Note 2 - Acquisition of Business

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Text Block]

2. Acquisition of Businesses

On December 17, 2010, the company acquired the Cole Hersee Company (“Cole Hersee”), a leading manufacturer of power management products and heavy duty electromechanical and solid-state switches, for approximately $50.0 million. The acquisition allows the company to further expand its off-road, truck and bus business. Cole Hersee is located in Boston, Massachusetts with manufacturing operations in Melchor Muzquiz, Mexico. The company funded the acquisition with available cash.

The following table sets forth the final purchase price allocation for Cole Hersee’s net assets in accordance with the purchase method of accounting with adjustments to record the acquired net assets at their estimated fair market or net realizable values.

Cole Hersee final purchase price allocation (in thousands):
Cash	$	1,708
Current assets, net		17,628
Property, plant and equipment, net		5,368
Customer list		10,700
Distribution network		500
Trademarks		2,900
Goodwill		15,564
Other assets		533
Current liabilities		(2,575	)
Other long-term liabilities		(2,376	)
	$	49,950

All Cole Hersee goodwill and other assets and liabilities were recorded in the Automotive business unit segment and reflected in the Americas geographical area. The customer list is being amortized over 13 years. The distribution network is being amortized over five years.  The trademarks are being amortized over 10 years. Goodwill for the above acquisition is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

As required by purchase accounting rules, the company recorded a $3.7 million step-up of inventory to its fair value as of the acquisition date. During the first quarter of 2011, as this inventory was sold, cost of goods sold included $3.7 million of non-cash charges for this step-up.

On August 3, 2011, the company acquired 100% of Selco A/S (“Selco”), a manufacturer of relays and generator controls for the marine industry, for approximately $11.1 million. The acquisition allows the company to further expand its global relay business within its Electrical business unit segment. Selco is located in Roskilde, Denmark with a sales office located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The company funded the acquisition with available cash.

The following table sets forth the preliminary purchase price allocation for Selco’s net assets, as of August 3, 2011, in accordance with the purchase method of accounting with adjustments to record the acquired net assets at their estimated fair market or net realizable values.

Selco’s preliminary purchase price allocation (in thousands):
Cash	$	5
Current assets, net		3,826
Property, plant and equipment, net		183
Distribution network		3,355
Trademarks		378
Patents and licenses		1,418
Goodwill		6,457
Current liabilities		(4,490	)
	$	11,132

All Selco goodwill and other assets and liabilities were recorded in the Electrical business unit segment and reflected in the Europe geographical area. The goodwill resulting from this acquisition consists largely of the company's expected future product sales and synergies from combining Selco’s products with the company's existing product offerings. The distribution network is being amortized over three to ten years. The trademarks are being amortized over five years. The patents and licenses are being amortized over 10 years. Goodwill for the above acquisition is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

As required by purchase accounting rules, the company recorded a $0.7 million step-up of inventory to its fair value as of the acquisition date. During the fourth quarter of 2011, as this inventory was sold, cost of goods sold included $0.5 million of non-cash charges for this step-up.

Pro forma financial information is not presented for the company’s business acquisitions described above due to amounts not being materially different than actual results.