UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

 

ý Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016

 

or

 

o Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Commission File No. 000-19621

 

APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Minnesota

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

41-1454591

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

     

175 Jackson Avenue North Suite 102, Minneapolis, Minnesota

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

55343-4565

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  952-930-9000

 

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

 

Common Stock, without par value

Title of each class

 

NASDAQ Capital Market

Name of each exchange on which registered

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. o Yes ý No

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. o Yes ý No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ý Yes o No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such file). ý Yes o No

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer o

Non-accelerated filer o

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

  Smaller reporting company x

 

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

 

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the closing price of $1.21 per share, as of July 2, 2016 (the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was $6.6 million.

 

As of March 31, 2017, there were outstanding 6,655,365 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, without par value.

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for its 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

    Page  
       
    PART I        
             
Item 1.   Business     1  
    General     1  
    Industry Background     1  
    Company Background     2  
    Customers and Source of Supply     4  
    Company Operations     5  
    Principal Products and Services     6  
    Sales and Marketing     6  
    Seasonality     6  
    Competition     7  
    Government Regulation     7  
    Employees     8  
Item 1A.   Risk Factors     8  
Item 2.   Properties     17  
Item 3.   Legal Proceedings     17  
Item 4.   Mine Safety Disclosures     18  
             
    PART II        
             
Item 5.   Market for Our Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities     19  
Item 6.   Selected Financial Data     19  
Item 7.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     19  
Item 7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk     27  
Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data     27  
Item 9.   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure     50  
Item 9A.   Controls and Procedures     50  
Item 9B.   Other Information     50  
             
    PART III        
             
Item 10.   Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance     51  
Item 11.   Executive Compensation     51  
Item 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters     51  
Item 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence     51  
Item 14.   Principal Accounting Fees and Services     51  
             
    PART IV        
             
Item 15.   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules     52  
             
Signatures     53  
Index to Exhibits     54  

 

 

 

 

  i  

 

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

 

General

 

Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. and Subsidiaries (“we,” the “Company” or “ARCA”) are in the business of selling and recycling major household appliances in North America. We sell new major household appliances in the United States though our chain of eighteen Company-owned retail stores operating under the name ApplianceSmart ® . We also provide turnkey appliance recycling and replacement services for utilities and other sponsors of energy efficiency programs through our subsidiaries ARCA Recycling, Inc. and ARCA Canada Inc.  In addition, we have a 50% interest in a joint venture, ARCA Advanced Processing, LLC (“AAP”), which recycles in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.

 

As a leading retailer and recycler of major household appliances, we generate revenues from:

 

1. Retail sales of appliances at our ApplianceSmart stores.
   
2. Fees charged for collecting and recycling appliances for utilities and other sponsors of energy efficiency programs.
   
3. Fees charged for recycling and replacing old appliances with new ENERGY STAR ® appliances for energy efficiency programs sponsored by electric and gas utilities.
   
4. Sale of byproduct materials, such as metals, from appliances we recycle, including appliances processed at our joint venture, AAP, and collected through our ApplianceSmart stores.
   
5. Sale of carbon offsets created by the destruction of ozone-depleting refrigerants acquired through various recycling programs.

 

We were incorporated in Minnesota in 1983, although through our predecessors we began our appliance retail and recycling business in 1976. Our principal office is located at 175 Jackson Avenue North, Suite 102, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55343-4565. References herein to our Company include our operating subsidiaries. (See “Exhibits.”)

 

Industry Background

 

In the United States, more than 850 million major household appliances are currently in use. These appliances include:

 

Refrigerators   Clothes washers
Freezers   Clothes dryers
Ranges/ovens   Room air conditioners
Dishwashers   Dehumidifiers
Microwave ovens   Humidifiers

 

Improper disposal of old appliances threatens air, ground and water resources because many types of major appliances contain substances that can damage the environment. These harmful materials include:

 

1. Polychlorinated biphenyls (“PCBs”), which have toxic effects on humans and animals. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) banned production of PCBs in 1979, it allowed manufacturers to use their remaining inventories of PCB-containing components. Consequently, some old room air conditioners and microwave ovens have capacitors that contain PCBs, which can contaminate groundwater when released.
   
2. Mercury, which easily enters the body through absorption, inhalation or ingestion, potentially causing neurological damage. Mercury-containing components may be found in freezers, washers and ranges.
   
3. Chlorofluorocarbon ("CFC"), hydrochlorofluorocarbon, and hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants (collectively, “Refrigerants”), which cause long-term damage to the earth’s ozone layer and may contribute to global climate change.  Refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners and dehumidifiers commonly contain Refrigerants.
   
4. CFCs having a very high ozone-depletion potential that may also be used as blowing agents in the polyurethane foam insulation of refrigerators and freezers.
   
5. Other materials, such as oil, that are harmful when released into the environment.

 

The U.S. federal government requires the recovery of Refrigerants upon appliance disposal and also regulates the management of hazardous materials found in appliances. Most state and local governments have also enacted laws affecting how their residents dispose of unwanted appliances. For example, many areas restrict landfills and scrap metal processors from accepting appliances unless the units have been processed to remove environmentally harmful materials.  As a result, old appliances usually cannot be discarded directly through ordinary solid waste systems.

 

 

 

  1  

 

 

In addition to these solid waste management and environmental issues, energy conservation is another compelling reason for proper disposal of old appliances. The U.S. Department of Energy’s updated appliance energy efficiency standards that took effect in September 2014 require new refrigerators to be 25 to 30 percent more efficient than those manufactured only one year earlier. Refrigerators manufactured today use about one-fifth as much electricity as units made in the mid-1970s.

 

While new refrigerators can save a significant amount of energy in the home, more than 25 percent of all U.S. households have a second refrigerator in the basement or garage. These units are typically 15-25 years old and consume about 750 to 1500 kilowatt-hours per year, driving electric bills up by more than $150 annually per household.

 

Utilities have become important participants in dealing with energy inefficient appliances as a way of reducing peak demand on their systems and avoiding the capital and environmental costs of adding new generating capacity. To encourage the permanent removal of energy inefficient appliances from use, many electric utility companies sponsor programs through which their residential customers can retire working refrigerators, freezers and room air conditioners.  Utility companies often provide assistance and incentives for consumers to discontinue use of a surplus appliance or to replace their old, inefficient appliances with newer, more efficient models. To help accomplish this, some utilities offer appliance replacement programs for some segments of their customers, through which older model kitchen and laundry appliances are recycled and new highly efficient ENERGY STAR ®  units are installed.

 

The EPA has been supportive of efforts by electric utilities and other entities that sponsor appliance recycling programs to ensure that the collected units are managed in an environmentally sound manner. In October 2006, the EPA launched the Responsible Appliance Disposal (“RAD”) Program, a voluntary partnership program designed to help protect the ozone layer and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Through the program, RAD partners use best practices to recover ozone-depleting chemicals and other harmful materials from old refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners and dehumidifiers. In 2010, ApplianceSmart became the first independent retailer in the country to become a RAD partner. Because of our appliance recycling expertise, we were active participants in helping to design the RAD program and currently submit annual reports to the EPA to document the environmental benefits of our utility customers that are RAD partners have achieved through their recycling programs.

 

Company Background

 

We started our business in 1976 as a used appliance retailer that reconditioned old appliances to sell in our stores.  Under contracts with national and regional retailers of new appliances, such as Sears and Montgomery Ward, we collected the replaced appliance from the retailer's customer’s residence when one of their stores delivered a new appliance in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Miami or Atlanta market. Any old appliances that we could not sell in our stores were sold to scrap metal processors.

 

In the late 1980s, stricter environmental regulations began to affect the disposal of unwanted appliances, and we were no longer able to take appliances that contained hazardous components to a scrap metal processor. At that time, we began to develop systems and equipment to remove the harmful materials so that metal processors would accept the appliance shells for processing. We then offered our services for disposing of appliances in an environmentally sound manner to appliance manufacturers and retailers, waste hauling companies, rental property managers, local governments and the public.

 

Appliance Recycling for Energy Efficiency Programs

 

In 1989, we began contracting with electric utility companies to provide turnkey appliance recycling services to support their energy conservation efforts. Since that time, we have provided our services to more than 288 utilities throughout North America.

 

We currently have contracts to recycle, or to replace and recycle, appliances for approximately 168 utilities across North America.

 

In the past several years, we have seen continued interest from sponsors of energy efficiency initiatives that recognize the effectiveness of recycling and replacing energy inefficient appliances.  We are aggressively pursuing electric and gas utilities, public housing authorities and energy efficiency management companies going forward and expect that we will continue to submit proposals for various new appliance recycling and replacement programs accordingly. However, for a variety of reasons, we still have a limited ability to project revenues from utility programs.  We cannot predict recycling volumes or if we will be successful in obtaining new contracts in 2017.

 

 

 

  2  

 

 

ApplianceSmart

 

ApplianceSmart operates eighteen stores: six in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market; one in Rochester, Minn.; one in St. Cloud, Minn.; four in the Columbus, Ohio market; four in the Atlanta, Georgia market; and two in the San Antonio, Texas market.  We are a major household appliance retailer with two product categories: One consists of typical and commonly available, innovative appliances. The other consists of affordable value-priced, niche offerings such as close-outs, factory overruns, discontinued models and special-buy appliances, including out-of-carton merchandise and others.  One example of a special-buy appliance may be due to manufacturer product redesign, in which a current model is updated to include a few new features and is then assigned a new model number. Because the major manufacturers—primarily Whirlpool, General Electric and Electrolux—ship only the latest models to retailers, a large quantity of the previous models often remain in the manufacturers' inventories. Special-buy appliances typically are not integrated into the manufacturers’ normal distribution channels and require a different method of management, which we provide.

 

For many years, manufacturers relied on small appliance dealers to buy these specialty products to sell in their stores.  However, today small retailers are struggling to compete with large appliance chains as the ten largest retailers of major appliances account for more than 75% of the sales volume.  At the same time, expansion of big-box retailers that sell appliances has created an increase in the number of special-buy units, further straining the traditional outlet system for these appliances. Because these special-buy appliances have value, manufacturers and retailers need an efficient management system to recover their worth.

 

Manufacturer Supply

 

We have entered into contracts for purchasing appliances that we sell in our ApplianceSmart stores or provide for utility appliance replacement programs.  These contracts, which have been extended through 2017, are with the following six major manufacturers:

 

1. Bosch
   
2. Electrolux
   
3. GE Appliances
   
4. LG
   
5. Samsung
   
6. Whirlpool

 

There are no guarantees on the number of units any of the manufacturers will sell us. However, we believe purchases from these six manufacturers will provide an adequate supply of high-quality appliances for our ApplianceSmart stores and our appliance replacement programs.

 

Key components of our current agreements include:

 

1. We have no guarantees for the number or type of appliances that we have to purchase.
   
2. The agreements may be terminated by either party with 30 days’ prior written notice.
   
3. We have agreed to indemnify certain manufacturers for certain claims, allegations or losses concerning the appliances we sell.

 

Regional Processing Centers

 

We entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with 4301 Operations, LLC, (“4301”) to establish and operate a regional processiong center (“RPC”). 4301 has significant experience in the recycling of major household appliances and they contributed their existing business to the joint venture. Under the Joint Venture Agreement, the parties formed a new entity known as ARCA Advanced Processing, LLC (“AAP”) and each party has a 50% interest in AAP. We contributed $2.0 million to the joint venture and 4301 contributed their equipment and existing business to the joint venture. The joint venture commenced operations on February 8, 2010.

 

 

 

  3  

 

 

We purchased and installed a UNTHA Recycling Technology ("URT") materials recovery system, for which we are the exclusive North American distributor, to enhance the capabilities of the RPC in Philadelphia. We completed the installation of the URT materials recovery system in the third quarter of 2011. The URT materials recovery system recovers approximately 95 percent of the foam insulation from refrigerators; reduces typical landfill waste of the refrigerator by 83 percent by weight; lowers greenhouse gas and ozone-depleting substance emissions recovered from insulating foam compared with what typically happens in the industry today; and recovers high-quality plastics, aluminum, copper, steel and pelletized foam from refrigerators that can be used to make new products or for other beneficial use.

 

Subsidiaries

 

ApplianceSmart, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary formed through a corporate reorganization in July 2011 to hold our business of selling new major household appliances through a chain of Company-owned retail stores. ARCA Canada Inc., a Canadian corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary formed in September 2006 to provide turnkey recycling and replacement services for electric utility energy efficiency programs. ARCA Recycling, Inc., a California corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary formed in November 1991 to provide turnkey recycling and appliance replacement services for energy efficiency programs, Customer Connexx, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company, is wholly owned subsidiary formed in October 13, 2016 to provide call center services for electric utility programs.

 

ARCA Advanced Processing, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company, is a variable interest entity that we consolidate in our financial statements. AAP was formed in October 2009 to operate a regional processing and recycling center and commenced operations on February 8, 2010.

 

Growth Strategy

 

In November 2015, JACO Environmental, our largest competitor in the utility energy efficiency space went into receivership. This was a surprise within the industry and resulted in a considerable spike in call volume from former and prospective customers that desired to respond to their ratepayers' concerns related to open orders and from utility appliance recycling program managers that desired to restart their programs. We have responded to requests for proposal and entered into new contracts with utility customers. We have also been working with our existing customers to adjust pricing on programs to address the loss in revenues that we have experienced and continue to experience as a result of the significant declines and low values of the byproducts we sell, including ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

 

We continue to see interest from sponsors of energy efficiency programs across the country that recognize the effectiveness of recycling energy inefficient appliances, and in some cases, replacing inefficient appliances with new, highly efficient ENERGY STAR ® models. We believe appliance replacement programs will continue to expand, and we are continuing to aggressively pursue this segment of customers in 2017. We expect that we will continue to meet with sponsors of appliance recycling and replacement programs and submit proposals highlighting our comprehensive service options.

 

We are also tracking a growth opportunity in the rollout of state plans to cut carbon emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants. In June 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under President Obama’s Climate Action Plan and Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act, released state-specific goals to reduce nationwide carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector to 30% below 2005 levels by 2030. Each state has the flexibility to choose how to meet the goal through a variety of measures that include demand-side energy efficiency programs, improved power plant operations and zero- and low-emitting power sources. Our appliance recycling and replacement programs have proven effective in reducing residential energy consumption while protecting the environment from greenhouse gases emitted through improper appliance disposal.

 

We may consider opening new ApplianceSmart stores in markets in which we currently have operations to benefit from operational and marketing efficiencies of scale. Although we are not currently considering expansion to new markets in the United States, we would evaluate demographic, economic and financial information as well as the facility and proposed lease terms when considering any new store location.

 

Customers and Source of Supply

 

We offer reverse logistics services to manufacturers and retailers needing an efficient way to manage appliances that fall outside their normal distribution and sales channels. We also provide services for electric utility companies and other sponsors of energy efficiency initiatives that offer their customers appliance recycling and replacement programs as energy conservation measures.

 

 

 

  4  

 

 

Appliance Manufacturers : We work with appliance manufacturers, including Bosch, Electrolux, GE Appliances, LG, Samsung and Whirlpool, to acquire the appliances we sell in our ApplianceSmart stores. We purchase new, special-buy appliances, such as discontinued models, out-of-carton units and factory overruns, and sell them at a significant discount to full retail prices. In addition, our participation in a national buying cooperative enables us to purchase the latest models of new appliances to fill out our product mix.

 

Although we believe our current sources for appliances are adequate to supply our retail stores and allow us to grow our sales, we face the risk that one or more of these sources could be lost.

 

Utility Companies : We contract with utility companies and other sponsors of energy efficiency programs to provide a full range of appliance recycling and replacement services to help them achieve their energy savings goals. The contracts usually have terms of one to three years, with provisions for renewal at the option of the utility. Under some contracts, we manage all aspects, including advertising of the appliance recycling or replacement program. Under other contracts, we provide only specified services, such as collection and recycling.

 

Our contracts with utility customers prohibit us from repairing and selling appliances or appliance parts we receive through their programs. Because the intent of these programs is to conserve electricity, we have instituted tracking and auditing procedures to assure our customers that those appliances do not return to use.

 

Our pricing for energy efficiency program contracts is on a per-appliance basis and depends upon several factors, including:

 

1. Total number of appliances expected to be processed and/or replaced.
   
2. Length of the contract term.
   
3. Specific services the utility requires us to provide.
   
4. Market factors, including labor rates and transportation costs.
   
5. Anticipated revenue associated with the sale of recycled appliance byproducts.
   
6. Competitive bidding scenarios.

 

Company Operations

 

We provide a full range of appliance recycling support services for energy efficiency programs in North America. We also purchase major appliances, primarily from appliance manufacturers, to sell through our ApplianceSmart stores.

 

Many of the appliances we receive from manufacturers are still in the factory carton and ready to sell. Other appliances need repair or cosmetic work before we deliver them to our ApplianceSmart stores. All appliances we sell are new, under factory warranty and covered by a 100% money-back guarantee. We also offer extended warranties, appliance delivery, factory-trained technician service and recycling of customers replaced appliances.

 

Appliances that do not meet our quality standards for sale at our ApplianceSmart stores and appliances collected through utility customers’ energy conservation programs are recycled to prevent re-use. We process and recycle these units using environmentally sound systems and techniques.

 

In our recycling operations, our Company-trained technicians first inspect and categorize each appliance to identify the types of hazardous materials, if any, it contains. We then process the appliances to remove and manage the environmentally hazardous substances according to federal, state and local regulations. Plastics and other recyclable components are managed by materials recyclers, and we deliver the processed appliance shells to local scrap processing facilities, where they shred and recycle the metals.

 

We are aggressively pursuing additional utility customers, but have a limited ability to project revenues from new utility programs in 2017 and thereafter. We cannot predict recycling or replacement volumes. However, we have been successful to date in obtaining new contracts in 2017 with new and former customers across the country.

 

 

 

  5  

 

 

Principal Products and Services

 

We generate revenues from three sources: retail, recycling and byproduct, including carbon offsets. Retail revenues are generated through the sale of appliances at our ApplianceSmart stores. Recycling revenues are generated by charging fees for collecting and recycling appliances for utilities and other sponsors of energy efficiency programs and through the sale of new ENERGY STAR ® appliances to utility companies for installation in the homes of a specific segment of their customers. Byproduct revenues are generated by selling scrap materials, such as metal and plastics, from appliances we collect and recycle, including those from our ApplianceSmart stores and those processed at AAP. Carbon offset revenues are created by the destruction of ozone-depleting refrigerants acquired through various recycling programs, from our ApplianceSmart stores and through processing of refrigerators and freezers at AAP.

 

The table below reflects the percentage of total revenues from each source for the past two fiscal years. See also “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

    2016     2015  
Retail     59.4 %     58.7 %
Recycling     30.6       32.1  
Byproduct, including carbon offsets     10.0       9.2  
      100.0 %     100.0 %

 

During fiscal years 2016 and 2015, we operated two reportable segments: retail and recycling. The retail segment is comprised of sales generated through our ApplianceSmart stores. Our recycling segment includes all fees charged for collecting, recycling and installing appliances for utilities and other customers and includes byproduct revenue, which is generated primarily through the recycling of appliances. In 2016 and 2015, we consolidated AAP in our financial statements. Sales generated by AAP are included in byproduct revenues in our recycling segment. Financial information about our segments is included in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Note 12 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

 

Sales and Marketing

 

We use a variety of methods to promote awareness of our products and services. We believe that we are recognized as a leader in the recycling industry and in special-buy appliance retailing.

 

Our ApplianceSmart concept includes establishing large showrooms in metropolitan locations where we offer consumers a selection of hundreds of appliances at each of our stores. Our visual branding consists of ample display of product, manufacturers’ signage and custom-designed ApplianceSmart materials. We advertise our stores through television, radio, print media, social media and direct mail. Through www.ApplianceSmart.com, consumers can also search our inventory and purchase appliances online.

 

We market our appliance recycling and replacement services to utility companies and other sponsors of energy efficiency programs by contacting prospective end user customers directly, delivering educational presentations at conferences for energy efficiency professionals, participating in utility industry trade shows, networking with key affiliates of electric power and environmental associations, and promoting on our corporate website at www.ARCAInc.com.  We submit sales proposals for our services to interested parties and in response to requests for bid.

 

Seasonality

 

We experience some seasonality in retail revenues, with revenues in the second and third calendar quarters being slightly higher than revenues in the first and fourth calendar quarters.

 

Promotional activities for programs in which the utility sponsor conducts all advertising are generally strong during the second and third calendar quarters, leading to higher customer demand for services during that time period.  As a result, we experience a surge in business during the second and third calendar quarters, which generally declines through the fourth and first calendar quarters until advertising activities resume.

 

 

 

  6  

 

 

Competition

 

Our retail competition comes mainly from new-appliance and other special-buy retailers. Each ApplianceSmart store competes with local and national retail appliance chains, as well as with independently owned retailers. Many of these retailers have been in business longer than us and may have significantly greater assets.

 

Many factors, including obtaining adequate resources to create and support the infrastructure required to operate large-scale appliance recycling and replacement programs, affect competition in the industry. We generally compete for contracts with several other appliance recycling businesses, energy services management companies and new-appliance retailers. We also compete with small hauling or recycling companies based in the program’s service territory. Many of these companies, including used-appliance dealers that call themselves “appliance recyclers,” resell in the secondary market a percentage of the used appliances they accept for recycling. The unsalable units may not be properly processed to remove environmentally harmful materials because these companies do not have the capability to offer the full range of services we provide.

 

We expect our primary competition for appliance recycling and replacement contracts with existing and new customers to come from a variety of sources, including:

 

1. Existing recycling companies.
2. Entrepreneurs entering the appliance recycling business.
3. Management consultants.
4. Major waste hauling companies.
5. Scrap metal processors.
6. National and regional new appliance retailers.

 

In addition, utility companies and other customers may choose to provide all or some of the services required to operate their appliance recycling and replacement programs internally rather than contracting with outside vendors. We have no assurance that we will be able to compete profitably in any of our chosen markets.

 

Government Regulation

 

Federal, state and local governments regulate appliance collection, recycling and sales activities. While some requirements apply nationwide, others vary by market. The many laws and regulations that affect appliance recycling include landfill disposal restrictions, hazardous waste management requirements and air quality standards. For example, the 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act prohibit the venting of all Refrigerants while servicing or disposing of appliances.

 

Each of our recycling facilities maintains the appropriate registrations, permits and licenses for operating at its location. We register our recycling centers as hazardous waste generators with the EPA and obtain all appropriate regional and local licenses for managing hazardous wastes. Licensed hazardous waste companies transport and recycle or dispose of the hazardous materials we generate. Our collection vehicles and our transportation employees are required to comply with all U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”) licensing requirements.

 

We have been recognized for our work in protecting the environment from the harmful effects of improper appliance disposal. In 2004, the EPA awarded us, along with our customer Southern California Edison Company (“SCE”), the Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award for the environmentally responsible manner in which we collect and dispose of appliances. In 2007, we were again recognized by the EPA with a Best of the Best Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award as part of an appliance recycling team responsible for “the most exceptional global contributions in the first two decades of the Montreal Protocol.” We were recognized by SCE as the sole recipient of the 2010 Environmental Excellence Award for our “exemplary support and service of SCE’s Appliance Recycling Program” and commitment to providing “the highest levels of performance and service to SCE and program participants while maintaining the strong values and ethics that exemplify a value-added supplier.” ARCA has provided services for SCE since 1994.

 

In 2007, we became a founding reporter of The Climate Registry, an organization that provides information regarding the measurement and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions to various governmental and private agencies and businesses.

 

In 2009, our then President and Chief Executive Officer, Edward R. (Jack) Cameron, was selected to represent the appliance recycling industry in the Climate Action Reserve’s 23-member workgroup that was tasked with developing the U.S. Ozone-Depleting Substances Project Protocol for the Destruction of Domestic High Global Warming Potential Ozone-Depleting Substances. The Climate Action Reserve is a national offsets program working to ensure integrity, transparency and financial value in the U.S. carbon market. The protocol was issued on February 3, 2010, and provides guidance to account for, report and verify greenhouse gas emission reductions associated with destruction of high global warming potential ozone-depleting substances that would have otherwise been released to the atmosphere, including those used in both foam and refrigerant applications.

 

 

 

  7  

 

 

In January 2013, through the authority of the California Air Resources Board, California launched a greenhouse gas (“GHG”) cap-and-trade program that will encompass 85% of the state’s emissions and affect all businesses operating in California by 2020. The first compliance period enforcing the GHG emissions limits for capped business sectors began January 1, 2013. Entities may meet up to eight percent of their compliance obligations with freely sold or traded offset credits, such as those created through the voluntary destruction of ozone-depleting refrigerants. We have been an active participant in California’s developing carbon offset market and anticipate increased involvement as the program expands.

 

Our retail stores obtain business licenses, sales tax licenses and permits required for their locations. Our delivery and service vehicles comply with all DOT licensing requirements. In addition, in 2010, ApplianceSmart became the first independent retailer in the country to partner with the EPA in the Responsible Appliance Disposal (“RAD”) Program. Through RAD, partners commit to employing best environmental practices to reduce emissions of ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases through the proper disposal of refrigeration appliances at end of life. RAD partners report program results to the EPA annually to help quantify climate protection efforts.

 

Although we believe that further governmental regulation of the appliance recycling industry could have a positive effect on us, we cannot predict the direction of future legislation. Under some circumstances, for example, further regulation could materially increase our operational costs. In addition, under some circumstances we may be subject to contingent liabilities because we handle hazardous materials. We believe we are in compliance with all government regulations regarding the handling of hazardous materials, and we have environmental insurance to mitigate the impact of any potential contingent liability.

 

Employees

 

On March 1, 2017, we had 437 full-time employees and 8 part-time employees, distributed approximately as follows:

 

1. 57% of our employees, including management, provide customer service, appliance collection, transportation and processing services at our recycling centers.
2. 38% of our employees, including management, work in our retail stores.
3. 5% of our employees are corporate management and support staff.

 

We have no union or collective bargaining agreements covering any of our employees. Our employees have never caused our operations to be disrupted by a work stoppage, and we believe that our employee relations are good.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below with respect to an investment in our shares. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, operating results or cash provided by operations could be materially harmed. As a result, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you might lose all or part of your investment. When evaluating an investment in our common stock, you should also refer to the other information in this report, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes.

 

Risks Relating to Our Business

 

Our revenues, earnings and cash flows will fluctuate based on changes in commodity prices.

 

Our recycling operations process for sale certain recyclable materials, including steel, aluminum and copper, all of which are subject to significant market price fluctuations. The majority of the recyclables we process for sale are steel and non-ferrous metals. The fluctuations in the market prices or demand for such commodity items, particularly demand from China and Turkey, can affect our future operating income and cash flows negatively, such as we experienced in 2015 and 2014. As we have increased the size of our recycling operations, we have also increased our exposure to commodity price fluctuations.

 

 

 

  8  

 

 

In the past we have also earned a significant amount of revenue from the sale of carbon credits under the California Cap-and-Trade Program. The creation of carbon offsets involves a consultant's establishment of a project that includes the successful destruction of the Company's ozone-depleting refrigerants. The project process involves a significant degree of regulatory compliance and only a limited number of facilities are approved to destroy ozone-depleting refrigerants. The uncertainty of regulatory project approval after carbon offsets have been produced results in unpredictable assurance of or timing for revenue recognition. If we are unable to find businesses that can effectively dispose of ozone-depleting refrigerants or if we do not receive project approval for the resulting carbon offsets, we could experience a material adverse effect to our operating results.

 

ARCA Advanced Processing, LLC’s ( AAP) financial performance is dependent on market prices for recovered materials.

 

AAP’s revenues and profitability are driven by the market prices for various recovered materials, which include steel, copper, aluminum, other non-ferrous metals, glass, plastic, oil, and certain types of refrigerants.  Market prices for such materials may vary significantly. AAP may also be impacted by the market price for carbon offsets that it has historically sold and for which the market is highly subject to regulatory approvals. If market prices for such materials and carbon offsets are less than projected, AAP may be unable to achieve profitable operations.

 

Under our credit agreement with PNC, we are limited with respect to the level of investment and/or the extension of credit that we are able to provide AAP. In the event that AAP is unable to achieve suitable levels of profitable operations, we may be unable to extend financing to support the ongoing operations of AAP, without obtaining an amendment in our credit facility with PNC. Alternatively, AAP would need to obtain additional sources of financing in the form of debt or equity. Sources of additional financing, if needed in the future, may include further debt financing or the sale of equity or other securities in AAP or the Company.  We cannot assure you that any additional sources of financing or new capital will be available, available on acceptable terms, or permitted by the terms of our current debt agreement. If AAP is unable to survive financially, we are at risk for a significant portion of AAP’s indebtedness due to our corporate guarantee of some of their debt.

 

We could incur charges due to impairment of long-lived assets.

 

As of December 31, 2016, we had long-lived asset balances of $10.1 million, which are subject to periodic testing for impairment. See Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. A significant amount of judgment is involved in the periodic testing. Failure to achieve sufficient levels of cash flow generated from operations at AAP could result in impairment charges for the related fixed assets, which could have a material adverse effect on our reported results of operations. Impairment charges, if any, resulting from the periodic testing would be non-cash.

 

If we fail to implement our business strategy or if our business strategy is ineffective, our financial performance could be materially and adversely affected.

 

Our future financial performance and success are dependent in large part upon the effectiveness of our business strategy and our ability to implement our business strategy successfully. Implementation of our strategy will require effective management of our operational, financial and human resources and will place significant demands on those resources.

 

There are risks involved in pursuing our strategy, including the following:

 

· Our employees, customers or investors may not embrace and support our strategy.
· We may not be able to hire or retain the personnel necessary to manage our strategy effectively.
· We may be unsuccessful in implementing improvements to operational efficiency and such efforts may not yield the intended result.
· We may record material charges against earnings due to any number of events that could cause impairments to our assets.

 

In addition to the risks set forth above, effectiveness of and the successful implementation of our business strategy could also be affected by a number of factors beyond our control, such as increased competition, legal developments, government regulation, general economic conditions, increased operating costs or expenses and changes in industry trends. We may decide to alter or discontinue certain aspects of our business strategy at any time. If we are not able to implement our business strategy successfully, our long-term growth and profitability may be adversely affected. Even if we are able to implement some or all of the initiatives of our business strategy successfully, our operating results may not improve and could decline substantially.

 

 

 

  9  

 

 

If our third-party collection or delivery services are unable to meet our promised pickup and delivery schedules, our net sales may decline due to a decline in customer satisfaction.

 

We offer appliance pickup and delivery services, which are significantly outsourced to third-party providers. Our third-party services are subject to risks that are beyond our control. If appliances are not picked up on time, or at all, or products are not delivered on time, our clients and customers may cancel their orders or we may lose business from our clients and customers in the future. As a result, our net sales and profitability may decline.

 

We have many competitors, direct and indirect. If we fail to execute our marketing and distribution strategies effectively, those competitors could take sales and market share from us.

 

The retail market for home appliances is intensely competitive. We currently compete against a diverse group of national retailers, including Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Sears, as well as internet retailers and regional or independent major home appliance retail stores that sell many of the same or similar home appliances that we do. There are few barriers to entry and as a result new competitors may enter our existing retail markets at any time.

 

We may not be able to compete successfully against existing and future competitors. Some of our competitors have financial resources that are substantially greater than ours and may be able to purchase inventory at lower prices. Our competitors may respond more quickly to new or emerging technologies and may have greater resources to devote to discounts, promotions and sales of products and services. They may also have financial resources that enable them to weather economic downturns better than us.

 

Our existing competitors or new entrants into our industry may use a number of different strategies to compete against us, including:

 

· Lower pricing.
· More aggressive advertising and marketing.
· Enhanced product and service offerings.
· Extension of credit to customers on terms more favorable than we make available.

 

Many factors, including existing and proposed governmental regulation, may affect competition in the appliance recycling and replacement side of our business. We generally compete with two or three companies based in the geographic area to be served, and they generally offer some of the same services we provide. We expect our primary competition for contracts with existing or new customers to come from entrepreneurs entering the appliance recycling business, energy management consultants, current recycling companies, major waste hauling companies, scrap metal processors and new and used appliance dealers. In addition, some of our customers, such as utility companies and municipalities, may operate appliance recycling and replacement programs internally rather than contracting with us or other third parties. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete profitably in any of our chosen markets.

 

Competition could cause us to lose market share, net sales and customers, which could negatively impact our sales, increase our expenditures or reduce prices or margins, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

A disruption in our relationships with, or in the operations of, any of our key suppliers could cause our net sales and profitability to decline.

 

The success of our business and our growth strategy depend to a significant degree on our relationships with our suppliers. Our largest suppliers include Electrolux, GE Appliances, Whirlpool, LG, Samsung and Bosch. We do not have long-term supply agreements or exclusive arrangements with our major suppliers. We typically order our inventory through the issuance of individual purchase orders to vendors. We have no contractual assurance of the continued supply of merchandise in the amount and assortment we currently offer our customers and we may be subject to rationing by suppliers. In addition, we rely heavily on a relatively small number of suppliers. Our top three suppliers represented approximately 76%, of our appliance purchases in fiscal 2016. The loss of any one or more of our key suppliers or our failure to establish and maintain relationships with these and other suppliers could materially adversely affect our supply and assortment of products, as we may not be able to find suitable replacements to supply products at competitive prices.

 

Our suppliers also provide us with marketing funds and volume rebates. If our suppliers fail to continue these incentives, it could have a materially adverse effect on our net sales and results of operations.

 

The financial condition of our suppliers may also adversely affect their access to capital and liquidity with which to maintain their inventory, production levels and product quality and to operate their businesses, all of which could adversely affect our supply chain. Negative impacts on the financial condition of any of our suppliers may cause suppliers to reduce their offerings of customer incentives and vendor allowances, cooperative marketing expenditures and product promotions. It may also cause them to change their pricing policies, which could impact demand for their products. The current weakness in, and volatility of, the overall economy makes it difficult for us and our suppliers to accurately forecast future product demand trends, which could cause us to carry too much or too little merchandise in various product categories.

 

 

 

  10  

 

 

A cybersecurity incident could negatively impact our business and our relationships with customers.

 

We use computers and transact, receive, transmit and store electronic data in substantially all aspects of our business operations. We also use mobile devices, social networking and other online activities to communicate with our employees and our customers. Such uses give rise to cybersecurity risks, including security breach, espionage, system disruption, theft and inadvertent release of information. Our business involves the storage and transmission of numerous classes of sensitive and/or confidential information, including customers’ personal information, private information about employees, and financial and strategic information about the Company and its business partners. We also rely on a Payment Card Industry compliant third party to protect our customers’ credit card information. If we fail to assess and identify cybersecurity risks associated with new initiatives, we may become increasingly vulnerable to such risks. Additionally, while we have implemented measures to prevent security breaches and cyber incidents, our preventative measures and incident response efforts may not be entirely effective. The theft, destruction, loss, misappropriation, or release of sensitive and/or confidential information or intellectual property, or interference with our information technology systems or the technology systems of third parties on which we rely, could result in business disruption, negative publicity, brand damage, violation of privacy laws, loss of customers, potential liability and competitive disadvantage.

 

There is no guarantee that the procedures that we have implemented to protect against unauthorized access to secured data are adequate to safeguard against all data security breaches. Any such compromise of our security or the security of information residing with our business associates or third parties could have a material adverse effect on our reputation and may expose us to material costs, penalties, compensation claims, lost sales, fines and lawsuits. In addition, any compromise of our data security may materially increase the costs we incur to protect against such breaches and could subject us to additional legal risk.

 

Failure to effectively manage our costs could have a material adverse effect on our profitability.

 

Certain elements of our cost structure are largely fixed in nature. The negative impact that sales and/or margin declines have on our business could make it more challenging for us to maintain or increase our operating income. The competitiveness in our industry and increasing price transparency means that the focus on achieving efficient operations is greater than ever. As a result, we must continuously focus on retaining and growing sales, maintaining and improving margins and managing our cost structure. Failure to manage our labor and benefit rates, advertising and marketing expenses, operating leases, other facility expenses or indirect spending could materially adversely affect our profitability.

 

Any failure of our information technology infrastructure or management information systems could cause a disruption in our business and our results of operations could be materially adversely impacted.

 

Our ability to operate our business from day to day largely depends on the efficient operation of our information technology infrastructure and management information systems. We use our management information systems to conduct our operations and plan critical corporate and business functions, including store operations, recycling operations, sales management, supply chain and inventory management, financial reporting and accounting, delivery and other customer services and various administrative functions. Our systems are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, computer and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, security breaches, catastrophic events such as fires, tornadoes and hurricanes, and usage errors by our employees. Operating legacy systems subject us to inherent costs and risks associated with maintaining, upgrading and replacing these systems and retaining sufficiently skilled personnel to maintain and operate the systems which may also place demands on management time, as well as create other risks and costs. Any failure that is not covered by our disaster recovery plan could cause an interruption in our operations and adversely affect our results of operations.

 

 

 

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Our sales may not be an indication of our future results of operations because they fluctuate significantly.

 

Our current and historical sales figures have fluctuated significantly from quarter to quarter. A number of factors have historically affected, and will continue to affect, our sales results and profitability, including:

 

· Changes in competition, such as pricing pressure, and the opening of new stores by competitors in our markets.
· Periodic sale of carbon offsets resulting from the responsible destruction of certain refrigerants.
· Inability to comply with or to identify third parties capable of complying with protocols required for responsible destruction of certain refrigerants.
· Fluctuating commodity prices and available markets for our byproduct sales.
· Changes in recycling and replacement programs with utility customers.
· General economic conditions.
· Consumer trends.
· Weather conditions in our markets.
· Timing of promotional events.
· The locations of our stores and traffic drawn to those areas.
· Our ability to execute our business strategies effectively.

 

Our business is dependent on the general economic conditions in our markets.

 

In general, our sales depend on discretionary spending by our customers. General economic factors and other conditions that may affect our business, include periods of slow economic growth or recession, political factors including uncertainty in social or fiscal policy, an overly anti-business climate or sentiment, volatility and/or lack of liquidity from time to time in U.S. and world financial markets and the consequent reduced availability and/or higher cost of borrowing for us and our customers, slower rates of growth in real disposable personal income, sustained high rates of unemployment, high consumer debt levels, increasing fuel and energy costs, inflation or deflation of commodity prices, natural disasters, and acts of terrorism and developments in the war against terrorism. Additionally, any of these circumstances concentrated in a region of the U.S. in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our net sales and results of operations. General economic conditions and discretionary spending are beyond our control and are affected by, among other things:

 

· Consumer confidence in the economy.
· Unemployment trends.
· Consumer debt levels.
· Consumer credit availability.
· The housing and home improvement markets.
· Gasoline and fuel prices.
· Interest rates and inflation.
· Foreign currency exchange rates.
· Slower rates of growth in real disposable personal income.
· Natural disasters.
· National and geopolitical concerns.
· Tax rates and tax policy.
· Other matters that influence consumer confidence and spending.
· Commodity prices.

 

Volatility in financial markets may cause some of the above factors to change with an even greater degree of frequency and magnitude. The above factors could result in slowdown in the economy or an uncertain economic outlook, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

 

 

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If we fail to hire, train and retain key management, qualified managers, sales associates and other employees, we could have difficulty implementing our business strategy, which may result in reduced net sales, operating margins and profitability.

 

If we are unable to attract and retain qualified personnel as needed in the future, our level of customer service may decline, which may decrease our net sales and profitability. Other factors that impact our ability to maintain sufficient levels of qualified employees in all areas of the business include, but are not limited to, the Company’s reputation, employee morale, the current macroeconomic environment, competition from other employers, and our ability to offer adequate compensation packages. Adverse changes in health care costs could also adversely impact our ability to achieve our operational and financial goals and to offer attractive benefit programs to our employees. Our ability to control labor costs, which may impact our ability to hire and retain qualified personnel, is subject to numerous external factors, including prevailing wage rates, the impact of legislation or regulations governing healthcare benefits or labor relations, such as the Employee Free Choice Act, and health and other insurance costs. If our labor and/or benefit costs increase, we may not be able to hire or maintain qualified personnel to the extent necessary to execute our competitive strategy, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

We are subject to certain statutory, regulatory and legal developments that could have a material adverse impact on our business.

 

Our statutory, regulatory and legal environment exposes us to complex compliance and litigation risks that could materially adversely affect our operations and financial results. The most significant compliance and litigation risks we face are:

 

· The difficulty of complying with sometimes conflicting statutes and regulations in local, state and national jurisdictions;
· The impact of proposed, new or changing statues and regulations, including, but not limited to, corporate governance matters, environmental impact, financial reform, Health Insurance Portability and Accounting Act, health care reform, labor reform, Payment Card Industry compliance, and/or other as yet unknown legislation that could affect how we operate and execute our strategies as well as alter our expense structure.
· The impact of changes in tax laws (or interpretations thereof by courts and taxing authorities) and accounting standards.
· The impact of litigation, including class action or individual lawsuits involving shareholders, and labor and employment litigation related matters.
· Changes in trade regulations, currency fluctuations, economic or political instability, natural disasters, public health emergencies and other factors beyond our control may increase the cost of items we purchase or create shortages of these items, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our cost of revenues, or may force us to increase prices, thereby adversely impacting net sales and profitability.

 

We are involved in a number of legal proceedings that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Litigation is inherently unpredictable, and the outcome of some of these proceedings and other contingencies could require us to take or refrain from taking action which, in either case, could adversely affect our operations or reduce our net income. There can be no assurance that any litigation to which we are a party will be resolved in our favor. Any claim that is successfully decided against us may cause us to pay substantial damages, including punitive damages. Additionally, defending against regulatory changes, lawsuits and proceedings may involve significant expense and diversion of management’s attention and resources from other matters which could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Significant shortages in diesel fuel supply or increases in diesel fuel prices will increase our operating expenses.

 

The price and supply of diesel fuel can fluctuate significantly based on international, political and economic circumstances, as well as other factors outside our control, such as actions by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) and other oil and gas producers, regional production patterns, weather conditions and environmental concerns. Our collection and delivery agents need diesel fuel to run a significant portion of our collection and delivery of appliance activities in both our retail and recycling segments. Supply shortages could substantially increase our operating expenses. Additionally, if fuel prices increase, our direct operating expenses will increase and many of our vendors may raise their prices as a means to offset their rising costs. We may not be able to pass through all of our increased costs to our customers and some contracts prohibit any pass-through of the increased costs.

 

 

 

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We may experience adverse impacts on our reported results of operations as a result of adopting new accounting standards or interpretations.

 

Our implementation of and compliance with changes in accounting rules, including new accounting rules and interpretations, could adversely affect our reported financial position or operating results or cause unanticipated fluctuations in our reported operating results in future periods.

 

We are subject to risks associated with leasing substantial amounts of space, including future increases in occupancy costs.

 

We lease most of our store locations, corporate headquarters and recycling centers. Our continued growth and success depends in part on our ability to locate desirable property for new stores or recycling centers and renew leases for existing locations. Because there is no assurance that we will be able to locate acceptable real estate for new stores or recycling centers, or re-negotiate leases for existing locations at similar or favorable terms at the end of the lease term, we could be forced to move or exit a market if another favorable arrangement cannot be made. Furthermore, a significant rise in real estate prices or real property taxes could result in an increase in lease expense as we open new locations and renew leases for existing locations, thereby negatively impacting the Company's results of operations. The inability of the Company to renew, extend or replace expiring leases could have an adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.

 

We depend on cash flow from operations to pay our lease expenses. If our business does not generate sufficient cash flow from operating activities to fund these expenses, we may not be able to service our lease expenses, which could materially harm our business.

 

If an existing recycling center, store, future store or recycling centers is not profitable, and we decide to close it, we may nonetheless be committed to perform our obligations under the applicable lease including, among other things, paying the base rent for the balance of the lease term. Moreover, even if a lease has an early cancellation clause, we may not satisfy the contractual requirements for early cancellation under that lease. Our inability to enter into new leases or renew existing leases on terms acceptable to us or be released from our obligations under leases for stores or recycling centers that we close could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition, operating results or cash flows.

 

Our failure to maintain an effective system of internal controls could result in inaccurate reporting of financial results and harm our

business.

 

We are required to comply with a variety of reporting, accounting and other rules and regulations. As such, we maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting, but there are limitations inherent in internal control systems. A control system can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. In addition, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefit of controls must be appropriate relative to their costs. Furthermore, compliance with existing requirements is expensive and we may need to implement additional finance and accounting and other systems, procedures and controls to satisfy our reporting requirements. If our internal control over financial reporting continues to be evaluated as ineffective, such failure could cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, negatively affect the market price of our common stock, subject us to regulatory investigations and penalties, and adversely impact our business and financial condition.

 

We face risks with respect to product liability claims and product recalls, which could adversely affect our reputation, our business, and our consolidated results of operations.

 

We purchase merchandise from third parties and offer this merchandise to customers for sale. This merchandise could be subject to recalls and other actions by regulatory authorities. Changes in laws and regulations could also impact the type of merchandise we offer to customers. We have experienced, and may in the future experience, issues that result in recalls of merchandise. In addition, individuals may in the future assert claims, that they have sustained injuries from third-party merchandise offered by us, and we may be subject to future lawsuits relating to these claims. There is a risk that these claims or liabilities may exceed, or fall outside the scope of, our insurance coverage. Any of the issues mentioned above could result in damage to our reputation, diversion of development and management resources, or reduced sales and increased costs, any of which could harm our business.

 

 

 

  14  

 

 

Our revenues from recycling and appliance replacement contracts are very difficult to project and the loss or modification of major recycling and appliance replacement contracts could adversely impact our profits.

 

Our business is dependent largely upon our ability to obtain new contracts and continue existing contracts for appliance recycling services and appliance replacement programs with utility companies and other sponsors of energy efficiency programs. Contracts with these entities generally have initial terms of one to three years, with renewal options and early termination clauses. However, some contracts are for programs that are non-recurring. Although we continue to respond to utility companies and other sponsors of energy efficiency programs requesting bids for upcoming recycling services, we are still dependent on certain customers for a large portion of our revenues. Our major utility customers accounted for approximately 15% and 25% of our total revenues for 2016 and 2015, respectively. The loss or material reduction of business from any of these major customers could adversely affect our revenues and profitability. While we wish to add new recycling and appliance replacement contracts in 2017 and beyond, we cannot assure you that our existing contracts will continue, that they will be sufficiently profitable, that existing customers will continue to use our services at current levels or we will be successful in obtaining new recycling and replacement contracts going forward.

 

Our revenues from recycling contracts are subject to seasonal fluctuations and are dependent on the utilities’ advertising and promotional activities for contracts in which we do not provide advertising services.

 

In our business with utility companies, we experience seasonal fluctuations that impact our operating results.  Our recycling revenues are generally higher during the second and third calendar quarters and lower in the first and fourth calendar quarters, due largely to the promotional activity schedules of which we have no control in advertising programs managed by the utilities. Our staff communicates client-driven advertising activities internally in an effort to achieve an operational balance.  We expect that we will continue to experience such seasonal fluctuations in recycling revenues.

 

We may need new capital to fully execute our growth strategy.

 

Our business involves providing comprehensive, integrated appliance recycling and replacement services and operating a chain of retail stores. This commitment will require a significant continuing investment in capital equipment and leasehold improvements and could require additional investment in real estate.

 

Our total capital requirements will depend on, among the other things discussed in this annual report, the number of recycling centers and the number and size of retail stores operating during 2017 and thereafter. Currently, we have eighteen retail stores and sixteen recycling centers, including AAP, in operation. If our revenues are lower than anticipated, our expenses are higher than anticipated or our line of credit cannot be maintained, we will require additional capital to finance our operations or AAP’s operation. Even if we are able to maintain our line of credit, we may need additional equity or other capital in the future.  Sources of additional financing, if needed in the future, may include further debt financing or the sale of equity (including the issuance of preferred stock) or other securities. We cannot assure you that any additional sources of financing or new capital will be available to us, available on acceptable terms or permitted by the terms of our current debt agreements. In addition, if we sell additional equity to raise funds, all outstanding shares of common stock will be diluted.

 

Changes in governmental regulations relating to our recycling business could increase our costs of operations and adversely affect our business.

 

Our appliance recycling centers are subject to various federal, state and local laws, regulations and licensing requirements related to providing turnkey services for energy efficiency programs. These requirements vary by market location and include, for example, laws concerning the management of hazardous materials and the 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act, which require us to recapture CFC refrigerants from appliances to prevent their release into the atmosphere.

 

Our ability to generate revenue from the sale of carbon offsets created through the voluntary destruction of ozone-depleting refrigerants could also be adversely affected by governmental regulations as the market develops. Should the federal government mandate the destruction of ozone-depleting refrigerants in the future, we would be required to destroy these substances without the benefit of generating carbon offsets, which would increase the cost of our operations.

 

We have registered our centers with the EPA as hazardous waste generators and have obtained required licenses from appropriate state and local authorities. We have agreements with approved and licensed hazardous waste companies for transportation and recycling or disposal of hazardous materials generated through our recycling processes. As is the case with all companies handling hazardous materials, under some circumstances we may be subject to contingent liability. We believe we are in compliance with all government regulations regarding the handling of hazardous materials, and we have environmental insurance to mitigate the impact of any potential contingent liability.

 

 

 

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Risks Relating to Our Common Stock

 

Our principal shareholders own a large percentage of our voting stock, which will allow them to control substantially all matters requiring shareholder approval.

 

Currently, Edward R. (Jack) Cameron, President of our recycling segment, beneficially owns approximately 10.1% of our common stock. Isaac Capital Group, LLC/Jon Isaac., Medallion Capital, Inc., Abacab Capital Management LLC and Energy Efficiency Investments LLC own approximately 8.8%, 7.0%, 9.1% and 9.9%, respectively, of our outstanding common shares. Three of our current directors are also on the board of directors of Live Ventures, Inc. a publicly held corporation controlled by Isaac Capital Group, LLC and led by Jon Isaac as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Because of such ownership, our principal shareholders may be able to significantly, and possibly adversely, affect our corporate decisions, including the election of the board of directors.

 

Future sales of shares of our common stock in the public market may negatively affect our stock price.

 

Future sales of our common stock, or the perception that these sales could occur, could have a significant negative effect on the market price of our common stock.  In addition, upon exercise of outstanding options, the number of shares outstanding of our common stock could increase substantially.  This increase, in turn, could dilute future earnings per share, if any, and could depress the market value of our common stock. Dilution and potential dilution, the availability of a large amount of shares for sale, and the possibility of additional issuances and sales of our common stock may negatively affect both the trading price of our common stock and the liquidity of our common stock. These sales also might make it more difficult for us to raise capital through the sale of equity securities or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we would deem appropriate.

 

The trading volumes in our common stock are highly variable, which could adversely affect the value and liquidity of your investment in our common stock.

 

There is only a limited trading market for our common stock, which is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Markets.  Transactions in our common stock may lack the volume and liquidity necessary to maintain an orderly trading market and this could result in both depressed and highly variable trading prices. Sales of substantial amounts of common stock into the public market at the same time could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. The trading volume and market price of our common stock could also be adversely affected if we do not maintain our listing on the NASDAQ Capital Markets.

 

Our stock price may fluctuate and be volatile.

 

The market price of our common stock may be subject to significant fluctuations due to the following factors, among others:

 

· Variations in our financial results.
· Changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance or interpretations.
· Sales of substantial amounts of our stock by existing shareholders.
· General economic conditions.

 

The stock market in recent years has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of affected companies. These broad market fluctuations may cause the price of our common stock to fall abruptly or remain significantly depressed.

 

In the past, securities class action litigation has often been brought against a company following periods of volatility in the market price of its securities. Such lawsuits generally result in the diversion of management's time and attention away from business operations, which could harm our business. In addition, the costs of defense and any damages resulting from litigation, a ruling against us, or a settlement of the litigation could adversely affect our financial results.

 

We do not intend to declare dividends on our stock in the foreseeable future.

 

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all future earnings, if any, for the operation and expansion of our business and, therefore, do not anticipate declaring or paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.  Any payment of cash dividends on our common stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors, will require approval by our lender and will depend upon our results of operations, earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, future prospects, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors.  Therefore, dividend income should not be expected from shares of our common stock.

 

 

 

  16  

 

 

Our corporate documents and Minnesota law contain provisions that could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company.

 

We are subject to the anti-takeover provisions of Section 302A.673 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act. Under these provisions, if anyone becomes an “interested shareholder” in a transaction not approved by a committee consisting of disinterested members of our board of directors, we may not enter into a “business combination” with that person for four years, which could discourage a third party from making a takeover offer and could delay or prevent a change of control. For purposes of Section 302A.673, “interested shareholder” generally means someone owning 10% or more of our outstanding voting stock or an affiliate of ours that owned 10% or more of our outstanding voting stock during the past four years, subject to certain exceptions.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

 

Our executive offices are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in a leased facility consisting of 13,000 square feet of office space.

 

We operate eighteen stores in four states with an average square footage of 30,700 square feet. Four of these stores also have production or recycling space.

 

Market     Stores  
Minnesota       8  
Ohio       4  
Georgia       4  
Texas       2  
Total       18  

 

We lease all of our retail store facilities. We generally attempt to negotiate lease terms of five to ten years that include options to renew for our retail stores.

 

We operate sixteen processing and recycling centers. All of our processing and recycling centers are leased facilities. We operated in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; Oakville, Ontario; Compton, California; Albuquerque, New Mexico; St. Paul, Minnesota; Decatur, Illinois; Henrico, Virginia; Franklin, Massachusetts; Syracuse, New York; Commerce City, Colorado; Kent, Washington; Cudahy, Wisconsin; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; and Louisville, Kentucky. Our recycling centers typically range in size from 6,000 to 42,000 square feet. The AAP processing and recycling center located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania leases an 80,000-square-foot facility.

 

We believe that we may require additional facilities to respond to future needs of ARCA.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

On March 6, 2015, a complaint was filed in United States District Court for the Central District of California by Jason Feola, individually and as a representative of a putative class consisting of purchasers of the Company’s common stock between March 15, 2012 and February 11, 2015, against Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. and certain current and former officers of the Company. Mr. Feola, pursuant to terms of his retainer agreement with The Rosen Law Firm, certified that he purchased 240 shares of the Company’s common stock for $984 in total consideration. On May 7, 2015, the Company and the individual defendants were served the complaint. In July 2015, the Company and the individual defendants received an amended complaint. The complaint alleges that misstatements and omissions occurred in press releases and filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and that these misstatements or omissions constitute violations of Section 20 (a) and Section 10(b) of, and Rule 10b-5 under, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In October 2015, the court held a hearing on the Company's motion to dismiss the complaint. On November 24, 2015, the United States District Court for the Central District of California entered an order granting the motion to dismiss the amended complaint. The Court’s order provided that the dismissal was without prejudice and that the plaintiffs could file an amended complaint within 21 days of the issuance of the order. On December 15, 2015, the Company and the individual defendants were served with a second amended complaint. In May 2016, the court held a hearing on the Company’s motion to dismiss the second amended complaint. On October 21, 2016 the court entered a final judgement to dismiss the class action complaint with prejudice.

 

 

 

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On November 6, 2015, a complaint was filed in the Minnesota District Court for Hennepin County, Minnesota, by David Gray and Michael Boller, purporting to bring suit derivatively on behalf of the Company against twelve current and former officers and directors of the Company. The complaint alleges that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties based on substantially similar allegations to those asserted in Mr. Feola's putative securities class action complaint, and that the defendants have been unjustly enriched as a result thereof. The complaint seeks damages, disgorgement, an award of attorneys’ fees and other expenses, and an order compelling changes to the Company’s corporate governance and internal procedures. This matter has been stayed by the court, pursuant to a stipulation of the parties, until the United States District Court for the Central District of California determines the legal sufficiency of Mr. Feola's complaint or other specified developments occur in that case. This matter has been submitted to our insurance carriers.

 

Given the uncertainty of litigation and the preliminary stage of these cases, we cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may result from these actions. The Company maintains liability insurance policies that may reduce the Company’s exposure, if any.

 

In February 2012, various individuals commenced a class action lawsuit against Whirlpool Corporation (“Whirlpool”) and various distributors of Whirlpool products, including Sears, The Home Depot, Lowe’s and us, alleging certain appliances Whirlpool sold through its distribution chain, which includes us, were improperly designated with the ENERGY STAR® qualification rating established by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.  The claims against us include breach of warranty claims, as well as various state consumer protection claims. The amount of the claim is, as yet, undetermined.  Whirlpool has offered to fully indemnify and defend its distributors in this lawsuit, including us, and has engaged legal counsel to defend itself and the distributors. We are monitoring Whirlpool’s defense of the claims and believe the possibility of a material loss is remote.

 

AMTIM Capital, Inc. (“AMTIM”) acts as our representative to market our recycling services in Canada under an arrangement that pays AMTIM for revenues generated by recycling services in Canada as set forth in the agreement between the parties. A dispute has arisen between AMTIM and us with respect to the calculation of amounts due to AMTIM pursuant to the agreement. In a lawsuit filed in the province of Ontario, AMTIM claims a discrepancy in the calculation of fees due to AMTIM by us of approximately $2.0 million. Although the outcome of this claim is uncertain, we believe that no further amounts are due under the terms of the agreement and that we will continue to defend our position relative to this lawsuit.

 

We are party from time to time to other ordinary course disputes that we do not believe to be material.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

None.

 

 

 

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PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR OUR COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Market for Common Stock

 

Our common stock trades under the symbol “ARCI” on the NASDAQ Capital Market. The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the high and low prices for our common stock, as reported by the NASDAQ Capital Market. These quotations reflect the daily close prices.

 

    High     Low  
2016            
First Quarter   $ 1.18     $ 0.68  
Second Quarter     1.80       0.97  
Third Quarter     1.53       0.95  
Fourth Quarter     1.19       0.84  
                 
2015                
First Quarter   $ 3.03     $ 1.96  
Second Quarter     2.14       1.74  
Third Quarter     1.89       1.04  
Fourth Quarter     1.25       0.61  

 

On March 29, 2017, the reported sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market was $1.07 per share. As of March 29, 2017, there were 112 stockholders of record, which excludes stockholders whose shares were held in nominee or street name by brokers.

 

We have not paid dividends on our common stock and do not presently plan to pay dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. Our credit agreement prohibits payment of dividends.

 

Information concerning securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans is included in Part III, Item 12 of this report.

 

ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

Not applicable

 

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below and elsewhere in this annual report, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business and related financing, includes forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties.  In evaluating such statements, you should specifically consider the various factors identified in this annual report that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements, including matters set forth in “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”

 

Overview

 

We operate two reportable segments: recycling and retail. Our recycling segment includes all income generated from collecting, recycling and installing appliances for utilities and other customers and includes a significant portion of our byproduct revenue, which is primarily generated through the recycling of appliances. Our retail segment is comprised of income generated from the sale of appliances through ApplianceSmart ® stores and includes a small portion of our byproduct revenues from collected appliances.

 

Our business components are uniquely positioned in the industry to work together to provide a full array of appliance-related services.  ApplianceSmart operates eighteen company-owned stores, sells new appliances directly to consumers and provides affordable ENERGY STAR ® options for energy efficiency appliance replacement programs. AAP and our fifteen RPCs process appliances at end of life to remove environmentally damaging substances and produce byproducts for sale in North America.

 

 

 

  19  

 

 

Revenues and earnings in our recycling segment are impacted by seasonal variances, with the second and third quarters generally having higher levels of revenues and earnings. This seasonality is due primarily to our utility customers supporting more marketing and advertising during the spring and summer months. Our customers tend to promote the recycling programs more aggressively during the warmer months because they believe more people want to clean up their garages and basements during that time of the year.

 

Our recycling segment typically operates three types of programs:

 

1. Fees charged for collecting and recycling appliances for utilities and other sponsors of energy efficiency programs.
   
2. Fees charged for recycling and replacing old appliances with new ENERGY STAR ®  appliances for energy efficiency programs sponsored by utilities.
   
3. Income generated through the processing of recyclable appliances purchased at our RPCs by selling the raw material separated during the recycling process.

 

 

Our retail segment is similar to many other retailers in that it is seasonal in nature. Historically, the fourth quarter is our weakest quarter in terms of both revenues and earnings.  We believe this is primarily because the fourth quarter includes several holidays during which consumers tend to focus less on purchasing major household appliances.

 

We derive revenues from the sale of carbon offsets created by the destruction of ozone-depleting CFCs captured at our ARCA and AAP regional processing centers. We expect to create carbon offsets and derive revenues in the future through California’s market, but cannot predict the amount or frequency of carbon offset sales. Carbon offset sales are dependent on market conditions, including demand and acceptable market prices. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the combination of ARCA and AAP recognized $3.0 million in carbon offset revenues compared to $0.8 million during the year ended January 2, 2016.

 

We monitor specific economic factors such as retail trends, consumer confidence, manufacturing by the major appliance companies, sales of existing homes and mortgage interest rates as key indicators of industry demand, particularly in our retail segment. Competition in the home appliance industry is intense in the four retail markets we serve. This includes competition not only from independent retailers, but also from such major retailers as Sears, Best Buy, The Home Depot and Lowe’s. We also closely monitor the metals and various other scrap markets because of the type of components recovered in our recycling process. This includes monitoring the American Metal Market and the regions throughout the U.S. where we have our recycling centers.

 

Reporting Period . We report on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year. Our 2016 fiscal year (“2016”) ended on December 31, 2016, and included 52 weeks. Our 2015 fiscal year (“2015”) ended on January 2, 2016, and included 52 weeks.

 

 

 

  20  

 

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth certain statement of operations items and as a percentage of revenue, for the periods indicated:

 

    52 weeks Ended     52 Weeks Ended  
    December 31, 2016     January 2, 2016  
Statement of Operations Data (in Thousands):                        
Revenue   $ 103,589       100.0%     $ 111,839       100.0%  
Cost of Revenue     74,924       72.3%       86,391       77.2%  
Gross Profit     28,665       27.7%       25,448       22.8%  
Selling, General and Administrative Expense     29,210       28.2%       29,552       26.4%  
Operating Income     (545 )     -0.5%       (4,104 )     -3.7%  
Interest Expense, Net     (1,419 )     -1.4%       (1,292 )     -1.2%  
Other Income (Expense)     150       0.1%       (250 )     -0.2%  
Net Loss before Income taxes     (1,814 )     -1.8%       (5,646 )     -5.0%  
Benefit of Income Taxes     (49 )     0.0%       (1,714 )     1.5%  
Net Loss before Noncontrolling Interest     (1,765 )     -1.7%       (3,932 )     -3.5%  
Net Loss attributed to Noncontrolling Interest     314       0.3%       1,215       1.1%  
Net Loss attributed to ARCA   $ (1,451 )     -1.4%     $ (2,717 )     -2.4%  

 

The following tables set forth revenues for key product and service categories, percentages of total revenue and gross profits earned by key product and service categories and gross profit percent as compared to revenues for each key product category indicated:

 

    52 Weeks Ended     52 Weeks Ended  
    December 31, 2016     January 2, 2016  
    Net     Percent     Net     Percent  
(in the Thousands)   Revenue     of Total     Revenue     of Total  
Revenue                        
Retail Boxed   $ 40,569       39.2%     $ 40,602       36.3%  
Retail UnBoxed     17,719       17.1%       21,647       19.4%  
Retail Delivery     1,449       1.4%       1,416       1.3%  
Retail Service, Parts & Accessories     1,001       1.0%       996       0.9%  
Extended Warranties, net     813       0.8%       976       0.9%  
Recycling, Byproducts, Carbon Offset     28,541       27.6%       21,650       19.4%  
Replacement Appliances     13,497       13.0%       24,552       22.0%  
Total Revenue   $ 103,589       100.0%     $ 111,839       100.0%  

 

 

    52 Weeks Ended     52 Weeks Ended  
    December 31, 2016     January 2, 2016  
    Gross     Gross     Gross     Gross  
    Profit     Profit %     Profit     Profit %  
Gross Profit                                
Retail Boxed   $ 10,946       27.0%     $ 11,608       28.6%  
Retail UnBoxed     5,646       31.9%       6,908       31.9%  
Retail Delivery     (1,818 )     -125.5%       (2,460 )     -173.7%  
Retail Service, Parts & Accessories     737       73.6%       510       51.2%  
Extended Warranties, net     813       100.0%       976       100.0%  
Recycling, Byproducts, Carbon Offset     7,811       27.4%       206       1.0%  
Replacement Appliances     4,530       33.6%       7,700       31.4%  
Total Gross Profit   $ 28,665       27.7%     $ 25,448       22.8%  

 

 

 

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Revenue

 

Revenue decreased $8,250 or 7.4% for the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the 52 weeks ended January 2, 2016.

 

Revenue decreased in the following categories as compared to the prior year period:

 

Retail Boxed $33 or 0.1%, Retail Unboxed $3,928 or 18.1%, Extended Warranties, net $163 or 16.7% and Replacement Appliances $11,055 or 45.0%

 

The revenue decreases were partially offset by the following increases in revenue as compared to the prior year period:

 

Retail Delivery $33 or 2.3%, Retail Service, Parts and Accessories $5 or .5% and Recycling, Byproducts and Carbon offset $6,891 or 31.8%.

 

Cost of Revenue

 

Cost of revenue decreased $11,467, or 13.3% for the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the 52 weeks ended January 2, 2016, primarily as a result of the change in revenue discussed above as well as the changes in gross profit discussed below.

 

Gross Profit

 

Gross profit increased $3,217 or 12.6%, for the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the 52 weeks ended January 2, 2016.

 

Gross profit increased in the following categories as compared to the prior year period:

 

Retail Delivery $642 or 26.1%, Retail Service, Parts and Accessories $227 or 44.5% and Recycling, Byproducts and Carbon Offset $7,605 or 3691.7%.

 

Gross profit increases were partially offset by the following decreases in gross profit as compared to the prior year period.

 

Retail Boxed $662 or 5.7%, Retail Unboxed $1,262 or 18.3%, Extended Warranties, net $163 or 16.7%, Replacement Appliances $3,170 or 41.2%.

 

Gross profit margin as a percentage of sales were flat for Retail Unboxed and Extended warranties, net.

 

Gross profit margin as a percentage of sales were improved for Retail Service, Parts and Accessories 73.6% vs. 51.2%, Recycling, Byproducts and Carbon Offset 27.4% vs. 1.0%, Replacement Appliances 33.6% vs. 31.4%, and Retail Delivery -125.5% vs. -173.7%.

 

Gross profit margin as a percentage of sales declined for Retail Boxed 27.0% vs. 28.6%.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expense

 

Selling, general and administrative expense decreased $342 or 1.2%, for the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the 52 weeks ended January 2, 2016. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expense was primarily attributable to cost saving overhead measures by AAP and the reduction of retail’s advertising and occupancy expense offset by operating new ARCA Recycling centers.

 

Operating Income

 

As a result of the factors described above, operating loss of $545 for the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016, represented an improvement of $3,559 over the comparable prior 52 week period of $4,104.

 

 

 

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Interest Expense, net

 

Interest expense net increased $127 or 9.8%, for the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the 52 weeks ended January 2, 2016 primarily due to increased rates of interest paid on the PNC bank line of credit.

 

Other Income and Expense

 

Other income and expense increased $400 or 160.0%, for the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the 52 weeks ended January 2, 2016. The increase in other income and expense was primarily the result of the gain on currency.

 

Benefit of Income Taxes

 

Benefit of income taxes decreased $1,665 or 97.1%, for the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the 52 weeks ended January 2, 2016. The decrease in benefit of income taxes is primarily attributable to the decrease in pre-provision for income taxes loss and the application of statutory tax rates.

 

Net Loss

 

The factors described above led to a net loss of $1,451 for the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016, or a 46.6% improvement from a net loss of $2,717 for the 52 weeks ended January 2, 2016.

 

Segment Performance

 

We report our business in the following segments: Retail and Recycling. We identified these segments based on a combination of business type, customers serviced and how we divide management responsibility. Our revenues and profits are driven through our physical stores, our recycling centers, e-commerce, individual sales reps and our internet services.

 

Operating income (loss) by operating segment, is defined as income (loss) before net interest expense, other income and expense, provision for income taxes and income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest.

 

  52 Weeks Ended December 31, 2016     52 Weeks Ended January 2, 2016  
  Segments in $     Segments - $  
(in the Thousands)   Retail     Recycling     Total     Retail     Recycling     Total  
Revenue   $ 61,551     $ 42,038     $ 103,589     $ 65,637     $ 46,202     $ 111,839  
Cost of Revenue     45,227       29,697       74,924       48,095       38,296       86,391  
Gross Profit     16,324       12,341       28,665       17,542       7,906       25,448  
Selling, General and Administrative Expense     17,970       11,240       29,210       19,283       10,269       29,552  
Operating Income (Loss)   $ (1,646 )   $ 1,101     $ (545 )   $ (1,741 )   $ (2,363 )   $ (4,104 )

 

 

  52 Weeks Ended December 31, 2016     52 Weeks Ended January 2, 2016  
  Segments in %     Segments - %  
  Retail     Recycling     Total     Retail     Recycling     Total  
Revenue     100.0%       100.0%       100.0%       100.0%       100.0%       100.0%  
Cost of Revenue     73.5%       70.6%       72.3%       73.3%       82.9%       77.2%  
Gross Profit     26.5%       29.4%       27.7%       26.7%       17.1%       22.8%  
Selling, General and Administrative Expense     29.2%       26.7%       28.2%       29.4%       22.2%       26.4%  
Operating Income (Loss)     -2.7%       2.6%       -0.5%       -2.7%       -5.1%       -3.7%  

 

 

 

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Retail Segment

 

Segment results for Retail include ApplianceSmart. Revenue for the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016 decreased $4,086, or 6.2%, as compared to the prior year period, as a result of decreases in retail boxed $33 or 0.1%, retailed unboxed $3,928 or 18.1%, Extended warranties net $163 or 16.7%, partially offset by revenue increases in retail delivery $33 or 2.3% and retail services, parts and accessories $5 or 0.5%.

 

Cost of revenue for the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016 decreased $2,868 or 6.0%, compared to the prior year period, as a result of cost of revenue decreases for retail unboxed $2,666 or 18.1%, retail delivery $609 or 15.7%, retail service, parts and accessories $222 or 45.7%, partially offset by an increase in retail boxed of $629 or 2.2%.

 

Operating income for the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016 increased $95, as compared to the prior year period, as a result of decreased selling, general and administrative expense of $1,313, partially offset by a decrease in gross profit of $1,218.

 

Recycling Segment

 

Segment results for ARCA Recycling and AAP. Revenue for the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016 decreased by $4,164, or 9.0%, as compared to the prior year period, as a result of a decrease in replacement appliance revenue $11,055 or 45.0%, partially offset by an increase in recycling, byproducts and carbon offset of $6,891 or 31.8%.

 

Cost of revenue for the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016 decreased $8,599 or 22.5%, as compared to the prior year period; as a result of decreases in cost of revenue of replacement appliances $7,885 or 46.8% and recycling, byproducts, carbon offset $714 or 3.3%.

 

Operating income for the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016 increased $3,464, as compared to the prior year period; as a result of increased gross profit of $4,435, partially offset by an increase in selling, general and administrative expense of $971.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Overview

 

Based on our current operating plans, we believe that available cash balances, cash generated from our operating activities and funds available under our PNC Bank Revolver Loan - $15 million and or a replacement, an asset-based revolving credit facility will provide sufficient liquidity to fund our operations, our continued investments in store openings and remodeling activities for at least the next 12 months. It is the company’s intention to refinance and replace the PNC Bank Revolver loan facility and not renew it past maturity of May 1, 2017.

 

As of December 31, 2016, we had total cash on hand of $968 and an additional $3,234 of available borrowing under the PNC Bank Revolver Loan. As we continue to pursue strategic transactions to expand and grow our business, we regularly monitor capital market conditions and may raise additional funds through borrowings or public or private sales of debt or equity securities. The amount, nature and timing of any borrowings or sales of debt or equity securities will depend on our operating performance and other circumstances; our then-current commitments and obligations; the amount, nature and timing of our capital requirements; any limitations imposed by our current credit arrangements; and overall market conditions.

 

Cash Flows

 

During the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016, cash provided by operations was $2,659, compared to cash used in operations of $3,409 during the 52 weeks ended January 2, 2016. The increase in cash provided by operations of $6,068 as compared to the prior period; was primarily due to a decrease in net loss of $2,167, an increase in amortization of deferred financing costs $78, an increase in deferred income taxes $515, an increase in other $20, an increase in changes in current assets and liabilities of $3,365; partially offset by a decrease in share based compensation of $71 and a decrease in depreciation and amortization of $6. An increase in cash provided by changes in current assets and liabilities of $3,365 was provided from a decrease in accounts receivable $1,596, a decrease in inventories $1,062, a decrease in income taxes receivable $1,546 and a decrease in other current assets of $101; partially offset by a decrease in cash provided by accounts payable and accrued expenses of $940.

 

Cash used in investing activities was $412 and $949 for the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016 and the 52 weeks ended January 2, 2016, respectively. The $537 decrease in cash used in investing activities, as compared to the prior period, is primarily attributable to a decrease in purchases of property and equipment of $29, a decrease in restricted cash of $500, a decrease in other investing activities $15; partially offset by a decrease in the proceeds from the sale of property and equipment $7.

 

Cash used by financing activities was $3,224 and provided by financing activities of $3,012 for the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016 and the 52 weeks ended January 2, 2016, respectively. The $6,236 decrease in cash provided/used by financing activities, as compared to the prior period, was attributable to increased payments on the line of credit $5,766, increased payments on debt obligations $184, decrease in new loan proceeds for debt obligations of $125, increase in debt issuance costs of $148; partially offset by an increase in tax deficiency related to share-based compensation of $11, and a decrease from the proceeds from issuance of common stock of $24.

 

 

 

 

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Sources of Liquidity

 

We utilize cash on hand and cash generated from operations and have funds available to us under our revolving loan facility with PNC Bank to cover normal and seasonal fluctuations in cash flows and to support our various growth initiatives. Our cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost and consist primarily of demand deposits with commercial banks.

 

PNC Bank Revolver

 

ARCA may borrow funds for operations under the PNC Bank Revolver loan subject to availability as described in Note 6. On December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016 – we had $3,234 and $1,382 of additional borrowing availability on the PNC Bank Revolver, respectively. Maximum borrowing under the PNC Bank Revolver is $15 million. A total of approximately $750 of letters of credit was outstanding at December 31, 2016. The weighted average interest rate for the period of January 2, 2016 through December 31, 2016 was 9.00%. We borrowed $96,900 and repaid $99,235 on the PNC Bank Revolver during the 52 weeks ended December 31, 2016; leaving an outstanding balance on the PNC Revolver of $10,333 and $12,668 at December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016, respectively. As disclosed by the Company in Item 2.01 of its Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 31, 2017, the Company sold and leased back its Compton building over an initial lease term of six months which can be terminated with a 30 day notice. The net proceeds from the sale were used to reduce the outstanding balance under our revolving credit agreement to $5,752.

 

Future Sources of Cash; New Acquisitions, Products and Services

 

We may require additional debt financing and or capital to finance new acquisitions, refinance existing indebtedness or other strategic investments in our business. Other sources of financing may include stock issuances and additional loans; or other forms of financing. Any financing obtained may further dilute or otherwise impair the ownership interest of our existing stockholders.

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

 

Other than operating leases, we do not have any off balance sheet financing.  A summary of our operating lease obligations by fiscal year is included in “Note 9. Commitments and Contingencies” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

Application of Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our discussion of the financial condition and results of operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of any contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Management regularly reviews its estimates and assumptions, which are based on historical factors and other factors believed to be relevant under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions, estimates or conditions.

 

Critical accounting policies are defined as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties and potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. See Note 2 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional disclosure of the application of these and other accounting policies.

 

Inventories . Our inventories, consisting principally of appliances, are stated at the lower of cost, determined on a specific identification basis, or market. We provide estimated provisions for the obsolescence of our appliance inventories, including adjustments to market, based on various factors, including the age of such inventory and our management’s assessment of the need for such provisions. We look at historical inventory aging’s and margin analyses in determining our provision estimate. Historically, our actual experience has not differed significantly from our estimates.

 

Long-Lived Assets . We review our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that our carrying value of long-lived assets may not be recoverable. Long-lived assets are considered not recoverable when the carrying amount of a long-lived asset (asset group) exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset (asset group). If it is determined that a long-lived asset (asset group) is not recoverable, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the excess of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset (asset group) over the long-lived assets (asset group's) fair value. Fair value is the amount at which the long-lived asset (asset group) could be bought or sold in a current transaction between a willing buyer and seller, other than in a forced or liquidation sale.

 

 

 

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Income Taxes . We account for income taxes under the liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are recognized for temporary differences that will result in taxable amounts in future years. Deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences and tax operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the periods in which the deferred tax asset or liability is expected to be realized or settled. We assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amounts we believe to be realizable. We regularly evaluate both positive and negative evidence related to either recording or retaining a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets.

 

Share-Based Compensation . We recognize compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period for all share-based awards granted.  We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of awards at the grant date. We calculate the expected volatility for stock options and awards using historical volatility. We estimate a 0%-5% forfeiture rate for stock options issued to employees and Board of Directors members, but will continue to review these estimates in future periods. The risk-free rates for the expected terms of the stock options are based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The expected life represents the period that the stock option awards are expected to be outstanding. The expected dividend yield is zero as we have not paid or declared any cash dividends on our common stock.

 

Revenue Recognition . We recognize revenue from appliance sales in the period the consumer purchases and pays for the appliance, net of an allowance for estimated returns. We recognize revenue from appliance recycling when we collect and process a unit. We recognize revenue generated from appliance replacement programs when we deliver the new appliance and collect and process the old appliance. The delivery, collection and processing activities under our replacement programs typically occur within one business day and are required to complete the earnings process; there are no other performance obligations. We recognize byproduct revenue upon shipment. We recognize revenue on extended warranties with retained service obligations on a straight-line basis over the period of the warranty. On extended warranty arrangements that we sell but others service for a fixed portion of the warranty sales price, we recognize revenue for the net amount retained at the time of sale of the extended warranty to the consumer. As a result of our recycling processes, we are able to produce carbon offsets from the destruction of certain types of ozone-depleting refrigerants. We record revenue from the sale of carbon offsets in the period when all of the following requirements have been met: (i) there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, (ii) the sales price is fixed or determinable, (iii) title, ownership and risk of loss associated with the credits have been transferred to the customer, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured. These requirements are met upon collection of cash due to the uncertainty around collectability and the involvement of various third parties and partner. We include shipping and handling charges to customers in revenue, which are recognized in the period the consumer purchases and pays for delivery. The application of our revenue recognition policy does not involve significant uncertainties and is not subject to accounting estimates or assumptions having significant sensitivity to change.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Statements contained in this annual report regarding our future operations, performance and results, and anticipated liquidity are forward-looking and, therefore, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those discussed herein.  Any forward-looking information regarding our operations will be affected primarily by individual retail store profitability, the volume of appliance sales, the strength of energy conservation recycling and replacement programs and general economic conditions affecting consumer demand for appliances. Any forward-looking information will also be affected by our continued ability to purchase product from our suppliers at acceptable prices, the ability of individual retail stores to meet planned revenue levels, the number of retail stores, costs and expenses being realized at higher-than-expected levels, our ability to secure an adequate supply of special-buy appliances for resale, the ability to secure appliance recycling and replacement contracts with sponsors of energy efficiency programs, the ability of customers to supply units under their recycling contracts with us, the performance of our consolidated variable interest entity, the volatility of the scrap metals and other byproducts prices that we sell, the continued availability of our current line of credit and the outcome of the pending sales and use tax examination in California.

 

 

 

  26  

 

 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Market Risk and Impact of Inflation

 

Interest Rate Risk . We do not believe there is any significant risk related to interest rate fluctuations on our long-term fixed-rate debt. There is interest rate risk on the revolving line of credit, PNC term loan and Susquehanna term loans, since our interest rate floats with prime and LIBOR. The outstanding balance on our floating rate debt as of December 31, 2016, was approximately $14.6 million. Based on average floating rate borrowings of $15.9 million, a hypothetical 100 basis point change in the applicable interest rate would have caused our interest expense to change by approximately $0.2 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk . We currently generate revenues in Canada. The reporting currency for our consolidated financial statements is U.S. dollars.  It is not possible to determine the exact impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes; however, the effect on reported revenue and net earnings can be estimated. We estimate that the overall strength of the U.S. dollar against the Canadian dollar had an immaterial impact on the revenues and net income for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.  We do not currently hedge foreign currency fluctuations and do not intend to do so for the foreseeable future.

 

We do not hold any derivative financial instruments; nor do we hold any securities for trading or speculative purposes.

 

ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA  

 

Description   Page  
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms     28  
         
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016     29  
         
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016
    30  
         
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016     31  
         
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016     32  
         
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements     34  

 

 

 

 

  27  

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors

Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.

175 Jackson Ave. N. Ste. 102

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55343

 

Report on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2016, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements

 

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

 

Auditor’s Responsibility

 

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement.

 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.

 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

 

Opinion

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company, at December 31, 2016, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Anton & Chia, LLP
 
 
Newport Beach, California
March 31, 2017

 

 

 

 

  28  

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Shareholders, Audit Committee and Board of Directors

Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of January 2, 2016 and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the year then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. The company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of its internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management as well as evaluating the overall consolidated financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of January 2, 2016 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP

 

 

Minneapolis, Minnesota

April 1, 2016

 

 

 

 

  29  

 

 

APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In Thousands)

 

    December 31,
2016
    January 2,
2016
 
ASSETS                
Current assets:                
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 968     $ 1,969  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $54 and $73, respectively     10,509       11,536  
Inventories     16,291       16,733  
Income taxes receivable     16       1,126  
Other current assets     761       1,350  
Total current assets     28,545       32,714  
Property and equipment, net     10,116       10,985  
Restricted cash     500       500  
Other assets     614       596  
Deferred income tax assets     2,081       1,984  
Total assets (a)   $ 41,856     $ 46,779  
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable   $ 6,143     $ 7,019  
Accrued expenses     8,888       8,934  
Line of credit     10,333       12,668  
Current maturities of long-term obligations     2,093       1,251  
Total current liabilities     27,457       29,872  
Long-term obligations, less current maturities     2,826       4,506  
Other noncurrent liabilities     364       357  
Total liabilities (a)     30,647       34,735  
                 
Commitments and contingencies                
                 
Shareholders’ equity:                
Common Stock, no par value; 50,000 shares authorized, 6,655 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016; 10,000 shares authorized, 5,901 shares issued and outstanding at January 2, 2016     22,405       21,466  
Accumulated deficit     (11,028 )     (9,577 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (574 )     (565 )
Total shareholders’ equity     10,803       11,324  
Noncontrolling interest     406       720  
      11,209       12,044  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 41,856     $ 46,779  

 

(a) Assets of AAP, the consolidated variable interest entity, that can only be used to settle obligations of AAP were $7,843 and $8,915 as of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016, respectively. Liabilities of AAP, for which creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of ARCA, were $2,180 and $2,838 as of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016, respectively.

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 

  30  

 

 

APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

    For the fiscal years ended  
    December 31,
2016
    January 2,
2016
 
Revenues:            
Retail   $ 61,551     $ 65,637  
Recycling     31,677       35,878  
Byproduct     10,361       10,324  
Total revenues     103,589       111,839  
Cost of revenues     74,924       86,391  
Gross profit     28,665       25,448  
Selling, general and administrative expenses     29,210       29,552  
Operating loss     (545 )     (4,104 )
Other expense:                
Interest expense, net     (1,419 )     (1,292 )
Other expense, net     150       (250 )
Loss before income taxes and noncontrolling interest     (1,814 )     (5,646 )
Benefit of income taxes     (49 )     (1,714 )
Net loss     (1,765 )     (3,932 )
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest     314       1,215  
Net loss attributable to controlling interest   $ (1,451 )   $ (2,717 )
                 
Loss per common share:                
Basic   $ (0.24 )   $ (0.47 )
Diluted   $ (0.23 )   $ (0.47 )
                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:                
Basic     6,054       5,833  
Diluted     6,221       5,833  
                 
Net loss   $ (1,765 )   $ (3,932 )
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:                
Effect of foreign currency translation adjustments     (9 )     110  
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax     (9 )     110  
Comprehensive loss     (1,774 )     (3,822 )
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest     314       1,215  
Comprehensive loss attributable to controlling interest   $ (1,460 )   $ (2,607 )

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 

  31  

 

 

APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

(In Thousands)

 

 
                Accumulated                    
                Other                    
    Common Stock     Comprehensive     Accumulated     Noncontrolling        
    Shares     Amount     Loss     Deficit     Interest     Total  
Balance at January 3, 2015     5,788     $ 21,137     $ (675 )   $ (6,860 )   $ 1,935     $ 15,537  
Net loss                       (2,717 )     (1,215 )     (3,932 )
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax                 110                   110  
Issuance of Common Stock     13       24                         24  
Tax deficiency related to share-based compensation           (11 )                       (11 )
Share-based compensation     100       316                         316  
Balance at January 2, 2016     5,901       21,466       (565 )     (9,577 )     720       12,044  
Net loss                       (1,451 )     (314 )     (1,765 )
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax                 (9 )                 (9 )
Issuance of Common Stock     704       694                         694  
Share-based compensation     50       245                         245  
Balance at December 31, 2016     6,655     $ 22,405     $ (574 )   $ (11,028 )   $ 406     $ 11,209  

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 

  32  

 

 

 

APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands)

 

    For the fiscal years ended  
    December 31,
2016
    January 2,
2016
 
Operating activities                
Net loss   $ (1,765 )   $ (3,932 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities:                
Depreciation and amortization     1,264       1,270  
Share-based compensation     245       316  
Amortization of deferred financing costs     185       107  
Deferred income taxes     (97 )     (612 )
Other     15       (5 )
Changes in assets and liabilities:                
Accounts receivable     1,012       (584 )
Inventories     442       (620 )
Income taxes receivable     1,132       (414 )
Other current assets     167       66  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses     59       999  
Net cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities     2,659       (3,409 )
                 
Investing activities                
Purchases of property and equipment     (375 )     (404 )
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash           (500 )
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment           7  
Other     (37 )     (52 )
Net cash flows used in investing activities     (412 )     (949 )
                 
Financing activities                
Net (payments) borrowings under line of credit     (2,335 )     3,431  
Payments on debt obligations     (941 )     (757 )
Proceeds from issuance of debt obligations     200       325  
Debt Issuance Costs     (148 )      
Tax deficiency related to share-based compensation           (11 )
Proceeds from issuance of common stock           24  
Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities     (3,224 )     3,012  
                 
Effect of changes in exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents     (24 )     (208 )
                 
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents     (1,001 )     (1,554 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year     1,969       3,523  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year   $ 968     $ 1,969  

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 

  33  

 

 

APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands)

 

    For the fiscal years ended  
    December 31,
2016
    January 2,
2016
 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information            
Cash payments for interest   $ 1,054     $ 970  
Cash refunds for income taxes   $ (874 )   $ (694 )
                 
Non-cash investing and financing activities                
Debt issuance costs related to credit agreement renewal   $ 63     $  
Debt issuance costs paid through the issuance of common stock   $ 694     $  

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  34  

 

 

APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

1.             Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation

 

Nature of business : Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. and subsidiaries (“we,” the “Company” or “ARCA”) are in the business of providing turnkey appliance recycling and replacement services for electric utilities and other sponsors of energy efficiency programs. We also sell new major household appliances through a chain of Company-owned stores under the name ApplianceSmart ® . In addition, we have a 50% interest in a joint venture operating under the name ARCA Advanced Processing, LLC (“AAP”), which recycles appliances in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.

 

Principles of consolidation : The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. and our subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

ApplianceSmart, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary that was formed through a corporate reorganization in July 2011 to hold our business of selling new major household appliances through a chain of Company-owned retail stores. ARCA Canada Inc., a Canadian corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary that was formed in September 2006 to provide turnkey recycling services for electric utility energy efficiency programs. ARCA Recycling, Inc., a California corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary that was formed in November 1991 to provide turnkey recycling services for electric utility efficiency programs. Customer Connexx, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company, is a wholly owned subsidiary formed in October 13, 2016 to provide call center services for electric utility programs. The operating results of our wholly owned subsidiaries are consolidated in our financial statements.

 

AAP is a joint venture that was formed in October 2009 between ARCA and 4301 Operations, LLC (“4301”). Both ARCA and 4301 have a 50% interest in AAP. AAP established a regional processing center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at which the recyclable appliances are processed. AAP commenced operations in February 2010. The financial position and results of operations of AAP are consolidated in our financial statements based on our conclusion that AAP is a variable interest entity due to our contribution in excess of 50% of the total equity, subordinated debt and other forms of financial support. We have a controlling financial interest in AAP and have provided substantially all of the financial support to fund the operations of AAP since its inception.

 

Estimates : The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant items subject to estimates and assumptions include the valuation allowances for accounts receivable, inventories, deferred tax assets, accrued expenses, and the assumptions we use to value share-based compensation. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Fair value of financial instruments : The following methods and assumptions are used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument:

 

Cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable: Due to their nature and short-term maturities, the carrying amounts approximate fair value.

 

Short- and long-term debt: The fair value of short- and long-term debt approximates carrying value and has been estimated based on discounted cash flows using interest rates being offered for similar debt having the same or similar remaining maturities and collateral requirements.

 

No separate comparison of fair values versus carrying values is presented for the aforementioned financial instruments since their fair values are not significantly different than their balance sheet carrying amounts. In addition, the aggregate fair values of the financial instruments would not represent the underlying value of our Company.

 

Fiscal year : We report on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year. Both our 2016 fiscal year (“2016”) ended on December 31, 2016, and our 2015 fiscal year (“2015”) ended on January 2, 2016, included 52 weeks.

 

 

 

  35  

 

 

2.             Significant Accounting Policies

 

Cash and cash equivalents : We consider all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturity dates of three months or less to be cash equivalents. We maintain our cash in bank deposit and money-market accounts, which, at times, exceed federally insured limits. We have determined that the fair value of the money-market accounts fall within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. We have not experienced any losses in such accounts.

 

Trade receivables : We carry unsecured trade receivables at the original invoice amount less an estimate made for doubtful accounts based on a monthly review of all outstanding amounts. Management determines the allowance for doubtful accounts by regularly evaluating individual customer receivables and considering a customer’s financial condition, credit history and current economic conditions. We write off trade receivables when we deem them uncollectible. We record recoveries of trade receivables previously written off when we receive them. We consider a trade receivable to be past due if any portion of the receivable balance is outstanding for more than ninety days. We do not charge interest on past due receivables. Our management considers the allowance for doubtful accounts of $54 and $73 to be adequate to cover any exposure to loss as of December 31, 2016, and January 2, 2016, respectively.

 

Inventories : Inventories, consisting principally of appliances, are stated at the lower of cost, determined on a specific identification basis, or market and consist of the following as of December 31, 2016, and January 2, 2016:

 

    December 31,
2016
    January 2,
2016
 
Appliances held for resale   $ 16,146     $ 16,360  
Processed metals to be sold from recycled appliances     139       367  
Other     6       6  
Total Inventories   $ 16,291     $ 16,733  

 

We provide estimated provisions for the obsolescence of our appliance inventories, including adjustments to market, based on various factors, including the age of such inventory and our management’s assessment of the need for such provisions.  We look at historical inventory aging reports and margin analyses in determining our provision estimate. A revised cost basis is used once a provision for obsolescence is recorded.

 

Property and equipment : Property and equipment are stated at cost. We compute depreciation using straight-line method over a range of estimated useful lives from 3 to 30 years.

 

We amortize leasehold improvements on a straight-line basis over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the underlying lease term.  Repair and maintenance costs are charged to operations as incurred.

 

Property and equipment consists of the following as of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016:

 

    Useful Life
(Years)
    December 31,
2016
    January 2,
2016
 
Land         $ 1,140     $ 1,140  
Buildings and improvements     18-30       3,780       3,714  
Equipment (including computer software)     3-15       19,260       19,040  
Projects under construction           204       143  
Property and equipment             24,384       24,037  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization             (14,268 )     (13,052 )
Property and equipment, net           $ 10,116     $ 10,985  

 

Depreciation and amortization expense : Depreciation and amortization expense related to buildings and equipment from our recycling centers is presented in cost of revenues, and depreciation and amortization expense related to buildings and equipment from our ApplianceSmart stores and corporate assets, such as furniture and computers, is presented in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Depreciation and amortization expense was $1,264 and $1,270 for fiscal years 2016 and 2015, respectively. Depreciation and amortization included in cost of revenues was $873 and $846 for fiscal years 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

 

 

 

  36  

 

 

Software development costs : We capitalize software developed for internal use and are amortizing such costs over their estimated useful lives of three years. Costs capitalized were $159 and $118 for fiscal years 2016 and 2015, respectively. Amortization expense on software development costs was $129 and $117 for fiscal years 2016 and 2015, respectively. Estimated future amortization expense is as follows:

 

Fiscal year 2017   $ 118  
Fiscal year 2018     73  
Fiscal year 2019     24  
    $ 215  

 

Impairment of long-lived assets : We evaluate long-lived assets such as property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. We assess impairment based on the estimated future net undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets, including cash flows from disposition. Should the sum of the expected future net cash flows be less than the carrying value, we recognize an impairment loss at that time. We measure an impairment loss by comparing the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value (estimated discounted future cash flows or appraisal of assets) of the long-lived assets. We recognized no impairment charges during fiscal years 2016 and 2015 related to long-lived assets.

 

Restricted cash : Restricted cash consisted of a reserve required by our bankcard processor to cover chargebacks, adjustments, fees and other charges that may be due from us. As of December 31, 2016, we had restricted cash of $500.

 

Goodwill : We test goodwill annually for impairment. Additionally, goodwill is tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more-likely-than-not reduce the fair value of an entity below its carrying value. In assessing the recoverability of goodwill, market values and projections regarding estimated future cash flows and other factors are used to determine the fair value of the respective assets. If these estimates or related projections change in the future, we may be required to record impairment charges for these assets. We allocate goodwill to our two reporting segments, retail and recycling. We compare the fair value of each reporting segment to its carrying amount on an annual basis to determine if there is potential goodwill impairment. If the fair value of a reporting segment is less than its carrying value, an impairment loss is recorded to the extent that the fair value of the goodwill within the reporting unit is less than the carrying value of its goodwill. To determine the fair value of our reporting segments, we generally use a present value technique (discounted cash flow) corroborated by market multiples when available and as appropriate. The factor most sensitive to change with respect to the discounted cash flow analyses is the estimated future cash flows of each reporting segment, which is, in turn, sensitive to the estimates of future revenue growth and margins for these businesses. If actual revenue growth and/or margins are lower than expectations, the impairment test results could differ. Fair value for goodwill is determined based on discounted cash flows, market multiples or appraised values as appropriate. As of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016, we had goodwill of $38 allocated to our recycling segment which is presented as a component of other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

 

Accounting for leases : We conduct the majority of our retail and recycling operations from leased facilities.  The majority of our leases require payment of real estate taxes, insurance and common area maintenance in addition to rent. The terms of our lease agreements typically range from five to ten years. Most of the leases contain renewal and escalation clauses, and certain store leases require contingent rents based on factors such as revenue. For leases that contain predetermined fixed escalations of the minimum rent, we recognize the related rent expense on a straight-line basis from the date we take possession of the property to the end of the initial lease term. We record any difference between straight-line rent amounts and amounts payable under the leases as part of accrued rent in accrued expenses, a portion of which is included in other non-current liabilities. Cash or lease incentives (tenant allowances) received upon entering into certain store leases are recognized on a straight-line basis as a reduction to rent from the date we take possession of the property through the end of the initial lease term.

 

Product warranty : We provide a warranty for the replacement or repair of certain defective appliances.  Our standard warranty policy requires us to repair or replace certain defective units at no cost to our customers. We estimate the costs that may be incurred under our warranty and record an accrual in the amount of such costs at the time we recognize product revenue. Factors that affect our warranty accrual for covered units include the number of units sold, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims on these units, and the cost of such claims. We periodically assess the adequacy of our recorded warranty accrual and adjust the amounts as necessary.

 

 

 

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Changes in our warranty accrual, presented as a component of accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016 are as follows:

 

    For the fiscal years ended  
    December 31,
2016
    January 2,
2016
 
Beginning balance   $ 42     $ 30  
Standard accrual based on units sold     17       45  
Actual costs incurred     (16 )     (16 )
Periodic accrual adjustments     (17 )     (17 )
Ending balance   $ 26     $ 42  

 

Income taxes : We account for income taxes under the liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are recognized for temporary differences that will result in taxable amounts in future years. Deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences and tax operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the periods in which the deferred tax asset or liability is expected to be realized or settled. We assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amounts we believe to be realizable. We regularly evaluate both positive and negative evidence related to either recording or retaining a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets.

 

Share-based compensation : We recognize share-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period for all share-based awards granted. We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of awards at the grant date. We calculate the expected volatility for stock options and awards using historical volatility. We estimate a 0%-5% forfeiture rate for stock options issued to employees and Board of Directors members, but will continue to review these estimates in future periods. The risk-free rates for the expected terms of the stock options are based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The expected life represents the period that the stock option awards are expected to be outstanding. The expected dividend yield is zero as we have not paid or declared any cash dividends on our common stock.

 

Comprehensive income (loss) : Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to revenues, expenses, gains and losses that under generally accepted accounting principles are included in comprehensive income (loss) but are excluded from net income (loss) as these amounts are recorded directly as an adjustment to shareholders’ equity. Our other comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of foreign currency translation adjustments.

 

Foreign Currency: The financial statements of the Company's non-U.S. subsidiary are translated into U.S. dollars in accordance with ASC 830, Foreign Currency Matters . Under ASC 830, if the assets and liabilities of the Company are recorded in certain non-U.S. functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar, they are translated at current rates of exchange. Revenue and expense items are translated at the average exchange rates. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded directly into accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). In addition, due to increases in the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar we experienced foreign currency transaction gains included in other expense of approximately $32 in 2016 and foreign currency transaction losses included in other expense of approximately $380 in 2015.

 

Revenue recognition : We recognize revenue from appliance sales in the period the consumer purchases and pays for the appliance, net of an allowance for estimated returns. We recognize revenue from appliance recycling when we collect and process a unit. We recognize revenue generated from appliance replacement programs when we deliver the new appliance and collect and process the old appliance. The delivery, collection and processing activities under our replacement programs typically occur within one business day and are required to complete the earnings process; there are no other performance obligations. We recognize byproduct revenue upon shipment. We recognize revenue on extended warranties with retained service obligations on a straight-line basis over the period of the warranty. On extended warranty arrangements that we sell but others service for a fixed portion of the warranty sales price, we recognize revenue for the net amount retained at the time of sale of the extended warranty to the consumer. As a result of our recycling processes, we are able to produce carbon offsets from the destruction of certain types of ozone-depleting refrigerants. We record revenue from the sale of carbon offsets in the period when all of the following requirements have been met: (i) there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, (ii) the sales price is fixed or determinable, (iii) title, ownership and risk of loss associated with the credits have been transferred to the customer, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured. These requirements are met upon collection of cash due to the uncertainty around collectability and the involvement of various third parties and partners. We include shipping and handling charges to customers in revenue, which are recognized in the period the consumer purchases and pays for delivery.

 

 

 

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Retail segment cost of revenues : Costs of revenues in our retail segment are comprised primarily of the following:

· Purchase of appliance inventories, including freight to and from our distribution centers.
· Shipping, receiving and distribution of appliance inventories to our retail stores, including employee compensation and benefits.
· Delivery and service of appliances, including employee compensation and benefits, after the appliances are sold to the consumer.
· Early payment discounts and allowances offered by appliance manufacturers.
· Inventory markdowns.

 

Recycling segment cost of revenues : Costs of revenues in our recycling segment are comprised primarily of the following:

· Transportation costs, including employee compensation and benefits, related to collecting appliances for recycling and delivering appliances under our replacement programs.
· Purchase of appliance inventories, including freight to our recycling center warehouses, early payment discounts, and warehousing costs for appliances used in our replacement programs.
· Occupancy costs related to our recycling centers.
· Processing costs, including employee compensation and benefits, related to recycling and processing appliances.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses : Selling, general and administrative expenses are comprised primarily of the following:

· Employee compensation and benefits related to management, corporate services, and retail sales;
· Outside and outsourced corporate service fees including legal expenses and professional service fees;
· Occupancy costs related to our retail stores and corporate office;
· Advertising costs;
· Bank charges and costs associated with credit and debit card interchange fees; and
· Other administrative costs, such as supplies, travel and lodging. 

 

Advertising expense : Our policy is to expense advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expense was $1,124 and $1,822 for fiscal years 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

Taxes collected from customers : We account for taxes collected from customers on a net basis.

 

Basic and diluted income (loss) per common share: Basic income (loss) per common share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  Diluted income (loss) per common share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding adjusted by the number of additional shares that would have been outstanding had the potentially dilutive common shares been issued. Potentially dilutive shares of Common Stock include unexercised stock options and warrants. Basic per share amounts are computed, generally, by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted per share amounts assume the conversion, exercise or issuance of all potential Common Stock instruments unless their effect is anti-dilutive, thereby reducing the loss or increasing the income per common share. In calculating diluted weighted average shares and per share amounts, we included stock options with exercise prices below average market prices, for the respective fiscal years in which they were dilutive, using the Treasury stock method. We calculated the number of additional shares by assuming that the outstanding stock options were exercised and that the proceeds from such exercises were used to acquire common stock at the average market price during the year. For fiscal year 2016, we excluded options and warrants covering 900 common shares from the diluted weighted average share outstanding calculation as the effect of these options and warrants is anti-dilutive. For fiscal year 2015, we excluded options and warrants covering 726 common shares from the diluted weighted average share outstanding calculation as the effect of these options and warrant is anti-dilutive.

 

 

 

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A reconciliation of the denominator in the basic and diluted income (loss) per share is as follows:

 

    For the fiscal year ended  
    December 31,
2016
    January 2,
2016
 
Numerator:            
Net loss attributable to controlling interest   $ (1,451 )   $ (2,717 )
Denominator:                
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic     6,054       5,833  
Warrants     167        
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted     6,221       5,833  
                 
Net loss per common share:                
Basic   $ (0.24 )   $ (0.47 )
Diluted   $ (0.23 )   $ (0.47 )

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements- New Accounting Standards Not Yet Effective:

 

Revenue from Contracts with Customers: In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance creating Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Section 606, “ Revenue from Contracts with Customers ”. The new section will replace Section 605, “ Revenue Recognition ” and creates modifications to various other revenue accounting standards for specialized transactions and industries. The section is intended to conform revenue accounting principles with a concurrently issued International Financial Reporting Standards with previously differing treatment between United States practice and those of much of the rest of the world, as well as, to enhance disclosures related to disaggregated revenue information. The updated guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company will further study the implications of this statement in order to evaluate the expected impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs: This standard, which will be effective January 3, 2016 for the Company, requires that debt issuance costs be presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of long-term debt on the balance sheet. The new guidance aligns the presentation of debt issuance costs with debt discounts and premiums. The standard is to be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented. The company has adopted this standard in the fourth quarter of 2016. As of December 31, 2016, and January 2, 2016, we had $779 and $67, respectively, of unamortized debt issuance costs recorded and/or reclassified as a direct deduction from the carrying value of long-term debt on our balance sheets.

 

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330) Related to Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory which applies to all inventory except that which is measured using last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method. Inventory measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost is included in the new amendments. Inventory within the scope of the new guidance should be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Subsequent measurement is unchanged for inventory measured using LIFO or the retail inventory method. The amendments will take effect for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The new guidance should be applied prospectively, and earlier application is permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. We are evaluating the impact of the standard on the consolidated financial statements.

 

I n February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “ Leases .” ASU No. 2016-02 was issued to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing all lease transactions (with terms in excess of 12 months) on the balance sheet as a lease liability and a right-of-use asset (as defined). ASU No. 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with earlier application permitted. Upon adoption, the lessee will apply the new standard retrospectively to all periods presented or retrospectively using a cumulative effect adjustment in the year of adoption. The Company is currently assessing the effect that ASU No. 2016-02 will have on its results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

 

 

 

 

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3.              Variable Interest Entity

 

The financial position and results of operations of AAP are consolidated in our financial statements based on our conclusion that AAP is a variable interest entity due to our contribution of 50% of the total equity, subordinated debt and other forms of financial support. We have a controlling financial interest in AAP and have provided substantially all of the financial support to fund the operations of AAP since its inception. The financial position and results of operations for AAP are reported in our recycling segment.

 

The following table summarizes the assets and liabilities of AAP as of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016:

 

    December 31,
20 16
    January 2,
2016
 
Assets                
Current assets   $ 438     $ 696  
Property and equipment, net     7,322       8,077  
Other assets     83       142  
Total assets   $ 7,843     $ 8,915  
Liabilities                
Accounts payable   $ 1,388     $ 2,342  
Accrued expenses     523       399  
Current maturities of long-term debt obligations     3,558       946  
Long-term debt obligations, net of current maturities     435       3,498  
Other liabilities (a)     1,126       289  
Total liabilities   $ 7,030     $ 7,474  

 

(a) Other liabilities represent outstanding loans from ARCA and are eliminated in consolidation.

 

The following table summarizes the operating results of AAP for fiscal years 2016 and 2015:

 

    For the fiscal years ended  
    December 31,
2016
    January 2,
2016
 
Revenues   $ 6,697     $ 6,838  
Gross profit (loss)     1,305       (280 )
Operating loss     (363 )     (2,205 )

 

4.             Other Assets

 

Other assets as of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016, consist of the following:

 

    Decemb er 31,
2016
    January 2,
2016
 
Deposits   $ 453     $ 416  
Other     104       122  
Recycling contract, net     19       20  
Goodwill     38       38  
Total other assets   $ 614     $ 596  

 

For fiscal years 2016 and 2015, we recorded amortization expense of $21 and $80, respectively, related to our finite intangible assets.

 

 

 

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5.              Accrued Expenses

 

Accrued expenses as of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016, consist of the following:

 

    December 31,
2016
    January 2,
2016
 
Sales tax estimates, including interest   $ 4,203     $ 4,804  
Compensation and benefits     2,431       1,446  
Accrued rebate and incentive checks     358       293  
Accrued rent     263       235  
Warranty     26       42  
Accrued payables     570       749  
Deferred revenue     227       413  
Other     810       952  
Total accrued expenses   $ 8,888     $ 8,934  

 

6.             Line of Credit

 

We have a Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, as amended, (“Revolving Credit Agreement”) with PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC”) that provides us with a $15,000 revolving line of credit. See Note 7 for further discussion regarding the Term Loan entered into with PNC. The Revolving Credit Agreement had a stated maturity date of January 31, 2017, and was amended on January 31, 2017. Our financial covenants were reset in connection with this amendment. The renewed Revolving Credit Agreement has an amended maturity of May 1, 2017. The Revolving Credit Agreement includes a lockbox agreement and a subjective acceleration clause and, as a result, we have classified the revolving line of credit as a current liability. The Revolving Credit Agreement is collateralized by a security interest in substantially all of our assets, and PNC is also secured by an inventory repurchase agreement with Whirlpool Corporation for Whirlpool purchases only. We also issued a $750 letter of credit in favor of Whirlpool Corporation. The Revolving Credit Agreement requires, starting with the fiscal quarter ending March 30, 2014, and continuing at the end of each quarter thereafter, that we meet a minimum earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and/or a fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.1 to 1.0. The Revolving Credit Agreement limits investments we can purchase, the amount of other debt and leases we can incur, the amount of loans we can issue to our affiliates and the amount we can spend on fixed assets, along with prohibiting the payment of dividends. In the January 31, 2017 amendment, the affiliate loan balance is to be capped at $900 on December 31, 2016, and thereafter. As of December 31, 2016, we were not in compliance with certain covenants of the Revolving Credit Agreement which were subsequently waived with the January 31, 2017 amendment. As of January 2, 2016, we were not in compliance with certain covenants of the Revolving Credit Agreement which were subsequently waived with the January 22, 2016 renewal.

 

The interest rate on the Revolving Credit Agreement, in our renewal agreement on January 31, 2017, is PNC Base Rate plus 1.75% to 3.25%, or 1-, 2- or 3-month PNC LIBOR Rate plus 2.75% to 4.25%, with the rate being dependent on our level of fixed charge coverage. The PNC Base Rate shall mean, for any day, a fluctuating per annum rate of interest equal to the highest of (i) the interest rate per annum announced from time to time by PNC at its prime rate, (ii) the Federal Funds Open Rate plus 0.5%, and (iii) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1%. As of December 31, 2016, the weighted average interest rate was 9.00%, which was the PNC Base Rate plus a default rate premium. As of January 2, 2016, the weighted average interest rate was 7.25%, which was the PNC Base Rate plus a default rate premium. As of December 31, 2016, and January 2, 2016, the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Agreement was $10,333 and $12,668, respectively. As disclosed by the Company in Item 2.01 of its Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 31, 2017, the Company sold and leased back its Compton building over an initial lease term of six months which can be terminated with a 30 day notice. The net proceeds from the sale were used to reduce the outstanding balance under our revolving credit agreement to $5,752. The amount of revolving borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement is based on a formula using accounts receivable and inventories. We may not have access to the full $15,000 revolving line of credit due to the formula using accounts receivable and inventories, the amount of the letter of credit issued in favor of Whirlpool Corporation and the amount of outstanding loans between PNC and our AAP joint venture. As of December 31, 2016, and January 2, 2016, our available borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Agreement was $3,234 and $1,382, respectively.

 

 

 

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7.          Borrowings

 

Long-term debt, capital lease and other financing obligations as of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016 consist of the following:

 

    December 31,
2016
    January 2,
2016
 
PNC term loan   $ 1,020     $ 1,275  
Susquehanna term loans     3,242       3,242  
8.00% notes     582        
2.75% note, due in monthly installments of $3, including interest, due October 2024, collateralized by equipment     287       319  
Capital leases and other financing obligations     567       988  
Debt issuance costs, net     (779 )     (67 )
Total debt obligations     4,919       5,757  
Less current maturities     2,093       1,251  
Long-term debt obligations, net of current maturities   $ 2,826     $ 4,506  

 

On January 24, 2011, we entered into a $2,550 term loan (“Term Loan”) with PNC Bank to finance the mortgage on our California facility. The Term Loan is payable as follows, subject to acceleration upon the occurrence of an event of default or termination of the Revolving Credit Agreement: 119 consecutive monthly principal payments of $21 plus interest commencing on February 1, 2011, and continuing on the first day of each month thereafter followed by a 120th payment of all unpaid principal, interest and fees on February 1, 2021. The Term Loan is collateralized with our California facility located in Compton, California. As disclosed by the Company in Item 2.01 of its Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 31, 2017, the Company sold and leased back its Compton building over an initial lease term of six months which can be terminated with a 30 day notice. The net proceeds from the sale were used to pay down our term loan with PNC Bank, National Association in full. The Term Loan interest rate is PNC Base Rate plus 2.25% to 3.75%, or 1-, 2- or 3-month PNC LIBOR Rate plus 3.25% to 4.75% with the rate being dependent on our level of fixed charge coverage. The interest rate will be fixed for the first half of 2016 at PNC Base Rate plus 3.75%, or 1-, 2- or 3-month PNC LIBOR Rate plus 4.75%. As of December 31, 2016, the weighted average interest rate was 9.50%, which was the PNC Base Rate plus a default rate premium. As of January 2, 2016, the weighted average interest rate was 7.75%, which was the PNC Base Rate plus a default rate premium.

 

On March 10, 2011, AAP entered into three separate commercial term loans (“Term Loans”) with Susquehanna Bank, pursuant to the guidelines of the U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) Loan Program. The total amount of the Term Loans is $4,750, split into three separate loans for $2,100, $1,400 and $1,250. The Term Loans mature in ten years and bear an interest rate of Prime plus 2.75%. As of both December 31, 2016, and January 2, 2016, the interest rate was 6.00%. The total monthly interest and principal payments are $54 and began on July 1, 2011. Borrowings under the Term Loans are secured by substantially all of the assets of AAP along with liens on the business assets and certain personal assets of the owners of 4301 Operations, LLC. We are a guarantor of the Term Loans along with 4301 Operations, LLC and its owners. In connection with these Term Loans, Susquehanna Bank also has a security interest in the assets of the Company.

 

In March of 2015, an entity controlled by the noncontrolling interest holders of AAP loaned AAP $325 through the issuance of promissory notes. The notes bear interest at an annual rate of 8%. In May of 2015, one of the March 2015 notes totaling $125 was repaid in full by AAP. The remaining note totaling $200 was repaid with the revenues expected during the third quarter of 2016 from the disposal of refrigerants through carbon offset programs.

 

On November 8, 2016, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Energy Efficiency Investments, LLC, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue up to $7,732 principal amount of 3% Original Issue Discount Senior Convertible Promissory Notes of the Company and related common stock purchase warrants. The notes will be issued from time to time, up to such aggregate principal amount, at the request of the Company, subject to certain conditions, or at the option of the Investor. Interest accrues at the rate of eight percent per annum on the principal amount of the notes outstanding from time to time, and is payable at maturity or, if earlier, upon conversion of the notes. The principal amount of notes outstanding at December 31, 2016, was $100.

 

The future annual maturities of borrowings are as follows:

 

    ARCA     AAP     Total  
Fiscal year 2017   $ 748     $ 1,037     $ 1,785  
Fiscal year 2018     18       685       703  
Fiscal year 2019     9       708       717  
Fiscal year 2020           661       661  
Fiscal year 2021     103       503       606  
Total future maturities of borrowings   $ 878     $ 3,594     $ 4,472  

  

Capital leases and other financing obligations : We acquire certain equipment under capital leases and other financing obligations. The cost of such equipment was approximately $2,601 and $2,606 as of December 31, 2016, and January 2, 2016. Accumulated amortization as of December 31, 2016, and January 2, 2016, was approximately $1,771 and $1,635, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense for equipment under capital leases and other financing obligations is included in cost of revenues and selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

 

 

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The following schedule by fiscal year is the approximate remaining minimum payments required under the capital leases and other financing obligations, together with the present value as of December 31, 2016:

 

    ARCA     AAP     Total  
Fiscal year 2017   $ 27     $ 176     $ 203  
Fiscal year 2018     20       161       181  
Fiscal year 2019     11       76       87  
Fiscal year 2020                  
Total minimum lease and other financing obligation payments     58       413       471  
Less amount representing interest     3       21       24  
Present value of minimum payments     55       392       447  
Less current portion     25       283       308  
Capital lease and other financing obligations, net of current portion   $ 30     $ 109     $ 139  

 

8.          Commitments and Contingencies

 

Operating leases : We lease the majority of our retail stores and recycling centers under noncancelable operating leases. The leases typically require the payment of taxes, maintenance, utilities and insurance.

 

Minimum future rental commitments under noncancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2016, are as follows:

 

    ARCA     AAP     Total  
Fiscal year 2017   $ 4,618     $ 464     $ 5,082  
Fiscal year 2018     3,572       467       4,039  
Fiscal year 2019     2,355       488       2,843  
Fiscal year 2020     1,917       468       2,385  
Fiscal year 2021     2,160       28       2,188  
Thereafter     1,214             1,214  
Total minimum future rental commitments   $ 15,836     $ 1,915     $ 17,751  

 

Rent expense for fiscal years 2016 and 2015 was $4,841 and $5,300, respectively. We have agreements to receive future sublease payments of $655 through September 2019.

 

Contracts : We have entered into material contracts with three appliance manufacturers. Under the agreements there are no minimum purchase commitments; however, we have agreed to indemnify the manufacturers for certain claims, allegations or losses with respect to appliances we sell.

 

Litigation :   On March 6, 2015, a complaint was filed in United States District Court for the Central District of California by Jason Feola, individually and as a representative of a putative class consisting of purchasers of the Company’s common stock between March 15, 2012 and February 11, 2015, against Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. and certain current and former officers of the Company. Mr. Feola, pursuant to terms of his retainer agreement with The Rosen Law Firm, certified that he purchased 240 shares of the Company’s common stock for $984 in total consideration. On May 7, 2015, the Company and the individual defendants were served the complaint. In July 2015, the Company and the individual defendants received an amended complaint. The complaint alleges that misstatements and omissions occurred in press releases and filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and that these misstatements or omissions constitute violations of Section 20 (a) and Section 10(b) of, and Rule 10b-5 under, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  In October 2015, the court held a hearing on the Company's motion to dismiss the complaint. On November 24, 2015, the United States District Court for the Central District of California entered an order granting the motion to dismiss the amended complaint. The Court’s order provided that the dismissal was without prejudice and that the plaintiffs may file an amended complaint within 21 days of the issuance of the order. On December 15, 2015, the Company and the individual defendants were served with a second amended complaint. In May 2016, the court held a hearing on the Company’s motion to dismiss the second amended complaint. On October 21, 2016 the court entered a final judgement to dismiss the class action complaint with prejudice.

 

 

 

 

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On November 6, 2015, a complaint was filed in the Minnesota District Court for Hennepin County, Minnesota, by David Gray and Michael Boller, purporting to bring suit derivatively and on behalf of the Company against twelve current and former officers and directors of the Company. The complaint alleges that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties based on substantially similar allegations to those asserted in Mr. Feola's putative securities class action complaint, and that the defendants have been unjustly enriched as a result thereof. The complaint seeks damages, disgorgement, an award of attorneys’ fees and other expenses, and an order compelling changes to the Company’s corporate governance and internal procedures. This matter has been stayed by the court, pursuant to a stipulation of the parties, until the United States District Court for the Central District of California determines the legal sufficiency of Mr. Feola's complaint or other specified developments occur in that case. This matter has been submitted to our insurance carriers.

 

Given the uncertainty of litigation and the preliminary stage of these cases, we cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may result from these actions. The Company maintains liability insurance policies that may reduce the Company’s exposure, if any.

 

In February 2012, various individuals commenced a class action lawsuit against Whirlpool Corporation (“Whirlpool”) and various distributors of Whirlpool products, including Sears, The Home Depot, Lowe’s and us, alleging certain appliances Whirlpool sold through its distribution chain, which includes us, were improperly designated with the ENERGY STAR ® qualification rating established by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.  The claims against us include breach of warranty claims, as well as various state consumer protection claims.  The amount of the claim is, as yet, undetermined.  Whirlpool has offered to fully indemnify and defend its distributors in this lawsuit, including us, and has engaged legal counsel to defend itself and the distributors.  We are monitoring Whirlpool’s defense of the claims and believe the possibility of a material loss is remote.

 

AMTIM Capital, Inc. (“AMTIM”) acts as our representative to market our recycling services in Canada under an arrangement that pays AMTIM for revenues generated by recycling services in Canada as set forth in the agreements between the parties.  A dispute has arisen between AMTIM and us with respect to the calculation of amounts due to AMTIM pursuant to the agreement.  In a lawsuit filed in the province of Ontario, AMTIM claims a discrepancy in the calculation of fees due to AMTIM by us of approximately $2.0 million.  Although the outcome of this claim is uncertain, we believe that no further amounts are due under the terms of the agreement and that we will continue to defend our position relative to this lawsuit.

 

We are party from time to time to ordinary course disputes that we do not believe to be material or have merit.  We intend to vigorously defend ourselves against these ordinary course disputes.

 

Sales and Use Taxes: We operate in twenty-three states in the U.S. and in various provinces in Canada. From time to time, we are subject to sales and use tax audits that could result in additional taxes, penalties and interest owed to various taxing authorities.

 

As previously disclosed, the California Board of Equalization (“BOE”) is conducting a sales and use tax examination covering the California operations of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (the “Company”) for 2011, 2012 and 2013. The Company believed it was exempt from collecting sales taxes under service agreements with utility customers that included appliance replacement programs. During the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company received communication from the BOE indicating they are not in agreement with the Company’s interpretation of the law. As a result, the Company applied for and, as of February 9, 2015, received approval to participate in the California Board of Equalization’s Managed Audit Program. The period covered under this program includes 2011, 2012, 2013 and extends through the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014. At this time, our best estimate of the amount that will be assessed by the BOE covering all periods under audit is approximately $4.2 million ($2.6 million net of income tax benefit) in sales tax and interest related to the appliance replacement programs that we administered on behalf of our customers on which we did not assess, collect or remit sales tax. The Company has been working with outside consultants to arrive at our assessment estimate and will continue to engage the services of these sales tax experts throughout the Managed Audit Program process. The sales tax amounts that we will likely be assessed relate to transactions in the period under examination by the BOE. Such assessment, however, will be subject to protest and appeal, and would not need to be funded until the matter has been fully resolved. Resolution could take up to two years.

 

9.          Income Taxes

 

For fiscal year 2016, we recorded an income tax benefit of $49. For fiscal year 2015, we recorded an income tax benefit of $1,714. As of December 31, 2016, we maintained a valuation allowance of $1,011 against our net operating loss carryforwards, foreign tax credits and all deferred tax assets in Canada, principally net operating losses. During the second quarter of 2016, we concluded, based upon the assessment of all available evidence that it was more-likely-than-not that we would not be able to realize a portion of our U.S. deferred tax assets in the future. As a result, a valuation allowance of $405 was placed on the overall U.S. net deferred tax asset.

 

 

 

  45  

 

 

The benefit of income taxes for fiscal years 2016 and 2015 consisted of the following:

 

    For the fiscal years ended  
    December 31, 2016     January 2, 2016  
Current tax expense (benefit):                
Federal   $ 12     $ (855 )
State     36       (18 )
Foreign           (229 )
Current tax expense (benefit)   $ 48     $ (1,102 )
Deferred tax expense — domestic     (97 )     (831 )
Deferred tax expense — foreign           219  
Benefit of income taxes   $ (49 )   $ (1,714 )

 

A reconciliation of our benefit of income taxes with the federal statutory tax rate for fiscal years 2016 and 2015 is shown below:

 

    For the fiscal years ended  
    December 31, 2016     January 2, 2016  
Income tax expense at statutory rate   $ (617 )     (1,920 )
Portion attributable to noncontrolling interest at statutory rate     107       413  
State tax expense, net of federal tax effect     (69 )     (288 )
Permanent differences     20       83  
Change in valuation allowance     414       (7 )
Recognition of tax effect for the cumulative undistributed earnings from Canada           (16 )
Other     95       21  
      (49 )     (1,714 )

 

Loss before benefit of income taxes and noncontrolling interest was derived from the following sources for fiscal years 2016 and 2015 as shown below:

 

    For the fiscal years ended  
    December 31,
2016
    January 2,
2016
 
United States   $ (1,677 )   $ (5,452 )
Canada     (137 )     (194 )
    $ (1,814 )   $ (5,646 )

 

The components of net deferred tax assets (liabilities) as of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016, are as follows:

 

    December 31,
2016
    January 2,
2016
 
Deferred tax assets:                
Net operating loss carryforwards   $ 794     $ 520  
Federal and state tax credits     476       442  
Reserves     240       218  
Accrued expenses     2,015       1,964  
Share-based compensation     355       352  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss     361       361  
Property and equipment     8       191  
Unrealized Currency Exchange     238        
Other     161       166  
Total deferred tax assets     4,648       4,214  
Deferred tax liabilities:                
Prepaid expenses     (56 )     (89 )
Property and equipment     (162 )     (138 )
Investments     (1,269 )     (1,269 )
Other     (69 )     (137 )
Total deferred tax liabilities     (1,556 )     (1,633 )
Valuation allowance     (1,011 )     (597 )
Net deferred tax assets   $ 2,081     $ 1,984  

 

  46  

 

 

The deferred tax amounts have been classified in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as follows:

 

    December 31,
2016
    January 2,
2016
 
Current assets   $     $  
Non-current assets     2,081       1,984  
Non-current liabilities            
    $ 2,081     $ 1,984  

 

In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2015-17, “Income Taxes” which simplifies the balance sheet presentation of deferred income taxes. The Company has adopted the provisions of the standard for its 2016 consolidated financial statements including retroactive reclassifications of the $1,657 current deferred income tax asset as of January 2, 2016 to a non-current deferred income tax asset. This reclassification does not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet and has no effect on the net loss.

 

Future utilization of net operating loss (“NOL”) and tax credit carryforwards is subject to certain limitations under provisions of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). This section relates to a 50 percent change in control over a three-year period. We believe that the issuance of common stock during 1999 resulted in an “ownership change” under Section 382. Accordingly, our ability to utilize NOL and tax credit carryforwards generated prior to February 1999 is limited to approximately $56 per year.

 

As of December 31, 2016, we had a foreign tax credit carryforward of $256 and a federal NOL of $209 not subject Section 382 of the IRC. We also had state NOL carryforwards of $425.  The state NOL carryforwards are available to offset future taxable income or reduce taxes payable through 2030.  These state loss carryforwards began expiring in 2011. In Canada, we had federal and provincial NOL carryforwards of $85.

 

We recognize the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more-likely-than-not sustain the position. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. As of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016, we did not have any material uncertain tax positions.

 

It is our practice to recognize interest related to income tax matters as a component of interest expense and penalties as a component of selling, general and administrative expense. As of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016, we had an immaterial amount of accrued interest and penalties.

 

We are subject to income taxes in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, foreign jurisdictions and various state jurisdictions. Tax regulations from each jurisdiction are subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require significant judgment to apply. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to U.S. federal, foreign, state or local income tax examinations by tax authorities for the years before 2012. We are not currently under examination by any taxing jurisdiction.

 

We had no significant unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2016, that would reasonably be expected to affect our effective tax rate during the next twelve months.

 

10.          Shareholders’ Equity

 

Common Stock : During fiscal year 2016, 50 shares of common stock were granted from the 2011 Stock Compensation Plan (the “2011 Plan”) to the Company’s CEO and the corresponding fair value of $62 was included in share-based compensation. 85 shares of common stock were granted from the 2011 Plan to a contractor in lieu of professional services. 620 shares of common stock were granted and issued for entering into a convertible note agreement. During fiscal year 2015, stock options to purchase 13 shares of common stock were exercised that resulted in cash proceeds of $24 and had an intrinsic value of $10. In 2015, 100 shares of common stock were granted from the 2011 Plan to the Company's then CEO and the corresponding fair value of $114 was included in share-based compensation.

 

 

 

  47  

 

 

Stock options : The 2016 Plan authorizes the granting of awards in any of the following forms: (i) incentive stock options, (ii) nonqualified stock options, (iii) restricted stock awards, and (iv) restricted stock units, and expires on the earlier of October 28, 2026, or the date that all shares reserved under the 2016 Plan are issued or no longer available. The 2016 Plan provides for the issuance of up to 2,000 shares of common stock pursuant to awards granted under the 2016 Plan. Options granted to employees typically vest over two years, while grants to non-employee directors vest in six months. As of December 31, 2016, 20 options were outstanding under the 2016 Plan. Our 2011 Plan authorizes the granting of awards in any of the following forms: (i) stock options, (ii) stock appreciation rights, and (iii) other share-based awards, including but not limited to, restricted stock, restricted stock units or performance shares, and expires on the earlier of May 12, 2021, or the date that all shares reserved under the 2011 Plan are issued or no longer available. Options granted to employees typically vest over two years, while grants to non-employee directors vest in six months. As of December 31, 2016, 485 options were outstanding under the 2011 Plan. No additional awards will be granted under the 2011 Plan after the adoption of the 2016 Plan. Our 2006 Stock Option Plan (the “2006 Plan”) expired on June 30, 2011, but the options outstanding under the 2006 Plan continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms. As of December 31, 2016, 206 options were outstanding to employees and non-employee directors under the 2006 Plan. We issue new common stock when stock options are exercised. The Company periodically grants stock options that vest based upon the achievement of performance targets. For performance based options, the Company evaluates the likelihood of the targets being met and records the expense over the probable vesting period.

 

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions for fiscal years 2016 and 2015:

 

    For the fiscal years ended  
    December 31,
2016
    January 2,
2016
 
Expected dividend yield            
Expected stock price volatility     85.44%       84.80%  
Risk-free interest rate     2.16%       2.16%  
Expected life of options (years)     10.00       10.00  

 

Additional information relating to all outstanding options is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

 

    Options
Outstanding
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
    Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
    Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life  
Balance at January 3, 2015     905     $ 3.25                  
Granted     130       1.33                  
Exercised     (12 )     1.89                  
Cancelled/expired     (173 )     4.63                  
Forfeited     (70 )     2.67                  
Balance at January 2, 2016     780       2.70     $       5.23  
Granted     30       1.05                  
Cancelled/expired     (51 )     0.88                  
Forfeited     (49 )     2.85                  
Balance at December 31, 2016     710     $ 2.62     $       4.66  
                                 
Options exercisable at December 31, 2016     651     $ 2.67     $          

 

 

The weighted average fair value per option of options granted during fiscal years 2016 and 2015 was $0.88 and $1.12, respectively. We recognized share-based compensation expense of $245 and $316 for fiscal years 2016 and 2015, respectively.  The aggregate intrinsic value in the preceding table represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value, based on our closing stock price of $1.12 on December 31, 2016, which theoretically could have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options as of that date.  As of December 31, 2016, there were no in-the-money options exercisable.

 

 

 

  48  

 

 

Based on the value of options outstanding as of December 31, 2016, estimated future share-based compensation expense is as follows:

 

Fiscal year 2017   $ 32  
Fiscal year 2018      
    $ 32  

 

The estimate above does not include any expense for additional options that may be granted and vest during 2017.

 

Warrants :   On November 8, 2016, we issued a warrant to Energy Efficiency Investments, LLC (EEI) to purchase 167 shares of common stock at a price of $0.68 per share. The fair value of the warrant issued was $106 and it was exercisable in full at any time during a term of five years. The fair value per share of common stock underlying the warrant issued to EEI was $0.63 based on our closing stock price of $0.95. The exercise price may be reduced and the number of shares of common stock that may be purchased under the warrant may be increased if the Company issues or sells additional shares of common stock at a price lower than the then-current warrant exercise price or the then-current market price of the common stock. The shares underlying the warrant include legal restrictions regarding the transfer or sale of the shares. The fair value of the EEI warrant was recorded as deferred financing costs and is being amortized over the term of the commitment.

 

As of December 31, 2016, we had fully vested warrants outstanding to purchase 24 shares of common stock at a price of $3.55 per share and expire in May 2020 and 167 share of common stock at a price of $0.68 per share.

 

Preferred Stock : Our amended Articles of Incorporation authorize two million shares of preferred stock that may be issued from time to time in one or more series having such rights, powers, preferences and designations as the Board of Directors may determine. To date no such preferred shares have been issued.

 

11.          Major Customers and Suppliers

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, no customer represented more than 10% of our total revenues. For the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016, no customer represented more than 10% of our total revenues. As of December 31, 2016, two customers, each represented more than 10% of our total trade receivables, for a total of 25% of our total trade receivables. As of January 2, 2016, two customers, each represented more than 10% of our total trade receivables, for a total of 39% of our total trade receivables.

 

During the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016, we purchased a vast majority of appliances for resale from three suppliers.  We have and are continuing to secure other vendors from which to purchase appliances. However, the curtailment or loss of one of these suppliers or any appliance supplier could adversely affect our operations.

 

12.          Segment Information

 

We operate within targeted markets through two reportable segments: retail and recycling. The retail segment is comprised of income generated through our ApplianceSmart stores, which includes appliance sales and byproduct revenues from collected appliances. The recycling segment includes all fees charged and costs incurred for collecting, recycling and installing appliances for utilities and other customers. The recycling segment also includes byproduct revenue, which is primarily generated through the recycling of appliances and includes all revenues from AAP. The nature of products, services and customers for both segments varies significantly.  As such, the segments are managed separately. Our Chief Executive Officer has been identified as the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”).  The CODM evaluates performance and allocates resources based on sales and income from operations of each segment. Income from operations represents revenues less cost of revenues and operating expenses, including certain allocated selling, general and administrative costs.  There are no inter-segment sales or transfers.

 

The decrease in recycling segment revenues for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, presented in the following table was the result of a decrease in revenues related to appliance replacement programs, recycling programs and a significant decline in byproduct revenues that resulted from decreases in the prices of the byproducts that we sell.

 

 

 

  49  

 

 

The following tables present our segment information for fiscal years 2016 and 2015:

 

    For the fiscal years ended  
    December 31,
2016
    January 2,
2016
 
Revenues:            
Retail   $ 61,551     $ 65,637  
Recycling     42,038       46,202  
Total revenues   $ 103,589     $ 111,839  
Operating income (loss):                
Retail   $ (1,646 )   $ (1,741 )
Recycling     1,101       (2,363 )
Total operating income   $ (545 )   $ (4,104 )
Cash capital expenditures:                
Retail   $ 33     $ 121  
Recycling     342       283  
Total cash capital expenditures   $ 375     $ 404  
Depreciation and amortization expense:                
Retail   $ 216     $ 197  
Recycling     1,048       1,073  
Total depreciation and amortization expense   $ 1,264     $ 1,270  
                 
Interest expense:                
Retail   $ 251     $ 437  
Recycling     1,168       855  
Total interest expense   $ 1,419     $ 1,292  
                 
      December 31, 2016      

January 2,

2016

 
Assets:                
Retail   $ 17,559     $ 18,088  
Recycling     24,297       28,691  
Total assets   $ 41,856     $ 46,779  

 

Certain items have been reclassified from prior year for presentation with no effect to net income.

 

13.           Defined Contribution Plan

 

We have a defined contribution salary deferral plan covering substantially all employees under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. We contribute an amount equal to 10 cents for each dollar contributed by each employee up to a maximum of 5% of each employee’s compensation. We recognized expense for contributions to the plans of $62 and $84 for fiscal years 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

14.           Related Party

 

Mr. Isaac, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, is the father to Jon Isaac CEO of Live Ventures and managing member of Isaac Capital Group, a 9% shareholder of the Company. The board of directors of the Company and Live Ventures Incorporated have common directors: Tony Isaac, Richard Butler and Dennis Gao. ARCA Recycling sub-leases call center space from Live Ventures in Las Vegas, NV. Total amount of sublease rent was $35 for year ending December 31, 2016.

 

15.           Subsequent Event

 

The Company sold and leased back its Compton building over an initial lease term of six months which can be terminated with a 30 day notice. The net proceeds from the sale were used to pay down our term and revolving loans with PNC Bank, National Association.

 

 

 

 

  50  

 

 

ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure controls and procedures are defined by Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") as controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Acting Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), in a manner that allows timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). Based upon that evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that, as of December 31, 2016, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as that term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Our internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of our published consolidated financial statements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO and CFO, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based upon the framework in “2013 Internal Control - Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this assessment, management has determined that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2016.

 

This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.  Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

 

 

  51  

 

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Information regarding directors and executive officers of the Company is set forth under the headings “Nominees” and “Information Concerning Officers and Key Employees Who Are Not Directors” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” to be included in our 2017 Proxy Statement, is incorporated herein by reference into this section.

 

Code of Ethics

 

Our Audit Committee has adopted a code of ethics applicable to our directors and officers (including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer) and other of our senior executives and employees in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and The NASDAQ Stock Market. A copy of the code of ethics may be obtained upon request, without charge, by addressing a request to Investor Relations, ARCA, Inc., 175 Jackson Avenue North, Suite 102, Minneapolis, MN 55343. The code of ethics is also posted on our website at www.ArcaInc.com under “Investor Relations — Corporate Governance.”

 

We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 10 of Form 8-K regarding the amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of the code of ethics by posting such information on our website at the address and location specified above and, to the extent required by the listing standards of the NASDAQ Capital Market, by filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC disclosing such information.

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Information regarding executive compensation is set forth under the heading “Executive Compensation” to be included in our 2017 Proxy Statement, is incorporated herein by reference into this section.

 

ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS

 

Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is set forth under the heading “Common Stock Ownership” to be included in our 2017 Proxy Statement, is incorporated herein by reference into this section.

 

The following table gives aggregate information under our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2016:

 

    (a)     (b)     (c)  
    Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options and Warrants     Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights     Number of Securities Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans, Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (a)  
Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders     710,250     $ 2.62       1,980,000  
Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders     23,500     $ 3.55        
Total     733,750     $ 2.65       1,980,000  

 

ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

Information regarding director independence and certain relationships and related transactions is set forth under the headings “Director Independence” and “Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons” to be included in our 2017 Proxy Statement, is incorporated herein by reference into this section.

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

 

Information regarding principal accounting fees and services is set forth under the heading “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” to be included in our 2017 Proxy Statement, is incorporated herein by reference into this section.

 

 

 

  52  

 

 

PART IV

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a)   Financial Statements, Financial Statement Schedules and Exhibits
    1     Financial Statements
        See Index to Financial Statements under Item 8 of this report.
    2     Financial Statement Schedules
        None.
    3     Exhibits
        See Index to Exhibits

 

 

 

 

  53  

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on our behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

March 31, 2017 APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.
(Registrant)
     
  By /s/ Tony Isaac
    Tony Isaac
    Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date
         
Principal Executive Officer        
/s/ Tony Isaac   Chief Executive Officer   March 31, 2017
Tony Isaac        
         
Principal Financial and Accounting Officer        
/s/ Tony Isaac   Acting Chief Financial Officer   March 31, 2017
Tony Isaac        
         
Directors        
/s/ Tony Isaac   Director   March 31, 2017
Tony Isaac        
         
/s/ Richard Butler   Director   March 31, 2017
Richard Butler        
         
/s/ Dennis Gao   Director   March 31, 2017
Dennis Gao        
         
/s/ Timothy Matula   Director   March 31, 2017
Timothy Matula        

 

 

 

  54  

 

 

Index to Exhibits

 

Exhibit

No.

  Description
3.1+   Restated Articles of Incorporation of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. as amended January 24, 2017
3.2   Bylaws of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. as amended December 26, 2007 [filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 2, 2008 (File No. 0-19621) and incorporated herein by reference].
10.1*   2006 Stock Option Plan [filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-163804) and incorporated herein by reference].
10.2*   2011 Stock Compensation Plan [filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-176591) and incorporated herein by reference].
10.3 *+   2016 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.4   Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement dated January 24, 2011, between PNC Bank, National Association and the Company [filed as Exhibit No. 10.11 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 1, 2011 (File No. 0-19621) and incorporated herein by reference].
10.5   Amendment No. 1, dated December 30, 2011, to Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement dated January 24, 2011, between PNC Bank, National Association and the Company [filed as Exhibit No. 10.8 to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (File No. 0-19621) and incorporated herein by reference].
10.6   Amendment No. 2, dated March 22, 2012, to Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement dated January 24, 2011, between PNC Bank, National Association and the Company [filed as Exhibit No. 10.1 to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 (File No. 0-19621) and incorporated herein by reference].
10.7   Amendment No. 3, dated March 14, 2013, to Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement dated January 24, 2011, between PNC Bank, National Association and the Company [filed as Exhibit No. 10.10 to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2012 (File No. 0-19621) and incorporated herein by reference].
10.8   Amendment No. 4, dated September 27, 2013, to Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement dated January 24, 2011, between PNC Bank, National Association and the Company [filed as Exhibit No. 10.3 to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 28, 2013 (File No. 0-19621) and incorporated herein by reference].
     
10.9   Amendment No. 5, dated January 22, 2016, to Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement dated January 24, 2011, between PNC Bank, National Association and the Company.
10.10+   Amendment No. 6, dated January 31, 2017, to Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement dated January 24, 2011, between PNC Bank, National Association and the Company.
10.11   Term Loan dated January 24, 2011, between PNC Bank, National Association and ARCA Advanced Processing, LLC [filed as Exhibit No. 10.12 to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended January 1, 2011 (File No. 0-19621) and incorporated herein by reference].
     
10.12   Term Loan facility dated March 10, 2011, between Susquehanna Bank and ARCA Advanced Processing, LLC, pursuant to the guidelines of the U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) Loan Program, including $2,100,000 term loan, $1,400,000 term loan and $1,250,000 term loan, guaranties by the Company and others, and security agreements [filed as Exhibit No. 10.13 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 2, 2011 (File No. 0-19621) and incorporated herein by reference].
10.13   ARCA Advanced Processing, LLC Joint Venture Agreement dated October 20, 2009, between 4301 Operations, LLC and the Company, as amended by Amendment No.1 dated June 3, 2010, and Amendment No. 2 dated February 15, 2011 [filed as Exhibit No. 10.16 to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2013 (File No. 0-19621) and incorporated herein by reference].

 

 

 

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10.14   Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 8, 2016, between Energy Efficiency Investments, LLC and the Company [filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 1, 2016 (File No. 0-19621) and incorporated herein by reference].
10.15   Form of 3% Original Issue Discount Senior Convertible Promissory Note issuable under Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 8, 2016, between Energy Efficiency Investments, LLC and the Company [filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 1, 2016 (File No. 0-19621) and incorporated herein by reference].
10.16  

Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant issuable under Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 8, 2016, between Energy Efficiency Investments, LLC and the Company [filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 1, 2016 (File No. 0-19621) and incorporated herein by reference].

10.17+   Standard Offer, Agreement and Escrow Instructions for Purchase of Real Estate dated December 12, 2016, between Terreno Acacia LLC and the Company.
21.1+   Subsidiaries of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.
23.1+   Consent of Anton & Chia, LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2+   Consent of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

31.1+   Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2+   Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1†   Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2†   Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101**   The following materials from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity, (v) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, and (vI) document and entity information.
*   Items that are management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements required to be filed as an exhibit pursuant to Item 14(a)3 of this Form 10-K.
+   Filed herewith.
  Furnished herewith.
  Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.
**   Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the XBRL related information in Exhibit 101 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be deemed part of a registration statement, prospectus or other document filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filings.

 

 

 

 

  56  

Exhibit 3.1

 

RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.

 

The undersigned, Edward R. Cameron, President of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc., a corporation subject to the provisions of Chapter 302A, Minnesota Statutes, hereby certifies that the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation on the 5th day of March, 1999:

 

RESOLVED , that the Corporation's existing Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended to date, are hereby restated in their entirety, but without any changes thereto, as follows:

 

RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.

 

 

ARTICLE 1. NAME

 

The name of the Corporation is Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.

 

ARTICLE 2. REGISTERED OFFICE

 

The location and post office address of the Corporation's registered office in the State of Minnesota shall be 7400 Excelsior Boulevard, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55426.

 

ARTICLE 3. AUTHORIZED SHARES

 

The total number of shares of capital stock which the corporation shall have authority to issue is twelve million (12,000,000) shares, of which ten million (10,000,000) shares shall be Common Stock, without par value, and two million (2,000,000) shares shall be preferred stock.

 

The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors is expressly authorized, in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock to fix, state and express the powers, rights, designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, including without limitation: the par value; the rate of dividends upon which and the times at which dividends of shares of such series shall be payable and the preference, if any, which such dividends shall have relative to dividends on shares of any other class or classes or any other series of stock of the corporation; whether such dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative, and if cumulative, the date or dates from which dividends on shares of such series shall be cumulative; the voting rights, if any, to be provided for shares of such series; the rights, if any, which the holders of shares of such series shall have in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the corporation; the rights, if any, which the holders of stock of the corporation, and the terms and conditions, including price and rate of exchange of such conversion or exchange; and the redemption rights (including sinking fund provisions), if any, for shares of such series; and such other powers, rights, designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations and restrictions as the Board of Directors may desire to so fix. The Board of Directors is also expressly authorized to fix the number of shares constituting such series and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series prior to the issuance of shares of that series and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series subsequent to the issuance of shares of that series, but not to decrease such number below the number of shares outstanding. In case the number of shares of any series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status which they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.

 

 

 

  1  

 

 

ARTICLE 4. NO CUMULATIVE VOTING

 

There shall be no cumulative voting by the shareholders of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE 5. NO PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS

 

The shareholders of the Corporation shall not have preemptive rights.

 

ARTICLE 6. DIRECTOR LIABILITY

 

A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for (i) liability based on a breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its shareholders; (ii) liability for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) liability based on the payment of an improper dividend or an improper repurchase of the Corporation's stock under Section 302A.559 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act or on violations of federal or state securities laws; (iv) liability for any act or omission occurring prior to the date this Article was originally effective. If Chapter 302A, the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, is amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation in addition to the limitation on personal liability provided herein, shall be limited to the fullest extent permitted by the amended Chapter 302A, the Minnesota Business Corporation Act. Any repeal or modification of this Article by the shareholders of the Corporation shall be prospective only and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

 

RESOLVED FURTHER , that the President of the Corporation is hereby authorized and directed to make, execute and file for record with the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota, Restated Articles of Incorporation, setting forth the foregoing restated articles of incorporation, and to pay all fees and charges in connection therewith, all as required by law.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned has signed these Restated Articles of Incorporation as of the 5th day of March, 1999.

 

 

 

  /s/ Edward R. Cameron

Edward R. Cameron, President

 

 

[As filed with Secretary of State of the

State of Minnesota on March 18, 1999]

 

 

 

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ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT

OF

APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.

 

 

Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota (the “Company”) hereby certifies as follows:

 

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 302A, the Board of Directors of the Company has adopted a resolution to amend the Company’s Restated Articles of Incorporation and the Shareholders of the Company have voted to approve the amendment, such that Article 3 of the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company reads in its entirety as follows:

 

ARTICLE 3. AUTHORIZED SHARES

 

The total number of shares of capital stock which the corporation shall have authority to issue is fifty-two million (52,000,000) shares, of which fifty million (50,000,000) shares shall be Common Stock, without par value, and two million (2,000,000) shares shall be preferred stock.

 

The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors is expressly authorized, in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock to fix, state and express the powers, rights, designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, including without limitation: the par value; the rate of dividends upon which and the times at which dividends of shares of such series shall be payable and the preference, if any, which such dividends shall have relative to dividends on shares of any other class or classes or any other series of stock of the corporation; whether such dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative, and if cumulative, the date or dates from which dividends on shares of such series shall be cumulative; the voting rights, if any, to be provided for shares of such series; the rights, if any, which the holders of shares of such series shall have in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the corporation; the rights, if any, which the holders of stock of the corporation, and the terms and conditions, including price and rate of exchange of such conversion or exchange; and the redemption rights (including sinking fund provisions), if any, for shares of such series; and such other powers, rights, designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations and restrictions as the Board of Directors may desire to so fix. The Board of Directors is also expressly authorized to fix the number of shares constituting such series and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series prior to the issuance of shares of that series and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series subsequent to the issuance of shares of that series, but not to decrease such number below the number of shares outstanding. In case the number of shares of any series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status which they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed these Articles of Amendment as of the 24th day of January, 2017.

 

 

 

  /s/ Tony Isaac                                 

Tony Isaac, Chief Executive Officer

 

 

[As filed with Secretary of State of the

State of Minnesota on January 24, 2017]

 

 

 

     

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.

2016 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

SECTION 1.

DEFINITIONS

 

As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

 

(a)              “Administrator” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company, or one or more Committees appointed by the Board of Directors, as the case may be.

 

(b)              “Affiliate(s)” shall mean a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.

 

(c)              “Agreement” shall mean the written agreement entered into by the Participant and the Company evidencing the grant of an Award. Each Agreement shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Administrator and may vary from Participant to Participant.

 

(d)              “Annual Award Limit” or “Annual Award Limits” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) of the Plan.

 

(e)              “Award” shall mean any grant pursuant to the Plan of an Incentive Stock Option, Nonqualified Stock Option, Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit.

 

(f)               “Change of Control” shall mean the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the events in subsections (i) through (iv) below. For purposes of this definition, a person, entity or group shall be deemed to “Own,” to have “Owned,” to be the “Owner” of, or to have acquired “Ownership” of securities if such person, entity or group directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares Voting Power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting, with respect to such securities.

 

(i)       Any person, entity or group becomes the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined Voting Power of the Company’s then outstanding securities other than by virtue of a merger, consolidation, exchange, reorganization or similar transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change of Control shall not be deemed to occur (A) on account of the acquisition of securities of the Company by an investor, any affiliate thereof or any other person, entity or group from the Company in a transaction or series of related transactions the primary purpose of which is to obtain financing for the Company through the issuance of equity securities or (B) solely because the level of Ownership held by any person, entity or group (the “Subject Person”) exceeds the designated percentage threshold of the Voting Power as a result of a repurchase or other acquisition of voting securities by the Company reducing the number of shares outstanding, provided that if a Change of Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of voting securities by the Company, and after such share acquisition, the Subject Person becomes the Owner of any additional voting securities that, assuming the repurchase or other acquisition had not occurred, increases the percentage of the then outstanding voting securities Owned by the Subject Person over the designated percentage threshold, then a Change of Control shall be deemed to occur;

 

 

 

  1  

 

 

(ii)       There is consummated a merger, consolidation, exchange, reorganization or similar transaction involving (directly or indirectly) the Company and, immediately after the consummation of such merger, consolidation, exchange, reorganization or similar transaction, the shareholders of the Company immediately prior thereto do not Own, directly or indirectly, either (A) outstanding voting securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined outstanding Voting Power of the surviving entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction or (B) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined outstanding Voting Power of the parent of the surviving entity in such merger, consolidation, exchange, reorganization or similar transaction, in each case in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction;

 

(iii)       There is consummated a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the total gross value of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, other than a sale, lease, license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the total gross value of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries to an entity, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined Voting Power of the voting securities of which are Owned by shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such sale, lease, license or other disposition (for purposes of this Section 1(f)(iii), “gross value” means the value of the assets of the Company or the value of the assets being disposed of, as the case may be, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets); or

 

(iv)       Individuals who, at the beginning of any consecutive twelve-month period, are members of the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board at any time during that consecutive twelve-month period; provided, however, that if the appointment or election (or nomination for election) of any new Board member was approved or recommended by a majority vote of the members of the Incumbent Board then still in office, such new member shall, for purposes of the Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Change of Control” shall not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company. To the extent required, the determination of whether a Change of Control has occurred shall be made in accordance with Code Section 409A and the regulations, notices and other guidance of general applicability issued thereunder.

 

(g)              “Close of Business” of a specified day shall mean 5:00 p.m., Central Time, without regard to whether such day is a Saturday, Sunday, bank holiday, or other day on which no business is conducted.

 

 

 

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(h)              “Committee” shall mean a Committee of two or more Directors who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board. To the extent necessary for compliance with Rule 16b-3, each of the members of the Committee shall be a “non-employee director.” Solely for purposes of this Section 1(h), “non-employee director” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Rule 16b-3. Further, to the extent necessary for compliance with the limitations set forth in Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m), each of the members of the Committee shall be an “outside director” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and the regulations issued thereunder.

 

(i)               “Common Stock” shall mean the common stock of the Company (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13 of the Plan).

 

(j)               The “Company” shall mean Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc., a Minnesota corporation.

 

(k)              “Consultant” shall mean any person, including an advisor, who is engaged by the Company or any Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and is compensated for such services; provided, however, that no person shall be considered a Consultant for purposes of the Plan unless such Consultant is a natural person, renders bona fide services to the Company or any Affiliate, and such services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities. For purposes of the Plan, “Consultant” shall also include a director of an Affiliate who is compensated for services as a director.

 

(l)               “Covered Employee” shall mean any key salaried Employee who is or may become a “Covered Employee,” as defined in Code Section 162(m), and who is designated, either as an individual Employee or class of Employees, by the Administrator within the shorter of (i) ninety (90) days after the beginning of the Performance Period, or (ii) twenty-five percent (25%) of the Performance Period has elapsed, as a “Covered Employee” under the Plan for such applicable Performance Period.

 

(m)            “Director” shall mean a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(n)              “Effective Date” shall mean the date the Board of Directors of the Company approves the adoption of the Plan.

 

(o)              “Employee” shall mean a common law employee of the Company or any Affiliate, including “officers” as defined by Section 16 of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that service solely as a Director or Consultant, regardless of whether a fee is paid for such service, shall not cause a person to be an Employee for purposes of the Plan.

 

(p)              “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

(q)              “Fair Market Value” of specified stock as of any date shall mean (i) if such stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, Nasdaq Global Market, Nasdaq Capital Market or an established stock exchange, the price of such stock at the close of the regular trading session of such market or exchange on such date, as reported by The Wall Street Journal or a comparable reporting service, or, if no sale of such stock shall have occurred on such date, on the next preceding date on which there was a sale of stock; (ii) if such stock is not so listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, Nasdaq Global Market, Nasdaq Capital Market, or an established stock exchange, the average of the closing “bid” and “asked” prices quoted by the OTC Bulletin Board, the National Quotation Bureau, or any comparable reporting service on such date or, if there are no quoted “bid” and “asked” prices on such date, on the next preceding date for which there are such quotes; or (iii) if such stock is not publicly traded as of such date, the per share value as determined by the Board or the Committee in its sole discretion by applying principles of valuation with respect to Common Stock.

 

 

 

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(r)               “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option granted pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan that is intended to satisfy the provisions of Code Section 422, or any successor provision.

 

(s)              “Insider” shall mean an individual who is, on the relevant date, an officer or Director of the Company, or an individual who beneficially owns more than ten percent (10%) of any class of equity securities of the Company that is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

(t)               The “Internal Revenue Code” or “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. References to sections of the Code are intended to include applicable treasury regulations and successor statutes and regulations.

 

(u)              “Option” shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or Nonqualified Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

(v)              “Nonqualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option granted pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan or an Option (or portion thereof) that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(w)            “Parent” shall mean any parent corporation of the Company within the meaning of Code Section 424(e), or any successor provision.

 

(x)              “Participant” shall mean an Employee to whom an Incentive Stock Option has been granted or an Employee, a Director, or a Consultant to whom a Nonqualified Stock Option, Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit has been granted.

 

(y)              “Performance-Based Compensation” shall mean compensation under an Award that is intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for certain performance-based compensation paid to Covered Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in the Plan shall be construed to mean that an Award which does not satisfy the requirements for performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m) does not constitute performance-based compensation for other purposes, including Code Section 409A.

 

(z)              “Performance Objective(s)” shall mean one or more performance objectives set forth in Section 7 and established by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, for Awards granted under the Plan.

 

 

 

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(aa)           “Performance Period” shall mean the period, established at the time any Award is granted or at any time thereafter, during which any Performance Objectives specified by the Administrator with respect to such Award are to be measured.

 

(bb)          “Plan” means the Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended hereafter from time to time, including the form of Agreements as they may be modified by the Administrator from time to time.

 

(cc)           “Restricted Stock Award” shall mean any grant of restricted shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan.

 

(dd)          “Restricted Stock Unit” shall mean any grant of any restricted stock units pursuant to Section 12 of the Plan.

 

(ee)           “Rule 16b-3” shall mean Rule 16b-3, or any successor provision, as then in effect, of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

 

(ff)             A “Subsidiary” shall mean any subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Code Section 424(f), or any successor provision.

 

(gg)          “Voting Power” shall mean any and all classes of securities issued by the applicable entity which are entitled to vote in the election of directors of the applicable entity.

 

SECTION 2.

PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Plan is to promote the success of the Company and its Affiliates by facilitating the employment and retention of competent personnel and by furnishing incentives to those Employees, Directors, and Consultants upon whose efforts the success of the Company and its Affiliates will depend to a large degree. It is the intention of the Company to carry out the Plan through the granting of Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units.

 

SECTION 3.

EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF PLAN

 

The Plan shall be effective on the Effective Date; provided, however, that adoption of the Plan shall be and is expressly subject to the condition of approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the Effective Date. Although Awards may be granted prior to the date the Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Company, any Incentive Stock Options granted after the Effective Date shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options if shareholder approval is not obtained within such twelve-month period.

 

The Administrator may grant Awards pursuant to the Plan from time to time until the Administrator discontinues or terminates the Plan; provided, however, that in no event may Incentive Stock Options be granted pursuant to the Plan after the earlier of (i) the date the Administrator discontinues or terminates the Plan, or (ii) the Close of Business on the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.

 

 

 

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SECTION 4.

ADMINISTRATION

 

(a)        Administration by the Board of Directors or Committee(s) . The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (hereinafter referred to as the “Board”); provided, however, that the Board may delegate some or all of the administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees. The Board and any Committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan are collectively referred to in the Plan as the “Administrator.”

 

(b)        Delegation by Administrator . The Administrator may delegate to one or more Committees and/or sub-Committees, or to one or more officers of the Company and/or its Affiliates, or to one or more agents and/or advisors, such administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable. The Administrator or any Committees or individuals to whom it has delegated duties or powers as aforesaid may employ one or more individuals to render advice with respect to any responsibility of the Administrator or such Committees or individuals may have under the Plan. The Administrator may, by resolution, authorize one or more officers of the Company to do one or both of the following on the same basis as can the Administrator: (i) designate Employees to be recipients of Awards and (ii) determine the size of any such Awards; provided, however, (x) the Committee shall not delegate such responsibilities to any such officer for Awards granted to an Employee who is considered an Insider; (y) the resolution providing such authorization sets forth the total number of Awards such officer(s) may grant; and (z) the officer(s) shall report periodically to the Administrator regarding the nature and scope of the Awards granted pursuant to the authority delegated.

 

(c)        Powers of Administrator . Except as otherwise provided herein, the Administrator shall have all of the powers vested in it under the provisions of the Plan, including but not limited to exclusive authority to determine, in its sole discretion, whether an Award shall be granted; the individuals to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted; the number of shares subject to each Award; the exercise price of Options granted hereunder; and the performance criteria, if any, and any other terms and conditions of each Award. The Administrator shall have full power and authority to administer and interpret the Plan, to make and amend rules, regulations and guidelines for administering the Plan, to prescribe the form and conditions of the respective Agreements evidencing each Award (which may vary from Participant to Participant), to amend or revise Agreements evidencing any Award (to the extent the amended terms would be permitted by the Plan and provided that no such revision or amendment, except as is authorized in Section 13, shall impair the terms and conditions of any Award which is outstanding on the date of such revision or amendment to the material detriment of the Participant in the absence of the consent of the Participant), and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan (including to correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or any Agreement, to the extent permitted by law and the Plan). The Administrator’s interpretation of the Plan, and all actions taken and determinations made by the Administrator pursuant to the power vested in it hereunder, shall be conclusive and binding on all parties concerned.

 

(d)        Limitation on Liability; Actions of Committees . No member of the Board or a Committee shall be liable for any action taken or determination made in good faith in connection with the administration of the Plan. In the event the Board appoints a Committee as provided hereunder, or the Administrator delegates any of its duties to another Committee or sub-Committee, any action of such Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan shall be taken pursuant to a majority vote of the Committee members or pursuant to the written resolution of all Committee members.

 

 

 

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SECTION 5.

PARTICIPANTS

 

The Administrator may grant Awards under the Plan to any Employee, Director, or Consultant; provided, however, that only Employees are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options. In designating Participants, the Administrator shall also determine the number of shares or cash units to be optioned or awarded to each such Participant and any Performance Objectives applicable to Awards. The Administrator may from time to time designate individuals as being ineligible to participate in the Plan. The power of the Administrator under this Section 5 shall be exercised from time to time in the sole discretion of the Administrator and without approval by the shareholders.

 

SECTION 6.

STOCK

 

(a)        Number of Shares Reserved . The stock to be awarded or optioned under the Plan (the “Share Authorization”) shall consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of Common Stock. Subject to Section 13 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock reserved and available for Awards under the Plan is Two Million (2,000,000) shares; provided, however, that all shares of Stock reserved and available under the Plan shall constitute the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued through Incentive Stock Options.

 

(b)        Share Usage . The following shares of Common Stock shall not reduce the Share Authorization and shall continue to be reserved and available for Awards granted pursuant to the Plan: (i) all or any portion of any outstanding Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit that expires or is forfeited for any reason, or that is terminated prior to the vesting or lapsing of the risks of forfeiture on such Award, and (ii) shares of Common Stock covered by an Award to the extent the Award is settled in cash. Any shares of Common Stock withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations on an Award, shares of Common Stock withheld to pay the exercise price of an Option, and shares of Common Stock subject to a broker-assisted cashless exercise of an Option shall reduce the Share Authorization.

 

(c)        Annual Award Limits . Unless and until the Administrator determines that an Award to a Covered Employee shall not be Performance-Based Compensation, the following limits (each, an “Annual Award Limit,” and collectively, “Annual Award Limits”) shall apply to grants of such Awards under the Plan:

 

(i)        Options . The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to Options granted in any one calendar year to any one Participant shall be, in the aggregate, One Million (1,000,000) shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13.

 

(ii)        Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units . The maximum grant with respect Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units in any one calendar year to any one Participant shall be, in the aggregate, One Million (1,000,000) shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13.

 

 

 

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SECTION 7.

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

 

(a)        Performance Objectives . For any Awards to Covered Employees that are intended to qualify as “Performance-Based Compensation” under Code Section 162(m), the Performance Objectives shall be limited to any one, or a combination of, (i) revenue or net sales, (ii) operating income, (iii) net income (before or after taxes), (iv) earnings per share, (v) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization, (vi) gross profit margin, (vii) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on invested capital, assets, capital, equity, sales), (viii) increase in revenue or net sales, (ix) operating expense ratios, (x) operating expense targets, (xi) productivity ratios, (xii) gross or operating margins, (xiii) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on equity and cash flow return on investment), (xiv) working capital targets, (xv) capital expenditures, (xvi) share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return), (xvii) appreciation in the fair market value or book value of the Common Stock, (xviii) debt to equity ratio or debt levels, and (xix) market share, in all cases including, if selected by the Administrator, threshold, target and maximum levels.

 

Any Performance Objective may be used to measure the performance of the Company and/or Affiliate, as a whole or with respect to any business unit, or any combination thereof as the Administrator may deem appropriate, or any of the specified Performance Objectives as compared to the performance of a group of competitor companies, or published or special index that the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. The Administrator also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Award based on the achievement of performance goals pursuant to the Performance Objectives; provided, however, that such authority shall be subject to Code Section 162(m) with respect to Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation.

 

(b)        Evaluation of Performance Objectives . The Administrator may provide in any Award based on Performance Objectives that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events that occurs during a Performance Period: (i) asset write-downs, (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) any reorganization and restructuring programs, (v) extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in FASB Accounting Standards Codification 225-20—Extraordinary and Unusual Items and/or in Management's Discussion and Analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company's annual report to shareholders for the applicable year, (vi) acquisitions or divestitures, and (vii) foreign exchange gains and losses. To the extent such inclusions or exclusions affect Awards to Covered Employees, they shall be prescribed in a form that meets the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for deductibility.

 

(c)        Adjustment of Performance-Based Compensation . Awards that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation may not be adjusted upward. The Administrator shall retain the discretion to adjust such Awards downward, either on a formula or discretionary basis or any combination, as the Administrator determines.

 

(d)        Administrator Discretion . In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit Administrator discretion to alter the governing Performance Objectives without obtaining shareholder approval of such changes, the Administrator shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining shareholder approval. In addition, in the event that the Administrator determines that it is advisable to grant Awards that shall not qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the Administrator may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and, in such case, may apply performance objectives other than those set forth in this Section 7.

 

 

 

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SECTION 8.

PAYMENT OF OPTION EXERCISE PRICE

 

Upon the exercise of an Option, Participants may pay the exercise price of an Option (i) in cash, or with a personal check, certified check, or other cash equivalent, (ii) by the surrender by the Participant to the Company of previously acquired unencumbered shares of Common Stock (through physical delivery or attestation), (iii) through the withholding of shares of Common Stock from the number of shares otherwise issuable upon the exercise of the Option ( e.g ., a net share settlement), (iv) through broker-assisted cashless exercise if such exercise complies with applicable securities laws and any insider trading policy of the Company, (v) such other form of payment as may be authorized by the Administrator, or (vi) by a combination thereof. In the event the Participant elects to pay the exercise price, in whole or in part, with previously acquired shares of Common Stock or through a net share settlement, the then-current Fair Market Value of the stock delivered or withheld shall equal the total exercise price for the shares being purchased in such manner.

 

The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, limit the forms of payment available to the Participant and may exercise such discretion any time prior to the termination of the Option granted to the Participant or upon any exercise of the Option by the Participant. “Previously acquired shares of Common Stock” means shares of Common Stock which the Participant owns on the date of exercise (or for the period of time, if any, as may be required by generally accepted accounting principles or any successor principles applicable to the Company).

 

With respect to payment in the form of Common Stock, the Administrator may require advance approval or adopt such rules as it deems necessary to assure compliance with Rule 16b-3, if applicable.

SECTION 9.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS

 

Each Incentive Stock Option shall be evidenced by an Incentive Stock Option Agreement, which shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)        Number of Shares and Exercise Price . The Incentive Stock Option Agreement shall state the total number of shares covered by the Incentive Stock Option. Except as permitted by Code Section 424(a), or any successor provision, the exercise price per share shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the per share Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the Administrator grants the Incentive Stock Option; provided, however, that if a Participant owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined Voting Power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its Parent or any Subsidiary, the exercise price per share of an Incentive Stock Option granted to such Participant shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the per share Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the date of the grant of the Incentive Stock Option. The Administrator shall have full authority and discretion in establishing the exercise price and shall be fully protected in so doing.

 

 

 

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(b)        Exercisability and Term . The Incentive Stock Option Agreement shall state when the Incentive Stock Option becomes exercisable ( i.e. “vests”), and, if applicable in the Administrator’s discretion, shall describe the Performance Objectives and Performance Period upon which vesting is based, the manner in which performance shall be measured and the extent to which partial achievement of the Performance Objectives may result in vesting of the Option. The Participant may exercise the Incentive Stock Option, in full or in part, upon or after the vesting date of such Option (or portion thereof). Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or the Agreement to the contrary, the Participant may not exercise an Incentive Stock Option after the maximum term of such Option, as such term is specified in the Incentive Stock Option Agreement. Except as permitted by Code Section 424(a), in no event shall any Incentive Stock Option be exercisable during a term of more than ten (10) years after the date on which it is granted; provided, however, that if a Participant owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined Voting Power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its Parent or any Subsidiary, the Incentive Stock Option granted to such Participant shall be exercisable during a term of not more than five (5) years after the date on which it is granted. The Administrator may accelerate the exercisability of any Incentive Stock Option granted hereunder which is not immediately exercisable as of the date of grant.

 

(c)        No Rights as Shareholder . A Participant (or the Participant’s successors) shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by an Incentive Stock Option until the date of the issuance of the Common Stock subject to such Award upon exercise, as evidenced by a stock certificate or as reflected in the books and records of the Company or its designated agent ( i.e. , a “book entry”). No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property), distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such shares are actually issued (as evidenced in either certificated or book entry form).

 

(d)        Withholding . The Company or its Affiliate shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from any future payments to the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the Participant’s exercise of an Incentive Stock Option or a “disqualifying disposition” of shares acquired through the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Code Section 421(b), to require the Participant to remit an amount sufficient to satisfy such withholding requirements, or to require any combination thereof. In the event the Participant is required under the Incentive Stock Option Agreement to pay the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company respecting payment of, such withholding and employment-related taxes, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, require the Participant to satisfy such obligation, in whole or in part, by delivering shares of Common Stock or by electing to have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise of the Incentive Stock Option. Such shares shall have a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum required tax withholding, based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to the supplemental income resulting from such exercise or disqualifying disposition. In no event may the Participant deliver shares, nor may the Company or any Affiliate withhold shares, having a Fair Market Value in excess of such statutory minimum required tax withholding. The Participant’s delivery of shares or the withholding of shares for this purpose shall occur on or before the later of (i) the date the Incentive Stock Option is exercised or the date of the disqualifying disposition, as the case may be, or (ii) the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law.

 

(e) Vesting Limitation . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date an Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under the Plan and any other “incentive stock option” plans of the Company or any Affiliate shall not exceed $100,000 (or such other amount as may be prescribed by the Code from time to time); provided, however, that if the exercisability or vesting of an Incentive Stock Option is accelerated as permitted under the provisions of the Plan and such acceleration would result in a violation of the limit imposed by this Section 9(e), such acceleration shall be of full force and effect but the number of shares of Common Stock that exceed such limit shall be treated as having been granted pursuant to a Nonqualified Stock Option; and provided, further, that the limits imposed by this Section 9(e) shall be applied to all outstanding Incentive Stock Options under the Plan and any other “incentive stock option” plans of the Company or any Affiliate in chronological order according to the dates of grant.

 

(f)        Other Provisions . The Incentive Stock Option Agreement authorized under this Section 9 shall contain such other provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable. Any such Incentive Stock Option Agreement shall contain such limitations and restrictions upon the exercise of the Incentive Stock Option as shall be necessary to ensure that such Incentive Stock Option will be considered an “incentive stock option” as defined in Code Section 422 or to conform to any change therein.

 

 

 

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SECTION 10.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS

 

Each Nonqualified Stock Option shall be evidenced by a Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement, which shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)        Number of Shares and Exercise Price . The Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement shall state the total number of shares covered by the Nonqualified Stock Option. The exercise price per share shall be equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the per share Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the Nonqualified Stock Option, or such higher price as the Administrator determines.

 

(b)        Exercisability and Term . The Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement shall state when the Nonqualified Stock Option becomes exercisable ( i.e. “vests”) and, if applicable in the Administrator’s discretion, shall describe the Performance Objectives and Performance Period upon which vesting is based, the manner in which performance shall be measured and the extent to which partial achievement of the Performance Objectives may result in vesting of the Option. The Participant may exercise the Nonqualified Stock Option, in full or in part, upon or after the vesting date of such Option (or portion thereof); provided, however, that the Participant may not exercise a Nonqualified Stock Option after the maximum term of such Option, as such term is specified in the Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator and specified in the Agreement governing the Award, no Nonqualified Stock Option shall be exercisable during a term of more than ten (10) years after the date on which it is granted. The Administrator may accelerate the exercisability of any Nonqualified Stock Option granted hereunder which is not immediately exercisable as of the date of grant.

 

(c)        No Rights as Shareholder . A Participant (or the Participant’s successors) shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by a Nonqualified Stock Option until the date of the issuance of the Common Stock subject to such Award upon exercise, as evidenced by a stock certificate or as reflected in the books and records of the Company or its designated agent ( i.e. , a “book entry”). No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property), distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such shares are actually issued (as evidenced in either certificated or book entry form).

 

(d)        Withholding . The Company or its Affiliate shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from any future payments to the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the Participant’s exercise of a Nonqualified Stock Option, to require the Participant to remit an amount sufficient to satisfy such withholding requirements, or to require any combination thereof. In the event the Participant is required under the Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement to pay the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company respecting payment of, such withholding and employment-related taxes, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, require the Participant to satisfy such obligation, in whole or in part, by delivering shares of Common Stock or by electing to have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise of the Nonqualified Stock Option. Such shares shall have a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum required tax withholding, based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to the supplemental income resulting from such exercise. In no event may the Participant deliver shares, nor may the Company or any Affiliate withhold shares, having a Fair Market Value in excess of such statutory minimum required tax withholding. The Participant’s delivery of shares or the withholding of shares for this purpose shall occur on or before the later of (i) the date the Nonqualified Stock Option is exercised, or (ii) the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law.

 

(e)        Other Provisions . The Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement authorized under this Section 10 shall contain such other provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable.

 

 

 

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SECTION 11.

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

 

Each Restricted Stock Award shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Award Agreement, which shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)        Number of Shares . The Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall state the total number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Award.

 

(b)        Risks of Forfeiture . The Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall set forth the risks of forfeiture, if any, which shall apply to the shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Award and the manner in which such risks of forfeiture shall lapse, including, if applicable in the Administrator’s discretion, a description of the Performance Objectives and Performance Period upon which the lapse of risks of forfeiture is based, the manner in which performance shall be measured and the extent to which partial achievement of the Performance Objectives may result in lapse of risks of forfeiture. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, modify the manner in which such risks of forfeiture shall lapse but only with respect to those shares of Common Stock which are restricted as of the effective date of the modification.

 

(c)        Issuance of Shares; Rights as Shareholder . Except as provided below, the Company shall cause a stock certificate to be issued and shall deliver such certificate to the Participant or hold such certificate in a manner determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided, however, that in lieu of a stock certificate, the Company may evidence the issuance of shares by a book entry in the records of the Company or its designated agent (if permitted by the Company’s designated agent and applicable law, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion). The Company shall cause a legend or notation to be placed on such certificate or book entry describing the risks of forfeiture and other transfer restrictions set forth in the Participant’s Restricted Stock Award Agreement and providing for the cancellation and, if applicable, return of such certificate or book entry if the shares of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Award are forfeited. Until the risks of forfeiture have lapsed or the shares subject to such Restricted Stock Award have been forfeited, the Participant shall be entitled to vote the shares of Common Stock represented by such stock certificates and shall receive all dividends attributable to such shares, but the Participant shall not have any other rights as a shareholder with respect to such shares.

 

(d)        Withholding Taxes . The Company or its Affiliate shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from any future payments to the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the Participant’s Restricted Stock Award, to require the Participant to remit an amount sufficient to satisfy such withholding requirements, or to require any combination thereof. In the event the Participant is required under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement to pay the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company respecting payment of, such withholding and employment-related taxes, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, require the Participant to satisfy such obligations, in whole or in part, by delivering shares of Common Stock, including shares of Common Stock received pursuant to the Restricted Stock Award on which the risks of forfeiture have lapsed. Such shares shall have a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum required tax withholding, based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to the supplemental income resulting from the lapsing of the risks of forfeiture on such Restricted Stock Award. In no event may the Participant deliver shares having a Fair Market Value in excess of such statutory minimum required tax withholding. The Participant’s delivery of shares shall occur on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law.

 

(e)        Other Provisions . The Restricted Stock Award Agreement authorized under this Section 11 shall contain such other provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable.

 

 

 

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SECTION 12.

RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

Each Restricted Stock Unit shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, which shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)        Number of Shares . The Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall state the total number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Unit.

 

(b)        Vesting . The Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall set forth the vesting conditions, if any, which shall apply to the Restricted Stock Unit and the manner in which such vesting may occur, including, if applicable in the Administrator’s discretion, a description of the Performance Objectives and Performance Period upon which vesting is based, the manner in which performance shall be measured and the extent to which partial achievement of the Performance Objectives may result in vesting of the Restricted Stock Unit. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting of any Restricted Stock Unit.

 

(c)        Issuance of Shares; Rights as Shareholder . The Participant shall be entitled to payment of the Restricted Stock Unit as the units subject to such Award vest. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, pay Restricted Stock Units in shares of Common Stock, cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value, on the date of payment, of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Award that have vested on the applicable payment date, or any combination thereof, as specified in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement. If payment is made in shares of Common Stock, the Administrator shall cause to be issued one or more stock certificates in the Participant’s name and shall deliver such certificates to the Participant in satisfaction of such units; provided, however, that in lieu of stock certificates, the Company may evidence such shares by a book entry in the records of the Company or its designated agent (if permitted by the Company’s designated agent and applicable law, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion). Until the units subject to the Restricted Stock Unit have vested, the Participant shall not be entitled to vote any shares of Common Stock which may be acquired through the Award, shall not receive any dividends attributable to such shares, and shall not have any other rights as a shareholder with respect to such shares.

 

(d)        Withholding Taxes . The Company or its Affiliate shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from any future payments to the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit, to require the Participant to remit an amount sufficient to satisfy such withholding requirements, or to require any combination thereof. In the event the Participant is required under the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement to pay the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company respecting payment of, such withholding and employment-related taxes, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, require the Participant to satisfy such obligations, in whole or in part, by delivering shares of Common Stock, including shares of Common Stock received pursuant to the Restricted Stock Unit. Such shares shall have a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum required tax withholding, based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to the supplemental income resulting from the payment of such Restricted Stock Unit. In no event may the Participant deliver shares having a Fair Market Value in excess of such statutory minimum required tax withholding. The Participant’s delivery of shares for this purpose shall occur on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law.

 

(e)        Other Provisions . The Restricted Stock Unit Agreement authorized under this Section 12 shall contain such other provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable.

 

 

 

  13  

 

 

SECTION 13.

RECAPITALIZATION, EXCHANGE,

LIQUIDATION, OR CHANGE OF CONTROL

 

(a)        In General . In the event of an increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock dividend, stock split, reverse split, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, other than due to conversion of the convertible securities of the Company, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, adjust the value determinations applicable to outstanding Awards and the Plan in order to reflect such change, including adjustment of the class and number of shares of stock reserved under Section 6 of the Plan, the class and number of shares of stock covered by each outstanding Award, and, if and as applicable, the exercise price per share of each outstanding Award and the Annual Award Limits. Additional shares which may become covered by the Award pursuant to such adjustment shall be subject to the same restrictions as are applicable to the shares with respect to which the adjustment relates.

 

(b)        Liquidation . Unless otherwise provided in the Agreement evidencing an Award, in the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator may provide for one or both of the following:

 

(i)               the acceleration of the exercisability of any or all outstanding Options, the vesting and payment of any or all Restricted Stock Units, or the lapsing of the risks of forfeiture on any or all Restricted Stock Awards; provided, however, that no such acceleration, vesting or payment shall occur if the acceleration, vesting or payment would violate the requirements of Code Section 409A; or

 

(ii)             the complete termination of the Plan and the cancellation of any or all Awards (or portions thereof) which have not been exercised, have not vested, or remain subject to risks of forfeiture, as applicable, in each case immediately prior to the completion of such a dissolution or liquidation.

 

(c)        Change of Control . Unless otherwise provided in the Agreement evidencing an Award, in the event of a Change of Control, the Administrator may provide for one or more of the following:

 

(i)               the acceleration of the exercisability, vesting, or lapse of the risks of forfeiture of any or all Awards (or portions thereof);

 

(ii)             the complete termination of the Plan and the cancellation of any or all Awards (or portions thereof) which have not been exercised, have not vested, or remain subject to risks of forfeiture, as applicable, in each case as of the effective date of the Change of Control;

 

 

 

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(iii)           that the entity succeeding the Company by reason of such Change of Control, or the parent of such entity, shall assume or continue any or all Awards (or portions thereof) outstanding immediately prior to the Change of Control or substitute for any or all such Awards (or portions thereof) a substantially equivalent award with respect to the securities of such successor entity, as determined in accordance with applicable laws and regulations;

 

(iv)            that Participants holding outstanding Awards shall become entitled to receive, with respect to each share of Common Stock subject to such Award (whether vested or unvested, as determined by the Administrator pursuant to subsection (c)(i) hereof) as of the effective date of any such Change of Control, cash in an amount equal to (1) for Participants holding Options, the excess of the Fair Market Value of such Common Stock on the date immediately preceding the effective date of such Change of Control over the exercise price per share of Options, or (2) for Participants holding Awards other than Options, the Fair Market Value of such Common Stock on the date immediately preceding the effective date of such Change of Control.

 

The Administrator need not take the same action with respect to all Awards (or portions thereof) or with respect to all Participants. In addition, the Administrator may restrict the rights of or the applicability of this Section 13 to the extent necessary to comply with Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the Internal Revenue Code or any other applicable law or regulation. The grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan shall not limit in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge, exchange or consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

 

SECTION 14.

NONTRANSFERABILITY

 

(a)        In General . Except as expressly provided in the Plan or an Agreement, no Award shall be transferable by the Participant, in whole or in part, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. If the Participant shall attempt any transfer of any Award, such transfer shall be void and the Award shall terminate.

 

(b)        Nonqualified Stock Options . Notwithstanding anything in this Section 14 to the contrary, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit the Participant to transfer any or all Nonqualified Stock Options to any member of the Participant’s “immediate family” as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(e) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision, or to one or more trusts whose beneficiaries are members of such Participant’s “immediate family” or partnerships in which such family members are the only partners; provided, however, that the Participant cannot receive any consideration for the transfer and such transferred Nonqualified Stock Option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such Nonqualified Stock Option immediately prior to its transfer.

 

(c)        Beneficiary Designation . Each Participant may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of such Participant’s death before receipt of any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Administrator, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate.

 

 

 

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SECTION 15.

INVESTMENT PURPOSE AND SECURITIES COMPLIANCE

 

No shares of Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to the Plan unless and until there has been compliance, in the opinion of Company’s counsel, with all applicable legal requirements, including without limitation, those relating to securities laws and stock exchange listing requirements. As a condition to the issuance of Common Stock to Participant, the Administrator may require Participant to (a) represent that the shares of Common Stock are being acquired for investment and not resale and to make such other representations as the Administrator shall deem necessary or appropriate to qualify the issuance of the shares as exempt from the Securities Act of 1933 and any other applicable securities laws, and (b) represent that Participant shall not dispose of the shares of Common Stock in violation of the Securities Act of 1933 or any other applicable securities laws.

 

As a further condition to the grant of any Award or the issuance of Common Stock to a Participant, the Participant agrees to the following:

 

(a)       In the event the Company advises the Participant that it plans an underwritten public offering of its Common Stock in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Participant will execute any lock-up agreement the Company and the underwriter(s) deem necessary or appropriate, in their sole discretion, in connection with such public offering.

 

(b)       In the event the Company makes any public offering of its securities and determines in its sole discretion that it is necessary to reduce the number of outstanding Awards so as to comply with any state’s securities or Blue Sky law limitations with respect thereto, the Board of Directors of the Company shall have the right (i) to accelerate the exercisability of any Award and the date on which such Award must be exercised or remove the risks of forfeiture to which the Award is subject, provided that the Company gives Participant prior written notice of such acceleration or removal, and (ii) to cancel any outstanding Awards (or portions thereof) which Participant does not exercise prior to or contemporaneously with such public offering.

 

(c)       In the event of a Change of Control, Participant will comply with Rule 145 of the Securities Act of 1933 and any other restrictions imposed under other applicable legal or accounting principles if Participant is an “affiliate” (as defined in such applicable legal and accounting principles) at the time of the Change of Control, and Participant will execute any documents necessary to ensure compliance with such rules.

 

The Company reserves the right to place a legend on any stock certificate (or a notation on any book entry shares permitted by the Administrator) issued in connection with an Award pursuant to the Plan to assure compliance with this Section 15.

 

The Company shall not be required to register or maintain the registration of the Plan, any Award, or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to the Plan under the Securities Act of 1933 or any other applicable securities laws. If the Company is unable to obtain the authority that the Company or its counsel deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company shall not be liable for the failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon the exercise, vesting, or lapse of restrictions of forfeiture of an Award unless and until such authority is obtained. A Participant shall not be eligible for the grant of an Award or the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to an Award if such grant or issuance would violate any applicable securities law.

 

 

 

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SECTION 16.

AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

 

The Board may from time to time, insofar as permitted by law, suspend or discontinue the Plan or revise or amend it in any respect; provided, however, that no such suspension, termination, revision, or amendment, except as is authorized in Section 13, shall impair the terms and conditions of any Award which is outstanding on the date of such suspension, termination, revision, or amendment to the material detriment of the Participant without the consent of the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as provided in Section 13 of the Plan or to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, the Board may not, without shareholder approval, revise or amend the Plan to (i) materially increase the number of shares subject to the Plan, (ii) change the designation of Participants, including the class of Employees, eligible to receive Awards, (iii) decrease the price at which Options may be granted, (iv) cancel, regrant, repurchase for cash, or replace Options that have an exercise price in excess of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock, or amend the terms of outstanding Options to reduce their exercise price, (v) materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan, or (vi) make any modification that will cause Incentive Stock Options to fail to meet the requirements of Code Section 422.

 

To the extent applicable, the Plan and all Agreements shall be interpreted to be exempt from or comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A and, if applicable, to comply with Code Section 422, in each case including the regulations, notices, and other guidance of general applicability issued thereunder. Furthermore, notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Agreement to the contrary, the Board may amend the Plan or Agreement to the extent necessary or desirable to comply with such requirements without the consent of the Participant.

 

SECTION 17.

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH AWARDS

 

(a)        No Obligation to Exercise . The granting of an Option shall impose no obligation upon the Participant to exercise such Option.

 

(b)        No Employment or Other Service Rights . The granting of an Award hereunder shall not impose upon the Company or any Affiliate any obligation to retain the Participant in its employ or service for any period.

 

(c)        Unfunded Plan . Participants shall have no right, title, or interest whatsoever in or to any particular assets of the Company or any of its Affiliates by reason of the right to receive a benefit under the terms of the Plan. Nothing contained in the Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant, beneficiary, legal representative, or any other person. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive shares of Common Stock or payments from the Company or any of its Affiliates under the Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be. All payments to be made hereunder shall be paid from the general funds of the Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be. In its sole discretion, the Administrator may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to deliver the shares of Common Stock or make payments in lieu of or with respect to Awards hereunder; provided, however, that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the unfunded status of the Plan.

 

 

 

  17  

 

 

SECTION 18.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

(a)              Issuance of Shares . The Company is not required to issue or remove restrictions on shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to the Plan until the Administrator determines that: (i) all conditions of the Award have been satisfied, (ii) all legal matters in connection with the issuance have been satisfied, and (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Administrator may consider appropriate, in its sole discretion, to satisfy the requirements of any applicable law or regulation.

 

(b)              Choice of Law . The law of the state of Minnesota shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity, and interpretation of the Plan, without regard to that state’s conflict of laws rules.

 

(c)              Severability . In the event that any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, such illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

 

(d)              No Duty to Notify . The Company shall have no duty or obligation to any Participant to advise such Participant as to the time and manner of exercising an Award or as to the pending termination or expiration of such Award. In addition, the Company has no duty or obligation to minimize the tax consequences of an Award to the Participant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  18  

Exhibit 10.10

 

SIXTH AMENDMENT TO REVOLVING CREDIT,

TERM LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

This Sixth Amendment to Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement (this “ Amendment ”) is made as of this 31 st day of January, 2017 among APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. , a Minnesota corporation (“ ARCA ”), ARCA RECYCLING, INC. , a California corporation (“ ARCA Recycling ”), ARCA CANADA INC. , an Ontario, Canada, corporation (“ ARCA Canada ”), APPLIANCESMART, INC. , a Minnesota corporation (“ ApplianceSmart, ” together with ARCA , ARCA Recycling and ARCA Canada, collectively, the “ Borrowers ” and each individually, a “ Borrower ”), certain financial institutions party to the Credit Agreement from time to time as lenders (collectively, the “ Lenders ”), and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as agent and lender (“ PNC, ” in such capacity, “ Agent ”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.               The Borrowers, Lenders and PNC are parties to that certain Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement dated as of January 24, 2011 (as the same may have been amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “ Credit Agreement ”), pursuant to which PNC has made certain loans to, and extensions of credit for the account of, the Borrowers. The Credit Agreement and all other documents executed in connection therewith to the date hereof are collectively referred to as the “Existing Financing Agreements.” All capitalized terms used not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby.

 

B.               Certain Designated Events of Default (as defined in those certain reservation of rights letter delivered to the Borrowers by Agent on August 18, 2016) together with an Event of Default as a result of Borrowers’ failure to maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.10 to 1.0 as required by Section 6.5(a) of the Credit Agreement for the period ending December 31, 2016 have occurred and are continuing (the “ Existing Events of Default ”).

 

C.               The Borrowers have requested, and PNC has agreed, to waive the Existing Events of Default and amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement, in each case subject to the terms and conditions of this Amendment.

 

NOW THEREFORE, with the foregoing background hereinafter deemed incorporated by reference herein and made part hereof, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, promise and agree as follows:

 

1.                Waiver of Existing Events of Default. Upon the Effective Date, Agent and Lenders hereby waive the Existing Events of Default provided however that such waiver shall in no way constitute a waiver of any other Default or Event of Default which may have occurred, nor shall this waiver obligate Agents or Lenders to provide any further waiver of any other Default or Event of Default under the Credit Agreement (whether similar or dissimilar, including any further Default or Event of Default resulting from a failure to comply with Sections 6.5(a), 7.5 or 7.8 of the Loan Agreement). This waiver shall not preclude the future exercise of any right, power, or privilege available to Agents or Lenders whether under the Credit Agreement, the Other Documents or otherwise upon the occurrence of any Event of Default after the date hereof. In connection with such waiver, the Lenders hereby agree (i) to cease charging the Default Rate and (ii) to permit the Borrowers to request Eurodollar Rate Loans in accordance with terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

 

 

  1  

 

 

2.                Amendments to Credit Agreement .

 

(a)              Additional Defined Terms . As of the Effective Date, the following defined term shall be added to Section 1.2 of the Credit Agreement in the appropriate alphabetical order:

 

Sixth Amendment ” shall mean the Sixth Amendment to the Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of the Sixth Amendment Date and entered into by and among the Borrowers, the Agent and the Lenders.

 

Sixth Amendment Date ” shall mean January 31, 2017.

 

(b)              Changes to Defined Terms . As of the Effective Date, the following defined term shall be amended and restated as follows:

 

Availability Reserve ” shall mean an amount equal to $5,752,546.74; provided that, Agent may, in its reasonable discretion, reduce such amount from time to time as requested by Borrowers (such reduction not to exceed $1,500,000 in the aggregate), including reductions requested to resolve issues with respect to the AAP Joint Venture.

 

Debt Payments ” shall mean and include (a) all cash actually expended by any Borrower to make interest payments on any Advances hereunder, plus (b) accrued but unpaid interest on account of Eurodollar Rate Loans, plus (c) all cash actually expended by any Borrower to make payments for all fees, commissions and charges set forth herein and with respect to any Advances, plus (d) all cash actually expended by any Borrower to make payments on Capitalized Lease Obligations, plus (e) all cash actually expended by any Borrower to make payments with respect to any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (excluding up to $600,000 of payments on the GE Note).

 

 

 

  2  

 

 

(c)              Loans . As of the Effective Date, Section 7.5 of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated as follows:

 

7.5 Loans . Make advances, loans or extensions of credit to any Person, including any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate except (i) with respect to the extension of commercial trade credit in connection with the sale of Inventory in the Ordinary Course of Business, and (ii) Borrowers may make loans to the AAP Joint Venture; provided , that , for each applicable time period set forth below, the aggregate amount of such loans shall not exceed the amount set forth below opposite such time period:

 

Time Period

Maximum amount of loans to

AAP Joint Venture

From December 31, 2016 and at all times thereafter

(i)              $900,000 plus (ii) $600,000 (the aggregate amount of the note currently payable by Borrowers to General Electric (or any lesser amount to the extent General Electric agrees to compromise the amount of such note)).   

 

Agent and Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Borrowers may convert the loans owing by the AAP Joint Venture to the Borrowers to an equity investment in the AAP Joint Venture, so long as the loans owing by the AAP Joint Venture to certain of the principals of the AAP Joint Venture are also converted to an equity investment in the AAP Joint Venture.

 

(d)              Term; Prepayment . Upon and as of the Effective Date, Section 13.1 of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated as follows:

 

13.1.        Term; Prepayment . This Agreement, which shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the respective successors and permitted assigns of each Borrower, Agent and each Lender, shall become effective on the date hereof and shall continue in full force and effect until May 1, 2017 (the “ Term ”) unless sooner terminated as herein provided. Borrowers may terminate this Agreement at any time upon ten (10) days’ prior written notice upon payment in full of the Obligations.

 

3.                Representations, Warranties, Covenants . Each Borrower hereby:

 

(a)              represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders that all representations and warranties set forth in the Credit Agreement and all of the other Existing Financing Agreements are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof (except to the extent any such representations and warranties specifically relate to a specific date, in which case such representations and warranties were true and correct in all material respects on and as of such other specific date);

 

 

 

  3  

 

 

(b)              reaffirms all of the covenants contained in the Credit Agreement as amended hereby and covenants to abide thereby until the satisfaction in full of the Obligations and the termination of the commitments of the Lenders under the Credit Agreement;

 

(c)              represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders that no Default or Event of Default (other than the Existing Events of Default) has occurred and is continuing under any of the Existing Financing Agreements;

 

(d)              represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders that it has the authority and legal right to execute, deliver and carry out the terms of this Amendment, that such actions were duly authorized by all necessary corporate or company action, as applicable, and that the officers executing this Amendment on its behalf were similarly authorized and empowered, and that this Amendment does not contravene any provisions of its organizational documents or of any contract or agreement to which it is a party or by which any of its properties are bound; and

 

(e)              represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders that this Amendment is valid, binding and enforceable against the Borrowers in accordance with its terms except as such enforceability may be limited by any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law).

 

4.                Fees . Borrowers’ acknowledge that Agent shall have earned as of the Sixth Amendment Date a non-refundable closing fee in the amount of $100,000 (the “ Sixth Amendment Fee ”), which fee shall be payable on May 1, 2017; provided however, Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees that in the event that the Credit Agreement is terminated, and the Obligations are repaid in full, on or before May 1, 2017, Agent hereby agrees that the Sixth Amendment Fee shall be waived.

 

5.                Conditions Precedent/Effectiveness Conditions . This Amendment shall be effective upon the date (the “ Effective Date ”) when all of the following conditions precedent have been satisfied:

 

(a)              Agent shall have received this Amendment fully executed by Borrowers and the Lenders;

 

(b)              Agent shall have received an updated incumbency certificate for each Borrower evidencing authorized signers of Borrowers and their official titles together with specimen signatures; and

 

(c)              No Default or Event of Default (other than the Existing Events of Default) shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

6.                Further Assurances . Each Borrower hereby agrees to take all such actions and to execute and/or deliver to Agent and Lenders all such documents, assignments, financing statements and other documents, as Agent and Lenders may reasonably require from time to time, to effectuate and implement the purposes of this Amendment.

 

 

 

  4  

 

 

7.                Payment of Expenses . Borrowers shall pay or reimburse Agent for its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment and the documents provided for herein or related hereto.

 

8.                Reaffirmation of Credit Agreement . Except as modified by the terms hereof, all of the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, and all other of the Other Documents are hereby reaffirmed and shall continue in full force and effect as therein written.

 

9.                Miscellaneous .

 

(a)              Third Party Rights . No rights are intended to be created hereunder for the benefit of any third party donee, creditor, or incidental beneficiary.

 

(b)              Loan Document . This Amendment is an “Other Document” as defined and described in the Credit Agreement and all of the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement relating to Other Documents shall apply hereto.

 

(c)              Headings . The headings of any paragraph of this Amendment are for convenience only and shall not be used to interpret any provision hereof.

(d)              Governing Law . This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.

 

(e)              Severability . Any provision of this Amendment which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction

 

(f)               Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmissions, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

(g)              Successors and Assigns . This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and its respective successors and assigns.

 

 

[SIGNATURES TO APPEAR ON FOLLOWING PAGES]

 

 

 

  5  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

 

BORROWERS:

APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.

 

 

By:           /s/ Tony Isaac___________________

Name:

Title:

   
   
 

ARCA RECYCLING, INC.

 

 

By:           /s/ Tony Isaac___________________

Name:

Title:

   
   
 

ARCA CANADA, INC.

 

 

By:           /s/ Tony Isaac___________________

Name:

Title:

   
   
 

APPLIANCESMART, INC.

 

 

By:           /s/ Tony Isaac___________________

Name:

Title:

 

 

[SIGNATURES PAGE TO SIXTH AMENDMENT]

 

 

 

 

  6  

 

 

AGENT AND LENDER:

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Lender and as Agent

 

 

By:           /s/ Timothy Canon                    

Timothy Canon, Vice President

 

200 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 600

Chicago, IL 60606

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  7  

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.13

 

SIXTH AMENDMENT TO REVOLVING CREDIT,

TERM LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

This Sixth Amendment to Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement (this “ Amendment ”) is made as of this ___ day of January, 2017 among APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. , a Minnesota corporation (“ ARCA ”), ARCA RECYCLING, INC. , a California corporation (“ ARCA Recycling ”), ARCA CANADA INC. , an Ontario, Canada, corporation (“ ARCA Canada ”), APPLIANCESMART, INC. , a Minnesota corporation (“ ApplianceSmart, ” together with ARCA , ARCA Recycling and ARCA Canada, collectively, the “ Borrowers ” and each individually, a “ Borrower ”), certain financial institutions party to the Credit Agreement from time to time as lenders (collectively, the “ Lenders ”), and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as agent and lender (“ PNC, ” in such capacity, “ Agent ”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.               The Borrowers, Lenders and PNC are parties to that certain Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement dated as of January 24, 2011 (as the same may have been amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “ Credit Agreement ”), pursuant to which PNC has made certain loans to, and extensions of credit for the account of, the Borrowers. The Credit Agreement and all other documents executed in connection therewith to the date hereof are collectively referred to as the “Existing Financing Agreements.” All capitalized terms used not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby.

 

B.               Certain Designated Events of Default (as defined in those certain reservation of rights letter delivered to the Borrowers by Agent on August 18, 2016) together with an Event of Default as a result of Borrowers’ failure to maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.10 to 1.0 as required by Section 6.5(a) of the Credit Agreement for the period ending December 31, 2016 have occurred and are continuing (the “ Existing Events of Default ”).

 

C.               The Borrowers have requested, and PNC has agreed, to waive the Existing Events of Default and amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement, in each case subject to the terms and conditions of this Amendment.

 

NOW THEREFORE, with the foregoing background hereinafter deemed incorporated by reference herein and made part hereof, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, promise and agree as follows:

 

1.                Waiver of Existing Events of Default. Upon the Effective Date, Agent and Lenders hereby waive the Existing Events of Default provided however that such waiver shall in no way constitute a waiver of any other Default or Event of Default which may have occurred, nor shall this waiver obligate Agents or Lenders to provide any further waiver of any other Default or Event of Default under the Credit Agreement (whether similar or dissimilar, including any further Default or Event of Default resulting from a failure to comply with Sections 6.5(a), 7.5 or 7.8 of the Loan Agreement). This waiver shall not preclude the future exercise of any right, power, or privilege available to Agents or Lenders whether under the Credit Agreement, the Other Documents or otherwise upon the occurrence of any Event of Default after the date hereof. In connection with such waiver, the Lenders hereby agree (i) to cease charging the Default Rate and (ii) to permit the Borrowers to request Eurodollar Rate Loans in accordance with terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

 

 

  1  

 

 

2.                Amendments to Credit Agreement .

 

(a)              Additional Defined Terms . As of the Effective Date, the following defined term shall be added to Section 1.2 of the Credit Agreement in the appropriate alphabetical order:

 

Sixth Amendment ” shall mean the Sixth Amendment to the Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of the Sixth Amendment Date and entered into by and among the Borrowers, the Agent and the Lenders.

 

Sixth Amendment Date ” shall mean January __, 2017.

 

(b)              Changes to Defined Terms . As of the Effective Date, the following defined term shall be amended and restated as follows:

 

Availability Reserve ” shall mean an amount equal to $5,752,546.74; provided that, Agent may, in its reasonable discretion, reduce such amount from time to time as requested by Borrowers (such reduction not to exceed $1,500,000 in the aggregate), including reductions requested to resolve issues with respect to the AAP Joint Venture.

 

Debt Payments ” shall mean and include (a) all cash actually expended by any Borrower to make interest payments on any Advances hereunder, plus (b) accrued but unpaid interest on account of Eurodollar Rate Loans, plus (c) all cash actually expended by any Borrower to make payments for all fees, commissions and charges set forth herein and with respect to any Advances, plus (d) all cash actually expended by any Borrower to make payments on Capitalized Lease Obligations, plus (e) all cash actually expended by any Borrower to make payments with respect to any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (excluding up to $600,000 of payments on the GE Note).

 

(c)              Loans . As of the Effective Date, Section 7.5 of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated as follows:

 

7.5 Loans . Make advances, loans or extensions of credit to any Person, including any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate except (i) with respect to the extension of commercial trade credit in connection with the sale of Inventory in the Ordinary Course of Business, and (ii) Borrowers may make loans to the AAP Joint Venture; provided , that , for each applicable time period set forth below, the aggregate amount of such loans shall not exceed the amount set forth below opposite such time period:

 

 

Time Period

Maximum amount of loans to

AAP Joint Venture

From December 31, 2016 and at all times thereafter

(i)              $900,000 plus (ii) $600,000 (the aggregate amount of the note currently payable by Borrowers to General Electric (or any lesser amount to the extent General Electric agrees to compromise the amount of such note)).

 

 

 

 

  2  

 

 

 

Agent and Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Borrowers may convert the loans owing by the AAP Joint Venture to the Borrowers to an equity investment in the AAP Joint Venture, so long as the loans owing by the AAP Joint Venture to certain of the principals of the AAP Joint Venture are also converted to an equity investment in the AAP Joint Venture.

 

(d)              Term; Prepayment . Upon and as of the Effective Date, Section 13.1 of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated as follows:

 

13.1.        Term; Prepayment . This Agreement, which shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the respective successors and permitted assigns of each Borrower, Agent and each Lender, shall become effective on the date hereof and shall continue in full force and effect until May 1, 2017 (the “ Term ”) unless sooner terminated as herein provided. Borrowers may terminate this Agreement at any time upon ten (10) days’ prior written notice upon payment in full of the Obligations.

 

3.                Representations, Warranties, Covenants . Each Borrower hereby:

 

(a)              represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders that all representations and warranties set forth in the Credit Agreement and all of the other Existing Financing Agreements are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof (except to the extent any such representations and warranties specifically relate to a specific date, in which case such representations and warranties were true and correct in all material respects on and as of such other specific date);

 

(b)              reaffirms all of the covenants contained in the Credit Agreement as amended hereby and covenants to abide thereby until the satisfaction in full of the Obligations and the termination of the commitments of the Lenders under the Credit Agreement;

 

(c)              represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders that no Default or Event of Default (other than the Existing Events of Default) has occurred and is continuing under any of the Existing Financing Agreements;

 

(d)              represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders that it has the authority and legal right to execute, deliver and carry out the terms of this Amendment, that such actions were duly authorized by all necessary corporate or company action, as applicable, and that the officers executing this Amendment on its behalf were similarly authorized and empowered, and that this Amendment does not contravene any provisions of its organizational documents or of any contract or agreement to which it is a party or by which any of its properties are bound; and

 

(e)              represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders that this Amendment is valid, binding and enforceable against the Borrowers in accordance with its terms except as such enforceability may be limited by any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law).

 

4.                Fees . Borrowers’ acknowledge that Agent shall have earned as of the Sixth Amendment Date a non-refundable closing fee in the amount of $100,000 (the “ Sixth Amendment Fee ”), which fee shall be payable on May 1, 2017; provided however, Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees that in the event that the Credit Agreement is terminated, and the Obligations are repaid in full, on or before May 1, 2017, Agent hereby agrees that the Sixth Amendment Fee shall be waived.

 

 

 

  3  

 

 

5.                Conditions Precedent/Effectiveness Conditions . This Amendment shall be effective upon the date (the “ Effective Date ”) when all of the following conditions precedent have been satisfied:

 

(a)              Agent shall have received this Amendment fully executed by Borrowers and the Lenders;

 

(b)              Agent shall have received an updated incumbency certificate for each Borrower evidencing authorized signers of Borrowers and their official titles together with specimen signatures; and

 

(c)              No Default or Event of Default (other than the Existing Events of Default) shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

6.                Further Assurances . Each Borrower hereby agrees to take all such actions and to execute and/or deliver to Agent and Lenders all such documents, assignments, financing statements and other documents, as Agent and Lenders may reasonably require from time to time, to effectuate and implement the purposes of this Amendment.

 

7.                Payment of Expenses . Borrowers shall pay or reimburse Agent for its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment and the documents provided for herein or related hereto.

 

8.                Reaffirmation of Credit Agreement . Except as modified by the terms hereof, all of the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, and all other of the Other Documents are hereby reaffirmed and shall continue in full force and effect as therein written.

 

9.                Miscellaneous .

 

(a)              Third Party Rights . No rights are intended to be created hereunder for the benefit of any third party donee, creditor, or incidental beneficiary.

 

(b)              Loan Document . This Amendment is an “Other Document” as defined and described in the Credit Agreement and all of the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement relating to Other Documents shall apply hereto.

 

(c)              Headings . The headings of any paragraph of this Amendment are for convenience only and shall not be used to interpret any provision hereof.

 

(d)              Governing Law . This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.

 

(e)              Severability . Any provision of this Amendment which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction

 

(f)               Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmissions, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

(g)              Successors and Assigns . This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and its respective successors and assigns.

 

[SIGNATURES TO APPEAR ON FOLLOWING PAGES]

 

 

 

  4  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

BORROWERS:

APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.

 

 

By: _______________________________

Name:

Title:

   
   
 

ARCA RECYCLING, INC.

 

 

By:_______________________________

Name:

Title:

   
   
 

ARCA CANADA, INC.

 

 

By:_______________________________

Name:

Title:

   
   
 

APPLIANCESMART, INC.

 

 

By:_______________________________

Name:

Title:

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SIXTH AMENDMENT]

 

 

 

 

  5  

 

 

AGENT AND LENDER:

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Lender and as Agent

 

 

By:         /s/ Timothy Canon                                     

Timothy Canon, Vice President

200 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 600

Chicago, IL 60606

 

 

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SIXTH AMENDMENT]

 

 

 

 

  6  

 

Exhibit 10.16

 

  1  

 

 

 

 

 

  2  

 

 

 

 

 

  3  

 

 

 

 

 

  4  

 

 

 

 

 

  5  

 

 

 

 

 

  6  

 

 

 

 

 

 

  7  

 

 

 

 

 

  8  

 

 

 

 

 

  9  

 

 

 

  10  

 

Exhibit 21.1

 

 

Subsidiaries of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.

 

Name   Jurisdiction of Incorporation
ApplianceSmart, Inc.   Minnesota
ARCA Recycling, Inc.   California
ARCA Canada Inc.   Ontario, Canada
ARCA Advanced Processing, LLC   Minnesota
Customer Connexx, LLC   Nevada

 

ARCA Advanced Processing, LLC is a joint venture between the Company and 4301 Operations, LLC. The Company owns a 50% interest in the entity.

 

All other subsidiaries are 100% owned by the Company.

 

 

 

     

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (File No. 333-126236, 333-163804, 333-176591) of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. of our report dated March 31, 2017, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. and Subsidiaries, which appears on page 31 of this annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

/s/ ANTON & CHIA, LLP

 

Newport Beach, California

March 31, 2017

 

 

 

     

 

Exhibit 23.2

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (File No. 333-126236, 333-163804, 333-176591) of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. of our report dated April 6, 2016, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. and Subsidiaries, which appears on page 32 of this annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 2, 2016.

 

/s/ BAKER TILLY VIRCHOW KRAUSE, LLP

 

Minneapolis, Minnesota

March 31, 2017

 

 

 

     

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATIONS:

 

I, Tony Isaac, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.;

 

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. I am 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. 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.

 

 

March 31, 2017 By: /s/ Tony Isaac  
    Tony Isaac  
   

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

     

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATIONS:

 

I, Tony Isaac, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.;

 

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. I am 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. 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.

 

 

March 31, 2017 By: /s/ Tony Isaac  
    Tony Isaac  
   

Acting 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

 

 

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350 (as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), the undersigned Chief Executive Officer of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby certifies that the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Date: March 31, 2017 /s/ Tony Isaac
    Tony Isaac
    Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

Exhibit 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350 (as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), the undersigned Chief Financial Officer of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby certifies that the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

Date: March 31, 2017 /s/ Tony Isaac
    Tony Isaac
    Acting Chief Financial Officer