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10-K 1 s109029_10k.htm 10-K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
| x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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For the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017
or
| ¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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For the transition period from _to Commission file number 0-31983
GARMIN LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Switzerland (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | 98-0229227 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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| Mühlentalstrasse 2 8200 Schaffhausen Switzerland (Address of principal executive offices) | N/A (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: +41 52 630 1600
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Registered Shares, CHF 0.10 Per Share Par Value | The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC |
|---|---|
| (Title of each class) | (Name of each exchange on which registered) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES þ NO ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. YES ¨ NO þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES þ NO ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulations S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES þ NO ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large Accelerated Filer þ | Accelerated Filer ¨ |
|---|---|
| Non-accelerated Filer ¨ | Smaller reporting company ¨ |
| (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | |
| Emerging growth company ¨ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
YES ¨ NO þ
Aggregate market value of the common shares held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of July 1, 2017 (based on the closing price of the registrant's common shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market for that date) was $6,129,443,292.
Number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common shares as of February 16, 2018:
Registered Shares, CHF 0.10 par value – 198,077,418 (including treasury shares)
Documents incorporated by reference:
Portions of the following document are incorporated herein by reference into Part III of the Form 10-K as indicated:
| Document | Part of Form 10-K into which Incorporated | |
|---|---|---|
| Company's Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed no later than 120 days after December 30, 2017. | Part III |
Garmin Ltd.
2017 Form 10-K Annual Report
Table of Contents
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO FORWARD-LOOKING COMMENTS
The discussions set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K contain statements concerning potential future events. Such forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions by the Company's management, as of the date of this Annual Report, including assumptions about risks and uncertainties faced by the Company. In addition, management may make forward-looking statements orally or in other writings, including, but not limited to, in press releases, in the annual report to shareholders and in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers can identify these forward-looking statements by their use of such verbs as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes” or similar verbs or conjugations of such verbs. Forward-looking statements include any discussion of the trends and other factors that drive our business and future results in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations.” Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their date. If any of management's assumptions prove incorrect or should unanticipated circumstances arise, the Company's actual results could materially differ from those anticipated by such forward-looking statements. The differences could be caused by a number of factors or combination of factors including, but not limited to, those factors identified under Item 1A “Risk Factors.” Readers are strongly encouraged to consider those factors when evaluating any forward-looking statements concerning the Company. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements in this Annual Report to reflect future events or developments.
Part I
| Item 1. | Business |
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This discussion of the business of Garmin Ltd. ("Garmin" or the "Company") should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified by reference to, “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” under Item 7 herein and the information set forth in response to Item 101 of Regulation S-K in such Item 7 is incorporated herein by reference in partial response to this Item 1. Garmin has identified five reportable segments for external reporting purposes: auto, aviation, marine, outdoor and fitness. There are two operating segments (auto PND and auto OEM) that are not reported separately but are aggregated within the auto reportable segment. Each operating segment is individually reviewed and evaluated by our Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM), who allocates resources and assesses performance of each segment individually. The segment and geographic information included in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” under Note 8 is incorporated herein by reference in partial response to this Item 1.
Garmin was incorporated in Switzerland on February 9, 2010 as successor to Garmin Ltd., a Cayman Islands company (“Garmin Cayman”). Garmin Cayman was incorporated on July 24, 2000 as a holding company for Garmin Corporation, a Taiwan corporation, in order to facilitate a public offering of Garmin Cayman shares in the United States. On June 27, 2010, Garmin became the ultimate parent holding company of the Garmin group of companies pursuant to a share exchange transaction effected for the purpose of changing the place of incorporation of the ultimate parent holding company of the Garmin group from the Cayman Islands to Switzerland (the “Redomestication”). Pursuant to the Redomestication, all issued and outstanding Garmin Cayman common shares were transferred to Garmin and each common share, par value U.S. $0.005 per share, of Garmin Cayman was exchanged for one registered share, par value 10 Swiss francs (CHF) per share, of Garmin. At the Company’s Annual General Meeting on June 10, 2016, the Company’s shareholders approved the cancellation of 10,000,000 registered shares of the Company held by the Company (the “Formation Shares”) and the reduction in par value of each share of the Company from CHF 10 to CHF 0.10 and the amendment of the Company’s Articles of Association to effect a corresponding share capital reduction. This share cancellation has reduced authorized shares from 208,077,418 shares to 198,077,418 shares, with an incremental 99,038,709 conditional shares that may be issued through the exercise of option rights, which are granted to Garmin employees or members of its Board of Directors. Garmin owns, directly or indirectly, all of the operating companies in the Garmin group.
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Garmin’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statement and Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed by Garmin’s directors and executive officers and all amendments to those reports will be made available free of charge through the Investor Relations section of Garmin’s website (http://www.garmin.com) as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The SEC maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.
The reference to Garmin’s website address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on this website, and such information should not be considered part of this report on Form 10-K.
Company Overview
For over 25 years, Garmin Ltd. and subsidiaries (together, the “Company”) has pioneered new Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary business units, including auto, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor. We believe it is through these business units that Garmin is able to achieve synergies in raw material purchases, manufacturing, distribution, research and development and marketing efforts making for a stronger, more effective company. Garmin designs, develops, manufactures, markets and distributes a diverse family of hand-held, wearable, portable and fixed-mount GPS-enabled products and other navigation, communications, sensor-based and information products. Since the inception of its business, Garmin has delivered over 188 million products, which includes the delivery of more than 15 million products during 2017.
Overview of the Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a worldwide navigation system which enables the precise determination of geographic location using established satellite technology. The system consists of numerous constellations of orbiting satellites. Access to the systems is provided free of charge.
Garmin utilizes a variety of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) including, but not limited to:
| · | The satellites and their ground control and monitoring stations maintained and operated by the United States Department of Defense, which maintains an ongoing satellite replenishment program to ensure continuous global system coverage. |
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| · | Japan’s MTSAT-based Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS) which achieved initial operating capability for enroute, terminal and approach navigation for aviation on September 27, 2007. |
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| · | The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) aviation Safety of Life (SoL) service which achieved initial operating capability for enroute, terminal, and approach navigation on March 2, 2011. |
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| · | The Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), a space-based satellite navigation system operated by the Russian Federation, consisting of 24 satellites and providing world-wide coverage. |
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| · | The Galileo system, a global navigation satellite system that is currently being built by the European Union and European Space Agency with 30 total satellites planned for orbit (24 operational and six active spares), of which 14 are currently operational. Complete operational status is expected by 2020. |
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In certain urban canyon or restricted sky visibility situations, the combination of GPS, GLONASS, and/or Galileo satellites to produce a navigation fix may result in improved accuracy.
On a subscription basis, certain Garmin products offer access to the Iridium satellite network, a synchronized constellation of 66 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites offering global data communication coverage. The Iridium network is the only network that spans the entire globe, offering 100 percent coverage worldwide to enable satellite-based communication.
The accuracy and utility of GPS can be enhanced through augmentation techniques which compute any remaining errors in the signal and broadcast these corrections to a GPS device. The Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) has developed a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) comprising ground reference stations and additional satellites that improve the accuracy of GPS positioning available in the United States and most of Canada and Mexico to approximately 3 meters. WAAS supports the use of GPS as the primary means of enroute, terminal and approach navigation for aviation in the United States. The increased accuracy offered by WAAS also enhances the utility of WAAS-enabled GPS receivers for consumer applications.
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Products
Garmin offers a broad range of solutions across its reportable segments as outlined below. In general, Garmin believes that its products are known for their value, high performance, ease of use, innovation, and ergonomics.
Auto
Garmin offers a broad range of auto navigation products, as well as a variety of products and applications designed for the mobile GPS market. Garmin currently offers to consumers around the world:
Personal Navigation Devices (PND) –
PNDs combine a full-featured GPS navigator (with built-in maps) with Garmin’s uniquely simple user interface. PNDs are sold under the Garmin Drive™, zūmo®, dēzl™, RV and Garmin fleet™ product lines. The zūmo series offers motorcycle-specific features. The RV series offers features specific to the RV enthusiast. The dēzl series offers over-the-road trucking features while the Garmin fleet series delivers an integrated tracking and dispatch fleet system. Across the expansive product portfolio, Garmin offers features such as large screens, integrated traffic receivers for traffic avoidance, bundled lifetime map updates, spoken street names, voice activated navigation, speed limit indication, lane assist with PhotoReal junction views (thousands of high quality photos of actual upcoming junctions), Bluetooth hands-free capability, DashCams, driver awareness alerts, and backup cameras.
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Solutions –
Garmin has cultivated key relationships with many OEMs, where we provide a host of solutions. These range from complete embedded infotainment systems that provide a broad range of functionality, to integrated camera solutions, embedded navigation solutions, and precise positioning technology solutions. These support not only the infotainment system in the vehicle, but also key advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) functionality as well.
Mobile Applications –
Garmin offers mobile applications under the Garmin® and NAVIGON® product names. The applications are offered across a broad range of smartphones and tablets including iOS, Android and Windows enabled devices. These applications provide users turn-by-turn, voice-prompted directions and other advanced Garmin navigation features. The Smartphone Link mobile application allows a compatible Garmin navigator to connect to a compatible smartphone. Information can be shared between the smartphone and the navigator including notifications, contacts, search results, driving destination, and even parking location. Additional Garmin Live Services can be accessed through Smartphone Link for useful, real-time driving information.
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Action Cameras –
Garmin offers VIRB® action cameras that capture 360-degree footage up to 5.7K/30fps with digital image stabilization, voice or wireless remote control, and the ability to take high quality still photographs while the video camera is recording. VIRB action cameras offer built-in Wi-Fi, data sensors and a high-sensitivity GPS receiver to add speed, elevation, G-force, heart rate, and other data onto video through our VIRB® Edit and VIRB Mobile applications.
Outdoor
Garmin offers a broad range of products designed for use in outdoor activities. Garmin currently offers to consumers around the world:
Outdoor Handhelds –
Outdoor handhelds range from basic waypoints navigation capabilities to advanced color touchscreen devices offering barometric altimeter, 3-axis compass, camera, microSD™ card slot for optional customized maps, Bluetooth for smartphone connectivity, satellite communication and other features. Outdoor handhelds are sold under the Oregon®, Rino®, Montana®, eTrex®, GPSMAP®, Foretrex® and inReach® product lines. Each series of products is designed to serve various price points and niche activity categories. Handhelds with inReach® include global satellite technology which, when combined with an active subscription, offers 2-way text messaging, S.O.S. capabilities and weather forecasts while anywhere in the world.
Wearable Devices –
Garmin offers GPS ruggedized smartwatches for outdoor activity. The fēnix® series provides advanced multisport features for hiking, climbing, skiing, running, cycling, swimming, yoga, and repetition counting. The fēnix series offers several different styling options, including premium jeweler’s grade materials available in the fēnix® Chronos models. The fēnix 5, 5S, and 5X offer three different watch face sizes, along with multiple QuickFit® band options available for each model. The fēnix series also offers a variety of navigational tools, third party application support with Connect IQ™ and connected features, as well as Elevate™ wrist heart rate technology for certain models. The fēnix 5X also includes full color mapping. The tactix® provides features inspired by the requirements of law enforcement and police special operations. In 2017, Garmin also introduced the Descent™ Mk1, a watch style dive computer that offers divers GPS navigation, multiple dive modes, support for up to six gasses, and additional features including Garmin Elevate™ wrist heart rate technology and a variety of multisport features.
Golf Devices –
The Approach® series of golf-focused devices includes both handhelds and wrist-worn products with over 41,000 preloaded worldwide golf courses. The offerings range from basic display of yardages to the front, back and middle of greens to advanced, touchscreen devices providing measurement of individual shot distances and display of the slope-adjusted yardage to fairways, hazards and greens. The S20 model is an entry level GPS golf watch that includes AutoShot to automatically record distance and location of shots, daily activity tracking and smart notifications. The S60 model also includes a touchscreen display and PlaysLike feature, which takes into account the elevation change between golfers and their target to calculate the distance for how the shot will likely play. The X40 model also includes Garmin Elevate™ wrist-based heart rate monitoring. A statistic-tracking feature allows users to track and analyze their golf statistics through Garmin Connect™ application. Some devices include swing metrics, which give audible tones to fine-tune swing tempo, an internal compass which provides directional assistance to the pin on blind shots, manual pin positioning, which allows users to tap and drag the flag on the green for precise yardage to the flag, and the ability to display emails, text messages and alerts.
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Dog Tracking and Training/Pet Obedience Devices –
Garmin offers a series of dog-focused products providing a range of functionality including GPS-enabled dog tracking, electronic dog training, and electronic bark correction. The products are offered under the Astro®, Alpha®, Atemos™, PRO, Sport PRO™, BarkLimiter™, Delta® and Delta Smart™ product lines. The Astro series can pinpoint multiple dogs’ positions at one time through all-weather collars and a handheld system, and can also connect to a variety of compatible Garmin devices such as the Garmin DriveTrack™ 70 GPS navigator or certain fēnix® series watches to display dog positions. Alpha combines the tracking capabilities of Astro with electronic dog training. The BarkLimiter is an intuitive electronic bark correction device. The Delta and PRO series of training collars offers a remote training device with integrated bark limiting capability for consumer and professional dog training markets. Delta Smart is a dog training device and activity tracker that connects to the Garmin CANINE™ smartphone app, enabling pet owners to monitor their dog’s activity and behavior directly from their smartphone, and give highly customized, or automated training corrections.
Fitness
Garmin offers a broad range of products designed for use in fitness and activity tracking. Garmin currently offers to consumers around the world:
Running/Multi-Sport Watches –
The Forerunner® series offers compact, lightweight training watches for athletes with an integrated GPS sensor that provide time, speed, distance, pace and other data. Most models also offer a heart rate monitoring function and heart-rate based calorie computation. In 2017, Garmin added the Forerunner 935, delivering a premium running and multisport watch with Garmin Elevate™ wrist-based heart rate monitoring. All Forerunner models allow runners to upload their data to the Garmin Connect™ application, where they can store, analyze and share their workout data. Additional advanced features include: Virtual Racer™, which allows runners to race against their previous best times, recovery advisor, race predictor and VO2 max estimate. Some models are designed specifically for triathletes. These all-in-one GPS-enabled devices provide detailed swim metrics and track distance, speed/pace, elevation and heart rate for running and cycling.
Cycling Computers –
The Edge® series measures speed, distance, time, calories burned, climb and descent, and altitude offering an integrated personal training system designed for cyclists. In addition, Garmin offers devices geared toward performance-driven cyclists offering real-time connectivity through a smartphone, providing live tracking, social media sharing and real-time weather updates. In 2017, Garmin introduced the Edge 1030, a top-of-the-line bike computer with advanced navigation, performance and cycling awareness features.
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Cycling Power Meter –
Garmin offers Vector™, which is a high-precision pedal-based power meter designed specifically for cyclists. It provides power data to compatible devices with (or using) ANT+® technology. Some models also measure and present right and left leg power balance.
Cycling Safety and Awareness –
Garmin offers the Varia™ product line focused on cycling safety and awareness. Varia™ bike radar alerts cyclists when vehicles are approaching from behind and Varia™ bike lights make the cyclist more visible when out on the road. Varia Vision™ is a heads up display that makes data available to the cyclist in their line of sight.
Activity Tracking Devices –
Garmin offers numerous devices to address the activity tracking market. The vívofit® fitness bands provide a personalized daily goal, track progress and remind users when it’s time to move. The devices feature a one-year battery life with an always-on display that show steps, goal countdown, calories, distance, time of day and heart rate when paired with a monitor. The vívosmart® provides the same functions as the vívofit® bands but also includes Garmin Elevate™, smart notifications and a vibration alert. The vívosport™ also incorporates GPS, allowing users to even more accurately track distance, time and pace for their activities, as well as view a map of their activity on Garmin Connect™. The vívoactive® smartwatches are focused on the active lifestyle consumer with all the basic activity tracking features along with applications designed for running, cycling and swimming and includes connectivity to the Connect IQ™ application store for further customizations and capabilities. Garmin PayTM contactless payments was added with the launch of vívoactive 3 in 2017. The remainder of the vivo product line was updated in 2017 with the introduction of vívosmart 3, vívomove® HR, vívosport, and vívofit 4.
Garmin Connect and Garmin Connect Mobile –
Garmin Connect™ and Garmin Connect™ Mobile are web and mobile platforms where users can track and analyze their fitness and wellness data. In addition, users can share their accomplishments, create training groups and group challenges, and get feedback and encouragement from the Connect community.
Connect IQ –
The Connect IQ™ application development platform enables third-parties to create a variety of experiences that run on a wide assortment of Garmin devices. Connect IQ provides developers with an easy-to-use software development kit (SDK) to facilitate development efforts in creating watch faces, applications, widgets, and data fields. These third-party applications are available for download by Garmin users via their mobile phone or computer and run on their compatible Garmin wearable, bike computer, or outdoor handheld.
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Marine
Garmin is a leading manufacturer of recreational marine electronics and offers a broad range of products. Garmin currently offers to consumers around the world:
Chartplotters and Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) –
Garmin offers numerous chartplotters/MFDs under the GPSMAP® and echoMAP™ product lines. The offerings range from 4-inch portable and fix-mounted products to 24-inch fully-integrated Glass Helm offerings. The Garmin Quickdraw™ Contours feature allows users the ability to generate their own fishing charts while they cruise around the lake. Additional advanced features and connectivity available include smartphone applications that wirelessly send weather data to your plotter and remotely access your helm electronics. Additionally, most models have the CHIRP sonar function fully integrated to reduce system cost. Our chartplotters also support “plug-and-play” access to onboard sensors and Garmin accessories with NMEA 2000, Garmin Marine Network (a system that combines GPS, radar, SiriusXM WX Satellite Weather, sonar, and other components) and the FUSION-Link™ entertainment interface. Most of our chartplotter/MFD line-up also support Wi-Fi to enable many connected features including mobile updates and data synchronization to ensure the latest information and software is always available for the vessel. The ActiveCaptain™ app (available in the Apple and Android app stores) enables the full set of connected features through mobile phones or tablets.
Cartography –
Garmin is a premier supplier of cartography for the recreational marine electronics market. In 2017 we acquired Navionics, which complements the BlueChart® g2 and LakeVü HD cartography we already offered. Navionics cartography is also compatible with 3rd party chart plotters as well, and the combination makes Garmin the worldwide leader in recreational marine content. Cartography options range from U.S. coastal and inland lake mapping, including worldwide basemaps, to highly detailed BlueChart® g2 Vision® and LakeVü HD Ultra charts with coverage in many parts of the world offering auto-guidance (Garmin US-patented), 3-D chart views and aerial reference photos. BlueChart g2 Vision and LakeVü HD Ultra include Garmin’s most detailed cartography created based on surveys done in U.S. inland waters by Garmin’s fleet of high tech boats. Under the Navionics brand, we offer Navionics+ Marine & Lakes as well as Navionics Platinum with premium features such as satellite overlay and 3D charts. We also offer the highly-rated Navionics boating app to bring cartography to mobile phones and tablets of boaters worldwide.
Fishfinders –
Garmin offers a new advanced line of fishfinders, the Striker™ series, which incorporate GPS technology and Quickdraw™ Contours. These fishfinders are available in screen sizes from 4 to 9 inches and are paired with our latest technology sonar transducers to provide the clearest sonar pictures on the water. ClearVü sonar and Quickdraw™ Contours are offered on the 4-, 5-, 7- and 9-inch models which provides high resolution images of what is under the boat and the ability to create your own fishing maps. The 7- and 9-inch models also offer a SideVü option which provides similar high resolution images but reaches much further out on either side of the boat making the search for fish more efficient. The GPS technology enables anglers to have highly accurate speed information and mark their best fishing spots and then easily return to them next weekend, next month, or next year. The 7- and 9-inch models also offer Wi-Fi technology which enables wireless updates and Quickdraw™ Contour sharing that give anglers the ability to share their fishing maps with others or download maps from a community where others have shared their maps.
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Sounders –
Garmin offers “black-box” sounders and “smart transducers” which interface with Garmin MFDs to enhance their utility by providing the depth sounder and fish finder functions in a remote mounted package. The black boxes provide CHIRP, ClearVü, and SideVü sonar similar to our integrated sonar plotters, but can be mounted in a more convenient location away from the helm. Additionally, we offer up to 3kW transmit power with our black box line-up which will reach deeper depths for ocean use. Our newest smart transducer line is the Panoptix™ all seeing sonar. It uses new technology to provide detailed images that can be seen real-time (LiveVü) and in 3D (RealVü). The Panoptix line also offers multiple forward-looking transducers for transom, trolling motor, or thru-hull mounting configurations that enable the FrontVü feature. FrontVü allows mariners to see ahead of the boat a distance of 8 to 10 times the water depth up to 300 feet.
Autopilot Systems –
Garmin offers full-featured marine autopilot systems designed for sailboats and powerboats. The systems incorporate such features as: Garmin’s patented Shadow Drive™ technology, which automatically disengages the autopilot if the helm is turned, remote steering and speed control, and integration with the Volvo Penta IPS steering and propulsion system. Garmin has also introduced steer-by-wire autopilot capabilities for various steering systems.
Radar –
Garmin offers high-tech solid state Fantom™ radar with MotionScope™ Doppler technology, lowering system power consumption while greatly improving situational awareness of the captain. MotionScope™ can instantly show if a target is closing in or safely going the other direction. Fantom™ radars are available in both radomes and open array radar products with compatibility to any network-compatible Garmin chartplotter. When paired with our newer MFDs, the radars support dual-range mode so users can operate the radar in two ranges independently. The Fantom™ radars are offered in addition to the more traditional magnetron radars. The Garmin radar solutions range from 18 inches to 6 feet antennas and from 4kW (or equivalent) up to 25kW with a maximum range of 96 nautical miles.
Instruments –
Garmin offers NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 compliant instrument displays that show data from multiple remote sensors on one screen. Mariners can display instrument data such as depth, speed through the water, water temperature, fuel flow rate, engine data, fuel level, wind direction and more, depending upon the specific sensors connected. Garmin instruments offer screen sizes from 4 to 10 inches, and the 10-inch mast mounted displays provide maximum visibility around the vessel.
VHF Communication Radios –
Garmin provides marine radios with differing feature sets for the radio needs of all types of mariners. The entry-level radio is NMEA 2000 compatible, while the mid-range and premium radios are designed for larger vessels and are NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 compatible, offer multi-station support, and monitor all AIS channels at the same time. Some models offer an AIS receiver built-in to the standard VHF radio.
Handhelds and Wearable Devices –
Garmin offers a marine-friendly GPS handheld featuring a 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass, wireless data transfer between compatible units and preloaded cartography for the coastal United States. The quatix® series, Garmin GPS watches designed for mariners, combines marine features for navigation, sailing, stereo control, and even some autopilot functions while integrating Garmin’s GPS technology and interface. The quatix 5 model also includes Garmin Elevate™ wrist-based heart rate monitoring.
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Sailing –
Garmin has integrated many basic and advanced sailing features into our MFD and instrument systems. These SailAssist features include enhanced wind rose with true and apparent wind data, pre-race guidance, synchronized race timer, virtual starting line, time to burn and lay line data fields.
Entertainment –
Garmin’s entertainment brand, FUSION®, consists of marine audio head units, speakers and amplifiers. These products are designed specifically for the marine or RV environments and support many connectivity options for integrating with MFDs, smartphones, and even the Garmin quatix® marine watch for an outstanding experience on the water. The FUSION marine head units are designed specifically for the marine environment and feature up to 4 zones in one unit to control. The system can support multiple head units allowing control of the whole system from a Garmin MFD.
Aviation
Garmin’s aviation segment is a leading provider of solutions to aircraft manufacturers, existing aircraft owners and operators, as well as military/government customers and serves a range of aircraft including business aviation, general aviation, experimental/light sport, helicopters, optionally piloted vehicles (OPV), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and more. Garmin’s portfolio includes flight displays, navigation, communication, flight control, hazard avoidance, weather radar, radar altimeter, datalink weather receivers and services, engine information systems, traffic collision avoidance systems, terrain awareness and warning systems (TAWS), controller-pilot data link (CPDLC), an expansive suite of automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) solutions, in-cockpit and cloud connectivity, wearables, portables, apps, training, simulation, aviation data services as well as other solutions that are known for innovation, reliability, and value. The list below includes a sampling of some of the aviation capabilities currently offered by Garmin around the world:
Integrated Flight Decks/Flight Displays –
Garmin offers a range of integrated glass flight decks from the G1000® and G1000® NXi for the general aviation and business aviation markets to the G5000® for business aviation, military and commercial applications. Integrated capabilities include: navigation, communication, flight instruments, weather, terrain, traffic, ADS-B, engine information on large high-resolution color displays, and automatic flight control systems. Head-up display technology virtually mirrors the primary flight display instruments allowing for increased aircraft capability in adverse weather conditions. Additional features include: Garmin’s 3-D synthetic vision technology (SVT™), weather, Garmin’s electronic stability and protection system (ESP™), electronic flight charts, touchscreen and voice controls, CPDLC, audio and visual feedback, and animation to help pilots know exactly how the system is responding to their input.
Garmin offers similar integrated glass flight decks for the helicopter market with the G1000H® and G5000H®. Basic and advanced capabilities are similar to those offered to the aircraft market. The helicopter offerings have been optimized for rotorcraft and offer features like helicopter synthetic vision technology (HSVT™), helicopter terrain awareness and warning system with voice call outs, radar altimeter display, helicopter-specific databases that include additional heliports and low-altitude obstacles, WireAware™ wire-strike avoidance technology, as well as high resolution terrain, tailored ADS-B traffic alerting, and the ability to display video from a forward looking infrared (FLIR) camera or other video sources.
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Garmin also offers all-glass integrated flight decks to the retrofit market through G950® NXi, G1000® NXi and G5000®. Additionally, Garmin offers electronic flight display solutions that provide essential information such as aircraft altitude, attitude and heading while also displaying data from other avionics such as weather, traffic and much more. These solutions include G3X Touch™, G500H, G500 TXi, G600 TXi and G700 TXi.
Panel-mount aviation products –
GPS/Navigation/Communication Solutions –
Garmin serves the market with the GTN™ series, a premium touchscreen GPS, VHF navigation and communication, and multi-function display (MFD). In addition to these core functions, this series of products combines a wealth of information for the pilot into a single display including flight planning, datalink weather, weather radar, traffic, terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS/HTAWS), charts, airport information, airspace boundaries, and much more. Additional capabilities provide advanced ADS-B “In” traffic display, including TerminalTraffic™ and patented TargetTrend™ technology as well as the ability to control the display with voice commands. Advanced GTN integration capabilities provide the option to install and control a remotely located transponder and audio processor for an even more streamlined installation and single interface. The GTN™ series also provides wireless cockpit connectivity (when properly equipped) with mobile device apps (such as Garmin Pilot™) or portable aviation navigators (such as aera® 660). Wireless cockpit connectivity features can include voice call control, text messaging, automatic wireless database updating via Database Concierge, wireless flight plan transfer, SiriusXM radio control, sharing of weather, traffic, position information and more. Garmin also offers more traditional VHF navigation and VHF communication transceivers with the GNC® and GTR™ series.
Traffic Solutions –
Garmin offers a comprehensive line of traffic alert and collision avoidance systems (TCAS) and traffic advisory systems (TAS) for all markets served. Advanced TCAS II systems actively identify potential aircraft threats, coordinate and instruct the pilot with a resolution advisory (RA) via a spoken command. The GTS™ series also offers TCAS I and TAS that combine active and passive surveillance data to pinpoint specific traffic threats. The systems use our patented CLEAR CAS™ technology and correlate passive automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) targets with active surveillance targets for a more comprehensive display to the pilot. These systems can also provide audible alerts in a spoken ATC-like format that is easily understood by the pilot and allows him to keep his eyes outside of the aircraft.
Audio Solutions –
The GMA™ series of audio panels ranging from offerings with basic capabilities for the recreational pilot to advanced capabilities including voice control of audio panel and GTN™ series functions, Bluetooth connectivity for wireless music input, phone calls and VIRB® action camera audio output, advanced audio effects, 3D spatial audio processing, digital voice recorder, advanced auto squelch, ambient noise based volume adjustment and independent pilot/co-pilot communications capabilities. When connected to a Garmin GTN™ series navigator, advanced voice control functions are available, and include the ability to change page views, load destination frequencies and much more.
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Transponder and ADS-B Solutions –
Garmin offers solutions for all aviation markets we serve that meet and exceed the FAA’s ADS-B mandate that requires all aircraft operating in select U.S. airspace (typically where a Mode C or S transponder is required today) to equip by 2020. For business aviation aircraft, Garmin pairs the GTX™ 3000 transponder and GDL® 88 datalink for both ADS-B out and in while mitigating the need to modify the existing aircraft panel. The GTX 345 and GTX 335 are also available as an option for some business aviation aircraft.
Business aviation, general aviation, helicopters and experimental/light sport aircraft can utilize our popular GTX 345 series of all-in-one ADS-B transponders that offer options with and without GPS built-in (if the aircraft is not already equipped with mandate required GPS source) as well as ADS-B “In”. ADS-B “In” information can be displayed on compatible Garmin displays like G1000®, G1000® NXi, GTN™, G500, G600, G500 TXi™, G600 TXi, and G700 TXi, as well as select third party displays. Additionally, the GTX 345 can wirelessly transmit this data to a portable device such as a tablet using the Garmin Pilot™ app or compatible Garmin portable. ADS-B “In” offers pilots basic weather information including weather radar imagery, as well as traffic information that can be enhanced with our TerminalTraffic™ and patented TargetTrend™ technology.
Garmin also offers a range of FAA certified UAT-based ADS-B products within the GDL® series, including both ADS-B “Out” and ADS-B “In/Out” solutions with options for built-in GPS.
Many of the ADS-B “In” capable products provide traffic correlation with both Garmin and other compatible third party traffic systems (such as TCAS) to provide a single, correlated display of traffic to the pilot. Some products also offer the option for diversity (dual) antenna installations.
Weather Solutions –
Weather capabilities are delivered within our GDL®, GSR™, GSX™, GTX™ and GWX™ series. Garmin solutions include offering SiriusXM satellite data link weather information (subscription required) to an aircraft via various panel-mount Garmin displays and/or portable devices. With our GSR 56 datalink, on-demand global weather information, text/voice communications and position tracking through the Iridium satellite network (subscription required) is available. The GWX and GSX series offer solid state, real-time, airborne doppler-capable weather radar solutions. Doppler-enhanced features include ground-clutter suppression and turbulence detection. Advanced capabilities also include lightning and hail prediction, volumetric autoscanning and predictive windshear technology.
Flight Control Solutions –
Garmin offers both standalone and integrated flight control solutions. Our G1000®, G1000® NXi, G2000®, G3000® and G5000® platforms are integrated with our GFC™ 700 digital autopilot. For aircraft not equipped with a Garmin integrated flight deck, we offer the GFC 600 and GFC 500 digital autopilots. The GFC 600 and GFC 500 uniquely integrate with our other stand-alone avionics to allow display of the autopilot modes, flight director (FD) command cues and more. The unique design of our autopilots delivers superior in-flight characteristics, self-monitoring capabilities and minimal maintenance needs when compared to older generation autopilot systems. They also boast a robust feature set that incorporates a number of safety-enhancing technologies, including Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP™), underspeed/overspeed protection, Level Mode and much more.
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Portable and Wearable Solutions –
Garmin offers a variety of portable aviation solutions, including our aera® series portable navigators, VIRB® aviation action cameras, D2™ series pilot watches and GDL® series remote ADS-B/SiriusXM receivers. The aera series offers aviators a touchscreen navigation device compatible with a complement of aviation databases including navigation, SafeTaxi®, FliteCharts®, airport directory and terrain/obstacles for heightened situational awareness. Advanced features can include: 3D Vision virtual perspective view of surrounding terrain, a digital document viewer, a scratch pad, geo-referenced sectional and approach charts, wireless database updating, and SiriusXM radio and weather display (subscription required). Complementing the portable display products and the Garmin Pilot™ mobile application is the GDL 52 series, which can provide a remote source of GPS, ADS-B “In” information for traffic and weather, SiriusXM weather and audio as well as backup attitude reference.
The Garmin wearable aviation solutions include our D2 series pilot watches, which offer a built-in worldwide aviation navigation database and more alongside multisport and smartwatch features. Designed specifically for aviators, the current D2 series can display weather information (METARS and TAFs) as well as weather radar from an internet connected smartphone. Other flight information capabilities include a moving map overlaid with the aircraft’s position, HSI navigation, Zulu/UTC time and more. With a built-in baro-adjustable altimeter, vibrating alerts based on altitude can be activated to remind a pilot to activate supplemental oxygen or perform other time critical tasks. Multisport features include wrist-based heart rate monitoring, and smartwatch capabilities include notification and previews of phone calls, text messages, emails and more. Our VIRB® aviation action camera products provide pilots a comprehensive solution to record their flights, with the ability to integrate air traffic control communications to the audio recording, filter out prop distortion and overlay speed, altitude, G-force and more for enhanced post flight analysis.
Mobile Application –
Garmin Pilot™ is a premium, global app for iOS or Android mobile devices used for flight planning, filing a flight plan, in flight navigation, and automatic flight logging. It offers a comprehensive and simplified experience to access a wealth of information during any particular phase of the flight including weight and balance, performance, and trip calculations, checklists, airport information, weather, traffic, 3D Vision virtual perspective view of surrounding terrain, a digital document viewer, a scratch pad, geo-referenced sectional and approach charts, wireless database updating, ADS-B weather and traffic as well as SiriusXM radio and weather (subscription required). It incorporates global or regional navigation databases and charting options from Garmin as well as optional Jeppesen data and charts. While internet connected, the app provides access to comprehensive global weather information, as available per region, that generally includes weather radar, weather report (METARS), forecasts (TAFs), weather alerts (AIRMETS/SIGMETS), pilot reports, satellite imagery (visible and IR), winds and temperature aloft, lightning data, and notices to airmen (NOTAM). Garmin Pilot™ is the cornerstone of Garmin’s connected cockpit, for example when connected wirelessly with G1000® NXi or GTN™, a host of benefits become available including automated database updates for the avionics, flight plan transfer, weather and traffic streaming and much more. Garmin Pilot™ is also wirelessly compatible with select aera® series, D2™ aviator watches, G3X Touch™ flight displays, GTX™ series transponders, VIRB® action cameras and much more.
Aviation Databases, Extended Warranties and Subscription Services –
Garmin offers a wide selection of databases, extended warranties and subscription services to complement our products. Our database offerings include Navigation Data, Obstacles, SafeTaxi® enhanced airport diagrams, Terrain, Basemap and more. Some of these databases are required by government regulations to be updated regularly for legal flight, and Garmin offers single updates as well as annual subscriptions for owners and operators to update all of an aircraft's qualifying avionics systems at a single price. With a database subscription and compatible avionics, owners and operators can conveniently and wirelessly transfer the latest database updates to their avionics via a mobile device running our Garmin Pilot™ application.
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Our aviation product support team has been honored with top awards from two of the leading independent avionics support surveys for 14 consecutive years. To further our full product support beyond the standard product warranties, we also offer fixed price extended warranties for avionics and integrated flight decks that allow owners and operators peace of mind and predictable maintenance costs. These further our standard warranty periods with world-class factory technical service, 24/7 aircraft-on-ground (AOG) emergency service and more.
Our comprehensive satellite datalink network subscriptions provide owners and operators with compatible avionics, a global weather, voice calling, text messaging and position reporting solution. Global weather includes radar imagery, cloud cover, METARs, TAFs and much more for any point on the globe where the data is available (weather products vary by region).
Sales and Marketing
Garmin’s non-aviation products are sold in approximately 100 countries through a large worldwide network of independent dealers and distributors, who meet our sales and customer service qualifications. No single customer’s purchases represented 10% or more of Garmin’s consolidated net sales in the years ended December 30, 2017, December 31, 2016, and December 26, 2015. Marketing support is provided geographically from Garmin’s offices around the world. Garmin’s distribution strategy is intended to increase Garmin’s global penetration and presence while maintaining high quality standards to ensure end-user satisfaction. Some of Garmin’s larger consumer products dealers and distributors include:
| · | Amazon.com—internet retailer; |
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| · | Best Buy—one of the largest U.S. and Canadian electronics retailers; |
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| · | _Walmart—_the world’s largest mass retailer; and |
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| · | _Decathlon—_one of the world’s largest sporting goods retailers |
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Garmin’s retrofit avionics and aviation portable products are sold through select aviation dealers around the world and, in the case of aviation portable products, also through catalogs and pilot shops. Garmin’s largest aviation dealers include Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co., Elliott Aviation, Gulf Coast Avionics Corp., Sarasota Avionics, and Sportsman’s Market. Avionics dealers have the training, equipment and certified staff required for installation of Garmin’s avionics equipment.
In addition to the traditional distribution channels mentioned, Garmin has many relationships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). In the auto segment, Garmin’s products are sold globally to automotive and motorcycle OEMs, either directly or through tier 2 sourcing. Some of Garmin’s larger OEM relationships include BMW, Chrysler, Honda, Daimler (Mercedes Benz), Toyota, and Volkswagen. In the marine segment, Garmin’s products are standard equipment on various models of boats. Some of the larger OEM relationships include Tiara, Ranger Tugs, Chaparral Boats, Inc., Cobalt Boats, LLC, Regal Marine Industries, Inc., Yellowfin Yachts, Hydrasports Boats, Viking Yachts, Bavaria Yachts, and Sea Hunt. In the aviation market, Garmin’s avionics are either standard equipment or options on various models of aircraft. Some of the larger OEM relationships include Airbus Helicopters, Bombardier Business Aircraft, Bell Helicopter, Cirrus Aircraft, Daher, Diamond Aircraft, Embraer, Gulfstream Aerospace, Honda Aircraft, Leonardo Helicopters, Piper Aircraft, Quest Aircraft, Robinson Helicopter Company, Tecnam, and Textron Aviation.
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Competition
In general, we operate in highly competitive markets though competitive conditions do vary among our diverse products and geographies. Garmin believes the principal competitive factors impacting the market for its products are design, functionality, quality and reliability, customer service, brand, price, time-to-market and availability. Garmin believes that it generally competes favorably in each of these areas and as such, is generally a significant competitor in each of our major markets.
Garmin believes that its principal competitors for portable automotive products are TomTom N.V. and MiTAC Digital Corporation (MiTAC) (which distributes products under the brand names of Magellan, Mio, and Navman). Garmin believes that its principal competitors for infotainment solutions are Harman International Industries, Panasonic Corporation, and the Mitsubishi Group. Garmin believes that its principal competitors for outdoor product lines are Vista Outdoor, Magellan, a subsidiary of MiTAC, SportDOG Brand, Suunto Oy and Dogtra Company. Garmin believes that its principal competitors for fitness products are Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Bryton Corp., Fitbit Inc., Polar Electro Oy, Sigma Sports, Suunto Oy and Wahoo Fitness. For marine products, Garmin believes that its principal competitors are Furuno Electronic Company, the Humminbird division of Johnson Outdoors, Inc., Navico and Flir Systems, Inc. For Garmin’s aviation product lines, Garmin considers its principal competitors to be Aspen Avionics, Avidyne Corporation, CMC Electronics, Dynon Avionics, Appaero Systems, Genesys Aerosystems, Honeywell Aerospace & Defense, Innovative Solutions and Support Inc., L-3 Avionics Systems, Rockwell Collins, Inc., Thales, Safran SA and Universal Avionics Systems Corporation.
Research and Development
Garmin’s product innovations are driven by its strong emphasis on research and development and the close partnership between Garmin’s engineering and manufacturing teams. Garmin’s products are created by its engineering and development staff, which numbered approximately 4,000 people worldwide as of December 30, 2017. Garmin’s manufacturing staff includes manufacturing process engineers who work closely with Garmin’s design engineers to ensure manufacturability and manufacturing cost control for its products. Garmin’s development staff includes industrial designers, as well as software engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers and cartographic engineers. Garmin believes the industrial design of its products has played an important role in Garmin’s success. Once a development project is initiated and approved, a multi-disciplinary team is created to design the product and transition it into manufacturing.
Below is a table of Garmin’s expenditures on research and development over the last three fiscal years.
| December 30, | December 31, | December 26, | ||||||||||
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| ($'s in thousands) | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 511,634 | $ | 467,960 | $ | 427,043 | ||||||
| Percent of net sales | 16.6 | % | 15.5 | % | 15.1 | % |
Manufacturing and Operations
Garmin believes one of its core competencies and strengths is its vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities at its Taiwan facilities in Xizhi, Jhongli and LinKou, its China facility in Yangzhou, and at its U.S. facilities in Olathe, Kansas and Salem, Oregon. Garmin believes that its ownership and operation of its own manufacturing facilities and distribution networks provides significant capability and flexibility to address the breadth and depth of resources necessary to serve its diverse products and markets.
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Specifically, Garmin believes that its vertical integration of its manufacturing capabilities provides advantages to product cost, quality and time to market.
Cost: Garmin’s manufacturing resources rapidly and iteratively prototype designs, concepts, products and processes, achieving higher efficiency, resulting in lower cost. Garmin’s vertical integration approach enables leveraging our manufacturing resources across high, mid and low volume products. Sharing of these resources across our product lines favorably affects Garmin’s costs to produce its range of products, with lower volume products realizing the economies of scale of the high volume products. The ownership and integration of our resources allows Garmin to optimize the design for manufacturing of our products, yielding improved cost.
Quality: Garmin’s automation and sophisticated production processes provide in-service robustness and consistent reliability standards that enables Garmin to maintain strict process and quality control of the products manufactured, thereby improving the overall quality of our products. Additionally, the immediate feedback throughout the manufacturing processes is provided to the development teams providing integrated continuous improvement throughout design and supply chain.
Time to Market: Garmin uses multi-disciplinary teams of design engineers, process engineers, and supply chain specialists to develop products, allowing them to quickly move from concept to manufacturing. This integrated ownership provides inherent flexibility to enable faster time to market.
Garmin’s design, manufacturing, distribution, and servicing processes in its U.S., Taiwan, China and U.K. facilities are certified to ISO 9001, an international quality standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization. Garmin’s automotive operations in Taiwan, China, U.K., and Olathe have achieved TS 16949 certification, a quality standard for automotive suppliers. Garmin’s Olathe and Salem aviation operations have achieved certification to AS9100, the quality standard for the aviation industry.
Garmin International, Inc., Garmin (Europe) Ltd. and Garmin Corporation have also achieved certification of their environmental management systems to the ISO 14001 standard, recognizing Garmin’s systems and processes which minimize or prevent harmful effects on the environment and continually strive to improve its environmental performance.
Materials
Although most components essential to Garmin’s business are generally available from multiple sources, certain key components are currently obtained by the Company from single or limited sources, which subjects Garmin to supply and pricing risks. Many of these and other key components that are available from multiple sources, including, but not limited to, NAND flash memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), GPS chipsets and certain LCDs, are subject at times to industry-wide shortages and commodity pricing fluctuations.
Garmin and other participants in the personal computer, tablet, mobile communication, aviation electronics and consumer electronics industries also compete for various components with other industries that have experienced increased demand for their products. In addition, Garmin uses some custom components that are not common to the rest of the personal computer, tablet, mobile communication and consumer electronics industries, and new products introduced by the Company often utilize custom components available from only one source until Garmin has evaluated whether there is a need for, and subsequently qualifies, additional suppliers. When a component or product uses new technologies, initial capacity constraints may exist until the suppliers’ yields have matured or manufacturing capacity has increased. Garmin makes efforts to manage risks in these areas through the use of supply agreements and safety stock for strategically important components. Nevertheless, if Garmin’s supply of a key single-sourced component for a new or existing product was delayed or constrained, if such components were available only at significantly higher prices, or if a key manufacturing vendor delayed shipments of completed products to Garmin, Garmin’s financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected. Garmin’s business and financial performance could also be adversely affected depending on the time required to obtain sufficient quantities from the original source, or to identify and obtain sufficient quantities from an alternative source. Continued availability of these components at acceptable prices, or at all, may be affected if those suppliers decided to concentrate on the production of common components instead of components customized to meet Garmin’s requirements.
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Seasonality
Our net sales are subject to seasonal fluctuation. Sales of our consumer products are generally higher in the fourth quarter, due to increased demand during the holiday buying season, and, to a lesser extent, the second quarter, due to increased demand during the spring and summer season. Sales of consumer products are also influenced by the timing of the release of new products. Our aviation and auto OEM products do not experience much seasonal variation, but are more influenced by the timing of aircraft certifications and the release of new products when the initial demand is typically the strongest.
Backlog
Our sales are generally of a consumer nature and there is a relatively short cycle between order and shipment. Therefore, we believe that backlog information is not material to the understanding of our business. We typically ship most orders within 72 hours of receipt.
Intellectual Property
Our success and ability to compete is dependent in part on our proprietary technology. We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, as well as confidentiality agreements, to establish and protect our proprietary rights. In addition, Garmin often relies on licenses of intellectual property for use in its business. For example, Garmin obtains licenses for digital cartography technology for use in our products from various sources.
As of January 5, 2018, Garmin’s worldwide IP portfolio included over 1,100 patent and 750 trademark registrations. The duration of patents varies in accordance with the provisions of applicable local law. We believe that our continued success depends on the intellectual skills of our employees and their ability to continue to innovate. Garmin will continue to file and prosecute patent applications when appropriate to attempt to protect Garmin’s rights in its proprietary technologies.
There is no assurance that our current patents, or patents which we may later acquire, may successfully withstand any challenge, in whole or in part. It is also possible that any patent issued to us may not provide us with any competitive advantages, or that the patents of others will preclude us from manufacturing and marketing certain products. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of our products or to obtain and use information that we regard as proprietary. Litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights, to protect our trade secrets, to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others or to defend against claims of infringement or invalidity.
Regulations
The telecommunications industry is highly regulated, and the regulatory environment in which Garmin operates is subject to change. In accordance with the United States’ Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations, wireless transceiver products are required to be certified by the FCC and comparable authorities in foreign countries where they are sold. Garmin’s products sold in Europe are required to comply with relevant directives of the European Commission. A delay in receiving required certifications for new products, or enhancements to Garmin’s products, or losing certification for Garmin’s existing products could adversely affect our business. In addition, aviation products that are intended for installation in “type certificated aircraft” are required to be certified by the FAA, its European counterpart, the European Aviation Safety Agency, and other comparable organizations before they can be used in an aircraft.
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Because Garmin Corporation, one of the Company’s principal subsidiaries, is located in Taiwan, foreign exchange control laws and regulations of Taiwan with respect to remittances into and out of Taiwan may have an impact on Garmin’s operations. The Taiwan Foreign Exchange Control Statute, and regulations thereunder, provides that all foreign exchange transactions must be executed by banks designated to handle such business by the Ministry of Finance of Taiwan and by the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan), also referred to as the CBC. Current regulations favor trade-related foreign exchange transactions. Consequently, foreign currency earned from exports of merchandise and services may now be retained and used freely by exporters, while all foreign currency needed for the import of merchandise and services may be purchased freely from the designated foreign exchange banks. Aside from trade-related foreign exchange transactions, Taiwan companies and residents may, without foreign exchange approval, remit outside and into Taiwan foreign currencies of up to $50 million and $5 million respectively, or their equivalent, each calendar year. Currency conversions within the limits are processed by the designated banks and do not have to be reviewed and approved by the CBC. The above limits apply to remittances involving a conversion between Taiwan Dollars and U.S. Dollars or other foreign currencies. The CBC typically approves foreign exchange in excess of the limits if a party applies with the CBC for review and presents legitimate business reasons justifying the currency conversion. A requirement is also imposed on all enterprises to register all medium and long-term foreign debt with the CBC.
Environmental Matters
Garmin’s operations are subject to various environmental laws, including laws addressing air and water pollution and management of hazardous substances and wastes. Substantial noncompliance with applicable environmental laws could have a material adverse effect on our business. Capital expenditures for environmental controls are included in our normal capital budget.
Environmental regulation of Garmin’s products is increasing. Many of Garmin's products are subject to laws relating to the chemical and material composition of our products and their energy efficiency. Garmin is also subject to laws requiring manufacturers to be financially responsible for collection, recovery and recycling of wastes from certain electronic products. Compliance with current environmental laws does not have a material impact on our business, but the impact of future enactment of environmental laws cannot yet be fully determined and could be substantial.
Garmin has implemented multiple Environmental Management System (EMS) policies in accordance with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 standard for Environmental Health and Safety Management. Garmin’s EMS policies set forth practices, standards, and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations at Garmin’s Kansas headquarters facility, Garmin’s European headquarters facility, and Garmin’s Taiwan and China manufacturing facilities.
Garmin continues to strive to reduce our carbon footprint by increasing our environmental sustainability efforts. Our manufacturing locations have implemented increased recycling processes that keep all obsolete Garmin manufactured material from entering the waste stream. Additionally, our new facility design has been constructed with energy efficient considerations, including reduced water consumption, LED lighting, and reflective roofing to deflect solar radiation.
Employees
As of December 30, 2017, Garmin had approximately 12,300 full and part-time employees worldwide, of whom approximately 4,700 were in North America, 5,100 were in Taiwan, 1,500 were in Europe, and 1,000 were in other global locations. Except for some of Garmin’s employees in Brazil and Sweden, none of Garmin’s employees are represented by a labor union and none of Garmin's North American or Taiwan employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Garmin considers its employee relations to be positive.
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