Sparton Corporation 10-Q
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2007
or
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                                to                             
Commission File number 1-1000
SPARTON CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
OHIO
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
38-1054690
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
2400 East Ganson Street, Jackson, Michigan 49202
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code)
(517) 787-8600
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Indicate by checkmark 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 fling requirements for the past 90 days. þ Yes o No
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 the definitions 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 þ   Smaller reporting company o
 
      (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). o Yes þ No
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
     
Class of Common Stock   Shares Outstanding at
January 31, 2008
$1.25 Par Value   9,811,507
 
 

 


 

2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
             
Part I. Financial Information
       
 
           
  Financial Statements (Interim, Unaudited)        
 
           
 
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2007 and June 30, 2007     3  
 
           
 
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months and six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006     4  
 
           
 
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006     5  
 
           
 
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareowners’ Equity for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006     6  
 
           
 
  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements     7  
 
           
  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     17  
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk     27  
  Controls and Procedures     27  
 
           
Part II. Other Information
       
 
           
  Legal Proceedings     27  
  Risk Factors     29  
  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds     29  
  Exhibits     30  
 
  Signatures     30  
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32.1

 


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Part I. Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements (Interim, Unaudited)
SPARTON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
                 
    December 31, 2007     June 30, 2007  
 
               
ASSETS
               
 
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 6,505,132     $ 3,982,485  
Accounts receivable
    28,598,258       24,566,104  
Inventories and costs of contracts in progress
    53,505,175       53,520,533  
Income taxes recoverable
    740,007       485,074  
Deferred income taxes
    1,984,034       2,287,438  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    916,888       949,092  
 
           
Total current assets
    92,249,494       85,790,726  
 
               
Property, plant and equipment — net
    17,409,669       17,721,812  
Deferred income taxes — non current
    5,047,914       4,630,819  
Goodwill
    16,377,805       16,378,327  
Other intangibles — net
    6,003,021       6,243,647  
Other non current assets
    4,291,594       6,242,467  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 141,379,497     $ 137,007,798  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND SHAREOWNERS’ EQUITY
               
 
               
Current liabilities:
               
Short-term bank borrowings
  $ 4,500,000     $ 1,000,000  
Current portion of long-term debt
    3,973,282       3,922,350  
Accounts payable
    21,815,968       15,781,046  
Salaries and wages
    4,767,604       4,806,724  
Accrued health benefits
    1,333,481       1,359,844  
Other accrued liabilities
    5,879,641       5,931,638  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    42,269,976       32,801,602  
 
               
Pension liability
    211,565       12,495  
Long-term debt — non current portion
    10,088,502       12,088,254  
Environmental remediation — non current portion
    5,463,647       5,625,776  
 
           
Total liabilities
    58,033,690       50,528,127  
 
               
Shareowners’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, no par value; 200,000 shares authorized, none outstanding
           
Common stock, $1.25 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized, 9,811,507 shares outstanding at December 31 and June 30, 2007
    12,264,384       12,264,384  
Capital in excess of par value
    19,546,439       19,474,097  
Retained earnings
    53,445,031       56,730,643  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (1,910,047 )     (1,989,453 )
 
           
Total shareowners’ equity
    83,345,807       86,479,671  
 
           
Total liabilities and shareowners’ equity
  $ 141,379,497     $ 137,007,798  
 
           
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 


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SPARTON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
December 31, 2007 and 2006
                                 
    Three months ended     Six months ended  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
 
                               
Net sales
  $ 54,950,927     $ 53,056,457     $ 113,802,790     $ 101,373,228  
Costs of goods sold
    51,286,598       49,587,268       108,522,915       97,163,273  
 
                       
Gross profit
    3,664,329       3,469,189       5,279,875       4,209,955  
 
                               
Selling and administrative expenses
    5,015,704       4,393,064       9,492,667       8,714,296  
Amortization of intangibles
    120,312       120,312       240,625       241,736  
EPA related — net environmental remediation
    1,073       (210,807 )     928       (201,230 )
Net (gain) loss on sale of property, plant and equipment
    (4,200 )     (2,048 )     (932,022 )     (205,723 )
 
                       
 
    5,132,889       4,300,521       8,802,198       8,549,079  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating loss
    (1,468,560 )     (831,332 )     (3,522,323 )     (4,339,124 )
 
                               
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest and investment income (loss)
    51,528       (79,904 )     78,246       71,027  
Interest expense
    (295,248 )     (290,723 )     (600,340 )     (587,722 )
Equity loss in investment
    (76,000 )     (19,000 )     (200,000 )     (7,000 )
Other — net
    111,440       (278,622 )     593,805       (259,905 )
 
                       
 
    (208,280 )     (668,249 )     (128,289 )     (783,600 )
 
                       
 
Loss before income taxes
    (1,676,840 )     (1,499,581 )     (3,650,612 )     (5,122,724 )
Provision (credit) for income taxes
    188,000       (122,000 )     (365,000 )     (1,281,000 )
 
                       
Net loss
  $ (1,864,840 )   $ (1,377,581 )   $ (3,285,612 )   $ (3,841,724 )
 
                       
 
                               
Loss per share — basic and diluted
  $ (0.19 )   $ (0.14 )   $ (0.33 )   $ (0.39 )
 
                       
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 


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SPARTON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
                 
    Six months ended December 31,  
    2007     2006  
     
 
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
               
Net loss
  $ (3,285,612 )   $ (3,841,724 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
               
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
    1,131,366       1,309,563  
Deferred income tax credit
    (154,596 )      
Loss on sale of investment securities
          244,765  
Equity loss in investment
    200,000       7,000  
Pension expense
    319,381       248,483  
Share-based compensation
    72,342       134,360  
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment
    (932,022 )     (7,048 )
Gain from sale of non-operating land
          (198,675 )
Other, NRTC litigation loss
    1,643,396       47,420  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    (4,032,154 )     (838,678 )
Income taxes recoverable
    (254,933 )     (1,147,000 )
Inventories, prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (96,434 )     (2,848,009 )
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    5,755,836       (2,414,705 )
 
           
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    366,570       (9,304,248 )
 
               
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
               
Proceeds from sale of investment securities
          15,578,362  
Proceeds from maturity of investment securities
          465,645  
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
    (573,903 )     (2,167,460 )
Proceeds from sale of non-operating land
          811,175  
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
    1,076,018       7,048  
Other, principally noncurrent other assets
    107,477       176  
 
           
Net cash provided by investing activities
    609,592       14,694,946  
 
               
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
               
Net short-term bank borrowings
    3,500,000        
Repayment of long-term debt
    (1,953,515 )     (1,895,766 )
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
          1,332,402  
Tax effect from stock transactions
          175,911  
Repurchases of common stock
          (2,523,920 )
 
           
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    1,546,485       (2,911,373 )
 
           
 
               
Increase in cash and cash equivalents
    2,522,647       2,479,325  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    3,982,485       7,503,438  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 6,505,132     $ 9,982,763  
 
           
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 


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SPARTON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareowners’ Equity (Unaudited)
                                                 
    Six months ended December 31, 2007  
                    Capital             Accumulated other        
    Common Stock     in excess     Retained     comprehensive        
    Shares     Amount     of par value     earnings     income (loss)     Total  
 
                                               
Balance at July 1, 2007
    9,811,507     $ 12,264,384     $ 19,474,097     $ 56,730,643     $ (1,989,453 )   $ 86,479,671  
 
                                   
Share-based compensation
                    72,342                       72,342  
 
                                               
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
                                               
Net loss
                            (3,285,612 )             (3,285,612 )
Amortization of unrecognized pension costs
                                    79,406       79,406  
 
                                             
Comprehensive loss
                                            (3,206,206 )
 
                                   
 
Balance at December 31, 2007
    9,811,507     $ 12,264,384     $ 19,546,439     $ 53,445,031     $ (1,910,047 )   $ 83,345,807  
 
                                   
                                                 
    Six months ended December 31, 2006  
                    Capital             Accumulated other        
    Common Stock     in excess     Retained     comprehensive        
    Shares     Amount     of par value     earnings     income (loss)     Total  
 
                                               
Balance at July 1, 2006
    9,392,305     $ 11,740,381     $ 15,191,990     $ 70,183,104     $ (265,097 )   $ 96,850,378  
 
                                               
Stock dividend (5% declared October 25, 2006)
    466,365       582,956       3,404,465       (3,989,398 )             (1,977 )
Stock options exercised, net of common stock surrendered to facilitate exercise
    232,347       290,434       1,041,968                       1,332,402  
Repurchases of common stock as part of 2005 share repurchase program
    (292,744 )     (365,930 )     (463,554 )     (1,694,436 )             (2,523,920 )
Share-based compensation
                    134,360                       134,360  
Tax effect of stock transactions
                    175,911                       175,911  
 
                                               
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
                                               
Net loss
                            (3,841,724 )             (3,841,724 )
Net unrealized loss on investment securities owned
                                    122,606       122,606  
Reclassifcation adjustment for net gain realized and reported in net loss
                                    161,545       161,545  
Net unrealized gain on equity investment
                                    50,000       50,000  
 
                                             
Comprehensive loss
                                            (3,507,573 )
 
                                   
 
Balance at December 31, 2006
    9,798,273     $ 12,247,841     $ 19,485,140     $ 60,657,546     $ 69,054     $ 92,459,581  
 
                                   
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 


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SPARTON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
NOTE 1. BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of presentation — The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Sparton Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2007, and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and shareowners’ equity for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 are unaudited, but include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals with the exception of the NRTC litigation loss described in Note 6) which the Company considers necessary for a fair presentation of such interim financial statements. Operating results for the six months ended December 31, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008. The terms “Sparton,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Sparton Corporation and subsidiaries.
The balance sheet at June 30, 2007, was derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. It is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007.
Business Acquisition — On May 31, 2006, the Company announced that a membership purchase agreement was signed, and the acquisition of Astro Instrumentation, LLC (Astro) was completed. Astro was a privately owned electronic manufacturing services (EMS) provider located in Strongsville, Ohio. Astro had been in business for approximately five years and had a sales volume for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, of approximately $34 million. This acquisition furthered the Company’s strategy of pursuing potential acquisition candidates in both the defense and medical device markets. In January 2007, Astro was renamed Sparton Medical Systems, Inc. (SMS), which operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sparton Corporation. The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 141, Business Combinations; accordingly, the operating results of SMS since the acquisition date have been included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company. Additional details covering this acquisition can be found in the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for each of the fiscal years ended June 30, 2007 and 2006.
Operations — The Company operates in one line of business, electronic manufacturing services (EMS). The Company provides design and electronic manufacturing services, which include a complete range of engineering, pre-manufacturing and post-manufacturing services. Capabilities range from product design and development through aftermarket support. All of the facilities are registered to ISO standards, including 9001 or 13485, with most having additional certifications. Products and services include complete “Device Manufacturing” products for Original Equipment Manufacturers, microprocessor-based systems, transducers, printed circuit boards and assemblies, sensors and electromechanical devices. Markets served are in the government, medical/scientific instrumentation, aerospace, and other industries, with a focus on regulated markets. The Company also develops and manufactures sonobuoys, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) devices, used by the U.S. Navy and other free-world countries. Many of the physical and technical attributes in the production of sonobuoys are the same as those required in the production of the Company’s other electrical and electromechanical products and assemblies.
Use of estimates — The Company’s interim condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). These accounting principles require management to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions. The Company believes that the estimates, judgments and assumptions upon which it relies are reasonable based upon information available to it at the time that these estimates, judgments and assumptions are made. These estimates, judgments and assumptions can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. To the extent there are material differences between these estimates, judgments or assumptions and actual results, the financial statements will be affected. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by GAAP and does not require management’s judgment in its application. There are also areas in which management’s judgment in selecting among available alternatives would not produce a materially different result.

 


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Revenue recognition — Net sales include primarily product sales, with supplementary revenues earned from engineering and design services. Standard contract terms are FOB shipping point. Revenue from product sales is generally recognized upon shipment of the goods; service revenue is recognized as the service is performed or under the percentage of completion method, depending on the nature of the arrangement. Long-term contracts relate principally to government defense contracts. These contracts are accounted for based on completed units accepted and their estimated average contract cost per unit. Costs and fees billed under cost-reimbursement-type contracts are recorded as sales. A provision for the entire amount of a loss on a contract is charged to operations as soon as the loss is identified and the amount is determinable. Shipping and handling costs are included in costs of goods sold.
Accounts receivable, credit practices, and allowance for probable losses — Accounts receivable are customer obligations generally due under normal trade terms for the industry. Credit terms are granted and periodically revised based on evaluations of the customers’ financial condition. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and although the Company does not generally require collateral, letters of credit or cash advances may be required from customers in order to support accounts receivable in certain circumstances. Historically, a majority of receivables from foreign customers have been secured by letters of credit or cash advances.
The Company maintains an allowance for probable losses on receivables for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The allowance is estimated based on historical experience of write-offs, the level of past due amounts (i.e., amounts not paid within the stated terms), information known about specific customers with respect to their ability to make payments, and future expectations of conditions that might impact the collectibility of accounts. When management determines that it is probable that an account will not be collected, all or a portion of the amount is charged against the allowance for probable losses.
Fair value of financial instruments — The fair value of cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, short-term bank borrowings, and accounts payable approximate their carrying value. Cash and cash equivalents consist of demand deposits and other highly liquid investments with an original term when purchased of three months or less. With respect to the Company’s issued or assumed long-term debt instruments, consisting of industrial revenue bonds, notes payable and bank debt, relating to the May 31, 2006 acquisition of SMS, as reported in Note 5 of this report, management believes the fair value of these financial instruments approximates their carrying value at December 31, 2007.
Investment securities — The Company’s investment portfolio historically had maturity dates within a year or less. Realized gains and losses on investments were determined using the specific identification method. Investments in debt securities that were not cash equivalents or marketable equity securities had been designated as available for sale. Those securities, all of which were investment grade, were reported at fair value, with net unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, net of applicable taxes. Unrealized losses that were other than temporary were recognized in earnings. During the year ended June 30, 2007, the Company liquidated its investment securities portfolio.
There were no investment securities purchased during the six months ended December 31, 2007 or 2006. For the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 there were $0 and $15,578,000 of proceeds from the sale of investment securities, respectively.
Other investment — The Company has an investment in Cybernet Systems Corporation, which is included in other non current assets and is accounted for under the equity method, as more fully described in Note 9 of this report.
Market risk exposure - The Company manufactures its products in the United States, Canada, and Vietnam. Sales of the Company’s products are in the U.S. and Canada, as well as other foreign markets. The Company is subject to foreign currency exchange rate transaction risk relating to intercompany activity and balances, receipts from customers, and payments to suppliers in foreign currencies. Also, adjustments related to the translation of the Company’s Canadian and Vietnamese financial statements into U.S. dollars are included in current earnings. As a result, the Company’s financial results are affected by factors such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates or economic conditions in the domestic and foreign markets in which the Company operates. However, minimal third party receivables and payables are denominated in foreign currency and the related market risk exposure is considered to be immaterial. Historically, foreign currency gains and losses related to intercompany activity and balances have not been significant. However, due to the strengthened Canadian dollar in recent years, the impact of transaction and translation gains has increased. If the exchange rate were to materially change, the Company’s financial position could be significantly affected.
The Company has financial instruments that are subject to interest rate risk. As a result of the May 31, 2006, Astro acquisition, the Company is obligated on bank debt with an adjustable rate of interest, as more fully discussed in Note 5 of this report, which would adversely impact operations should the interest rate increase.

 


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Long-lived assets — The Company reviews long-lived assets that are not held for sale for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Impairment is determined by comparing the carrying value of the assets to their estimated future undiscounted cash flows. If it is determined that an impairment of a long-lived asset has occurred, a current charge to income is recognized. The Company also has goodwill and other intangibles which are considered long-lived assets. While a portion of goodwill is associated with the Company’s investment in Cybernet, the majority of the approximately $22.4 million and $22.6 million in net carrying value of goodwill and other intangibles reflected on the Company’s balance sheet as of December 31 and June 30, 2007, respectively, is associated with the acquisition of SMS. For a more complete discussion of goodwill and other intangibles, see Note 4 of this report.
Other assets — At June 30, 2007, the Company’s Deming, New Mexico facility was classified as held for sale and carried in other current assets in the Company’s balance sheet. For a further discussion of the sale of this facility, which transaction closed on July 20, 2007, see Note 10 of this report. In addition, included in other non current assets as of December 31 and June 30, 2007 was $2.8 million and $4.4 million, respectively, of inventory materials for which the Company is seeking reimbursement from other parties, which is described in Note 6 of this report.
Common stock repurchases — The Company records common stock repurchases at cost. The excess of cost over par value is first allocated to capital in excess of par value based on the per share amount of capital in excess of par value for all outstanding shares, with the remainder charged to retained earnings. Effective September 14, 2005, the Board of Directors authorized a publicly-announced common share repurchase program for the repurchase, at the discretion of management, of up to $4 million of shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock in open market transactions. The program expired September 14, 2007. As of the expiration date repurchased shares totaled 331,781, at a cumulative cost of approximately $2,887,000. Repurchased shares have been retired. No shares have been repurchased during fiscal 2008.
Deferred income taxes — Deferred income taxes are based on enacted income tax rates in effect on the dates temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in income tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. To the extent that available evidence about the future raises doubt about the realization of a deferred tax asset, a valuation allowance would be established. No such valuation allowance was deemed necessary as of December 31 or June 30, 2007. For a further discussion on income taxes see Part II, Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates, of this report.
Supplemental cash flows information — Supplemental cash and noncash activities for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows:
                 
    2007     2006  
     
Net cash paid (refunded) during the period for:
               
Income taxes
  $ (46,000 )   $ 2,000  
 
           
Interest (including $4,000 of capitalized interest in fiscal 2008)
  $ 601,000     $ 575,000  
 
           
New accounting standards — In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. This Statement provides reporting entities the one-time election (the “fair value option”) to measure financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. For items for which the fair value option has been elected, unrealized gains and losses are to be reported in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS No. 157), to eliminate the diversity in practice that exists due to the different definitions of fair value and the limited guidance for applying those definitions. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Both SFAS No. 159 and 157 are effective for financial statements issued by Sparton for the first interim period of our fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2008. The Company does not expect that the adoption of SFAS No. 159 or 157 will have a significant impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R). This Statement is intended to improve financial reporting by requiring an employer to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan as an asset or liability in its balance sheet and to recognize changes in that funded status in the year in which the changes occur through comprehensive income or loss. This Statement also requires an employer to measure the funded status of a plan as of its balance sheet date. Prior accounting standards required an employer to recognize on its balance sheet an asset or liability arising from a defined benefit postretirement plan, which generally differed from the plan’s overfunded or underfunded status. SFAS No. 158 was effective for Sparton’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, except for the change in the measurement date which is effective for Sparton’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. An increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss reflecting the

 


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amount equal to the difference between the previously recorded pension asset and the current funded status (adjusted for income taxes) as of June 30, 2007, the implementation date, was recorded by the Company. The resulting decrease to shareowners’ equity at that date totaled approximately $1,989,000 (net of tax benefit of $1,025,000). For further information on the detailed application of this new pronouncement see Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and Note 9 of this report.
In July 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN No. 48), an interpretation of SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. FIN No. 48 seeks to reduce the significant diversity in practice associated with financial statement recognition and measurement in accounting for income taxes and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for disclosure of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on an income tax return. In May 2007, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FIN 48-1, Definition of Settlement in FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48-1). FIN 48-1 amends FASB Interpretation No. 48 to provide guidance on how an enterprise should determine whether a tax position is effectively settled for the purpose of recognizing previously unrecognized tax benefits. The interpretation was effective upon initial adoption of FIN No. 48. The Company implemented FIN No. 48 on July 1, 2007, and accordingly analyzed its fling positions in the federal and state jurisdictions where it is required to file income tax returns, as well as all open tax years in these jurisdictions. The adoption of FIN No. 48, and the succeeding amendment FIN 48-1, had no significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
Based on our evaluation, we have concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in the Company’s financial statements. Sparton’s evaluation was performed for the fiscal years 2004 through 2007, the years which remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions as of December 31, 2007. It is possible that the Company may from time to time be assessed interest or penalties by major tax jurisdictions, although any such assessments historically have been minimal and immaterial to our financial results. Any assessment for interest and/or penalties would be classified in the financial statements as selling, general and administrative expense.
NOTE 2. INVENTORIES AND COSTS OF CONTRACTS IN PROGRESS
Customer orders are based upon forecasted quantities of product, manufactured for shipment over defined periods. Raw material inventories are purchased to fulfill these customer requirements. Within these arrangements, customer demands for products frequently change, sometimes creating excess and obsolete inventories. When it is determined that the Company’s carrying cost of such excess and obsolete inventories cannot be recovered in full, a charge is taken against income and a valuation allowance is established for the difference between the carrying cost and the estimated realizable amount. Conversely, should the disposition of adjusted excess and obsolete inventories result in recoveries in excess of these reduced carrying values, the remaining portion of the valuation allowances is reversed and taken into income when such determinations are made. It is possible that the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be materially affected by changes to inventory valuation allowances. These valuation allowances totaled $2,793,000 and $2,416,000 at December 31 and June 30, 2007, respectively.
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out basis) or market and include costs related to long-term contracts. Inventories, other than contract costs, are principally raw materials and supplies. The following are the approximate major classifications of inventory, net of progress billings and valuation allowances, at each balance sheet date:
                 
    December 31, 2007     June 30, 2007  
     
Raw materials
  $ 36,629,000     $ 36,627,000  
Work in process and finished goods
    16,876,000       16,894,000  
 
           
 
  $ 53,505,000     $ 53,521,000  
 
           
Work in process and finished goods inventories include $3.0 million and $3.3 million of completed, but not yet accepted, sonobuoys at December 31 and June 30, 2007, respectively. Inventories are reduced by progress billings to the U.S. government, related to long-term contracts, of approximately $4.1 million and $8.6 million at December 31 and June 30, 2007, respectively.

 


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NOTE 3. DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLAN
Periodic benefit cost — The Company sponsors a defined benefit pension plan covering certain salaried and hourly U.S. employees. The components of net periodic pension expense are as follows for the three and six months ended December 31:
                                 
    Three months ended     Six months ended  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
         
Service cost
    146,000     $ 111,000       269,000     $ 247,000  
Interest cost
    145,000       141,000       303,000       316,000  
Expected return on plan assets
    (160,000 )     (194,000 )     (373,000 )     (434,000 )
Amortization of prior service cost
    25,000       23,000       51,000       51,000  
Amortization of net loss
    39,000       31,000       69,000       68,000  
 
                       
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 195,000     $ 112,000     $ 319,000     $ 248,000  
 
                       
Based upon current actuarial calculations and assumptions, a pension contribution in the amount of $79,000 is anticipated to be required to be made during this current fiscal year. No cash contribution was required or paid by the Company in fiscal 2007.
NOTE 4. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLES
The Company follows SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations (SFAS No. 141), SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (SFAS No. 142) and SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets (SFAS No. 144). SFAS No. 141 requires that the purchase method of accounting be used for all business combinations. SFAS No. 141 also specifies the criteria applicable to intangible assets acquired in a purchase method business combination to be recognized and reported apart from goodwill. SFAS No. 142 requires that goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives no longer be amortized, but instead be tested for impairment, at least annually. Cybernet Systems Corporation’s (Cybernet) goodwill and goodwill related to the SMS purchase is reviewed for impairment annually, with the next review expected to occur in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. See “Business Acquisition”, Note 1 of this report, for additional information on the purchase of SMS, which occurred on May 31, 2006. SFAS No. 144 requires that intangible assets with definite useful lives be amortized over their estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values and be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. The change in the carrying amounts of goodwill and amortizable intangibles during the six months ended December 31, 2007 and year ended June 30, 2007, were as follows:
                         
            Amortizable        
    Goodwill     Intangibles     Total Intangibles  
     
Balance at July 1, 2006
  $ 15,744,000     $ 6,726,000     $ 22,470,000  
Goodwill additions
    634,000             634,000  
Amortization
          (482,000 )     (482,000 )
 
                 
Balance at June 30, 2007
  $ 16,378,000     $ 6,244,000     $ 22,622,000  
Amortization
          (241,000 )     (241,000 )
 
                 
Balance at December 31, 2007
  $ 16,378,000     $ 6,003,000     $ 22,381,000  
 
                 
Goodwill — Goodwill is comprised of the following: $770,000 related to the Company’s investment in Cybernet Systems Corporation (Cybernet) and $15,608,000 related to the Company’s purchase of SMS. Additional goodwill in the amount of $38,000 as a result of the Company’s purchase of SMS, as well as $596,000 resulting from accrued contingent consideration determined to be earned by the sellers of SMS at June 30, 2007. This consideration was recorded during fiscal 2007 and paid in the first quarter of fiscal 2008.
Other intangibles — Other intangibles of $6,765,000 were recognized upon the purchase of SMS in May 2006, consisting of intangibles for non-compete agreements of $165,000 and customer relationships of $6,600,000. These costs are being amortized ratably over 4 years and 15 years, respectively. Accumulated amortization as of December 31, 2007 amounted to $762,000; $65,000 and $697,000 were for amortization of non-compete agreements and customer relationships, respectively. Amortization of intangible assets is estimated to be approximately $481,000 for fiscal 2008, 2009 and 2010, and approximately $440,000 for each of the subsequent 10 years.

 


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NOTE 5. BORROWINGS
Short-term debt maturities and line of credit — Short-term debt as of December 31, 2007, includes the current portion of long-term bank loan debt of $2,000,000, the current portion of long-term notes payable of $1,872,000, and the current portion of Industrial Revenue bonds of $101,000. Both the bank loan and the notes payable were incurred as a result of the Company’s purchase of SMS on May 31, 2006, and are due and payable in equal installments over the next several years as further discussed below. The Industrial Revenue bonds were assumed at the time of SMS’s purchase and were previously incurred by Astro Instrumentation, LLC (Astro).
The Company also has available an unsecured $20,000,000 revolving line-of-credit facility provided by National City Bank to support working capital needs and other general corporate purposes. Interest on borrowings is charged using a floating rate of 1.25% plus a base rate determined by reference to a specified index, which as of December 31, 2007 equaled an effective rate of 6.75% (6.82% as of June 30, 2007). As of December 31 and June 30, 2007, there was $4.5 and $1.0 million drawn against this credit facility, respectively. Accrued interest on those borrowings amounted to approximately $6,000 and $1,000 as of December 31 and June 30, 2007, respectively. Borrowings are due on demand.
Long-term debt — Long-term debt, all of which arose in conjunction with the SMS acquisition, consists of the following obligations at each balance sheet date:
                 
    December 31, 2007     June 30, 2007  
     
Industrial Revenue bonds, face value
  $ 2,321,000     $ 2,376,000  
Less unamortized purchase discount
    136,000       141,000  
 
           
Industrial Revenue bonds, carrying value
    2,185,000       2,235,000  
Bank loan
    7,000,000       8,000,000  
Notes payable
    4,877,000       5,776,000  
 
           
Total long-term debt
    14,062,000       16,011,000  
Less current portion
    3,973,000       3,922,000  
 
           
Long-term debt, net of current portion
  $ 10,089,000     $ 12,089,000  
 
           
The Company has assumed repayment of principal and interest on bonds originally issued to Astro by the State of Ohio. These bonds are Ohio State Economic Development Revenue Bonds, series 2002-4, and were issued to finance the construction of Astro’s current operating facility. The principal amount, including premium, was issued in 2002 and totaled $2,845,000. These bonds have interest rates which vary, dependent on the maturity date of the bonds. Due to an increase in interest rates since the original issuance of the bonds, a discount amounting to $151,000 was recorded by Sparton on the date of assumption.
The bonds carry certain requirements generally obligating the Company to deposit funds into a sinking fund. The sinking fund requires the Company to make monthly deposits of one twelfth of the annual obligation plus accrued interest. The purchase discount is being amortized ratably over the remaining term of the bonds. Amortization expense for the six months ended December 31 and the year ended June 30, 2007, respectively, was approximately $5,000 and $9,000. The Company has issued an irrevocable letter of credit in the amount of $284,000 to secure repayment of a portion of the bonds. A further discussion of borrowings and other information related to the Company’s purchase of SMS may be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007.
The bank term loan, provided by National City Bank with an original principal of $10 million, is being repaid over five years, with quarterly principal payments of $500,000 which commenced September 1, 2006. This loan bears interest at the variable rate of LIBOR plus 100 basis points, with interest calculated and paid quarterly along with the principal payment. As of December 31 and June 30, 2007, respectively, the effective interest rate equaled 5.85% and 6.32%, with accrued interest of approximately $33,000 and $41,000. As a condition of this bank loan, the Company is subject to certain customary covenants. The Company met these requirements at December 31, 2007. This debt is not secured.
Two notes payable with initial principal of $3,750,000 each, totaling $7.5 million, are payable to the sellers of Astro. These notes are to be repaid over four years, in aggregate semi-annual payments of principal and interest in the combined amount of $1,057,000 on June 1 and December 1 of each year. Payments commenced on December 1, 2006. These notes each bear interest at 5.5% per annum. The notes are proportionately secured by the stock of Astro. As of December 31 and June 30, 2007, there was interest accrued on these notes in the amount of approximately $22,000 and $26,000, respectively.

 


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NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Environmental Remediation
One of Sparton’s former manufacturing facilities, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico (Coors Road), has been involved with ongoing environmental remediation since the early 1980s. At December 31, 2007, Sparton had accrued $5,820,000 as its best estimate of the remaining minimum future undiscounted financial liability with respect to this matter, of which $356,000 is classified as a current liability and included on the balance sheet in other accrued liabilities. The Company’s minimum cost estimate is based upon existing technology and excludes legal and related consulting costs, which are expensed as incurred. The Company’s estimate includes equipment and operating and maintenance costs for onsite and offsite pump and treat containment systems, as well as continued onsite and offsite monitoring. It also includes periodic reporting requirements.
In fiscal 2003, Sparton reached an agreement with the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and others to recover certain remediation costs. Under the settlement terms, Sparton received cash and the DOE agreed to reimburse Sparton for 37.5% of certain future environmental expenses in excess of $8,400,000 incurred from the date of settlement. Uncertainties associated with environmental remediation contingencies are pervasive and often result in wide ranges of reasonably possible outcomes. Estimates developed in the early stages of remediation can vary significantly. Normally a finite estimate of cost does not become fixed and determinable at a specific point in time. Rather, the costs associated with environmental remediation become estimable over a continuum of events and activities that help to frame and define a liability. Factors which cause uncertainties for the Company include, but are not limited to, the effectiveness of the current work plans in achieving targeted results and proposals of regulatory agencies for desired methods and outcomes. It is possible that cash flows and results of operations could be significantly affected by the impact of changes associated with the ultimate resolution of this contingency.
Customer Relationships
In September 2002, Sparton Technology, Inc. (STI), a subsidiary of Sparton Corporation, filed an action in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to recover certain unreimbursed costs incurred for the acquisition of raw materials as a result of a manufacturing relationship with two entities, Util-Link, LLC (Util-Link) of Delaware and National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) of the District of Columbia. The defendants filed a counterclaim in the action seeking money damages alleging that STI breached its duties in the manufacture of products for the defendants.
At the conclusion of the jury trial in November of 2005, STI was awarded damages in an amount in excess of the unreimbursed costs. The defendants were denied relief on their counterclaim. As of June 30, 2007, $1.6 million of the deferred costs incurred by the Company were included in other non current assets on the Company’s balance sheet. NRTC filed an appeal of the judgment with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and on September 21, 2007, with that court issuing its opinion vacating the judgment in favor of Sparton and affirming the denial of relief on NRTC’s counterclaim. Sparton continues to believe strongly in the merits of its claims and has filed a Petition for Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court and a Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law and/or New Trial with the trial court. The timing and ultimate resolution of its claim is uncertain at this time. As a result of the vacation of the judgment in Sparton’s favor by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Sparton expensed the previously deferred costs of $1.6 million as costs of goods sold, which was reflected in the financial results reported for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.
The Company has pending an action before the U.S. Court of Federal Court of Claims to recover damages arising out of an alleged infringement by the U.S. Navy of certain patents held by Sparton and used in the production of sonobuoys. The case was dismissed on summary judgment, however, the decision of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims was reversed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The case is currently scheduled for trial in the second quarter of calendar 2008. The likelihood that the claim will be resolved and the extent of any recovery in favor of the Company is unknown at this time.
Product Issues
Some of the printed circuit boards supplied to the Company for its aerospace sales were discovered in fiscal 2006 to be nonconforming and defective. The defect occurred during production at the board supplier’s facility, prior to shipment to Sparton for further processing. The Company and our customer, who received the defective boards, have contained the defective boards.
As of December 31 and June 30, 2007, $2.8 million of related product and associated expenses have been deferred and classified in Sparton’s balance sheet within other non current assets. In August 2005, Sparton Electronics Florida, Inc. filed an action in U.S. District Court of Florida against Electropac Co., Inc. and a related company (the raw board manufacturer) to recover

 


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these costs. A trial in the matter is expected to be held in the second or third quarter of calendar 2008. The likelihood that the claim will be resolved and the extent of the Company’s recovery, if any, is unknown at this time. No loss contingency has been established at December 31, 2007.
NOTE 7. COMMON STOCK OPTIONS
As of July 1, 2005, SFAS No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, became effective for the Company. Under SFAS No. 123(R), compensation expense is recognized in the Company’s financial statements. Share-based compensation cost is measured on the grant date, based on the fair value of the award calculated at that date, and is recognized over the employee’s requisite service period, which generally is the options’ vesting period. Fair value is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
The Company has an incentive stock option plan under which 970,161 authorized and unissued common shares, which includes 760,000 original shares adjusted by 210,161 shares for the subsequent declaration of stock dividends, were reserved for option grants to key employees and directors at the fair market value of the Company’s common stock at the date of the grant. Options granted to date have either a five or ten-year term and become vested and exercisable cumulatively beginning one year after the grant date, in four equal annual installments. Options may terminate before their expiration dates if the optionee’s status as an employee is terminated, retired, or upon death.
Employee stock options, which are granted by the Company pursuant to The Plan, which was last amended and restated on October 24, 2001, are structured to qualify as “incentive stock options” (ISOs). Stock options granted to non-employee directors are non-qualified stock options (NQSO’s). Under current federal income tax regulations, the Company does not receive a tax deduction for the issuance, exercise or disposition of ISOs if the employee meets certain holding period requirements. If the employee does not meet the holding period requirement a disqualifying disposition occurs, at which time the Company can receive a tax deduction. The Company does not record tax benefits related to ISOs unless and until a disqualifying disposition occurs. In the event of a disqualifying disposition, the entire tax benefits is recorded as a reduction of income tax expense. In accordance with SFAS No. 123(R), excess tax benefits (where the tax deduction exceeds the recorded compensation expense) are credited to “capital in excess of par value” in the consolidated statement of shareowners’ equity and tax benefits deficiencies (where the recorded compensation expense exceeds the tax deduction) are charged to “capital in excess of par value” to the extent previous excess tax benefits exist.
The following table presents share-based compensation expense and related components for the three months and six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively:
                                 
    Three months ended   Six months ended
    2007   2006   2007   2006
Share-based compensation expense
  $ 52,000     $ 68,000     $ 72,000     $ 134,000  
 
                               
Related tax benefit
        $ 21,000           $ 21,000  
 
                               
Share-based compensation expense impacted basic and diluted per share amounts by approximately
        $ 0.01           $ 0.01  
As of December 31, 2007, unrecognized compensation costs related to nonvested awards amounted to $312,000 and will be recognized over the remaining weighted average period of approximately 1.30 years.
In general, the Company’s policy is to issue new shares upon the exercise of a stock option. A summary of option activity under the Company’s stock option plan for the six months ended December 31, 2007 is presented below. The intrinsic value of a stock option is the difference between the stock price of the share under option at the measurement date (i.e., date of exercise or date outstanding in the table below) and its exercise price. Stock options are excluded from this calculation if their exercise price is above the stock price of the share under option at the measurement date. All options presented have been adjusted to reflect the impact of all 5% common stock dividends declared. At December 31, 2007, shares remaining available for future grant totaled 270,606.

 


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                    Wtd. Avg.    
                    Remaining    
    Total Shares   Wtd. Avg.   Contractual   Aggregate
    Under Option   Exercise Price   Term (years)   Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at July 1, 2007
    300,303     $ 7.82       5.74     $ 66,000  
Granted
                             
Exercised
                             
Forfeited or expired
    (76,918 )                        
 
                               
Outstanding at December 31, 2007
    223,385     $ 8.22       7.15        
 
                               
Exercisable at December 31, 2007
    123,813     $ 7.97       6.80        
 
                               
The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding, which includes options exercisable, at December 31, 2007, was $0, as all options both outstanding and exercisable had an exercise price above the stock price of the share under option at that date. The exercise price of stock options outstanding at December 31, 2007, ranged from $6.52 to $8.57.
There were no stock options granted during the six months ended December 31, 2007. Assumptions utilized in determining the amount expensed for stock options during the periods presented are consistent with, and disclosed in, the Company’s previously filed Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2007.
NOTE 8. EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
Due to the Company’s interim reported net losses for the three months and six months ended December 2007 and 2006, all common stock options outstanding were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for those periods, as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.
Basic and diluted loss per share for the three months and six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 were computed based on the following shares outstanding:
                                 
    Three months ended     Six months ended  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
Weighted average shares outstanding
    9,811,507       9,834,019       9,811,507       9,842,970  
 
                       
Basic and diluted loss per share
  $ (0.19 )   $ (0.14 )   $ (0.33 )   $ (0.39 )
 
                       
NOTE 9. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income (loss) as well as unrealized gains and losses, net of income tax, on investment securities owned and investment securities held by an investee accounted for by the equity method, as well as changes (beginning in fiscal 2008) in the funded status of the Company’s defined benefit pension plan, which are excluded from net income (loss). Unrealized investment gains and losses and changes in the funded status of the pension plan, net of tax, are excluded from net income (loss), but are reflected as a direct charge or credit to shareowners’ equity. Comprehensive income (loss) and the related components are disclosed in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of shareowners’ equity. Amortization of unrecognized pension expense for the six months ended December 31, 2007 of $79,000 includes prior service cost and net actuarial loss of $34,000 and $45,000, respectively, net of tax. Comprehensive loss is summarized as follows for the three months and six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively:
                                 
    Three months ended     Six months ended  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
Net loss
  $ (1,865,000 )   $ (1,378,000 )   $ (3,286,000 )   $ (3,842,000 )
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
                               
Investment securities owned
          161,000             284,000  
Investment securities held by investee accounted for by the equity method
          39,000             50,000  
Amortization of unrecognized pension costs
    42,000             79,000        
 
                       
 
    42,000       200,000       79,000       334,000  
 
                       
Comprehensive loss
  $ (1,823,000 )   $ (1,178,000 )   $ (3,207,000 )   $ (3,508,000 )
 
                       
At December 31 and June 30, 2007, shareowners’ equity includes accumulated other comprehensive loss of $1,910,000 and $1,989,000, respectively, net of tax, which is the unrecognized prior service cost and net actuarial loss of the Company’s pension plan.

 


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In June 1999, the Company purchased a 14% interest (12% on a fully diluted basis) in Cybernet for $3,000,000. Cybernet is a developer of hardware, software, next-generation network computing, and robotics products. It is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The investment is accounted for under the equity method and is included in other assets and goodwill on the balance sheet. At December 31 and June 30, 2007, the Company’s investment in Cybernet amounted to $1,955,000 and $2,248,000, respectively, representing its equity interest in Cybernet’s net assets plus $770,000 of goodwill. The Company believes that the equity method is appropriate given Sparton’s level of involvement in Cybernet. Sparton’s current President and CEO is one of three Cybernet Board members, and as part of that position is actively involved in Cybernet’s oversight and operations. In addition, he has a strategic management relationship with the owners, who are also the other two board members, resulting in his additional involvement in pursuing areas of common interest for both Cybernet and Sparton. The use of the equity method requires Sparton to record its share of Cybernet’s income or loss in earnings (“Equity income/loss in investment”) in Sparton’s statements of operations with a corresponding increase or decrease in the investment account (“Other non current assets”) in Sparton’s balance sheets. In addition, Sparton’s share of any unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities held by Cybernet is carried in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within the shareowners’ equity section of Sparton’s balance sheets. The unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities in fiscal 2007 reflect Cybernet’s investment in Immersion Corporation, a publicly traded company, as well as other investments. There have been no unrealized gains or losses in fiscal 2008, as during fiscal 2007 Cybernet liquidated these investments.
NOTE 10. PLANT CLOSURE
On January 8, 2007, Sparton announced its commitment to close the Deming, New Mexico facility of Sparton Technology, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sparton Corporation. The Deming facility produced wire harnesses for buses and provided intercompany production support for other Sparton locations. The closure of this plant was completed by March 31, 2007. The Deming wire harness production was discontinued, and the intercompany production support relocated to other Sparton facilities.
Some of the equipment located at the Deming facility was relocated to other Sparton facilities, primarily in Florida, for their use in ongoing production activities. The land, building, applicable inventory, and remainder of other Deming assets were sold pursuant to an agreement signed at the end of March 2007. The sale involved several separate transactions. The sale of the inventory and equipment for $200,000 was completed on March 30, 2007. The sale of the land and building for $1,000,000 closed on July 20, 2007. During the interim period, the purchaser leased the real property. The net value of the land and building sold was included in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Company’s balance sheet as of June 30, 2007. The property, plant, and equipment of the Deming facility was substantially fully depreciated. The ultimate sale of this facility was completed at a net gain of approximately $868,000. The net gain includes a gain of approximately $928,000 on the sale of property, plant and equipment, less a loss on the sale of remaining inventory, which loss is included in the costs of goods sold section of the statement of operations. The net gain was recognized in full entirely in the first quarter of fiscal 2008 upon closing of the real estate transaction.
As of June 30, 2007, the following assets and liabilities of the Deming facility were included in the condensed consolidated balance sheet:
         
Current assets — net of assets held for sale
  $ 9,000  
Property and plant (net), held for sale
    29,000  
 
     
Total assets (all current)
  $ 38,000  
 
     
 
Liabilities (all current)
  $ 136,000  
 
     
Additional details covering this plant closure can be found in Note 15 of Item 8, Part II, of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007.

 


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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following is management’s discussion and analysis of certain significant events affecting the Company’s earnings and financial condition during the periods included in the accompanying financial statements. Additional information regarding the Company can be accessed via Sparton’s website at www.sparton.com. Information provided at the website includes, among other items, the Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Quarterly Earnings Releases, News Releases, and the Code of Ethics, as well as various corporate charters. The Company’s operations are in one line of business, electronic manufacturing services (EMS). Sparton’s capabilities range from product design and development through aftermarket support, specializing in total business solutions for government, medical/scientific instrumentation, aerospace and industrial markets. This includes the design, development and/or manufacture of electronic parts and assemblies for both government and commercial customers worldwide. Governmental sales are mainly sonobuoys.
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 reflects Congress’ determination that the disclosure of forward-looking information is desirable for investors and encourages such disclosure by providing a safe harbor for forward-looking statements by corporate management. This report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the scope of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The words “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “shall,” and similar expressions, and the negatives of such expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements which refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly disclose any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring subsequent to filing this Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, those discussed below. Accordingly, Sparton’s future results may differ materially from historical results or from those discussed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The Company notes that a variety of factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the Company’s forward-looking statements.
Sparton, as a high-mix, low to medium-volume supplier, provides rapid product turnaround for customers. High-mix describes customers needing multiple product types with generally low volume manufacturing runs. As a contract manufacturer with customers in a variety of markets, the Company has substantially less visibility of end user demand and, therefore, forecasting sales can be problematic. Customers may cancel their orders, change production quantities and/or reschedule production for a number of reasons. Depressed economic conditions may result in customers delaying delivery of product, or the placement of purchase orders for lower volumes than previously anticipated. Unplanned cancellations, reductions, or delays by customers may negatively impact the Company’s results of operations. As many of the Company’s costs and operating expenses are relatively fixed within given ranges of production, a reduction in customer demand can disproportionately affect the Company’s gross margins and operating income. The majority of the Company’s sales have historically come from a limited number of customers. Significant reductions in sales to, or a loss of, one of these customers could materially impact business if the Company were not able to replace those sales with new business.
Other risks and uncertainties that may affect operations, performance, growth forecasts and business results include, but are not limited to, timing and fluctuations in U.S. and/or world economies, competition in the overall EMS business, availability of production labor and management services under terms acceptable to the Company, Congressional budget outlays for sonobuoy development and production, Congressional legislation, foreign currency exchange rate risk, Sparton uncertainties associated with the outcome of litigation, changes in the interpretation of environmental laws and the uncertainties of environmental remediation, and uncertainties related to defects discovered in certain of the Company’s aerospace circuit boards. Other risk factors are related to the availability and cost of materials used in the manufacture of its products. A number of events can impact these risks and uncertainties, including potential escalating utility and other related costs due to natural disasters, as well as political uncertainties such as the conflict in Iraq. The Company has encountered availability and extended lead time issues on some electronic components due to strong market demand; this resulted in higher prices and late deliveries. Additionally, the timing of sonobuoy sales to the U.S. Navy is dependent upon access to the test range and successful passage of product tests performed by the U.S. Navy. Reduced governmental budgets have made access to the test range less predictable and less frequent than in the past. Finally, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 required changes in, and formalization of, some of the Company’s corporate governance and compliance practices. The SEC and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) also passed rules and regulations requiring additional compliance activities. Compliance with these rules has increased administrative costs, and it is expected that certain of these costs will continue indefinitely. For a further discussion of the Company’s risk factors refer to Part I, Item 1(a), Risk Factors, of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007. Management cautions readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are subject to influence by the enumerated risk factors as well as unanticipated future events.

 


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The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in this report.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Year to date, fiscal 2008 has been favorably impacted by:
    Consistent and successful sonobuoy drop tests contributing to increased sales and improved margins.
 
    Continued sales growth in the Medical/Scientific Instrumentation market and a number of significant new program orders now in start-up.
 
    Improved margins from a better product mix, improved performance, and repricing on some products.
 
    The completion of the sale of the Deming, New Mexico facility at a gain.
These factors, however, have partially been offset by:
    Sales of several lots of sonobuoys in the six month period which carried minimal or no margin, which programs are now essentially complete.
 
    Significant new program start-up costs related to hiring staff, training personnel and ordering material in advance of production, compounded by customer delays leading to further unexpected cost growth.
 
    Increased selling and administrative expenses to support new program start-ups.
 
    Decreased sales and depressed margins in the Industrial/Other market, due primarily to reduced sales and pricing concessions to one customer.
 
    The write-off of a $1.6 million claim (previously recorded as a deferred asset), due to an adverse court opinion.
 
    Increased outside service costs related to the obligation to report on internal control over financial reporting which begins at the end of this fiscal year.
These various items, among others, are further discussed below.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
                                         
    Three months ended December 31:        
    2007     2006        
MARKET   Sales     % of Total     Sales     % of Total     % Change  
Medical/Scientific Instrumentation
  $ 19,551,000       35.6 %   $ 15,968,000       30.1 %     22.4 %
Aerospace
    15,164,000       27.6       14,115,000       26.6       7.4  
Industrial/Other
    9,438,000       17.2       15,450,000       29.1       (38.9 )
Government
    10,798,000       19.6       7,523,000       14.2       43.5  
 
                               
Totals
  $ 54,951,000       100.0 %   $ 53,056,000       100.0 %     3.6 %
 
                               
Sales for the three months ended December 31, 2007, totaled $54,951,000, an increase of $1,895,000 (3.6%) from the same quarter last year. Government sales in fiscal 2008 continue to be significantly above the depressed level of sales in fiscal 2007. This increase in sales, of $3,275,000 or 43.5%, is the result of successful sonobuoy testing. Medical/Scientific Instrumentation sales increased $3,583,000 (22.4%) from the same quarter last year. This increase is primarily due to new customer program start-ups. In addition, one existing customer contributed $1,969,000 of the increase. We anticipate the Medical/Scientific Instrumentation customer base and sales will continue to expand. Aerospace sales were up modestly from prior year. However, Industrial/Other sales declined $6,012,000 (38.9%). This decrease was primarily due to lower sales to two existing customers, which accounted for a combined decrease of $5,302,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2007. We are uncertain at this time as to the level of future sales to these two customers.
The following table presents income statement data as a percentage of net sales for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006:
                 
    2007   2006
 
Net sales
    100.0 %     100.0 %
Costs of goods sold
    93.3       93.5  
 
               
Gross profit
    6.7       6.5  
Selling and administrative expenses
    9.1       8.3  
Other operating (income) expense — net
    0.3       (0.2 )
 
               
Operating loss
    (2.7 )     (1.6 )
Other income (expense) — net
    (0.4 )     (1.2 )
 
               
Loss before income taxes
    (3.1 )     (2.8 )
Provision (credit) for income taxes
    0.3       (0.2 )
 
               
Net loss
    (3.4 )%     (2.6 )%
 
               


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An operating loss of $1,469,000 was reported for the three months ended December 31, 2007, compared to an operating loss of $831,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2006. The gross profit percentage for the three months ended December 31, 2007, was 6.7%, an increase from 6.5% for the same period last year. Gross profit varies from period to period and can be affected by a number of factors, including product mix, production efficiencies, capacity utilization, and new product introduction. During the quarter ended December 31, 2007, gross profit was favorably impacted by improved margins on several customers, a result of pricing increases and improved performance. In addition, successful sonobuoy drop tests allowed for significantly improved Government sales, as well as an increased margin associated with those sales. However, these improvements were partially offset by price concessions granted to one industrial customer in response to competition from other suppliers, which reduced margins by approximately $0.6 million on similar sales in the prior year. Included in the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 were results from the Company’s Vietnam facility, which has adversely impacted gross profit by $298,000 and $364,000, respectively. There are several additional programs starting for the Vietnam plant which are expected to improve the facility’s performance during the rest of the current fiscal year.
Government sonobuoy sales with no or minimal margin for the quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 totaled $6.8 million and $5.5 million, respectively. With the completion and sale of several minimal or no margin sonobuoys contracts during the first and second quarters of fiscal 2008, the majority of the backlog of these contracts, which totaled $17.9 million at June 30, 2007, have now been completed. The completion of these contracts is anticipated to allow for improved margins in future quarters. During the quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, there were cost to complete adjustments totaling approximately $20,000 and $86,000, respectively, related to the sonobuoy programs. As of December 31, 2007, the backlog remaining of government contracts with minimal or breakeven margins was approximately $0.7 million compared to $26.4 million as of December 31, 2006.
The increase in selling and administrative expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2007, compared to the same period in the prior year, was primarily due to two factors. A large portion of the change, approximately $238,000, was due to increased wages, related benefits, and employee activity at one facility related to the support and start up activity of new customers and increased sales within the Medical/Scientific Instrumentation market. In addition, approximately $158,000 of higher than normal outside service costs were incurred for assistance in connection with preparing for compliance with the Company’s obligation to report on internal control over financial reporting, which commences on June 30, 2008. Beginning in fiscal 2006, the Company was required to expense the vested portion of the fair value of stock options. For the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, $44,000 (or 84%) and $57,000 (or 84%) of the total $52,000 and $68,000, respectively, was included in selling and administrative expenses, with the balance reflected in costs of goods sold. The remaining increase was due to additional increases in various categories, such as wages, employee benefits, insurance, regulatory compliance and other items. Amortization expense, which totaled $120,000 for the quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, was related to the purchase of SMS under the purchase accounting rules; for a further discussion see Note 4 of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Interest and investment income increased from the prior fiscal year, mainly due to losses incurred in fiscal 2007 of $245,000, related to the sale of investment securities. During fiscal 2007, the remaining investments were liquidated primarily to fund the operating loss, additions to property, plant and equipment, repayment of debt, and repurchases of common stock. Interest expense of $295,000 and $291,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, was primarily the result of the debt incurred and assumed as part of the acquisition of SMS. A further discussion of debt is contained in Note 5 of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Other income-net in the second quarter of fiscal 2008 was $111,000, versus other expense-net of $279,000 in fiscal 2007. Translation adjustments, along with gains and losses from foreign currency transactions, in the aggregate, which was included in other income/expense amounted to a gain of $111,000 and a loss of $278,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
The effective tax rate utilized to calculate the applicable tax provision (credit) requires management to make certain estimates, judgments, and assumptions. These estimates, judgments, and assumptions are believed to be reasonable based on information available at that time. To the extent these estimates, judgments, and assumptions differ from that which actually occurs during the course of the year, the tax provision (credit) can be, and in the past has been, materially affected. As a result of the change in fiscal 2008’s estimated effective tax rate from the first quarter’s 28% to the year-to-date period’s 10%, approximately $356,000 of tax expense was recognized in the quarter ended December 31, 2007, that related to the previous three months ended September 30, 2007.
Due to the factors described above, the Company reported a net loss of $1,865,000 ($0.19 per share, basic and diluted) for the three months ended December 31, 2007, compared a net loss of $1,378,000 ($0.14 per share, basic and diluted) for the corresponding period last year.


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    Six months ended December 31:  
    2007     2006        
MARKET   Sales     % of Total     Sales     % of Total     % Change  
Medical/Scientific Instrumentation
  $ 38,754,000       34.0 %   $ 30,816,000       30.4 %     25.8 %
Aerospace
    29,695,000       26.1       28,746,000       28.4       3.3  
Industrial/Other
    20,823,000       18.3       29,534,000       29.1       (29.5 )
Government
    24,531,000       21.6       12,277,000       12.1       99.8  
 
                               
Totals
  $ 113,803,000       100.0 %   $ 101,373,000       100.0 %     12.3 %
 
                               
Sales for the six months ended December 31, 2007, totaled $113,803,000, an increase of $12,430,000 (12.3%) from the same period last year. Government sales in fiscal 2008 continue to increase due to the results of successful sonobuoy drop tests, increasing $12,254,000, or 99.8%, from the prior year. Medical/Scientific Instrumentation sales also increased, $7,938,000, or 25.8%, above sales for the six months ended December 31, 2006. Again, this increase is primarily due to new customer programs and expanded sales to the existing customer base. A portion of the increase was due to two customers, who combined contributed $5,458,000 to the increase. Medical/Scientific Instrumentation sales are expected to continue to expand. Aerospace sales were up slightly from prior year. However, Industrial/Other sales declined $8,711,000 (29.5%). This decrease was primarily due to decreased sales to two existing customers, which accounted for a combined decrease of $9,184,000 during the six months ended December 31, 2007. We are uncertain at this time as to the level of future sales to these two customers. This decrease was partially offset by increased sales to other customers.
The majority of the Company’s sales come from a small number of key strategic and large OEM customers. Sales to the six largest customers, including government sales, accounted for approximately 73% of net sales for the first six months of fiscal 2008 and 2007. Five of the customers, including government, were the same both years. Bally, an industrial customer, accounted for 6% and 12% of total sales. Additionally, an aerospace customer, Honeywell, with several facilities to which we supply product, provided 15% and 17% of total sales for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Siemens Diagnostics (formerly Bayer), a key medical device customer of SMS, contributed 19% and 20% of total sales during the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
The following table presents income statement data as a percentage of net sales for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006:
                 
    2007   2006
 
Net sales
    100.0 %     100.0 %
Costs of goods sold
    95.4       95.8  
 
               
Gross profit
    4.6       4.2  
Selling and administrative expenses
    8.3       8.6  
Other operating income — net
    (0.6 )     (0.1 )
 
               
Operating loss
    (3.1 )     (4.3 )
Other expense — net
    (0.1 )     (0.8 )
 
               
Loss before income taxes
    (3.2 )     (5.1 )
Credit for income taxes
    (0.3 )     (1.3 )
 
               
Net loss
    (2.9 )%     (3.8 )%
 
               
An operating loss of $3,522,000 was reported for the six months ended December 31, 2007, compared to an operating loss of $4,339,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2006. The gross profit percentage for the six months ended December 31, 2007, was 4.6%, an increase from 4.2% for the same period last year. Gross profit varies from period to period and can be affected by a number of factors, including product mix, production efficiencies, capacity utilization, and new product introduction, all of which impacted fiscal 2008’s performance. During the six months ended December 31, 2007, gross profit was favorably impacted by improved margins on several customers, a result of pricing increases and improved performance. In addition, successful sonobuoy drop tests allowed for significantly improved government sales, as well as an increased margin associated with those sales. However, these improvements were partially offset by price concessions granted to one industrial customer in response to competition from other suppliers, which reduced margins by approximately $0.8 million on similar sales in the prior year. Included in the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 were results from the Company’s Vietnam facility, which has adversely impacted gross profit by $407,000 and $685,000, respectively. There are several additional programs starting for the Vietnam plant which are expected to improve the facility’s performance during the rest of the current fiscal year.
Also included in costs of goods sold for fiscal 2008 was the write-off of inventory previously carried as a deferred asset. This write-off totaled approximately $1,643,000 and was the result of an adverse legal opinion from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals where Sparton was defending on appeal the decision of the lower court in Sparton’s favor. The gross profit percentage


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for fiscal 2008 was reduced by 1.4 percentage points due to this write-off. For a further discussion of this legal claim see Part II, Item 1, Legal Proceedings of this report. In addition, we have incurred and expensed approximately $1.1 million in start-up related costs for approximately ten new programs at several facilities.
Negatively impacting gross profit in both periods were $19.0 million and $9.3 million of government sonobuoy sales with no or minimal margin for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. With the completion and sale of several minimal or no margin sonobuoy contracts in the first and second quarters of fiscal 2008, the majority of the backlog of these contracts, which totaled $17.9 million at June 30, 2007, have been completed. The completion of these contracts is anticipated to allow for improved margins in future quarters. During the six months ended December 31, 2007, there were minimal cost to complete adjustments (totaling approximately $24,000) related to the sonobuoy programs. This compares to $1.9 million of adjustments resulting from changes in estimates for the same period the prior year. As of December 31, 2007, the backlog remaining of government contracts with minimal or breakeven margins was approximately $0.7 million compared to $26.4 million as of December 31, 2006.
Increase in selling and administrative expenses for the six months ended December 31, 2007, compared to the same period in the prior year, was primarily due to two factors. The majority of the change, approximately $422,000, was due to increased wages, related benefits, and employee activity at one facility related to the support and start up activity of new customers and increased sales within the Medical/Scientific Instrumentation market. In addition, approximately $267,000 of higher than normal outside service costs were incurred for assistance in connection with preparing for compliance with the Company’s obligation to report on internal control over financial reporting, which commences on June 30, 2008. Beginning in fiscal 2006, the Company was required to expense the vested portion of the fair value of stock options. For the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, $51,000 (or 71%) and $114,000 (or 85%) of the total $72,000 and $134,000, respectively, was included in selling and administrative expenses, with the balance reflected in costs of goods sold. The remaining increase was due to additional increases in various categories, such as wages, employee benefits, insurance, regulatory compliance and other items. The majority of the decrease in selling and administrative expenses, as a percentage of sales, was due to the significant increase in sales in the first six months of fiscal 2008 compared to a relatively small increase in selling and administrative expenses. Amortization expense, which totaled $241,000 and $242,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, was related to the purchase of SMS under the purchase accounting rules; for a further discussion see Note 4 of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Net gain on sale of property, plant and equipment resulted from the sale of the property, plant and equipment of the Deming facility located in New Mexico. For a further discussion of this sale see Note 10 of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Net gain on sale in fiscal 2007 includes a gain of $199,000 on the sale of undeveloped land in New Mexico.
Interest and investment income increased from the prior fiscal year, mainly due to losses incurred in fiscal 2007 related to the sale of investment securities. During fiscal 2007, the remaining investments were liquidated primarily to fund the operating loss, additions to property, plant and equipment, repayment of debt, and repurchases of common stock. Interest expense of $600,000 and $588,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, was primarily the result of the debt incurred and assumed as part of the acquisition of SMS. A further discussion of debt is contained in Note 5 of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Other income-net for the six months ended December 31, 2007 was $594,000, versus other expense-net of $260,000 in fiscal 2007. Translation adjustments, along with gains and losses from foreign currency transactions, are included in other income and, in the aggregate, amounted to a gain of $590,000 and a loss $261,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
The effective tax rate utilized to calculate the applicable tax provision (credit) requires management to make certain estimates, judgments, and assumptions. These estimates, judgments, and assumptions are believed to be reasonable based on information available at that time. To the extent these estimates, judgments, and assumptions differ from that which actually occurs during the course of the year, the tax provision (credit) can be, and in the past has been, materially affected. As a result of the change in fiscal 2008’s estimated effective tax rate from the first quarter’s 28% to the year-to-date period’s 10%, approximately $356,000 of tax expense was recognized in the quarter ended December 31, 2007, that related to the previous three months ended September 30, 2007.
Due to the factors described above, the Company reported a net loss of $3,286,000 ($0.33 per share, basic and diluted) for the six months ended December 31, 2007, versus a net loss of $3,842,000 ($0.39 per share, basic and diluted) for the corresponding period last year.


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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The primary source of liquidity and capital resources has historically been generated from operations. Certain government contracts provide for interim progress billings based on costs incurred. These progress billings reduce the amount of cash that would otherwise be required during the performance of these contracts. As the volume of U.S. defense-related contract work has declined over the past several years, so has the relative importance of progress billings as a liquidity resource. In addition, investments or the Company’s line of credit have been used to provide additional working capital. In addition, during fiscal 2007, the Company used a portion of its investments to fund the Company’s previously announced $4,000,000 stock repurchase program. The repurchase program expired September 14, 2007, at which time shares which had been repurchased under the program totaled 331,781, at a cumulative cost of approximately $2,887,000. These repurchased shares have been retired.
For the six months ended December 31, 2007, cash and cash equivalents increased $2,523,000 to $6,505,000. Operating activities provided $367,000 in fiscal 2008 and used $9,304,000 in fiscal 2007 in net cash flows. The primary use of cash from operating activities in fiscal 2008 was the increase in accounts receivable, as well as funding operating losses. The increase in accounts receivable was primarily due to delayed receipts from several customers due to the December holidays. The primary source of cash in fiscal 2008 reflected in the cash flow statement was the increase in accounts payable due to the timing of payments over the December holidays. The primary use of cash in fiscal 2007 was for operations, combined with an increase in inventory. The increase in inventory was due to build up related to new customer contracts, as well as the delay in some customer schedules.
Cash flows provided by investing activities in fiscal 2008 totaled $610,000 and was primarily provided by the sale of the Deming facility located in New Mexico, as further discussed below. Cash flows provided by investing activities in fiscal 2007 totaled $14,695,000 and was primarily provided by the proceeds from sale of investment securities. The primary use of cash from investing activities in fiscal 2008 and 2007 was the purchase of property, plant and equipment. The majority of the expenditure in fiscal 2008 is related to new roofing at one facility. The majority of the expenditures in fiscal 2007 were for the completed plant expansion at SMS.
Cash flows provided by financing activities in fiscal 2008 were $1,546,000. Cash flows used by financing activities were $2,911,000 in fiscal 2007. The primary source of cash from financing activities in fiscal 2008 was from accessing the Company’s bank line of credit. The primary uses of cash from financing activities in fiscal 2008 and 2007 was the repayment of debt incurred with the purchase of SMS, as well as the repurchase of common stock in fiscal 2007.
Historically, the Company’s market risk exposure to foreign currency exchange and interest rates on third party receivables and payables was not considered to be material, principally due to their short-term nature and the minimal amount of receivables and payables designated in foreign currency. However, due to the recently strengthened Canadian dollar, the impact of transaction and translation gains on intercompany activity and balances has increased. If the exchange rate were to materially change, the Company’s financial position could be significantly affected. The Company currently has a bank line of credit totaling $20.0 million, of which $4.5 million has been borrowed as of December 31, 2007. In addition, the Company has a bank term loan totaling $7.0 million. Finally, there are notes payable totaling $4.9 million outstanding to the former owners of Astro, as well as $2.2 million of Industrial Revenue Bonds. Borrowings are discussed further in Note 5 of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
At December 31 and June 30, 2007, the aggregate government funded EMS backlog was approximately $24 million and $42 million, respectively. The decrease in backlog is due to the timing of the awarding of Government sonobuoy contracts. Awards for the coming year are anticipated to be received within the next month. A majority of the December 31, 2007, backlog is expected to be realized in the next 12-15 months. Commercial EMS orders are not included in the backlog. The Company does not believe the amount of commercial activity covered by firm purchase orders is a meaningful measure of future sales, as such orders may be rescheduled or cancelled without significant penalty.
In January 2007, Sparton announced its commitment to close the Deming, New Mexico facility. The closure of that plant was completed during the third quarter of fiscal 2007. At closing, some equipment from this facility related to operations performed at other Sparton locations was relocated to those facilities for their use in ongoing production activities. The land, building, and remaining assets were sold. The agreement for the sale of the Deming land, building, equipment and applicable inventory was signed at the end of March 2007 and involved several separate transactions. The sale of the inventory and equipment for $200,000 was completed on March 30, 2007. The sale of the land and building for $1,000,000 closed on July 20, 2007. The property, plant, and equipment of the Deming facility was substantially depreciated. The ultimate sale of this facility was completed at a net gain of approximately $868,000, as previously discussed, and was recognized entirely in the first quarter of fiscal 2008.


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In October 2006, the Company declared a 5% stock dividend, which was distributed January 19, 2007, to shareowners of record on December 27, 2006.
At December 31, 2007, the Company had $83,346,000 in shareowners’ equity ($8.49 per share), $49,980,000 in working capital, and a 2.18:1 working capital ratio. The Company believes it has sufficient liquidity for its anticipated needs over the next 12-18 months. Such liquidity may include the continued use of our line of credit.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS
Information regarding the Company’s long-term debt obligations, environmental liability payments, operating lease payments, and other commitments is provided in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007. There have been no material changes in the nature or amount of the Company’s contractual obligations since June 30, 2007, other than noncancelable purchase orders payable within the next twelve months. These noncancelable purchase orders have increased by $5.7 million, to $21.7 million as of December 31, 2007. This increase is due to additional inventory on order to support expected increased sales, primarily by customers in the Medical/Scientific Instrumentation market.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) requires management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the amounts reported as assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Estimates are regularly evaluated and are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by GAAP and does not require management’s judgment in application. There are also areas in which management’s judgment in selecting among available alternatives would not produce a materially different result. The Company believes that of its significant accounting policies discussed in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, which is included in Part I, Item 1 of this report, the following involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity. Senior management has reviewed these critical accounting policies and related disclosures with Sparton’s audit committee of the Board of Directors.
Environmental Contingencies
One of Sparton’s former manufacturing facilities, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico (Coors Road), has been the subject of ongoing investigations and remediation efforts conducted with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). As discussed in Note 6 of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item I, of this report Sparton has accrued its estimate of the minimum future non-discounted financial liability. The estimate was developed using existing technology and excludes legal and related consulting costs. The minimum cost estimate includes equipment, operating and monitoring costs for both onsite and offsite remediation. Sparton recognizes legal and consulting services in the periods incurred and reviews its EPA accrual activity quarterly. Uncertainties associated with environmental remediation contingencies are pervasive and often result in wide ranges of reasonably possible outcomes. It is possible that cash flows and results of operations could be materially affected by the impact of changes in these estimates.
Government Contract Cost Estimates
Government production contracts are accounted for based on completed units accepted with respect to revenue recognition and their estimated average cost per unit regarding costs. Losses for the entire amount of the contract are recognized in the period when such losses are determinable. Significant judgment is exercised in determining estimated total contract costs including, but not limited to, cost experience to date, estimated length of time to contract completion, costs for materials, production labor and support services to be expended, and known issues on remaining units to be completed. In addition, estimated total contract costs can be significantly affected by changing test routines and procedures, resulting design modifications and production rework from these changing test routines and procedures, and limited range access for testing these design modifications and rework solutions. Estimated costs developed in the early stages of contracts can change, sometimes significantly, as the contracts progress, and events and activities take place. Changes in estimates can also occur when new designs are initially placed into production. The Company formally reviews its costs incurred-to-date and estimated costs to complete on all significant contracts at least quarterly and revised estimated total contract costs are reflected in the financial statements. Depending upon the circumstances,


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it is possible that the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be materially affected by changes in estimated costs to complete on one or more significant contracts.
Commercial Inventory Valuation Allowances
Inventory valuation allowances for commercial customer inventories require a significant degree of judgment. These allowances are influenced by the Company’s experience to date with both customers and other markets, prevailing market conditions for raw materials, contractual terms and customers’ ability to satisfy these obligations, environmental or technological materials obsolescence, changes in demand for customer products, and other factors resulting in acquiring materials in excess of customer product demand. Contracts with some commercial customers may be based upon estimated quantities of product manufactured for shipment over estimated time periods. Raw material inventories are purchased to fulfill these customer requirements. Within these arrangements, customer demand for products frequently changes, sometimes creating excess and obsolete inventories.
The Company regularly reviews raw material inventories by customer for both excess and obsolete quantities, with adjustments made accordingly. Wherever possible, the Company attempts to recover its full cost of excess and obsolete inventories from customers or, in some cases, through other markets. When it is determined that the Company’s carrying cost of such excess and obsolete inventories cannot be recovered in full, a charge is taken against income and a valuation allowance is established for the difference between the carrying cost and the estimated realizable amount. Conversely, should the disposition of adjusted excess and obsolete inventories result in recoveries in excess of these reduced carrying values, the remaining portion of the valuation allowances are reversed and taken into income when such determinations are made. It is possible that the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be materially affected by changes to inventory valuation allowances for commercial customer excess and obsolete inventories.
Allowance for Probable Losses on Receivables
The accounts receivable balance is recorded net of allowances for amounts which may not be collected from customers. The allowance is estimated based on historical experience of write-offs, the level of past due amounts, information known about specific customers with respect to their ability to make payments, and future expectations of conditions that might impact the collectibility of accounts. Accounts receivable are generally due under normal trade terms for the industry. Credit is granted, and credit evaluations are periodically performed, based on a customer’s financial condition and other factors. Although the Company does not generally require collateral, cash in advance or letters of credit may be required from customers in certain circumstances, including some foreign customers. When management determines that it is probable that an account will not be collected, it is charged against the allowance for probable losses. The Company reviews the adequacy of its allowance monthly. The allowance for doubtful accounts was only $76,000 and $32,000 at December 31 and June 30, 2007, respectively. If the financial condition of customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payment, additional allowances may be required. Given the Company’s significant balance of government receivables and letters of credit from foreign customers, collection risk is considered minimal. Historically, uncollectible accounts have generally been insignificant, have generally not exceeded management’s expectations, and the minimal allowance is deemed adequate.
Pension Obligations
The Company calculates the cost of providing pension benefits under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 87, Employers’ Accounting for Pensions, as amended. The key assumptions required within the provisions of SFAS No. 87 are used in making these calculations. The most significant of these assumptions are the discount rate used to value the future obligations and the expected return on pension plan assets. The discount rate is consistent with market interest rates on high-quality, fixed income investments. The expected return on assets is based on long-term returns and assets held by the plan, which is influenced by historical averages. If actual interest rates and returns on plan assets materially differ from the assumptions, future adjustments to the financial statements would be required. While changes in these assumptions can have a significant effect on the pension benefit obligation and the unrecognized gain or loss accounts disclosed in the Notes to the Financial Statements, the effect of changes in these assumptions is not expected to have the same relative effect on net periodic pension expense in the near term. While these assumptions may change in the future based on changes in long-term interest rates and market conditions, there are no known expected changes in these assumptions as of December 31, 2007. To the extent the assumptions differ from actual results, as indicated above, or if there are changes made to accounting standards for these costs, there would be a future impact on the financial statements. The extent to which these factors will result in future recognition or acceleration of expense is not determinable at this time as it will depend upon a number of variables, including trends in interest rates and the actual return on plan assets. A pension contribution of $79,000 is expected to be made during fiscal 2008.


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During the prior fiscal year a settlement loss was recognized as a result of lump-sum benefit distributions. Substantially all plan participants elect to receive their retirement benefit payments in the form of lump-sum settlements. Pro rata settlement adjustments, which can occur as a result of these lump-sum payments, are recognized only in years when the total of such settlement payments exceed the sum of the service and interest cost components of net periodic pension expense. The amount of lump-sum retirement payments can vary greatly in any given year. Given the uncertainty of the occurrence of a settlement loss at this time, and its related amount (if any), no accrual has been made as of December 31, 2007. However, lump-sum benefit payments are monitored regularly and if the level of payments should exceed the current estimated service and interest costs for the year, a settlement adjustment will be considered and recorded if applicable.
On June 30, 2007, the Company adopted the balance sheet recognition and disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defend Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans. This statement required Sparton to recognize the funded status (i.e., the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the projected benefit obligation) of its plan in the June 30, 2007 consolidated balance sheet, with a corresponding adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax. The adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at adoption represents the net unrecognized actuarial losses and unrecognized prior service costs remaining from the initial adoption of SFAS No. 87, all of which were previously netted against the plan’s funded status in Sparton’s balance sheet pursuant to the provisions of SFAS No. 87. Upon adoption, Sparton recorded an after-tax, unrecognized loss in the amount of $1,989,000, which represented an increase directly to accumulated other comprehensive loss as of June 30, 2007. These amounts are being recognized as net periodic plan expenses pursuant to Sparton’s historical accounting policy for amortizing such amounts. Actuarial gains and losses that are not recognized as net periodic plan expenses in the same periods are recognized as a component of other comprehensive income (loss). The adoption of SFAS No. 158 had no effect on Sparton’s consolidated statement of operations in the year adopted, and it will not affect Sparton’s operating results in future periods.
Business Combinations
In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the Company allocated the purchase price of its May 2006 SMS acquisition to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. Such valuations require management to make significant estimates, judgments and assumptions, especially with respect to intangible assets.
Management arrived at estimates of fair value based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable. These estimates are based on historical experience and information obtained from the management of the acquired business and are inherently uncertain. Critical estimates in valuing certain of the intangible assets include but are not limited to: future expected discounted cash flows from customer relationships and contracts assuming similar product platforms and completed projects; the acquired company’s market position, as well as assumptions about the period of time the acquired customer relationships will continue to generate revenue streams; and attrition and discount rates. Unanticipated events and circumstances may occur which may affect the accuracy or validity of such assumptions, estimates or actual results, particularly with respect to amortization periods assigned to identifiable intangible assets.
Valuation of Property, Plant and Equipment
SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets, requires that the Company record an impairment charge on our investment in property, plant and equipment that we hold and use in our operations if and when management determines that the related carrying values may not be recoverable. If one or more impairment indicators are deemed to exist, Sparton will measure any impairment of these assets based on current independent appraisals or a projected discounted cash flow analysis using a discount rate determined by management to be commensurate with the risk inherent in our business model. Our estimates of cash flows require significant judgment based on our historical and anticipated operating results and are subject to many factors. The most recent such impairment analysis was performed during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 and did not result in an impairment charge.
Goodwill and Customer Relationships
The Company annually reviews goodwill associated with its investments in Cybernet and SMS for possible impairment. This analysis may be performed more often should events or changes in circumstances indicate their carrying value may not be recoverable. This review is performed in accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. The provisions of SFAS No. 142 require that a two-step impairment test be performed on intangible assets. In the first step, the Company


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compares the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the unit, goodwill is considered not impaired and the Company is not required to perform further testing. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, then management will perform the second step of the impairment test in order to determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, then the Company would record an impairment loss equal to the difference. The provisions of SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets, require impairment testing of an amortized intangible whenever indicators are present that an impairment of the asset may exist. If an impairment of the asset is determined to exist, the impairment is recognized and the asset is written down to its fair value, which value then becomes the new amortizable base. Subsequent reversal of a previously recognized impairment is prohibited.
Determining the fair value of any reporting entity is judgmental in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions include revenue growth rates, operating margins used to calculate projected future cash flows, risk-adjusted discount rates, future economic and market conditions and, if appropriate, determination of appropriate market comparables. The Company bases its fair value estimates on assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are unpredictable and inherently uncertain. Actual future results may differ from those estimates. In addition, the Company makes certain judgments and assumptions in allocating shared assets and liabilities to determine the carrying values for each of the Company’s reporting units. The most recent annual goodwill impairment analysis related to the Company’s Cybernet and SMS investments was performed during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. That impairment analysis did not result in an impairment charge. The next such impairment reviews are expected to be performed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, unless indicators should become present prior to that date indicating an earlier review is necessary.
Income Taxes
Our estimates of deferred income taxes and the significant items giving rise to the deferred income tax assets and liabilities are disclosed in Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007. These reflect our assessment of actual future taxes to be paid or received on items reflected in the financial statements, giving consideration to both timing and probability of realization. The recorded net deferred income tax assets are significant and our realization of these recorded benefits is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income. Management believes that realization of the deferred tax assets related to net operating loss and credit carryovers is more likely than not and, therefore, a related valuation allowance was not considered necessary. A valuation allowance for contribution carryovers and stock options, as well as deferred tax assets related to available Canadian carryovers, has been established. If future levels of taxable income are not consistent with our expectations, we may be required to record an additional valuation allowance, which could reduce our operating results by a material amount.
OTHER
Litigation
One of Sparton’s facilities, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been the subject of ongoing investigations conducted with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The investigation began in the early 1980’s and involved a review of onsite and offsite environmental impacts.
At December 31, 2007, Sparton had accrued $5,820,000 as its estimate of the future undiscounted minimum financial liability with respect to this matter. The Company’s cost estimate is based upon existing technology and excludes legal and related consulting costs, which are expensed as incurred, and is anticipated to cover approximately the next 23 years. The Company’s estimate includes equipment and operating costs for onsite and offsite operations and is based on existing methodology. Uncertainties associated with environmental remediation contingencies are pervasive and often result in wide ranges of reasonably possible outcomes. Estimates developed in the early stages of remediation can vary significantly. Normally, a finite estimate of cost does not become fixed and determinable at a specific point in time. Rather, the costs associated with environmental remediation become estimable over a continuum of events and activities that help to frame and define a liability. It is possible that cash flows and results of operations could be affected significantly by the impact of the ultimate resolution of this contingency.
Sparton is currently involved with other legal actions, which are disclosed in Part II Item 1 - “Legal Proceedings”, of this report. At this time, the Company is unable to predict the outcome of those claims.


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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
MARKET RISK EXPOSURE
The Company manufactures its products in the United States, Canada, and Vietnam. Sales are to the U.S. and Canada, as well as other foreign markets. The Company is potentially subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk relating to intercompany activity and balances and to receipts from customers and payments to suppliers in foreign currencies. Also, adjustments related to the translation of the Company’s Canadian and Vietnamese financial statements into U.S. dollars are included in current earnings. As a result, the Company’s financial results could be affected by factors such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates or economic conditions in the domestic and foreign markets in which the Company operates. However, minimal third party receivables and payables are denominated in foreign currency and the related market risk exposure is considered to be immaterial. Historically, foreign currency gains and losses related to intercompany activity and balances have not been significant. However, due to the strengthened Canadian dollar in recent years, the impact of transaction and translation gains has increased. If the exchange rate were to materially change, the Company’s financial position could be significantly affected.
The Company has financial instruments that are subject to interest rate risk, principally long-term debt associated with the recent SMS acquisition on May 31, 2006. Historically, the Company has not experienced material gains or losses due to such interest rate changes. Based on the fact that interest rates periodically adjust to market values for the majority of term debt issued or assumed in the recent SMS acquisition, interest rate risk is not considered to be significant.
Item 4T. Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains internal controls over financial reporting intended to provide reasonable assurance that all material transactions are executed in accordance with Company authorization, are properly recorded and reported in the financial statements, and that assets are adequately safeguarded. The Company also maintains a system of disclosure controls and procedures which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports, filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is properly reported in the Company’s periodic and other reports.
As of December 31, 2007, an evaluation was performed by the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, on the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures continue to be effective as of December 31, 2007. There have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Part II. Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Various litigation is pending against the Company, in many cases involving ordinary and routine claims incidental to the business of the Company and in others presenting allegations that are non-routine.
Environmental Remediation
The Company and its subsidiaries are involved in certain compliance issues with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and various state agencies, including being named as a potentially responsible party at several sites. Potentially responsible parties (PRPs) can be held jointly and severally liable for the clean-up costs at any specific site. The Company’s past experience, however, has indicated that when it has contributed relatively small amounts of materials or waste to a specific site relative to other PRPs, its ultimate share of any clean-up costs has been minor. Based upon available information, the Company believes it has contributed only small amounts to those sites in which it is currently viewed as a PRP.
In February 1997, several lawsuits were filed against Sparton’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Sparton Technology, Inc. (STI), alleging that STI’s Coors Road facility presented an imminent and substantial threat to human health or the environment. On March 3, 2000, a Consent Decree was entered into, settling the lawsuits. The Consent Decree represents a judicially enforceable settlement and contains work plans describing remedial activity STI agreed to undertake. The remediation activities called for by the work plans have been installed and are either completed or are currently in operation. It is anticipated that ongoing remediation activities will operate for a period of time during which STI and the regulatory agencies will analyze their effectiveness. The


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Company believes that it will take several years before the effectiveness of the groundwater containment wells can be established. Documentation and research for the preparation of the initial multi-year report and review are currently underway. If current remedial operations are deemed ineffective, additional remedies may be imposed at a significantly increased cost. There is no assurance that additional costs greater than the amount accrued will not be incurred or that no adverse changes in environmental laws or their interpretation will occur.
Upon entering into the Consent Decree, the Company reviewed its estimates of the future costs expected to be incurred in connection with its remediation of the environmental issues associated with its Coors Road facility over the next 30 years. At December 31, 2007, the undiscounted minimum accrual for future EPA remediation approximates $5.8 million. The Company’s estimate is based upon existing technology and current costs have not been discounted. The estimate includes equipment, operating and maintenance costs for the onsite and offsite pump and treat containment systems, as well as continued onsite and offsite monitoring. It also includes the required periodic reporting requirements. This estimate does not include legal and related consulting costs, which are expensed as incurred.
In 1998, STI commenced litigation in two courts against the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and others seeking reimbursement of Sparton’s costs incurred in complying with, and defending against, federal and state environmental requirements with respect to its former Coors Road manufacturing facility. Sparton also sought to recover costs being incurred by the Company as part of its continuing remediation at the Coors Road facility. In fiscal 2003, Sparton reached an agreement with the DOE and others to recover certain remediation costs. Under the agreement, Sparton was reimbursed a portion of the costs the Company incurred in its investigation and site remediation efforts at the Coors Road facility. Under the settlement terms, Sparton received cash and the DOE agreed to reimburse Sparton for 37.5% of certain future environmental expenses in excess of $8,400,000 from the date of settlement. With the settlement, Sparton received cash and obtained some degree of risk protection, with the DOE sharing in costs incurred above the established level.
In 1995, Sparton Corporation and STI filed a Complaint in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, against Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company and American Manufacturers Mutual Insurance Company demanding reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with its remediation efforts at the Coors Road facility based on various primary and excess comprehensive general liability policies in effect between 1959 and 1975. In June 2005, Sparton reached an agreement with the insurers under which Sparton received $5,455,000 in cash in July 2005. This agreement reflects a recovery of a portion of past costs the Company incurred in its investigation and site remediation efforts, which began in 1983, and was recorded as income in June of fiscal 2005. In October 2006 an additional one-time cash recovery of $225,000 was reached with an additional insurance carrier. This agreement reflects a recovery of a portion of past costs incurred related to the Company’s Coors Road facility, and was recognized as income in the second quarter of fiscal 2007. The Company continues to pursue an additional recovery from an excess carrier. The probability and amount of recovery is uncertain at this time.
Customer Relationships
In September 2002, Sparton Technology, Inc. (STI), a subsidiary of Sparton Corporation, filed an action in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to recover certain unreimbursed costs incurred for the acquisition of raw materials as a result of a manufacturing relationship with two entities, Util-Link, LLC (Util-Link) of Delaware and National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) of the District of Columbia. The defendants filed a counterclaim in the action seeking money damages alleging that STI breached its duties in the manufacture of products for the defendants.
At the conclusion of the jury trial in November of 2005, STI was awarded damages in an amount in excess of the unreimbursed costs. The defendants were denied relief on their counterclaim. As of June 30, 2007, $1.6 million of the deferred costs incurred by the Company were included in other non current assets on the Company’s balance sheet. NRTC filed an appeal of the judgment with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and on September 21, 2007, with that court issuing its opinion vacating the judgment in favor of Sparton and affirming the denial of relief on NRTC’s counterclaim. Sparton continues to believe strongly in the merits of its claims and has filed a Petition for Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court and a Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law and/or New Trial with the trial court. The timing and ultimate resolution of its claim is uncertain at this time. As a result of the vacation of the judgment in Sparton’s favor by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Sparton expensed the previously deferred costs of $1.6 million as costs of goods sold, which was reflected in the financial results reported for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.
The Company has pending an action before the U.S. Court of Federal Court of Claims to recover damages arising out of an alleged infringement by the U.S. Navy of certain patents held by Sparton and used in the production of sonobuoys. The case was dismissed on summary judgment, however, the decision of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims was reversed by the U.S. Court of


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Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The case is currently scheduled for trial in the second quarter of calendar 2008. The likelihood that the claim will be resolved and the extent of any recovery in favor of the Company is unknown at this time.
Product Issues
Some of the printed circuit boards supplied to the Company for its aerospace sales were discovered in fiscal 2006 to be nonconforming and defective. The defect occurred during production at the board supplier’s facility, prior to shipment to Sparton for further processing. The Company and our customer, who received the defective boards, have contained the defective boards.
As of December 31 and June 30, 2007, $2.8 million of related product and associated expenses have been deferred and classified in Sparton’s balance sheet within other non current assets. In August 2005, Sparton Electronics Florida, Inc. filed an action in U.S. District Court of Florida against Electropac Co., Inc. and a related company (the raw board manufacturer) to recover these costs. A trial in the matter is expected to be held in the second or third quarter of calendar 2008. The likelihood that the claim will be resolved and the extent of the Company’s recovery, if any, is unknown at this time. No loss contingency has been established at December 31, 2007.
Item 1(a). Risk Factors
Information regarding the Company’s Risk Factors is provided in Part I, Item 1(a) “Risk Factors,” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007. There have been no significant changes in the Company’s risk factors since June 30, 2007.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Effective September 14, 2005, the Board of Directors authorized a publicly-announced common share repurchase program for the repurchase, at the discretion of management, of up to $4 million of shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock in open market transactions. As of June 30, 2007, 331,781 shares had been repurchased for cash consideration of approximately $2,887,000. During the repurchase period, the weighted average share prices for each month’s activity ranged from $8.38 to $10.18 per share. The program expired September 14, 2007.
Repurchased shares are retired. Included in the fiscal 2007 activity is the repurchase of 199,356 shares concurrent with the coordinated exercise in the second quarter of common stock options held by the Company’s officers, employees, and directors.


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Item 6. Exhibits
  3.1   Amended Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant were filed on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended September 30, 2004, and are incorporated herein by reference.
 
  3.2   Amended Code of Regulation of the Registrant were filed on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended September 30, 2004, and are incorporated herein by reference.
 
  3.3   The amended By-Laws of the Registrant were filed on Form 10-Q for the nine-month period ended March 31, 2004, and are incorporated herein by reference.
 
  31.1   Chief Executive Officer certification under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
  31.2   Chief Financial Officer certification under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
  32.1   Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
         
     
Date: February 11, 2008  /s/ DAVID W. HOCKENBROCHT    
  David W. Hockenbrocht, Chief Executive Officer   
     
 
     
Date: February 11, 2008  /s/ RICHARD L. LANGLEY    
  Richard L. Langley, Chief Financial Officer