Exhibit 13
1999 Annual Report
Management's Discussion and Analysis
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Forward-Looking Statements
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This Annual Report, including Management's Discussion and Analysis, the Letter
to Stockholders and Operations, contain forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those in the forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects",
"believes", "estimates", "plans", or similar expressions are intended to
identify such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are
based on the Company's current views and assumptions and involve risks and
uncertainties that include, but are not limited to: the ability to develop,
market and manufacture new innovative products competitively, the ability of the
Company's suppliers to produce and deliver materials competitively, and the
ability to limit the amount of the negative effect on operating results caused
by pricing pressures.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
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The Company's cash balances in excess of operating requirements are currently
invested in money market accounts. These money market accounts are subject to
interest rate risk and interest income will fluctuate in relation to general
money market rates. Based on the cash and cash equivalent balance at December
31, 1999, and assuming the balance was totally invested in money market
instruments for the full year, a hypothetical 1% decline in interest rates would
result in a $31,000 decrease in interest income.
The Company's investment in marketable equity securities, which are classified
as available-for-sale, represents 517,527 shares of MetroWest Bank common stock
and are subject to equity price risk. These securities are recorded on the
balance sheet at fair market value with unrealized gains (losses) reported as a
separate component of stockholders' equity under the caption "accumulated other
comprehensive income". Accordingly, while a hypothetical 10% decline in the
market value of these securities would reduce total assets by approximately
$307,000, this decrease would not have an effect on the statement of operations
unless the securities were actually sold.
The Company purchases certain inventory from and sells product to foreign
countries. As these activities are currently transacted in U.S. dollars, they
are not subject to foreign currency exchange risk. However, significant
fluctuation in the currencies where the Company purchases inventory or sell
product could make the U.S. dollar equivalent of such transactions more or less
favorable to the Company and other involved parties.
