RICHARDSON ELECTRONICS LTD/DE

The shelter in place directives generally required the closure of businesses that did not provide essential functions. The Company was considered a critical supplier of products to healthcare and critical infrastructure businesses. Several of our largest customers mandated that we continue to supply parts so as not to disrupt the supply chain and their ability to serve critical industries. As such, the Company qualified as an “Essential Business”.  Essential Businesses were allowed to continue to operate during shelter in place directives.  We continued our manufacturing and distribution operations even when a shelter in place directive was issued. We limited the number of people in any one of our facilities by requiring only employees who could not perform their work remotely to physically work in a Company US-based facility. The Company advised all other employees that could perform their job functions remotely to do so. As such, the Company’s operations remained operational.

Our revenues and gross profit margins depend significantly on global economic conditions, the demand for our products and services and the financial condition of our customers. Economic weakness and uncertainty have in the past, and may in the future, result in decreased revenues and gross profit margins. Economic uncertainty also makes it more difficult for us to forecast overall supply and demand with a great deal of confidence. Financial turmoil affecting the banking system and financial markets could result in tighter credit markets and lower levels of liquidity in some financial markets. The effects of a tightened credit environment could include the insolvency of key vendors or their inability to obtain credit to finance development and/or manufacture products resulting in product delays as well as the inability of customers to obtain credit to finance operations and/or customer insolvencies. Spending and the timing thereof by our customers may have a significant impact on our results and, where such spending is delayed or cancelled, it could have a material negative impact on our operating results. Current global economic conditions remain uncertain and challenging. Weakness in the markets in which we operate could negatively impact our revenue and operating expenses, and consequently have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to applicable export control laws and regulations of the United States and other countries. United States laws and regulations applicable to us include the Arms Export Control Act, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”), the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) and the trade and trade sanctions laws and regulations administered by the Office of the United States Trade Representative and the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. The import and export of our products are subject to international trade agreements, the modification or repeal of which could impact our business. The U.S. government agencies responsible for administering EAR and ITAR have significant discretion in the interpretation and enforcement of these regulations. Violations of these laws or regulations could result in significant additional sanctions including fines, more onerous compliance requirements, more extensive debarments from export privileges, loss of authorizations needed to conduct aspects of our international business and criminal penalties and may harm our ability to enter contracts with customers who have contracts with the U.S. government. A violation of the laws or the regulations enumerated above could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

For example, during 2018, the U.S. and China each imposed new tariffs, and announced further proposed tariffs, on various products imported from China and the U.S., respectively. Between July 2018 and September 2018, the Office of the United States Trade Representative imposed tariffs of 10% and 25% on three product lists totaling approximately $250 billion in Chinese imports. These lists include some of our products. The U.S. government has also indicated a readiness to further expand the scope of the tariffs on Chinese goods and, in May 2019, there was an announcement of the United States government’s imposition of a 25% tariff on a range of products exported from China to the U.S. on or after May 10, 2019. China thereafter announced a plan to impose tariffs on imports to China of a wide range of American products, in retaliation for the American tariffs. In January 2020, China and the U.S. entered the first phase of an economic and trade agreement. There is no assurance that a broader trade agreement will be successfully negotiated between the U.S. and China to reduce or eliminate existing tariffs applicable to the business of the Company.

The Company continues to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on its supply chain, manufacturing and distribution operations, customers and employees, as well as the U.S. economy in general. However, due to the uncertainty as to when governmental restrictions on business will be fully lifted, the impact thereof, and the duration and widespread nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Company cannot currently predict the long-term impact on its operations and financial results. The uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 outbreak include potential adverse effects on the overall economy, the Company’s supply chain, transportation services, employees and customers. The COVID-19 outbreak could adversely affect the Company’s revenues, earnings, liquidity and cash flows and may require significant actions in response, including expense reductions. Conditions surrounding COVID-19 change rapidly and additional impacts of which the Company is not currently aware may arise. Based on past performance and current expectations, we believe that the existing sources of liquidity, including current cash, will provide sufficient resources to meet known capital requirements and working capital needs through the next twelve months.