COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS INC
10-Q, 1997-08-13
TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH APPARATUS
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================================================================================
                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
    X           QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended   JUNE 30, 1997
                               ------------------------------------------

                                       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:   0-10355

                          COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.
 ................................................................................
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          MINNESOTA                                         41-0957999
 ................................................................................
(State or  other jurisdiction of                         (Federal Employer
 incorporation  or organization)                         Identification No.)

  213 South Main Street, Hector, MN                            55342
 ................................................................................
(Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip Code)

                                 (320) 848-6231
 ................................................................................
               Registrant's telephone number, including area code

 ................................................................................
  (Former name, address, and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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
                                         ---     ---

                APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
                  PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:
Indicate  by check mark  whether  the  registrant  has filed all  documents  and
reports  required  to be filed by  Sections  12, 13, or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the  distribution of securities  under a plan
confirmed by a court. YES     NO
                         ---    ---

                      APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:
Indicate  the number of shares  outstanding  of each of the  issuers  classes of
common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

       CLASS                                      Outstanding at July 31, 1997
Common Stock, par value                                     9,205,713
   $.05 per share

                Total Pages (12) Exhibit Index at (NO EXHIBITS)
================================================================================


<PAGE>


                  COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                      INDEX

                                                               Page No.
Part I.  Financial Information

         Item 1.  Financial Statements

              Consolidated Balance Sheets                         3

              Consolidated Statements of Income                   4

              Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity     5

              Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows               6

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements          7

         Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of
              Financial Condition and Results of Operations       9

Part II.  Other Information                                      12


                                       2
<PAGE>



                          PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                  COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                   (unaudited)

                                         June 30         December 31
Assets:                                     1997                1996
                                    ____________        ____________
Current assets:
<S>                                <C>                 <C>
   Cash                            $  20,715,678       $  17,799,398
   Marketable securities                 786,325             889,782
   Receivables, net                   11,665,420          10,375,080
   Inventories - Note 3               16,055,091          13,861,914
   Prepaid expenses                      274,756             460,692
   Deferred income taxes               1,062,283             792,000
                                    ____________        ____________
      Total current assets            50,559,553          44,178,866

Property, plant and equipment         25,793,418          24,299,704
  less accumulated depreciation      (16,355,320)        (15,335,114)
                                    ____________        ____________
  Net property, plant and equipment    9,438,098           8,964,590

Net assets of discontinued operations                        536,679

Other assets:
  Investments in mortgage backed
    and other securities               3,905,368           4,487,934
  Excess of cost over net assets
    acquired                           3,063,957           3,166,422
  Deferred income taxes                  835,047             835,047
  Notes receivable from sale of
    assets of discontinued operations  4,665,390           4,866,597
  Other assets                           918,587             559,979
                                    ____________        ____________
      Total other assets              13,388,349          13,915,979
                                    ____________        ____________

Total Assets                       $  73,386,000       $  67,596,114
                                    ____________        ____________
                                    ____________        ____________

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:

Current liabilities:
   Accounts payable               $    3,546,794      $    3,164,406
   Accrued expenses                    3,204,624           2,622,853
   Dividends payable                     828,109             728,585
   Income taxes payable                2,493,047           2,064,792
                                    ____________        ____________
      Total current liabilities       10,072,574           8,580,636


Stockholders' Equity                  63,313,426          59,015,478
                                    ____________        ____________

Total Liabilities and
   Stockholders'Equity            $   73,386,000      $   67,596,114
                                    ____________        ____________
                                    ____________        ____________

          See notes to consolidated financial statements.

</TABLE>

                                       3
<PAGE>


                  COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                   (unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               Three Months Ended June 30       Six Months Ended June 30
                                             _____________________________    ____________________________
                                                     1997             1996            1997            1996
                                             ____________     ____________    ____________    ____________
Revenues from continuing operations:
<S>                                          <C>              <C>             <C>             <C>
  Sales                                      $ 20,181,244     $ 16,433,864    $ 36,997,263    $ 32,227,685

Costs and expenses:
  Cost of sales                                13,834,378       11,812,722      25,659,409      22,975,386
  Selling, general and
    administrative expenses                     2,987,631        2,696,442       5,611,137       5,014,938
                                             ____________     ____________    ____________    ____________
      Total costs and expenses                 16,822,009       14,509,164      31,270,546      27,990,324
                                             ____________     ____________    ____________    ____________

Operating income from
  continuing operations                         3,359,235        1,924,700       5,726,717       4,237,361

Other income and (expenses):
  Investment income                               399,159          173,159         775,246         315,213
  Interest expense                                                  (5,609)                        (12,007)
                                             ____________     ____________    ____________    ____________
    Other income, net                             399,159          167,550         775,246         303,206

Income from continuing operations
  before income taxes                           3,758,394        2,092,250       6,501,963       4,540,567

Income taxes (Note 4)                             875,000          425,000       1,450,000         870,000
                                             ____________     ____________    ____________    ____________

Income from continuing operations               2,883,394        1,667,250       5,051,963       3,670,567

Income from discontinued operations,
    net of income taxes                                           (368,636)                       (327,278)
                                             ____________     ____________    ____________    ____________

Net income                                  $   2,883,394    $   1,298,614   $   5,051,963   $   3,343,289
                                             ____________     ____________    ____________    ____________
                                             ____________     ____________    ____________    ____________

Net income per share:
  Continuing operations                     $         .31    $         .18   $         .55   $         .39
  Discontinued operations                                             (.04)                           (.03)
                                             ____________     ____________    ____________    ____________
                                            $         .31    $         .14   $         .55   $         .36
                                             ____________     ____________    ____________    ____________
                                             ____________     ____________    ____________    ____________

Average common and common
  equivalent shares outstanding                 9,259,000        9,425,000       9,234,000       9,412,000
                                             ____________     ____________    ____________    ____________
                                             ____________     ____________    ____________    ____________

                 See notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>

                                       4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                   (unaudited)

                                                                          Additional                     Cumulative
                                                   Common Stock             Paid in        Retained     Translation
                                                Shares       Amount         Capital        Earnings      Adjustment          Total
                                             __________ _____________    ___________    ____________    ___________    ____________
<S>                                           <C>           <C>          <C>             <C>              <C>           <C>
BALANCE at December 31, 1995                  9,183,401     $459,170     $19,706,125     $34,140,435      ($230,154)    $54,075,576
  Net Income                                                                               8,232,531                      8,232,531
  Shareholder dividends                                                                   (2,868,154)                    (2,868,154)
  Issuance of common stock under
    Employee Stock Purchase Plan                 14,346          717         157,806                                        158,523
  Issuance of common stock under
    Employee Stock Option Plan                   52,381        2,619         466,427                                        469,046
  Tax benefit from nonqualified
    employee stock options                                                    12,701                                         12,701
  Purchase of Communications Systems
    Inc. common stock                          (255,495)     (12,775)       (601,381)     (2,648,527)                    (3,262,683)
  Issuance of common stock to acquire
    Automatic Tool and Connector Co.            112,676        5,634       1,712,675                                      1,718,309
  Cumulative translation adjustment                                                                         479,629         479,629
                                             __________ _____________    ___________    ____________    ___________    ____________
BALANCE at December 31, 1996                  9,107,309      455,365      21,454,353      36,856,285        249,475      59,015,478
  Net Income                                                                               5,051,963                      5,051,963
  Shareholder dividends                                                                   (1,563,406)                    (1,563,406)
  Issuance of common stock to
    Employee Stock Ownership Plan                20,870        1,044         298,956                                        300,000
  Issuance of common stock under
    Employee Stock Option Plan                   73,034        3,652         665,657                                        669,309
  Cumulative translation adjustment                                                                        (159,918)       (159,918)
                                             __________ _____________    ___________    ____________    ___________    ____________
BALANCE at June 30, 1997                      9,201,213     $460,061     $22,418,966     $40,344,842        $89,557     $63,313,426
                                             __________ _____________    ___________    ____________    ___________    ____________
                                             __________ _____________    ___________    ____________    ___________    ____________


See notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>

                                       5
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (unaudited)
                                                                      Six Months Ended June 30
                                                                   ____________________________
                                                                            1997           1996
                                                                    ____________   ____________
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
<S>                                                               <C>             <C>
    Net income                                                    $    5,051,963  $   3,343,289
    Add:  Loss from discontinued operations                                             327,278
                                                                    ____________   ____________
    Income from continuing operations                                  5,051,963      3,670,567

    Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations
      to net cash provided by operating activities:
        Depreciation and amortization                                  1,246,477      1,219,550
        Adjustment to marketable securities reserve                      (24,684)        31,134
        Changes in assets and liabilities:
          Decrease in marketable securities                              128,141
          Increase in accounts receivable                             (1,250,215)      (977,050)
          Decrease (increase) in inventory                            (2,236,126)       576,564
          Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses                        184,692       (191,416)
          Increase in deferred income taxes                             (269,643)      (221,000)
          Increase (decrease) in accounts payable                        431,064     (1,170,408)
          Increase in accrued expenses                                   594,946        394,610
          Increase (decrease) in income taxes payable                    426,952        (93,733)
                                                                    ____________   ____________
            Net cash provided by operating activities                  4,283,567      3,238,818

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
    Capital expenditures                                              (1,601,178)    (1,310,857)
    Decrease in mortgage backed and other investment securities          582,566        498,259
    Decrease (increase) in other assets                                 (458,039)       162,185
    Changes in assets and liabilities of discontinued operations         536,679         23,128
    Decrease in notes receivable from discontinued operations            201,207
    Payment for purchase of Austin Taylor Communications, Ltd.           (79,947)      (135,131)
    Payment for purchase of Automatic Tool and Connector
      Company, Inc., net of cash acquired                                            (1,178,008)
                                                                    ____________   ____________
          Net cash used in investing activities                         (818,712)    (1,940,424)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
    Repayment of notes payable                                                          (47,387)
    Dividends paid                                                    (1,463,882)    (1,294,413)
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock                               969,309        452,171
                                                                    ____________   ____________
          Net cash used in financing activities                         (494,573)      (889,629)
                                                                    ____________   ____________

EFFECT OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH                          (54,002)         2,756
                                                                    ____________   ____________

NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                              2,916,280        411,521

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD                      17,799,398     11,703,536
                                                                    ____________   ____________

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD                        $   20,715,678  $   12,115,057
                                                                    ____________   ____________
                                                                    ____________   ____________

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
    Income taxes paid                                             $    1,010,076  $     793,841
    Interest paid                                                           --           12,007

                        See notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>

                                       6
<PAGE>

                  COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


NOTE 1 - CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The balance sheet and statement of stockholders' equity as of June 30, 1997, the
statements of income for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 1997 and
1996,  and the statements of cash flows for the six month periods ended June 30,
1997 and 1996 have been prepared by the Company without audit. In the opinion of
management,  all adjustments  (which include only normal recurring  adjustments)
necessary to present fairly the financial position,  results of operations,  and
cash flows at June 30, 1997 and 1996 have been made.

Certain  information  and footnote  disclosures  normally  included in financial
statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles
have been  condensed  or omitted.  It is  suggested  these  condensed  financial
statements  be read in  conjunction  with the  financial  statements  and  notes
thereto   included  in  the  Company's   December  31,  1996  Annual  Report  to
Shareholders.  The results of  operations  for the periods ended June 30 are not
necessarily indicative of the operating results for the entire year.

NOTE 2 - DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

On  November  4,  1996,   the  Company   completed  the  sale  of  its  contract
manufacturing subsidiary,  Zercom Corporation,  to Nortech Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq
National  Market:  NSYS).  Nortech  Systems  acquired  all the assets of Zercom,
except cash and  accounts  receivable,  in exchange  for $1.5 million cash and a
$4.9 million term note secured by Zercom's assets.

The Company's financial statements have been restated to separate the net assets
and  operating  results  of Zercom  Corporation  from the  Company's  continuing
operations. Zercom's operating results were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                  Three Months Ended         Six Months Ended
                                      June 30, 1996             June 30, 1996
                                ---------------------      -------------------

<S>                             <C>                        <C>
  Sales                         $           4,147,833      $         8,813,125
  Costs and expenses                        4,724,513                9,323,714
  Interest income, net                          8,044                   13,311
                                ---------------------      -------------------
  Loss before income taxes                   (568,636)                (497,278)
  Income tax benefit                         (200,000)                (170,000)
                               ----------------------     --------------------
  Net loss                      $            (368,636)     $          (327,278)
                               ======================     ====================
</TABLE>


Net assets of discontinued Zercom operations at December 31, 1996 consisted of:

<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
  Accounts receivable                          $             567,679
  Deferred income taxes                                      269,000
  Accrued expenses                                          (300,000)
                                               ----------------------
  Net assets of discontinued operations        $             536,679
                                               ======================
</TABLE>



                                       7
<PAGE>

                  COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTE 3 - INVENTORIES

Inventories summarized below are priced at the lower of first-in, first-out cost
or market:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                            June 30           December 31
                                              1997                  1996
<S>                              <C>                  <C>
     Finished Goods              $         4,850,001  $          3,957,655
     Raw Materials                        11,205,090             9,904,259
                                 -------------------  --------------------
       Total                     $        16,055,091  $         13,861,914
                                 ===================  ====================
</TABLE>

NOTE 4 - INCOME TAXES

Income taxes are computed based upon the estimated  effective rate applicable to
operating  results for the full fiscal year. For the periods ended June 30, 1997
and 1996 income taxes do not bear a normal  relationship to income before income
taxes,  primarily  because income from Puerto Rico operations are taxed at rates
lower than the U.S. rate.

NOTE 5 - NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE

Net  income  per share is based on the  weighted  average  number of common  and
common  equivalent  shares  outstanding  during the periods.  Common  equivalent
shares  reflect the dilutive  effect of outstanding  stock options.  Primary and
fully diluted earnings per share are substantially the same.

The Financial  Accounting  Standards Board (FASB) has issued SFAS 128, "Earnings
per Share" which requires  public  companies to present basic earnings per share
and, if  applicable,  diluted  earnings  per share  instead of primary and fully
diluted earnings per share. SFAS 128 is effective for interim and annual periods
ending after  December 15,  1997.  The new standard  would have no effect on the
Company's net income per share for the periods ended June 30, 1997 and 1996.

NOTE 6 - ACQUISITION OF AUTOMATIC TOOL AND CONNECTOR CO., INC.

Effective  January 4, 1996,  the  Company  purchased  all the  capital  stock of
Automatic Tool and Connector Co., Inc. for $3,191,000,  consisting of $1,473,000
of cash and 112,676  shares of the  Company's  common  stock.  The fair value of
assets acquired in the transaction was $4,063,000 (which includes excess of cost
over net assets acquired of $2,864,000,  which is being amortized over ten years
on a straight line basis) and  liabilities of $872,000 were assumed.  Results of
Automatic Tool, which are not material to the Company's  financial results,  are
included in Company operations beginning January 4, 1996.


                                       8
<PAGE>



                  COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
         Condition and Results of Operations

                   Six Months Ended June 30, 1997 Compared to
                         Six Months Ended June 30, 1996

Revenues from continuing  operations  increased  $4,770,000 or 15% from the 1996
period.  Sales to domestic (U.S. and Puerto Rico) customers increased $3,280,000
or  13%.  Sales  to the Big 8  telephone  companies  (the  seven  Regional  Bell
Operating Companies and GTE) increased $2,476,000 or 15%. The sales increase was
due to a 78% increase in sales of the  Company's  CorroShield  line of corrosion
resistant products from the 1996 period.  CorroShield products accounted for 36%
of all  shipments  from  U.S.  plants  in the 1997  period.  Sales to  retailers
increased $317,000 or 14% due to increased sales to Radio Shack stores. Sales to
electrical  distributors and original equipment manufacturers increased $604,000
or 10%, due to increased  sales of data  products and  increased  sales of voice
products to distributors.

Sales to international  customers  increased  $1,489,000 or 22%. Sales by Austin
Taylor, the Company's United Kingdom based subsidiary,  increased  $1,344,000 or
25% due to  increased  sales of  metal  street  cabinets  and  cable  television
("CATV") customer premise equipment to U.K. based customers.  U.S. export sales,
including sales to Canada, increased $145,000 or 10%.

Gross  margin  as a  percentage  of sales  was 31%  compared  to 29% in the 1996
period.  Margin  percentages  in U.S.  plants were 33%  compared to 31% in 1996.
Improvements  were due to volume  drive  reductions  in  manufacturing  overhead
percentages,  which offset higher raw material  costs.  Margins earned on Austin
Taylor  products  improved  to 19%  from  17% in the  1996  period  for the same
reasons.

Selling,  general and administrative expenses increased $596,000 or 12% from the
1996 period.  The increase was due to increased  sales expenses  associated with
efforts to increase  sales of the  Company's  data  products and develop  export
markets for telephone station apparatus products.

Operating  income  from  continuing  operations  increased  $1,489,000  or  35%.
Investment  income,  net of interest expense,  increased  $472,000 from the 1996
period due to higher  interest  rates  earned on  investments  and  increases in
investable  cash  balances.  The  Company's  effective  income  tax rate was 22%
compared to 19% in the 1996  period.  The  Company's  tax rate is lower than the
full U.S.  rate due to tax  exemptions  and benefits  received by the  Company's
Puerto Rico  operations.  The  Company's  effective tax rate  increased  because
income from Puerto Rico in the 1997 period exceeded the tax credits available to
the  Company to  completely  shelter  it from U.S tax.  Income  from  continuing
operations increased $1,381,000,  or 38%. Loss from discontinued  operations was
$327,000 in the 1996 period. Net income increased $1,709,000, or 51%.


                                       9
<PAGE>

                  COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                  Three Months Ended June 30, 1997 Compared to
                        Three Months Ended June 30, 1996

Revenues from continuing  operations  increased  $3,747,000 or 23% from the 1996
period.  Sales to domestic (U.S. and Puerto Rico) customers increased $2,222,000
or  17%.  Sales  to the Big 8  telephone  companies  (the  seven  Regional  Bell
Operating Companies and GTE) increased $1,367,000 or 15%. The sales increase was
due to an 85% increase in sales of the Company's  CorroShield  line of corrosion
resistant products from the 1996 period. A portion of the increased  CorroShield
volume  was due to  shipments  scheduled  for March  which were  delayed  due to
inventory  supply  problems.  CorroShield  products  accounted  for  40%  of all
shipments from U.S. plants in the 1997 period. Sales to electrical  distributors
and  original  equipment  manufacturers  increased  $1,108,000  or  46%,  due to
increased sales of data products and increased sales of CorroShield  products to
distributors. Sales to retailers decreased $44,000 or 3%.

Sales to international  customers  increased  $1,525,000 or 50%. Sales by Austin
Taylor, the Company's United Kingdom based subsidiary,  increased  $1,127,000 or
48% due to increased  sales of metal street  cabinets and CATV customer  premise
equipment to U.K. based customers. U.S. export sales, including sales to Canada,
increased $398,000 or 57% due to increased export sales of CorroShield products.

Gross  margin  as a  percentage  of sales  was 31%  compared  to 28% in the 1996
period.  Margin  percentages  in U.S.  plants were 34%  compared to 31% in 1996.
Improvements  were due to volume  drive  reductions  in  manufacturing  overhead
percentages,  which offset higher raw material  costs.  Margins earned on Austin
Taylor  products  improved  to 19%  from  12% in the  1996  period  for the same
reasons.

Selling,  general and administrative expenses increased $291,000 or 11% from the
1996 period.  The increase was due to increased  sales expenses  associated with
efforts to increase  sales of the  Company's  data  products and develop  export
markets for telephone station apparatus products.

Operating  income  from  continuing  operations  increased  $1,435,000  or  75%.
Investment  income,  net of interest expense,  increased  $232,000 from the 1996
period due to higher  interest  rates  earned on  investments  and  increases in
investable  cash  balances.  The  Company's  effective  income  tax rate was 23%
compared to 20% in the 1996  period.  The  Company's  tax rate is lower than the
full U.S.  rate due to tax  exemptions  and benefits  received by the  Company's
Puerto Rico  operations.  The  Company's  effective tax rate  increased  because
income from Puerto Rico in the 1997 period exceeded the tax credits available to
the  Company to  completely  shelter  it from U.S tax.  Income  from  continuing
operations increased $1,216,000,  or 73%. Loss from discontinued  operations was
$369,000 in the 1996 period. Net income increased $1,585,000, or 122%.



                                       10
<PAGE>

                 COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                        Liquidity and Capital Commitments

At June 30, 1997, the Company held approximately $20,716,000 of cash compared to
$17,799,000 at December 31, 1996.  Working capital was  $40,487,000  compared to
$35,598,000  at December  31, 1996.  The  Company's  current  ratio was 5.0 to 1
compared to 5.1 to 1 at December 31,  1996.  In addition to its cash and working
capital balances, the Company also holds investments in long-term securities and
notes receivable totaling $8,571,000.

Net cash provided by operating  activities was $4,286,000 compared to $3,239,000
in the first six months of 1996.  Cash was utilized during the period to finance
increases in accounts receivable and inventory, purchase new plant and equipment
and pay dividends.

Under  provisions  of  the  Small  Business  Job  Protection  Act of  1996,  the
possessions  tax credit,  which  shelters the Company's  Puerto Rico income from
U.S. income tax, was repealed for years after 1995. However,  companies like CSI
which currently  qualify for the credit,  may continue to claim the credit until
2005, subject to certain  limitations.  As of July 1, 1996, the credit no longer
applied to investment  income earned in Puerto Rico. The credit will continue to
apply to business  income earned in Puerto Rico through 2001. For the years 2002
to 2005, the amount of Puerto Rico business  income eligible for the credit will
be limited to an inflation  adjusted amount based on Puerto Rico business income
earned from 1990 to 1994. The possessions tax credit has a materially  favorable
effect on the Company's income tax expense.  Had the Company incurred income tax
expense on Puerto  Rico  operations  in 1997 at the full U.S.  rate,  income tax
expense would have increased by $1,200,000.

The  Company's  balance  sheet  remains  strong,  with  stockholders'  equity of
$63,313,000  and no long-term  debt. The Company has available a $2,000,000 bank
line of credit.  Management  believes,  based on the Company's current financial
position and projected future expenditures,  that sufficient funds are available
to meet the Company's anticipated needs.

The  acquisition  of Automatic  Tool and  Connector Co. and the  disposition  of
Zercom  Corporation as well as other  acquisitions  and dispositions the Company
has made  over the past  several  years  have  served  to  expand  and focus the
Company's  telecommunications  product  offerings and customer base in both U.S.
and  international  markets.  The Company is seeking to  position  itself in the
marketplace as a growth oriented manufacturer of  telecommunications  connecting
devices.  The Company is continuing to search for  acquisition  candidates  with
products that will enable the Company to better serve its target markets.




                                       11
<PAGE>

                 COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                           PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Items 1 - 3.  Not Applicable

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

The Annual  Meeting of the  Shareholders  of the  Registrant was held on May 22,
1997 in Minneapolis,  MN. The total number of shares outstanding and entitled to
vote at the meeting was  9,191,213 of which  8,584,389  were  present  either in
person or by proxy. Shareholders reelected Board Members Paul J. Anderson, Wayne
E.  Sampson  and  Frederick  M. Green to three year terms  expiring  at the 2000
Annual Meeting of Shareholders.  Shareholders also elected Luella Gross Goldberg
and Gerald D. Pint to newly created Board positions. Ms. Goldberg's term expires
at the 1999 Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders  and Mr. Pint's term expires at the
1998 Annual Meeting of  Shareholders.  The vote in favor of electing these Board
Members is summarized below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                        In Favor               Abstaining
<S>                                     <C>                       <C>
     Paul J. Anderson                   8,565,189                 19,200
     Wayne E. Sampson                   8,519,201                 65,188
     Frederick M. Green                 8,565,889                 18,500
     Luella Gross Goldberg              8,563,989                 20,400
     Gerald D. Pint                     8,565,489                 18,900
</TABLE>

Other Board  Members  continuing  in office are Curtis A.  Sampson and Joseph W.
Parris (whose terms expire at the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders) and Edwin
C. Freeman,  Edward E.  Strickland and John C. Ortman (whose terms expire at the
1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders).


Items 5 - 6.  Not Applicable


Signatures

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereto duly authorized.

                                      Communications Systems, Inc.

                                  By  Paul N. Hanson
                                      ----------------------------
                                      Paul N. Hanson
                                      Vice President and
                                      Chief Financial Officer
Date:  August 13, 1997


                                       12
<PAGE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                              5
<LEGEND>
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                         0000022701
<NAME>                       COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                           1
<CURRENCY>                                             U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                            <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                          6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                 DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                    JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                      JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                        1
<CASH>                                        20,715,678
<SECURITIES>                                     786,325
<RECEIVABLES>                                 12,453,420
<ALLOWANCES>                                     788,000
<INVENTORY>                                   16,055,091
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              50,559,553
<PP&E>                                        25,793,418
<DEPRECIATION>                                16,355,320
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                73,386,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         10,072,574
<BONDS>                                                0
                                  0
                                            0
<COMMON>                                         460,061
<OTHER-SE>                                    62,853,365
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  73,386,000
<SALES>                                       36,997,263
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              36,997,263
<CGS>                                         25,659,409
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 25,659,409
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               5,611,137
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                6,501,963
<INCOME-TAX>                                   1,450,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            5,051,963
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                   5,051,963
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          0.55
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          0.55
        


</TABLE>


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