filings.toolsItem 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
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This report includes forward-looking statements based on the Company’s current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. When used in this report, the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “may,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such words. In this report, the Company discloses important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management’s expectations. For more information on these and other factors, see “Forward-Looking Information” herein.
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” “Item 6. Selected Financial Data” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Business Overview
AMETEK’s operations are affected by global, regional and industry economic factors. However, the Company’s strategic geographic and industry diversification, and its mix of products and services, have helped to mitigate the potential adverse impact of any unfavorable developments in any one industry or the economy of any single country on its consolidated operating results. In 2016, the Company was impacted by a weak global economy and the effects of a continued strong U.S. dollar. Specifically, the Company experienced lower sales in its process businesses that have exposure to oil and gas markets and in its engineered materials, interconnects and packaging businesses that have exposure to metals markets. Contributions from recent acquisitions, combined with successful Operational Excellence initiatives, helped to partially offset the oil and gas and metals markets weakness. The Company also benefited from its strategic initiatives under AMETEK’s four key strategies: Operational Excellence, Strategic Acquisitions, Global & Market Expansion and New Products. Items of note in 2016 were:
| • | During 2016, the Company recorded pre-tax realignment costs totaling $25.6 million. The realignment costs had the effect of reducing net income for 2016 by $17.0 million ($0.07 per diluted share). See below for further discussion. |
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| • | During 2016, the Company recorded a $13.9 million non-cash impairment charge related to certain of the Company’s trade names. The impairment charge had the effect of reducing net income for 2016 by $8.6 million ($0.04 per diluted share). See below for further discussion. |
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| • | During 2016, the Company spent $391.4 million in cash, net of cash acquired, to acquire five businesses: |
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| • | In January 2016, AMETEK acquired Brookfield Engineering Laboratories (“Brookfield”), a manufacturer of viscometers and rheometers, as well as instrumentation to analyze texture and powder flow; |
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| • | In January 2016, AMETEK acquired ESP/SurgeX, a manufacturer of energy intelligence and power protection, monitoring and diagnostic solutions; |
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| • | In July 2016, AMETEK acquired HS Foils, a developer and manufacturer of key components used in radiation detectors including ultra-thin radiation windows, silicon drift detectors and x-ray filters; |
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| • | In July 2016, AMETEK acquired Nu Instruments, a provider of magnetic sector mass spectrometers used for elemental and isotope analysis; and |
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| • | In October 2016, AMETEK acquired Laserage Technology Corporation (“Laserage”), a provider of laser fabrication services for the medical device market. |
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| • | During 2016, the Company established record cash flow provided by operating activities that totaled $756.8 million for 2016, an $84.3 million or 12.5% increase from 2015. |
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| • | The Company continued its emphasis on investment in research, development and engineering, spending $200.8 million in 2016 before customer reimbursement of $7.2 million. Sales from products introduced in the past three years were $929.6 million or 24.2% of net sales. |
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| • | In March 2016, the Company along with certain of its foreign subsidiaries amended and restated its credit agreement dated as of September 22, 2011 (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement amends and restates the Company’s existing $700 million revolving credit facility, which was due to expire in December 2018. The Credit Agreement consists of a five-year revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $850 million with a final maturity date in March 2021. The revolving credit facility total borrowing capacity excludes an accordion feature that permits the Company to request up to an additional $300 million in revolving credit commitments at any time during the life of the Credit Agreement under certain conditions. The revolving credit facility provides the Company with additional financial flexibility to support its growth plans, including its acquisition strategy. |
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| • | In October 2016, the Company completed a private placement agreement to sell 500 million Euros and 225 million British pounds in senior notes to a group of institutional investors (the “2016 Private Placement”). There were two funding dates under the 2016 Private Placement. The first funding occurred in October 2016 for 500 million Euros ($546.8 million) and the second funding occurred in November 2016 for 225 million British pounds ($274.1 million). The proceeds from the first funding of the 2016 Private Placement were used to pay down domestic borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility. The proceeds from the second funding of the 2016 Private Placement were used to pay down, at maturity, a 40 million British pound ($48.7 million) 5.99% senior note in November 2016 and provides the Company with additional financial flexibility to support its growth plans, including its acquisition strategy. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section for further discussion. |
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Results of Operations
The following table sets forth net sales and income by reportable segment and on a consolidated basis:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||
| Net sales(1): | ||||||||||||
| Electronic Instruments | $ | 2,360,285 | $ | 2,417,192 | $ | 2,421,638 | ||||||
| Electromechanical | 1,479,802 | 1,557,103 | 1,600,326 | |||||||||
| Consolidated net sales | $ | 3,840,087 | $ | 3,974,295 | $ | 4,021,964 | ||||||
| Operating income and income before income taxes: | ||||||||||||
| Segment operating income(2): | ||||||||||||
| Electronic Instruments | $ | 577,717 | $ | 639,399 | $ | 612,992 | ||||||
| Electromechanical | 277,873 | 318,098 | 335,046 | |||||||||
| Total segment operating income | 855,590 | 957,497 | 948,038 | |||||||||
| Corporate administrative and other expenses | (53,693 | ) | (49,781 | ) | (49,452 | ) | ||||||
| Consolidated operating income | 801,897 | 907,716 | 898,586 | |||||||||
| Interest and other expenses, net | (108,794 | ) | (101,336 | ) | (93,754 | ) | ||||||
| Consolidated income before income taxes | $ | 693,103 | $ | 806,380 | $ | 804,832 | ||||||
| (1) | After elimination of intra- and intersegment sales, which are not significant in amount. |
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| (2) | Segment operating income represents net sales less all direct costs and expenses (including certain administrative and other expenses) applicable to each segment, but does not include interest expense. |
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Results of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared with the year ended December 31, 2015
In 2016, the Company was impacted by a weak global economy and the effects of a continued strong U.S. dollar. Specifically, the Company experienced lower sales in its process businesses that have exposure to oil and gas markets and in its engineered materials, interconnects and packaging businesses that have exposure to metals markets.
Contributions from the acquisitions completed in 2016 and the acquisitions of Surface Vision in July 2015 and Global Tubes in May 2015, as well as the Company’s Operational Excellence initiatives had a positive impact on 2016 results. The full year impact of the 2016 acquisitions and continued focus on and implementation of Operational Excellence initiatives, including the 2016 realignment actions (described further throughout the results of operations for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016), are expected to have a positive impact on the Company’s 2017 results. In the second half of 2016, the Company noted stabilization in the markets mentioned above compared to 2015; however, the Company still expects the challenging global economic environment to continue to impact its markets and geographies into the first half of 2017.
Net sales for 2016 were $3,840.1 million, a decrease of $134.2 million or 3.4%, compared with net sales of $3,974.3 million in 2015. Electronic Instruments Group (“EIG”) net sales were $2,360.3 million in 2016, a decrease of 2.4%, compared with $2,417.2 million in 2015. Electromechanical Group (“EMG”) net sales were $1,479.8 million in 2016, a decrease of 5.0%, compared with $1,557.1 million in 2015. The decrease in net sales for 2016 was due to a 7% organic sales decline and an unfavorable 1% effect of foreign currency translation, partially offset by a 4% increase from acquisitions.
Total international sales for 2016 were $2,010.7 million or 52.4% of net sales, a decrease of $44.0 million or 2.1%, compared with international sales of $2,054.7 million or 51.7% of net sales in 2015. The $44.0 million decrease in international sales was primarily driven by a weak global economy, as well as the foreign currency translation headwind noted above. Both reportable segments of the Company maintain strong international sales presences in Europe and Asia. Export shipments from the United States, which are included in total international sales, were $1,036.0 million in 2016, a decrease of $54.7 million or 5.0%, compared with $1,090.7 million in 2015. Export shipments decreased primarily due to a weak global economy, as well as the competitive impacts of a strong U.S. dollar.
Orders for 2016 were $3,848.8 million, a decrease of $75.9 million or 1.9%, compared with $3,924.7 million in 2015. The decrease in orders for 2016 was due to a 5% organic order decline resulting from a weak global economy noted above, partially offset by a 3% increase from acquisitions. As a result, the Company’s backlog of unfilled orders at December 31, 2016 was $1,156.5 million, an increase of $8.7 million or 0.8%, compared with $1,147.8 million at December 31, 2015.
The Company recorded 2016 realignment costs totaling $25.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 (the “2016 realignment costs”). The 2016 realignment costs primarily related to $19.3 million in severance costs for a reduction in workforce and $6.2 million of asset write-downs in response to the impact of a weak global economy on certain of the Company’s businesses, as well as the effects of a continued strong U.S. dollar. The Company recorded 2015 realignment costs totaling $36.6 million, with $15.9 million recorded in the first quarter of 2015 and $20.7 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015 (the “2015 realignment costs”). The 2015 realignment costs primarily related to reductions in workforce in response to the impact of a weak global economy on certain of the Company’s businesses, as well as the effects of a continued strong U.S. dollar. See Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details.
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The 2016 and 2015 realignment costs were reported in the consolidated statement of income as follows (in millions):
| 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | Three Months Ended March 31, | Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| Cost of sales | $ | 24.0 | $ | 24.0 | $ | 15.8 | $ | 20.0 | $ | 35.8 | ||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.8 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 25.6 | $ | 25.6 | $ | 15.9 | $ | 20.7 | $ | 36.6 | ||||||||||
The 2016 and 2015 realignment costs were reported in segment operating income as follows (in millions):
| 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | Three Months Ended March 31, | Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| EIG | $ | 12.4 | $ | 12.4 | $ | 9.3 | $ | 9.3 | $ | 18.5 | ||||||||||
| EMG | 11.6 | 11.6 | 6.5 | 10.8 | 17.3 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 24.0 | $ | 24.0 | $ | 15.8 | $ | 20.0 | $ | 35.8 | ||||||||||
The 2016 and 2015 realignment costs negatively impacted segment operating margins as follows (in basis points):
| 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||
| EIG | (200 | ) | (50 | ) | (150 | ) | (70 | ) | ||||||||
| EMG | (330 | ) | (80 | ) | (300 | ) | (110 | ) | ||||||||
| Total | (250 | ) | (60 | ) | (200 | ) | (90 | ) |
The expected annualized cash savings from the 2016 realignment costs is expected to be approximately $35 million, with approximately $15 million expected to be realized in 2017.
Segment operating income for 2016 was $855.6 million, a decrease of $101.9 million or 10.6%, compared with segment operating income of $957.5 million in 2015. Segment operating income, as a percentage of net sales, decreased to 22.3% in 2016, compared with 24.1% in 2015. The decrease in segment operating income and segment operating margins for 2016 resulted primarily from the decrease in net sales noted above and a $29.7 million increase in depreciation and amortization expense, which included a $13.9 million non-cash impairment charge related to certain of the Company’s trade names ($9.2 million impacted EIG and $4.7 million impacted EMG). The 2016 impairment charge negatively impacted segment operating margins by approximately 40 basis points. Segment operating income and segment operating margins for 2016 and 2015 include the impact of the realignment costs detailed in the tables above.
Cost of sales for 2016 was $2,575.2 million or 67.1% of net sales, a decrease of $42.8 million or 1.6%, compared with $2,618.0 million or 65.9% of net sales for 2015. The cost of sales decrease was primarily due to the net sales decrease noted above, partially offset by a $29.7 million increase in depreciation and amortization expense, which included a $13.9 million impairment charge noted above. Cost of sales for 2016 and 2015 include the impact of the realignment costs detailed in the tables above.
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Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for 2016 were $463.0 million, an increase of $14.4 million or 3.2%, compared with $448.6 million in 2015. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses were 12.1% for 2016, compared with 11.3% in 2015. Selling expenses for 2016 were $410.6 million, an increase of $11.1 million or 2.8%, compared with $399.5 million in 2015. The selling expenses increase was due primarily to business acquisitions. Selling expenses, as a percentage of net sales, increased to 10.7% for 2016, compared with 10.1% in 2015.
Corporate administrative expenses for 2016 were $52.4 million, an increase of $3.3 million or 6.7%, compared with $49.1 million in 2015. As a percentage of net sales, corporate administrative expenses were 1.4% for 2016, compared with 1.2% in 2015. For 2016 and 2015, corporate administrative expenses include $1.6 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of realignment costs noted above.
Consolidated operating income was $801.9 million or 20.9% of net sales for 2016, a decrease of $105.8 million or 11.7%, compared with $907.7 million or 22.8% of net sales in 2015.
Interest expense was $94.3 million for 2016, an increase of $2.5 million or 2.7%, compared with $91.8 million in 2015. The increase was primarily due to higher average borrowings to fund acquisitions and share repurchases.
The effective tax rate for 2016 was 26.1%, compared with 26.7% in 2015. The effective tax rates for 2016 and 2015 reflect the impact of foreign earnings, which are taxed at lower rates. The 2016 effective tax rate reflects tax benefits related to international and state tax planning initiatives and the release of uncertain tax position liabilities relating to certain statute expirations. The 2015 effective tax rate reflects the first quarter of 2015 release of uncertain tax position liabilities related to the conclusion of an advance thin capitalization agreement in the European Union, the second quarter of 2015 effective settlement of the U.S. research and development tax credit from the completion of an Internal Revenue Service examination for 2010 and 2011, and the third quarter of 2015 $7.5 million of tax benefits related to the closure of an international subsidiary. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details.
Net income for 2016 was $512.2 million, a decrease of $78.7 million or 13.3%, compared with $590.9 million in 2015. The 2016 realignment costs and the 2016 impairment charge reduced 2016 net income by $17.0 million and $8.6 million, respectively. The 2015 realignment costs reduced 2015 net income by $24.7 million.
Diluted earnings per share for 2016 were $2.19, a decrease of $0.26 or 10.6%, compared with $2.45 per diluted share in 2015. The 2016 realignment costs and the 2016 impairment charge had the effect of reducing 2016 diluted earnings per share by $0.07 and $0.04, respectively. The 2015 realignment costs had the effect of reducing 2015 diluted earnings per share by $0.10.
Segment Results
EIG’s net sales totaled $2,360.3 million for 2016, a decrease of $56.9 million or 2.4%, compared with $2,417.2 million in 2015. The net sales decrease was due to a 7% organic sales decline, driven largely by the Company’s process businesses that have exposure to oil and gas markets, partially offset by a 5% increase from the 2016 acquisitions of Nu Instruments, Brookfield and ESP/SurgeX and 2015 acquisition of Surface Vision.
EIG’s operating income was $577.7 million for 2016, a decrease of $61.7 million or 9.6%, compared with $639.4 million in 2015. EIG’s operating margins were 24.5% of net sales for 2016, compared with 26.5% of net sales in 2015. The decrease in EIG segment operating income and segment operating margins for 2016 resulted primarily from the decrease in net sales noted above and a $20.5 million increase in depreciation and amortization expense, which included a $9.2 million impairment charge. The 2016 impairment charge negatively
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impacted EIG segment operating margins by approximately 40 basis points. EIG segment operating income and segment operating margins for 2016 and 2015 include the impact of the realignment costs detailed in the tables above.
EMG’s net sales totaled $1,479.8 million for 2016, a decrease of $77.3 million or 5.0%, compared with $1,557.1 million in 2015. The net sales decrease was due to a 6% organic sales decline, driven largely by weakness in the Company’s engineered materials, interconnects and packaging businesses, and an unfavorable 1% effect of foreign currency translation, partially offset by a 2% increase from the 2016 acquisition of Laserage and 2015 acquisition of Global Tubes.
EMG’s operating income was $277.9 million for 2016, a decrease of $40.2 million or 12.6%, compared with $318.1 million in 2015. EMG’s operating margins were 18.8% of net sales for 2016, compared with 20.4% of net sales in 2015. The decrease in EMG segment operating income and segment operating margins for 2016 resulted primarily from the decrease in net sales noted above and a $9.2 million increase in depreciation and amortization expense, which included a $4.7 million impairment charge. The 2016 impairment charge negatively impacted EMG segment operating margins by approximately 30 basis points. EMG segment operating income and segment operating margins for 2016 and 2015 include the impact of the realignment costs detailed in the tables above.
Results of operations for the fourth quarter of 2016 compared with the fourth quarter of 2015
Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2016 were $973.0 million, a decrease of $15.0 million or 1.5%, compared with net sales of $988.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. The decrease in net sales for the fourth quarter of 2016 was due to a 4% organic sales decline and an unfavorable 1% effect of foreign currency translation, partially offset by a 3% increase from acquisitions.
Segment operating income for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $187.8 million, a decrease of $34.0 million or 15.3%, compared with segment operating income of $221.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. Segment operating income, as a percentage of net sales, decreased to 19.3% for the fourth quarter of 2016, compared with 22.5% for the fourth quarter of 2015. The decrease in segment operating income and segment operating margins for the fourth quarter of 2016 resulted primarily from the decrease in net sales noted above and a $17.2 million increase in depreciation and amortization expense, which included a $13.9 million non-cash impairment charge related to certain of the Company’s trade names ($9.2 million impacted EIG and $4.7 million impacted EMG). The fourth quarter of 2016 impairment charge negatively impacted segment operating margins by approximately 140 basis points. Segment operating income and segment operating margins for the fourth quarter of 2016 and 2015 include the impact of the realignment costs detailed in the tables above.
Cost of sales for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $681.1 million or 70.0% of net sales, an increase of $14.8 million or 2.2%, compared with $666.3 million or 67.4% of net sales for the fourth quarter of 2015. The cost of sales increase and the corresponding increase in cost of sales as a percentage of sales were primarily due to the net sales decrease noted above and a $17.2 million increase in depreciation and amortization expense, which included the fourth quarter of 2016 impairment charge of $13.9 million noted above. Cost of sales for the fourth quarter of 2016 and 2015 include the impact of the realignment costs detailed in the tables above.
Net income for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $109.1 million, a decrease of $27.7 million or 20.2%, compared with $136.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. The fourth quarter of 2016 realignment costs and fourth quarter of 2016 impairment charge reduced the fourth quarter of 2016 net income by $17.0 million and $8.6 million, respectively. The fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs reduced the fourth quarter of 2015 net income by $13.9 million.
Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2016 were $0.47, a decrease of $0.10 or 17.5%, compared with $0.57 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2015. The fourth quarter of 2016 realignment
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costs and fourth quarter of 2016 impairment charge had the effect of reducing the fourth quarter of 2016 diluted earnings per share by $0.07 and $0.04, respectively. The fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs had the effect of reducing the fourth quarter of 2015 diluted earnings per share by $0.06.
Segment Results
EIG’s net sales totaled $616.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, a decrease of $12.4 million or 2.0%, compared with $628.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. The net sales decrease was due to a 6% organic sales decline, driven largely by the Company’s process businesses with exposure to oil and gas markets, and an unfavorable 1% effect of foreign currency translation, partially offset by a 5% increase from the 2016 acquisitions of Nu Instruments, Brookfield and ESP/SurgeX.
EIG’s operating income was $141.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, a decrease of $20.6 million or 12.7%, compared with $161.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. EIG’s operating margins were 22.9% of net sales for the fourth quarter of 2016, compared with 25.7% of net sales for the fourth quarter of 2015. The decrease in EIG segment operating income and segment operating margins for the fourth quarter of 2016 resulted primarily from the decrease in net sales noted above and an $11.0 million increase in depreciation and amortization expense, which included a $9.2 million impairment charge. The fourth quarter of 2016 impairment charge negatively impacted EIG segment operating margins by approximately 150 basis points. EIG segment operating income and segment operating margins for the fourth quarter of 2016 and 2015 include the impact of the realignment costs detailed in the tables above.
EMG’s net sales totaled $356.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, a decrease of $2.7 million or 0.8%, compared with $359.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. The net sales decrease was due to an unfavorable 2% effect of foreign currency translation, partially offset by a 1% increase from the 2016 acquisition of Laserage. Organic sales were flat quarter over quarter.
EMG’s operating income was $46.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, a decrease of $13.5 million or 22.4%, compared with $60.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. EMG’s operating margins were 13.1% of net sales for the fourth quarter of 2016, compared with 16.7% of net sales for the fourth quarter of 2015. The decrease in EMG segment operating income and segment operating margins for the fourth quarter of 2016 resulted primarily from the decrease in net sales noted above and a $6.2 million increase in depreciation and amortization expense, which included a $4.7 million impairment charge. The fourth quarter of 2016 impairment charge negatively impacted EMG segment operating margins by approximately 130 basis points. EMG segment operating income and segment operating margins for the fourth quarter of 2016 and 2015 include the impact of the realignment costs detailed in the tables above.
Results of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared with the year ended December 31, 2014
In 2015, the Company established records for operating income, operating income margins, net income and diluted earnings per share. Contributions from the acquisitions completed in 2015 and the acquisitions of Amptek, Inc. in August 2014 and Zygo Corporation in June 2014, as well as the Company’s Operational Excellence initiatives had a positive impact on 2015 results.
Net sales for 2015 were $3,974.3 million, a decrease of $47.7 million or 1.2%, compared with net sales of $4,022.0 million in 2014. EIG net sales were $2,417.2 million in 2015 or essentially flat on a percentage basis, compared with $2,421.6 million in 2014. EMG net sales were $1,557.1 million in 2015, a decrease of 2.7%, compared with $1,600.3 million in 2014. The decrease in net sales for 2015 was due to an unfavorable 4% effect of foreign currency translation and 1% organic sales decline, partially offset by a 4% increase from acquisitions.
Total international sales for 2015 were $2,054.7 million or 51.7% of net sales, a decrease of $141.5 million or 6.4%, compared with international sales of $2,196.2 million or 54.6% of net sales in 2014. The $141.5 million decrease in international sales was primarily driven by a weak global economy, as well as the foreign currency
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translation headwind noted above. Both reportable segments of the Company maintain strong international sales presences in Europe and Asia. Export shipments from the United States, which are included in total international sales, were $1,090.7 million in 2015, a decrease of $57.4 million or 5.0%, compared with $1,148.1 million in 2014. Export shipments decreased primarily due to a weak global economy, as well as the competitive impacts of a strong U.S. dollar.
Orders for 2015 were $3,924.7 million, a decrease of $154.6 million or 3.8%, compared with $4,079.3 million in 2014. The decrease in orders for 2015 was due to an unfavorable 4% effect of foreign currency translation and organic order decline of approximately 3% resulting from a weak global economy, partially offset by a 3% increase from acquisitions. As a result, the Company’s backlog of unfilled orders at December 31, 2015 was $1,147.8 million, a decrease of $49.5 million or 4.1%, compared with $1,197.3 million at December 31, 2014.
The Company recorded 2015 realignment costs totaling $36.6 million, with $15.9 million recorded in the first quarter of 2015 and $20.7 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015 (the “2015 realignment costs”). The 2015 realignment costs primarily related to reductions in workforce in response to the impact of a weak global economy on certain of the Company’s businesses, as well as the effects of a continued strong U.S. dollar. See Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details.
The 2015 realignment costs were reported in the consolidated statement of income as follows:
| • | $35.8 million in Cost of sales, with $15.8 million recorded in the first quarter of 2015 and $20.0 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015; and |
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| • | $0.8 million in Selling, general and administrative expenses, with $0.1 million recorded in the first quarter of 2015 and $0.7 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015. |
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Total segment operating income for 2015 included pre-tax realignment costs totaling $35.8 million, with $15.8 million recorded in the first quarter of 2015 and $20.0 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015. The 2015 realignment costs were reported as follows:
| • | $18.5 million in EIG operating income, with $9.3 million recorded in both the first and fourth quarters of 2015; and |
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| • | $17.3 million in EMG operating income, with $6.5 million recorded in the first quarter of 2015 and $10.8 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015. |
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Total segment operating margins for 2015 were negatively impacted by approximately 90 basis points due to the 2015 realignment costs. The 2015 realignment costs impacted segment operating margins as follows:
| • | Approximate 70 basis point negative impact on EIG’s 2015 operating margins; and |
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| • | Approximate 110 basis point negative impact on EMG’s 2015 operating margins. |
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The expected annualized cash savings from the 2015 realignment costs is expected to be approximately $90 million, with $40 million realized in 2015 and approximately $75 million expected to be realized in 2016.
Segment operating income for 2015 was $957.5 million, an increase of $9.5 million or 1.0%, compared with segment operating income of $948.0 million in 2014. The increase in segment operating income resulted primarily from the acquisitions noted above, as well as the benefits of the Company’s Operational Excellence initiatives, partially offset by the 2015 realignment costs described above. Segment operating income for 2014 included $18.9 million in “Zygo integration costs,” comprised of $10.4 million in severance charges ($9.1 million recorded in the third quarter of 2014 and $1.3 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2014), a $4.5 million fair value inventory adjustment recorded in the third quarter of 2014 and $4.0 million in other
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charges recorded in the fourth quarter of 2014, related to the Zygo acquisition. Segment operating income, as a percentage of net sales, increased to 24.1% in 2015, compared with 23.6% in 2014. The increase in segment operating margins resulted primarily from the benefits of the Company’s Operational Excellence initiatives, partially offset by the impact of the 2015 realignment costs noted above. Segment operating margins for 2014 were negatively impacted by approximately 40 basis points due to the Zygo integration costs noted above.
Cost of sales for 2015 was $2,618.0 million or 65.9% of net sales, a decrease of $42.7 million or 1.6%, compared with $2,660.7 million or 66.2% of net sales for 2014. The cost of sales decrease and the corresponding decrease in cost of sales as a percentage of sales were primarily due to the net sales decrease noted above, the impact of foreign currency translation, as well as cost containment initiatives, which offset the 2015 realignment costs described above. Cost of sales for 2014 included $18.9 million of Zygo integration costs described above.
SG&A expenses for 2015 were $448.6 million, a decrease of $14.0 million or 3.0%, compared with $462.6 million in 2014. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses were 11.3% for 2015, compared with 11.5% in 2014. Selling expenses for 2015 were $399.5 million, a decrease of $14.3 million or 3.5%, compared with $413.8 million in 2014. Selling expenses, as a percentage of net sales, decreased to 10.1% for 2015, compared with 10.3% in 2014. The selling expenses decrease and the corresponding decrease in selling expenses as a percentage of sales were primarily due to cost containment initiatives and the impact of foreign currency translation.
Corporate administrative expenses for 2015 were $49.1 million or essentially flat, compared with $48.8 million in 2014. As a percentage of net sales, corporate administrative expenses were 1.2% for both 2015 and 2014.
Consolidated operating income was $907.7 million or 22.8% of net sales for 2015, an increase of $9.1 million or 1.0%, compared with $898.6 million or 22.3% of net sales in 2014.
Interest expense was $91.8 million for 2015, an increase of $11.9 million or 14.9%, compared with $79.9 million in 2014. The increase was due to the impact of private placement senior notes funded in the second and third quarters of 2015 and the third quarter of 2014.
Other expenses, net were $9.5 million for 2015, a decrease of $4.3 million, compared with $13.8 million in 2014. Other expenses, net for 2015 benefited by lower acquisition-related expenses and the favorable impact from foreign currency translation. Other expenses, net for 2014 included an $8.0 million insurance policy gain in the fourth quarter of 2014 and a $5.5 million reversal of an insurance policy receivable related to a specific uncertain tax position liability of an acquired entity in the third quarter of 2014.
The effective tax rate for 2015 was 26.7%, compared with 27.4% in 2014. The effective tax rates for 2015 and 2014 reflect the impact of foreign earnings, which are taxed at lower rates. The 2015 effective tax rate reflects the first quarter of 2015 release of uncertain tax position liabilities related to the conclusion of an advance thin capitalization agreement in the European Union, the second quarter of 2015 effective settlement of the U.S. research and development tax credit from the completion of an Internal Revenue Service examination for 2010 and 2011, and the third quarter of 2015 $7.5 million of tax benefits related to the closure of an international subsidiary. The 2014 effective tax rate reflects a release of $12.9 million of uncertain tax position liabilities related to an acquired entity due to the final closure of a tax year and foreign tax credit benefit on amounts repatriated during the year. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details.
Net income for 2015 was $590.9 million, an increase of $6.4 million or 1.1%, compared with $584.5 million in 2014. The 2015 realignment costs reduced 2015 net income by $24.7 million. The Zygo integration costs reduced 2014 net income by $13.9 million.
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Diluted earnings per share for 2015 were $2.45, an increase of $0.08 or 3.4%, compared with $2.37 per diluted share in 2014. The 2015 realignment costs had the effect of reducing 2015 diluted earnings per share by $0.10. The Zygo integration costs had the effect of reducing 2014 diluted earnings per share by $0.05.
Segment Results
EIG’s net sales totaled $2,417.2 million for 2015, a decrease of $4.4 million or essentially flat on a percentage basis, compared with $2,421.6 million in 2014. The net sales decrease was due to an unfavorable 3% effect of foreign currency translation and 1% organic sales decline, offset by a 4% increase from the 2015 acquisition of Surface Vision and the 2014 acquisitions of Amptek and Zygo.
EIG’s operating income was $639.4 million for 2015, an increase of $26.4 million or 4.3%, compared with $613.0 million in 2014. EIG’s increase in operating income was primarily due to the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives, partially offset by the 2015 realignment costs. EIG’s 2014 operating income included $18.9 million of Zygo integration costs. EIG’s operating margins were 26.5% of net sales for 2015, compared with 25.3% of net sales in 2014. EIG’s increase in operating margins resulted primarily from the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives, partially offset by the impact of the 2015 realignment costs noted above. EIG’s 2014 operating margins were negatively impacted by approximately 80 basis points due to the Zygo integration costs noted above.
EMG’s net sales totaled $1,557.1 million for 2015, a decrease of $43.2 million or 2.7%, compared with $1,600.3 million in 2014. The net sales decrease was due to an unfavorable 4% effect of foreign currency translation and 2% organic sales decline, partially offset by a 4% increase from the 2015 acquisition of Global Tubes.
EMG’s operating income was $318.1 million for 2015, a decrease of $16.9 million or 5.0%, compared with $335.0 million in 2014. EMG’s decrease in operating income was primarily due to the lower sales noted above and the 2015 realignment costs, partially offset by the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives. EMG’s operating margins were 20.4% of net sales for 2015, compared with 20.9% of net sales in 2014. EMG’s decrease in operating margins resulted primarily from the impact of the 2015 realignment costs noted above, partially offset by the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives.
Results of operations for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared with the fourth quarter of 2014
Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 were $988.0 million, a decrease of $36.1 million or 3.5%, compared with net sales of $1,024.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. The decrease in net sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 was due to a 4% organic sales decline and an unfavorable 3% effect of foreign currency translation, partially offset by a 3% increase from acquisitions.
Segment operating income for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $221.8 million, a decrease of $18.1 million or 7.5%, compared with segment operating income of $239.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. The decrease in segment operating income was primarily due to the lower sales noted above and included $20.0 million of fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs, partially offset by the acquisitions noted above, as well as the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives. Segment operating income for the fourth quarter of 2014 included $5.2 million in “Zygo integration costs,” comprised of $1.3 million in severance charges and $4.0 million in other charges, related to the Zygo acquisition. Segment operating income, as a percentage of net sales, decreased to 22.5% for the fourth quarter of 2015, compared with 23.4% for the fourth quarter of 2014. In the fourth quarter of 2015, the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives, partially offset the approximate 200 basis point negative impact from the fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs noted above. Segment operating margins for the fourth quarter of 2014 were negatively impacted by approximately 50 basis points due to the fourth quarter of 2014 Zygo integration costs noted above.
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Cost of sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $666.3 million or 67.4% of net sales, a decrease of $13.3 million or 2.0%, compared with $679.6 million or 66.4% of net sales for the fourth quarter of 2014. The cost of sales decrease was primarily due to the net sales decrease noted above, the impact of foreign currency translation, as well as cost containment initiatives, which offset the fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs described above. Cost of sales for the fourth quarter of 2014 included $5.2 million of Zygo integration costs described above.
Net income for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $136.8 million, a decrease of $15.2 million or 10.0%, compared with $152.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. The fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs reduced the fourth quarter of 2015 net income by $13.9 million. The fourth quarter of 2014 Zygo integration costs reduced the fourth quarter of 2014 net income by $3.2 million.
Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2015 were $0.57, a decrease of $0.05 or 8.1%, compared with $0.62 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2014. The fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs had the effect of reducing the fourth quarter of 2015 diluted earnings per share by $0.06. The fourth quarter of 2014 Zygo integration costs had the effect of reducing the fourth quarter of 2014 diluted earnings per share by $0.01.
Segment Results
EIG’s net sales totaled $628.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, a decrease of $16.0 million or 2.5%, compared with $644.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. The net sales decrease was due to an unfavorable 3% effect of foreign currency translation and 2% organic sales decline, partially offset by a 2% increase from the 2015 acquisition of Surface Vision.
EIG’s operating income was $161.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, a decrease of $1.2 million or 0.7%, compared with $162.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. EIG’s decrease in operating income was primarily due to the lower sales noted above and included $9.3 million of fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs, partially offset by the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives. EIG’s fourth quarter of 2014 operating income included $5.2 million of Zygo integration costs. EIG’s operating margins were 25.7% of net sales for the fourth quarter of 2015, compared with 25.3% of net sales for the fourth quarter of 2014. EIG’s increase in operating margins resulted primarily from the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives, partially offset by the approximate 150 basis point negative impact from the fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs noted above. EIG’s fourth quarter of 2014 operating margins were negatively impacted by approximately 80 basis points due to the fourth quarter of 2014 Zygo integration costs noted above.
EMG’s net sales totaled $359.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, a decrease of $20.2 million or 5.3%, compared with $379.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. The net sales decrease was due to an 8% organic sales decline and an unfavorable 3% effect of foreign currency translation, partially offset by a 5% increase from the 2015 acquisition of Global Tubes.
EMG’s operating income was $60.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, a decrease of $16.8 million or 21.8%, compared with $77.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. EMG’s decrease in operating income was primarily due to the lower sales noted above and included $10.8 million of fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs, partially offset by the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives. EMG’s operating margins were 16.7% of net sales for the fourth quarter of 2015, compared with 20.3% of net sales for the fourth quarter of 2014. EMG’s fourth quarter of 2015 operating margins were negatively impacted by approximately 300 basis points due to the fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs noted above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash provided by operating activities totaled $756.8 million in 2016, an increase of $84.3 million or 12.5%, compared with $672.5 million in 2015. The increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to
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the $48.4 million reduction in defined benefit pension plan contributions, driven by a $50.0 million contribution to the Company’s U.S. defined benefit pension plans in the first quarter of 2015, and lower overall operating working capital levels driven by the Company’s continued focus on operating working capital management.
Free cash flow (cash flow provided by operating activities less capital expenditures) was $693.6 million in 2016, compared with $603.5 million in 2015. EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) was $966.0 million in 2016, compared with $1,046.9 million in 2015. Free cash flow and EBITDA are presented because the Company is aware that they are measures used by third parties in evaluating the Company. (See the “Notes to Selected Financial Data” included in Item 6 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a reconciliation of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) measures to comparable non-GAAP measures).
Cash used for investing activities totaled $452.4 million in 2016, compared with $425.6 million in 2015. In 2016, the Company paid $391.4 million, net of cash acquired, to acquire Laserage in October 2016, HS Foils and Nu Instruments in July 2016 and Brookfield and ESP/SurgeX in January 2016. In 2015, the Company paid $356.5 million, net of cash acquired, to acquire Surface Vison in July 2015 and Global Tubes in May 2015. Additions to property, plant and equipment totaled $63.3 million in 2016, compared with $69.1 million in 2015.
Cash provided by financing activities totaled $57.1 million in 2016, compared with $217.0 million of cash used for financing activities in 2015. At December 31, 2016, total debt, net was $2,341.6 million, compared with $1,938.0 million at December 31, 2015. In 2016, short-term borrowings decreased $315.7 million, compared with an increase of $226.8 million in 2015. In 2016, long-term borrowings increased $772.2 million, compared with an increase of $18.0 million in 2015.
In October 2016, the Company completed a private placement agreement to sell 500 million Euros and 225 million British pounds in senior notes to a group of institutional investors (the “2016 Private Placement”). There were two funding dates under the 2016 Private Placement. The first funding occurred in October 2016 for 500 million Euros ($546.8 million), consisting of 300 million Euros ($328.1 million) in aggregate principal amount of 1.34% senior notes due October 2026 and 200 million Euros ($218.7 million) in aggregate principal amount of 1.53% senior notes due October 2028. The second funding occurred in November 2016 for 225 million British pounds ($274.1 million), consisting of 150 million British pounds ($182.7 million) in aggregate principal amount of 2.59% senior notes due November 2028 and 75 million British pounds ($91.4 million) in aggregate principal amount of 2.70% senior notes due November 2031. The 2016 Private Placement senior notes carry a weighted average interest rate of 1.82% and are subject to certain customary covenants, including financial covenants that, among other things, require the Company to maintain certain debt-to-EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) and interest coverage ratios. The proceeds from the first funding of the 2016 Private Placement were used to pay down domestic borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility. The proceeds from the second funding of the 2016 Private Placement were used to pay down, at maturity, a 40 million British pound ($48.7 million) 5.99% senior note in November 2016 and provides the Company with additional financial flexibility to support its growth plans, including its acquisition strategy.
In March 2016, the Company along with certain of its foreign subsidiaries amended and restated its credit agreement dated as of September 22, 2011 (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement amends and restates the Company’s existing $700 million revolving credit facility, which was due to expire in December 2018. The Credit Agreement consists of a five-year revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $850 million with a final maturity date in March 2021. The revolving credit facility total borrowing capacity excludes an accordion feature that permits the Company to request up to an additional $300 million in revolving credit commitments at any time during the life of the Credit Agreement under certain conditions. Interest rates on outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility are at the applicable benchmark rate plus a negotiated spread or at the U.S. prime rate. The revolving credit facility provides the Company with additional financial flexibility to support its growth plans, including its acquisition strategy. At December 31, 2016, the Company had available borrowing capacity of $1,117.3 million under its revolving credit facility, including the $300 million accordion feature.
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In the fourth quarter of 2017, $270 million of 6.20% senior notes will mature and become payable. The debt-to-capital ratio was 41.8% at December 31, 2016, compared with 37.3% at December 31, 2015. The net debt-to-capital ratio (total debt, net less cash and cash equivalents divided by the sum of net debt and stockholders’ equity) was 33.3% at December 31, 2016, compared with 32.4% at December 31, 2015. The net debt-to-capital ratio is presented because the Company is aware that this measure is used by third parties in evaluating the Company. (See the “Notes to Selected Financial Data” included in Item 6 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a reconciliation of U.S. GAAP measures to comparable non-GAAP measures).
In 2016, the Company repurchased approximately 7,099,000 shares of its common stock for $336.1 million, compared with $435.4 million used for repurchases of approximately 7,978,000 shares in 2015. On November 2, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an increase of $400 million in the authorization for the repurchase of the Company’s common stock. At December 31, 2016, $375.6 million was available under the Company’s Board of Directors authorization for future share repurchases.
Additional financing activities for 2016 include cash dividends paid of $83.3 million, compared with $86.0 million in 2015. Proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options were $17.6 million in 2016, compared with $39.2 million in 2015.
As a result of all of the Company’s cash flow activities in 2016, cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2016 totaled $717.3 million, compared with $381.0 million at December 31, 2015. At December 31, 2016, the Company had $481.6 million in cash outside the United States, compared with $357.2 million at December 31, 2015. The Company utilizes this cash to fund its international operations, as well as to acquire international businesses. In July 2016, the Company acquired HS Foils and Nu Instruments for approximately $65 million utilizing cash outside the United States. The Company is in compliance with all covenants, including financial covenants, for all of its debt agreements. The Company believes it has sufficient cash-generating capabilities from domestic and unrestricted foreign sources, available credit facilities and access to long-term capital funds to enable it to meet its operating needs and contractual obligations in the foreseeable future.
Subsequent Events
In January 2017, the Company contributed $50.1 million to its defined benefit pension plans, with $40.0 million contributed to U.S. defined benefit pension plans and $10.1 million contributed to foreign defined benefit pension plans.
In February 2017, the Company acquired Rauland-Borg for approximately $340 million in cash using available cash as well as borrowings under its revolving credit facility, with a potential $30 million contingent payment due upon the achievement of certain milestones.
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The following table summarizes AMETEK’s contractual cash obligations and the effect such obligations are expected to have on the Company’s liquidity and cash flows in future years at December 31, 2016.
| Payments Due | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Contractual Obligations(1) | Total | Less Than One Year | One to Three Years | Four to Five Years | After Five Years | |||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt borrowings(2) | $ | 2,333.2 | $ | 270.0 | $ | 405.0 | $ | 152.9 | $ | 1,505.3 | ||||||||||
| Capital lease(3) | 4.7 | 0.9 | 3.8 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Other indebtedness | 9.9 | 9.9 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Total debt(4) | 2,347.8 | 280.8 | 408.8 | 152.9 | 1,505.3 | |||||||||||||||
| Interest on long-term fixed-rate debt | 503.8 | 90.0 | 118.9 | 85.1 | 209.8 | |||||||||||||||
| Noncancellable operating leases(5) | 143.5 | 33.0 | 44.6 | 26.7 | 39.2 | |||||||||||||||
| Purchase obligations(6) | 289.1 | 273.7 | 14.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | |||||||||||||||
| Restructuring and other | 29.9 | 26.0 | 3.9 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 3,314.1 | $ | 703.5 | $ | 591.0 | $ | 265.1 | $ | 1,754.5 | ||||||||||
| (1) | The liability for uncertain tax positions was not included in the table of contractual obligations as of December 31, 2016 because the timing of the settlements of these uncertain tax positions cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details. |
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| (2) | See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details. |
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| (3) | Represents a capital lease for a building and land associated with the Cameca SAS acquisition. The lease has a term of 12 years, which began in July 2006, and is payable quarterly. |
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| (4) | Excludes debt issuance costs of $6.3 million, of which $1.9 million is classified as current and $4.4 million is classified as long-term. See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details. |
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| (5) | The leases expire over a range of years from 2017 to 2082 with renewal or purchase options, subject to various terms and conditions, contained in most of the leases. |
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| (6) | Purchase obligations primarily consist of contractual commitments to purchase certain inventories at fixed prices. |
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Other Commitments
The Company has standby letters of credit and surety bonds of $37.4 million related to performance and payment guarantees at December 31, 2016. Based on experience with these arrangements, the Company believes that any obligations that may arise will not be material to its financial position.
Critical Accounting Policies
The Company has identified its critical accounting policies as those accounting policies that can have a significant impact on the presentation of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and that require the use of complex and subjective estimates based on the Company’s historical experience and management’s judgment. Because of the uncertainty inherent in such estimates, actual results may differ materially from the estimates used. The consolidated financial statements and related notes contain information that is pertinent to the Company’s accounting policies and to Management’s Discussion and Analysis. The information that follows represents additional specific disclosures about the Company’s accounting policies regarding risks, estimates, subjective decisions or assessments whereby materially different financial condition
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and results of operations could have been reported had different assumptions been used or different conditions existed. Primary disclosure of the Company’s significant accounting policies is in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
| • | Revenue Recognition. The Company recognizes revenue on product sales in the period when the sales process is complete. This generally occurs when products are shipped to the customer in accordance with terms of an agreement of sale, under which title and risk of loss have been transferred, collectability is reasonably assured and pricing is fixed or determinable. For a small percentage of sales where title and risk of loss passes at point of delivery, the Company recognizes revenue upon delivery to the customer, assuming all other criteria for revenue recognition are met. The Company’s policy with respect to sales returns and allowances generally provides that the customer may not return products or be given allowances, except at the Company’s option. The Company has agreements with distributors that do not provide expanded rights of return for unsold products. The distributor purchases the product from the Company, at which time title and risk of loss transfers to the distributor. The Company does not offer substantial sales incentives and credits to its distributors other than volume discounts. The Company accounts for these sales incentives as a reduction of revenues when the sale is recognized in the consolidated statement of income. Accruals for sales returns, other allowances and estimated warranty costs are provided at the time revenue is recognized based on the Company’s historical experience. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the accrual for future warranty obligations was $22.0 million and $22.8 million, respectively. The Company’s expense for warranty obligations was $16.0 million, $14.8 million and $16.5 million in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The warranty periods for products sold vary among the Company’s operations, but generally do not exceed one year. The Company calculates its warranty expense provision based on its historical warranty experience and adjustments are made periodically to reflect actual warranty expenses. If actual future sales returns and allowances and warranty amounts are higher than the Company’s historical experience, additional accruals may be required. |
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| • | Accounts Receivable. The Company maintains allowances for estimated losses resulting from the inability of specific customers to meet their financial obligations to the Company. A specific allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded against the amount due from these customers. For all other customers, the Company recognizes allowance for doubtful accounts based on the length of time specific receivables are past due based on its historical experience. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in their inability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $10.3 million and $8.6 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. |
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| • | Inventories. The Company uses the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method of accounting, which approximates current replacement cost, for approximately 82% of its inventories at December 31, 2016. The last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method of accounting is used to determine cost for the remaining 18% of the Company’s inventory at December 31, 2016. For inventories where cost is determined by the LIFO method, the FIFO value would have been $18.4 million and $19.4 million higher than the LIFO value reported in the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company provides estimated inventory reserves for slow-moving and obsolete inventory based on current assessments about future demand, market conditions, customers who may be experiencing financial difficulties and related management initiatives. If these factors are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory reserves may be required. |
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| • | Business Combinations. The Company allocates the purchase price of an acquired company, including when applicable, the fair value of contingent consideration between tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the acquired business based on their estimated fair values, with the residual of the purchase price recorded as goodwill. Third party appraisal firms and other consultants are engaged to assist management in determining the fair values of certain assets acquired and liabilities |
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| assumed. Estimating fair values requires significant judgments, estimates and assumptions, including but not limited to: discount rates, future cash flows and the economic lives of trade names, technology, customer relationships, property, plant and equipment, as well as income taxes. These estimates are based on historical experience and information obtained from the management of the acquired companies, and are inherently uncertain. |
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| • | Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives, primarily trademarks and trade names, are not amortized; rather, they are tested for impairment at least annually. For the purpose of the goodwill impairment test, the Company can elect to perform a qualitative analysis to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair values of its reporting units are less than the respective carrying values of those reporting units. The Company elected to bypass performing the qualitative screen and performed the first step quantitative analysis of the goodwill impairment test in the current year. The Company may elect to perform the qualitative analysis in future periods. The first step in the quantitative process is to compare the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s net assets to the fair value of the reporting unit. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, no further evaluation is required and no impairment loss is recognized. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, then the second step must be completed, which involves allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to each asset and liability, with the excess being implied goodwill. An impairment loss occurs and would be required to be recorded if the amount of the recorded goodwill exceeds the implied goodwill. |
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The Company identifies its reporting units at the component level, which is one level below its operating segments. Generally, goodwill arises from acquisitions of specific operating companies and is assigned to the reporting unit in which a particular operating company resides. The Company’s reporting units are composed of divisions that are one level below its operating segments and for which discrete financial information is prepared and regularly reviewed by segment management.
The Company principally relies on a discounted cash flow analysis to determine the fair value of each reporting unit, which considers forecasted cash flows discounted at an appropriate discount rate. The Company believes that market participants would use a discounted cash flow analysis to determine the fair value of its reporting units in a sale transaction. The annual goodwill impairment test requires the Company to make a number of assumptions and estimates concerning future levels of revenue growth, operating margins, depreciation, amortization and working capital requirements, which are based on the Company’s long-range plan and are considered level 3 inputs. The Company’s long-range plan is updated as part of its annual planning process and is reviewed and approved by management. The discount rate is an estimate of the overall after-tax rate of return required by a market participant whose weighted average cost of capital includes both equity and debt, including a risk premium. While the Company uses the best available information to prepare its cash flow and discount rate assumptions, actual future cash flows or market conditions could differ significantly resulting in future impairment charges related to recorded goodwill balances. While there are always changes in assumptions to reflect changing business and market conditions, the Company’s overall methodology and the population of assumptions used have remained unchanged. In order to evaluate the sensitivity of the goodwill impairment test to changes in the fair value calculations, the Company applied a hypothetical 10% decrease in fair values of each reporting unit. The 2016 results (expressed as a percentage of carrying value for the respective reporting unit) showed that, despite the hypothetical 10% decrease in fair value, the fair values of the Company’s reporting units still exceeded their respective carrying values by 32% to 707% for each of the Company’s reporting units.
The impairment test for indefinite-lived intangibles other than goodwill (primarily trademarks and trade names) consists of a comparison of the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset to the carrying value of the asset as of the impairment testing date. The Company can elect to perform a qualitative analysis to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair values of its indefinite-lived intangible assets are less than the respective carrying values of those assets. The Company elected to bypass performing the
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qualitative screen. The Company may elect to perform the qualitative analysis in future periods. The Company estimates the fair value of its indefinite-lived intangibles using the relief from royalty method using level 3 inputs. The Company believes the relief from royalty method is a widely used valuation technique for such assets. The fair value derived from the relief from royalty method is measured as the discounted cash flow savings realized from owning such trademarks and trade names and not having to pay a royalty for their use.
The Company’s acquisitions have generally included a significant goodwill component and the Company expects to continue to make acquisitions. At December 31, 2016, goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets totaled $3,341.6 million or 47.1% of the Company’s total assets. The Company completed its required annual impairment tests in the fourth quarter of 2016 and determined that the carrying values of the Company’s goodwill were not impaired. The Company completed its required annual impairment tests in the fourth quarter of 2016 and determined that the carrying values of certain of the Company’s trademarks and trade names with indefinite lives were impaired. During 2016, the Company recorded a $13.9 million non-cash impairment charge related to certain of the Company’s trade names. There can be no assurance that goodwill or indefinite-lived intangibles impairment will not occur in the future.
Other intangible assets with finite lives are evaluated for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The carrying value of other intangible assets with finite lives is considered impaired when the total projected undiscounted cash flows from those assets are separately identifiable and are less than the carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of those assets. Fair value is determined primarily using present value techniques based on projected cash flows from the asset group.
| • | Pensions_._ The Company has U.S. and foreign defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans. The most significant elements in determining the Company’s pension income or expense are the assumed pension liability discount rate and the expected return on plan assets. The pension discount rate reflects the current interest rate at which the pension liabilities could be settled at the valuation date. At the end of each year, the Company determines the assumed discount rate to be used to discount plan liabilities. In estimating this rate for 2016, the Company considered rates of return on high-quality, fixed-income investments that have maturities consistent with the anticipated funding requirements of the plan. The discount rate used in determining the 2016 pension cost was 4.80% for U.S. defined benefit pension plans and 3.62% for foreign plans. The discount rate used for determining the funded status of the plans at December 31, 2016 and determining the 2017 defined benefit pension cost was 4.25% for U.S. plans and 2.56% for foreign plans. In estimating the U.S. and foreign discount rates, the Company’s actuaries developed a customized discount rate appropriate to the plans’ projected benefit cash flow based on yields derived from a database of long-term bonds at consistent maturity dates. The Company used an expected long-term rate of return on plan assets for 2016 of 7.75% for U.S. defined benefit pension plans and 6.95% for foreign plans. In 2017, the Company will use 7.50% for the U.S. plans and 6.79% for the foreign plans. The Company determines the expected long-term rate of return based primarily on its expectation of future returns for the pension plans’ investments. Additionally, the Company considers historical returns on comparable fixed-income and equity investments, and adjusts its estimate as deemed appropriate. The rate of compensation increase used in determining the 2016 pension income for the U.S. plans was 3.75% and was 2.88% for the foreign plans. The U.S. plans’ rate of compensation increase will remain unchanged in 2017. The foreign plans’ rate of compensation increase will be 2.5% in 2017. In 2016, the Company recognized consolidated pre-tax pension income of $4.3 million from its U.S. and foreign defined benefit pension plans, compared with pre-tax pension income of $9.8 million recognized for these plans in 2015. The Company estimates its 2017 U.S. and foreign defined benefit pension pre-tax income to be approximately $4.3 million. |
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All unrecognized prior service costs, remaining transition obligations or assets and actuarial gains and losses have been recognized, net of tax effects, as a charge to accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity and will be amortized as a component of net periodic pension cost. The Company uses a measurement date of December 31 (its fiscal year end) for its U.S. and foreign defined benefit plans.
To fund the plans, the Company made cash contributions to its defined benefit pension plans in 2016, which totaled $6.8 million, compared with $55.2 million in 2015. The Company anticipates making approximately $52 million to $56 million in cash contributions to its defined benefit pension plans in 2017. The estimated cash contributions range includes $50.1 million in cash contributions to its defined benefit pension plans in January 2017, with $40.0 million contributed to U.S. defined benefit pension plans and $10.1 million contributed to foreign defined benefit pension plans.
| • | Income Taxes. The process of providing for income taxes and determining the related balance sheet accounts requires management to assess uncertainties, make judgments regarding outcomes and utilize estimates. The Company conducts a broad range of operations around the world and is therefore subject to complex tax regulations in numerous international taxing jurisdictions, resulting at times in tax audits, disputes and potential litigation, the outcome of which is uncertain. Management must make judgments currently about such uncertainties and determine estimates of the Company’s tax assets and liabilities. To the extent the final outcome differs, future adjustments to the Company’s tax assets and liabilities may be necessary. |
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The Company assesses the realizability of its deferred tax assets, taking into consideration the Company’s forecast of future taxable income, available net operating loss carryforwards and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the deferred tax assets. Based on this assessment, management must evaluate the need for, and the amount of, valuation allowances against the Company’s deferred tax assets. To the extent facts and circumstances change in the future, adjustments to the valuation allowances may be required.
The Company assesses the uncertainty in its tax positions, by applying a minimum recognition threshold which a tax position is required to meet before a tax benefit is recognized in the financial statements. Once the minimum threshold is met, using a more likely than not standard, a series of probability estimates is made for each item to properly measure and record a tax benefit. The tax benefit recorded is generally equal to the highest probable outcome that is more than 50% likely to be realized after full disclosure and resolution of a tax examination. The underlying probabilities are determined based on the best available objective evidence such as recent tax audit outcomes, published guidance, external expert opinion, or by analogy to the outcome of similar issues in the past. There can be no assurance that these estimates will ultimately be realized given continuous changes in tax policy, legislation and audit practice. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”) and modified the standard thereafter. The objective of ASU 2014-09 is to establish a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most of the existing revenue recognition guidance. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity recognizes revenue at the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 applies to all contracts with customers except those that are within the scope of other topics in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification.
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ASU 2014-09 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and may be early adopted for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company will adopt ASU 2014-09 as of January 1, 2018. The guidance permits adoption by retrospectively applying the guidance to each prior reporting period presented (full retrospective method) or prospectively applying the guidance and providing additional disclosures comparing results to previous guidance, with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized in beginning retained earnings at the date of initial application (modified retrospective method). The Company is in the process of determining its method of adoption.
The Company has completed its initial assessment phase and is proceeding with its implementation plan. The initial assessment consisted of reviewing a representative sample of contracts, discussions with key stakeholders and cataloging potential impacts on the Company’s operations, accounting policies, financial control and financial statements. The Company’s initial assessment indicates the key changes in the standard that impact the Company’s revenue recognition relate to the allocation of contract revenues between various products and services, the timing of when those revenues are recognized and the deferral of incremental costs to obtain a contract. Given the diversity of its commercial arrangements, the Company is continuing to determine the impact ASU 2014-09 may have on its consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows and financial statement disclosures.
In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (“ASU 2015-02”). ASU 2015-02 is intended to improve targeted areas of consolidation guidance for legal entities such as limited partnerships, limited liability corporations, and securitization structures (collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations, and mortgage-backed security transactions). ASU 2015-02 makes specific amendments to the current consolidation guidance and ends the deferral granted to investment companies from applying the variable interest entities guidance. The Company adopted ASU 2015-02 effective January 1, 2016 and the adoption did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs (“ASU 2015-03”). ASU 2015-03 requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the associated debt liability. The Company retrospectively adopted ASU 2015-03 effective January 1, 2016 and the adoption did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05_, Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement_ (“ASU 2015-05”). ASU 2015-05 is intended to help entities evaluate the accounting for fees paid by a customer in a cloud computing arrangement. The guidance clarifies that customers should determine whether a cloud computing arrangement includes the license of software by applying the same guidance cloud service providers use to make this determination. The Company prospectively adopted ASU 2015-05 effective January 1, 2016 and the adoption did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU 2015-11”), which applies to inventory that is measured using first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) or average cost. As prescribed in this update, an entity should measure inventory that is within scope at the lower of cost and net realizable value, which is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. Subsequent measurement is unchanged for inventory that is measured using last-in, first-out (“LIFO”). ASU 2015-11 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and should be applied prospectively with early adoption permitted at the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-11 to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
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In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (“ASU 2015-17”). ASU 2015-17 simplifies the presentation of deferred taxes by requiring deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as noncurrent on the consolidated balance sheet. ASU 2015-17 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. ASU 2015-17 may be adopted prospectively or retrospectively and early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-17 to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows. The Company expects to prospectively adopt ASU 2015-17.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”). The new standard establishes a right-of-use model that requires a lessee to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than twelve months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. ASU 2016-02 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. ASU 2016-02 is to be adopted using a modified retrospective approach and early adoption is permitted. The Company has not determined the impact ASU 2016-02 may have on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows and financial statement disclosures.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”). ASU 2016-09 includes changes to the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is unable to estimate the impact of adoption as it is dependent upon future stock option exercises, which cannot be predicted. However, the Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-09 to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows and financial statement disclosures.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business (“ASU 2017-01”). ASU 2017-01 provides a more robust framework to use in determining when a set of assets and activities is a business. ASU 2017-01 requires an entity to evaluate if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets; if so, the set of assets is not a business. ASU 2017-01 requires that, to be a business, the set must include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs. ASU 2017-01 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. ASU 2017-01 will be applied prospectively to any transactions occurring within the period of adoption. Early adoption is permitted, including for interim or annual periods in which the financial statements have not been issued or made available for issuance. The Company has not determined the impact ASU 2017-01 may have on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows and financial statement disclosures.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (“ASU 2017-04”). ASU 2017-04 eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill (second step) to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Under the guidance, an impairment charge will be measured based on the excess of the reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value (first step). ASU 2017-04 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company has not determined the impact ASU 2017-04 may have on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows and financial statement disclosures.
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Internal Reinvestment
Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures were $63.3 million or 1.6% of net sales in 2016, compared with $69.1 million or 1.7% of net sales in 2015. In 2016, 55% of capital expenditures were for improvements to existing equipment or additional equipment to increase productivity and expand capacity. Capital expenditures in 2017 are expected to approximate 2.0% of net sales, with a continued emphasis on spending to improve productivity.
Development and Engineering
The Company is committed to, and has consistently invested in, research, development and engineering activities to design and develop new and improved products. Research, development and engineering costs before customer reimbursement were $200.8 million in both 2016 and 2015 and $208.3 million in 2014. Customer reimbursements in 2016, 2015 and 2014 were $7.2 million, $6.9 million and $8.9 million, respectively. These amounts included research and development expenses of $112.0 million, $116.3 million and $119.3 million in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. All such expenditures were directed toward the development of new products and processes and the improvement of existing products and processes.
Environmental Matters
Certain historic processes in the manufacture of products have resulted in environmentally hazardous waste by-products as defined by federal and state laws and regulations. The Company believes these waste products were handled in compliance with regulations existing at that time. At December 31, 2016, the Company is named a Potentially Responsible Party (“PRP”) at 13 non-AMETEK-owned former waste disposal or treatment sites (the “non-owned” sites). The Company is identified as a “de minimis” party in 12 of these sites based on the low volume of waste attributed to the Company relative to the amounts attributed to other named PRPs. In eight of these sites, the Company has reached a tentative agreement on the cost of the de minimis settlement to satisfy its obligation and is awaiting executed agreements. The tentatively agreed-to settlement amounts are fully reserved. In the other four sites, the Company is continuing to investigate the accuracy of the alleged volume attributed to the Company as estimated by the parties primarily responsible for remedial activity at the sites to establish an appropriate settlement amount. At the remaining site where the Company is a non-de minimis PRP, the Company is participating in the investigation and/or related required remediation as part of a PRP Group and reserves have been established sufficient to satisfy the Company’s expected obligations. The Company historically has resolved these issues within established reserve levels and reasonably expects this result will continue. In addition to these non-owned sites, the Company has an ongoing practice of providing reserves for probable remediation activities at certain of its current or previously owned manufacturing locations (the “owned” sites). For claims and proceedings against the Company with respect to other environmental matters, reserves are established once the Company has determined that a loss is probable and estimable. This estimate is refined as the Company moves through the various stages of investigation, risk assessment, feasibility study and corrective action processes. In certain instances, the Company has developed a range of estimates for such costs and has recorded a liability based on the best estimate. It is reasonably possible that the actual cost of remediation of the individual sites could vary from the current estimates and the amounts accrued in the consolidated financial statements; however, the amounts of such variances are not expected to result in a material change to the consolidated financial statements. In estimating the Company’s liability for remediation, the Company also considers the likely proportionate share of the anticipated remediation expense and the ability of the other PRPs to fulfill their obligations.
Total environmental reserves at December 31, 2016 and 2015 were $28.4 million and $30.5 million, respectively, for both non-owned and owned sites. In 2016, the Company recorded $4.1 million in reserves. Additionally, the Company spent $5.4 million on environmental matters and the reserve decreased $0.8 million due to foreign currency translation in 2016. The Company’s reserves for environmental liabilities at
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December 31, 2016 and 2015 include reserves of $12.4 million and $11.5 million, respectively, for an owned site acquired in connection with the 2005 acquisition of HCC Industries (“HCC”). The Company is the designated performing party for the performance of remedial activities for one of several operating units making up a Superfund site in the San Gabriel Valley of California. The Company has obtained indemnifications and other financial assurances from the former owners of HCC related to the costs of the required remedial activities. At December 31, 2016, the Company had $11.9 million in receivables related to HCC for probable recoveries from third-party escrow funds and other committed third-party funds to support the required remediation. Also, the Company is indemnified by HCC’s former owners for approximately $19 million of additional costs.
The Company has agreements with other former owners of certain of its acquired businesses, as well as new owners of previously owned businesses. Under certain of the agreements, the former or new owners retained, or assumed and agreed to indemnify the Company against, certain environmental and other liabilities under certain circumstances. The Company and some of these other parties also carry insurance coverage for some environmental matters. To date, these parties have met their obligations in all material respects.
The Company believes it has established reserves which are sufficient to perform all known responsibilities under existing claims and consent orders. The Company has no reason to believe that other third parties would fail to perform their obligations in the future. In the opinion of management, based on presently available information and the Company’s historical experience related to such matters, an adequate provision for probable costs has been made and the ultimate cost resulting from these actions is not expected to materially affect the consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows of the Company.
Market Risk
The Company’s primary exposures to market risk are fluctuations in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices, which could impact its financial condition and results of operations. The Company addresses its exposure to these risks through its normal operating and financing activities. The Company’s differentiated and global business activities help to reduce the impact that any particular market risk may have on its operating income as a whole.
The Company’s short-term debt carries variable interest rates and generally its long-term debt carries fixed rates. These financial instruments are more fully described in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The foreign currencies to which the Company has the most significant exchange rate exposure are the Euro, the British pound, the Japanese yen, the Chinese renminbi, the Canadian dollar, the Mexican peso and the Swiss franc. Exposure to foreign currency rate fluctuation is modest, monitored, and when possible, mitigated through the use of local borrowings and occasional derivative financial instruments in the foreign currency affected. The effect of translating foreign subsidiaries’ balance sheets into U.S. dollars is included in other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity. Foreign currency transactions have not had a significant effect on the operating results reported by the Company because revenues and costs associated with the revenues are generally transacted in the same foreign currencies.
The primary commodities to which the Company has market exposure are raw material purchases of nickel, aluminum, copper, steel, titanium and gold. Exposure to price changes in these commodities are generally mitigated through adjustments in selling prices of the ultimate product and purchase order pricing arrangements, although forward contracts are sometimes used to manage some of those exposures.
Based on a hypothetical ten percent adverse movement in interest rates, commodity prices or foreign currency exchange rates, the Company’s best estimate is that the potential losses in future earnings, fair value of risk-sensitive financial instruments and cash flows are not material, although the actual effects may differ materially from the hypothetical analysis.
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Forward-Looking Information
Certain matters discussed in this Form 10-K are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”), which involve risk and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment and can be affected by inaccurate assumptions, or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be important in determining the Company’s actual future results. The Company wishes to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the PSLRA by cautioning readers that numerous important factors, in some cases have caused, and in the future could cause, the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Some, but not all, of the factors or uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from present expectations are set forth above and under Item 1A. Risk Factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise, unless required by the securities laws to do so.
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