-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Vd8wa0uB6GpBVacQi8oruiy5PKBdsNvluExByV5h3Oy5p5jRlN2vexstL/mwNKcC Kc9sQuTOI9/7Kt5QSxoYNQ== 0001193125-08-070737.txt : 20080331 0001193125-08-070737.hdr.sgml : 20080331 20080331140602 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-08-070737 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 9 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20071231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20080331 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20080331 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: COBRA ELECTRONICS CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000030828 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3663] IRS NUMBER: 362479991 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1206 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-00511 FILM NUMBER: 08723412 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 6460 W CORTLAND ST CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60635 BUSINESS PHONE: 3128898870 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 6460 W CORTLAND ST CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60635 10-K 1 d10k.htm FORM 10-K Form 10-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

 

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007

OR

 

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

For the transition period from                     to                     

Commission File Number 0-511

 

 

COBRA ELECTRONICS CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

 

DELAWARE   36-2479991
(State of incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

6500 WEST CORTLAND STREET

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

  60707
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (773) 889-8870

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

Par Value $.33 1/3 Per Share

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

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    YES  ¨        NO  x

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.    YES  ¨        NO  x

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    YES  x        NO  ¨

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

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

Large accelerated filer  ¨    Accelerated filer  ¨     Non-accelerated filer  ¨    Smaller reporting company  x

                       (Do not check if a

                       smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES  ¨        NO  x

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, based on the closing price of the shares of common stock on The NASDAQ Stock Market on June 30, 2007, was $63,048,702.

The number of shares of Registrant’s Common Stock outstanding as of March 31, 2008 was 6,471,280.

Portions of the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, scheduled to be held on May 13, 2008, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page(s)
   PART I   

Item 1:

   BUSINESS    1
  

GENERAL

   1
  

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

   2
  

SUPPLIERS

   4
  

PRODUCTS

   4
  

PATENTS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

   8
  

COMPETITION

   8
  

SALES AND DISTRIBUTION

   9
  

EMPLOYEES

   9
  

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

   9

Item 1A:

   RISK FACTORS    10

Item 1B:

   UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS    17

Item 2:

   PROPERTIES    17

Item 3:

   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS    17

Item 4:

   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS    17

Item 4A:

   EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT    17
   PART II   

Item 5:

   MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES    18

Item 6:

   SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA    18

Item 7:

   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION    19

Item 7A:

   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK    31

Item 8:

   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA    33

Item 9:

   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE    64

Item 9A:

   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES    64

Item 9B:

   OTHER INFORMATION    64
   PART III   

Item 10:

   DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT    65

Item 11:

   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION    65

Item 12:

   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS    66

Item 13:

   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS    68

Item 14:

   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES    68
   PART IV   

Item 15:

   EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES    68
Signatures    69


Table of Contents

PART I

 

Item 1. Business

General

Cobra Electronics Corporation (the “Company”), incorporated in Delaware in 1961, is traded on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “COBR”. The Company is a leading designer and marketer of two-way mobile communications products in the United States, Canada and Europe, holding the number one or strong number two position in each of its longstanding product lines and targeting a similar position for marine VHF radios and power inverters. The Company has a 46-year track record of innovation and the development of award-winning products and is an industry leader in developing technology applications that serve consumers’ needs. Management believes that the Company’s future success depends upon its ability to predict and respond in a timely and effective manner to changes in the markets it serves. Product performance, reliability, price, availability and service are the main competitive factors. The Company’s sales are dependent upon timely introduction of new products, which incorporate new features desired by consumers, at competitive prices. Cobra is the number one global brand in Citizens Band radios, radar detectors, speed camera detection and two-way radios.

Cobra Electronics Corporation acquired a UK-based company, Performance Products Limited (“PPL”) in October 2006. PPL is a designer and marketer of consumer electronics products, including GPS-enabled speed camera detection systems and personal navigation devices, to consumers and also markets a data base of speed camera locations.

On December 12, 2007, the Company announced its decision to reassess the future development of mobile navigation products for the mass market in North America due to the rapid technological change, price deflation, high development costs and substantial delays in the introduction of new products that adversely impacted profitability and customer relations. Future North American mobile navigation products will be sold in specialized niche markets and will utilize the PPL product platform and lower cost sourcing arrangements. The Company will continue to fully support all of its mobile navigation products in the marketplace.

The consolidated entity consists of Cobra Electronics Corporation and its subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Ireland and United Kingdom. With the acquisition of PPL in 2006, the Company segregates and reports its operating results into the Cobra Consumer Electronics (“Cobra”) business segment, which sells under the COBRA® brand name, and Performance Products Limited (“PPL”) business segment, which sells under the SNOOPER® brand name. The Cobra segment is comprised of Cobra Electronics Corporation, Cobra Electronics (HK) Limited (“CHK”) and Cobra Electronics Europe Limited (“CEEL”).

The Company is well known for innovation and its responsiveness to consumer needs in each of its seven product lines:

 

   

Two-way radios

 

   

Radar detectors

 

   

Citizens Band radios

 

   

Power inverters

 

   

Mobile navigation

 

   

Marine consumer electronics

 

   

Photo-enforcement and safety detection

 

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Recent Developments

Innovation remains the hallmark of the Company’s success, as demonstrated by just a few of its recent product introductions and other recent developments.

The Company introduced the following products in 2007:

Cobra Segment

 

   

LI-4900/6500/7000—two-way radios

 

   

NAV ONE 2100/5000—mobile navigation

 

   

XRS R7/R9G—radar detectors

 

   

MR F80B/HH125/HH425—marine radios

PPL Segment

 

   

Strabo S360/S370—personal navigation

 

   

Syrius Plus S600—personal navigation

 

   

Sapphire Plus S270/S280—personal navigation

 

   

Syrius Proline S2000—personal navigation

The LI-4900, 6500 and 7000 extended range lithium-ion battery powered two-way radios, featuring a sleek ultra-compact design and a communication range of up to 25 miles, build upon the success of the lithium-ion technology models introduced in 2006.

The NAV ONE 2100 mobile navigation device, features a 3.5 inch high resolution touch screen and a temperature functionality range of minus 4 degrees to 158 fahrenheit degrees, at a competitive price. The NAV ONE 5000 is a traffic ready mobile navigation unit that features a slim OptiView 5-inch touch screen, turn-by-turn voice guidance, Bluetooth® connectivity, speed and red light, location alerts, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and a functional temperature range from minus 4 degrees to 140 fahrenheit degrees.

The XRS R7 and R9G wireless remote controlled radar/laser detectors, feature an optional GPS locator (standard in the R9G model) to alert the driver to upcoming red light and speed cameras. The discreet appearance of the GPS locator and detection unit deters theft and improves detection range.

The handheld MR HH425 and the fixed mount MR F80B radios feature Rewind Say-Again, a digital voice recorder that records the last 20 seconds of the transmission, 10 NOAA weather channels, illuminated LCD display and illuminated function keys. The handheld radio can be used as an All-Terrain-Radio that seamlessly goes from a VHF marine radio to a GMRS two-way radio. The MR HH125 waterproof, 3-watt handheld VHF radio features an illuminated LCD display and keypad, DC charger, charging jack and rechargeable batteries.

The Strabo S360 and S370 are 2-in-1 personal navigation and speed camera location systems with Bluetooth hands free technology. The Syrius Plus S600 is a 2–in-1 personal navigation and speed camera location system with multi-routing and Bluetooth hands free technology. Sapphire Plus S270 and S280 are the first 3-in-1 GPS satellite navigation and speed camera location system with Shot Saver course information for the majority of golf clubs in the U.K. and Ireland and also include built-in MP3 and MP4 players. Syrius Proline S2000 is a satellite navigation and speed camera location system with multi-route planning, Bluetooth hands free technology and TMC traffic information.

 

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The Company announced the 2008 launch of the following products:

 

   

CPI 130/150 BK/200 CH—compact power inverters

 

   

CPI 475/875/1000/1575/2575—high power inverters

 

   

XRS 9340/9440/9540/9640/9740/9840/9940/9950—radar detectors

 

   

PR 190/270/4200—two-way radios

 

   

LI 5600/6700/7200—two-way radios

 

   

29 LTD BT—Citizens Band radio with built in Bluetooth technology

The CPI 130, 150 BK and 200 CH are compact power inverter models that fit inside a briefcase, backpack or purse. The CPI 130 fits in an automobile cigarette lighter and supplies USB output to provide 130 watts of continuous power and 260 watts of peak charging power. The CPI 150 BK includes a carrying case, cigarette lighter plug and an airline connector that provides 150 watts of continuous and 300 watts of peak power, which is ideal for a laptop computer and a cell phone. The CPI 200 CH fits in a car’s cup holder and offers 200 watts of continuous power and 400 peak watts that can power a 19-inch television.

The CPI 475, 875, 1000, 1575 and 2575 are high-power inverters with USB output. The CPI 475 provides 400 watts of continuous power to operate a large color television and a kitchen appliance. The CPI 875 provides 800 watts of continuous power with 1,600 watts of peak charging power. The CPI 1000 provides 1,000 watts of continuous power with 2,000 watts of peak charging power. The CPI 1575 provides 1,500 watts of continuous power with 3,000 watts of peak charging power. The CPI 2575 provides 2,500 watts of continuous power to operate a mini refrigerator and a microwave oven and 5,000 watts of peak charging power.

The XRS 9330 and 9440 are 12 Band radar/laser detectors that feature UltraBright data display and Ku, VG-2 and Spectre 1 detection bands. The XRS 9540, 9640 and 9740 are 12 Band radar/laser detectors that feature DigiView® data display and Ku, VG-2 and Spectre 1 detection bands. The XRS 9840 is a 12-band radar/laser detector that features the cool blue ExtremeBright DataGrafix display, POP mode radar gun, Voice-Alert and VG-2 and Spectre 1 detection bands. The XRS 9940 and XRS 9950 radar/laser detection units feature Super-Xtreme Range Superheterodyne® (S-XRS) Maximum Performance 12 Band Technology, ExtremeBright DataGrafix full-color display, alert icons for battery voltage and signal strength, 8-point digital compass, Voice-Alert to annunciate signals and alerts, SmartPower to automatically shut off the unit when the vehicle’s ignition is turned off, and Safety Alert® and Strobe Alert® to alert the driver of approaching emergency vehicles and road hazards. The XRS 9950 has a 1.5 inch color display and optional speed and red light camera connectivity.

The PR 190 and 270 are two-way radios with 22 channels, rechargeable batteries, wall charger and LCD display. The PR 190 has up to a 10 mile range and the PR 270 has a range up to 14 miles. The PR 4200 is a two-way radio with 22 channels, rechargeable batteries, wall charger, LCD display, 10 channel NOAA radio and a range up to 18 miles.

The LI 5600, 6700 and 7200 expand the line of extended range two-way radios and feature 22 channels, rechargeable lithium ion battery pack and a 10 channel NOAA radio. The LI 5600 has a range up to 20 miles, the LI 6700 has a range up to 22 miles and the LI 7200 a range up to 27 miles.

The patent pending 29 LTD BT is the first ever CB radio to offer Bluetooth wireless technology to allow hands free cell phone conversations, providing drivers with yet another way to communicate safely and easily.

 

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Suppliers

One of the Company’s fundamental strengths is its product sourcing ability. Substantially all of the Company’s products are manufactured to its specifications and engineering designs by a number of suppliers, primarily in China, Hong Kong, Italy, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand. The Company maintains control over the design and production quality of its products through its wholly-owned subsidiary in Hong Kong which seeks out new suppliers, monitors technological changes, performs source inspection of key suppliers, provides selected engineering services and expedites shipments from suppliers.

Over a period of years, the Company has developed a network of suppliers for its products. To maintain flexibility in product sourcing, all of the Company’s contracts with its suppliers can be terminated by the Company “at will.” While it is the Company’s goal to maintain strong relationships with its current suppliers, management believes that, if necessary, alternate suppliers could be found. The extent to which a change in a supplier would have an adverse effect on the Company’s business depends upon the timing of the change, the product or products that the supplier produces for the Company and the volume of that production. The Company also maintains insurance coverage that would, under certain limited circumstances, reimburse the Company for lost profits resulting from a supplier’s inability to fulfill its commitments to the Company. The Company historically has negotiated substantially all of its purchases in U.S. dollars and, in the case of PPL, uses forward contracts to purchase dollars at a fixed exchange rate to the pound sterling. The Company considers opportunities to make purchases in other currencies, such as euros, to the extent that doing so would be advantageous in light of currency fluctuations involving the U.S. dollar and other currencies. Long–lived assets located outside of the United States totaled $24 million at December 31, 2007. Research and product development expenditures, as well as non-capitalized engineering costs, are expensed as incurred and amounted to $2.2 million in 2007, $1.9 million in 2006 and $1.8 million in 2005. Beginning in 2005, certain engineering costs associated with the development of mobile navigation products have been capitalized in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 86. Refer to Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

Cobra Segment—Products

Principal products marketed under the Cobra tradename include:

 

   

Two-way radios

 

   

Radar detectors

 

   

Citizens Band radios

 

 

 

Power Inverter and HighGear accessories

 

   

Marine VHF radios and chartplotters

 

 

 

NAV ONE mobile navigation devices

In the United States, the Company competes primarily with various manufacturers and distributors of consumer electronics products, principally on the basis of product features and price, and expects the market for its products to remain highly competitive. The Company also markets its products in over 60 countries through distributors.

Two-Way Radios

In 1997, the Company entered the two-way radio market and in the fall of 1998 began selling its new microTALK® line. In 1999, the Company launched its European line of microTALK PMR radios in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Sweden and Finland, and now holds a leading share in the European market. In the second quarter of 2000, the Company began selling its microTALK FRS radios in Canada and now holds the number one share in this market. In 2000, as part of its European strategy to be closer to its customers, the Company formed an Irish subsidiary, Cobra Electronics Europe Limited, which is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Lithium-ion battery powered two-way radios that fit into a pocket and feature a range of up to 17 miles were unveiled in December 2005 for all GMRS geographic markets. The highest capacity lithium-ion battery powered two-way radios feature a range of up to 27 miles.

 

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The Company has attained the number one market position in the domestic GMRS two-way radio market. This market has matured and continued sales declines are expected. The Company estimates that the domestic market for GMRS two-way radios in factory net sales in 2007 was approximately $111 million compared to $120 million in 2006, based in part on Industrial Marketing Research (“IMR”) data. As of December 31, 2007, the Company had 20 distributors serving approximately 30 countries in Europe.

The two-way product line will be expanded in 2008 to include the PR 190, PR 270, PR 4200, LI 5600, LI 6700, and LI 7200. The LI 7200 has a range of up to 27 miles.

Detection

Cobra is the number one brand in the domestic market for integrated radar/laser detectors. In factory net sales, the Company estimates that the U.S. market for integrated radar/laser detectors was approximately $116 million in 2007 and approximately $90 million in 2006 (based in part on IMR data). Cobra commands the number one market share by offering innovative products with the latest technology.

The Company has been a leader in applying laser detection technology, including introducing the industry’s first laser-signal detector and the industry’s first integrated radar/laser detector with 360 degree laser detection capability. The Company was also the first to introduce to the retail channel “intelligent” detection systems capable of alerting drivers with a differentiated signal for each of the frequencies emitted by the Company’s patented, FCC-approved Safety Alert transmitter. The Company’s Safety Alert Traffic Warning System is designed to help drivers avoid potentially serious accidents with police, fire, EMS and public utility vehicles.

The Company introduced the first line of 9 Band radar detection systems in 1999. The 10 Band radar detection system featuring a high-speed RISC processor, the patented Safety Alert warning system and exclusive Strobe Alert detection was introduced in 2000. In 2001, Cobra introduced the first radar detector incorporating a 10-channel weather radio. The innovative SmartMute feature was introduced in 2002 and the enhanced SmartMute feature called Intellimute was introduced in 2004. This technology automatically mutes unwanted audible alerts below a driver-set speed, based on engine revolutions per minute. The first 11 Band models, were introduced in 2003. These models employed SmartPower technology, which avoids inadvertent car battery draining that could occur in certain automobiles by not turning the detector off when the vehicle has been turned off. A new line of radar detectors that incorporates industry-leading technology that increases range and detects the new K and Ka POP Modes was introduced in 2004. This new line included IntelliShield software that significantly reduces false alerts in densely populated urban areas. The “city mode” has three settings for enhanced false signal rejection. Cobra announced digital radar detectors with the industry’s first color LED displays, improved detection range and a strong advance warning and an industry leading 12 bands in 2006.

The Company introduced wireless remote controlled radar/laser detectors (XRS R7 and XRS R9G) with an optional GPS locator (standard with the R9G model) to detect red light and speed camera locations in 2007. The discreet appearance of the GPS locator and detection unit deters theft and improves detection range.

The 2008 detection line was expanded to include the XRS 9330, 9440, 9540, 9640, 9740, 9840, 9940 and 9950. The XRS 9330 and 9440 are 12 Band radar/laser detectors that feature UltraBright data display and Ku, VG-2 and Spectre 1 detection bands. The XRS 9540, 9640 and 9740 are 12 Band radar/laser detectors that feature DigiView data display and Ku, VG-2 and Spectre 1 detection bands. The XRS 9840 is a 12-band radar/laser detector that features the cool blue ExtremeBright DataGrafix display, POP mode radar gun, Voice-Alert and VG-2 and Spectre 1 detection bands.

The XRS 9940 and XRS 9950 detection units, launched in 2008, Super-Xtreme Range Superheterodyne

(S-XRS) Maximum Performance 12 Band Technology, ExtremeBright DataGrafix full-color display, alert icons for battery voltage and signal strength, 8-point digital compass, Voice-Alert to annunciate signals and alerts, SmartPower to automatically shut off the unit when the vehicle’s ignition is turned off, and Safety Alert and

 

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Strobe Alert to alert the driver of approaching emergency vehicles and road hazards. The XRS 9950 has a 1.5 inch OLED video display and provides an option to add a GPS locator for the detection of photo-enforcement location warnings. The XRS 9940 has a 1 inch OLED video display.

Citizens Band Radios

Cobra is the leading brand in the domestic Citizens Band radio market, which the Company estimates to have been approximately $38 million in factory net sales (based on IMR data) in both 2007 and 2006. Approximately 90 percent of this market is for mobile Citizens Band radios, most of which are purchased by professional truck drivers. The remaining part of the domestic market is for hand-held Citizens Band radios used for sport and recreational activities.

The Company has a history of being the technology leader in the Citizens Band radio market. The Company was the first Citizens Band radio marketer to combine a National Weather Service receiver with a mobile Citizens Band radio, enabling motorists to obtain weather and travel information broadcasts. As a major enhancement of this feature, the Company introduced a mobile Citizens Band radio that incorporated an automatic alert feature to warn of National Weather Service emergency advisories. In 1997, the Company introduced SoundTracker® technology which dramatically improved the sound quality when the Citizens Band radio is in receiving mode and allows the user’s voice to break through cluttered airwaves and to be more easily heard when transmitting. The new line of Citizens Band radios featuring an adjustable illuminated front panel (NightWatch technology) was introduced in 1999. A compact Citizens Band radio with an illuminated LCD display, 40 channels, RF gain control and an instant 9/19 channel (19 DX IV) was introduced in 2005.

Cobra looks for opportunities to introduce limited edition Citizens Band Radios that are intended to drive incremental sales. Historically, Cobra has licensed Harley-Davidson®, Dale Earnhardt® and Dale Earnhardt Jr.® trademarks for this purpose. In 2007, Cobra offered a limited edition chrome model that was well-received by the market and will build on that success with a black-chrome limited edition model in 2008.

The patent pending 29 LTD BT is the first ever CB radio to offer Bluetooth wireless technology to allow hands free cell phone conversations, providing drivers with yet another way to communicate safely and easily.

Power Inverters and High Gear Accessories

In 1997, the Company introduced its first line of power inverters, which permit users to power devices requiring a 120-volt AC power using the 12-volt outlet in a vehicle. The HighGear accessories were developed in 2000 to market high quality Citizens Band radio microphones and external speakers. A new line of power inverters for consumers and professional drivers was launched in 2006. These products allow consumers to power 120-volt AC products, such as computers, video games and appliances, using the 12-volt outlet in their vehicle. The CPI 150 Micro Size inverter introduced in 2006 included a USB port for an iPod®, Blackberry®, mobile phone or laptop. The 2008 product line offers USB output in all models, expanded selection of compact inverters and increased power capacity.

The CPI 130, 150 BK and 200 CH launched in 2008 offer compact inverter models that fit inside a briefcase, backpack or purse. The CPI 130 fits in a cigarette lighter and supplies USB output to provide 130 watts of continuous power and 260 watts of peak charging power. The CPI 150 BK includes a carrying case, cigarette lighter plug and an airline connector that provides 150 watts of continuous and 300 watts of peak power, which is ideal for a laptop computer and a cell phone. The CPI 200 CH fits in a car’s cup holder and offers 200 watts of continuous power and 400 peak watts that can power a 19-inch television.

The CPI 475, 875, 1000, 1575 and 2575 launched in 2008 offer high-power inverters with USB output. The CPI 475 provides 400 watts of continuous power to operate a large color television and a kitchen appliance. The CPI 875 provides 800 watts of continuous power with 1,600 watts of peak charging power. The CPI 1000 provides 1,000 watts of continuous power with 2,000 watts of peak charging power. The CPI 1575 provides 1,500 watts of continuous power with 3,000 watts of peak charging power. The CPI 2575 provides 2,500 watts of continuous power to operate a mini refrigerator and a microwave oven and 5,000 watts of peak charging power.

 

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Marine Products

The Company introduced fixed and hand-held dual power marine VHF transceivers and marine chartplotters in 2003. Marine chartplotters, the MC 600 series, featuring embedded aerial photographs of marina and harbor entrances, 3D mapping, dynamic arrows to indicate direction and speed of tidal currents and arrival and off-course alarms, were introduced to marine retailers in 2006. In February 2007, Cobra launched a new line of handheld and fixed-mount VHF radios with Rewind Say-Again, a digital voice recorder that records the last 20 seconds of the transmission. The handheld MR HH425 and the fixed mount MR F80B radios feature Rewind Say-Again™, 10 NOAA weather channels, illuminated LCD display and illuminated function keys. The handheld radio can be used as an All-Terrain-Radio that seamlessly goes from a VHF marine radio to a GMRS two-way radio. In November 2007, Cobra introduced a waterproof handheld VHF radio. The MR HH125 waterproof, 3-watt handheld VHF radio features an illuminated LCD display and keypad, DC charger, charging jack and rechargeable batteries.

Mobile Navigation

In December 2007, Cobra decided to reassess future development of mobile navigation products for the mass market in North America. The future North American mobile navigation strategy will focus on niche opportunities for products based on the PPL platform that offer prospects for lower development costs and higher profitability due to features that appeal to less competitive markets.

The Company introduced the NAV ONE 3000 at the 2004 International Consumer Electronics Show where it won two 2004 International CES Innovations Awards from the Consumer Electronics Association for its innovative features. The NAV ONE 4500, introduced in September 2005, incorporated real-time traffic updates. The NAV ONE 4500 offered up-to-the minute information on traffic incidents, congestion and construction to help drivers avoid traffic jams. The NAV ONE 4000, a “traffic-ready” companion unit to the NAV ONE 4500, provided many of the features of the NAV ONE 4500 including a five-inch high-resolution touchscreen and more than 7.6 million points of interest at an attractive price point to the consumer.

The NAV ONE 2500 with 3-D mapping, driver controlled speed warnings, a 3.5 inch high resolution touch screen, speed and redlight location alerts and a temperature functionality range of minus 4 degrees to 158 fahrenheit degrees was launched in September 2006. The NAV ONE 2100, with features similar to the NAV ONE 2500 at a more competitive price-point, was launched in January 2007.

The NAV ONE 5000, a traffic ready mobile navigation unit launched in 2008, features a slim OptiView 5-inch touch screen, turn-by-turn voice guidance, Bluetooth connectivity, speed and red light location alerts, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, over 7.6 million points of interest, and a temperature functionality range of minus 4 degrees to 140 fahrenheit degrees.

PPL Segment—Products

Products marketed by PPL include personal navigation devices, marketed under the tradename of Snooper Syrius, Snooper Sapphire Plus, Snooper Strabo and others, and GPS-enabled speed camera location detectors, marketed under the tradenames of Snooper Sapphire, Snooper S6-R Neo Plus and Snooper Evolution, among others. PPL also markets a database of speed camera locations. These personal navigation, speed camera locator and enigma database products are marketed through consumer electronics retailers, specialty retailers and directly to consumers through its website and customer service centers. Products are sold primarily in the U.K., although sales throughout Europe are increasing.

 

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Personal Navigation

The Snooper Indago introduced in 2006 and the, Snooper Syrius and Snooper Strabo, introduced in 2007, feature a full-color LCD touchscreen, two dimensional and three dimensional views, a built-in rechargeable battery for cordless operation and the option to download the enigma database. The Snooper Sapphire Plus also provides the capability to download the layout of over 2,000 golf courses in the U.K. and Ireland and provide the yardage to course hazards and the green for each hole.

Speed Camera Locators

PPL markets speed camera detection devices, including the Snooper Sapphire, Snooper S6-R Neo Plus and Snooper Evolution, which use GPS location technology and the enigma database to alert drivers to upcoming speed camera and hazard locations.

Enigma Database

PPL markets a proprietary enigma database that provides drivers with advance notice of upcoming speed camera and hazardous locations. The proprietary enigma database provides a competitive advantage. Unlike database capabilities of competitors, the enigma database is updated on a daily basis and makes the information available to its subscribers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The enigma database makes new speed camera locations more readily available to customers.

Patents and Intellectual Property

The Company does not believe that patents and other intellectual property are of material importance for products. However, when the Company develops a unique technology (such as VibrAlert™ vibrating technology for two-way radios), patents are applied for to preserve exclusivity, wherever possible.

The Company’s two-way radios, detectors, Citizens Band radios, HighGear accessories, GPS receivers, marine products and mobile navigation devices are marketed under the Cobra brand name. The Cobra trademark is registered in the United States, most European countries as well as other jurisdictions. The Company believes the Cobra trademark, which is indefinitely renewable, is a significant factor in the successful marketing of its products.

Personal navigation devices and GPS locators designed and marketed by PPL are marketed under the Snooper trademark.

Competition

Major competitors in the Cobra business segment are Motorola, Midland and Uniden (GMRS); Whistler and Escort/Beltronics (detection); Uniden, Midland and Radio Shack (Citizens Band radios); and Icom, Uniden and Standard Radio (marine products); and Garmin, Tom Tom and Magellan (mobile navigation).

Competitors in the PPL segment include Garmin, Tom Tom and Navman for personal navigation devices and Road Angel for GPS locators.

 

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Sales & Distribution

Demand for consumer electronics products is somewhat seasonal and varies according to channel of distribution. Historically, sales in the last half of the year are significantly greater than in the first half, reflecting increasing purchases by retailers for various promotional activities that begin mainly in the third quarter and culminate with the holiday selling season. Also, because mass retail accounts make up an increasing portion of the Company’s business, the Company has experienced a shift in orders from the third quarter to the fourth quarter when the mass retailers normally begin their load-in for the holiday selling season. In 2008, the Company expects to continue developing new customers in the marine/outdoor channel that may over time reduce the fourth quarter seasonality, as sales in the marine/outdoor channel tend to peak in the first and second quarters.

Cobra Products

These are distributed through a strong, well-established network of nearly 300 retailers and distributors located primarily in the United States, representing nearly 40,000 storefronts where Cobra products can be purchased. Approximately 70 percent of the Company’s sales are made directly to retailers, such as mass marketers, consumer electronics specialty stores, large department store chains, warehouse clubs, office supply chains, television home-shopping retailers, direct-response merchandisers, home centers and specialty stores. Most of the remaining sales are through two-step wholesale distributors that carry Cobra products to fill orders for travel centers, truck stops, small department stores and appliance dealers, duty-free shops on cruise lines and for export. Cobra’s primary sales force is composed of independent sales representatives who work on a straight commission basis. The sales representatives do not sell competing products of other companies. In both Canada and Europe, the Company utilizes distributors, which sell primarily to retailers.

The Company’s return policies and payment terms are similar to those of other companies serving the consumer electronics market. The Company’s products generally must be shipped within a short time after an order is received and, as a result, order backlog is not significant.

Customers which exceeded 10 percent of consolidated net sales in any one year are as follows: in 2007, sales to Wal-Mart were 14.7 percent, in 2006, sales to Wal-Mart were 17.0 percent and sales to QVC were 10.3 percent, and in 2005, sales to Wal-Mart were 17.1 percent.

International sales, primarily in Canada and Europe (including those of PPL), were $34.5 million, $20.6 million and $18.0 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. For additional financial information about geographic areas, see Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

PPL products

Sales are primarily in the United Kingdom, as well as in other European countries, through a network of 1,600 retailers and distributors and PPL’s website. These sales are included in the international sales data previously cited.

Employees

As of December 31, 2007, the Company employed 132 persons in the U.S. and 45 persons in its international operations. None of the Company’s employees are a member of a union.

Available Information

The Company’s website address is “www.cobra.com”. The Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available free of charge through our website, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). We include our website address in this annual report on Form 10-K only as an inactive textual reference and do not intend it to be an active lead to our website.

 

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Item 1A.  Risk Factors

This section identifies certain risks and uncertainties that the Company faces. If the Company is unable to appropriately address these and other circumstances that could have a negative effect on its business, the Company’s business may suffer. Negative events may decrease revenues, increase costs, negatively affect financial results and decrease financial strength, thereby, causing the price of the Company’s stock to decline.

Business, financial condition or results of operation could be adversely affected by the inability to enhance existing products or introduce new products to meet consumer preferences, including timely introductions as new consumer technologies are introduced.

Management believes that the Company’s future success depends upon its ability to predict and respond in a timely and effective manner to changes in the market it serves. Consequently, the Company strives to introduce distinctive new products that anticipate changing consumer demands and capitalize upon emerging technologies. If the Company fails to introduce or suffers delays in introducing new products, misinterprets consumer preferences or fails to respond to changes in the marketplace, consumer demand for our products could decrease and our brand image could suffer. In addition, competitors may introduce new designs or technologies, undermining our products’ desirability. If any of the foregoing occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially harmed.

Failure to maintain relationships with key customers and failure by key customers to purchase expected quantities of our products could have an adverse effect on our business.

Cobra products are distributed through a network of nearly 300 retailers and distributors located primarily in the United States. PPL products are sold through a network of 1,600 retailers and distributors in Europe. The Company’s success is dependent upon the ability to retain an existing base of customers to sell the Company’s products. Loss of customers means loss of product placement and, consequently, a reduction in sales volume.

Certain of the Company’s customers account for a large portion of the Company’s net sales. For instance, in 2007, sales to Wal-Mart were 14.7 percent of net sales. We anticipate that Wal-Mart will continue to account for a significant portion of our net sales in the foreseeable future.

Customers are not obligated by any firm, long-term purchase commitments for our products. As a result, customers may cancel purchase commitments or reduce or delay orders on relatively short notice. The loss of sales to or a material delay in orders from, our key customers could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If the Company is unable to obtain sufficient amounts of high quality products on a timely basis, customer needs may not be met and reduced sales may result.

Substantially all products are manufactured by third party manufacturers located outside of the United States, primarily in China, Hong Kong, Italy, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand. The ability to meet customers’ needs depends on the ability to maintain an uninterrupted supply of products from multiple third party manufacturers. While the Company purchases most products from multiple third party manufacturers, business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected if any of the principal third party manufacturers experience production problems, lack of capacity or transportation disruptions. In addition, certain of our third party manufacturers serve other customers, a number of which have greater production requirements than we do. As a result, third party manufacturers could determine to prioritize production capacity for other customers or reduce or eliminate services for us on short notice. The extent to which changes in third party manufacturers would have an adverse effect on the Company’s business depends upon the timing of the changes, the product or products that the third party manufacturers produce and the volume of production.

 

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Dependence on third party manufacturers for products subjects the Company to the risk of supplier failure and customer dissatisfaction with the quality or performance of such products. Quality or performance failures by third party manufacturers or changes in their financial or business condition which affect their production could disrupt the ability to supply quality products to customers and thereby materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Shortages of components and materials may disrupt the supply of products.

The inability of third party manufacturers to obtain sufficient quantities of components and other materials used in our products could disrupt the supply of products or increase costs. Materials and components for some products may not be available in sufficient quantities to satisfy sales requirements as a result of supply shortages. Supply interruptions relating to products could result in lost sales opportunities which may harm our business, financial condition and results of operation.

Reliance on retailers and third party distributors to sell our products.

Cobra products are sold through a network of nearly 300 retailers and distributors located primarily in the United States and PPL products are sold through a network of 1,600 retailers and distributors in Europe. Certain distributors market competitors’ products. The loss, termination or failure of one or more of the distributors to effectively promote our products could affect the Company’s ability to bring its products to market and could reduce sales. Changes in the financial or business condition of these distributors and retailers could also affect the level of their purchases of our products which could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operation.

The Company competes with a large number of companies in the consumer electronics business, and if we are unable to compete effectively, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially affected.

The Company encounters strong competition from a number of companies in the consumer electronics business. Some of our current and potential competitors have longer operating histories, larger customer bases, greater brand recognition and significantly greater financial resources than we do. Competition is based principally on the introduction of new products and pricing. Competitors may have greater resources and operating and financial flexibility to introduce new products and withstand changes in pricing. To compete for sales, the Company may have to lower its prices or increase its investment in development of new technologies, which could reduce gross margin and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The Company cannot make assurances that it will continue to compete effectively against existing and new competitors that may enter our markets.

Any downturn in global economic and market conditions could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The consumer electronics products sold by the Company are generally discretionary purchases for consumers. Consumer spending is affected by many factors, including consumer confidence levels, interest rates, tax rates, employment levels and prospects and other general economic conditions. Periods of economic slowdown or recession in the United States or worldwide economies, or the public’s perception that these may occur, would likely decrease the demand for products and adversely affect sales. In addition, deteriorating or weak economic conditions, or the forecast or perception of the same, may trigger changes in inventory levels at our retail customers, including a reduction in product offerings and out of stock situations, which may adversely affect our results of operations.

 

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International markets expose us to political and economic risks in foreign countries, as well as to risks relating to currency values and import/export policies.

Substantially all of our products are manufactured to our specifications and engineering designs by suppliers located primarily in China, Hong Kong, Italy, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand. In addition, international sales, primarily in Canada and Europe, represent a significant portion of our total sales. International activities pose risks not faced by companies that limit themselves to the United States market. These risks include:

 

   

changes in foreign currency exchange rates;

 

   

exchange controls;

 

   

changes in a specific country’s or region’s political or economic conditions;

 

   

issues affecting health and safety in specific countries or regions;

 

   

tariffs, quotas, trade barriers, other trade protection measures in the United States or foreign countries and import or export licensing requirements;

 

   

increased shipping costs, disruptions in shipping or reduced availability of freight transportation;

 

   

difficulties in enforcing remedies in foreign jurisdictions and compliance with applicable foreign laws;

 

   

potentially negative consequences from changes in tax laws; and

 

   

different regulatory structures and unexpected changes in regulatory requirements.

Revenues and purchases are predominately in U.S. dollars; however, a portion of revenue is collectible in other currencies, principally euros and British pounds. The Company historically has negotiated substantially all of its purchases in U.S. dollars and, in the case of PPL, uses forward contracts to purchase dollars at a fixed exchange rate to the pound sterling. The Company considers opportunities to make purchases in other currencies, such as euros, to the extent that doing so would be advantageous in light of currency fluctuations involving the U.S. dollar and other currencies. As sales expand in international markets, customers may increasingly make payments in other currencies. The Company hedges foreign currency fluctuations; however, it may not be able to fully hedge against the risks of such fluctuations and future exchange rate fluctuations could materially affect our operating results.

The Company is subject to various governmental regulations that could adversely affect the business.

The Company’s operations are subject to various federal, state and local regulatory requirements, including those relating to environmental, health and safety matters. The Company could become subject to liabilities as a result of a failure to comply with applicable laws and could incur substantial costs to comply with existing or new, more stringent regulations. In addition, the use of the Company’s products is also governed by a variety of federal, state and local regulations, including the regulations of the Federal Communications Commission, and changes in such regulations may affect demand for our products.

The Company is subject to governmental regulation in the countries in which it operates.

The Company’s business is subject to governmental regulations in the countries in which it operates. From time to time, such governments may consider proposed legislation relating to the regulation of products that we or our subsidiaries sell. The loss of sales as a result of any such regulations and any similar legislation could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Mobile navigation devices and other GPS-enabled products depend upon a network of satellites maintained by the United States Department of Defense. If these satellites become inoperable or the policies of the United States regarding civilian use of the GPS system change, there would be a material effect on our business.

The global positioning system capabilities of our products function through a network of satellites launched, operated and maintained by the United States Department of Defense. Should the satellites or underlying support systems become inoperable or if the United States government were to choose to degrade the quality of signals available to civilians, GPS products will not function as designed and there would likely be an adverse effect on demand for these products. Additionally, the Department of Defense does not currently charge users for access to the signals used by these devices and any move to do so could affect the economies of our business.

If the Company is unable to enforce or defend its rights with respect to intellectual property, the business may be adversely affected.

The Cobra trademark is a key factor in the marketing of our products. Trademark protection with respect to the Cobra trademark in the United States could be subject to challenge in some product areas. In addition, the Company may not be able to obtain trademark protection for the Cobra trademark in each country in which it sells products. If we are unable to use the Cobra trademark with respect to some products or in some markets, our results of operations could be adversely affected.

The Snooper trademark is a well-known trademark in the United Kingdom and contributes to the success of PPL. If we are unable to use the Snooper trademark in the United Kingdom or in other areas where PPL is expanding its business, our results of operations could be adversely affected.

The Company licenses patents for use in certain of our products, particularly navigation products. If the patents are challenged, or third parties claim that products infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others, the Company may incur significant costs to defend its intellectual property rights and may not ultimately be successful. If any our products are determined to have infringed upon the intellectual property rights of others, the Company may face substantial damages as well as injunctive relief which could effectively block our ability to market these products in the United States and abroad. Such a judgment could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Profitability and financial condition depends on the Company’s ability to collect on amounts due from customers.

The Company has significant accounts receivable due from customers. It is not uncommon for a customer to suspend payments of amounts due if the customer experiences operational difficulties. A customer experiencing severe operational difficulties may file for bankruptcy. In these cases, the Company may be unable to collect on that customer’s outstanding accounts receivable balance. The failure of our customers to pay amounts due could negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Our secured credit facility contains restrictive covenants and our failure to comply with those restrictions could result in a default, which could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our secured credit facility is our principal source of available liquidity, other than cash generated by operations. As of December 31, 2007, we had $20 million of outstanding indebtedness under our credit facility. In February 2008, we entered into a new secured credit facility which replaced our previous credit facility. Our new credit facility contains a number of significant restrictions that limit our ability to, among other things, do the following:

 

   

incur additional indebtedness;

 

   

grant liens on assets; or

 

   

merge, consolidate or dispose of our assets.

The secured credit facility also requires compliance with certain financial covenants. A breach of the covenants contained in the credit facility could result in any outstanding indebtedness under the credit facility becoming immediately due and payable and in our inability to borrow additional funds under the credit facility, either of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Sales of our products are subject to seasonal variations and, as a result, our quarterly operating results may fluctuate and may not be a reliable indicator of our future performance.

Because mass retail accounts make up an increasing portion of the business, we have experienced a shift in orders from the third quarter to the fourth quarter when mass retailers normally begin purchasing for the holiday selling season. Consequently, you should not rely on our results of operations during any particular quarter as an indication of our results for a full year or any other quarter. In addition, if investors inaccurately estimate our results of operations in one or more future quarters and our operating results fall below expectations, our stock price may decline.

The price of our common stock may be subject to sudden decreases due to the inherent volatility of operating and competitive factors.

The market price of the Company’s common stock may be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors. The market price of our common stock is dependent upon, but not limited to:

 

   

press releases or publicity relating to the Company or its competitors or relating to trends in the consumer electronics industry;

 

   

changes in the legal or regulatory environment affecting our business;

 

   

changes in expectations as to future financial performance, including financial estimates by securities analysts and investors;

 

   

the operating and stock performance of other companies that investors may deem comparable;

 

   

developments affecting us, customers or suppliers; and

 

   

general domestic or international economic, market and political conditions.

These factors may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance, and could prevent our stockholders from selling their common stock at or above the price at which they purchased it. In addition, the stock markets from time to time experience extreme price and volume fluctuations that may be unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of companies. In the past, some stockholders have brought securities class action lawsuits against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of their securities. We may in the future be the target of similar litigation. Securities litigation, regardless of whether we are ultimately successful, could result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention and resources.

 

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The loss of key members of our management and technical team may adversely affect our business.

The Company’s success depends on the performance of key management, sales, technical and other critical personnel and our ability to continue to attract, motivate and retain management and highly qualified key personnel. Failure to do so could disrupt our operations, adversely affect customer relationships and impair the ability to successfully implement and complete Company initiatives. The loss of any services of any key management or technical personnel could make it more difficult to successfully pursue business goals. In addition, the Company may not be as successful as its competitors at recruiting, assimilating and retaining key personnel.

Our performance depends on favorable relations with our employees and our ability to attract and retain them. Any deterioration of those relations, increase in labor costs or inability to attract and retain employees could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Any significant deterioration in employee relations, increases in labor costs or shortages of labor at any facility could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. As of December 31, 2007, none of our employees were covered by collective bargaining agreements. A slowdown or work stoppage at one facility that lasts for a significant period of time could cause lost sales and increased costs and could adversely affect the Company’s ability to meet customers’ needs.

Business could be adversely affected by a disruption to our Chicago, Illinois facility’s operations.

Our Chicago, Illinois facility accounts for approximately 80.5 percent of the total space utilized by the Company. Therefore, any disruption to our operations at this facility could adversely impact our performance and impair our ability to deliver products and services to customers on a timely basis. The operations at the Chicago, Illinois facility could be disrupted in the event of:

 

   

damage to, or inoperability of, its warehouse;

 

   

a hardware or software error, failure or crash;

 

   

a power or telecommunications failure; or

 

   

fire, flood or other natural disaster.

Any disruption could damage the Company’s reputation and cause customers to cease purchasing products from the Company. The Company could be subject to claims or litigation with respect to these losses. The Company’s property and business interruption insurance may not adequately compensate for all losses we may incur.

Damage to or disruptions in the operations of our computer infrastructure and software systems could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The unavailability of any of our information management systems for any significant period of time could have a material adverse effect on our operations. In particular, our ability to deliver products to our customers when needed, collect receivables and manage inventory levels successfully largely depends on the efficient operation of our computer hardware and software systems. Our information management systems are potentially vulnerable to damage or interruption from a variety of sources, including but not limited to computer viruses, security breaches, energy blackouts, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication failures. There also may be system or network disruptions if new or upgraded business management systems are defective or are not installed properly. Any system failure or security breach could negatively impact our business and results of operations. In addition, we may incur additional costs to remedy the damages caused by these system failures or security breaches.

 

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Our internal controls over financial reporting may not be considered effective, which could result in possible regulatory sanctions and a decline in our stock price.

Beginning with the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires us to furnish annually a report on our internal controls over financial reporting. The internal control report must contain an assessment by our management of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting (including the disclosure of any material weakness). Effective for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009, the independent auditors will be required to attest to and report on management’s evaluation of internal controls. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting. In order for management to evaluate our internal controls, the Company must regularly review and document its internal control processes and procedures and test such controls. Ultimately, the Company or its independent auditors could conclude that our internal control over financial reporting may not be effective if, among others things:

 

   

any material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting exist; or

 

   

assessed deficiencies are not remediated

Due to the number of controls to be examined, the complexity of the project, and the subjectivity involved in determining the effectiveness of controls, we cannot be certain that, in the future, all of our controls will be considered effective by management or, if considered effective by our management, that our auditors will agree with such assessment.

If, as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Company is unable to assert that its internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if the auditors are unable to attest that management’s report is fairly stated or they are unable to express an opinion on management’s evaluation, the Company could be subject to regulatory sanctions or lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of the financial reports, either of which could have an adverse effect on the market price for the Company’s common stock.

The Company may be unable to successfully consolidate and integrate the operations of acquired businesses, such as PPL, which may adversely affect the Company’s stock price, operating results and financial condition.

The Company must consolidate and integrate the operations of acquired businesses with our business. Recently, the Company completed the acquisition of PPL, a consumer electronics company based in the United Kingdom. The success of any acquisition, including the acquisition of PPL, will depend on our ability to integrate assets acquired and personnel in these transactions. Integration efforts often take a significant amount of time, place a significant strain on our managerial, operational and financial resources and could prove to be more difficult and expensive than we predicted. The diversion of our management’s attention and any delays or difficulties encountered in connection with any acquisitions, including the acquisition of PPL, and any future acquisitions that may consummated, could result in the disruption of our ongoing business or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies that could negatively affect our ability to maintain relationships with customers, suppliers, employees and others with whom the Company has business dealings.

 

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Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable.

Item 2.  Properties

The Company owns one building in Chicago, Illinois containing a total of approximately 93,000 sq. feet of office and warehouse space. The Company has approximately 7,000 sq. feet of leased office space in Hong Kong; 1,650 sq. feet of leased office space in Dublin, Ireland; 13,500 sq. feet of office and warehouse space in Manchester, United Kingdom; and 500 sq. feet of leased warehouse space in Gent, Belgium. The Company believes that these facilities are adequate to meet its current needs.

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings

The Company is subject to various unresolved legal actions and proceedings, which arise, in the normal course of its business. None of these actions is expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

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

No matters were submitted during the fourth quarter of 2007.

Item 4A.  Executive Officers of the Registrant

The executive officers of the Company are as follows:

 

Name, Age and

Present Position

  

Has Held Present
Position Since

James R. Bazet, 60,

President and Chief Executive Officer*

   Jan. 1998

Carl Korn, 86,

Chairman*

   Nov. 1961

Anthony Mirabelli, 66,

Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales

   Feb. 1997

Michael Smith, 54,

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

   Jan. 2001

Gerald M. Laures, 60,

Vice President-Finance and Corporate Secretary

   Mar. 1994

 

* Is also a director.

 

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PART II

 

Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The Company’s common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol COBR. As of March 24, 2008, the Company had approximately 562 shareholders of record and approximately 1,792 shareholders for whom securities firms acted as nominees. The Company’s common stock is the only class of equity securities outstanding.

 

     STOCK PRICE RANGE AND DIVIDENDS
     2007    2006    2005

Quarter

   High    Low    Dividends
Declared
   High    Low    Dividends
Declared
   High    Low    Dividends
Declared

First

   $ 10.95    $ 8.75    $ 0.16    $ 14.00    $ 10.06    $ 0.16    $ 8.13    $ 7.01    $ —  

Second

     10.72      9.16      —        12.49      9.04      —        9.85      7.00      —  

Third

     10.06      6.14      —        11.45      8.04      —        9.50      6.81      —  

Fourth

     6.75      4.11      —        10.42      8.02      —        15.00      7.12      —  

Year

     10.95      4.11      0.16      14.00      8.02      0.16      15.00      6.81      —  

Note: Stock price data compiled from The NASDAQ Stock Market Monthly Summary of Activity Reports.

Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

The following table sets forth the Company’s financial data for each of the past five years. You should read this information together with the consolidated financial statements and notes to those statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the information set forth under the caption Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Year Ended December 31

   2007     2006 *     2005    2004    2003
     (in thousands, except per share amounts)

Operating Data:

            

Net sales

   $ 155,935     $ 153,695     $ 133,084    $ 122,877    $ 114,811

Gross profit

     31,401       29,953       34,135      32,225      30,655

Selling, general and administrative expense

     39,634       32,620       30,614      28,337      27,515

(Loss) earnings from operations

     (8,233 )     (2,667 )     3,521      3,888      3,140

Interest expense

     1,655       479       89      110      162

Other income

     1,089       63       10,151      99      165

(Loss) earnings before income taxes

     (8,799 )     (3,083 )     13,583      3,877      3,143

Tax (benefit) provision

     (4,396 )     (1,449 )     1,599      1,496      1,302

Minority interest

     (19 )     4       —        —        —  

Net (loss) earnings

     (4,422 )     (1,630 )     11,984      2,381      1,841

Net (loss) earnings per share:

            

Basic

     (0.68 )     (0.25 )     1.86      0.37      0.29

Diluted

     (0.68 )     (0.25 )     1.81      0.36      0.28

As of December 31:

            

Total assets

     114,318       116,758       92,922      82,494      76,233

Long-term debt

     18,745       15,614       —        —        —  

Shareholders’ equity

     65,115       69,769       72,252      60,127      57,701

Book value per share

   $ 10.06     $ 10.85     $ 11.13    $ 9.33    $ 8.99

Shares outstanding

     6,471       6,433       6,489      6,445      6,420

 

* Reflects the acquisition of Performance Products Limited (“PPL”) on October 20, 2006.

 

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Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Executive Summary

For 2007, the Company reported a 1.5 percent increase in net sales to $155.9 million from $153.7 million in 2006. An increase in net sales from the Company’s PPL business segment, acquired in late October 2006, was substantially offset by a decrease in net sales of the Cobra business segment, mainly in sales of mobile navigation and domestic two-way radio products. The Company’s gross margin increased slightly to 20.1 percent from 19.5 percent in 2006. During the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company recorded a charge of $7.7 million resulting from a change in its mass market mobile navigation strategy in North America. As part of this change in strategy, all future development of mass marketed mobile navigation products ceased with future efforts limited to unique mobile navigation products sold into niche markets with specialized and focused distribution. When such products are launched, lower cost sourcing arrangements utilizing the PPL platform or that of other qualified vendors will be employed. The $7.7 million charge, most of which was reflected in cost of sales and will not result in any significant future cash expenditures, consisted of costs related to the impairment of certain intellectual property, the write down of certain mobile navigation inventory, related parts and other assets to estimated net realizable value, the disposition of future product returns by means other than returning them to vendors for credit against new products and severance. The charge reduced 2007’s gross margin by 4.9 points. In 2006, gross profit was reduced by $5.1 million of Cobra segment charges for the impairment of certain intellectual property and inventory write downs on first generation handheld GPS and mobile navigation products because of the acquisition of new software for mobile navigation and the impact of lower selling prices on these products, which reduced 2006 gross margin by 3.3 points. The Company’s selling, general and administrative expense increased $7.0 million, of which $4.2 million was due to having PPL for a full year in 2007 compared to a little over two months in 2006. The remainder of the selling, general and administrative expense increase was due to higher Cobra segment expenses.

Interest expense increased by $1.2 million in 2007 as a result of the debt incurred to acquire PPL. Other income for the Company increased $1.0 million in 2007 principally from exchange gain on forward contracts.

The Company had a net loss in 2007 of $4.4 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1.6 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, for 2006. The income tax benefit for 2007 reflected a 50.0 percent effective tax rate compared to an effective tax rate of 47.0 percent for the 2006 income tax benefit. The effective rate for 2007 was high primarily due to minimal tax on $1.5 million of taxable income for the Company’s Irish subsidiary, Cobra Electronics Europe Limited (“CEEL”), as a result of the utilization of net operating loss carry-forwards and the reversal of a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets.

Results of Operations

2007 Compared to 2006

The following table contains sales and pre-tax profit (loss) after eliminating intercompany accounts by business segment for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. Results for PPL in 2006 reflect only those activities occurring subsequent to the acquisition of PPL by the Company on October 20, 2006.

 

     2007     2006     2007 vs. 2006
Increase(Decrease)
 
     (in thousands)  

Business Segment

   Net
Sales
   Pre-tax
Profit
(Loss)
    Net
Sales
   Pre-tax
Profit
(Loss)
    Net
Sales
    Pre-tax
Profit
(Loss)
 

Cobra

   $ 141,180    $ (9,583 )   $ 150,974    $ (2,503 )   $ (9,794 )   $ (7,080 )

PPL

     14,755      784       2,721      (580 )     12,034       1,364  
                                              

Total Company

   $ 155,935    $ (8,799 )   $ 153,695    $ (3,083 )   $ 2,240     $ (5,716 )
                                              

 

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Cobra Business Segment

Net sales of the Cobra segment decreased in 2007 by $9.8 million, or 6.5 percent, to $141.2 million from $151.0 million in 2006. All of the decrease was because of lower mobile navigation/GPS product net sales as reflected below:

 

     Mobile
Navigation/
GPS Products
Net Sales
    Other
Products
Net Sales
   Total
Net Sales
 
     (in thousands)  

2007 net sales

   $ 9,367     $ 131,813    $ 141,180  

2006 net sales

     22,479       128,495      150,974  
                       

Increase (decrease)

   $ (13,112 )   $ 3,318    $ (9,794 )
                       

Mobile navigation/GPS net sales declined $13.1 million from 2006 mainly due to significantly lower sales to one major retailer. Offsetting some of the drop in Mobile navigation/GPS net sales was an increase in net sales of Cobra’s other products, which grew by $3.3 million, or 2.6 percent, to $131.8 million from $128.5 million in 2006. A significant portion of this growth was due to strong sales of detection and two-way radios in Europe as sales of CEEL increased 71.9 percent. Also contributing to the higher other product sales were increases in domestic sales of detection and inverters, which rose 5.7 percent and 30.1 percent, respectively. Detection sales rose due to increased distribution as well as strong sales to Wal-Mart where Cobra has a significant share of this retailer’s overall (and increasing) business in this category. Because of the strong domestic and European sales, global detection sales for the Cobra segment increased 17.0 percent in 2007. Inverter sales rose as a result of expanded distribution and increased promotional activity at travel centers. Offsetting some of the net sales increase in other product sales were lower North American two-way radio sales because of a lesser emphasis on the category by retailers and continued price deflation.

Cobra’s gross profit decreased to $25.4 million in 2007 from $28.6 million in 2006 while the gross margin was 18.0 percent and 19.0 percent, respectively. The lower gross profit and margin was due to a $5.5 million increase in the gross loss from mobile navigation/GPS products as reflected below:

 

     Mobile
Navigation/
GPS Products
Gross Profit
(Loss) (1)
    Other
Products
Gross Profit
(Loss)
    Total
Gross Profit
(Loss)
 
     (in thousands)  

2007 gross profit (loss)

   $ (8,453 )   $ 33,899     $ 25,446  

2006 gross profit (loss)

     (2,971 )     31,620       28,649  
                        

Increase (decrease)

   $ (5,482 )   $ 2,279     $ (3,203 )
                        

2007 gross margin

     -90.2 %     25.7 %     18.0 %

2006 gross margin

     -13.2 %     24.6 %     19.0 %

 

(1) Expenses for 2007 and 2006 were those estimated to be directly related to the mobile navigation/GPS product and would not have been incurred absent the sales of these products.

The higher gross loss for mobile navigation/GPS was primarily due to $7.5 million charged to cost of sales for the change in the Company’s North American mobile navigation strategy as previously discussed. The $7.5 million cost of sales charge reduced Cobra’s gross margin by 5.4 points is summarized below (in thousands):

 

Product warranty and liquidation reserves

   $ 3,008

Product software impairment

     2,622

Tooling, packaging and parts write-downs

     1,243

Inventory write-downs

     676
      

Charged to cost of sales

   $ 7,549
      

 

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Also contributing to the gross loss for mobile navigation/GPS and a lower segment gross margin was a $3.5 million sale of NAV ONE 2100s at below cost, which was done in order to absorb capitalized software development costs and use excess purchased parts and resulted in a reduction in gross profit of approximately $700,000, or 0.5 points. Cobra’s gross margin in 2006 was also negatively impacted by a gross loss for mobile navigation/GPS due to the obsolescence of intellectual property upon the Company’s acquisition of new intellectual property for future mobile navigation products and the impact of lower selling prices on first generation handheld GPS and mobile navigation products, which resulted in $2.8 million of impairment charges for certain intellectual property and $2.3 million in charges for inventory write downs pertaining to these first generation products. Together these charges reduced the segment’s gross margin in 2006 by approximately 3.4 points.

Excluding the mobile navigation/GPS gross losses in 2007 and 2006, Cobra’s gross margin would have increased to 25.7 percent from 24.6 percent in 2006. The primary drivers of the increase were improved domestic two–way radio gross margin and a higher gross margin at CEEL. Two-way radio gross margin rose because of a substantial reduction in air freight as significant problems in 2006 with production delays were remedied and not repeated in 2007. The higher gross margin at CEEL was due to the stronger euro and the favorable effect of significantly higher sales on the absorption of overhead costs.

Selling, general and administrative expense for the Cobra segment increased $2.8 million, or 9.1 percent, to $33.8 million in 2007 from $31.0 million in 2006 and, as a percentage of net sales, were 24.0 percent and 20.5 percent, respectively. The increase was due to a decline in the reversal of unused accrued marketing program funds from prior periods; higher operating costs at CEEL including costs associated with new product introductions; and legal fees for trademark and mobile navigation patent work. Also, increasing selling, general and administrative expenses were the effect of a stronger euro; increased professional accounting and tax fees incurred primarily as a result of the PPL acquisition and compliance with new accounting rules; and higher SFAS No. 123(R) stock-based compensation due to the issuance of stock options during the year. Estimated selling, general and administrative expenses that will not recur in the future due to the change in strategy for mass market North America mobile navigation/GPS products—consisting mainly of commissions, marketing program funds and legal expenses—are estimated to be $1.9 million.

Included in the Cobra segment 2007 pre-tax loss were interest expense of $1.6 million and other income of $410,000, which increased $1.1 million and $80,000, respectively, from 2006. The increase in interest expense was due primarily to higher working capital requirements and debt resulting from the purchase of PPL.

Performance Products Limited Business Segment

On October 20, 2006, the Company acquired Performance Products Limited, a privately-held designer and marketer of GPS-enabled speed camera detection systems and personal navigation devices for the consumer market which is based in the United Kingdom. Accordingly, the results discussed herein as compared to 2006 include only those for the period from the date of acquisition through December 31, 2006. In 2007, PPL had net sales of $14.8 million and a pre-tax segment profit of $784,000 compared to net sales of $2.7 million and a pre-tax segment loss of $580,000 for 2006.

Net sales in 2007 were lower than expected due to the failure to launch several personal navigation skus in a timely manner and more limited distribution than anticipated due to the competitive environment. However, PPL has overcome the development and production issues that hampered its performance earlier in 2007 and, in the fourth quarter, launched three new personal navigation products. As a result, at December 31, 2007, PPL had a full complement of personal navigation and photo-enforcement location products available for sale through its dealer network in the U.K. and elsewhere in Europe. Enigma data base download fees were also less than anticipated because of the lower sales of personal navigation products, the impact of more non-U.K. sales (since consumers outside of the U.K. do not pay for downloads of the data base for their country) and deferred revenue amortization related to the purchase price allocation. Offsetting these declines were higher sales of GPS locator products because of stronger non-U.K. sales.

 

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Gross margin in 2007 was 40.4 percent and was lower than expected. Negatively impacting gross margin were the lower percentage of revenue from higher-margin personal navigation products sales, a lower percentage of revenue than expected from high margin download fees, and higher non-cash charges for purchase price amortization.

Selling, general and administrative expense amounted to $5.8 million, which was below expected levels and reflected management’s decision to reduce advertising costs.

Also contributing to PPL’s 2007 pre-tax profit was $679,000 of other income, principally gains on foreign exchange contracts for the sale of pounds sterling and the purchase of U.S. dollars. Some of this was due to the reversal of losses experienced in the fourth quarter of 2006, when PPL had $267,000 of losses on foreign exchange contracts.

Income Taxes

The Company’s income tax benefit of $4.4 million for 2007 reflected a 50.0 percent effective tax rate compared to a 47.0 percent effective tax rate for 2006’s income tax benefit of $1.4 million. The effective tax rate for 2007 was higher than the combined U.S. statutory rate of 38.9 percent because of minimal tax at CEEL on $1.5 million of taxable income (which was significantly greater than in 2006) as a result of a net operating loss carry-forward and the reversal of a valuation allowance. The effective tax rate for 2006 was higher than the combined U.S. statutory rate of 36.6 percent because of the effect of the R&D tax credit, which increased the effective tax rate because of the pretax loss.

Results of Operations

2006 Compared to 2005

The following table contains sales and pre-tax profit (loss) after eliminating intercompany accounts by business segment for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.

 

      2006     2005    2007 vs. 2006
Increase (Decrease)
 
                (in thousands)            

Business Segment

   Net
Sales
   Pre-tax
Profit
(Loss)
    Net
Sales
   Pre-tax
Profit
(Loss)
   Net
Sales
   Pre-tax
Profit
(Loss)
 

Cobra

   $ 150,974    $ (2,503 )   $ 133,084    $ 13,583    $ 17,890    $ (16,086 )

PPL

     2,721      (580 )     —        —        2,721      (580 )
                                            

Total Company

   $ 153,695    $ (3,083 )   $ 133,084    $ 13,583    $ 20,611    $ (16,666 )
                                            

Cobra Business Segment

Net sales of the Cobra segment in 2006 increased $17.9 million, or 13.4 percent, from 2005. The increase was due mainly to higher sales of mobile navigation/GPS products as reflected below:

 

     Mobile
Navigation/
GPS Products
Net Sales
   Other
Products
Net Sales
   Total
Net Sales
     (in thousands)

2006 net sales

   $ 22,479    $ 128,495    $ 150,974

2005 net sales

     9,316      123,768      133,084
                    

Increase (decrease)

   $ 13,163    $ 4,727    $ 17,890
                    

 

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Net sales of mobile navigation/GPS products increased 141.3 percent due primarily to large sales of two Cobra mobile navigation models, including the new NAV ONE 2200, to retailers. Higher sales of other products, which increased 3.8 percent, were principally detection products, which increased 22.1 percent and reflected mainly strong demand for Cobra’s new 12 Band models and expanded placement at Wal-Mart. The increase in sales of other products was offset in part by an approximately 11 percent decline in two-way radio net sales in North America, which reflected slightly lower unit sales and a 9.8 percent drop in average selling prices as these markets mature, as well as lower Citizens Band radio net sales resulting from the negative effect of high fuel prices on the discretionary income of professional drivers.

Cobra’s gross profit decreased to $28.6 million in 2006 from $34.1 million in 2005 while gross margin was 19.0 percent and 25.6 percent, respectively. The lower gross profit and margin was due primarily to a $2.6 million increase in the gross loss from mobile navigation/GPS products as reflected below:

 

     Mobile
Navigation/
GPS Products
Gross Profit
(Loss) (1)
    Other
Products
Gross Profit
(Loss)
    Total
Gross Profit
(Loss)
 
     (in thousands)  

2006 gross profit (loss)

   $ (2,971 )   $ 31,620     $ 28,649  

2005 gross profit (loss)

     (354 )     34,489       34,135  
                        

Increase (decrease)

   $ (2,617 )   $ (2,869 )   $ (5,486 )
                        

2006 gross margin

     -13.2 %     24.6 %     19.0 %

2005 gross margin

     -3.8 %     27.9 %     25.6 %

 

(1) Expenses for 2006 and 2005 were those estimated to be directly related to the mobile navigation/GPS product and would not have been incurred absent the sales of these products.

The increase in the gross loss for mobile navigation/GPS products was due mainly to the obsolescence of intellectual property upon Cobra’s acquisition of new intellectual property for future mobile navigation products and the impact of lower selling prices on Cobra’s first generation handheld GPS and mobile navigation products, which resulted in $2.8 million of impairment charges for certain intellectual property and $2.3 million in charges for inventory write downs pertaining to these first generation products. Together these charges reduced Cobra’s gross margin by approximately 3.4 points. Also, the mobile navigation/GPS gross loss for 2005 included a $724,000 reduction in cost of sales from the termination of the development agreement with Horizon Navigation, Inc. This benefit increased Cobra’s gross margin in 2005 by approximately 0.5 points.

Additionally, the decline in Cobra’s gross profit and gross margin was the result of lower gross margin for other products. A significant decline in domestic two-way radio gross margin reduced Cobra’s gross margin by approximately 1.7 points. The decline was the result of higher vendor costs, due to commodity price increases and fewer vendors producing two-way radios, lower selling prices, which fell 13 percent during 2006 as pricing pressures continued in this maturing category, and increased air freight of $538,000 mainly because of production delays earlier in the year.

Selling, general and administrative expense increased $395,000 in 2006 due to $747,000 of increased selling expenses, mainly because of higher sales, and $388,000 of professional fees incurred by Cobra to assist with accounting and regulatory matters pertaining to the PPL acquisition. These increases were partly offset by a $767,000 reduction in bonus and profit sharing expense, which was due to management’s decision not to pay bonuses or profit sharing in 2006 based on the segment’s performance in 2006, and a $320,000 increase in the reversal of unused accrued marketing program funds from prior periods.

 

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Included in the Cobra segment 2006 pre-tax loss were interest expense of $474,000, which increased $385,000, and other income of $330,000, which decreased $9.8 million. The increase in interest expense was due primarily to higher working capital requirements and debt resulting from the purchase of PPL. Other income decreased because in 2005 there were three significant non-recurring events, included in the Cobra segment pre-tax profit, which resulted in $9.5 million of gains. The first was a $7.2 million gain (that was non-taxable, except for alternative minimum tax) associated with the payment of a death benefit from life insurance maintained to fund a deferred compensation plan for the Company’s former president and chief executive officer. The Company maintains insurance policies on the lives of certain current and former senior executives to provide a mechanism to pay retirement benefits under its deferred compensation plans and recoup the cost through death benefits. The Company also realized a $1.9 million gain from the sale of unimproved property located adjacent to its office and warehouse facility in Chicago. Lastly, there was a gain of $299,000 on a lump-sum payment in settlement of the deferred compensation obligation to the estate of the former president and chief executive officer.

Performance Products Business Segment

On October 20, 2006, the Company acquired PPL, a privately-held designer and marketer of GPS-enabled speed camera detection systems and personal navigation devices for the consumer market which is based in the United Kingdom. Accordingly, the results discussed herein include only those for the period from the date of acquisition through December 31, 2006.

PPL had net sales of $2.7 million and a pre-tax segment loss of $580,000 for the period. Contributing to the segment loss were lower than expected net sales and gross margin. There was a significant shortfall in sales of personal navigation systems. These sales were negatively impacted by the failure of a new vendor to deliver, for the critical holiday selling season, a key new product, the SNP 250. Gross margin was lower due to an exchange loss of $68,000, as PPL purchases inventory in U.S. dollars, as well as to a higher percentage of sales to European customers outside the United Kingdom, which have a lower gross margin.

Also contributing to the segment loss was $267,000 of other expense, which included losses on foreign exchange contracts for the sale of pounds sterling and the purchase of U.S. dollars. As each contract matures, any gain or loss associated with it will be reversed.

Income Taxes

The Company’s income tax benefit of $1.4 million for 2006 reflected a 47.0 percent effective tax rate compared to an effective tax rate of 11.8 percent for the 2005 tax provision of $1.6 million. The effective tax rate for 2006 was higher than the combined U.S. statutory rate of 36.6 percent because of the effect of the R&D tax credit, which increases the effective tax rate when there is a pretax loss. The effective tax rate for 2005 was substantially lower than the combined U.S. statutory rate of 38.2 percent due to the non-taxable effect of the gain on life insurance proceeds and R&D tax credit, which represented eleven prior years of credit.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

On January 31, 2002, the Company executed a three-year Revolving Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with three financial institutions, including LaSalle Bank National Association, as agent. In November 2005, the term of the agreement was amended to January 31, 2007. In October 2006, in connection with the PPL acquisition, the Credit Agreement was amended and restated for a five-year term and maximum loan limit of $53.6 million, including the $40 million revolver, a $7.0 million term loan and a $6.6 million delayed draw term loan. The delayed draw term loan was never activated. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement were secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company.

On February 15, 2008, the Company entered into the Loan and Security Agreement (the “LSA”) with The Private Bank and Trust Company, as lender and agent, and RBS Citizens, N.A. for a $5.7 million term loan facility and a

 

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$40 million revolving credit facility. Both facility’s mature on October 19, 2011 and replaced the previous Credit Agreement.

At December 31, 2007, the Company had interest bearing debt outstanding of $20.0 million, consisting of the $5.7 million term loan and $14.3 million in the revolver. As of December 31, 2007, availability was approximately $17.9 million under the revolving credit line based on the asset advance formulas.

On October 20, 2006, Cobra Electronics U.K. Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, completed the acquisition of 100 percent of the issued and outstanding share capital of PPL. Under the acquisition agreement, the purchase price for the issued share capital of PPL consisted of $21.2 million paid in cash at the closing of the transaction. The former shareholders of PPL were eligible to receive additional cash consideration of up to approximately $6.5 million based on the achievement of certain performance targets by PPL for the twelve-month period ended March 31, 2007 (the first earn-out period) and up to approximately $9.4 million for the fourteen-month period ended May 31, 2008 (the second earn-out period). No additional consideration was paid to the former shareholders for the first earn-out period; the former shareholders are eligible to recapture all or a portion of this first earn-out payment should the performance in the second earn-out period exceed the performance targets established for the payment of the entire second earn-out. Additionally, the former shareholders could earn additional consideration if the performance of PPL exceeds certain cumulative targets for the combined earn-out periods.

Net cash flows used in operating activities were $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2007, as compared to $3.4 million of net cash provided by operating activities in 2006, principally due to a net loss of $4.4 million in 2007. Further a reduction in cash flows from operating activities resulted from an increase in deferred income taxes of $3.3 million. Operating cash flows were also reduced by an increase in inventories and other long-term assets of $3.7 million and $2.5 million, respectively, mostly due to the activities of PPL. Accrued income taxes also reduced cash flows from operating activities by $2.0 million. Offsetting these outflows were the add-back of non-cash charges related to depreciation and amortization of $7.9 million and impairment of product software, tooling and packaging of $3.0 million, an increase in accounts payable of $1.1 million and a decrease in receivables of $1.6 million.

The net loss was due mainly to a charge of $7.7 million resulting from a change in the Company’s North American mobile navigation strategy previously discussed. The charge, which will require minimal future cash expenditures, consisted of costs related to the impairment of certain intellectual property, the write down of certain mobile navigation inventory, related parts and other assets to estimated net realizable value, the disposition of future product returns by means other than returning them to vendors for credit against new products and severance. The increase in deferred taxes was due to the mobile navigation/GPS charge. The increase in inventories was primarily due to $2.1 million of higher inventories at PPL because of the launch of three new satellite navigation skus in 2007 and $886,000 of higher inventories at CEEL because of an increase in sales. The increase in other long-term assets was mainly due to expenditures to redesign the Company’s website, www.cobra.com, and an increase in trademarks because of higher expenditures on world-wide registrations. Accrued income taxes decreased because of higher tax payments in 2007. Depreciation and amortization included $1.9 million of product software amortization primarily for Cobra segment mobile navigation products; $852,000 of intangible amortization in Cobra segment; $1.0 million of prepaid amortization in Cobra segment; $1.8 million of fixed asset depreciation in Cobra segment; and $2.4 million of PPL amortization of intangibles and other assets that resulted from the allocation of the purchase price for PPL in accordance with SFAS 141. Impairment of product software resulted from the change in the Company’s North American mobile navigation strategy. The increase in accounts payable was because of higher trade payables. The decrease in receivables reflected lower sales in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared to the fourth quarter of 2006.

Working capital requirements are seasonal, with demand for working capital being higher later in the year as customers begin purchasing for the holiday selling season. The Company believes that cash generated from operations and from borrowings under its credit agreement will be sufficient in 2008 to fund its working capital needs.

 

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Net cash used in investing activities amounted to $1.9 million in 2007, principally for the purchase of tooling.

Net cash provided by financing activities amounted to $2.6 million and resulted mainly from borrowings to finance working capital needs. Cash of $288,000 was also provided from the exercise of stock options. The Company also used cash for an annual dividend of $1 million paid in April 2007. On February 21, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an annual cash dividend of $0.16 per share payable on April 25, 2008 to shareholders of record on April 11, 2008. The annual dividend payment for 2008 will be approximately $1.0 million.

The Company believes that for the foreseeable future, it will be able to continue to fund its operations and any payment of the earn-out contingent upon PPL’s operating performance for the for the fourteen-month period ended May 31, 2008 with cash generated from operations using existing or similar future bank credit agreements to fund its seasonal working capital needs.

The outstanding commitments at December 31, 2007 were as follows:

 

     Total    Less than 1 year    1 to 3 years    3 to 5 years    After 5 years
     (in thousands)

Capital lease (a)

   $ 90    $ 72    $ 18    $ —      $ —  

Operating leases

     2,847      534      1,030      434      849

Purchase obligations

     17,808      17,808      —        —        —  

Letters of credit

     3,569      3,569      —        —        —  

Obligations under FIN 48

     93      93      —        —        —  

Deferred compensation (a)

     6,389      68      1,093      1,229      3,999

Term loan (a)

     5,690      1,240      3,130      1,320      —  

Revolving loan (a)

     14,295      —        —        14,295      —  
                                  

Total

   $ 50,781    $ 23,384    $ 5,271    $ 17,278    $ 4,848
                                  

 

(a) included in Consolidated Balance Sheets on pages 34 and 35.

Critical Accounting Policies

The Company’s significant accounting policies are discussed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. The application of certain of these policies requires significant judgments or a historical based estimation process that can affect the results of operations and financial position of the Company as well as the related footnote disclosures. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and other assumptions that it believes are reasonable. If actual amounts ultimately differ from previous estimates, the revisions are included in the Company’s results of operations for the period in which the actual amounts become known.

Critical accounting policies generally consist of those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties and could potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions. The accounting policies and estimates that may have a significant impact upon the operating results, financial position and footnote disclosures of the Company are as follows:

Revenue Recognition.    Revenue from the sale of goods is recognized at the time of shipment, except for revenue from sales of products to certain customers whose contractual terms specify FOB destination. Revenue from sales of products to these customers is recognized at the estimated time of receipt by the customer (estimated based on the average shipping time for all such customers), when title and risk of loss would pass to the customer. Obligations for sales returns and allowances and product warranties are recognized at the time of sale on an accrual basis as described below.

Sales Returns Reserve.    The Company has a policy that allows its customers to return product that was returned to them by their customers. The reserve reflects the sales, cost of sales and gross profit impact of

 

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expected returns and related stock adjustments, as well as reduction in accounts receivable and increases in inventory for the amount of expected returns. The amount of the reserve is determined by multiplying the sales and cost of sales by product category for the current quarter by historical return rates adjusted for any known changes in key variables affecting these return rates. Thus, judgments must be made regarding whether current return rates will approximate anticipated return rates. This reserve will vary based on the changes in sales, gross margin and historical, as well as anticipated, return rates from quarter to quarter.

Warranty Reserve.    The Company generally provides a one year consumer warranty for its products and also allows its customers to return product that has been returned by their customers. Consequently, the Company maintains a warranty reserve, which reflects historical return rates by product category multiplied by the most recent six months of unit sales and the unit standard cost of each model. The Company uses the most recent six months of unit sales in its estimate, as historical experience indicates that most returns will occur within six months of the Company’s original sale date. Therefore, judgments must be made based on historical return rates and how the returned product will be disposed of, either by liquidation or return to vendors for credit on new purchases. This reserve may vary based upon the level of sales and changes in historical return rates from quarter to quarter as well as estimated costs of disposal, either liquidation prices or the credit given by vendors.

Liquidation Reserve.    The Company maintains a liquidation reserve representing the write-down of returned product from our customers to its net realizable value. Returned inventory is either sold to various liquidators or returned to vendors for partial credit against similar, new models; this decision depends upon the estimated future demand for the models. Judgments are made as to whether various models are to be liquidated or returned to the vendor, taking into consideration the liquidation prices expected to be received and the amount of vendor credit. The amount of the reserve is determined by comparing the cost of each unit returned to the estimated amount to be realized upon each unit’s disposition, either from returning the unit to the vendor for credit towards the cost of new, similar product or liquidating the unit. This reserve can fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter depending upon quantities of returned inventory on hand and the estimated liquidation price or vendor credit per unit.

Net Realizable Value Reserve.    The Company maintains a net realizable value reserve to write-down below cost, as necessary, certain inventory not previously sold to customers where it is determined that net realizable value is less than cost. Thus, judgments must be made about which slow-moving, excess or non-current models are to be included in the reserve and the estimated net realizable value of such model (i.e., the per unit price that it is estimated can be received in the marketplace if the model was sold). This reserve will vary depending upon the specific models selected, the estimated net realizable value for each model and quantities of each model that are determined will be sold below cost from quarter to quarter.

Advertising and Sales Promotion Accrual.    The advertising and sales promotion accrual reflects amounts provided to retailers and distributors for advertising and sales promotions. Customer programs, generally agreed to at the beginning of each year, are mainly variable programs dependent on sales and may be revised during the course of the year, based upon a customer’s projected sales and other factors, such as new promotional opportunities. Accruals are made monthly for each customer by multiplying the customer’s estimated program accrual percentage by the customer’s actual sales. Therefore, this accrual will vary quarter to quarter depending on a given quarter’s sales and the sales mix of customers. In addition, should a customer significantly exceed or fall short of its planned program sales, negotiate changes to the term of the existing programs or add new ones, adjustments may need to be made to the customer’s estimated program accrual percentage due to certain minimum and/or maximum sales thresholds in such customer’s programs. Periodic adjustments may also be necessary for unused customer funds.

Deferred Compensation.    Obligations under the deferred compensation plans (most of which are non-qualified defined benefit plans) and annual deferred compensation expense are determined by a number of assumptions. Key assumptions in the determination of obligations under the deferred compensation plans and annual deferred compensation expense include the discount rate and anticipated compensation for each individual covered by the plans, which in part is dependent upon the anticipated future profitability of the

 

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Company. The discount rate for 2007 and 2006 was 7 percent. The compensation increase assumptions are based on historical experience and anticipated future performance. The Company maintains life insurance policies for certain current and former executives to provide funding for future obligations. As of December 31, 2007, the cash surrender value of the insurance policies in force for the Company’s president and chief executive officer was $1.1 million.

Software Related to Products to be Sold.    The Company purchases and/or incurs costs in connection with the development of software to be used in products that the Company intends to sell, mainly mobile navigation products. Such costs are capitalized and deferred as intangible assets in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard No. 86, Accounting for Costs of Computer Software to be Sold, Leased or Otherwise Marketed (“SFAS 86”). Such costs consist of expenditures incurred after technological feasibility of the software has been established either from a working model of the product developed, a detail design, or the purchase of computer software that has an alternative future use. Such costs which consist principally of coding and related costs are charged to earnings based on the ratio of actual product sales during the reporting period to expected product sales over the estimated product life cycle. Software related intangible assets are reviewed at each balance sheet date for possible impairment as required by paragraph 10 of SFAS 86, and, accordingly, if such review indicates that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable, the carrying amount is reduced to the estimated fair value.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.    Pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (“SFAS 142”), the Company evaluates goodwill for impairment on an annual basis or if impairment indicators exist. For goodwill, the evaluation requires a comparison of estimated fair value of PPL to which the goodwill has been assigned to the sum of the carrying value of the assets and liabilities of that unit. If the sum of the carrying value of the assets and liabilities of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value of that reporting unit, the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is reduced to its implied fair value through an adjustment to the goodwill balance, resulting in an impairment charge.

The fair values used in the SFAS 142 evaluation are estimated based upon discounted future cash flow projections and comparisons with comparable companies. These cash flow projections are based on a number of assumptions, including risk-adjusted discount rates, future sales volumes, price levels and rates of increase in operating expenses. Management believes that the assumptions made in projecting future cash flows for the evaluations described above are reasonable. However, if future actual results do not meet expectations, the Company may be required to record an impairment charge, the amount of which could be material to its results of operations.

Intangible assets subject to amortization are evaluated for impairment pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets (“SFAS 144”), which requires impairment testing whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an amortizable intangible asset may not be recoverable. If impairment indicators exist for an amortizable intangible asset, the undiscounted future cash flows associated with the expected service potential of the asset are compared to the carrying value of the asset. If the projection of undiscounted future cash flows is in excess of the carrying value of the intangible assets, no impairment charge is recorded. If the projection of undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the intangible asset, an impairment charge is recorded to reduce the intangible asset to its fair value.

Income Taxes.    The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, (“SFAS 109”) as clarified by FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN 48”). Under this method, deferred income taxes are determined based on the estimated future tax effects of differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities given the provisions of enacted tax laws. Deferred income tax provisions and benefits are based on changes to the assets or liabilities from year to year. In providing for deferred taxes, we consider tax regulations of the jurisdictions in which the Company operates, estimates of future taxable income and available tax planning strategies. If tax regulations, operating results or the ability to implement

 

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tax planning and strategies vary, adjustments to the carrying value of deferred tax assets and liabilities may be required. Valuation allowances are recorded related to deferred tax assets based on the “more likely than not” criteria of SFAS No. 109.

FIN 48 requires that we recognize the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority.

The adoption of FIN 48 resulted in an unrecognized tax benefit of $233,000 and a $29,000 decrease in the unrecognized tax liability was recorded as an increase to retained earnings as of January 1, 2007. The Company adopted a policy to include interest and penalties in the income tax expense.

The above listing is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all of the Company’s accounting policies. In most cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Refer to Note 1 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included under Item 8 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference, for more information with respect to the Company’s significant accounting policies.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

SFAS No. 141R—Business Combinations: In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Financial Accounting Standard No. 141R (revised 2007), Business Combinations (“SFAS 141R”) to change how an entity accounts for the acquisition of a business. When effective, SFAS 141R will replace existing SFAS 141 in its entirety. SFAS 141R carries forward the existing requirements to account for all business combinations using the acquisition method (formerly called the purchase method). In general, SFAS 141R will require acquisition-date fair value measurement of identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and non-controlling interests in the acquiree. SFAS 141R will eliminate the current cost–based purchase method under SFAS 141.

The new measurement requirements will result in the recognition of the full amount of acquisition-date goodwill, which includes amounts attributable to non-controlling interests. The acquirer will recognize in income any gain or loss on the remeasurement to acquisition-date fair value of consideration transferred or of previously acquired equity interests in the acquiree. Neither the direct costs incurred to effect a business combination nor the costs the acquirer expects to incur under a plan to restructure an acquired business will be included as part of the business combination accounting. As a result, those costs will be charged to expense when incurred, except for debt or equity issuance costs, which will be accounted for in accordance with other generally accepted accounting principles. SFAS 141R will also change the accounting for contingent consideration, in process research and development, contingencies, and restructuring costs. In addition, changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and acquired income tax uncertainties in a business combination that occur after the measurement period will impact income taxes under SFAS 141R.

SFAS 141R is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Early adoption is prohibited. The Company intends to adopt SFAS 141R effective January 1, 2009 and apply its provisions prospectively. The Company currently does not believe that the adoption of SFAS 141R will have a significant effect on its financial statements; however, the effect is dependent upon whether the Company makes any future acquisitions and the specifics of those acquisitions.

SFAS 141R amends the goodwill impairment test requirements in SFAS 142. For a goodwill impairment test as of a date after the effective date of SFAS 141R, the value of the reporting unit and the amount of implied goodwill, calculated in the second step of the test, will be determined in accordance with the measurement and recognition guidance on accounting for business combinations under Statement 141R. This change could effect

 

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the determination of what amount, if any, should be recognized as an impairment loss for goodwill recorded before the effective date of Statement 141R. This accounting will be required when Statement 141R becomes effective (January 1, 2009 for the Company) and applies to goodwill related to acquisitions accounted for originally under SFAS 141 as well as those accounted for under SFAS 141R. The Company has not determined what effect, if any, SFAS 141R will have on the results of its impairment testing subsequent to December 31, 2008.

SFAS No. 157—Fair Value Measurements: In September 2006, the FASB issued Financial Accounting Standard No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, and accordingly, does not require any new fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2008. The Company does not expect SFAS 157 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

SFAS No. 159—The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities: In February 2007, the FASB issued Financial Accounting Standard No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 provides the option to report certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value, with the intent to mitigate volatility in financial reporting that can occur when related assets and liabilities are recorded on different bases. This statement is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2008. The Company does not expect SFAS 159 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

SFAS No. 160—Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements: In December 2007, the FASB issued Financial Accounting Standard No. 160 Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements (“SFAS 160”) an amendment of ARB No. 51. SFAS 160 changes the accounting for, and the financial statement presentation of, non-controlling equity interests in a consolidated subsidiary. SFAS 160 replaces the existing minority-interest provisions of Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) 51, Consolidated Financial Statements, by defining a new term non-controlling interests to replace what were previously called minority interests. The new standard establishes non-controlling interests as a component of the equity of a consolidated entity.

The underlying principle of the new standard is that both the controlling interest and the non-controlling interests are part of the equity of a single economic entity: the consolidated reporting entity. Classifying non-controlling interests as a component of consolidated equity is a change from the current practice of treating minority interests as a mezzanine item between liabilities and equity or as a liability. The change affects both the accounting and financial reporting for non-controlling interests in a consolidated subsidiary.

SFAS 160 includes reporting requirements intended to clearly identify and differentiate the interests of the parent and the interests of the non-controlling owners. The reporting requirements are required to be applied retrospectively. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Early adoption is prohibited.

The Company intends to adopt SFAS 160 effective January 1, 2009 and apply its provisions prospectively. The Company will also present comparative financial statements that reflect the retrospective application of the disclosure and presentation provisions when it applies the requirements of SFAS 160. The Company currently does not believe that the adoption of SFAS 160 will have a material effect on its financial statements.

SAB 110—Share-Based Payment: In December 2007, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB 110”), Share-Based Payment, which amends Staff Accounting Bulletin 107(“SAB 107”), Share-Based Payment, to permit public companies, under certain circumstances, to use the simplified method in SAB 107 for employee option grants after December 31, 2007. Use of the simplified method after December 2007 is permitted only for companies whose historical data about their employees’ exercise behavior does not provide a reasonable basis for estimating the expected term of the options. The Company currently uses the simplified method to estimate the

 

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expected term for employee option grants as adequate historical experience is not available to provide a reasonable estimate. SAB 110 is effective for employee options granted after December 31, 2007. The Company intends to adopt SAB 110 effective January 1, 2008 and continue applying the simplified method until enough historical experience is readily available to provide a reasonable estimate of the expected term for employee option grants.

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risks related to changes in foreign currency exchange risks and interest rates are inherent to the Company’s operations. Changes to these factors could cause fluctuations in the Company’s net earnings, cash flows and the fair values of financial instruments subject to market risks. The Company identifies these risks and mitigates the financial impact with hedging and interest rate swaps.

Debt incurred under a revolving loan agreement with a balance of $14.3 million as of December 31, 2007 is priced at an interest rate that floats with the market. Therefore, this debt is not significantly affected by changes in the interest rate market. Also, the Company has $5.7 million of debt as of December 31, 2007 with a fixed rate of interest. Accordingly, fair value of this fixed-rate debt can be significantly affected by changes in the interest rate market.

The Company’s suppliers are located in China, Hong Kong, Italy, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand. The Company historically has negotiated substantially all of its purchases in U.S. dollars and, in the case of PPL, uses forward contracts to purchase dollars at a fixed exchange rate to the pound sterling. The Company considers opportunities to make purchases in other currencies, such as euros, to the extent that doing so would be advantageous in light of currency fluctuations involving the U.S. dollar and other currencies.

In 2007, approximately 22.1 percent of the Company’s sales were outside the United States, principally in Europe and Canada, compared to 13.4 percent in 2006. The Company minimizes the foreign currency exchange rate risk associated with relationships outside of the United States by conducting nearly all of its transactions in U.S. dollars, except for some billings of its European business, which are conducted in euros and the billings of PPL which are primarily in pound sterling. The Company does not use derivative financial or commodity instruments for trading or speculative purposes, however, forward contracts are occasionally used for hedging a portion of the Company’s European business’ euro denominated transactions and hedging dollar purchases for PPL. Please refer to Note 9 in the consolidated financial statements, included under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference, for further information on the Company’s financial instruments and derivatives. Since the Company did not have any open foreign exchange contracts at December 31, 2007, the impact of a 10 percent movement in the U.S. dollar/pound sterling/euro exchange rates is not applicable.

Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of that term in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 found at Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Additional written or oral forward-looking statements may be made by the Company from time to time in filings with the SEC, press releases, or otherwise. Statements contained in this report that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, projections of revenue, income or loss and capital expenditures, statements regarding future operations, anticipated financing needs, compliance with financial covenants in loan agreements, liquidity, plans for acquisitions or sales of assets or businesses, plans relating to products or services, assessments of materiality, expansion into international markets, growth trends in the consumer electronics business, technological and market developments in the consumer electronics business, the availability of new consumer electronics products and predictions of future events, as well as assumptions relating to these statements. In addition, when used in this report, the words

 

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“anticipates,” “believes,” “should,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans” and variations thereof and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified based on current expectations. Consequently, future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by or underlying the forward-looking statements contained in this report or in other Company filings, press releases, or otherwise. Factors that could contribute to or cause such differences include, but are not limited to, unanticipated developments in any one or more of the following areas:

 

   

global economic and market conditions, including continuation of or changes in the current economic environment;

 

   

ability of the Company to introduce new products to meet consumer needs, including timely introductions as new consumer technologies are introduced, and customer and consumer acceptance of these new product introductions;

 

   

pressure for the Company to reduce prices for older products as newer technologies are introduced;

 

   

significant competition in the consumer electronics business, including introduction of new products and changes in pricing;

 

   

factors related to foreign manufacturing, sourcing and sales (including foreign government regulation, trade and importation, and health and safety concerns, and effects of fluctuation in exchange rates);

 

   

ability of the Company to maintain adequate financing, to bear the interest cost of such financing and to remain in compliance with financing covenants;

 

   

changes in law;

 

   

ability to successfully integrate acquisitions; and

 

   

other risk factors, which may be detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this report, which speak only as of the date set forth on the signature page hereto. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after such date or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

 

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Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Financial statements and quarterly financial data are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as indicated in the index on page 68.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Cobra Electronics Corporation

Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

(In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

     2007     2006     2005

Net sales

   $ 155,935     $ 153,695     $ 133,084

Cost of sales

     124,534       123,742       98,949
                      

Gross profit

     31,401       29,953       34,135

Selling, general and administrative expense

     39,634       32,620       30,614
                      

(Loss) earnings from operations

     (8,233 )     (2,667 )     3,521

Interest expense

     1,655       479       89

Other income

     1,089       63       10,151
                      

(Loss) earnings before income taxes

     (8,799 )     (3,083 )     13,583

Tax (benefit) provision

     (4,396 )     (1,449 )     1,599

Minority interest

     (19 )     4       —  
                      

Net (loss) earnings

   $ (4,422 )   $ (1,630 )   $ 11,984
                      

Net (loss) earnings per common share:

      

Basic

   $ (0.68 )   $ (0.25 )   $ 1.86

Diluted

   $ (0.68 )   $ (0.25 )   $ 1.81

Weighted average shares outstanding:

      

Basic

     6,458       6,482       6,448

Diluted

     6,458       6,482       6,609

Dividends declared and paid per common share

   $ 0.16     $ 0.16     $ —  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Cobra Electronics Corporation

December 31, 2007 and 2006

(In Thousands)

 

     2007     2006  

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash

   $ 1,860     $ 1,878  

Receivables, net of allowance for claims and doubtful accounts of $205 in 2007 and $282 in 2006

     26,804       28,320  

Inventories, primarily finished goods, net

     33,054       29,039  

Deferred income taxes

     8,715       7,196  

Prepaid assets

     1,568       1,964  

Other current assets

     3,338       4,846  
                

Total current assets

     75,339       73,243  

Property, plant and equipment, at cost:

    

Buildings and improvements

     5,442       5,433  

Tooling and equipment

     21,554       20,079  
                
     26,996       25,512  

Accumulated depreciation

     (20,423 )     (18,117 )

Land

     230       230  
                

Property, plant and equipment, net

     6,803       7,625  

Other assets:

    

Cash surrender value of officers’ life insurance policies

     4,280       3,968  

Goodwill

     11,997       11,997  

Intangible assets

     15,559       19,503  

Other assets

     340       422  
                

Total other assets

     32,176       35,890  
                

Total assets

   $ 114,318     $ 116,758  
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (cont.)

Cobra Electronics Corporation

December 31, 2007 and 2006

(In Thousands Except Share Data)

 

     2007     2006  

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ 1,240     $ 1,060  

Accounts payable

     7,273       6,097  

Accrued salaries and commissions

     847       760  

Accrued advertising and sales promotion costs

     2,093       2,292  

Accrued product warranty costs

     3,440       1,963  

Accrued income taxes

     266       1,650  

Other accrued liabilities

     4,505       5,279  
                

Total current liabilities

     19,664       19,101  
                

Non-current liabilities:

    

Long-term bank debt, net of current maturities

     18,745       15,614  

Deferred compensation

     6,320       5,858  

Deferred income taxes

     3,772       5,337  

Other long term liabilities

     679       1,075  
                

Total non-current liabilities

     29,516       27,884  
                

Total liabilities

     49,180       46,985  
                

Commitments and contingencies

     —         —    

Minority Interest

     23       4  

Shareholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock, $1 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized—none issued

     —         —    

Common stock, $.33 1/3 par value, 12,000,000 shares authorized, 7,039,100 issued for 2007 and 2006

     2,345       2,345  

Paid-in capital

     20,101       19,824  

Retained earnings

     46,179       51,584  

Accumulated comprehensive income

     327       11  
                
     68,952       73,764  

Treasury stock, at cost (567,820 shares for 2007 and 605,662 shares for 2006)

     (3,837 )     (3,995 )
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     65,115       69,769  
                

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 114,318     $ 116,758  
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Cobra Electronics Corporation

Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

(In Thousands)

 

     2007     2006     2005  

Cash flows from operating activities:

      

Net (loss) earnings

   $ (4,422 )   $ (1,630 )   $ 11,984  

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) earnings to net cash flows from operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     7,925       5,852       4,844  

Impairment—product software, tooling and packaging

     3,031       2,757       —    

Deferred income taxes

     (3,251 )     (2,503 )     (1,543 )

(Gain) loss on cash surrender value (CSV) life insurance

     (17 )     12       (319 )

Stock-based compensation

     223       48       —    

Gain on ex-officer’s life insurance

     —         —         (7,244 )

(Gain) loss on sale of fixed assets

     —         —         (1,925 )

Net benefit of Horizon agreement

     —         —         (724 )

Gain on deferred compensation payout

     —         —         (299 )

Tax benefit from stock options exercised

     99       12       69  

Minority interest

     (19 )     4       —    

Changes in assets and liabilities:

      

Receivables

     1,629       2,550       (1,632 )

Inventories

     (3,720 )     (4,696 )     (2,407 )

Other current assets

     681       (1,516 )     (4,117 )

Other long term assets

     (2,456 )     1,002       —    

Accounts payable

     1,128       (747 )     543  

Accrued income taxes

     (2,029 )     1,004       (543 )

Accrued liabilities

     843       1,166       527  

Deferred compensation

     463       796       (204 )

Deferred income

     (749 )     (950 )     —    

Other long term liabilities

     (409 )     195       (13 )
                        

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

     (1,050 )     3,356       (3,003 )
                        

Cash flows from investing activities:

      

Capital expenditures

     (1,558 )     (1,623 )     (1,970 )

Implementation of ERP system

     —         —         (1,791 )

Loan receivable

     —         3,374       —    

Intangible assets

     —         (3,448 )     (2,273 )

Premiums on CSV life insurance

     (295 )     (308 )     (288 )

Purchase of Performance Products Limited

     —         (21,898 )     —    

Proceeds on ex-officer’s life insurance

     —         —         11,204  

Proceeds on sale of land

     —         —         2,015  
                        

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (1,853 )     (23,903 )     6,897  
                        

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

Bank borrowings

     3,311       16,674       —    

Dividends paid to shareholders

     (1,031 )     (1,041 )     —    

Repayment of officer’s note receivable

     —         400       —    

Transactions related to exercise of stock options, net

     288       (534 )     306  

Other

     29       —         —    
                        

Net cash provided by financing activities

     2,597       15,499       306  
                        

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     288       222       (96 )
                        

Net (decrease) increase in cash

     (18 )     (4,826 )     4,104  

Cash at beginning of year

     1,878       6,704       2,600  
                        

Cash at end of year

   $ 1,860     $ 1,878     $ 6,704  
                        

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

      

Cash paid during the period for:

      

Interest

   $ 1,873     $ 182     $ 89  

Income taxes, net of refunds

   $ 1,533     $ 377     $ 4,556  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Cobra Electronics Corporation

Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

 

     Common
Stock
   Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Officer’s
Loan
Receivable
    Treasury
Stock
    Total  

Balance—January 1, 2005

   $ 2,345    $ 19,650     $ 42,271     $ (17 )   $ (400 )   $ (3,722 )   $ 60,127  

Comprehensive income (loss):

               

Net earnings

     —        —         11,984       —         —         —         11,984  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss—Foreign currency translation adjustment

     —        —         —         (234 )     —         —         (234 )
                     

Total comprehensive income

                  11,750  

Transactions related to exercise of 44,432 options, net

     —        42       —         —         —         264       306  

Tax benefit from stock options exercised

     —        69       —         —         —         —         69  
                                                       

Balance—December 31, 2005

     2,345      19,761       54,255       (251 )     (400 )     (3,458 )     72,252  

Comprehensive income (loss):

               

Net loss

     —        —         (1,630 )     —         —         —         (1,630 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income—Foreign currency translation adjustment

     —        —         —         262       —         —         262  
                     

Total comprehensive loss

                  (1,368 )

Repayment of loan

     —        —         —         —         400       —         400  

Dividends to shareholders

     —        —         (1,041 )     —         —         —         (1,041 )

Stock compensation expense

     —        48       —         —         —         —         48  

Purchase 65,809 shares of treasury stock

     —        —         —         —         —         (600 )     (600 )

Transactions related to exercise of 10,000 options, net

     —        3       —         —         —         63       66  

Tax benefit from stock options exercised

     —        12       —         —         —         —         12  
                                                       

Balance—December 31, 2006

     2,345      19,824       51,584       11       —         (3,995 )     69,769  

Comprehensive income (loss):

               

Net loss

     —        —         (4,422 )     —         —         —         (4,422 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income—Foreign currency translation adjustment

     —        —         —         227       —         —         227  

Interest rate swap, net of tax expense of $87

     —        —         —         89       —         —         89  
                     

Total comprehensive loss

                  (4,106 )

Dividends to shareholders

     —        —         (1,031 )     —         —         —         (1,031 )

Stock compensation expense

     —        223       —         —         —         —         223  

Other

     —        —         48       —         —         —         48  

Purchase 30,329 shares of treasury stock

     —        —         —         —         —         (292 )     (292 )

Transactions related to exercise of 68,171 options, net

     —        (45 )     —         —         —         450       405  

Tax benefit from stock options exercised

     —        99       —         —         —         —         99  
                                                       

Balance—December 31, 2007

   $ 2,345    $ 20,101     $ 46,179     $ 327     $ —       $ (3,837 )   $ 65,115  
                                                       

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Cobra Electronics Corporation

Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

(1)  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Business—Cobra designs and markets consumer electronics products, which it sells primarily under the Cobra brand name principally in the United States, Canada and Europe. Effective October 20, 2006, the Company acquired Performance Products Limited (“PPL”) which sells its products under the Snooper tradename, principally in the United Kingdom, as well as elsewhere in Europe. A majority of the Company’s products are purchased from overseas suppliers, primarily in China, Hong Kong, Italy, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand. The consumer electronics market is characterized by rapidly changing technology and certain products may have limited life cycles. Management believes that it maintains strong relationships with its current suppliers and that, if necessary, other suppliers could be found. The extent to which a change in a supplier would have an adverse effect on the Company’s business depends on the timing of the change, the product or products that the supplier produces for the Company and the volume of that production. The Company also maintains insurance coverage that would, in certain limited circumstances, reimburse the Company for lost profits resulting from a supplier’s inability to fulfill its commitments to the Company.

Principles of Consolidation—The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Effective October 20, 2006, the consolidated financial statements also include a variable interest entity (“VIE”) of which PPL is the primary beneficiary as further described in Note 7, Variable Interest Entity. The consolidated entities are collectively referred to as the “Company”. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Translation of Foreign Currency—Assets and liabilities of consolidated foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at year-end. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the year. Gains or losses on foreign currency transactions and the related tax effects are reflected in net earnings. The resulting translation adjustments are included in stockholders’ equity as accumulated comprehensive income.

Use of Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period that are largely based on the current business conditions, including economic climate, revenue growth, sales returns rates, net realizable value of returned products and changes in certain working capital amounts. The Company believes its estimates and assumptions are reasonable. However, actual results and the timing of the recognition of such amounts could differ from those estimates.

Accounts Receivable—The majority of the Company’s accounts receivable are due from retailers and two-step distributors. Credit is extended based on an evaluation of a customer’s financial condition, including, at times the availability of credit insurance, and, generally, collateral is not required. Accounts receivable are due within various time periods specified in the terms applicable to the specific customer and are stated at amounts due from customers net of an allowance for claims and doubtful accounts.

The Company determines its allowance by considering a number of factors, including the length of time trade accounts receivable are past due, the Company’s previous loss history, the customer’s current ability to pay its obligation to the Company, availability of credit insurance and the condition of the general economy and the industry as a whole. The Company writes off accounts receivable against the allowance for claims and doubtful accounts when they are judged to be uncollectible, and payments subsequently received on such receivables are credited to customer claims or bad debt expense.

 

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Inventories—Inventories are recorded at the lower of cost, on a first-in, first-out basis, or market.

Advertising and Sales Promotion Expenses—These costs reflect amounts provided to retailers and distributors for advertising and sales promotions and are expensed as incurred. Customer programs, generally agreed to at the beginning of each year, are mainly variable programs dependent on sales and special promotional events and may be revised during the course of the year, based upon a customer’s projected sales and other factors, such as new, or changes to existing, promotional programs. These customer programs are accounted for as either a reduction of revenue or an operating expense in accordance with EITF 01-09, Accounting for Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer (Including a Reseller of the Vendor’s Products). Advertising and sales promotion expenses for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 totaled $9.7 million, $7.5 million and $6.1 million, respectively.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)—The Company reports comprehensive income (loss) under the provisions of Financial Accounting Standard No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income (“SFAS 130”). Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise from transactions and other events from non-owner sources. Comprehensive income (loss) includes net earnings and other non-owner changes in equity that bypass the statement of operations and are reported in a separate component of equity. For the year ended December 31, 2007, other comprehensive loss includes the foreign currency translation adjustment and the net of tax impact of an interest rate swap. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, other comprehensive income includes only the foreign currency translation adjustment.

Concentration of Credit Risk—The Company has evaluated its concentration of credit risk as it applies both to customers and to the institutions with which it places cash investments.

In 2007, net sales to Wal-Mart totaled 14.7 percent of consolidated net sales. In 2006, net sales to Wal-Mart and QVC totaled 17.0 percent and 10.3 percent of consolidated net sales, respectively. In 2005, net sales to Wal-Mart totaled 17.1 percent of consolidated net sales.

The Company believes that its concentration of credit risk as it applies to customers is low due to its broad customer base in all regions of the United States, as well as other areas in North America and Europe. The Company will selectively use credit insurance for certain accounts in light of management’s judgment of credit risk and the expense to acquire such insurance.

The Company places temporary cash investments with institutions of high credit quality. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had approximately $1.9 million ($1.2 million was on deposit in foreign banks) and $1.9 million ($1.6 million was on deposit in foreign banks), respectively, on deposit with such financial institutions, of which $1.8 million and $1.8 million, respectively, were in excess of amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Company performs periodic evaluations of these institutions for relative credit standing and has not experienced any losses as a result of this concentration. Consequently, no significant concentration of credit risk is considered to exist.

Depreciation—Depreciation of buildings, tooling and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives. Building improvements are depreciated using the straight-line method over the lesser of the useful life or the lease term. Depreciation expense totaled $2.3 million for 2007, $1.7 million for 2006, and $1.8 million for 2005.

 

Classification

   Life

Buildings

   30 years

Building improvements

   20 years

Motor vehicles

   2 – 5 years

Equipment

   5 – 10 years

Tools, dies and molds

   1.5 – 4.5 years

 

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Long-Lived Assets—Long-lived assets are reviewed for possible impairment whenever events indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. If such a review indicates impairment, the carrying amount of such assets are reduced to an estimated fair value.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets—Pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (“SFAS 142”), the Company evaluates goodwill for impairment on an annual basis or if impairment indicators exist. For goodwill, the evaluation requires a comparison of the estimated fair value of PPL to which the goodwill has been assigned to the sum of the carrying value of the assets and liabilities of that unit. If the sum of the carrying value of the assets and liabilities of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value of that reporting unit, the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is reduced to its estimated fair value through an adjustment to the goodwill balance, resulting in an impairment charge. The Company tested for the impairment of goodwill as of December 31, 2007 and concluded the asset was not impaired.

The fair values used in the SFAS 142 evaluation are estimated based upon discounted future cash flow projections and to lesser extent comparisons with other companies for which relevant information is available publicly. These cash flow projections are based on a number of assumptions, including risk-adjusted discount rates, future sales volumes, price levels and rates of increase in operating expenses. Management believes that the assumptions made in projecting future cash flows for the evaluations described above are reasonable. However, if future actual results do not meet expectations, the Company may be required to record an impairment charge, the amount of which could be material to its results of operations.

Intangible assets subject to amortization are evaluated for impairment pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets (“SFAS 144”), which requires impairment testing whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an amortizable intangible asset may not be recoverable. If impairment indicators exist for an amortizable intangible asset, the undiscounted future cash flows associated with the expected service potential of the asset are compared to the carrying value of the asset. If the projection of undiscounted future cash flows is in excess of the carrying value of the intangible assets, no impairment charge is recorded. If the projection of undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the intangible asset, an impairment charge is recorded to reduce the intangible asset to its fair value. The Company recorded an impairment charge of $3.0 million and $2.8 million, respectively for years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. The 2007 impairment charge included $2.6 million for product software impairment and $409,000 for the write-down of tooling and prepaid assets. The 2006 impairment charge of $2.8 million was related to product software.

Amortization of intangible assets is computed using the straight-line method over the following weighted average useful lives:

 

Classification

   Life

Internal use software

   3 years

ERP internal software system

   7 years

Trademarks and tradenames

   3 –30 years

Patents

   17 years

Product software (based on product life cycle)

   1 – 3 years

Enigma Database

   5 years

Noncompetition Agreements

   3 years

Customer Relationships

   10 years

Amortization expense relating to intangible assets subject to amortization totaled $3.9 million in 2007, $2.7 million in 2006, and $1.7 million in 2005. Amortization of prepaid assets totaled $1.0 million in 2007, $1.1 million in 2006 and $1.4 million in 2005. Deferred revenue amortization totaled $755,000 in 2007 and $219,000 in 2006.

 

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Research, Engineering and Product Development Expenditures—Research and product development expenditures, as well as the non-capitalized engineering costs, are expensed as incurred and amounted to $2.2 million in 2007, $1.9 million in 2006 and $1.8 million in 2005. Beginning in 2005, certain engineering costs associated with the development of mobile navigation products were capitalized in accordance with SFAS No. 86.

Shipping & Handling—Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of goods sold, and the amounts invoiced to customers relating to shipping and handling are included in net sales.

Software Related to Products Sold—The Company purchases and/or incurs costs in connection with the development of software to be used in products that the Company intends to sell, mainly mobile navigation products. Such costs are capitalized and deferred as intangible assets in accordance with SFAS No. 86, Accounting for Costs of Computer Software to be Sold, Leased or Otherwise Marketed (“SFAS 86”). Such costs consist of expenditures incurred after technological feasibility of the software has been established and a working model of the product developed and consist principally of coding and related costs. Such costs are charged to earnings based on the ratio of actual product sales during the reporting period to expected product sales over the estimated product life cycle. In 2005, certain engineering costs associated with the development of mobile navigation products were capitalized in accordance with SFAS 86, as Cobra expanded its internal capabilities and reduced its reliance on outside contractors. Software related intangible assets are reviewed at each balance sheet date for possible impairment as required by paragraph 10 of SFAS 86, and, accordingly, if such review indicates that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable, the carrying amount is reduced to the estimated fair value.

ERP System Costs—The Company capitalizes certain costs associated with ERP software developed or obtained for internal use in accordance with Statement of Position No. 98-1, “Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use.” The Company’s policy provides for the capitalization of external direct costs of materials and services associated with developing or obtaining internal use ERP software. Capitalized costs are classified as intangible assets. Costs associated with preliminary project activities and training are expensed as incurred. Capitalized costs related to ERP software developed or obtained for internal use are amortized over a seven year period on a straight-line basis when the relevant ERP software is placed in service. Capitalized costs are classified as intangible assets.

Revenue Recognition—Revenue from the sale of goods is recognized at the time of shipment, except for revenue from sales of products to certain of those customers whose contractual terms specify FOB destination. Revenue from sales of products to these customers is recognized at the estimated time of receipt by the customer (estimated based on the average shipping time for all such customers), when title and risk of loss would pass to the customer. Obligations for sales returns and allowances and product warranties are recognized at the time of sale on an accrual basis.

Deferred Income—PPL’s balance sheet includes current and long-term income for prepaid customer download fees related to subscriptions to its Enigma database (most commonly estimated for 2.5 years of service) that will be recognized throughout 2007 and 2008. At December 31, 2007 and 2006 current deferred income totaled $1.6 million and $857,000, respectively, and the long-term deferred income totaled $515,000 and $708,000, respectively. The current deferred income is classified as other accrued liabilities and the long-term deferred income is classified as other long-term liabilities on the balance sheet.

Reclassifications—Certain reclassifications have been made for the periods presented in the consolidated financial statements to conform to the classifications adopted in 2007.

 

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(2)  New Accounting Standards

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

SFAS No. 141R—Business Combinations: In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Financial Accounting Standard No. 141R (revised 2007), Business Combinations (“SFAS 141R”) to change how an entity accounts for the acquisition of a business. When effective, SFAS 141R will replace existing SFAS 141 in its entirety. SFAS 141R carries forward the existing requirements to account for all business combinations using the acquisition method (formerly called the purchase method). In general, Statement 141R will require acquisition-date fair value measurement of identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and non-controlling interests in the acquiree. SFAS 141R will eliminate the current cost–based purchase method under Statement 141.

The new measurement requirements will result in the recognition of the full amount of acquisition-date goodwill, which includes amounts attributable to non-controlling interests. The acquirer will recognize in income any gain or loss on the remeasurement to acquisition-date fair value of consideration transferred or of previously acquired equity interests in the acquiree. Neither the direct costs incurred to effect a business combination nor the costs the acquirer expects to incur under a plan to restructure an acquired business will be included as part of the business combination accounting. As a result, those costs will be charged to expense when incurred, except for debt or equity issuance costs, which will be accounted for in accordance with other generally accepted accounting principles. SFAS 141R will also change the accounting for contingent consideration, in process research and development, contingencies, and restructuring costs. In addition, changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and acquired income tax uncertainties in a business combination that occur after the measurement period will impact income taxes under SFAS 141R.

SFAS 141R is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Early adoption is prohibited. The Company intends to adopt SFAS 141R effective January 1, 2009 and apply its provisions prospectively. The Company currently does not believe that the adoption of SFAS 141R will have a significant effect on its financial statements; however, the effect is dependent upon whether the company makes any future acquisitions and the specifics of those acquisitions.

SFAS 141R amends the goodwill impairment test requirements in SFAS 142. For a goodwill impairment test as of a date after the effective date of SFAS 141R, the value of the reporting unit and the amount of implied goodwill, calculated in the second step of the test, will be determined in accordance with the measurement and recognition guidance on accounting for business combinations under Statement 141R. This change could effect the determination of what amount, if any, should be recognized as an impairment loss for goodwill recorded before the effective date of Statement 141R. This accounting will be required when Statement 141R becomes effective (January 1, 2009 for the Company) and applies to goodwill related to acquisitions accounted for originally under SFAS 141 as well as those accounted for under SFAS 141R. The Company has not determined what effect, if any, SFAS 141R will have on the results of its impairment testing subsequent to December 31, 2008.

SFAS No. 157—Fair Value Measurements: In September 2006, the FASB issued Financial Accounting Standard No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, and accordingly, does not require any new fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2008. The Company does not expect SFAS 157 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

SFAS No. 159—The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities: In February 2007, the FASB issued Financial Accounting Standard No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 provides the option to report certain financial assets and liabilities at fair

 

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value, with the intent to mitigate volatility in financial reporting that can occur when related assets and liabilities are recorded on different bases. This statement is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2008. The Company does not expect SFAS 159 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

SFAS No. 160—Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements: In December 2007, the FASB issued Financial Accounting Standard No. 160, Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements (“SFAS 160”) an amendment of ARB No. 51. The new Statement changes the accounting for, and the financial statement presentation of, non-controlling equity interests in a consolidated subsidiary. SFAS 160 replaces the existing minority-interest provisions of Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) 51, Consolidated Financial Statements, by defining a new term non-controlling interests to replace what were previously called minority interests. The new standard establishes non-controlling interests as a component of the equity of a consolidated entity.

The underlying principle of the new standard is that both the controlling interest and the non-controlling interests are part of the equity of a single economic entity: the consolidated reporting entity. Classifying non-controlling interests as a component of consolidated equity is a change from the current practice of treating minority interests as a mezzanine item between liabilities and equity or as a liability. The change affects both the accounting and financial reporting for non-controlling interests in a consolidated subsidiary. SFAS 160 includes reporting requirements intended to clearly identify and differentiate the interests of the parent and the interests of the non-controlling owners. The reporting requirements are required to be applied retrospectively.

SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Early adoption is prohibited. The Company intends to adopt SFAS 160 effective January 1, 2009 and apply its provisions prospectively. The Company will also present comparative financial statements that reflect the retrospective application of the disclosure and presentation provisions when it applies the requirements of Statement 160. The Company currently does not believe that the adoption of SFAS 160 will have a material effect on its financial statements.

SAB 110—Share-Based Payment: In December 2007, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 110, Share-Based Payment, which amends SAB 107, Share-Based Payment, to permit public companies, under certain circumstances, to use the simplified method in SAB 107 for employee option grants after December 31, 2007. Use of the simplified method after December 2007 is permitted only for companies whose historical data about their employees’ exercise behavior does not provide a reasonable basis for estimating the expected term of the options. The Company currently uses the simplified method to estimate the expected term for employee option grants as adequate historical experience is not available to provide a reasonable estimate. SAB 110 is effective for employee options granted after December 31, 2007. The Company intends to adopt SAB 110 effective January 1, 2008 and continue applying the simplified method until enough historical experience is readily available to provide a reasonable estimate of the expected term for employee option grants.

 

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(3)  Acquisition of Performance Products Limited

On October 20, 2006, Cobra Electronics UK Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cobra Electronics Corporation completed the acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital of PPL. PPL is a provider of GPS-enabled speed camera detection systems and personal navigation devices to consumers and retail locations based in the United Kingdom, as well as other locations in Europe.

Under the acquisition agreement, the purchase price for the issued share capital of PPL consisted of $21.2 million paid in cash at the closing of the transaction. The former shareholders of PPL were eligible to receive additional cash consideration of up to approximately $6.5 million based on the achievement of certain performance targets by PPL for the twelve-month period ended March 31, 2007 (the first earn-out period) and up to approximately $9.4 million for the fourteen-month period ended May 31, 2008 (the second earn-out period). No additional consideration was paid to the former shareholders for the first earn-out period; the former shareholders are eligible to recapture all or a portion of the first earn-out payment should the performance in the second earn-out period exceed the performance targets established for the payment of the entire second earn-out. Additionally, the former shareholders could earn additional consideration if the performance of PPL exceeds certain cumulative targets for the combined earn-out periods.

The acquisition was funded from borrowings under an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement between LaSalle Bank, National Association as agent for the lenders, and the Company dated October 19, 2006. (Refer to Note 8 on Financing Arrangements.)

The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition (in thousands):

 

Accounts receivable    $ 2,080  

Inventory

     2,343  

Other current assets

     760  

Property, plant & equipment

     1,062  

Intangible assets

     11,816  

Goodwill

     11,997  
        

Total assets acquired

     30,058  
        

Accounts payable

     1,530  

Deferred income

     616  

Other current liabilities

     1,660  

Deferred income—long-term

     344  

Deferred income taxes

     4,010  
        

Total liabilities assumed

     8,160  
        

Net assets acquired

   $ 21,898  
        

PURCHASE PRICE RECAP:

  

Cash

   $ 21,209  

Assumed debt

     36  

Direct acquisition costs

     1,831  

Working capital adjustment

     (1,178 )
        

Total purchase price

   $ 21,898  
        

 

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Unaudited Pro Forma Information

The following unaudited pro forma information shows the results of Cobra’s operations for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 as though the acquisition of PPL occurred as of January 1, 2005.

 

     2006     2005
    

(in thousands, except

per share amounts)

Total revenue

   $ 164,469     $ 147,064

Net (loss) earnings

     (3,700 )     9,841

Net (loss) earnings per common share

    

Basic

   $ (0.57 )   $ 1.53

Diluted

   $ (0.57 )   $ 1.49

The pro forma results have been prepared for comparative purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of the actual results of operations had the acquisition taken place as of January 1, 2005, or the results that may occur in the future. Furthermore, the pro forma results do not give effect to the cost savings or incremental costs that may occur as a result of the integration and consolidation of the acquisition.

 

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(4)  Segment Information

The Company operates in two business segments (1) Cobra Consumer Electronics (“Cobra”) and (2) Performance Products Limited (“PPL”). The Cobra segment is comprised of Cobra Electronics Corporation, Cobra Hong Kong Limited (“CHK”) and Cobra Electronics Europe Limited (“CEEL”). The Company has separate sales departments and distribution channels for each segment, which provide all segment exclusive product lines to all customers for that segment. Currently, there are no intersegment sales.

The tabular presentation below sets forth certain financial information regarding the Company’s net sales and long-lived assets by geographic area for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 (in thousands).

 

     Year Ended December 31
     2007    2006    2005
     (in thousands)

Net sales

        

Domestic

   $ 121,459    $ 133,141    $ 115,110

International

     34,476      20,554      17,974

Long-lived assets

        

Domestic

   $ 14,976    $ 18,345    $ 19,219

International

     24,003      25,170      2,227

The tabular presentation below summarizes the financial information by business segment for the year ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. PPL was acquired on October 20, 2006 and the results for 2006 only reflect operations subsequent to that date.

 

     Year ended December 31, 2007     Year ended December 31, 2006  
     COBRA     PPL     TOTAL     COBRA     PPL     TOTAL  
     (in thousands)  

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

                                    

Net sales

   $ 141,180     $ 14,755     $ 155,935     $ 150,974     $ 2,721     $ 153,695  

Cost of sales

     115,734       8,800       124,534       122,325       1,417       123,742  
                                                

Gross profit

     25,446       5,955       31,401       28,649       1,304       29,953  

Selling, general and administrative expense

     33,820       5,814       39,634       31,008       1,612       32,620  
                                                

(Loss) earnings from from operations

     (8,374 )     141       (8,233 )     (2,359 )     (308 )     (2,667 )

Interest expense

     1,619       36       1,655       474       5       479  

Other income (expense)

     410       679       1,089       330       (267 )     63  
                                                

(Loss) income before income taxes

     (9,583 )     784       (8,799 )     (2,503 )     (580 )     (3,083 )

Tax benefit

     (4,033 )     (363 )     (4,396 )     (1,261 )     (188 )     (1,449 )

Minority interest

     —         (19 )     (19 )     —         4       4  
                                                

Net (loss) earnings

   $ (5,550 )   $ 1,128     $ (4,422 )   $ (1,242 )   $ (388 )   $ (1,630 )
                                                

 

     December 31, 2007    December 31, 2006
     COBRA    PPL    TOTAL    COBRA    PPL    TOTAL
     (in thousands)

BALANCE SHEET

                             

Capital expenditures

   $ 1,198    $ 360    $ 1,558    $ 1,572    $ 51    $ 1,623

Depreciation and amortization

     5,496      2,429      7,925      5,326      526      5,852

Impairment

     3,031      —        3,031      2,757      —        2,757

Long-lived assets

     15,376      23,603      38,979      18,644      24,871      43,515

Total assets

     82,294      32,024      114,318      84,572      32,186      116,758

 

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(5)  Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, (“SFAS 109”) as clarified by FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN 48”). Under this method, deferred income taxes are determined based on the estimated future tax effects of differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities given the provisions of enacted tax laws. Deferred income tax provisions and benefits are based on changes to the assets or liabilities from year to year. In providing for deferred taxes, the Company considers tax regulations of the jurisdictions in which it operates, estimates of future taxable income and available tax planning strategies. If tax regulations, operating results or the ability to implement tax planning and strategies vary, adjustments to the carrying value of deferred tax assets and liabilities may be required. Valuation allowances are recorded related to deferred tax assets based on the “more likely than not” criteria of SFAS 109.

The (benefit) provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 consists of :

 

     2007     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

Current (Benefit) Provision:

      

Federal

   $ (1,459 )   $ 844     $ 2,404  

State

     (296 )     152       738  

Foreign

     443       58       —    
                        
     (1,312 )     1,054       3,142  
                        

Deferred Benefit

      

Federal

     (1,915 )     (1,964 )     (1,322 )

State

     (398 )     (309 )     (221 )

Foreign

     (771 )     (230 )     —    
                        
     (3,084 )     (2,503 )     (1,543 )
                        

Total

   $ (4,396 )   $ (1,449 )   $ 1,599  
                        

A summary of the pre-tax earnings (loss) and tax provision (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 by major taxing jurisdiction follows:

 

     2007     2006     2005
     Pre-Tax
Income (Loss)
    Tax Provision
(Benefit)
    Pre-Tax
Income (Loss)
    Tax Provision
(Benefit)
    Pre-Tax
Income (Loss)
    Tax Provision
(Benefit)
     (in thousands)

United States

   $ (10,866 )   $ (4,068 )   $ (2,606 )   $ (1,281 )   $ 13,597     $ 1,599

Foreign

     2,067       (328 )     (477 )     (168 )     (14 )     —  
                                              

Total

   $ (8,799 )   $ (4,396 )   $ (3,083 )   $ (1,449 )   $ 13,583     $ 1,599
                                              

The statutory federal income tax rate (34%) is reconciled to the effective income tax rate as follows:

 

     2007     2006     2005  

Income taxes at statutory federal income tax rate

   (34.0 )%   (34.0 )%   34.0 %

State taxes, net of federal income tax benefit

   (4.9 )   (2.6 )   4.2  

Foreign operations

   (8.1 )   (5.1 )   (0.2 )

R & D credit

   (1.0 )   (13.0 )   (7.6 )

Valuation allowance

   (3.6 )   4.3     —    

Permanent items

   0.9     2.0     1.8  

Other

   0.7     1.4     0.9  

Life insurance proceeds

   —       —       (21.3 )
                  

Effective tax rate

   (50.0 )%   (47.0 )%   11.8 %
                  

 

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Deferred tax assets and liabilities by type at December 31, 2007 and 2006 are as follows:

 

     2007     2006  
     (in thousands)  

Deferred tax assets:

    

Sales/receivable reserves

   $ 935     $ 1,259  

Inventory reserves

     2,604       1,860  

Compensation reserves

     2,506       2,298  

Accrued promotion expenses

     759       847  

Warranty reserves

     1,284       746  

Property, plant and equipment

     527       508  

AMT credit carry-forward

     714       857  

R & D expenditures

     145       —    

Net operating loss carry-forward

     —         315  
                

Deferred tax assets

     9,474       8,690  

Less: Valuation allowance

     —         (315 )
                

Deferred tax assets, net of allowance

     9,474       8,375  

Deferred tax liabilities:

    

Tax basis difference on PPL assets acquired

     (3,188 )     (3,959 )

R & D expenditures

     —         (933 )

Prepaid expenses

     (541 )     (653 )

Other

     (802 )     (971 )
                

Deferred tax liabilities

     (4,531 )     (6,516 )
                

Net deferred tax asset

   $ 4,943     $ 1,859  
                

Reconciliation of deferred tax to Consolidated Balance Sheets:

 

Current Assets:

    

Deferred income taxes

   $ 8,715     $ 7,196  

Non-Current Liabilities:

    

Deferred income taxes

     (3,772 )     (5,337 )
                

Net deferred tax asset

   $ 4,943     $ 1,859  
                

At December 31, 2007, the Company had an AMT credit carry forward of $714,000, which does not expire, to offset against future income tax payments.

A deferred tax valuation allowance was not required at December 31, 2007. During 2007, the valuation allowance for CEEL’s net operating loss carry-forward was reversed. The net change in the total valuation allowance during the year was $315,000. The Company carried back $1.5 million of net operating losses in 2007.

Uncertain Tax Positions

The Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes on January 1, 2007. FIN 48 clarifies SFAS No. 109 Accounting for Income Taxes by providing the criteria a tax position must satisfy for some or all the tax benefit to be recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and determination of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on

derecognition, classification, interest, penalties, disclosure, transition and accounting in interim periods. The adoption of FIN 48 resulted in an unrecognized tax benefit of $233,000 and $29,000 decrease in the unrecognized tax liability was recorded as an increase to retained earnings as of January 1, 2007. Interest and penalties are included in the income tax expense.

 

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Interest and penalties are included in the income tax expense. During the year ended December 31, 2007, the impact of interest and penalties on the statement of operations was a net decrease in accrued interest expense of $4,000 and a net decrease in accrued penalties of $1,000. At December 31, 2007 the Company has accrued $6,000 for the payment of interest and $5,000 for the payment of penalties.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the unrecognized tax benefit follows (in thousands):

 

Balance at January 1, 2007

   $  221  

Additions for current year tax positions

     36  

Reductions for prior years’ tax positions

     (31 )

Decreases for prior years’ tax positions due to settlements with taxing authorities

     (79 )

Decreases for prior years’ tax positions due to lapse of statute of limitations

     (54 )
        

Balance at December 31, 2007

   $ 93  
        

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the effective tax rate if recognized is $89,000. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits is not expected to significantly change in the next twelve months.

The federal tax returns for the 2004 to 2006 tax years remain open to examination. State tax returns for the 1999 to 2006 tax years remain open to examination by certain tax jurisdictions. The major foreign jurisdictions where Cobra files tax returns are the United Kingdom and Ireland. The 2005 and 2006 tax years are open to examination in those foreign jurisdictions.

 

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(6)   Mobile Navigation Strategy Change

On December 12, 2007, the Company announced its decision to change its North American mobile navigation strategy, which the Company estimated at that time would result in a charge to earnings for the fourth quarter of 2007 of approximately $7.4 million to $7.7 million. The future development of mass market mobile navigation products in North America will be limited to unique mobile navigation products sold into niche markets with specialized and focused distribution and employing lower cost sourcing arrangements by utilizing the platform of the Company’s PPL subsidiary or that of other qualified vendors.

As a result of this strategy change, the Company concluded that substantially all of its intellectual property associated with its proprietary mobile navigation platform was impaired and that additional reserves would be required for the write-down of certain mobile navigation inventory to estimated net realizable value and for the disposition of future product returns by means other than returning them to vendors for credit against new products. The Company also expected that certain other costs would be incurred, primarily employee termination costs and the write down of the carrying costs of certain parts and unamortized tooling, packaging and outside design related to mobile navigation products. The total costs of that asset impairment, inventory write-down and disposal and other costs resulted in a fourth quarter 2007 charge against earnings of $7.7 million is as follows:

 

Year Ended December 31, 2007

Description

   Amount
     (in thousands)

Product warranty and liquidation reserves

   $ 3,008

Product software impairment

     2,622

Tooling, packaging and parts write-downs

     1,243

Inventory write-downs

     676
      

Charged to cost of sales

     7,549
      

Severance

     83

Prepaid write-offs

     50
      

Charged to SG&A

     133
      

Total

   $ 7,682
      

The employee terminations resulting from the mobile navigation strategy change resulted in a $83,000 severance-related charge in the fourth quarter of 2007. A roll-forward of the severance liability follows:

 

Year Ended December 31, 2007

Description

   Amount
     (in thousands)

Accrued severance, January 1

   $ —  

Severance charge for 2007

     83
      

Accrued severance, December 31

   $ 83
      

(7)  Variable Interest Entity

Effective with the acquisition of PPL on October 20, 2006, the Company applied FASB Interpretation No. 46R, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities”, which is an interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements” (“ARB 51”). FIN 46R addresses the application of ARB 51 to variable interest entities (“VIE”), and generally requires that assets, liabilities and results of activity of a VIE be consolidated into the financial statements of the enterprise that is considered the primary beneficiary.

The Company’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 reflect the consolidation of a joint venture, Performance Products Nordic (“PPN”) in which PPL owns a 43% equity interest at December 31, 2007. This entity serves as PPL’s strategic marketer for the Nordic countries. Additionally, PPL had an outstanding

 

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loan to PPN of approximately $57,000 as of December 31, 2007. PPN had no other significant outstanding debt as of December 31, 2007 and has reported a cumulative net operating profit in its short history. Thus, PPN was determined to be a variable interest entity for which PPL was determined to be the primary beneficiary under FIN46R.

For the year ended December 31, 2007, the consolidation of PPN added approximately $96,000 to the Company’s net sales and increased the Company’s net earnings by approximately $6,000. As of December 31, 2007, the fair value of the assets of this joint venture was approximately $107,000 and the fair values of the associated liabilities and non-controlling interests totaled approximately $100,000.

The liabilities of PPN do not represent additional claims on the Company’s general assets; rather they represent claims against the specific assets of PPN. Likewise, the assets of PPN do not represent additional assets available to satisfy claims against the Company’s general assets. To offset the credit risk associated with the Company’s variable interest in PPN, the Company has full claim to an accumulation of 12.5 percent of profits deposited to a loan redemption reserve on a quarterly basis, and if necessary, a proportionate percentage of the majority stockholder’s shares of stock for any loan losses.

(8)  Financing Arrangements

On January 31, 2002, the Company executed a three-year revolving credit agreement with three financial institutions, including LaSalle Bank National Association, as agent. In November 2005, the term of the agreement was amended to January 31, 2007. In October 2006, in connection with the PPL acquisition, the agreement was amended and restated for a five-year term and maximum loan limit of $53.6 million, including the $40 million revolver, a $7.0 million Term Loan and a $6.6 million delayed draw term loan. The delayed draw term loan was never activated and terminated in June 2007. Borrowings under the agreement were secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company.

The amended and restated loan agreement as of December 31, 2007 contained covenants on the following: tangible net worth, capital expenditures, EBITDA, Debt/EBITDA ratio, fixed charge coverage ratio, foreign investments and loans to PPL. During the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company did not meet the covenants for the debt/EBITDA ratio and fixed coverage ratio. However, the lenders agreed to waive the non-compliance as of December 31, 2007.

At December 31, 2007, the Company had interest bearing debt outstanding of $20.0 million, consisting of the $5.7 million term loan and $14.3 million borrowed under the revolving credit facility in the Company’s previous credit agreement. As of December 31, 2007, availability was approximately $17.9 million under the revolving credit facility based on the borrowing base formula.

Maximum borrowings outstanding at any month end were $27.4 million and $19.4 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively. Aggregate average daily borrowings outstanding were $19 million during 2007 and $4.4 million during 2006, with weighted average interest rates thereon of 7.8 percent and 8.1 percent, for 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Aggregate principal repayments of long-term debt excluding payments on capital lease obligations over the next five years as of December 31, 2007 are as follows:

 

Year

   Term
Loan
   Revolver    Total
        
     (in thousands)

2008

   $ 1,240    $ —      $ 1,240

2009

     1,370      —        1,370

2010

     1,760      —        1,760

2011

     1,320      14,295      15,615
                    
   $ 5,690    $ 14,295    $ 19,985
                    

 

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On February 15, 2008, the Company entered into the Loan and Security Agreement (the “LSA”) with The Private Bank and Trust Company, as lender and agent, and RBS Citizens, N.A. for a $5.7 million term loan facility and a $40 million revolving credit facility, both of which mature on October 19, 2011. Borrowings under the term loan were used to pay off the balance and close the term loan from the Company’s previous credit agreement. Borrowings under the new revolving credit facility were used to pay off and close the previous revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes. The LSA replaced the Company’s previous credit agreement.

Interest under the LSA is calculated based on the base rate (Prime or the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5 percent per annum) or LIBOR, at the Company’s option, plus an applicable margin. The margin, which is currently 0.25 percent for the base rate loan and 1.75 percent for LIBOR loans, is determined based on the Company’s total debt to EBITDA ratio tested quarterly, commencing as of June 30, 2008. The revolving credit facility under the LSA is also subject to an unused line fee of 0.25 percent. Borrowings under the LSA are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company except for equity interests in non-US subsidiaries.

The LSA allows the Company to pay dividends, repurchase its stock and pay earn-out proceeds associated with the acquisition of PPL up to $2.5 million during any calendar year. If the second earn-out payment to the former shareholders of PPL exceeds $1.5 million, the Company will request a covenant waiver from its lenders. Availability under the revolver is calculated based on a borrowing base formula including 75 percent of eligible accounts receivable, 60 percent of eligible inventory and 60 percent of open trade letters of credit, but it can be subject to reserves at the lenders discretion. Excess availability must be at least $3 million at all times. The LSA contains certain financial and other covenants including a fixed charge coverage ratio and a debt to EBITDA ratio. The term loan is subject to quarterly installment payments and mandatory prepayments based on certain asset sales and issuance of equity or debt.

(9)  Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Derivatives

The Company’s financial instruments include cash, cash surrender value of officers’ life insurance policies, accounts receivable, accounts payable, current portion of long-term debt, long-term debt and letters of credit. The carrying values of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. The carrying amounts of the Company’s bank borrowings under its credit facility approximate fair value because the interest rates are reset periodically to reflect current market rates. The letters of credit reflect fair value as a condition of their underlying purpose and are subject to fees competitively determined in the marketplace. The contract value/fair value of the letters of credit at December 31, 2007 was $3.6 million and at December 31, 2006 was $3.7 million. These letters of credit are only executed with major financial institutions, and full performance is anticipated.

The Company operates globally with various manufacturing and distribution facilities. The Company may reduce its exposure to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates by creating offsetting positions through derivative financial instruments. The Company currently does not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The Company regularly monitors foreign exchange exposures and ensures hedge contract amounts do not exceed the amounts of the underlying exposures.

The Company’s current hedging activity is limited to foreign currency purchases and an interest rate swap. The purpose of the foreign currency hedging activities is to protect the Company from the risk that eventual settlement of foreign currency transactions will be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates. The purpose of the interest rate swap is to fix the interest rate for the term of the revolving loan, thereby protecting the Company from future interest rate increases.

The Company hedges foreign exchange exposures by entering into various short-term foreign exchange forward contracts. Under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” the instruments are carried at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of current liabilities.

 

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Changes in the fair value of foreign exchange forward contracts that meet the applicable hedging criteria of SFAS No. 133 are recorded as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Changes in the fair value of foreign exchange forward contracts that do not meet the applicable hedging criteria of SFAS No. 133 are recorded currently in income as cost of sales. Hedging activities did not have a material impact on results of operations or financial condition during the year ended December 31, 2007. At December 31, 2007, the Company did not have any open foreign exchange contracts for U.S. dollars, pound sterling or euros. The carrying value of the interest rate swap, net of tax, totaled $89,000 at December 31, 2007.

(10)  Lease Transactions

The Company leases facilities and equipment under non-cancelable leases with remaining terms of one year or more. The terms of the agreements provide that the Company will pay certain operating expenses. The capital lease provides the Company with the option to purchase the related asset at the end of the respective initial lease terms. The gross amount and accumulated amortization of the capital lease at December 31, 2007 was $317,000 and $238,000, respectively. The present value of the capital lease was $90,000, less interest of $11,000.

Total minimum rental amounts committed in future years as of December 31, 2007 are as follows:

 

     Operating
Lease
   Capital
Lease
   Total
        
     (in thousands)

2008

   $ 534    $ 72    $ 606

2009

     534      18      552

2010

     496      —        496

2011

     217      —        217

2012

     217      —        217

Thereafter

     849      —        849
                    

Total

   $ 2,847    $ 90    $ 2,937
                    

Total rental expense amounted to $658,000 in 2007, $466,000 in 2006 and $386,000 in 2005.

(11)  Shareholders’ Equity

Preferred Stock—Preferred stock is issuable at anytime in one or more series, each of which may have such voting powers, designations, preferences, relative participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such stock adopted by the Board of Directors. The Company has designated 120,000 of the 1 million authorized shares of preferred stock as Series A Junior Participating preferred stock. No preferred stock has been issued.

 

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(12)  Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per common share are reported in conformity with Financial Accounting Standard No. 128, Earnings per Share (“SFAS 128”). Basic earnings per share excludes any dilution and is computed by dividing net earnings available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock resulted in the issuance of common stock. If the common stock equivalents have an anti-dilutive effect, they are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share.

Earnings Per Share

 

     2007     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

Basic (loss) earnings per share:

      

Net (loss) earnings available to common shareholders

   $ (4,422 )   $ (1,630 )   $ 11,984  

Weighted-average shares outstanding

     6,458       6,482       6,448  
                        

Basic (loss) earnings per share

   $ (0.68 )   $ (0.25 )   $ 1.86  
                        

Diluted (loss) earnings per share:

      

Weighted-average shares outstanding

     6,458       6,482       6,448  

Dilutive shares issuable in connection with stock option plans (a)

     —         —         590  

Less: shares purchasable with option proceeds

     —         —         (429 )
                        

Total

     6,458       6,482       6,609  
                        

Diluted (loss) earnings per share

   $ (0.68 )   $ (0.25 )   $ 1.81  
                        

 

(a) Stock options to purchase 478 and 591 shares were not included in the calculation for diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, as their effect would have been antidilutive.

 

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(13)  Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has equity-based compensation plans from which stock-based compensation awards can be granted to eligible employees, officers or directors.

Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for its equity-based awards in accordance with the recognition and measurement provisions of APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”), and related interpretations, as permitted by SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS No. 123”). The Company did not recognize stock-based compensation cost in its Consolidated Statement of Operations prior to January 1, 2006, since the options granted had an exercise price equal to the market value of the common stock on the grant date.

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provision of SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”) using the modified-prospective-transition method. Under this transition method, compensation cost recognized includes compensation costs for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not vested as of January 1, 2006 based on the fair value at grant date estimated in accordance with SFAS 123R. The Company awarded stock-based compensation to employees, officers or directors during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2007. The stock-based compensation expense for the twelve months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 totaled $223,000 and $48,000, respectively. In accordance with SFAS 123R, results for 2005 and prior years have not been restated.

The Company estimates the fair value of the stock option on the grant date using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model and assumptions for expected price volatility, option term and risk-free interest rate. Expected price volatilities are based on historical volatilities of the Company’s stock. The expected option term is derived from historical data on exercise behavior. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The assumptions at December 31, 2007 and 2006 are shown in the following table:

 

     2007    2006

Risk-free interest rate

   4.0 – 4.6%    4.0 – 4.3%

Expected life

   10 years    10 years

Expected volatility

   40 – 43%    41 – 43%

The effect on earnings and earnings per share if the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123R were applied to the twelve months ending December 31, 2005 is shown in the following table (in thousands):

 

Net earnings, as reported

   $ 11,984  

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation determined under fair value method based method for all awards, net of related tax

     (68 )
        

Pro-forma net earnings

   $ 11,916  
        

Net earnings per common share:

  

Basic—as reported

   $ 1.86  

Basic—pro forma

   $ 1.85  

Diluted—as reported

   $ 1.81  

Diluted—pro forma

   $ 1.80  

The Company has six Stock Option Plans—2002 Outside Directors Plan, 2000 Outside Directors Plan, 2000, 1998, 1997 and 1995 (“the Plans”). The Company’s 1997 and 1995 plans were terminated in accordance with the respective plan terms on March 13, 2007 and March 17, 2005. Under the terms of the Plans, the consideration received by the Company upon exercise of the options may be paid in cash or by the surrender and delivery to the

 

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Company of previously owned shares of its common stock, or by a combination thereof. The optionee is credited with the fair market value of any stock surrendered and delivered as of the exercise date. Options become exercisable in annual 25 percent increments commencing twelve months after the date of grant.

A summary of certain provisions and amounts related to the Plans follows (in thousands):

 

     2002
Plan
   2000
Plans
   1998
Plan
   1997
Plan
   1995
Plan
     (in thousands)

Authorized, unissued shares originally available for grant

   25    325    310    300    300

Granted

   6    312    310    300    300

Shares available for grant at December 31, 2007

   19    13    —      —      —  

Options exercisable at December 31, 2007

   6    144    261    40    30

A summary of the status of the Plans as of December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, and changes during the years ended on those dates is presented below:

 

    2007   2006   2005
    Shares
(000)
    Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
  Shares
(000)
    Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
  Shares
(000)
    Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

Fixed Options

           

Outstanding at beginning of year

  591     $ 6.13   601     $ 6.14   650     $ 6.19

Granted

  195       10.78   —         10       7.56

Exercised

  (68 )     5.92   (10 )     6.56   (44 )     6.88

Cancellations and expirations

  (34 )     —         —     (15 )  
                       

Outstanding at end of year

  684       7.50   591       6.13   601       6.14

Options exercisable at year end

  481       576       554    

Weighted-average fair value of options granted during the year

    $ 5.23     $ —       $ 4.49

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2007:

 

     Options Outstanding    Options Exercisable

Range of

Exercise Price

   Number
Exercisable
(000)
   Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
   Number
Exercisable
(000)
   Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

$4.01 to $5.00

   52    $ 4.13    1.6    52    $ 4.13

$5.01 to $6.00

   158      5.63    0.7    158      5.63

$6.01 to $7.00

   146      6.35    2.8    146      6.35

$7.01 to $8.00

   116      7.23    4.1    111      7.22

$8.01 to $9.00

   7      8.39    4.2    7      8.39

$9.01 to $10.00

   10      9.55    6.1    7      9.55

$10.01 to $11.00

   195      10.78    9.2    —        —  
                  

Total

   684    $ 7.50       481    $ 6.16
                  

The remaining unused portion of granted stock options of $811,000 will be recognized as stock compensation cost over the next four years

 

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(14)  Retirement Benefits

The Company has a tax-qualified retirement savings plan, the Cobra Electronics Corporation Profit Sharing and 401(k) Incentive Savings Plan (the “Plan”), under which participating employees may contribute up to the yearly statutory maximum into their Plan accounts. In addition, under the Plan, the Company matches amounts contributed by the participant up to a certain percent of earnings, not to exceed the statutory maximum. Plan match 401(k) expenses for 2007, 2006 and 2005 were $246,000, $275,000 and $217,000, respectively. The Plan also allows the Company to make discretionary profit sharing contributions to the Plan accounts for the benefit of participating employees for any calendar year in an amount determined by the Board of Directors. Plan profit sharing expenses for 2007, 2006 and 2005 were $0, $0 and $130,000, respectively. Non-U.S. defined contribution expenses amounted to $38,000 in 2007.

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, deferred compensation of $6.3 million and $5.9 million, respectively, was recorded as a long-term liability. The current portion of the deferred compensation liability was included in accrued salaries and commissions, and amounted to $68,000 at December 31, 2007 and $68,000 at December 31, 2006. Deferred compensation obligations arise pursuant to outstanding key executive deferred compensation plans, most of which are non-qualified defined benefit arrangements. In the fourth quarter of 2005, the Company, using a 14 percent discount rate, recognized a $299,000 gain on the lump-sum settlement of deferred compensation paid to the estate of Jerry Kalov, the Company’s former president and chief executive officer. The liability is based on discounted future cash flows related to these arrangements. The discount rate used at December 31, 2007 and 2006 was 7 percent.

The cash surrender value of officers’ life insurance policies is classified on the balance sheet as a non-current asset. The cash value of officers’ life insurance policies is maintained to fund deferred compensation obligations and the aggregate death benefit to the Company at December 31, 2007 totaled $18.1 million.

 

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(15)  Intangible Assets

Intangible assets consist of the following at December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006:

 

     December 31  
     2007     2006  
     (in thousands)  

Internal use software

   $ 2,112     $ 1,813  

Less accumulated amortization

     (1,812 )     (1,684 )
                
     300       129  

ERP internal software system

     4,058       3,891  

Less accumulated amortization

     (1,353 )     (786 )
                
     2,705       3,105  

Trademarks, tradenames and patents

     6,142       5,923  

Less accumulated amortization

     (942 )     (657 )
                
     5,200       5,266  

Product software, net of impairment

     2,382       4,890  

Less accumulated amortization, net of impairment

     (1,467 )     (1,312 )
                
     915       3,578  

Enigma database

     1,460       1,460  

Less accumulated amortization

     (356 )     (58 )
                
     1,104       1,402  

Noncompetition agreements

     254       254  

Less accumulated amortization

     (102 )     (17 )
                
     152       237  

Customer relationships

     5,902       5,902  

Less accumulated amortization

     (719 )     (116 )
                
     5,183       5,786  
                

Total

   $ 15,559     $ 19,503  
                

Product software impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 totaled $2.6 million and $2.8 million, respectively. The product software asset and accumulated amortization shown above are presented net of the respective impairment charges.

The anticipated amortization expense of intangible assets over the next 5 years is $2.5 million in 2008, $2.4 million in 2009, $1.9 million in 2010, $1.6 million in 2011 and $1.4 million in 2012.

 

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(16)  Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is subject to various unresolved legal actions, which arise in the normal course of its business. None of these matters is expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. However, the ultimate resolution of these matters can not be determined at this time.

The Company warrants to the consumer who purchases its products that it will repair or replace, without charge, defective products within a specified time period, generally one year. The Company also has a return policy for its customers that allow them to return, to the Company, products returned to them by their customers for full or partial credit based on when the Company’s customer last purchased these products. Consequently, it maintains a warranty reserve, which reflects historical warranty return rates by product category multiplied by the most recent six months of unit sales of that model and the unit standard cost of the model. A roll-forward of the warranty reserve is as follows:

 

     2007     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

Accrued product warranty costs, January 1

   $ 1,963     $ 1,618     $ 1,277  

Warranty provision

     4,304       3,873       2,914  

Warranty expenditures

     (2,827 )     (3,528 )     (2,573 )
                        

Accrued product warranty costs, December 31

   $ 3,440     $ 1,963     $ 1,618  
                        

The increase in the accrued warranty reserve from the prior year-end is mainly due to the $1.6 million charge resulting from the Company’s change in its North American mobile navigation strategy.

At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had outstanding inventory purchase orders with suppliers totaling approximately $17.8 million and $27.0 million, respectively.

(17)  Inventory Valuation Reserves

The Company maintains a liquidation reserve representing the write-down of returned product from its customers to its net realizable value. Returned inventory is either sold to various liquidators or returned to vendors for partial credit against similar, new models. The decision to sell or return products to vendors depends upon the estimated future demand for the models. Judgments are made as to whether various models are to be liquidated or returned to the vendor, taking into consideration the liquidation prices expected to be received and the amount of the vendor credit. The amount of the reserve is determined by comparing the cost of each unit returned to the estimated amount to be realized upon each unit’s disposition, either from returning the unit to the vendor for partial credit towards the cost of new, similar product or liquidating the unit. This reserve can fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter depending upon quantities of returned inventory on hand and the estimated liquidation price or vendor credit per unit. A roll-forward of the liquidation reserve is as follows:

 

     2007     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

Liquidation reserve, January 1

   $ 1,112     $ 874     $ 715  

Liquidity provision

     7,339       4,115       5,776  

Liquidation of models

     (5,756 )     (3,877 )     (5,617 )
                        

Liquidation reserve, December 31

   $ 2,695     $ 1,112     $ 874  
                        

The increase in the inventory liquidation reserve from the prior year-end is mainly due to the $1.4 million charge resulting from the Company’s change in its North American mobile navigation strategy.

The Company maintains a net realizable value (“NRV”) reserve to write-down, as necessary, certain inventory not previously sold to customers, except for that covered by the liquidation reserve discussed above, below cost. The reserve includes models where it is determined that the NRV is less than cost. Thus, judgments must be

 

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made about which slow-moving, excess or non-current models are to be included in the reserve and the estimated net realizable value of such models. The estimated realizable value of each model is the per unit price that it is estimated to be received if the model was sold in the marketplace. This reserve will vary depending upon the specific models selected, the estimated NRV for each model and quantities of each model that are determined will be sold below cost from quarter to quarter. A roll-forward of the NRV reserve is as follows:

 

     2007     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

Net realizable reserve, January 1

   $ 736     $ 509     $ 506  

NRV provision

     4,121       3,426       1,660  

NRV write-offs

     (3,243 )     (3,199 )     (1,657 )
                        

Net realizable reserve, December 31

   $ 1,614     $ 736     $ 509  
                        

The increase in the NRV reserve from the prior year-end is mainly due to the $676,000 charge resulting from the Company’s change in its North American mobile navigation strategy.

(18)  Stockholder Rights Plan

The Company maintains a Stockholder Rights Plan (the “Plan”) designed to deter coercive or unfair takeover tactics, to prevent a person or group from gaining control of the Company without fair value to all shareholders and to deter other abusive takeover tactics that are not in the best interest of shareholders. The Company has designated 120,000 of the 1 million authorized shares of the preferred stock as Series A Junior Participating preferred stock.

Under the terms of the Plan, each share of common stock is accompanied by one right; each right entitles the shareholder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a newly issued share of Series A Junior Preferred Stock, par value $1 per share, of the Company at an exercise price of $35. The rights become exercisable 10 days after a public announcement that an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Plan) has become the beneficial owner of 15 percent or more of the outstanding shares of the Company (the “Stock Acquisition Date”) or 10 business days after the commencement of a tender or exchange offer that would result in a person beneficially owning 15 percent or more of such shares. The Company can redeem the rights for $0.01 per right at any time until the earlier of 10 days following the Stock Acquisition Date or the final expiration of the rights. The rights will expire on November 5, 2011, unless redeemed earlier by the Company.

In the event that any person becomes an Acquiring Person, each right will entitle the holder (except for the Acquiring Person) thereof, upon payment of the current exercise price, to receive shares of common stock of the Company, which at the time of such person becoming an Acquiring Person, have a market value equal to two times the then current exercise price. If, after the public announcement has been made that any person has become an Acquiring Person, (i) the Company merges into or consolidates with another person (with limited exceptions), (ii) another person (with limited exceptions) merges into or consolidates with the Company and shares of common stock of the Company are converted into securities of another person, cash or property or (iii) the Company transfers 50% or more of its consolidated assets, cash flow or earning power to another person (with limited exceptions), each right will entitle the holder thereof to receive, upon payment of the current exercise price, the number of shares of common stock of the Acquiring Person (or of another person affiliated therewith) which, at the time of consummation of the transaction, have a market value equal to two times the then current exercise price.

 

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(19)  Allowance for Claims and Doubtful Accounts

The following table shows the activity in the allowance for claims and doubtful accounts:

 

     2007     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

Balance, January 1

   $ 282     $ 275     $ 270  

Provision for claims and doubtful accounts

     28       84       206  

Write-offs, less recoveries

     (105 )     (77 )     (201 )
                        

Balance, December 31

   $ 205     $ 282     $ 275  
                        

(20)  Other Income (Expense)

The following table shows the components of other income (expense):

 

     2007    2006     2005
     (in thousands)

Life insurance proceeds

   $ —      $ —       $ 7,244

Gain on sale of land

     —        —         1,916

Deferred compensation payout

     —        —         299

Interest income

     41      258       402

Exchange gain (loss)

     705      (199 )     33

Other—net

     343      4       257
                     
   $ 1,089    $ 63     $ 10,151
                     

(21)  Subsequent Events

The Company refinanced its senior debt on February 15, 2008 to secure more favorable pricing and terms. Refer to Note 8 Financing Arrangements for a detailed description.

The Board of Directors declared an annual cash dividend of $0.16 per share on February 21, 2008. This dividend is payable on April 25, 2008 to shareholders of record on April 11, 2008.

 

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Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

 

    Quarter Ended  
    March 31     June 30     September 30   December 31  
    2007     2006     2007     2006     2007     2006   2007     2006  
    (in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Net sales

  $ 32,036     $ 25,307     $ 39,215     $ 39,586     $ 39,283     $ 35,548   $ 45,401     $ 53,254  

Cost of sales

    23,948       20,285       30,835       35,413       29,550       28,511     40,201       39,533  

Gross profit

    8,088       5,022       8,380       4,173       9,733       7,037     5,200       13,721  

Selling, general and administrative expense

    9,036       6,588       9,632       8,117       9,716       6,850     11,250       11,065  

(Loss) earnings from operations

    (948 )     (1,566 )     (1,252 )     (3,944 )     17       187     (6,050 )     2,656  

Interest expense

    319       34       411       25       419       25     506       395  

Other income (expense)

    257       (62 )     358       (75 )     212       222     262       (22 )

Tax (benefit) provision

    (298 )     (535 )     (874 )     (1,358 )     (596 )     11     (2,628 )     432  

Minority interest

    (8 )     —         (3 )     —         (2 )     —       (6 )     4  

Net (loss) earnings

    (720 )     (1,127 )     (434 )     (2,686 )     404       373     (3,672 )     1,811  

Net (loss) earnings per share (a)

               

Basic

  $ (0.11 )   $ (0.17 )   $ (0.07 )   $ (0.41 )   $ 0.06     $ 0.06   $ (0.57 )   $ 0.28  

Diluted

    (0.11 )     (0.17 )     (0.07 )     (0.41 )     0.06       0.06     (0.57 )     0.27  

Weighted average shares outstanding

               

Basic

    6,438       6,489       6,454       6,489       6,469       6,489     6,471       6,459  

Diluted

    6,438       6,489       6,454       6,489       6,576       6,677     6,471       6,662  

Stock price:

               

High

  $ 10.95     $ 14.00     $ 10.72     $ 12.49     $ 10.06     $ 11.45   $ 6.75     $ 10.42  

Low

    8.75       10.06       9.16       9.04       6.14       8.04     4.11       8.02  

End of quarter

    10.36       10.59       9.76       9.43       6.74       8.51     4.85       9.56  

Trading volume

    505       4,711       441       2,185       473       848     1,073       1,003  

 

(a) The sum of the quarterly net earnings per share amounts may not equal the annual amount because net earnings per share are calculated independently for each quarter.

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Shareholders

Cobra Electronics Corporation and Subsidiaries

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Cobra Electronics Corporation (a Delaware corporation) and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss) and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

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

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Cobra Electronics Corporation and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Grant Thornton LLP

Chicago, Illinois

March 31, 2008

 

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Item  9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

There were no changes in or disagreements with the Company’s auditors regarding accounting or financial disclosure matters.

Item 9A.  Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company has established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13 a-15(e) and 15 d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures have also been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

During 2007, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on this evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Company have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of December 31, 2007.

Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The management of the Company, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act).

Management of the Company, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. Management based this assessment on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, management determined that, as of December 31, 2007, the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting.

This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2007 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B.  Other Information

None.

 

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PART III

 

Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

Information in response to this item will be set forth in a definitive proxy statement to be filed by the Company pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the end of the Company’s 2007 fiscal year, and such information is hereby incorporated by reference.

The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”), which applies solely to the Company’s officers, senior financial accounting and financial personnel and directors. The Company has posted the Code on its website at www.cobra.com and any waivers of, or amendments to, the Code will be approved by the Board of Directors or the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. Any change to or waiver of the Code will be disclosed by publishing a statement on the Company’s website.

Additional information concerning Cobra’s executive officers is included under Executive Officers of the Registrant in Part I, Item 4A.

Item 11.  Executive Compensation

Information in response to this item will be set forth in a definitive proxy statement to be filed by the Company pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the end of the Company’s 2007 fiscal year, and such information, provided that the Compensation Committee Report shall not be deemed “filed” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides information about stock options outstanding and shares available for future awards under all of Cobra’s equity compensation plans. The information is as of December 31, 2007. Cobra Electronics has not made any grants outside of its equity compensation plans.

 

Plan Category

   (a)
Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options, warrants
and rights
   (b)
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
   (c)
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation

plans (excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
 

Equity compensation Plans approved by Security holders

   662,796    $ 7.51    3,068  (1)

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

   21,000      7.22    0 (2)
                  

Total

   683,796      7.50    3,068  

 

(1) Represents shares from the 2000 Plan.
(2) The 29,000 shares available or issued under these plans may not be issued to directors prior to the approval of the plans by security holders.

Set forth below is a brief description of the material features of each of the Company’s equity compensation plans that was adopted without the approval of the Company’s shareholders and that were in effect at December 31, 2007.

2002 Outside Directors Stock Option Plan

This plan includes a total of 25,000 non-qualified stock options to be granted to Directors who are not officers or employees of the Company. The stock option committee, designated by the Company’s Board of Directors, has the authority to select persons who will receive options and determine the number of shares of common stock subject to each option and all other terms and conditions of each option. The period for the exercise of each option and the exercise price for an option will also be determined by the Stock Option committee. An option may be exercised by giving written notice to the Company specifying the number of whole shares of common stock to be purchased.

2000 Outside Directors Stock Option Plan

This plan includes a total of 25,000 non-qualified stock options to be granted to Directors who are not officers or employees of the Company. The stock option committee, designated by the Company’s Board of Directors, has the authority to select persons who will receive options and determine the number of shares of common stock subject to each option and all other terms and conditions of each option. The period for the exercise of each option and the exercise price for an option will also be determined by the Stock Option committee. An option may be exercised by giving written notice to the Company specifying the number of whole shares of common stock to be purchased.

***

Other information in response to this item will be set forth in a definitive proxy statement to be filed by the Company pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the end of the Company’s 2007 fiscal year, and such information is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

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Performance Graph

The following Performance Graph compares the yearly percentage change in the Company’s cumulative total shareholder return on the Company’s Common Stock for the five-year period, December 31, 2002 to December 31, 2007, with the percentage change in the cumulative total return for the Russell 2000 Index (the “Russell Index”), and a peer group of companies selected by the Company.

Peer Group consists of Emerson Radio, Koss Corporation and Audiovox Corporation. In selecting companies for the peer groups, the Company focused on publicly traded companies that design and market electronics products, which have characteristics similar to that of the Company’s in terms of one or more of the following: type of product, end market, distribution channels, sourcing or sales volume. The returns of each of the companies in the peer groups have been weighted according to their respective stock market capitalizations at the beginning of each period for which a return is indicated.

COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*

Among Cobra Electronics, The Russell 2000 Index

And A Peer Group

LOGO

* $100 invested on 12/31/02 in stock or index-including reinvestment of dividends. Fiscal year ending December 31.

 

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Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

Information in response to this item will be set forth in a definitive proxy statement to be filed by the Company pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the end of the Company’s 2007 fiscal year, and such information is hereby incorporated by reference.

Item 14.  Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Information in response to this item will be set forth in a definitive proxy statement to be filed by the Company pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the end of the Company’s 2007 fiscal year, and such information is hereby incorporated by reference.

PART IV

Item 15.  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

[a] Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules

 

    

Description

   Page or
Schedule
Number
1.    Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three years ended December 31, 2007    33
   Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2006 and 2007    34-35
   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three years ended December 31, 2007    36
   Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three years ended December 31, 2007    37
   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements    38-61
   Quarterly Financial Data    62
   Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm    63
2.    Exhibits:   
   See Index to Exhibits on pages 70 through 72.   

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) 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.

 

COBRA ELECTRONICS CORPORATION

/S/    MICHAEL SMITH

Michael Smith
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

Dated: March 31, 2008

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

 

/s/    JAMES R. BAZET

James R. Bazet

   Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/    MICHAEL SMITH

Michael Smith

   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/    GERALD M. LAURES

Gerald M. Laures

   Vice President—Finance and Corporate Secretary (Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/    WILLIAM P. CARMICHAEL

William P. Carmichael

   Director

/s/    CARL KORN

Carl Korn

   Director and Chairman of the Board

/s/    JOHN S. LUPO

John S. Lupo

   Director

/s/    IAN R. MILLER

Ian R. Miller

   Director

/s/    S. SAM PARK

S. Sam Park

   Director

/s/    ROBERT P. ROHLEDER

Robert P. Rohleder

   Director

Dated: March 31, 2008

 

69


Table of Contents

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Document

2-1        Share Purchase Deed dated October 14, 2006 among Cobra Electronics UK Limited, Performance Products Limited and the shareholders of Performance Products Limited - Filed as Exhibit No. 2-1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 19, 2006 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
3-1        Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended October 28, 1998 - Filed as Exhibit No. 3(i) to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
3-2 *     Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended December 6, 2007
3-3        Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Cobra Electronics Corporation pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware – Filed as Exhibit No. 3(iii) to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
4          Rights Agreement dated as of October 24, 2001 between Cobra Electronics Corporation and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent — Filed as Exhibit 4 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 25, 2001 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-1 #      Deferred Compensation Plan dated as of December 23, 1992 – Filed as Exhibit No. 10-19 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-2 #      1995 Key Employees Nonqualified and Incentive Stock Option Plan — Filed as Exhibit No. 10-23 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-3 #      Employment Agreement between Cobra Electronics Corporation and Anthony Mirabelli dated January 31, 1997 - Filed as Exhibit No. 10-29 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-4         Termination of Safe Harbor Lease between Cobra Electronics Corporation and the Department of Transportation of Maryland dated as of November 15, 1996 - Filed as Exhibit No. 10-30 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-5 #      1998 Stock Option Plan, as amended — Filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of the Registrant dated September 16, 1998 (File No. 333-63501), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-6 #      Cobra Electronics Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan dated May 11, 1999 — Filed as Exhibit No. 10-14 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-7 #      Cobra Electronics Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan For Select Executives dated December 21, 1999 — Filed as Exhibit No. 10-15 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-8 #      Cobra Electronics Corporation Executive Retirement Trust dated May 11, 1999 between Cobra Electronics Corporation and Gerald Laures, as trustee, for the benefit of James Bazet dated May 11, 1999 — Filed as Exhibit No. 10-16 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-9 #      Employment Agreement addendum between Cobra Electronics Corporation and Anthony Mirabelli dated April 22, 1999 - Filed as Exhibit No. 10-17 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2000 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.

 

70


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Document

10-10 #    2000 Stock Option Plan—Filed as Exhibit 4.3 of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of the Registrant dated July 25, 2000 (File No. 333-42164), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-11 #    2000 Outside Directors Stock Option Plan—Filed as Exhibit 4.3 of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of the Registrant dated July 25, 2000 (File No. 333-42166), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-12 #    Cobra Electronics Corporation 2002 Deferred Compensation Plan for Select Executives—Filed as Exhibit No. 10-22 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-13 #    2002 Outside Directors Stock Option Plan—Filed as Exhibit 4.3 of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of the Registrant dated June 24, 2002 (File No. 333-91078), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-14 #    Employment Agreement between Cobra Electronics Corporation and Michael Smith dated December 20, 2002—Filed as Exhibit No. 10-25 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-15        License Agreement, dated May 10, 2002, by and between Rand McNally & Company and Cobra Electronics Corporation, including Amendment No. 1 thereto—Filed as Exhibit No. 10-27 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference. (Confidential material appearing in this document was omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with Section 24(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 24b-2 promulgated thereunder. Omitted information was replaced with asterisks.)
10-16 #    Employment Agreement between Cobra Electronics Corporation and James R. Bazet dated May 25, 2004—Filed as Exhibit No. 10-29 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-17 #    Executive Bonus structure for 2005—Filed as Exhibit No. 10-30 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-18 #    Employment Agreement between Cobra Electronics Corporation and Michael Smith dated November 10, 2005—Filed as Exhibit No. 10-1 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-19 #    Executive Bonus structure for 2006—Filed under Item 1.01 as Exhibit No. 10-30 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 28, 2006 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-20        Settlement Agreement and Release between Horizon Navigation, Inc. and Cobra Electronics Corporation dated December 30, 2005—Filed as Exhibit No. 10-33 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference. (Confidential material appearing in this document was omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with Section 24(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 24b-2 promulgated thereunder. Omitted information was replaced with asterisks.)
10-21        Technology Patent License Agreement between TeleAtlas North America, Inc. and Cobra Electronics Corporation dated March 31, 2006—Filed as Exhibit No. 10-1 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference. (Confidential material appearing in this document was omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with Section 24(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 24b-2 promulgated thereunder. Omitted information was replaced with asterisks.)

 

71


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Document

10-22          Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of October 19, 2006 by and among LaSalle Bank National Association, as Lender and as Agent, for the lenders and Cobra Electronics Corporation—Filed as Exhibit No. 10-1 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-23 #    Executive Bonus structure for 2007—Filed as Exhibit No. 10-1 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-24 #    Stock Sales Plan for President and CEO—Filed as Exhibit No. 99-1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated May 14, 2007 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-25    Waiver and Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement—Filed as Exhibit No. 10-1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 1, 2007 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
10-26 *#    Employment Agreement between Cobra Electronics Corporation and Michael Smith dated December 21, 2007.
10-27          Loan and Security Agreement with The Private Bank and Trust and RBS Citizens N.A.—Filed as Exhibit No. 10-1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 22, 2008 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference
14-1          Cobra Electronics Code of Business Conduct and Ethics For Officers, Senior Financial Accounting and Financial Personnel and Directors adopted February 22, 2006—Filed as Exhibit No. 14-1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 22, 2006 (File No. 0-511), and hereby incorporated by reference.
23-1 *    Consent of Grant Thornton LLP dated March 27, 2008.
31-1 *    Rule 13a—14(a)/15d—14(a) Certification of the Chief Executive Officer.
31-2 *    Rule 13a—14(a)/15d—14(a) Certification of the Chief Financial Officer.
32-1 *    Section 1350 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer.
32-2 *    Section 1350 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer.

 

* Filed herewith.
# Executive compensation plan or arrangement.

 

72

EX-3.2 2 dex32.htm BY-LAWS OF COBRA ELECTRONICS CORPORATION By-Laws of Cobra Electronics Corporation

EXHIBIT 3.2

As Amended and Restated

December 6, 2007

BY-LAWS

OF

COBRA ELECTRONICS CORPORATION

ARTICLE I

Stockholders’ Meetings

Section 1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of such other business as may properly come before it shall be held at 2:00 P.M., local time, on the last Tuesday of April of each year, or on such other date or at such other time as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors. If the day fixed for the annual meeting is a legal holiday, such meeting shall be held on the next succeeding business day.

Section 2. Special Meetings. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders. Special meetings of stockholders of the corporation may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, upon not less than 10 or more than 50 days’ written notice. Notwithstanding anything contained in these By-Laws to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 67% of the shares of the corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this section 2.

Section 3. Place of Meetings. Each meeting of stockholders for the election of directors shall be held in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, at such place as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. Meetings of stockholders for any other purpose may be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be determined pursuant to Section 2 of Article I and stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof.

Section 4. Notice of Meetings and Adjourned Meetings. Written notice of every meeting of stockholders stating the place, date and hour thereof, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall, except when otherwise required by the laws of Delaware be given, in the case of the annual meeting of stockholders, not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat, and in the case of special meetings, not less than ten nor more than fifty days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting. Any meeting at which a quorum of stockholders is present, in person or by proxy, may adjourn from time to time without notice other than announcement at such meeting until its business is completed. At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

Section 5. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person or by proxy, shall, except as otherwise provided by law or the certificate of incorporation, constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of stockholders. If at any meeting a quorum is not present, the chairman of the meeting or the holders of the majority of the shares of stock present or represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time without notice other than announcement at such meeting until a quorum is present. At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty days, or if after the


adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting. The stockholders present or represented to vote at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until final adjournment notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

Section 6. Voting. Each holder of stock entitled to vote at a stockholders meeting shall, as to all matters before such meeting in respect of which such stock has voting rights, be entitled to one vote in person or by written proxy for each share of stock owned of record by him. No holder of stock shall have any cumulative voting rights in respect of any share of stock held by him. No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date unless the proxy provides for a longer period. No vote upon any matter need be by ballot unless demanded by the holders of at least ten per cent of the shares represented and entitled to vote at the meeting. All elections shall be decided by a plurality of the votes cast and all other questions or matters shall be decided by a majority of the votes cast, unless otherwise required by the laws of Delaware or the certificate of incorporation.

Section 7. List of Stockholders. At least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder, and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder, shall be prepared by the Secretary. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. The original or duplicate stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list required by this section or the books of the corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

Section 8. Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.

(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders. (1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting delivered pursuant to Article I, Section 4 of these By-Laws, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder of the corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who complied with the notice procedures set forth in clauses (2) and (3) of this paragraph (a) of this Section 8 and who was a stockholder of record at the time such notice was delivered to the Secretary of the corporation.

(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 8, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal office of the corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 100th calendar day nor later than the close of business on the 75th calendar day prior to the date of the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of an annual meeting is more than 30 calendar days before or more than 30 calendar days after the date of the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 100th calendar day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 75th calendar day prior to such annual meeting and the 10th calendar day after the day on which public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made by the corporation. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the regulations promulgated thereunder, including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a


nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (ii) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the corporation’s stock transfer books, and of such beneficial owner and the class and number of shares of the corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 8 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the corporation is increased and there is no public announcement by the corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the corporation at least 80 calendar days prior to the date of the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 8 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal office of the corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th calendar day after the day on which such public announcement is first made by the corporation.

(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Subject to the rights of the holders of any Preferred Stock, only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting pursuant to Article I, Section 4 of these By-Laws.

(c) General. (1) Subject to the rights of the holders of any Preferred Stock, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 8 shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 8. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 8 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section 8, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.

(2) For purposes of this Section 8, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 8. Nothing in this Section 8 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

ARTICLE II

Directors

Section l. Number, Election and Term of Office. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board shall be not less than five. The exact number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors. The Directors shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, with respect to the time for which they shall severally hold office. Directors of the First Class first chosen shall hold office for one year or until the first annual election following their election; Directors of the Second Class first chosen shall hold office until the second annual election following their election; and Directors of the Third Class shall hold office until the third annual election following their election. In each annual election or adjournment thereof, the successors to the


Class of Directors whose terms shall expire at that time shall be elected to hold office for terms of three years so that the term of office or one class of Directors shall expire in each year. Each Director elected shall hold office until his successor shall be elected and shall qualify. Notwithstanding anything contained in these By-Laws to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 67% of the shares of this corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Section 1.

Section 2. Resignations and Vacancies.

(a) Resignations. Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors or to the Chairman. Any such resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of such notice or at any later time specified therein; and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

(b) Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled by a majority vote of the directors then in office, and directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders at which the term of the class to which they have been elected expires.

(c) Removal. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, any director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 67% of the shares of this corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors.

(d) Amendment, Repeal, etc. Notwithstanding anything contained in these By-Laws to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 67% of all of the shares of this corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Section 2 of Article II.

Section 3. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places, within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as shall be determined pursuant to Section 5 of Article II.

Section 4. Regular Meetings. A regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without call or notice immediately after and at the same general place as the annual meeting of stockholders for the purpose of organizing the Board of Directors, electing officers and transacting any other business that may properly come before the meeting. In the event such meeting is not held at such time and place, the meeting may be held at such time and place as shall be specified in a notice given as provided in Section 5 for special meetings or as shall be specified in a written waiver signed by all of the directors. Additional regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without call or notice at such place and at such time as shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 5. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called and the location thereof designated by the President and shall be called and the location thereof designated by the President or Secretary at the written request of two directors. Notice of special meetings either shall be mailed by the Secretary to each director at least three days before the meeting or shall be given personally or telegraphed to each director by the Secretary at least forty-eight hours before the meeting. Such notice shall set forth the time and place of such meeting but need not, unless otherwise required by law, state the purposes of the meeting.

Section 6. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the whole Board of Directors as specified in the by-laws shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors. The act of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors unless otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware, the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws. A majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present may adjourn the meeting from time


to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting. If at any meeting a quorum is not present, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without notice other than announcement at the meeting until a quorum is present.

Section 7. Committees of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a three-fourths majority of the whole Board of Directors as specified in the by-laws, designate one or more committees, each to consist of two or more of the directors of the corporation, and may appoint chairmen of any such committees. To the extent provided in the resolution designating such committee, and to the extent permitted under applicable Delaware law, each such committee shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member of such committee or committees, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of such absent or disqualified member.

Section 8. Action Without Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors, or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors or of such committee.

Section 9. Compensation. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.

Section 10. Telephonic Meetings. Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or of such committee, by means of conference telephone or other similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this section shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

ARTICLE III

Officers

Section 1. Number. The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, a President, one or more Vice Presidents (the number thereof to be determined by the Board of Directors), a Treasurer, a Secretary and such Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Secretaries or other officers as may be elected by the Board of Directors. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

Section 2. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after each annual meeting of stockholders. If the election of officers shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as conveniently may be. New offices may be created and filled at any meeting of the Board of Directors. Each officer shall hold office until his successor is elected and has qualified or until his earlier resignation or removal. Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the Corporation. Election of an officer shall not of itself create contract rights.

Section 3. Removal. Any officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.


Section 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office occurring because of death, resignation, removal or otherwise, may be filled by the Board of Directors.

Section 5. The Chairman of the Board and Vice Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall perform such other duties as may be described by the Board of Directors from time to time. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board shall preside at meetings of the Stockholders and of the Board of Directors. In addition, the Vice Chairman of the Board shall perform such other duties as may be described by the Board of Directors from time to time.

Section 6. The President. The President shall be the Chief Operating Officer and shall have such duties and responsibilities as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Chairman of the Board or the Board of Directors. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the President shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the Chairman of the Board.

Section 7. The Vice Presidents. Each of the Vice Presidents shall report to the Chairman of the Board or such other officer as may be determined by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board. Each Vice President shall have such duties and responsibilities as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Chairman of the Board or the Board of Directors.

Section 8. The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. The Treasurer, or, in the event of his absence or inability or refusal to act, the Assistant Treasurer, if any (or, if there be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order designated by the Chairman of the Board, or, if he is unable to act, the President, subject to revision by the Board of Directors, and, absent such designation or revision, in the order of their first election to that office), shall be responsible for (i) the custody and safekeeping of all of the funds of the corporation, (ii) the receipt and deposit of all moneys paid to the corporation, (iii) where necessary or appropriate, the endorsement for collection on behalf of the corporation of all checks, drafts, notes, and other obligations payable to the corporation, (iv) the disbursement of funds of the corporation under such rules as the Board of Directors may from time to time adopt, (v) keeping full and accurate records of all receipts and disbursements, and (vi) the performance of such further duties as are incident to the office of Treasurer or as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors or by the Chairman of the Board.

Section 9. The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary, or in the event of his absence or inability or refusal to act, the Assistant Secretary, if any (or, if there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order designated by the Chairman, and if the Chairman is unable to act, the President shall assume the duties and responsibilities, subject to revision by the Board of Directors, and, absent such designation or revision, in the order of their first election to that office) shall: (i) record all the proceedings of the meetings of the stockholders and Board of Directors in one or more books kept for that purpose; (ii) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws or as required by law; (iii) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation and see that the seal of the Corporation is affixed to all certificates for shares of capital stock prior to the issue thereof and to all documents, the execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal is duly authorized in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws; (iv) keep a register of the post office address of each stockholder which shall be furnished to the Secretary by such stockholder; (v) have general charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation and (vi) in general, perform all duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Chairman of the Board or the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IV

Stock Certificates and Transfer Books

Section 1. Certificates. Shares of capital stock of the corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions under Section 158 of the Delaware General Corporation Law that some or all of any or all classes or series of the corporation’s capital stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such


certificate is surrendered to the corporation. Every holder of a class or series of capital stock in the corporation represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate representing the number of such shares owned by the shareholder in the corporation unless and until the Board of Directors provides by resolution or resolutions that the shares of such class or series shall be represented solely in book-entry form as uncertificated shares. Certificates shall be in such form as may be determined by the Board of Directors, shall be numbered and shall be entered on the books of the corporation as they are issued. Shares issued in certificate form shall be signed by or in the name of the corporation by the Chairman, President or any Vice President and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. Each certificate of stock shall certify the number of shares owned by the shareholder in the corporation.

Section 2. Facsimile Signatures. Any of or all the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

Section 3. Record Ownership. The corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock as the holder in fact thereof, and accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in any share on the part of any other person whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as required by the laws of Delaware.

Section 4. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. With respect to any shares represented by a certificate, the Board of Directors in individual cases, or by general resolution or by delegation to the transfer agent for the corporation, may direct that a new stock certificate or certificates for shares of capital stock of the corporation be issued in place of any stock certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the corporation claimed to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the filing of an affidavit to that effect by the person claiming such loss, theft or destruction. When authorizing such an issuance of a new stock certificate or certificates, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to such issuance, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed stock certificate or certificates to advertise the same in such manner as the corporation shall require and/or to give the corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the corporation with respect to the stock certificate or certificates claimed to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

Section 5. Transfer Agent or Registrar. The corporation may maintain one or more transfer offices or agencies where the shares of stock of the corporation shall be transferable. The corporation may also maintain one or more registry offices wherein such shares of stock shall be registered.

Section 6. Transfer of Stock. With respect to any shares represented by a certificate, transfer of shares shall, except as provided in Section 4 of this Article IV, be made on the books of the corporation only by direction of the person named in the certificate or his attorney, lawfully constituted in writing, and only upon the surrender for cancellation of the certificate therefor, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment of the shares evidenced thereby.

Section 7. Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record. (a) In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange or stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any other action.

(b) if no record date is fixed:

(1) The record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is


given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.

(2) The record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporation action in writing without meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is necessary, shall be the day on which the first written consent is expressed.

(3) The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

(c) A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

ARTICLE V

General Provisions

Section 1. Offices. The registered office of the corporation in Delaware shall be in the City of Dover, County of Kent. The corporation may also have other offices both within or without the State of Delaware. The books of the corporation may be kept outside the State of Delaware.

Section 2. Seal. The corporation’s seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation, the year of its organization and the words corporate seal—Delaware.

Section 3. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 4. Inspection of Books. Subject to laws of the State of Delaware, the directors shall determine from time to time whether, and, if allowed, when and under what conditions and regulations the accounts and books of the corporation (except such as may by statute be specifically open to inspection), or any of them, shall be open to the inspection of the stockholders, and the stockholders’ rights in this respect are and shall be restricted and limited accordingly.

Section 5. Reliance on Records. Each director and officer shall in the performance of his duties be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or reports made to the corporation by any of its officers, or by an independent certified public accountant, or by an appraiser selected with reasonable care by the Board of Directors, or in relying in good faith upon other records of the corporation.

Section 6. Voting of Stock. Unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors, the Chairman shall have full power and authority, in the name and on behalf of the corporation, to attend, act and vote at any meeting of stockholders of any company in which the corporation may hold shares of stock, and at any meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such shares and which, as the holder thereof, the corporation might possess and exercise if personally present, and may exercise such power and authority through the execution of proxies or of written consents in lieu of meeting pursuant to applicable law or may delegate such power and authority to any other officer, agent or employee of the corporation.

Section 7. Notices; Waiver or Notice. Notice by mail or telegraph shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the mails or delivered to the telegraph company for transmission. Whenever any notice is required to be given, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to the notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.

Section 8. Indemnification. Each person who at any time is or shall have been a director, officer, employee or agent of this corporation or is or shall have been serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, and his heirs,


executors and administrators, shall be indemnified by this corporation in accordance with and to the full extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as in effect at the time of adoption of this by-law or as amended from time to time. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. If authorized by the Board of Directors, the corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person to the full extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as in effect at the time of the adoption of this by-law or as amended from time to time.

Section 9. Amendments to By-Laws. Except as provided in Section 2 of Article 1, Section 1 of Article II and Section 2 of Article II of these By-Laws, any provision of these By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed from time to time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then qualified and acting at any regular meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present, or at any special meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present if notice of the proposed alteration, amendment or repeal be contained in the notice of such special meeting; provided, however, that no reduction in the number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of his term in office.

EX-10.26 3 dex1026.htm MICHAEL SMITH EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT Michael Smith Employment Agreement

Exhibit 10.26

December 21, 2007

Mr. Michael Smith

150 Millstone Road

Deerfield, Illinois 60015

Dear Michael:

This letter is to confirm the terms of your employment with Cobra Electronics Corporation (the “Company”).

1. During the term of your employment by the Company pursuant to this agreement, you shall be employed as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities and attendant authorities of that position, including, but not limited to, primary authority and supervisory responsibility for all accounting, finance and human resource functions and all other tasks as may be assigned from time to time by the President and Chief Executive Officer. You shall report to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

2. The term of your employment by the Company pursuant to this agreement shall begin on January 1, 2008. Such employment shall be on an at-will basis which you or the Company can terminate at any time by delivery of written notice to the other party. Such written notice by the Company shall be delivered to you at least two months in advance of the date on which the Company will terminate your employment.

3. During your employment by the Company pursuant to this agreement, you shall receive a regular annual salary at the rate per period hereinafter set forth, payable every two weeks. Such annual salary shall be $272,500, subject to annual review and adjustment by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, including such review and any such adjustment for the calendar year January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008 (the “2008 Annual Period” or an “Annual Period”), but in no event shall your salary for any subsequent calendar year (each also an “Annual Period”) be reduced below the annual salary for the previous calendar year.

4. In addition to your regular annual salary, you shall also receive for each Annual Period a bonus of up to 35% of your regular annual salary, comprised of (i) a Company performance bonus based on the Company’s financial performance (the “Company Performance Bonus”) of up to 22.75% of your regular annual salary for that Annual Period (the “Maximum Company Performance Bonus Amount”) and (ii) an individual performance bonus based on attaining personal management objectives (the “Individual Performance Bonus”) of up to 12.25% of your regular annual salary for that Annual Period (the “Maximum Individual Performance Bonus Amount”). Except as provided elsewhere herein, you shall only be entitled to receive any bonus for an Annual Period if you are employed by the Company throughout the Annual Period.


Mr. Michael Smith

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As for the Company Performance Bonus for an Annual Period, no later than March 1 of that Annual Period, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Compensation Committee”) shall, after consultation with the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, approve, in its sole discretion, (i) performance criteria of the Company and/or the subsidiaries of the Company that shall be applicable for the Annual Period, and (ii) a goal amount or other payment formula for the Company Performance Bonus.

As for the Individual Performance Bonus for an Annual Period, no later than March 1 of that Annual Period, the Compensation Committee shall, after consultation with the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, approve, in its sole discretion, one or more personal management objectives that shall be applicable for the Annual Period. As soon as administratively practicable after the end of the Annual Period, the Compensation Committee shall, after consultation with the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, determine, in its sole discretion, whether such personal management objectives for the Annual Period were attained during the Annual Period. If such personal management objectives are so determined to have been attained, you shall receive an Individual Performance Bonus equal to the Individual Performance Bonus Maximum Amount for the Annual Period. If such personal management objectives are not so determined to have been attained, you shall receive any percentage, including zero percentage, of such Individual Performance Bonus Maximum Amount for the Annual Period as determined by the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, after consultation with the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

Any Company or Individual Performance Bonus for an Annual Period shall be paid to you by the Company during the period beginning on the January 1, and ending on the March 15, immediately following the end of the Annual Period.

5. You also shall receive $10,000 each Annual Period to be used for perquisites of your choice, payable in monthly payments of $833.33 while you are employed by the Company, in lieu of any other allowances. Each monthly payment shall be paid to you by the Company during the month to which the payment pertains.

6. In the event a Change of Control (as defined below) occurs, any stock option previously issued to you that is not then, or to the extent not then, exercisable, shall immediately become exercisable in full.

For the purpose of this agreement, a Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred if: (i) any person, including a group within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, acquires the beneficial ownership of, and the right to vote, shares having at least 50 percent of the aggregate voting power of the class or classes of capital stock of the Company having the ordinary and sufficient voting power (not depending upon the happening of a contingency) to elect at least a majority of the directors of the board of directors of the Company, or (ii) as the result of any tender or exchange offer, substantial purchase of the Company’s equity securities, merger, consolidation, sale of assets or contested election, or any combination of the foregoing transactions, the persons who were directors of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or transactions shall not constitute a majority of the board


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of directors (or the board of directors of any successor to or assign of the Company) immediately after the next meeting of stockholders of the Company (or such successor or assign) following such transaction, or (iii) there is consummated a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Corporate Transaction”), excluding any Corporate Transaction pursuant to which (A) all or substantially all of the individuals or entities who are the beneficial owners, respectively, of the outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or indirectly) in substantially the same proportions relative to each other as their ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the outstanding voting securities, (B) no person (other than the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company) will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, and (C) the persons who were directors of the Company immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction will constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction.

7. During your employment hereunder, you shall be entitled to participate in such employee benefits including, but not limited to, life, short and long term disability and health insurance and other medical benefits as the Company makes available to individuals employed by the Company at the Senior Vice President level.

8. You shall be reimbursed for all of your reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred in performing your duties for the Company upon presentation to the Company of the Company’s standard forms for expense reimbursement. In order for any such reimbursement to be made, the expense must be incurred while you are employed by the Company, and you must complete and submit such standard forms for reimbursement in a timely manner and in no event any later than required by the Company in order for the Company to make such reimbursement no later the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which you incur the expense. In no event will the Company make any such reimbursement later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which you incur the expense. Your right to reimbursement is not subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit, and the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement in a calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any subsequent calendar year.

9. You shall be entitled to a benefit from the Company pursuant and subject to the terms and conditions of (including but not limited to the vesting provisions of) the COBRA Electronics Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Select Executives as in effect as of the date hereof or any similar plan which the Company adopts for this purpose, in either case subject to any amendment thereto to satisfy any requirement of section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations and other guidance promulgated by the Internal Revenue


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Service with respect thereto; provided, however, that for purposes of any such plan your years of service shall be the number of complete years included in the period of time commencing on January 31, 2001 and ending on the date your employment with the Company terminates.

10. (a) Involuntary termination other than for Cause. (1) Separation pay. In the event your employment hereunder with the Company is terminated by the Company as an “involuntary termination,” as defined in paragraph (a)(4) below, for reasons other than for “Cause” (as defined in paragraph (b) below), the Company shall, subject to paragraph (a)(2) below, after your termination of employment continue to make biweekly payments to you (on the same dates on which your regular biweekly salary would have continued to be paid to you if your employment had not terminated) in an amount equal to your regular biweekly salary (described in paragraph 3) (“continued salary payments”) until the Company has made 26 such payments to you.

(2) Other payment terms. The aggregate of the biweekly payments made pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) above will not in the aggregate exceed the “IRC §409A Limitation Amount.” For purposes hereof, the “IRC §409A Limitation Amount” means two times the lesser of

(1) the sum of your annualized compensation based upon your annual rate of pay for services provided to the Company for the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which your termination of employment occurs (adjusted for any increase during that year that was expected to continue indefinitely if you had not terminated employment); or

(2) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a qualified plan pursuant to section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”), for the calendar year in which your termination of employment occurs,

all within the meaning of IRC §409A and regulations and other guidance promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) with respect thereto or as otherwise provided by such regulations and guidance. The IRC §409A Limitation Amount shall be reduced by the amount of any other amounts required by IRC §409A or regulations or other guidance promulgated by the IRS with respect thereto to be aggregated with the biweekly payments for purposes of applying the IRC §409A Limitation Amount.

If you are a “specified employee” upon your termination of employment with the Company, as defined and determined pursuant to IRC §409A and regulations and other guidance promulgated by the IRS with respect thereto, and if the biweekly payments made pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) above will not be separation pay exempt from the six-month delay rule of IRC §409A and regulations and other guidance promulgated by the IRS with respect thereto, then no payments made pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) above shall be made before the date that is six months after your termination of employment. To the extent such payments are not made before such six-month anniversary date, such payments will be paid to you by the Company on the first business day following such six-month anniversary date.

In all events, all biweekly payments shall be paid no later than the last day of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which your termination of employment occurs.

(3) Other benefits. In addition (in the event that paragraph (a)(1) applies), (i) the Company shall for biweekly periods for which the Company is making continued salary payments pay your cost of continued health and dental coverage under the Company’s group health and dental plans for


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such period as you elect pursuant to the Consolidated Budget Reconciliation Act of 1984 (“COBRA”), (ii) the Company shall pay a pro-rata portion of the Company Performance Bonus described in paragraph 4 of this agreement for the Annual Period during which your termination of employment occurs, such portion to be determined based on the number of days during such Annual Period during which you are employed by the Company plus the number of days in the biweekly periods during such Annual Period for which the Company is making continued salary payments, and such portion to be paid to you by the Company during the period beginning on the January 1, and ending on the March 15, immediately following the end of the Annual Period, and (iii) any stock options granted to you pursuant to the letter of employment dated December 20, 2002 between you and the Company or the letter of employment dated January 17, 2001 between you and the Company (the “Prior Employment Agreements”) or otherwise which are not incentive stock options shall, subject to the terms hereof and subject to the terms of the Prior Employment Agreements and subject to the terms of the option grants, as applicable, continue to become exercisable pursuant to the terms thereof, to the extent applicable, and shall remain exercisable, until the last day in the final biweekly period for which the Company is making continued salary payment as if you had remained employed by the Company until such date, provided, however, that any such extension shall not be beyond the earlier of the latest date upon which the option could have expired by its original terms under any circumstances or the tenth anniversary of the original date of grant of the option. Except as otherwise provided herein, all of your remaining benefits, including the continued vesting and exercisability of Company stock options, shall immediately end upon your termination of employment; provided, however, that any incentive stock options shall continue to vest and be exercisable to the extent provided by and subject to the terms thereof.

(4) “Involuntary termination.” For purposes of this letter, “involuntary termination” means your involuntary separation from service with the Company due to the independent exercise of the unilateral authority of the Company to terminate your services, other than due to your implicit or explicit request, in situations where you are willing and able to continue performing services, all within the meaning of IRC §409A and regulations and other guidance promulgated by the IRS with respect thereto or as otherwise provided by such regulations and guidance.

(b) Involuntary termination for Cause. In the event your employment hereunder with the Company is terminated by the Company for “Cause,” you shall be entitled to salary through and including the effective date of your termination of employment and all other benefits provided for hereunder shall immediately cease. Except as otherwise provided herein, all of your remaining benefits, including the continued vesting and exercisability of stock options, shall immediately end upon your termination of employment; provided, however, that any incentive stock options shall continue to vest and be exercisable to the extent provided by and subject to the terms thereof. For purposes hereof, “Cause” shall mean embezzlement, misappropriation, theft or other criminal conduct, of which you are convicted, related to the property or assets of the Company or your willful refusal to perform or substantial disregard of your duties assigned to you by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, unless you have reasonable and just cause for such refusal to perform or disregard of your duties or unless you commence immediate corrective actions within 15 days after the Chief Executive Officer gives you written notice of his objection to your refusal to perform or disregard of your duties.

 


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(c) Termination for Good Reason. (1) Separation pay. If prior to your termination of employment with the Company pursuant to paragraph 10(a), (b), (d) or (f) there is a “material negative change,” as defined in paragraph (c)(4) below, to the Company’s employment hereunder of you, and the conditions of paragraph (c)(5) below are satisfied, then you shall be entitled, as of the effective date of your termination of employment, to (I) salary through and including the effective date of your termination of employment, and (II) continued biweekly payments to you (on the same dates on which your regular biweekly salary would have continued to be paid to you if your employment had not terminated) in an amount equal to your regular biweekly salary (described in paragraph 3) (“continued salary payments”) until the Company has made 26 such payments to you; provided, however, that, during any period during which you are receiving payments you shall remain subject to the provisions of paragraph 11 below.

(2) Other payment terms. The Company’s obligation to make such payments (pursuant to paragraph (c)(1)) above) to you shall be limited in the same manner as provided in paragraph (a)(2) above and shall be subject to the same prohibition regarding the payment of amounts before the date that is six months after the date of your termination of employment as provided in paragraph (a)(2) above.

(3) Other benefits. In addition (in the event that paragraph (c)(1) applies), (i) the Company shall for biweekly periods for which the Company is making continued salary payments pay your cost of continued health and dental coverage under the Company’s group health and dental plans for such period as you elect pursuant to the Consolidated Budget Reconciliation Act of 1984 (“COBRA”), (ii) the Company shall pay a pro-rata portion of the Company Performance Bonus described in paragraph 4 of this agreement for the Annual Period during which your termination of employment occurs, such portion to be determined based on the number of days during such Annual Period during which you are employed by the Company plus the number of days in the biweekly periods during such Annual Period for which the Company is making continued salary payments, and such portion to be paid to you by the Company during the period beginning on the January 1, and ending on the March 15, immediately following the end of the Annual Period, and (iii) any stock options granted to you pursuant to the Prior Employment Agreements or otherwise which are not incentive stock options shall, subject to the terms hereof and subject to the terms of the Prior Employment Agreements and subject to the terms of the option grants, as applicable, continue to become exercisable pursuant to the terms thereof, to the extent applicable, and shall remain exercisable, until the last day in the final biweekly period for which the Company is making continued salary payment as if you had remained employed by the Company until such date, provided, however, that any such extension shall not be beyond the earlier of the latest date upon which the option could have expired by its original terms under any circumstances or the tenth anniversary of the original date of grant of the option. Except as otherwise provided herein, all of your remaining benefits, including the continued vesting and exercisability of Company stock options, shall immediately end upon your termination of employment; provided, however, that any incentive stock options shall continue to vest and be exercisable to the extent provided by and subject to the terms thereof.

(4) “Material negative change.” There is a “material negative change” to the Company’s employment of you if one or more of the following occur without your consent:

 


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(A) There is a material diminution in your authority, duties or responsibilities as an officer of the Company.

(B) There is a material change in the geographic location at which you must perform your services to the Company.

(C) There is a material breach by the Company of the terms of this letter or other agreement pursuant to which you provide services to the Company.

(5) Conditions for paragraph (c)(1) to apply. The conditions of this paragraph are all of the following:

(A) You provide written notice to the Company of the existence of the material negative change within 90 days of the initial existence of such change.

(B) The Company does not remedy the material negative change within 30 days of the Company’s receipt of such written notice.

(C) As a result of the material negative change not being remedied, your employment by the Company terminates after such 30-day period and not later than twelve months after the initial existence of one or more of the material negative changes, and such termination is not by the Company for Cause or after the occurrence of an event constituting Cause.

(d) Voluntary termination. If you terminate your employment hereunder with the Company and paragraph (c) above does not apply, you shall be entitled to salary through and including the effective date of your termination of employment, and all other benefits provided for hereunder shall immediately cease. Except as otherwise provided herein, all of your remaining benefits, including the continued vesting and exercisability of Company stock options, shall immediately end upon your termination of employment; provided, however, that any incentive stock options shall continue to vest and be exercisable to the extent provided by and subject to the terms thereof.

(e) Outplacement services. If you terminate your employment hereunder with the Company and paragraph (c) above applies or your employment hereunder is terminated by the Company and paragraph (a) above applies, the Company shall provide you with an executive outplacement program of your choice, but the program will be subject to similar terms and conditions as the Company’s other executive outplacement program. These conditions include a maximum fee of 15% of your total compensation and monthly reports from the outplacement firm of your active job search. Furthermore, no such reimbursement shall be for other than reasonable outplacement services incurred by you and directly related to the termination of your employment with the Company. Such expenses must be incurred not later than the end of the first calendar year following the calendar year of your termination of employment. All such expenses must be submitted by you to the Company as promptly as practicable, and in no event later than required by the Company in order for the Company to make such reimbursement no later the last day of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which occurs your termination of employment. In no event will the Company make any such reimbursement later than the last day of second calendar year following the calendar year in which occurs your termination of employment.

 


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(f) Termination for disability or death. If at any time while you are employed hereunder by the Company you die or are determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company to be disabled, the Company may immediately terminate this agreement and your employment. Any such termination of your employment will be with the same consequences as if it were for Cause. For the purpose of this agreement, you shall be deemed to be disabled if you are physically or mentally unable to perform your duties for a period of 180 consecutive days.

(g) Miscellaneous. After the payment of any applicable amounts described in this paragraph 10 and under the COBRA Electronics Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Select Executives (subject to the terms and conditions thereof), you shall have no further rights to recover any amounts from the Company. Notwithstanding any provision of this letter agreement or any provision of the Cobra Electronics Corporation Severance Pay Plan, no amounts will be payable to you pursuant to such plan upon or subsequent to your termination of employment with the Company.

(h) “Termination of employment.” For purposes of paragraphs (a) and (c) above , the determination of whether your employment with the Company has terminated and, if so, the time at which such termination occurs, shall be the same determination as whether you have a “separation from service” with the Company as defined and determined pursuant to IRC §409A and regulations and other guidance promulgated by the IRS with respect thereto. In other words, the term “termination of employment” and similar terms are intended for purposes of paragraphs (a) and (c) above to have the same meaning as the term “separation from service” as defined and determined pursuant to IRC §409A and regulations and other guidance promulgated by the IRS with respect thereto.

11. For a one-year period following the termination of your employment by your decision or by the Company for Cause, you shall not for the benefit of yourself or any business or other entity solicit, directly or indirectly, any of the Company’s employees, or solicit, directly or indirectly, any of the customers of the Company for products which are currently marketed or which have been announced by the Company. In addition, at no time following any termination of your employment shall you disclose or in any way use the confidential and proprietary information obtained during the course of your employment with the Company, including, but not limited to, the Company’s financial and product information and information relating to the Company’s customer and supplier relations.

12. If, at any time of enforcement of any provisions of paragraph 11 of this agreement, a court holds that the restrictions stated therein are unreasonable under the circumstances then existing, you agree that the maximum period, scope, or geographical area reasonable under such circumstances will be substituted for the stated period, scope or area.

13. You acknowledge that the services to be rendered by you hereunder are unique and personal. Accordingly, you may not assign any of your rights or delegate any of your duties or obligations under this agreement. The Company may assign its rights, duties or obligations under this agreement to a purchaser or transferee of all, or substantially all, of the assets of the Company.

 


Mr. Michael Smith

Page  9 ..

 

14. The waiver by either party of a breach by the other party of any provision of this agreement shall not be valid unless in a writing signed by the non-breaching party, and any valid waiver shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.

15. This agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the matters described herein and supersedes any and all prior and/or contemporaneous agreements and understandings, oral or written, between the parties, except for the Prior Employment Agreements to the extent incorporated herein by reference.

16. This agreement shall be, in all respects, construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Illinois.

17. The letter of employment dated November 10, 2005 between you and the Company (the “11/10/05 Agreement”) is hereby amended as set forth below and as so amended will continue in full force and effect with respect to the period of your employment with the Company beginning on January 1, 2006 and ending on December 31, 2007. The 11/10/05 Agreement is amended as follows:

A. Paragraph 4 of the 11/10/05 Agreement is amended by adding the following paragraph after the third paragraph:

Any Company or individual performance bonus for an Annual Period shall be paid to you by the Company during the period beginning on the January 1, and ending on the March 15, immediately following the end of the Annual Period.

B. Paragraph 5 of the 11/10/05 Agreement is amended by adding the following paragraph at the end:

Each monthly payment shall be paid to you by the Company during the month to which the payment pertains.

C. Paragraph 8 of the 11/10/05 Agreement is amended by adding the following three sentences at the end:

In order for any such reimbursement to be made, the expense must be incurred while you are employed by the Company, and you must complete and submit such standard forms for reimbursement in a timely manner and in no event any later than required by the Company in order for the Company to make such reimbursement no later the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which you incur the expense. In no event will the Company make any such reimbursement later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which you incur the expense. Your right to reimbursement is not subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit, and the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement in a calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any subsequent calendar year.

D. Paragraph 9 of the 11/10/05 Agreement is amended by adding the following phrase immediately after the phrase “which the Company adopts for this purpose”:

 


Mr. Michael Smith

Page  10 ..

 

, in either case subject to any amendment thereto to satisfy any requirement of section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations and other guidance promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto

E. Paragraph 17 of the 11/10/05 Agreement is amended by adding the following sentence at the end:

It is acknowledged by you and the Company that, upon any continuation by you of your employment with the Company on January 1, 2008, the provisions of Paragraph 10 of this letter agreement shall be of no force or effect and you shall

have no rights to recover any amounts from the Company pursuant to such Paragraph 10 or with respect to the notice provision of Paragraph 2 of this letter agreement.

If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign this agreement in the appropriate place below and return it to me as soon as possible.

Best regards,

/S/ JAMES BAZET

James Bazet

President and Chief Executive Officer

Agreed and Accepted

on the 21st day of December, 2007:

/S/ MICHAEL SMITH
Michael Smith

 

EX-23.1 4 dex231.htm CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We have issued our report dated March 31, 2008, accompanying the consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report of Cobra Electronics Corporation and Subsidiaries on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference of said report in the registration statements of Cobra Electronics Corporation on Form S-8 Nos. 333-63501 (effective September 16, 1998), 333-42164 (effective July 25, 2000), 333-42166 (effective July 25, 2000) and 333-91078 (effective June 24, 2002).

/S/    GRANT THORNTON LLP

Chicago, Illinois

March 31, 2008

EX-31.1 5 dex311.htm CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Certification of the Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 31.1

Rule 13a – 14(a)/15d – 14(a) Certification

of the Chief Executive Officer

I, James R. Bazet, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Cobra Electronics Corporation;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Date: March 31, 2008

  

/s/    JAMES R. BAZET

   James R. Bazet
  

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

EX-31.2 6 dex312.htm CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Certification of the Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 31.2

Rule 13a – 14(a)/15d – 14(a) Certification

of the Chief Financial Officer

I, Michael Smith, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Cobra Electronics Corporation;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Date: March 31, 2008

  

/s/    MICHAEL SMITH

   Michael Smith
   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
EX-32.1 7 dex321.htm CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Certification of the Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 32.1

Section 1350 Certification of

the Chief Executive Officer

I, James R. Bazet, the chief executive officer of Cobra Electronics Corporation, certify that (i) the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Cobra Electronics Corporation for the annual period ended December 31, 2007 (the “Form 10-K”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and (ii) the information contained in the Form 10-K fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Cobra Electronics Corporation and its subsidiaries.

 

/s/    JAMES R. BAZET

James R. Bazet
March 31, 2008
EX-32.2 8 dex322.htm CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Certification of the Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 32.2

Section 1350 Certification of

the Chief Financial Officer

I, Michael Smith, the chief financial officer of Cobra Electronics Corporation, certify that (i) the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Cobra Electronics Corporation for the annual period ended December 31, 2007 (the “Form 10-K”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and (ii) the information contained in the Form 10-K fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Cobra Electronics Corporation and its subsidiaries.

 

/s/    MICHAEL SMITH

Michael Smith
March 31, 2008
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-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----