ITEM 1A
RISK FACTORS
The following risk factors and other information included in this Annual Report should be carefully considered. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones the Company faces. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company, or that the Company presently deems less significant, may also impair the Company’s operations. If any of the following risks actually occur, the Company’s business operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. The order of these risk factors does not reflect their relative importance or likelihood of occurrence.
The Company has identified material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting, which could, if not remediated, adversely affect its ability to report its financial condition and results of operations in a timely and accurate manner. If the Company fails to comply with requirements relating to internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the business could be harmed and its stock price could decline.
Rules adopted by the SEC pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 require the Company to assess its internal control over financial reporting annually. The rules governing the standards that must be met for management to assess its internal control over financial reporting are complex. They require significant documentation, testing, and possible remediation of any significant deficiencies in and/or material weaknesses of internal controls in order to meet the detailed standards under these rules. Additionally, it is necessary for us to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting to prevent fraud and errors and to maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures so that we can provide timely and reliable financial and other information. A failure to maintain adequate internal controls may adversely affect the Company’s ability to provide financial statements that accurately reflect its financial condition and report information on a timely basis. The Company has evaluated its internal control over financial reporting and determined that it was not effective as of September 30, 2025 and that material weaknesses existed as of that date, and the Company has also concluded that its disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2025 due to material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting. See Item 9A – Controls and Procedures – Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
As described in Item 9A—Controls and Procedures– Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, the Company has begun, and will continue the process of remediating its identified material weaknesses. Management’s continuing evaluation and work to enhance the Company’s internal control over financial reporting has required and will continue to require the dedication of additional resources and management time and expense. If the Company fails to maintain the effectiveness of its internal controls, including any failure to implement new or improved controls, or if the Company experiences difficulties in their implementation, the Company’s business and operating results could be harmed, and the Company could fail to meet its financial reporting obligations, which in turn could affect the market price of the Company’s securities. In addition, perceptions of the Company among customers, lenders, investors, securities analysts and others could also be adversely affected. The current material weaknesses or any weaknesses or deficiencies identified in the future could also hurt confidence in the Company’s business and the accuracy and completeness of the Company’s financial statements, and adversely affect the Company’s ability to do business with these groups.
The Company can give no assurances that the remediation measures it has implemented and will begin implementing, or any future measures it may take, will remediate the material weaknesses identified or that any additional material weaknesses will not arise or be identified in the future due to the Company’s failure to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting. In addition, even if the Company is successful in strengthening its controls and procedures, those controls and procedures may not be effective to prevent or identify irregularities or ensure the fair and accurate presentation of the Company’s financial statements included in its periodic reports filed with the SEC.
The business is affected by the cyclical nature of the markets it serves .
The demand for the Company’s products is dependent on general economic conditions and more specifically, federal and state funding for highways and roads. Adverse economic and political conditions may cause customers to forego or delay new purchases and rely more on repairing existing equipment, thus negatively impacting the Company’s sales and profits.
The business is affected by the level of government funding for highway construction in the United States and Canada .
Most highway contractors in the U.S. and Canada depend on funding by federal, provincial, state and local agencies for highway, transit and infrastructure programs. Future legislation may increase or decrease government spending, which, if decreased, could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. Federal and/or state funding allocated to infrastructure may decrease in the future. For example, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (the “IIJ Act”), which provides $110 billion for domestic highways, bridges and roads, is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2026.
The loss of any relationship with a large customer, or a significant downturn in the business or financial condition of any such customer, could have adverse consequences on the Company’s future business.
During the year ended September 30, 2025, no customer accounted for more than 10% of net revenue. During the year ended September 30, 2024, one customer accounted for 11.3% of net revenue. The loss of a relationship with a large customer, or a significant reduction in sales to any such customer, could adversely affect the Company’s revenues and, consequently, its business.
The Company may be required to reduce its profit margins on contracts where revenues are recognized over time.
Revenues from contracts with customers for the design, manufacture and sale of custom equipment are recognized over time when the performance obligation is satisfied by transferring control of the equipment. Control of the equipment transfers over time as the equipment is unique to the specific contract and thus does not create an asset with an alternative use. Revenues and costs are recognized in proportion to actual labor costs incurred, as compared with total estimated labor costs expected to be incurred during the entire contract. As a result, revisions made to the estimates of revenues and profits are recorded in the period in which the conditions that require such revisions become known and can be estimated. Although the Company believes that its profit margins are fairly stated and that adequate provisions for losses for its fixed-price contracts are recorded in the financial statements, as required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), the Company cannot assure that its estimated contract profit margins will not decrease or its estimated loss provisions will not increase materially in the future.
The Company may encounter difficulties with acquisitions .
As part of its strategy, the Company intends to evaluate the acquisition of other companies, assets or product lines that would complement or expand the Company’s existing business or broaden its customer base. Although the Company conducts due diligence reviews of potential acquisition candidates, it may not be able to identify all material liabilities or risks related to potential acquisitions. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to locate and acquire any business, retain key personnel and customers of an acquired business or integrate any acquired business successfully. Additionally, there can be no assurance that financing for any acquisition, if necessary, will be available on acceptable terms, if at all, or that the Company will be able to accomplish its strategic objectives in connection with any acquisition.
The Company’s marketable securities are comprised of cash and money funds, corporate bonds, exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, equities and government securities invested through a professional investment management firm and are subject to various risks, such as interest rates, markets, and credit .
The Company’s marketable securities are comprised of cash and money funds, corporate bonds, exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, equities and government securities invested through professional investment management firms and are subject to various risks, such as interest rate risk, market risk, and credit risk. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of securities, adverse developments with respect to interest rates, the capital markets or the credit markets could have a material adverse impact on the value of these investment securities and ultimately, the Company’s results of operations.
There are and will continue to be quarterly fluctuations of the Company’s operating results .
The Company’s operating results historically have fluctuated from quarter to quarter as a result of a number of factors, including the value, timing and shipment of individual orders and the mix of products sold. Revenues from contracts with customers for the design, manufacture and sale of custom equipment are recognized over time when the performance obligation is satisfied by transferring control of the equipment. Revenues from all other contracts for the design and manufacture of equipment, for service and for parts sales, net of any discounts and return allowances, are recorded at a point in time when control of the goods or services has been transferred. The Company’s asphalt production equipment operations are subject to seasonal fluctuations, which may lower revenues and result in possible quarterly operating losses.
If the Company is unable to attract and retain key personnel, its business could be adversely affected .
The success of the Company will continue to depend substantially upon the efforts, abilities and services of its management team and certain other key employees. The loss of one or more key employees could adversely affect the Company’s operations. The Company’s ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, either through direct hiring, or acquisition of other businesses employing such persons, will also be an important factor in determining its future success.
The Company may be required to defend its intellectual property against infringement or against infringement claims of others .
The Company holds patents covering technology and applications related to various products, equipment and systems, and trademarks and trade names registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in various foreign countries. There can be no assurance as to the breadth or degree of protection that future patents or trademarks may afford the Company, or that any pending patent or trademark applications will result in issued patents or trademarks, or that the Company’s patents, registered trademarks or patent applications, if any, will be upheld if challenged, or that competitors will not develop similar or superior methods or products outside the protection of any patents issued, licensed or sublicensed to the Company. Although the Company believes that none of its technologies, products or trademarks infringe upon the patents, technologies, products or trademarks of others, it is possible that the Company’s trademarks or other rights may not be valid or that infringement of future patents, trademarks or proprietary rights may occur. In the event that the Company’s products are deemed to infringe upon the patent or proprietary rights of others, the Company could be required to modify the design of its products, change the name of its products or obtain a license for the use of certain technologies incorporated into its products. There can be no assurance that the Company would be able to do any of the foregoing in a timely manner, upon acceptable terms and conditions, or at all, and the failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on the Company. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Company will have the financial or other resources necessary to enforce or defend a patent, registered trademark or other proprietary right, and, if the Company’s products are deemed to infringe upon the patents, trademarks or other proprietary rights of others, the Company could become liable for damages, which could also have a material adverse effect on the Company.
The Company may be subject to substantial liability for its products .
The Company is engaged in a business that could expose it to possible liability claims for personal injury or property damage due to alleged design or manufacturing defects in its products. The Company believes that it meets existing professional specification standards recognized or required in the industries in which it operates, and there are no known material product liability claims pending against the Company as of the date hereof. Although the Company currently maintains product liability coverage, which it believes is adequate for the continued operation of its business, such insurance may prove inadequate or become difficult to obtain or unobtainable in the future on terms acceptable to the Company.
The Company is dependent upon third-party suppliers, making it vulnerable to supply shortages and price increases.
The principal raw material the Company uses is carbon steel which is sourced through numerous suppliers. The Company also uses select suppliers to provide proprietary components to its finished products. Although the Company believes that raw materials are available from alternate sources, an interruption in the supply of steel or related products or a substantial increase in the price of steel or related products could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s production and its results of operations.
In addition, the cost of parts or materials may increase significantly for reasons other than changes in commodity prices. Factors such as supply and demand, freight costs, availability of transportation, availability of labor, inventory levels, the level of imports, the imposition of duties and tariffs and other trade barriers and general economic conditions may affect the price of our parts or materials. Market conditions could limit the Company’s ability to raise selling prices to offset increases in material and/or labor costs.
In the future, we could experience some disruption in the supply of some of our parts or materials that we purchase from suppliers. Delays in obtaining parts or materials may result from a number of factors affecting our suppliers including capacity constraints, labor shortages or supplier product quality issues. These risks are increased in a weak economic environment or when demand increases coming out of an economic downturn. Such disruptions could result in manufacturing inefficiencies caused by the Company having to wait for parts to arrive on production lines, could delay sales and could result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, and/or cash flows.
The business is affected by the prices of liquid asphalt and oil.
A significant increase in the price of liquid asphalt could decrease demand for hot mix asphalt paving materials and certain of the Company’s products. Increases in oil prices also drive up the cost of gasoline and diesel, which results in increased freight costs. Where possible, the Company will pass increased freight costs on to its customers. However, the Company may not be able to recapture all of the higher costs and thus could have a negative impact on the Company’s financial performance.
The Company is subject to government regulations .
The Company is subject to a variety of governmental regulations relating to the manufacturing of its products. Failure by the Company to comply with regulations could subject it to liabilities, or suspension of production that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results. Such regulations could also restrict the Company’s ability to expand its facilities, or to incur other expenses to comply with such regulations. Although the Company believes it has the design and manufacturing capability to meet all industry or governmental agency standards that may apply to its product lines, including all domestic and foreign environmental, structural, electrical and safety codes, there can be no assurance that governmental laws and regulations will not become more stringent over time, imposing greater compliance costs and increasing risks and penalties associated with a violation. The cost to the Company of such compliance to date has not materially affected its business, financial condition or results of operations. There can be no assurance, however, that violations will not occur in the future as a result of human error, equipment failure or other causes. The Company’s customers are also subject to extensive regulations, including those related to the workplace. The Company cannot predict the nature, scope or effect of governmental legislation, or regulatory requirements that could be imposed or how existing or future laws or regulations will be administered, or interpreted. Compliance with more stringent laws or regulations, as well as more vigorous enforcement policies of regulatory agencies, could require substantial expenditures by the Company and could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.
As tariffs are implemented, or if additional or increased tariffs or other restrictions are placed on foreign imports or any related counter-measures are taken by other countries, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow could be harmed.
We manufacture our equipment domestically with a fraction of our sales exported to neighboring countries. The current U.S. administration has implemented tariffs on countries to which the Company has sales and has threatened tariffs on a variety of other counties. Also, some of the parts we procure are sourced from countries subject to the recent tariffs. It is not known whether any additional costs will be passed onto customers. This could negatively affect our revenues, cash flows, and financial position.
The Company’s management has effective voting control .
The Company’s officers beneficially own 100% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Class B stock. The holders of the Class B stock are entitled to elect 75% (calculated to the nearest whole number, rounding five-tenths to next highest whole number) of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors. Further, approval of a majority of the holders of the Class B stock is generally required to affect a sale of the Company and certain other corporate transactions. As a result, the Class B shareholders can elect more than a majority of the Board of Directors and exercise significant influence over most matters requiring approval by the Company’s shareholders. This concentration of control may also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control.
The issuance of preferred stock may impede a change of control or may be dilutive to existing shareholders .
The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, authorizes the Company’s Board of Directors, without shareholder vote, to issue up to 300,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to determine for any series the dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other preferences, rights and terms that are senior, and not available, to the holders of the Company’s common stock. Thus, issuances of series of preferred stock could adversely affect the relative voting power, distributions and other rights of the common stock. The issuance of preferred stock could deter or impede a merger, tender offer or other transaction that some, or a majority of the Company’s common shareholders might believe to be in their best interest or in which the Company’s common shareholders might receive a premium for their shares over the then current market price of such shares.
The Company may be required to indemnify its directors and executive officers .
The Company has authority under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law to indemnify its directors and officers to the extent provided in that statute. The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, provides that a director shall not be personally liable to the Company for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Company’s Bylaws provide, in part, that it indemnify each of its directors and officers against liabilities imposed upon them (including reasonable amounts paid in settlement) and expenses incurred by them in connection with any claim made against them or any action, suit or proceeding to which they may be a party by reason of their being or having been a director or officer. The Company maintains officers’ and directors’ liability insurance coverage. There can be no assurance that such insurance will be available in the future, or that if available, it will be available on terms that are acceptable to the Company. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the insurance coverage provided will be sufficient to cover the amount of any judgment awarded against an officer or director (either individually or in the aggregate). Consequently, if such judgment exceeds the coverage under the policy, the Company may be forced to pay such difference.
The Company enters into indemnification agreements with each of its executive officers and directors containing provisions that may require the Company, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as officers or directors (other than liabilities arising from willful misconduct of a culpable nature) and to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. Management believes that such indemnification provisions and agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and executive officers.
The Company does not expect to pay cash dividends for the foreseeable future .
The Company intends to retain its cash to fund its business requirements. It does not anticipate paying cash dividends on its common stock or Class B stock. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will be dependent upon existing conditions, including the financial condition and results of operations, capital requirements, contractual restrictions, business prospects, and other factors that the Board of Directors considers relevant.
Competition could reduce revenue from the Company’s products and services and cause it to lose market share.
The Company faces competition in product performance, price and service. Some of the Company’s competitors have greater financial and marketing resources than the Company. If competition in the Company’s industry intensifies or if the current competitors enhance their products or lower their prices for competing products, the Company may lose sales or be required to lower the prices it charges for its products. This may reduce revenues from the Company’s products and services, lower its gross margins, or cause a loss in market share.
The Company’s quarterly operating results are likely to fluctuate, which may decrease its stock price.
The Company’s quarterly operating results have varied significantly in the past and are likely to vary significantly from quarter to quarter in the future. As a result, the Company’s operating results may fall below the expectations of securities analysts and investors in some quarters, which could result in a decrease in the market price of its common stock. The reasons the Company’s quarterly results may fluctuate include:
General competitive and economic conditions;
Delays in, or uneven timing in, delivery of customer orders;
The seasonal nature of the industry;
The fluctuations in the market value of its securities portfolio;
The introduction of new products by the Company or its competitors;
Product supply shortages;
Reduced demand due to adverse weather conditions;
Expiration or renewal of federal highway programs;
Changes to federal, state or Canadian provincial programs; and
Tariffs.
Period-to-period comparisons of such items should not be relied on as indications of future performance.
The Company’s common stock has been, and likely will continue to be, subject to substantial price and volume fluctuations due to a number of factors, many of which will be beyond the Company’s control.
The market price of the Company’s common stock may be significantly affected by various factors, such as:
Quarterly variations in operating results;
Changes in revenue growth rates as a whole or for specific geographic areas or products;
Changes in earnings estimates by market analysts;
The announcement of new products or product enhancements by the Company or its competitors;
Speculation in the press or analyst community of potential acquisitions by the Company;
Significant deficiencies or material weaknesses identified during the audit; and
General market conditions or market conditions specific to particular industries.
Global, market and economic conditions may negatively impact our business, financial condition and share price.
Concerns over inflation, geopolitical issues and global financial markets have led to increased economic instability and expectations of slower economic growth. Our business may be adversely affected by any such economic instability or unpredictability. Sanctions and disruptions to the global economy may lead to additional inflation and may disrupt the global supply chain and could have a material adverse effect on our ability to secure supplies. Prolonged periods of inflation would likely increase our costs in the form of higher wages, and increased cost of supplies and equipment necessary to operate our business. Additionally, the armed conflict involving Hamas and Israel, as well as further escalation of tensions between Israel, the U.S., and various countries in the Middle East, including hostilities involving Iran, and North Africa, may cause increased inflation in energy and logistics costs and could further cause general economic conditions in the U.S. or abroad to deteriorate. There is a risk that one or more of our suppliers could be negatively affected by global economic instability, which could adversely affect our ability to operate efficiently and timely complete our operational goals. As of the date of issuance of this Annual Report, the Company’s operations have not been significantly impacted.
The Company may suffer adverse consequences if it is deemed an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).
Under Section 3(a)(1)(C) of the Investment Company Act, a company is deemed to be an investment company if it is, or holds itself out as being, engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting, or trading in securities and owns investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of its total assets (exclusive of U.S. Government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis.. The Company believes that it is not an investment company under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act because it does not hold itself out as being engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting, or trading in securities. Rather, the Company has been a manufacturer of heavy equipment used in the production of asphalt for highway construction and environmental control equipment for over 50 years. The Company’s core products include asphalt plants, asphalt pavers, combustion systems, and fluid heat transfer systems.
As reflected on the Company’s balance sheet at September 30, 2025, the Company owns a significant amount of marketable securities, which include cash, cash equivalents, government and corporate bonds, mutual funds, equities and exchange-traded funds. Section 3(a)(2) defines the term “investment securities”, as used in Section 3(a)(1)(C) to include all marketable securities except government securities and cash and cash equivalents. The value of the Company’s investment securities is below 40% of the value of its total assets (excluding government securities and cash items) at September 30, 2025.
If the Company was deemed to be, and was required to register as an investment company, the Company would comply with the requirements of the Investment Company Act. As an investment company, the Company would be (i) subjected to disclosure and accounting guidance geared toward investment, rather than operating, companies; (ii) significantly limited in its ability to borrow money, issue options, issue multiple classes of stock and debt, and engage in transactions with affiliates; and (iii) required to undertake significant costs and expenses to meet other disclosure, reporting, and regulatory requirements to which it would be subject as a registered investment company.
The Company faces risks with any future acquisitions.
Acquiring businesses or products that expand and/or complement the Company’s operations has been an element of its business strategy. The Company may not be able to successfully identify attractive acquisition candidates or negotiate favorable terms in the future. Furthermore, the Company’s ability to effectively integrate any future acquisitions will depend on, among other things, the adequacy of its implementation plans, the ability of its management to oversee and operate effectively the combined operations, and the Company’s ability to achieve desired operational efficiencies. The Company’s failure to successfully integrate the operations of any business that it may acquire in the future may adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
There can be a shortage of skilled production workers, especially those with welding and/or fabricating capabilities. The Company could experience difficulty hiring or replacing those individuals, which could adversely affect its business.
Our fabrication process requires skilled production workers. If we are unable to retain and hire an adequate number of individuals with welding and fabrication capabilities, this could adversely impact our ability to achieve our financial objectives. In addition, if demand for skilled production workers were to significantly outstrip supply, wages for these workers could dramatically increase and could affect our financial performance.
Risks generally associated with our information systems or cybersecurity attacks on our systems could adversely affect the results of our business operations.
We have been, and expect to continue to be, subject to cybersecurity attacks and other cybersecurity risks related to our business. To date, risks from cybersecurity threats have not materially affected our operations. We rely on the efficient and uninterrupted operation of our information systems and networks, including cloud-based and other third-party services, to obtain, rapidly process, analyze and manage data. Our systems and technologies, or those of third parties on which we rely, could fail or become unreliable due to equipment failures, software viruses, cyber threats, terrorist acts, natural disasters, power failures or other causes. Cybersecurity threats are evolving and include, but are not limited to, malicious software, cyber espionage,
attempts to gain unauthorized access to our sensitive information, including that of our customers, suppliers, and subcontractors, and other electronic security breaches that could lead to disruptions in mission critical systems, unauthorized release of confidential or otherwise protected information, and corruption of data. Although we utilize various procedures and controls to monitor and mitigate these threats, there can be no assurance that these procedures and controls will be sufficient to prevent future security threats from materializing. If any of these events were to materialize, the costs related to cyber or other security threats or disruptions may have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.
