on earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiary. The Company’s tax expense for the periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 included the continuing effect of the reduction in the U.S. federal tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective for those respective tax years. The Company’s tax provision also reflects other changes as a result of the Act, including the impact of the Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (“GILTI”) provisions, and changes effecting the deductibility of certain executive compensation.

 

Other Comprehensive Income

 

For the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, the components of other comprehensive income consisted solely of foreign currency translation adjustments.

 

Significant Concentration

 

The Company has one significant customer which represented more than 10% of the Company’s Accounts Receivable at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. That same customer represented more than 10% of the Company’s total Net Sales for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018. Geographically, the Company has a significant amount of sales in the United States versus internationally. These concentrations are consistent with those discussed in detail in the Company’s December 31, 2018 Form 10-K.

 

Subsequent Events

 

The Company evaluates all events or transactions through the date of the related filing that may have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements. Refer to Note 10 of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In January 2017, the FASB amended ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (issued under ASU 2017-04, “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment”). This amendment simplifies the test for goodwill impairment by only requiring an entity to perform an annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognize an impairment charge for the amount that the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. Any loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The amendment requires adoption on January 1, 2020. The Company does not expect that the adoption of ASU 2017-04 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

  - 35 -  
 

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

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

 

As of March 31, 2019, the Company had a cash balance of $20,951,000. Additionally, the Company has a $15,000,000 line of credit available, as discussed in detail in Note 4, which had no borrowings outstanding upon it at March 31, 2019. At December 31, 2018, the Company had a cash balance of $32,392,000, with no borrowings against the line of credit.

 

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

 

Operating Activities

 

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

 

For the first three months of 2019, the Company’s operating activities used cash of $956,000, compared to the first quarter of 2018 which used cash of $107,000, a difference of $849,000. For details of the operating cash flows refer to the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows in Part I – Financial Information on page seven.

 

Investing Activities

 

Cash used in investing activities during the first three months of 2019 and 2018 was $8,115,000 and $397,000, respectively. During 2019, cash was used to purchase short-term investments of $22,816,000, which was partially offset by cash received from net proceeds from the sale of short-term investments of $15,000,000. There were also capital expenditures during 2019 amounting to $299,000. All of the investing activities during the first quarter of 2018 were capital in nature. The capital spending during both 2019 and 2018 related to various projects, with prominent spending designated for the new MediTrac products.

 

Financing Activities

 

A dividend was declared in both December of 2018 and 2017, amounting to $2,422,000 and $2,220,000 respectively, with payment due and paid during January of the following year.

 

CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND GUARANTEES

 

See Note 5 to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

  - 36 -  
 

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

None

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Information about Market Risks

 

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

 

Item 4 – Controls and Procedures

 

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

 

At the end of the fiscal first quarter of 2019, the Company evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the Company records, processes, summarizes and reports in a timely manner the information required to be disclosed in the periodic reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company’s management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, have conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures as defined in the Rule 13a-15(e) of Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on that evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that, as of the date of this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance of achieving the purposes described in Rule 13a-15(e), and no changes are required at this time.

 

(b) Changes in Internal Controls.

 

There was no change in the Company’s “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in rule 13a-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rule 13a-15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that occurred during the three-month period covered by this Report on Form 10-Q that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting subsequent to the date the chief executive officer and chief financial officer completed their evaluation.

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1 – Legal Proceedings

 

In the ordinary and normal conduct of the Company’s business, it is subject to periodic lawsuits, investigations and claims (collectively, the “Claims”). Most of the Claims, including a putative class-action claim, relate to potential lightning damage to our flexible gas piping products, which impact legal and product liability related expenses. The Company does not believe the Claims have legal merit, and therefore has commenced a vigorous defense in response to the Claims. It is possible that the Company may incur increased litigation costs in the future due to a variety of factors, including a higher number of Claims, higher legal costs, and higher insurance deductibles or retentions.

 

  - 37 -  
 

 

In 2010, the Company took its first Claim to trial in Pennsylvania, and the jury returned a verdict that the Company was not negligent in designing and selling the TracPipe ® product, but also returned a verdict for plaintiff on strict liability. The Company appealed that portion of the verdict, and in December 2014, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled in favor of the Company, and returned the case to the trial court for further hearings. The cash bond of $1,600,000, which was previously included in Other Long Term Assets and posted as security for a subsequent appeal, was returned to the Company in May 2018. This case was finally settled and closed on August 7, 2018.

 

In March 2017, a putative class action case was re-filed against the Company and other parties in Missouri state court after the predecessor case was dismissed without prejudice by the federal court. The Company successfully removed the case to federal court and is currently vigorously defending the case.

 

The Company has in place commercial general liability insurance policies that cover most Claims, which are subject to deductibles or retentions, ranging primarily from $25,000 to $1,000,000 per claim (depending on the terms of the policy and the applicable policy year), up to an aggregate amount. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties and management is unable to predict the outcome of the pending suits and claims. The potential liability for a given claim could range from zero to a maximum of $1,000,000, depending upon the circumstances, and insurance deductible or retention in place for the respective claim year. The aggregate maximum exposure for all current open Claims as of March 31, 2019 is estimated to not exceed approximately $2,400,000, which represents the potential costs that may be incurred over time for the Claims within the applicable insurance policy deductibles or retentions. From time to time, depending upon the nature of a particular case, the Company may decide to spend in excess of a deductible or retention to enable more discretion regarding the defense, although this is not common. It is possible that the results of operations or liquidity of the Company, as well as the Company’s ability to procure reasonably priced insurance, could be adversely affected by the pending litigation, potentially materially. The Company is currently unable to estimate the ultimate liability, if any, that may result from the pending litigation, or potential litigation from future claims or claims that have not yet come to our attention, and accordingly, the liability in the consolidated financial statements primarily represents an accrual for legal costs for services previously rendered, and outstanding or anticipated settlements for Claims. The liabilities recorded on the Company’s books at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 were $180,000 and $150,000, respectively, and are included in Other Liabilities.

 

Item 1A – Risk Factors

 

Risk factors are discussed in detail in the Company’s December 31, 2018 Form 10-K. There are no additional risks attributable to the quarter.

 

  - 38 -  
 

 

Item 2 – Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

None.

 

Item 3 – Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

Item 4 – Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 5 – Other Information

 

None.

 

Item 6 - Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Description
     
10.1   Form of Indemnification Agreement
     
31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Omega Flex, Inc. pursuant to Rule 15d-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
     
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Omega Flex, Inc. pursuant to 15d-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
     
32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Omega Flex, Inc., pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

  - 39 -  
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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.

 

  OMEGA FLEX, INC.
  (Registrant)
     
Date: May 6, 2019 By: /S/ Paul J. Kane
    Paul J. Kane
    Vice President – Finance
    and Chief Financial Officer

 

  - 40 -  
 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of _________________, 20___, by and between Omega Flex, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the “ Company ”), and ____________________________________________ (the “ Indemnitee ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , the Company desires to attract and retain the services of highly qualified individuals, such as Indemnitee, to serve the Company;

 

WHEREAS , in order to induce Indemnitee to continue to provide services to the Company, the Company wishes to provide for the indemnification of, and advancement of expenses to, Indemnitee to the maximum extent permitted by law;

 

WHEREAS , the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the “ Charter ”) and its Bylaws (the “ Bylaws ”) permit indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company, and Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the Business Corporation Law of 1988 (15 Pa. C.S. §§ 1101 et seq.) (the “ BCL ”);

 

WHEREAS , the Charter, the Bylaws and the BCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

 

WHEREAS , the Company and Indemnitee are aware of the exposure to litigation and claims of officers, directors and employees of corporations as such persons exercise their duties;

 

WHEREAS , the Company desires to continue to benefit from the services of highly qualified and experienced persons such as Indemnitee;

 

WHEREAS , Indemnitee desires to serve or continue to serve the Company as a director or officer for so long as the Company continues to provide on an acceptable basis indemnification against certain liabilities and expenses which may be incurred by Indemnitee;

 

WHEREAS , it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, regardless of any amendment or revocation of the Charter or Bylaws, so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified; and

 

WHEREAS , this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the indemnification provided in the Charter, the Bylaws and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

     

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1. Service to the Company . Indemnitee agrees to serve as a [director][officer] of the Company. This Agreement shall not be deemed either as (a) an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee, nor (b) an agreement to by the Company for Indemnitee to continue to serve as a director of the Company. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by law). The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a [director][officer] of the Company.

 

Section 2. Definitions . As used in this Agreement:

 

(a) “ Corporate Status ” describes the status of a person as a current or former director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

(b) “ Pennsylvania Court ” means the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

 

(c) “ Enforcement Expenses ” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with an action to enforce indemnification or advancement rights, or an appeal from such action, including, without limitation, the premium, security for and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedes bond or other appeal bond or its equivalent.

 

(d) “ Enterprise ” shall mean any corporation (other than the Company), partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other legal entity of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee.

 

(e) “ Expenses ” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding or an appeal resulting from a Proceeding, including, without limitation, the premium, security for and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedes bond or other appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

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(f) “ Independent Counsel ” means a law firm, or a partner (or, if applicable, member) of such a law firm, that is experienced in matters of Pennsylvania corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company, any Enterprise or Indemnitee in any matter material to any such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “ Independent Counsel ” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(g) The term “ Proceeding ” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a [director][officer] of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of any Enterprise, or by reason of any action taken by him or her or of any action taken on his or her part while acting as [director][officer] of the Company, or while serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of any Enterprise, and in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement; provided , however , that the term “ Proceeding ” shall not include any action, suit or arbitration, or part thereof, initiated by Indemnitee to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement as provided for in Section 13(e) of this Agreement.

 

Section 3. Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings . The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. Indemnitee shall not enter into (and shall not be entitled to indemnification for) any settlement in connection with a Proceeding without the prior written consent of the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), and the Company may settle a Proceeding on behalf of Indemnitee, but only with the prior written consent of Indemnitee (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), except that Indemnitee’s consent to a settlement shall not be required if the sole relief provided is monetary damages that are paid by the Company and such settlement would not result in (i) the imposition of a consent order, injunction or decree that would restrict the future activity or conduct of Indemnitee, (ii) a finding or admission of a violation of law or violation of the rights of any person by Indemnitee, (iii) a finding or admission that would have an adverse effect on other claims made or threatened against Indemnitee, or (iv) any monetary liability of Indemnitee that will not be promptly paid or reimbursed by the Company.

 

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Section 4. Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company . The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Pennsylvania Court or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such expenses as the Pennsylvania Court or such other court shall deem proper.

 

Section 5. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement and except as provided in Section 8, to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to or a participant in and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

Section 6. Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party and is not threatened to be made a party, he or she shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection therewith.

 

Section 7. Additional Indemnification .

 

(a) Except as provided in Section 8, notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4 or 5, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law if Indemnitee is a party to or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding.

 

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(b) For purposes of Section 7(a), the meaning of the phrase “ to the fullest extent permitted by law ” shall include, but not be limited to:

 

(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the BCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the BCL or such provision thereof; and

 

(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the BCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

Section 8. Exclusions . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement:

 

(a) subject to Section 14(c) to make any indemnity for amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such amounts under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise;

 

(b) to make any indemnity or advancement for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law, or any related Expenses;

 

(c) to make any indemnity or advancement that is prohibited by applicable law;

 

(d) to make any indemnity or advancement for claims initiated or brought by Indemnitee (including in defending any affirmative defenses or counterclaims brought or made in connection with a claim initiated by Indemnitee) or any related Expenses, except (i) with respect to proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to receive Enforcement Expenses or indemnification under this Agreement or any other agreement or insurance policy or under the Charter or Bylaws now or hereafter in effect relating to indemnification or advancement (which shall be governed by Section 13(e) of this Agreement), (ii) if the Board of Directors of the Company has approved the initiation or bringing of such claim, or (iii) as otherwise required under Pennsylvania law. For the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of (a) having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or (b) having made any mandatory counterclaim in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee; or

 

(e) to make any indemnity in respect of any issue or matter (or any related Expenses) as to which Indemnitee (i) did not act in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, or (ii) in the case of a criminal proceeding had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

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Section 9. Advances of Expenses . The Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made within twenty (20) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances (which shall include invoices received by Indemnitee in connection with such Expenses but, in the case of invoices in connection with legal services, any references to legal work performed or to expenditures made that would cause Indemnitee to waive any privilege accorded by applicable law shall not be included with the invoice) from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement which shall constitute an undertaking providing that Indemnitee undertakes to the fullest extent required by law to repay the advance if and to the extent that it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment, not subject to appeal, that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Subject to the receipt of such undertaking from the Indemnitee, Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. The right to advances under this paragraph shall in all events continue until final disposition of any Proceeding, including any appeal therein. Nothing in this Section 9 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section 13(e) of this Agreement.

 

Section 10. Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim .

 

(a) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request therefor and, if Indemnitee so chooses pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement, such written request shall also include a request for Indemnitee to have the right to indemnification determined by Independent Counsel.

 

(b) The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

 

Section 11. Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

 

(a) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a), a determination, if such determination is required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case: (i) by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors of the Company if Indemnitee so requests in such written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a), or (ii) by the Company in accordance with applicable law if Indemnitee does not so request such determination be made by Independent Counsel. In the case that such determination is made by Independent Counsel, a copy of Independent Counsel’s written opinion shall be delivered to Indemnitee and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the Independent Counsel or the Company, as applicable, making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such counsel or the Company, upon reasonable advance request, any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the Independent Counsel or the Company shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

 

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(b) In the event that Indemnitee exercises his or her right to have his or her entitlement to indemnification determined by Independent Counsel pursuant to Sections 10(a) and 11(a)(i), the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee. The Company may, within ten (10) days after written notice of such selection, deliver to Indemnitee a written objection to such selection; provided , however , that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after the later of (i) submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification and Independent Counsel pursuant to Sections 10(a) and 11(a)(i) hereof, respectively, and (ii) the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected without objection, Indemnitee may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company to the selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate. The person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 11(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 13(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

Section 12. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

 

(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, it shall be presumed that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 10(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither (i) the failure of the Company or of Independent Counsel to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor (ii) an actual determination by the Company or by Independent Counsel that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of guilty, nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

(c) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, agent or employee of the Company or any Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

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Section 13. Remedies of Indemnitee .

 

(a) Subject to Section 13(f), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification that does not include a request for Independent Counsel, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5 or 6 or the last sentence of Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor or (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 7 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his or her option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 13(a); provided , however , that the foregoing time limitation shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his or her rights under Section 5 of this Agreement. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or arbitration.

 

(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13, the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement, as the case may be.

 

(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13, absent a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification.

 

(d) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(e) The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Enforcement Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such Enforcement Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or insurance recovery, as the case may be, in the suit for which indemnification or advancement is being sought, provided that Indemnitee shall not be entitled to be so indemnified and shall repay any such advances if it is judicially determined that such action was not brought or maintained by Indemnitee in good faith.

 

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(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein.

 

Section 14. Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation .

 

(a) The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Charter, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Pennsylvania law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement than would be afforded currently under the Charter, Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors or officers of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for similarly classified directors or officers under such policy or policies. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(c) In the event of any payment of advancement or indemnification under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of contribution or recovery of Indemnitee against other persons, and Indemnitee shall take, at the request of the Company, all reasonable action necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

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(d) The Company’s obligation to provide indemnification or advancement hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of any other Enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement from such other Enterprise.

 

Section 15. Duration of Agreement . This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a [director][officer] of the Company or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13 of this Agreement relating thereto. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his or her heirs, executors and administrators. The Company shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

Section 16. Severability . If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

Section 17. Enforcement .

 

(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as a [director][officer] of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a [director][officer] of the Company.

 

(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided , however , that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Charter, the Bylaws and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

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Section 18. Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification or amendment, or waiver of any provision, of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

Section 19. Notice by Indemnitee . Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement as provided hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

Section 20. Notices . All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

 

If to Indemnitee, at such address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

If to the Company to:
Omega Flex, Inc.
213 Court Street, S. 1001
Middletown, CT 06457
Attention: President
Fax: 860-704-6830

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

Section 21. Contribution . To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any Proceeding in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee in connection with the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving rise to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transactions.

 

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Section 22. Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction . This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Pennsylvania Court, and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America, or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) consent to service of process at the address set forth in Section 20 of this Agreement with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, (iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Pennsylvania Court and (v) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Pennsylvania Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 23. Identical Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

Section 24. Prior Agreements; Integration . This Agreement contains all of the understandings and agreements between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof. All prior agreements between the Company and Indemnitee regarding the subject matter hereof shall be deemed to have been replaced and superseded by this Agreement as of the date hereof. This Agreement may not be changed, altered or modified except as expressly agreed by the parties and contained in a written document signed by each of the parties.

 

Section 25. Miscellaneous . The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

  OMEGA FLEX, INC.
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  INDEMNITEE
     
   
  [Name]            

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 31.1

 

Certification by the Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

I, Kevin R. Hoben, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2019, of Omega Flex, Inc. (the “registrant”);

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: May 6, 2019  
   
/s/ Kevin R. Hoben  
Kevin R. Hoben  
Chief Executive Officer  

 

   
     

 

EXHIBIT 31.2

 

Certification by the Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

I, Paul J. Kane, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2019, of Omega Flex, Inc. (the “registrant”);

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: May 6, 2019  
   
/s/ Paul J. Kane  
Paul J. Kane  
Chief Financial Officer  

 

   
     

 

 

EXHIBIT 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

Each of the undersigned hereby certifies, for the purposes of 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, in his capacity as an officer of Omega Flex, Inc. (the “Company”), that, to his knowledge:

 

(a) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

(b) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Dated: May 6, 2019  
   
/s/ Kevin R. Hoben  
   
Kevin R. Hoben  
Chief Executive Officer  
   
/s/ Paul J. Kane  
   
Paul J. Kane  
Chief Financial Officer  

 

This certification is not deemed to be “filed” for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. This certification is not deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference.