The LGL Group Announces a Change of Auditor. Chairman of the Board Marc Gabelli Expresses His Appreciation for the Professionalism Provided by RSM
(a) Dismissal of independent registered public accounting firm
On April 26, 2023, the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of The LGL Group, Inc. (the “Company”) dismissed RSM US LLP (“RSM”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective immediately in anticipation of the appointment of PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP (“PKF”) as the Company’s new independent registered public accounting firm as discussed below. The decision to change the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm from RSM to PKF was unanimously approved by the Committee.
The reports of RSM on the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were no “disagreements” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) between the Company and RSM on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to RSM’s satisfaction, would have caused RSM to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in its reports on the consolidated financial statements for such years. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 and the subsequent interim period through April 26, 2023, there were no reportable events of the type described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
In accordance with Item 304(a)(3) of Regulation S-K, the Company provided RSM with a copy of the disclosures contained in Item 4.01 of the Form 8-K to be filed and requested that RSM furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the statements contained herein. A copy of RSM’s letter, dated April 28, 2023, will be filed as Exhibit 16.1 to the Form 8-K.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, Marc Gabelli, expressed his appreciation for the professionalism provided by RSM during the past many years. Marc Gabelli also welcomed PKF and thanked them for taking on the audit responsibility for LGL.
(b) Appointment of independent registered public accounting firm
As discussed above, the Committee appointed PKF as the Company’s new independent registered public accounting firm effective as of April 26, 2023.
During the Company’s two most recent years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf consulted PKF regarding either: (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and neither a written report was provided to the Company nor oral advice was provided to the Company that PKF concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement or reportable event as defined in Regulation S-K, Item 304(a)(1)(iv) and Item 304(a)(1)(v), respectively. The Audit Committee has authorized RSM to respond fully to all inquiries of PKF.
ABOUT THE LGL GROUP, INC.
The LGL Group operates its manufacturing business through our subsidiary, Precise Time and Frequency, LLC ("PTF"), a globally positioned producer of industrial Electronic Instruments and commercial products and services. Founded in 2002, PTF operates from our design and manufacturing facility in
The LGL investment business is comprised of various investment vehicles in which LGL is either shareholder, partner, or has general partner interests, and through which LGL invests its capital. The Company seeks to invest available cash and cash equivalents in liquid investments with a view to enhancing returns as we continue to assess further acquisitions of, or investments in, operating businesses broadly. LGL may provide consulting, advisory, and certain administrative and back-office services to the investment vehicles in which LGL is invested. LGL core strengths include identifying and acquiring undervalued assets and businesses, often through the purchase of securities, increasing value through management, financial or other operational changes, and managing complex legal, regulatory or financial issues, which may include technical, engineering, environmental, zoning, permitting and licensing issues among others.
As of December 31, 2022, LGL had investments (currently classified as Cash and Cash Equivalents and Marketable securities) with a fair value of approximately
Business Strategy
Across all of our businesses, our success is based on a simple formula: we seek to find undervalued companies in the Graham & Dodd tradition, a methodology for valuing companies that primarily looks for deeply depressed prices. Today, we are a diversified holding company owning subsidiaries engaged in manufacturing and investments. Several of our operating businesses started out as investment positions in debt or equity securities, held directly by us. Those positions ultimately resulted in control or complete ownership of the target company. For example, in 2004, we acquired a controlling interest in PTI which started out as an investment position and ultimately became an operating subsidiary before the Spin-off. The acquisition of PTI, like our other operating subsidiaries, reflects our opportunistic approach to value creation, through which returns may be obtained by, among other things, promoting change through minority positions at targeted companies in our Investment segment or by acquiring control of those target companies that we believe we could run more profitably ourselves.
In appropriate circumstances, we or our subsidiaries may become the buyer of target companies, adding them to our portfolio of operating subsidiaries, thereby expanding our operations through such opportunistic acquisitions.
It is our belief that our strategy will continue to produce strong results into the future.
Our manufacturing business, PTF, employs a market-based approach of designing and offering new products to our customers through both organic research and development, and through strategic partnerships, joint ventures, acquisitions or mergers. We seek to leverage our core strength as an engineering leader to expand client access, add new capabilities and continue to diversify our product offerings. Our focus is on investments that will differentiate us, broaden our portfolio and lead toward higher levels of integration organically and through joint venture, merger and acquisition opportunities. We believe that successful execution of this strategy will lead to a transformation of our product portfolio towards multi-component integrated offerings, longer product life cycles, better margins and improved competitive position.
A key driver of value is the direct investing business which utilizes various structures and vehicles to build shareholder value, including certain Special Purpose Vehicles which may be syndicated for investment, and involve certain fee generating activities. The company could act as the financial and management sponsor, raise capital from external nonaffiliated investors, and may receive management fees and success-based incentives in accordance with market practice.
General
The LGL Group, Inc. (the "Company," "LGL," "we," "us," or "our") is a holding company engaged in services, investment and manufacturing business activities. Since 1985, the Company has acquired 32 businesses, sold 11, and spun off 3, culminating with the spin-off of M-tron Industries, Inc. (“MtronPTI”) in 2022.
The Company was incorporated in 1928 under the laws of the
LGL’s business strategy is primarily focused on growth through expanding new and existing operations across diversified industries. The LGL Group Inc.'s engineering and design origins date back to the early part of the last century. In 1917, Lynch Glass Machinery Company, the predecessor of LGL, was formed, and emerged in the late twenties as a successful manufacturer of glass-forming machinery. The company was then renamed Lynch Corporation and was incorporated in 1928 under the laws of the
Caution Concerning Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts, and can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “should,” “continue” or the negative versions of those words or other comparable words. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future actions or performance. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us and our current plans or expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect current plans, anticipated actions and our future financial condition and results. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are described in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We are under no obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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The LGL Group, Inc.
James Tivy
(407) 298-2000
Source: The LGL Group, Inc.
