IDEX 10-K 2023-12-31
Filed 2024-02-22. 24 sections, 405K characters. Original on sec.gov · Markdown · JSON
Cover and table of contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
| ☑ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023
| ☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||
| For the transition period from to |
Commission file number 1-10235
IDEX CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 36-3555336 | |||||||||||||||||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3100 Sanders Road, | Suite 301, | Northbrook, | Illinois | 60062 | ||||||||||||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (847) 498-7070
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
| Common Stock, par value $.01 per share | IEX | New York Stock Exchange |
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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an 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 | ☑ | Accelerated filer ☐ | Non-accelerated filer ☐ | 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 has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☑
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No þ
The aggregate market value, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, of the common stock (based on the June 30, 2023 closing price of $215.26) held by non-affiliates of IDEX Corporation was $16,267,670,265.
The number of shares outstanding of IDEX Corporation’s common stock, par value $.01 per share, as of February 16, 2024 was 75,644,654.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the proxy statement with respect to the IDEX Corporation 2024 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2024 Proxy Statement”) are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.
Table of Contents
Cautionary Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
This report contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements may relate to, among other things, the Company’s full year 2024 focus and the assumptions underlying these expectations, plant and equipment capacity for future growth, the duration of supply chain challenges, anticipated future acquisition behavior and capital deployment, expectations regarding customer destocking efforts and future order stabilization and lead time, expectations regarding market sector contraction, recovery, stabilization or growth, availability of cash and financing alternatives and the anticipated benefits of the Company’s recent acquisitions, and are indicated by words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “estimates,” “plans,” “guidance,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “should,” “could,” “will,” “management believes,” “the Company believes,” “the Company intends” and similar words or phrases. These statements are subject to inherent uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated at the date of this report.
The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: levels of industrial activity and economic conditions in the U.S. and other countries around the world, including uncertainties in the financial markets and adverse developments affecting the financial services industry; pricing pressures, including inflation and rising interest rates, and other competitive factors and levels of capital spending in certain industries, all of which could have a material impact on order rates and the Company’s results; the impact of catastrophic weather events, natural disasters and public health threats; economic and political consequences resulting from terrorist attacks and wars, which could have an adverse impact on the Company's business by creating disruptions in the global supply chain and by potentially having an adverse impact on the global economy; the Company’s ability to make acquisitions and to integrate and operate acquired businesses on a profitable basis; cybersecurity incident; the relationship of the U.S. dollar to other currencies and its impact on pricing and cost competitiveness; political and economic conditions in foreign countries in which the Company operates; developments with respect to trade policy and tariffs; interest rates; capacity utilization and the effect this has on costs; labor markets; supply chain conditions; market conditions and material costs; risks related to environmental, social and corporate governance issues, including those related to climate change and sustainability; and developments with respect to contingencies, such as litigation and environmental matters, and the other risk factors discussed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of this annual report. The forward-looking statements included here are only made as of the date of this report, and management undertakes no obligation to publicly update them to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as may be required by law. Investors are cautioned not to rely unduly on forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented here.
PART I
Item 1. Business.
Overview
IDEX Corporation (“IDEX” or the “Company”) is an applied solutions provider serving niche markets worldwide. IDEX is a high-performing global enterprise committed to making trusted solutions that improve lives and are mission critical components in everyday life. Substantially all of the Company’s business activities are carried out through over 50 wholly-owned subsidiaries with shared values of Trust, Team and Excellence. IDEX’s diverse family of businesses is innovative and inquisitive in its quest to solve customers’ most challenging applied technology problems. These businesses operate with a high degree of autonomy, yet are all united by employing The IDEX Difference, a philosophy of great teams who embrace the 80/20 principle while remaining hyper-focused on serving customers. IDEX was incorporated in Delaware on September 24, 1987.
End Markets and Products
The following table summarizes the percentage of total IDEX sales generated by each end market:

The Company has three reportable segments: Fluid & Metering Technologies (“FMT”), Health & Science Technologies (“HST”) and Fire & Safety/Diversified Products (“FSDP”). The segments are structured around how to best serve customer needs, with each segment consisting of businesses that have product and end market similarities as well as common distribution methods and production processes. This structure enables management efficiency, aligns IDEX’s operations with its focus on organic growth, strategic acquisitions and capital allocation priorities and provides transparency about the Company’s performance to external stakeholders.
IDEX believes that each of its reporting units is a leader in its products and services. The Company also believes that its strong financial performance has been attributable to its ability to design and engineer specialized quality products coupled with its ability to successfully identify, acquire and integrate strategic acquisitions. The table below illustrates the three reportable segments and the reporting units within each segment.
| FMT | HST | FSDP | ||||||||||||
| Pumps | Scientific Fluidics & Optics | Fire & Safety | ||||||||||||
| Water | Sealing Solutions | Dispensing | ||||||||||||
| Energy | Performance Pneumatic Technologies | BAND-IT | ||||||||||||
| Valves | Material Processing Technologies | |||||||||||||
| Agriculture |
The table below illustrates the share of Net sales and Adjusted EBITDA contributed by each segment on the basis of total segments (not total Company) for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FMT | HST | FSDP | FMT | HST | FSDP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | 38% | 40% | 22% | 37% | 42% | 21% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | 42% | 37% | 21% | 39% | 42% | 19% |
(1) Segment Adjusted EBITDA excludes the impact of unallocated corporate costs of $84.6 million and $85.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
FLUID & METERING TECHNOLOGIES SEGMENT
The FMT segment designs, produces and distributes positive displacement pumps, valves, small volume provers, flow meters, injectors and other fluid-handling pump modules and systems and provides flow monitoring and other services for the food, chemical, general industrial, water and wastewater, agriculture and energy industries.
The following table summarizes the percentage of total FMT sales generated by each end market:

The following discussion describes the reporting units included in the FMT segment:
Pumps. Pumps is a leading manufacturer of rotary internal gear, external gear, vane and rotary lobe pumps, custom-engineered original equipment manufacturer pumps, strainers, gear reducers and engineered pump systems. Pumps primarily uses independent distributors to market and sell its products. Pumps is comprised of the following businesses:
-
Viking Pump is a global leader in pumping solutions, with products including internal gear, external gear, vane, lobe and circumferential piston pumps, as well as parts, kits and accessories designed to support customers worldwide. With a focus on industrial applications like chemicals, polyurethane foam and asphalt; energy applications like oil transfer and glycol dehydration; and hygienic applications like biopharma, food and beverage, Viking Pump delivers proven liquid transfer pumping solutions for a wide variety of thin to viscous applications. Viking Pump maintains operations in Cedar Falls, Iowa, with locations in Windsor, Canada (Viking Pump Canada), Shannon, Ireland (IDEX Pump Technologies) and Eastbourne, England (Viking Pump Hygienic).
-
Warren Rupp manufactures air-operated double diaphragm pump products (which includes Sandpiper and Versamatic products) used for abrasive and semisolid materials as well as for applications where product degradation is a concern or where electricity is not available or should not be used. Warren Rupp products primarily serve the chemical, paint, food processing, electronics, construction, utilities, oil and gas, mining and industrial maintenance markets. Warren Rupp maintains operations in Mansfield, Ohio.
-
ABEL designs and manufactures highly engineered reciprocating positive displacement pumps used for mine dewatering, back filling, transfer of mine tailings, municipal sledge and wastewater applications in a variety of end markets including mining, power, water and wastewater as well as other general industries. ABEL maintains operations in Büchen, Germany and Mansfield, Ohio and has a facility in Madrid, Spain.
Water. Water is a leading provider of metering technology, flow monitoring products and underground surveillance services for wastewater markets, as well as alloy and non-metallic gear pumps and peristaltic pumps. Water is comprised of the following businesses:
-
ADS’ products and services provide comprehensive integrated solutions that enable industry, municipalities and government agencies to analyze and measure the capacity, quality and integrity of wastewater collection systems, including the maintenance and construction of such systems. ADS maintains operations in Huntsville, Alabama and various other locations in the United States, Canada and Australia.
-
iPEK, Envirosight and WinCan combined are the leading providers of integrated solutions for managing the complete lifecycle of water infrastructure assets and process workflows. Their products and solutions include sewer crawlers, inspection and monitoring systems and software applications that allow teams to identify, anticipate and correct water system issues, automate and simplify inspection processes, improve infrastructure asset management and support distributed teams and cloud-based collaboration. MyTana and Pipeline Renewal Technologies design and build products used to clean and repair infrastructure in the sewer and drain industry. iPEK maintains operations in Hirschegg, Austria and Sulzberg, Germany. Envirosight and Pipeline Renewal Technologies maintain operations in Randolph, New Jersey and Callery, Pennsylvania. WinCan has development centers in Murten, Switzerland and Krakow, Poland. MyTana maintains operations in St. Paul, Minnesota. All entities have various sales and service outlets across the United States and Europe.
-
Trebor is a leader in high-purity fluid handling products, including air-operated diaphragm pumps and deionized water-heating systems. Trebor products are used in the manufacturing of semiconductors, disk drives and flat panel displays. Trebor maintains operations in West Jordan, Utah.
-
Pulsafeeder products are used to introduce precise amounts of fluids into processes to manage water quality and chemical composition. Its markets include industrial and municipal water and wastewater treatment, oil and gas, power generation, chemical and hydrocarbon processing and swimming pools. Pulsafeeder serves these markets by producing hydraulic and mechanical diaphragm pumps, rotary pumps, peristaltic pumps and controllers. Pulsafeeder maintains operations in Rochester, New York and Punta Gorda, Florida.
Energy. Energy is a leading supplier of flow meters, small volume provers, electronic registration and control products, rotary vane and turbine pumps, reciprocating piston compressors and terminal automation control systems. Energy is comprised of the following businesses:
-
Advanced Flow Solutions (“AFS”) consists of the Company’s Corken, Liquid Controls and SAMPI businesses. Products for Liquid Controls and SAMPI consist of positive displacement flow meters as well as electronic registration and control products, including mobile and stationary metering installations for wholesale and retail distribution of petroleum and liquefied petroleum gas, aviation refueling and industrial metering and dispensing of refined liquids and gases. Corken products consist of positive displacement rotary vane pumps, single and multistage regenerative turbine pumps and small horsepower reciprocating piston compressors in the oil, gas and industrial markets. AFS maintains operations in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Corken and Liquid Controls products) and Altopascio, Italy (SAMPI products).
-
Toptech supplies terminal automation hardware and software to control and manage inventories as well as transactional data and invoicing to customers in the oil, gas and refined-fuels markets. Toptech maintains operations in Longwood, Florida and Zwijndrecht, Belgium.
-
Flow MD engineers and manufactures small volume provers that ensure custody transfer accuracy in the oil and gas market. Flow MD maintains operations in Phoenix, Arizona.
Valves. Valves is a leader in the design, manufacture and sale of specialty valve products for use in the chemical, petro-chemical, energy and sanitary markets as well as a leading producer of fluoroplastic lined corrosion-resistant magnetic drive and mechanical seal pumps, shut-off, control and safety valves for corrosive, hazardous, contaminated, pure and high-purity fluids. Valves is comprised of the following businesses:
-
Richter and Aegis produce superior solutions for demanding and complex pump and valve applications in the process industry as well as specialty chemical processing valves for use in the chemical, petro-chemical, pharmaceutical, energy and battery industries. Richter and Aegis maintain operations in Kempen, Germany; Suzhou, China; Vadodara, India and Geismar, Louisiana.
-
Alfa Valvole and OBL manufacture specialty valve products used in various industrial fields for fluid control, in both gas and liquid form, in all sectors of plant engineering, cosmetics, detergents, food industry, electric energy, pharmaceutical, chemical plants, petrochemical plants, oil, heating/air conditioning and also on ships, ferries and marine oil platforms. Alfa Valvole and OBL maintain operations in Cassorezzo, Italy.
Agriculture. Agriculture consists of the following businesses:
-
Banjo is a provider of special purpose, severe-duty pumps, valves, fittings and systems used in liquid handling. Its products are used in agricultural and industrial applications. Banjo maintains operations in Crawfordsville, Indiana and has distribution facilities in Didam, the Netherlands and Valinhos, Brazil.
-
KZValve is a leading manufacturer of electric valves and controllers used primarily in agricultural applications. KZValve maintains operations in Greenwood, Nebraska.
HEALTH & SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES SEGMENT
The HST segment designs, produces and distributes a wide range of precision fluidics, positive displacement pumps, powder and liquid processing technologies, drying systems, micro-precision components, pneumatic components and sealing solutions, high performance molded and extruded sealing components, custom mechanical and shaft seals, engineered hygienic mixers and valves, biocompatible medical devices and implantables, air compressors and blowers, optical components and coatings, laboratory and commercial equipment and precision photonic solutions.
The following table summarizes the percentage of total HST sales generated by each end market:

The following discussion describes the reporting units included in the HST segment:
Scientific Fluidics & Optics. Scientific Fluidics & Optics is a global authority in life science fluidics, optics, microfluidics and photonics and the movement of liquids and gases in critical applications, offering a diverse set of technologies, expertise, capabilities and product solutions across numerous market segments. Scientific Fluidics & Optics is comprised of the following businesses:
- IDEX Health & Science (“IH&S”) consists of IH&S Life Science Fluidics, IH&S Life Science Optics and IH&S Microfluidics. The IH&S Life Science Fluidics technology and product portfolio consists of column hardware, degassers, fluidic connections, fluidic manifolds, pumps and pump components, sensors, refractive index detectors, valves and fluidics sub-systems. The IH&S Life Science Optics technology and product portfolio consists of illumination light engines, optical filters, optical subsystems, sensors, cameras and camera imaging objectives. IH&S Microfluidics includes thinXXS Microtechnology, a global leader in developing and producing microfluidic systems, components and consumables serving the point of care diagnostic and digital polymerase chain reaction markets. IH&S serves the life science optics, chromatography, mass spectrometry, in-vitro diagnostics/biotech fluidics and fluidic connections markets. IH&S maintains operations in Bristol, Connecticut; Carlsbad, California; Middleboro,
Massachusetts; Oak Harbor, Washington; Rochester, New York; Rohnert Park, California; Zweibruken, Germany and Saitama, Japan.
-
IDEX Optical Technologies consists of Advanced Thin Films, CVI Laser Optics, CVI Infrared Optics and Iridian Spectral Technologies. The technology and product portfolio consists of polarization optics, windows, optical filters, beamsplitters, lenses, waveplates, monolithic, optics, lens assemblies, imaging assemblies, shutters optical subsystems and detector integration. IDEX Optical Technologies serves the semiconductor metrology, satellite optical communications, defense, aerospace and remote sensing, additive manufacturing, laser material processing, laser communications, telecommunications and life science markets. The businesses maintain operations in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Boulder, Colorado; Didam, the Netherlands; Whetstone, England; and Ottawa, Canada.
-
Muon Group manufactures highly precise flow paths in a variety of materials that enable the movement of various liquids and gases in critical applications within the medical, semiconductor, food processing, digital printing and filtration markets. The group includes LouwersHanique, Veco, Millux, Tecan and Atul, which have critical technical expertise in precision and tolerances for different materials, from metals and glass to plastics and ceramics. The business maintains operations in Hapert, the Netherlands; Eerbeek, the Netherlands; Wijchen, the Netherlands; Dorset, England; and Pune, India.
*•*STC Material Solutions specializes in the design and manufacturing of technical ceramics and hermetic sealing products in mission critical applications within the semiconductor, aerospace and defense, industrial technology, medical technology and energy markets. The business maintains operations in St. Albans, Vermont, with additional operations in Santa Ana, California.
Sealing Solutions. Sealing Solutions focuses on providing special seals and related products and solutions in diversified markets. Sealing Solutions is comprised of the following businesses:
*•*Precision Polymer Engineering is a provider of proprietary high performance seals and advanced sealing solutions for a diverse range of global industries and applications, including hazardous duty, analytical instrumentation, semiconductor, process technologies, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, electronics and food applications. Precision Polymer Engineering maintains operations in Blackburn, England and has an additional manufacturing facility in Brenham, Texas. Precision Polymer Engineering also entered into a joint venture with a third party to manufacture and sell high performance elastomer seals for the oil and gas industry to customers within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as export these high performance elastomer seals outside of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The joint venture maintains operations in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
*•*FTL Seals Technology maintains operations in Leeds, England and specializes in the design and application of high integrity rotary seals, specialty bearings and other custom products for the mining, power generation and marine markets.
*•*SFC Koenig is a producer of highly engineered expanders and check valves for critical applications across the transportation, hydraulic, aviation and medical markets. SFC Koenig maintains operations in Dietikon, Switzerland and has additional facilities in North Haven, Connecticut; Illerrieden, Germany and Suzhou, China.
*•*The Roplan businesses are global manufacturers of custom mechanical and shaft seals for a variety of end markets including food and beverage, marine, chemical, wastewater and water treatment. Roplan maintains operations in Sweden and also has operations in Ningbo, China; Berkshire, England and Madison, Wisconsin.
Performance Pneumatic Technologies. Performance Pneumatic Technologies provides specialized, high-performing air moving technologies across a wide array of industries. Performance Pneumatic Technologies is comprised of the following businesses:
*•*Gast is a leading manufacturer of air-moving products, with a core technology around fractional horsepower (under 1 hp) air compressors, vacuum pumps and air motors. Gast products are used in a variety of long-life applications requiring a quiet, clean source of moderate vacuum or pressure and primarily serve the medical equipment, environmental equipment, computers and electronics, printing machinery, paint mixing machinery, packaging machinery, graphic arts and industrial manufacturing markets. Gast maintains operations in Benton Harbor, Michigan and has a logistics and commercial center in Redditch, England.
*•*Airtech designs and manufactures a wide range of highly-engineered pressure technology products, with a core technology around high performance blowers (2 hp and above) and pneumatic valves for a variety of end markets, including alternative energy, food processing, medical, packaging and transportation. Airtech maintains operations in Rutherford, New Jersey and has other manufacturing operations in Linthicum Heights, Maryland; Wilmington, North Carolina; Werneck, Germany and Shenzhen, China.
Material Processing Technologies. Material Processing Technologies provides process equipment and global support service solutions that meet customer specific requirements with a focus in the pharmaceutical, food, battery and chemical markets. Material Processing Technologies is comprised of the following businesses:
*•*IDEX MPT, Inc., which includes Quadro, Steridose, Fitzpatrick, Microfluidics, and Matcon, maintains operations in Waterloo, Canada; Westwood, Massachusetts; Delran, New Jersey; Evesham, England; Ahmedebad, India and Shanghai, China.
◦Quadro is a leading provider of powder processing solutions for the pharmaceutical, food, personal care and chemical markets. Quadro’s core capabilities include fine milling, emulsification and special handling of liquid and solid particulates for laboratories, through the pilot phase to full scale up with production scale processing.
◦Steridose is a leading designer and manufacturer of magnetic coupled mixers and diaphragm valves for the global biopharmaceutical industry.
◦Fitzpatrick is a global leader in the design and manufacture of process technologies for the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors. Fitzpatrick designs and manufactures customized size reduction and roll compaction systems to support their customers’ product development and manufacturing processes.
◦Microfluidics is a global leader in the design and manufacture of laboratory and production equipment used in the production of micro and nano scale materials for the pharmaceutical, biologics, personal care and chemical markets. Microfluidics is the exclusive producer of the Microfluidizer family of high shear fluid processors for uniform nano-emulsion formation, lipid nanoparticle creation, robust cell disruption and particle size reduction.
◦Matcon is a global leader in creating flexible material processing solutions for high value powders used in the manufacture of foods, pharmaceuticals, batteries, plastics and fine chemicals. Matcon’s innovative products consist of the original cone valve powder discharge system and filling, mixing and packaging systems, all of which support its customers’ automation and process requirements. These products are critical to its customers’ need to maintain clean, reliable and repeatable formulations of prepackaged foods and pharmaceuticals while helping them achieve lean and agile manufacturing.
FIRE & SAFETY/DIVERSIFIED PRODUCTS SEGMENT
The FSDP segment designs, produces and distributes firefighting pumps, valves and controls, rescue tools, lifting bags and other components and systems for the fire and rescue industry; engineered stainless steel banding and clamping devices used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications; and precision equipment for dispensing, metering and mixing colorants and paints used in a variety of retail and commercial businesses.
The following table summarizes the percentage of total FSDP sales generated by each end market:

The following discussion describes the reporting units included in the FSDP segment:
Fire & Safety. Fire businesses produce truck-mounted and portable fire pumps, stainless steel and brass valves, monitors, nozzles, foam and compressed air foam systems, pump modules and pump kits, electronic controls and information systems, conventional and networked electrical systems and mechanical components for the fire and specialty vehicle markets. Safety businesses produce hydraulic, battery, gas and electric-operated rescue equipment, hydraulic re-railing equipment, hydraulic tools for industrial applications, recycling cutters, pneumatic lifting and sealing bags for vehicle and aircraft rescue, environmental protection and disaster control and jumping cushions for building rescue for the rescue market. Fire & Safety’s customers are original equipment manufacturers as well as public and private fire and rescue organizations. Fire & Safety maintains operations in Ocala, Florida (Class 1 and Hale products); Warwick, England (Godiva products); Wooster and Columbus, Ohio (Akron Brass and Weldon products); Ballendorf, Germany (AWG Fittings products); Shelby, North Carolina (Hurst Jaws of Life® products); Tianjin, China (Dinglee products); Erlangen, Germany (Lukas products) and Zulpich, Germany (Vetter products).
Dispensing. Dispensing businesses produce precision equipment for dispensing, metering and mixing colorants and paints used in a variety of retail and commercial businesses around the world. Dispensing is a global supplier of such equipment focused on the architectural paints segment used in retail and commercial stores, hardware stores, home centers and paint and specialized stores as well as in some industrial settings. Dispensing maintains operations in Sassenheim, the Netherlands; Wheeling, Illinois and Sandani, India as well as multiple sales offices around the world.
BAND-IT. BAND-IT is a leading producer of high-quality stainless steel banding, buckles and clamping systems. The BAND-IT brand is highly recognized worldwide. BAND-IT products are used for securing exhaust system heat and sound shields, airbags, industrial hose fittings, traffic signs and signals, electrical cable shielding, identification and bundling and in numerous other industrial and commercial applications. BAND-IT products primarily serve the automotive, aerospace, energy,
utility, municipal, cable management and general industrial markets. BAND-IT maintains operations in Denver, Colorado, with additional operations in Staveley, England.
INFORMATION APPLICABLE TO THE COMPANY’S BUSINESS IN GENERAL AND ITS SEGMENTS
Competitors
The Company’s businesses participate in highly competitive markets. IDEX believes that the principal points of competition are product quality, design and engineering capabilities, product development, conformity to customer specifications, quality of post-sale support, timeliness of delivery and effectiveness of the Company’s distribution channels.
Principal competitors of the FMT segment are the Pumps Group (Blackmer, Wilden and Ebsray products) of Dover Corporation (with respect to pumps and small horsepower compressors used in liquefied petroleum gas distribution facilities, rotary gear pumps and air-operated double-diaphragm pumps); and Ingersoll Rand’s Precision and Science Technologies (PST) division (with respect to metering, control, rotary gear pumps and air operated double-diaphragm pumps).
Principal competitors of the HST segment are the Thomas division of Ingersoll Rand (with respect to vacuum pumps and compressors); Parker Hannifin (with respect to sealing devices); Valco Instruments Co., Inc. (with respect to connections, degassers and valves); Alluxa (with respect to filters); Jenoptik (with respect to optical assemblies in life sciences); and Tecan Trading AG (with respect to the life science fluidics market).
Principal competitors of the FSDP segment are Waterous Company, a unit of American Cast Iron Pipe Company (with respect to truck-mounted firefighting pumps); Holmatro, Inc. (with respect to rescue tools); Corob S.p.A. (with respect to dispensing and mixing equipment for the paint industry); and Panduit Corporation (with respect to stainless steel bands, buckles and clamping systems).
Customers
In 2023, the Company did not have any customers that accounted for more than 3% of net sales. Since the Company serves a wide variety of markets, customer concentrations are not significant.
International
The Company’s products and services are available worldwide, with manufacturing operations in more than 20 countries. The businesses located outside the U.S. are primarily based in Germany, India, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland, Canada and China. The Company’s geographic diversity allows it to draw on the skills of a global workforce, provides greater stability to its operations, allows the Company to drive economies of scale, provides revenue streams that may help offset economic trends that are specific to individual economies and offers the Company an opportunity to access new markets for products.
The following table illustrates sales to customers within and outside the U.S. as a percentage of total sales for total IDEX as well as by segment and by reporting unit for the year ended December 31, 2023:
| Domestic | International | |||||||||||||
| FMT | 56% | 44% | ||||||||||||
| Pumps | 57% | 43% | ||||||||||||
| Water | 57% | 43% | ||||||||||||
| Energy | 64% | 36% | ||||||||||||
| Valves | 13% | 87% | ||||||||||||
| Agriculture | 75% | 25% | ||||||||||||
| HST | 44% | 56% | ||||||||||||
| Scientific Fluidics & Optics | 40% | 60% | ||||||||||||
| Sealing Solutions | 21% | 79% | ||||||||||||
| Performance Pneumatic Technologies | 81% | 19% | ||||||||||||
| Material Processing Technologies | 37% | 63% | ||||||||||||
| Micropump(1) | 21% | 79% | ||||||||||||
| FSDP | 52% | 48% | ||||||||||||
| Fire & Safety | 53% | 47% | ||||||||||||
| Dispensing | 46% | 54% | ||||||||||||
| BAND-IT | 56% | 44% | ||||||||||||
| IDEX | 50% | 50% |
(1) Revenue from Micropump, Inc. (“Micropump”) (sold on August 3, 2023) has been included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income through the date of disposition. See Note 2 in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for further detail.
Shared Services
The Company has production facilities in Suzhou, China, Vadodara, India and Ahmedabad, India that support multiple business units. The Company completed an expansion of its China facility in late 2022 and its India facility in 2023 in an effort to increase its footprint in these emerging markets as the Company believes there is tremendous potential for growth across all segments. In addition, the Company expanded its facilities in Singapore and Dubai in 2022 to support growth in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. IDEX also has personnel in China, India, Dubai, Mexico, Latin America and Singapore that provide sales, marketing, product design, engineering and sourcing support to its business units in those regions, as well as personnel in various locations in South America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Korea and Japan to support sales and marketing efforts in those regions.
Raw Materials
The Company uses a wide variety of raw materials which are generally purchased from a large number of independent sources around the world. The Company believes it has an adequate supply of raw materials necessary to meet demand. The Company is exposed to fluctuations in commodity pricing and inflation and attempts to control these impacts through increased prices to customers and various other programs with its suppliers.
Suppliers
The Company manufactures many of the parts and components used in its products. Substantially all materials, parts and components purchased by the Company are available from a large number of independent sources around the world. The Company believes it has a sufficient number of suppliers necessary to meet demand but continues to actively evaluate its current suppliers and identify alternative sources to manage supply chain constraints, if needed.
Inventory and Backlog
The Company is a short cycle business and backlog is not generally considered a significant factor as relatively short delivery periods and rapid inventory turnover are characteristic of most of the Company’s products. Even still, the Company regularly and systematically adjusts production schedules and quantities based on the flow of incoming orders. While backlog was elevated in recent years due to global supply chain constraints, which extended lead times, shifted customer order patterns and resulted in increased inventory to support production, customer destocking efforts in 2023 have resulted in orders stabilizing with backlog and lead times returning to more normalized levels. The Company remains focused on delivering products and services to customers and continues to actively manage inventory levels. Further, the Company has not historically experienced significant order cancellations and does not expect significant order cancellations in the future.
Government Regulations
Our compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations, including those related to environmental, international trade, labor and employment, human rights, tax, anti-bribery and competition matters, did not have a material effect upon our capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Employees
At December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately 8,800 employees. Approximately 4% of its employees are covered by various collective bargaining agreements in the U.S. which will expire at various times between now and June 2028. There are no collective bargaining agreements in the U.S. that will expire within one year. Management believes that the Company has a positive relationship with its employees. The Company historically has been able to renegotiate its collective bargaining agreements satisfactorily, with its last work stoppage occurring in March 1993.
Human Capital Management
The Company recognizes that its success would not be possible without the valuable contributions of its workforce and is committed to creating a work environment where employees can thrive and grow. Our workplaces promote entrepreneurialism and autonomy while providing a strong safety net of benefits, training and personal development. Investments in attracting, retaining and developing great teams enables the Company to accomplish its goals and deliver innovative customer solutions. The Company’s corporate Human Capital strategy is overseen by its Chief Human Resource Officer (“CHRO”). Annually, the CHRO presents a talent review to the Company’s Board of Directors focused on senior leader team development, the human capital strategy action plan and succession planning for senior management to ensure that the Board is informed and to seek alignment on plans about human capital management for business continuity and success.
The Company’s workforce advancement strategy is focused through investment in three pillars: skill-building for the entire workforce, leadership development aligned with the Company’s methodology and fostering a premier culture. The Company’s approach to performance management, talent development, talent management and employee engagement helps drive long-term value by providing employees with opportunities to do and be their best both individually and as teams.
As part of our Organizational Talent Cycle process, we conduct regular in-depth talent reviews of our workforce teams and culture with business leaders, identify “stretch” opportunities to grow team members and connect our decentralized businesses by moving skilled employees from one business unit to another as opportunities and interest arise. Employees and leaders have performance and development conversations throughout the year, talking about business and development goals, reviewing progress, recognizing accomplishments, giving balanced feedback and identifying opportunities for improvement. Open, honest dialog about performance, development and career growth supports our values of Trust, Team and Excellence and The IDEX Difference, building trust and helping us fulfill our purpose.
The Company offers agile development solutions to support unique needs and drive long-term value. Employees have access to resources that enhance and build capabilities for success in their current position or future roles, including specific individual development plans and local training and development programs. Each year, the Company invests in a Global Leadership Conference for senior leaders to align on strategic vision and priorities and build core leadership skills. In support of our growth strategy and culture, the Company also sponsors accelerated, on-the-job learning for key leaders in our pipeline through the IDEX Academy’s global leadership development programs. These programs provide opportunities for emerging leaders across geographies and businesses to come together to practice and apply new leadership behaviors, share best practices, solve business challenges and build strong support networks. Our learning curriculum includes instructor-led, self-paced and blended solutions that have been created internally or sourced from external partners. These offerings also help to develop future and potential leaders in the IDEX leadership methodology. Additionally, the Company sponsored over 150 senior leaders
to participate in a coaching skill-building program in 2023 with continued on-the-job performance support and reinforcement designed to accelerate the growth and development of our high-performing talent and further promote our growth culture.
The Company also enables employee development and growth by offering eligible U.S. employees the opportunity to participate in the Tuition Reimbursement program. Through the program, employees can have certain expenses from secondary educational institutions reimbursed up to $5,250 per year.
The Company prioritizes hiring team members who will embrace the team-driven culture and also places considerable emphasis on leveraging the talented employees within the Company’s internal pipeline, filling many leadership positions with Company employees.
Part of the IDEX Difference is building and engaging great teams. Employee engagement is essential to create a diverse, inclusive and equitable culture where all employees thrive and have an equal opportunity to do and be their best. We believe our employees have a high level of engagement as the Company’s employee engagement index remains above the average for manufacturing companies at 74 percent, as measured by the Company’s employee engagement survey. The Company’s investments in people have led to significant increases in favorability for career development for all employees. Additionally, the important capability-building investments of the Global Leadership Conference and coaching programs have positively impacted senior leader perceptions of learning and development, support for skill and career development and increased confidence of being able to achieve career goals at IDEX.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The Company has always recognized diversity as foundational to creativity and resilience; the three pillars of Innovation, Diversity and Excellence form the acronym that is the Company’s name, IDEX. Gender, ethnic, cultural and other human diversity is critical to the Company’s success.
In 2022, the Company launched its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DEI”) strategic roadmap. In 2023, progress against the strategic roadmap included: (1) implementation of mentoring based on employee resource groups (“ERGs”) and talent development networks; (2) delivery of Inclusive Leadership Training; (3) increased participation in IDEX ERGs; (4) continuation of IDEX’s performance-based DEI goals for senior leaders; and (5) expansion of talent development and recruiting efforts.
IDEX has built a reputation as a respected employer with a welcoming culture, where 80% of employees feel a strong sense of belonging, according to our 2023 employee engagement survey.
The Company’s Board of Directors now comprises 30% women and 30% members who identify with racial/ethnic minority groups. Additionally, the representation of women in leadership at the Company remained steady in 2023. From 2022 to 2023, and as of December 31, 2023, the percentage of women globally in senior leadership roles remained constant at 31%. The percentage of women globally in people leadership roles remained at 22%. During the same time period, and as of December 31, 2023, the number of racial/ethnic minority senior leaders in the U.S. increased from 21% to 22%, and the number of racial/ethnic minority people managers in the U.S. increased from 19% to 20%. The foregoing representation numbers do not include employee populations associated with acquisitions completed in 2023.
Further, the Company has conducted pay equity analyses for U.S. employees since 2018 to ensure that employees’ actual pay was substantially similar to their predicted pay. Where appropriate, the Company provided base pay adjustments for employees that were outliers from their predicted pay, further reinforcing the Company’s commitment to diversity and a culture of inclusion, equality and respect.
Employee Pay and Benefits
Attracting and retaining top talent is critical to the success of the Company’s business. The Company offers a highly competitive pay and benefits package for employees in all the markets where it operates. The performance-based pay packages provide many employees with short-term performance incentives. The Company also provides equity-based, long-term incentives to its senior leaders.
The Company’s U.S. employees can participate in a 401(k) retirement plan and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which allows an employee to purchase IDEX stock through payroll deductions.
Workplace Health & Safety
The Company is committed to providing a workplace that is safe for all of our employees, contractors, business partners and visitors. The commitment to Environmental, Health, and Safety (“EH&S”) begins at the corporate and executive level. The program is overseen by the EH&S Senior Director and the Chief Sustainability Officer, both of whom are part of the Legal Department. Each of the Company’s businesses employ local EH&S specialists. These individuals and local safety committees, in conjunction with the corporate team, form the basis of the global EH&S program. The Company’s corporate EH&S policies are a key part of the global EH&S program. They apply to all of the Company’s businesses and each business is expected to comply with policies and all EH&S laws and regulations. In addition to the corporate policies, each business develops and implements its own health and safety policies tailored to the local business.
The Company also encourages employees enrolled in the U.S. Healthcare Benefit Plan to participate in the third-party operated Wellness Program which provides access to annual biometric screenings, health evaluations and wellness credits that can be earned for meeting individual wellness goals each year. In addition, a number of the business units organize complementary wellness programs, including walking clubs, health fairs and “lunch and learns” with nutritionists for their employees.
Worker Rights and Protection
The Company believes that a respectful workplace is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, and this involves more than just compliance with the law. The Company strives to create a work environment that is free of inappropriate and unprofessional behavior and consistent with the Company’s values – a place where everyone is invited to do their best every day and feel free to report any concerns. The Company has policies, procedures and regular training in place to protect its workforce and prevent workplace harassment and discrimination. This includes a global Code of Business Conduct & Ethics policy where employees agree to follow and receive annual training. The Company also maintains a global hotline where employees are encouraged (and can choose to remain anonymous) to report any concerns or issues.
Information about Our Executive Officers
Set forth below are the names of the executive officers of the Company, their ages, years of service, the positions held by them and their business experience.
| Name | Age | Years of Service | Position | |||||||||||||||||
| Eric D. Ashleman | 56 | 15 | Chief Executive Officer and President | |||||||||||||||||
| Abhishek Khandelwal* | 47 | 11 | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||||||||||||||||
| Lisa M. Anderson | 47 | 7 | Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | |||||||||||||||||
| Melissa S. Flores | 41 | 13 | Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer | |||||||||||||||||
| Roopa Unnikrishnan | 52 | 2 | Senior Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development |
- Mr. Khandelwal rejoined IDEX in November 2023 after previously serving in various roles from 2010 to 2020.
Mr. Ashleman has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since December 2020. Prior to that, Mr. Ashleman was Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from July 2015 to December 2020, Vice President-Group Executive of the Company’s HST and FSDP segments from January 2014 through July 2015 and President-Group Executive of the Company’s FSDP segment from 2011 through January 2014. Mr. Ashleman joined IDEX in 2008 as the President of Gast Manufacturing.
Mr. Khandelwal has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since November 2023. Prior to rejoining IDEX, Mr. Khandelwal served as Chief Financial Officer of Multi-Color Corporation, a manufacturer of printed labels for consumer goods, from January 2022 through November 2023, and as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CIRCOR International, a pump & valve systems and custom engineering & design company, from April 2020 through December 2021. From 2010 through March 2020, Mr. Khandelwal held a number of senior finance roles within IDEX, serving most recently as Vice President of Finance Operations, Treasury and Financial Planning & Analysis for the Company.
Ms. Anderson has served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since February 2022. Prior to that, Ms. Anderson served as Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary from December 2017 through February 2022 after joining IDEX as Assistant General Counsel in October 2016. Prior to joining IDEX, Ms. Anderson served
in various roles of increasing responsibility at SunCoke Energy, Inc., most recently as Senior Counsel and Deputy Chief Compliance Officer.
Ms. Flores has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer since February 2021. Prior to that, Ms. Flores served as Global, Vice President Talent from May 2019 through February 2021. From February 2018 through May 2019, Ms. Flores was Group Vice President Human Resources. Prior to that she served as Vice President, Talent Management and Development from March 2017 to February 2018, after being promoted from Director, Talent Development, a position she served in from March 2015 to March 2017.
Ms. Unnikrishnan has served as Senior Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development since March 2022. Prior to that, Ms. Unnikrishnan served as the Chief Strategy Officer of Vontier from October 2020 to July 2021. From September 2016 to October 2020, Ms. Unnikrishnan was Vice President of Strategy at Harman International. Prior to her time at Harman, Ms. Unnikrishnan led Center10 Consulting and served as Managing Director at Blackrock and Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Pfizer.
Public Filings
Copies of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports are made available free of charge at www.idexcorp.com as soon as reasonably practicable after being filed electronically with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Company’s reports are also available free of charge on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Information on the Company’s website is not incorporated into this Form 10-K.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
For an enterprise as diverse and complex as the Company, a wide range of factors present risks to the Company and could materially affect future developments and performance. In addition to the factors affecting specific business operations identified in connection with the description of the Company’s operations and the financial results of its operations elsewhere in this report, the most material of these factors are included below. Current global economic events and conditions may amplify many of these risks. These risks are not the only risks that may affect the Company. Additional risks that the Company is not aware of or does not believe are material at the time of this filing may also become important factors that adversely affect the Company’s business.
Risks Related to the Company’s Operations
The Company’s Inability to Continue to Develop New Products Could Limit Sales Growth.
The Company’s ability to continue to grow organically is tied in large part to its ability to continue to develop new products. A failure to continue to develop and deliver new, innovative and competitive products to the market could limit sales growth and negatively impact the Company and its financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
The Company’s Growth Strategy Includes Acquisitions and the Company May Not be Able to Make Acquisitions of Suitable Candidates or Integrate Acquisitions Successfully.
The Company’s historical growth has included, and the Company’s future growth is likely to continue to include, acquisitions. The Company intends to continue to seek acquisition opportunities both to expand into new markets and to enhance its position in existing markets throughout the world. The Company may not be able to successfully identify suitable candidates, negotiate appropriate acquisition terms, obtain financing needed to consummate those acquisitions, complete proposed acquisitions or successfully integrate acquired businesses into its existing operations. In addition, any acquisition, once successfully integrated, may not perform as planned, be accretive to earnings, or otherwise prove beneficial to the Company.
Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including the assumption of undisclosed, uninsured or unindemnified liabilities; difficulties in the assimilation of the operations, technologies, services and products of the acquired companies and the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns. In addition, prior acquisitions have resulted in, and future acquisitions could result in, the incurrence of substantial additional indebtedness and other expenses.
The Markets Served by the Company are Highly Competitive and this Competition Could Reduce Sales and Profit Margins.
Most of the Company’s products are sold in competitive markets. Maintaining and improving a competitive position will require continued investment in manufacturing, engineering, quality standards, marketing, technology, customer service and support and distribution networks. The Company may not be successful in maintaining its competitive position. The Company’s competitors may develop products that are superior, may develop methods of more efficiently and effectively providing products and services or may adapt quicker to new technologies or evolving customer requirements. Additionally, the Company’s competitors may adopt new technologies and technological advancements using artificial intelligence and machine learning to pursue new products and approaches more quickly, successfully and effectively than the Company. The Company may not be able to compete successfully with existing competitors or with new competitors. Pricing pressures may require the Company to adjust the prices of products to stay competitive. Failure to continue competing successfully could reduce sales, profit margins and overall financial performance.
The Company is Dependent on the Availability of Raw Materials, Parts and Components Used in Its Products and Changes in Supply of, or Price for, Raw Materials, Parts and Components May Materially Adversely Affect the Company.
While the Company manufactures certain parts and components used in its products, the Company also requires substantial amounts of raw materials and purchases certain parts and components from suppliers. The availability of and prices for raw materials, parts and components may be subject to curtailment or change due to, among other things, suppliers’ allocations to other purchasers, interruptions in production by suppliers, including due to geopolitical or civil unrest, unfavorable economic or industry conditions, labor disruptions, supply chain disruptions, catastrophic weather events, natural disasters, public health concerns, changes in exchange rates and prevailing price levels. Any change in the supply of, or price for, raw materials or parts and components could materially affect the Company and its financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
The Company’s Business Operations May Be Materially Adversely Affected by Information Systems Interruptions or Intrusion, Including those Arising From Cybersecurity Attacks or Incidents or Violations of Laws Regulating Privacy and Data Security.
The Company depends on various internal and third party information technologies to administer, store, process and transmit electronic information (including sensitive or controlled data such as confidential business information and personal data relating to employees, customers and other business partners) and to support a variety of critical business activities. Our business has an increasing reliance on IT systems and a growing digital footprint as a result of changing technologies, increasing connected devices and digital offerings, and an increase in remote and hybrid workforce populations. Additionally, some of our products contain computer hardware and software and offer the ability to connect to computer networks. Our customers, including government customers, are also requiring cybersecurity protections and mandating cybersecurity standards for our businesses with more frequency. If the Company’s systems, technologies, products or services (including those we acquire through business acquisitions), or the systems, technologies, products or services of the Company’s customers or third-party hosting services (including third-party data centers and cloud platforms upon which we rely), are damaged or cease to function properly, or if the Company or third-party hosting service systems are subject to deliberate cyber-security attacks, such as those involving unauthorized access or malicious software, or unintentional cybersecurity incidents, such as those involving systems misconfigurations, misuse or human error and/or other intrusions, the Company, its operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely impacted. These impacts could include production downtimes, operational delays or other detrimental impacts on operations or the ability to provide products and services to customers; the compromise, destruction, corruption or theft of confidential or otherwise protected information, data or intellectual property; security breaches; other manipulation or improper use of the Company’s systems or networks; financial losses from fraudulent transactions; financial losses from remedial actions; loss of business or potential liability; adverse media coverage; legal claims or legal proceedings including regulatory investigations, actions, penalties or fines, including those arising from the violation of any applicable data privacy laws; and/or damage to the Company’s reputation. While we have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, these types of threats and incidents, based on our analysis at this time, we have not experienced a cybersecurity threat or incident that we believe has or is reasonably likely to materially affect the Company.
As a global organization, we are also subject to data privacy and security laws, regulations and customer-imposed controls in numerous jurisdictions as a result of having access to and processing confidential, personal and/or sensitive data in the course of our business. Governmental investigations and enforcement actions can be costly and interrupt the regular operations of our business, and data breaches or violations of data privacy laws can result in civil and criminal, monetary and non-monetary penalties and damages to our reputation, any of which may adversely affect our business and financial statements. As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve and as cybersecurity and data protection laws and regulations continue to develop globally, we expect to expend additional resources to continue to develop our compliance programs, strengthen our information security, data protection, disaster recovery and business continuity measures, and investigate and remediate vulnerabilities.
There has been a rise in the number of cyberattacks targeting confidential business information generally and in the manufacturing industry specifically by both state-sponsored and criminal organizations. These may include such things as denial of service attacks, introduction of ransomware or other malicious software programs, and other disruptive problems. In addition, there has been a rise in the number of cyberattacks that depend on human error or manipulation, including phishing attacks or schemes that use social engineering to gain access to systems or perpetuate wire transfer or other frauds. Moreover, the rapid evolution and increased adoption of artificial intelligence technologies may intensify our cybersecurity risks. These trends increase the likelihood of such events occurring.
The Company regularly identifies, defends against and responds to cyber threats and security incidents. While the Company attempts to mitigate cybersecurity risks by employing a number of measures, including employee training, technical security controls and maintenance of certain backup and protective systems, the Company’s systems, networks, products and services remain potentially vulnerable to known or unknown threats or other intrusions, and there are risks that our cybersecurity defenses will be insufficient to fully mitigate cyber risks and losses related to cybersecurity events, any of which may result in a material adverse effect on the Company and its financial condition or results of operations. Moreover, until we have migrated businesses we acquire onto our IT systems or ensured compliance with our information technology and cybersecurity standards, we have in the past and may in the future face additional risks because of the continued use of predecessor IT systems, procedures and cybersecurity risk mitigation measures. Given the unpredictability, nature and scope of cybersecurity attacks and incidents, it is possible that potential vulnerabilities could go undetected for an extended period, and it could take considerable time for the Company to obtain full and reliable information as to the extent, amount and type of information and/or systems compromised. Any imposition of liability, particularly liability that is not covered by insurance or is in excess of our insurance coverage, could materially adversely harm our operating results and financial condition.
Uncertainty Related to Environmental Regulation, Industry Standards, or Other Risks Associated with a Potential Global Transition to a Lower-Carbon Economy, as well as Physical Risks of Climate Change, Could Adversely Impact the Company's Results of Operations and Financial Position.
Increased public awareness and concern regarding environmental risks, including global climate change and the potential global transition to a lower-carbon economy, may result in more international, regional, federal and/or state requirements or industry standards to reduce or mitigate global warming and other environmental risks. New climate change laws and regulations could require the Company to change its manufacturing processes or obtain substitute materials that may cost more or be less available for its manufacturing operations. Various jurisdictions in which the Company does business have implemented, or in the future could implement or amend, restrictions on emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases, taxation of or caps on the use of carbon-based energy, limitations or restrictions on water use, limitations or restrictions on the production of single use plastics, regulations on energy management and waste management and other rules and regulations to address climate change and other environmental risks, which may increase the Company’s expenses and adversely affect its operating results. In addition to changes in regulations or industry standards, a failure by the Company to innovate and adapt products to new markets, changing customer preferences for higher-efficiency products, or increasing scrutiny around fossil fuels usage could limit sales growth and negatively impact the Company and its financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
The physical risks of climate change are highly uncertain and differ in the geographic regions in which the Company operates. These physical risks, including wildfires, rising sea levels, floods and other extreme weather events, may impact the availability and cost of materials, sources and supply of energy, product demand and manufacturing and could increase insurance and other operating costs. Any future increased worldwide regulatory activity relating to climate change could expand the nature, scope and complexity of matters that the Company is required to control, assess and report. If environmental laws or regulations or industry standards are either changed or adopted and impose significant operational restrictions and compliance requirements upon the Company, its suppliers, its customers or its products, or the Company's operations are disrupted due to physical impacts of climate change on the Company, its customers or its suppliers, the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely impacted. Further, any failure to adequately address stakeholder expectations or to achieve previously announced initiatives or goals with respect to sustainability or environmental, social and governance matters may adversely impact our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.
Business Disruptions Due to Catastrophic Weather Events, Natural Disasters and Public Health Threats Could Adversely Affect the Company.
The Company faces various risks related to the occurrence of catastrophic weather events or significant natural disasters, including earthquakes, wildfires, droughts, fires, power-outages or other catastrophic events, in areas in which we have manufacturing facilities or from which we obtain products. Severe weather conditions, including any that may be caused or exacerbated by global climate change, may cause physical damage to our properties, closure of one or more of our manufacturing or distribution facilities, lack of an adequate work force in a market, temporary disruption in the supply of inventory, disruption in the transport of products and utilities and delays in the delivery of products to our customers.
Additionally, public health threats may negatively impact the global economy by causing changes in consumer behavior, market downturns, restrictions on business and individual activities and increased volatility. Any widespread public health threats could have a significant impact on the Company’s supply chain, such as the Company experienced during the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To the extent that any of the foregoing adversely affect the Company and its financial results, they may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of this annual report, such as those relating to international operations, the Company’s ability to develop new products, the Company’s ability to execute on its growth strategy of acquisitions, the Company’s dependency on raw materials, parts and components, the effects on movements in foreign currency exchange rates on the Company, the effects on the Company that result from declines in commodity prices and the Company’s reliance on labor availability to operate and grow the business.
Risks Related to Economic and Political Conditions
A Slowdown in the U.S. or International Economy Could Materially Adversely Affect the Sales and Profitability of the Company’s Businesses.
In 2023, 50% of the Company’s sales were derived from domestic operations and 50% were derived from international operations. The Company’s largest end markets include industrial, fire and safety, energy, life sciences, water and wastewater treatment, semiconductor, automotive, analytical instruments, food and pharmaceuticals, paint, agriculture and chemical
processing. A slowdown in the U.S. or global economy and, in particular, any of these specific end markets could materially reduce the Company’s sales and profitability.
Changes to Geopolitical and Economic Conditions in the U.S. and Foreign Countries in Which the Company Operates Could Adversely Affect the Company.
The Company expects international operations and export sales to continue to be significant for the foreseeable future. The Company’s sales from international operations and sales from export are both subject in varying degrees to risks inherent in doing business outside the U.S. These risks include the following:
-
possibility of unfavorable circumstances arising from host country laws or regulations and the risks related to required compliance with local laws;
-
risks of economic instability, including due to inflation;
-
currency exchange rate fluctuations and restrictions on currency repatriation;
-
potential negative consequences from changes to taxation policies;
-
disruption of operations from labor and political disturbances;
-
withdrawal from or renegotiation of international trade agreements and other restrictions on the trade between the United States and other countries;
-
the imposition of and changes in the United States’ and other governments’ trade regulations, trade wars, tariffs and other trade barriers, including as a result of geopolitical developments (such as escalating tensions in the Middle East) and relations between the United States and China and the United States and Russia; and
-
geopolitical events, including natural disasters, catastrophic weather events, climate change, public health conditions, including epidemics, pandemics and other outbreaks (such as the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic), political instability or other geopolitical events, including civil or political unrest, terrorism, insurrection or war.
Any of these events could have a materially adverse impact on the Company and its operations.
Significant Movements in Foreign Currency Exchange Rates May Harm the Company’s Financial Results.
The Company is exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, particularly with respect to the Euro, Swiss Franc, Canadian Dollar, British Pound, Indian Rupee, Chinese Renminbi, Swedish Krona and Brazilian Real. Any significant change in the value of the currencies of the countries in which the Company does business against the U.S. Dollar could affect the Company’s ability to sell products competitively and control its cost structure, which could have a material adverse effect on results of operations. For additional detail related to this risk, see Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”
Fluctuations in Interest Rates Could Adversely Affect the Company’s Results of Operations and Financial Position.
The Company’s profitability may be adversely affected during any periods of unexpected or rapid increases in interest rates. The Company maintains a Credit Agreement with a revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of $800 million and a term credit facility (the “Term Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of $200 million (together, the “Credit Facility”), which bears interest at either an alternate base rate or adjusted Term SOFR (or appropriate alternative currency reference rates) plus, in each case, an applicable margin based on the lower of the Company’s senior, unsecured, long-term debt rating or the Company’s applicable leverage ratio. A significant increase in Term SOFR or the other rates the Company has agreed to use as an alternative to Term SOFR (should Term SOFR become unavailable) under the Credit Facility, as amended, would significantly increase the Company’s cost of borrowings. Further, any changes in regulatory standards or industry practices, such as the discontinuation of the use of Term SOFR and/or the transition to alternative benchmark rates may result in the usage of higher interest rates under the Credit Facility, and the Company’s current or future indebtedness may be adversely affected. The Company is also exposed to risks if the U.S. Federal Reserve raises its benchmark interest rate, which may reduce the availability of and increase the cost of obtaining new debt and refinancing existing indebtedness. For additional detail related to this risk, see Part II, Item 7A, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk."
A Significant or Sustained Decline in Commodity Prices, Including Oil, Could Negatively Impact the Levels of Expenditures by Certain of the Company’s Customers.
Demand for the Company’s products depends, in part, on the level of new and planned expenditures by certain of its customers. The level of expenditures by the Company’s customers is dependent on, among other factors, general economic conditions, availability of credit, economic conditions within their respective industries and expectations of future market behavior. Volatility in commodity prices, including oil, can negatively affect the level of these activities and can result in postponement of capital spending decisions or the delay or cancellation of existing orders. The ability of the Company’s customers to finance capital investment and maintenance may also be affected by the conditions in their industries. Reduced demand for the Company’s products could result in the delay or cancellation of existing orders or lead to excess manufacturing capacity, which unfavorably impacts the absorption of fixed manufacturing costs. This reduced demand could have a material adverse effect on the Company and its financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Legal, Accounting and Regulatory Matters
An Unfavorable Outcome of Any Pending Contingencies or Litigation Could Adversely Affect the Company.
The Company is currently involved in pending and threatened legal, regulatory and other proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. These proceedings may pertain to matters such as product liability or contract disputes, and may also involve governmental inquiries, inspections, audits or investigations relating to issues such as tax matters, intellectual property, environmental, health and safety issues, governmental regulations, employment and other matters. Where it is reasonably possible to do so, the Company accrues estimates of the probable costs for the resolution of these matters. These estimates are developed in consultation with outside counsel and are based upon an analysis of potential results and the availability of insurance coverage, assuming a combination of litigation and settlement strategies. It is possible, however, that future operating results for any particular quarter or annual period could be materially affected by changes in assumptions, the continued availability of insurance coverage or the effectiveness of the Company’s strategies related to these proceedings. For additional detail related to this risk, see Item 3, “Legal Proceedings” and Note 10 in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Failure to Adequately Protect the Company’s Intellectual Property and the Risk of Disputes Involving Intellectual Property Infringement Could Adversely Impact the Company’s Competitive Position, Results of Operations, and Financial Condition.
The Company owns patents, trademarks, licenses and other forms of intellectual property related to its products and continuously invests in research and development that may result in technological innovations and general intellectual property rights. The Company employs various measures to develop, maintain and protect its intellectual property rights. If these measures are not effective, or if the Company’s intellectual property is otherwise infringed, challenged, invalidated or circumvented, the Company may face adverse impacts to its results of operations and/or financial condition. Further, if intellectual property is infringed, challenged, invalidated or circumvented, this could reduce barriers to entry into the Company’s existing lines of business and may result in a loss of market share and adversely impact the Company’s competitive position. Additionally, the Company has registered intellectual property in multiple countries, and the Company’s ability to protect and enforce its intellectual property rights may be limited in foreign countries due to differences in intellectual property protections or proprietary rights laws. If the Company’s intellectual property is infringed, challenged, invalidated or circumvented due to these lesser protections, the Company may face adverse impacts to its results of operations, financial condition and/or competitive position.
Litigation may be necessary to enforce the Company’s intellectual property rights or to defend against infringement claims by third parties. Any litigation or claims brought by the Company could result in costs and diversion of resources, which could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and/or financial condition. Any intellectual property litigation or claims brought against the Company may lead to litigation expenses, diversion of resources, losses or licensing expenses or the cessation of selling certain products, any of which could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and/or financial condition.
The Company’s Intangible Assets, Including Goodwill, are a Significant Portion of Total Assets and a Write-off of Intangible Assets or Goodwill Would Adversely Impact the Company’s Operating Results and Significantly Reduce the Company’s Net Worth.
The Company’s total assets includes substantial intangible assets, primarily goodwill and identifiable intangible assets, which primarily result from acquisitions. At December 31, 2023, goodwill and intangible assets totaled $2,838.3 million and
$1,011.8 million, respectively. Annually, or when certain events occur that require a more current valuation, the Company assesses whether there has been an impairment in the value of goodwill and identifiable intangible assets. If future operating performance at one or more of the Company’s reporting units were to fall significantly below forecasted levels, the Company could be required to reflect, under current applicable accounting rules, a non-cash charge to operating income for an impairment. Any determination requiring the write-off of a significant portion of goodwill or identifiable intangible assets would adversely impact the Company’s results of operations and net worth. See Note 6 in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for further discussion on goodwill and intangible assets.
The Company May Face Adverse Effects Resulting from Improper Conduct by Our Employees, Agents or Business Partners.
While we strive to maintain high standards, the Company cannot guarantee that our internal controls and compliance systems will always protect us from reckless or criminal acts committed by employees, agents or business partners of ours (or businesses that we acquire or partner with) that would violate laws in the U.S. or foreign countries in which the Company operates, including laws governing payment to government officials, bribery, fraud, conflicts of interest, competition, employment practices and workplace behavior, export and import compliance, economic and trade sanctions, money laundering and data privacy.
In particular, recent years have seen a substantial increase in anti-bribery law enforcement activity with more frequent and aggressive investigations and enforcement proceedings by both the Department of Justice and the SEC, increased enforcement activity by non-U.S. regulators and increases in criminal and civil proceedings brought against companies and individuals. The Company’s policies mandate compliance with all anti-bribery laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act and similar anti-bribery laws in other jurisdictions which generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. However, the Company operates in certain countries that are recognized as having governmental and commercial corruption. Violations of any of these laws may result in criminal or civil sanctions or penalties, both monetary and non-monetary, increased costs of compliance and/or damage to our reputation, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company and its financial condition and results of operations.
General Risk Factors
A Failure to Retain Executive Management and Key Personnel or Recruit Adequate Successors May Adversely Affect the Company’s Operations and Implementation of Strategy.
The Company’s future success depends to a significant degree on the skills, experience and efforts of its executive management and other key personnel and their ability to provide the Company with uninterrupted leadership and direction. The loss of the services of any of the executive officers or other key personnel or a failure to provide adequate succession plans for these individuals could have an adverse impact on the Company’s operations and implementation of its strategic plan. The availability of highly qualified talent is limited and the competition for talent is robust.
Challenges with Respect to Labor Availability Could Negatively Impact the Company’s Ability to Operate or Grow the Business.
The Company’s success depends in part on the ability of its businesses to proactively attract, motivate and retain a qualified and highly skilled workforce in an intensely competitive labor market. A failure to attract, motivate and retain highly skilled personnel could adversely affect the Company’s operating results or its ability to operate or grow the business. Additionally, any labor stoppages or labor disruptions, including due to geopolitical unrest, unfavorable economic or industry conditions, catastrophic weather events, natural disasters or public health threats could adversely affect the Company’s operating results or its ability to operate or grow the business.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 1C. Cybersecurity.
Risk Management and Strategy.
The Company’s cybersecurity program is designed to be aligned to the Cybersecurity Framework published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST CSF”). While we use the NIST CSF as a guide, this does not imply that we meet any particular standards, specifications or requirements. We conduct regular internal and external assessments of our information security and cybersecurity programs, including periodic external audits for company-wide compliance with our program as well as specific business unit alignment, as required, with U.S. federal acquisition regulations and UK Cyber Essentials certifications. An external penetration test is performed annually against the Company’s network, in addition to our regular internal vulnerability scans.
The Company’s internal Incident Response Policy sets forth specific protocols for cyber or data incident identification, detection, response and recovery. This process includes the assembly of a response team consisting of internal and external technical and legal experts immediately upon the event of a cyberattack or incident. The Company reviews and updates this process regularly, including by engaging in tabletop exercises to simulate cybersecurity and data breach incidents. The Company maintains global cybersecurity insurance coverage that is reviewed annually for adequacy against operations and information systems.
The Company has implemented a number of measures to mitigate cybersecurity risk in its operations, including annual cybersecurity awareness training for employees, regular internal phishing exercises, technical security controls, maintenance of certain backup and protective systems, physical and system securities measures, and data security protocols. Once fully integrated, all of our businesses have access to a “cyber risk dashboard” that monitors various risk indicators. The cyber risk dashboard is monitored by our business units. The Company’s internal auditors periodically review and audit various processes and controls throughout the organization related to cybersecurity readiness.
The Company also has certain processes in place to manage cyber risks associated with third-party service providers which include various technical as well as contractual measures.
For more information on cybersecurity risks and how they affect our business, operating results and financial condition, please refer to Item 1A., “Risk Factors – The Company’s Business Operations May Be Materially Adversely Affected by Information Systems Interruptions or Intrusion, Including those Arising From Cybersecurity Attacks or Incidents or Violations of Laws Regulating Privacy and Data Security.” Based on our analysis at this time, we have not identified any risks from a cybersecurity threat or incident that we believe has or is reasonably likely to materially affect the Company.
Governance, Oversight and Leadership.
The Board and the Audit Committee oversee management’s efforts to address cybersecurity and information security risks. Senior management provides the Board updates on the Company’s cybersecurity program at least once a year, including as part of the Company’s enterprise risk management assessment, and the Audit Committee reviews the cybersecurity program at least twice a year and on an as-needed basis. Such reviews, among other things, include the results of internal and/or external assessments, a review of cybersecurity governance at the management level, and a review of the Company’s cybersecurity program and progress toward various initiatives.
The Company also maintains an Executive Cybersecurity Steering Committee (the “Cybersecurity Committee”), made up of key members of senior leadership, to oversee and monitor progress of various cybersecurity initiatives throughout the organization. The Cybersecurity Committee meets quarterly. In addition, the Company asks each business unit to designate an employee as the local Information Security Officer responsible for monitoring the business unit’s cyber risk dashboard and coordinating with local leadership to respond to identified risks accordingly. Each local Information Security Officer completes an annual certification process and receives regular updates with respect to the Company’s cybersecurity program.
The Chief Information Officer (“CIO”), who reports to the Chief Financial Officer, along with members of the corporate and business unit information technology teams, are generally responsible for developing and managing the Company’s cybersecurity programs. Our CIO has over 20 years of experience in various information technology and information security roles, and our information security team is comprised of employees with broad knowledge of cybersecurity issues gained through experience and through training and certifications. These individuals, along with other internal and external personnel as needed, monitor the prevention, detection, mitigation and remediation of cybersecurity incidents, and applicable personnel are informed of known cybersecurity incidents to form the appropriate incident response team and respond accordingly.
Item 2. Properties.
The Company conducts business at plants and offices that can be owned or leased and located in the U.S. or outside the U.S., with square footage primarily in Germany (12%), India (8%), the Netherlands (6%), the U.K. (6%), Italy (3%), Canada (3%), China (2%) and Switzerland (1%). Management considers its facilities suitable and adequate for the Company’s operations and believes it has ample capacity in its plants and equipment to meet demand increases for future growth in the intermediate term, especially given its operational improvement initiatives that usually increase capacity.
A summary of properties used by the Company’s operations as of December 31, 2023 are shown in the following table:
| Square footage (in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Owned/Leased | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | Domestic | International | Owned | Leased | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fluid & Metering Technologies | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Health & Science Technologies | 2.1 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other(1) | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 5.8 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
(1) Other includes shared service locations as well as the Company’s executive office, which occupies 40,261 square feet of leased space in Northbrook, Illinois and 16,268 square feet of leased space in Chicago, Illinois.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
The Company and its subsidiaries are party to legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business as described in Note 10 in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” and such disclosure is incorporated by reference into this Item 3, “Legal Proceedings.”
The Company's threshold for disclosing material environmental legal proceedings involving a government authority where potential monetary sanctions are involved is $1.0 million.
In addition, the Company and six of its subsidiaries are presently named as defendants in a number of lawsuits claiming various asbestos-related personal injuries, allegedly as a result of exposure to products manufactured with components that contained asbestos. These components were acquired from third party suppliers and were not manufactured by the Company or any of the defendant subsidiaries. To date, the majority of the Company’s settlements and legal costs, except for costs of coordination, administration, insurance investigation and a portion of defense costs, have been covered in full by insurance, subject to applicable deductibles. However, the Company cannot predict whether and to what extent insurance will be available to continue to cover these settlements and legal costs, or how insurers may respond to claims that are tendered to them. Asbestos-related claims have been filed in jurisdictions throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. Most of the claims resolved to date have been dismissed without payment. The balance of the claims have been settled for various immaterial amounts. Only one case has been tried, resulting in a verdict for the Company’s business unit. No provision has been made in the financial statements of the Company, other than for insurance deductibles in the ordinary course, and the Company does not currently believe the asbestos-related claims will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
The Company’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “IEX”. As of February 16, 2024, there were approximately 6,929 stockholders of record of the Company’s common stock and there were 75,644,654 shares outstanding.
The Company’s payment of dividends in the future will be determined by the Board of Directors and will depend on business conditions, earnings and other factors.
For information pertaining to securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans and the related weighted average exercise price, see Part III, Item 12, “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.”
On March 17, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an increase of $500.0 million in the authorized level of repurchases of common stock. This approval is in addition to the prior repurchase authorization of the Board of Directors of $300.0 million on December 1, 2015. These authorizations have no expiration date.
The Company’s purchases of common stock during the quarter ended December 31, 2023 are as follows. As of December 31, 2023, the amount of share repurchase authorization remaining was $539.7 million.
| Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased | Average Price Paid per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | Maximum Dollar Value that May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs | |||||||||||||||||||
| October 1, 2023 to October 31, 2023 | 45,000 | $ | 192.72 | 45,000 | $ | 554,091,268 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 1, 2023 to November 30, 2023 | 74,200 | 194.10 | 74,200 | 539,689,117 | |||||||||||||||||||
| December 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 | — | — | — | 539,689,117 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 119,200 | $ | 193.58 | 119,200 | $ | 539,689,117 |
Performance Graph
The following table compares total stockholder returns over the last five years to the Standard & Poor’s (the “S&P”) 500 Index, the S&P Midcap Industrials Sector Index and the Russell 2000 Index assuming the value of the investment in the Company’s common stock and each index was $100 on December 31, 2018. Total return values for the Company’s common stock, the S&P 500 Index, S&P Midcap Industrials Sector Index and the Russell 2000 Index were calculated on cumulative total return values assuming reinvestment of dividends. The stockholder return shown on the graph below is not necessarily indicative of future performance.

| 12/18 | 12/19 | 12/20 | 12/21 | 12/22 | 12/23 | |||||||||||||||
| IDEX Corporation | $ | 100.00 | $ | 137.95 | $ | 161.67 | $ | 193.69 | $ | 189.38 | $ | 182.19 | ||||||||
| S&P 500 Index | $ | 100.00 | $ | 131.49 | $ | 155.68 | $ | 200.37 | $ | 164.08 | $ | 207.21 | ||||||||
| S&P Midcap 400 Industrials Sector Index | $ | 100.00 | $ | 133.55 | $ | 155.57 | $ | 199.82 | $ | 176.84 | $ | 232.43 | ||||||||
| Russell 2000 Index | $ | 100.00 | $ | 125.52 | $ | 150.58 | $ | 172.90 | $ | 137.56 | $ | 160.85 |
The information contained in this Performance Graph section shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Item 6. [Reserved]
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes in this annual report. This discussion may contain forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company’s actual results and the timing of selected events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of several factors, including those set forth under Item 1A**, “Risk Factors” and under the heading “Cautionary Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act” discussed elsewhere in this annual report.
This discussion includes certain non-GAAP financial measures that have been defined and reconciled to their most directly comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) under the headings “Non-GAAP Disclosures” and “Free Cash Flow.” This discussion also includes Operating working capital which has been defined under the heading “Liquidity and Capital Resources.” The non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by the Company should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The financial results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and the reconciliations from these results should be carefully evaluated.
2023 Overview
IDEX is an applied solutions provider specializing in the manufacture of fluid and metering technologies, health and science technologies and fire, safety and other diversified products built to customers’ specifications. IDEX’s products are sold in niche markets across a wide range of industries throughout the world. Accordingly, IDEX’s businesses are affected by levels of industrial activity and economic conditions in the U.S. and in other countries where it does business, as well as by the relationship of the U.S. dollar to other currencies. Levels of capacity utilization and capital spending in certain industries and overall industrial activity are important factors that influence the demand for IDEX’s products.
During 2023, the Company delivered strong operating performance amid sharp volume declines as customers recalibrated inventory levels and order patterns following the easing of global supply chain constraints and reduced lead times. While customer inventory destocking resulted in lower sales volumes, most prominently experienced by the Company’s Health & Science Technologies segment, the Company realized strong price/cost and achieved favorable operational productivity across its segments. Net income attributable to IDEX and Adjusted EBITDA were $596.1 million and $899.6 million, respectively, in 2023, both up 2% from the prior year. Cash flows from operating activities were $716.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, reflecting inventory reduction efforts and resulting in record free cash flow of $626.8 million during the year. Finally, the Company deployed capital with the acquisition of two businesses – Iridian Spectral Technologies (“Iridian”) and STC Material Solutions (“STC”).
Select key financial results for the year ended December 31, 2023 when compared to 2022 were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | 2023 | 2022 | % / bps Change | ||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 3,273.9 | $ | 3,181.9 | 3% | ||||||||||||
| Adjusted net sales* | 3,273.9 | 3,164.0 | 3% | ||||||||||||||
| Organic net sales growth* | (1%) | ||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 1,446.9 | 1,426.9 | 1% | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted gross profit* | 1,448.5 | 1,417.5 | 2% | ||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to IDEX | 596.1 | 586.9 | 2% | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted net income attributable to IDEX* | 623.6 | 618.1 | 1% | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA* | 899.6 | 884.2 | 2% | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted EPS attributable to IDEX | 7.85 | 7.71 | 2% | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted diluted EPS attributable to IDEX* | 8.22 | 8.12 | 1% | ||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | 716.7 | 557.4 | 29% | ||||||||||||||
| Free cash flow* | 626.8 | 489.4 | 28% | ||||||||||||||
| Gross margin | 44.2% | 44.8% | (60) bps | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted gross margin* | 44.2% | 44.8% | (60) bps | ||||||||||||||
| Net income margin | 18.2% | 18.4% | (20) bps | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA margin* | 27.5% | 27.9% | (40) bps |
*These are non-GAAP measures. See the definitions of these non-GAAP measures and reconciliations to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures under the headings “Non-GAAP Disclosures” and “Free Cash Flow.”
2024 Outlook
Moving into 2024, the majority of our businesses are currently experiencing stable demand and seeing early signs of improvement, particularly in the Fluid & Metering Technologies segment. However, while the life sciences and analytical instrumentation markets served by approximately one-third of the Health & Science Technologies segment appear stable, these markets are not yet showing signs of near-term recovery. We continue to believe in the long-term growth potential of these end markets and believe we are well positioned to support growth as demand increases. Additionally, we expect the Dispensing reporting unit within the Company’s Fire & Safety/Diversified Products segment to contract in 2024, due to the completion of the fleet refreshment cycle of our North American customers in 2023. These declines are expected to be partly offset by growth in the Dispensing reporting unit in emerging markets and growth in the Fire & Safety and BAND-IT reporting units.
Results of Operations
The following is a discussion and analysis of the Company’s results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared with the year ended December 31, 2022. For the discussion related to the consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared with the year ended December 31, 2021, refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 23, 2023.
Performance in 2023 Compared with 2022
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | 2023 | 2022 | $ | % / bps | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 3,273.9 | $ | 3,181.9 | $ | 92.0 | 3 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of sales | 1,827.0 | 1,755.0 | 72.0 | 4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 1,446.9 | 1,426.9 | 20.0 | 1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross margin | 44.2 | % | 44.8 | % | n/a | (60) bps | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 703.5 | 652.7 | 50.8 | 8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring expenses and asset impairments | 10.9 | 22.8 | (11.9) | (52 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 732.5 | 751.4 | (18.9) | (3 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of businesses - net | (84.7) | (34.8) | (49.9) | 143 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other expense (income) - net | 5.2 | (3.9) | 9.1 | (233 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 51.7 | 40.7 | 11.0 | 27 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 760.3 | 749.4 | 10.9 | 1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 164.7 | 162.7 | 2.0 | 1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Effective tax rate | 21.7 | % | 21.7 | % | n/a | 0 bps | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to IDEX | $ | 596.1 | $ | 586.9 | $ | 9.2 | 2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted earnings per common share attributable to IDEX | $ | 7.85 | $ | 7.71 | $ | 0.14 | 2 | % |
Net Sales
Net sales increased 3% as compared to the prior year, driven by a 5% increase in acquisitions, net of divestitures, partially offset by a 1% decrease in organic sales and a 1% decrease due to the acceleration of previously deferred revenue related to the exit of a COVID-19 testing application in 2022 that did not reoccur in 2023 (see Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail). The decrease in organic sales was driven by lower volumes as a result of market conditions during the year, particularly in the Health & Science Technologies businesses, partially offset by price capture across all segments. Net sales decreased 1% domestically and increased 7% internationally, and sales to customers outside the U.S. were approximately 50% of total sales in 2023 compared with 48% in 2022.
Gross Profit and Gross Margin
Gross profit and Gross margin were positively impacted by price/cost and strong operational productivity as well as lower fair value inventory step-up charges, and negatively impacted by lower volume leverage, higher employee-related costs, unfavorable mix and the acceleration of previously deferred revenue related to the exit of a COVID-19 testing application in 2022 that did not reoccur in 2023. While acquisitions, net of divestitures also positively impacted Gross profit, they resulted in a dilutive impact to overall Gross margin.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased primarily due to the $49.1 million impact from acquisitions, including amortization, net of divestitures, as well as increases in employee-related costs, which were largely offset by a decrease in variable compensation.
Restructuring Expenses and Asset Impairments
Restructuring expenses and asset impairments decreased primarily due to an asset impairment charge of $16.8 million related to the exit of a COVID-19 testing application in 2022, partially offset by higher severance costs in 2023 incurred in conjunction with cost mitigation efforts as a result of current market conditions. See Note 14 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail.
Gain on Sale of Businesses - Net
In 2023, the Company completed the sale of Micropump for proceeds of $110.3 million, net of cash remitted, which resulted in a pre-tax gain of $93.8 million, and the sale of Novotema, SpA (“Novotema”) for proceeds of $8.3 million, net of cash remitted, which resulted in a loss of $9.1 million. In 2022, the Company completed the sale of Knight LLC (“Knight”) for proceeds of $49.4 million, net of cash remitted, which resulted in a pre-tax gain of $34.8 million.
Other Expense (Income) - Net
Other expense (income) - net was $5.2 million of expense in 2023 compared to $3.9 million of income in 2022. The increase in expense was primarily due to a $7.7 million credit loss reserve on an investment with a collaborative partner (see Note 3 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail), higher foreign currency transaction losses and $2.7 million of gains on the sale of assets in 2022 that did not reoccur in 2023, partially offset by higher interest earned on cash balances and gains on the sale of trading securities in 2023.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased primarily due to the borrowings incurred under the Credit Facility in connection with the acquisition of Muon B.V. and its subsidiaries (“Muon Group”) in November 2022 as well as higher interest rates on the Company’s indebtedness.
Income Taxes
The Company’s provision for income taxes is based upon estimated annual tax rates for the year applied to federal, state and foreign income. The provision for income taxes increased $2.0 million to $164.7 million in 2023 as compared with $162.7 million in 2022. The 2023 effective tax rate of 21.7% remained unchanged compared with the 2022 effective tax rate.
In October 2021, members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) and G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting agreed to a two-pillar solution to address the tax challenges associated with the digitalization of the economy. In December 2021, the OECD released the Pillar Two Model Rules (“Pillar Two”), which define the global minimum tax and call for the taxation of large corporations at a minimum rate of 15%. Although it is uncertain when and how the rules will be fully enacted into law, based on our initial assessment, nearly all of the jurisdictions in which the Company operates have an effective tax rate above the 15% threshold. Therefore, the Company does not expect a material impact from the Pillar Two income tax rules.
Results of Reportable Business Segments
The Company has three reportable segments: Fluid & Metering Technologies (“FMT”), Health & Science Technologies (“HST”) and Fire & Safety/Diversified Products (“FSDP”). For a detailed description of the operations within each segment, please refer to Part I, Item 1, “Business” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Management’s primary measurements of segment performance are Net sales, adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) and Adjusted EBITDA margin.
Fluid & Metering Technologies Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Components of Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Dollars in millions) | 2023 | 2022 | Change | Organic**(1)** | Acq/Div**(1)(2)** | Foreign Currency | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic sales | $ | 695.7 | $ | 660.8 | 5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International sales | 551.4 | 506.5 | 9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 1,247.1 | $ | 1,167.3 | 7 | % | 5 | % | 2 | % | — | % | 7 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | 416.1 | 374.2 | 11 | % | 10 | % | 2 | % | (1 | %) | 11 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA margin | 33.4 | % | 32.1 | % | 130 bps | 150 bps | (10) bps | (10) bps | 130 bps |
(1) Based on the timing of the acquisitions, Nexsight, LLC and its businesses Envirosight, WinCan, MyTana and Pipeline Renewal Technologies (“Nexsight”) results for the first three months of 2023 and KZ CO. (“KZValve”) results for the first four months of 2023 are reflected in the acquisitions/divestitures column while the remaining year-over-year impact is included in the organic column.
(2) Divestitures included Knight sold in September 2022.
- Organic net sales were positively impacted by the following:
◦Water reporting unit driven by price capture, favorability in the municipal water market and operational execution;
◦Energy reporting unit driven by operational execution related to backlog reduction, improved supply chain conditions, price capture and growth initiatives;
◦Valves reporting unit driven by strong price capture and demand in Asia; and
◦Pumps reporting unit driven by strong price capture and operational execution, which more than offset the impact of lower volumes in the industrial market.
Organic net sales were negatively impacted by the Agriculture reporting unit driven by distribution inventory recalibration, partially offset by positive original equipment manufacturer demand.
- The increase in Adjusted EBITDA margin was primarily due to strong price/cost and operational productivity, partially offset by higher employee-related costs, unfavorable mix and lower volume leverage.
Health & Science Technologies Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Components of Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Dollars in millions) | 2023 | 2022 | Change | Organic**(1)** | Acq/Div**(1)(2)** | Other**(3)** | Foreign Currency | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic sales | $ | 575.5 | $ | 646.9 | (11 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International sales | 740.9 | 692.3 | 7 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 1,316.4 | $ | 1,339.2 | (2 | %) | (10 | %) | 9 | % | (1 | %) | — | % | (2 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted net sales | 1,316.4 | 1,321.3 | (1 | %) | (10 | %) | 9 | % | — | % | — | % | (1 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | 359.5 | 411.8 | (13 | %) | (20 | %) | 7 | % | — | % | — | % | (13 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA margin | 27.3 | % | 31.2 | % | (390) bps | (360) bps | (20) bps | — | (10) bps | (390) bps |
(1) Based on the timing of the acquisition, Muon Group results for the first 10.5 months of 2023 are reflected in the acquisitions/divestitures column while the remaining year-over-year impact is included in the organic column.
(2) Acquisitions included Iridian acquired in May 2023 and STC acquired in December 2023. Divestitures included Micropump sold in August 2023 and Novotema sold in December 2023.
(3) Change in Net sales includes the acceleration of previously deferred revenue of $17.9 million as a result of a customer’s decision to discontinue further investment in commercializing its COVID-19 testing application in 2022 that did not reoccur in 2023, the impact of which was excluded from Adjusted net sales. See Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail.
- The decrease in organic net sales was attributed to the following:
*◦*Scientific Fluidics & Optics reporting unit driven by lower demand from analytical instrumentation and life science original equipment manufacturers due to customer inventory recalibration and market slowing, partially offset by price capture and strong cost control;
◦Sealing Solutions reporting unit driven by lower volumes in the semiconductor market;
◦Material Processing Technologies reporting unit driven by lower volumes in the pharmaceuticals/biopharmaceuticals and food markets, partially offset by operational execution related to backlog reduction and price capture; and
◦Performance Pneumatics Technologies reporting unit driven by the impact of lower volumes in the industrial market, partially offset by targeted growth performance and price capture.
- The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA margin was primarily due to lower volume leverage, higher employee-related costs and unfavorable mix, partially offset by strong operational productivity and price/cost.
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Components of Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Dollars in millions) | 2023 | 2022 | Change | Organic | Acq/Div | Foreign Currency | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic sales | $ | 371.9 | $ | 343.3 | 8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International sales | 346.9 | 335.9 | 3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 718.8 | $ | 679.2 | 6 | % | 6 | % | — | % | — | % | 6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | 208.6 | 183.9 | 13 | % | 13 | % | — | % | — | % | 13 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA margin | 29.0 | % | 27.1 | % | 190 bps | 200 bps | — | (10) bps | 190 bps |
- Organic net sales were positively impacted by the following:
◦Fire & Safety reporting unit driven by price capture, continued demand for rescue tools, improved supply chain conditions and operational execution; and
◦BAND-IT reporting unit driven by continued share gain in an otherwise flat automotive market.
Organic net sales had no impact from the Dispensing reporting unit as organic sales were flat. Price capture was fully offset by lower volumes.
- The increase in Adjusted EBITDA margin was primarily due to strong price/cost and favorable operational productivity, partially offset by higher employee-related costs.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity
Based on management’s current expectations and currently available information, the Company believes current cash, cash from operations and cash available under the Revolving Facility will be sufficient to meet its operating cash requirements, planned capital expenditures, interest and principal payments on all borrowings, pension and postretirement funding requirements, share repurchases and quarterly dividend payments to holders of the Company’s common stock for the foreseeable future. Additionally, in the event that suitable businesses are available for acquisition upon acceptable terms, the Company may obtain all or a portion of the financing for these acquisitions through the incurrence of additional borrowings.
Select key liquidity metrics at December 31, 2023 are as follows:
| (In millions) | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Working capital | $ | 946.0 | ||||||
| Current ratio | 2.9 to 1 | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 534.3 | ||||||
| Cash held outside of the United States | 445.9 | |||||||
| Revolving Credit Facility capacity | $ | 800.0 | ||||||
| Borrowings | 81.0 | |||||||
| Letters of credit | 3.4 | |||||||
| Revolving Credit Facility availability | $ | 715.6 |
The Company believes additional borrowings through various financing alternatives remain available, if required.
Operating Working Capital
Operating working capital, calculated as Receivables - net plus Inventories - net minus Trade accounts payable, is used by management as a measurement of operational results as well as the short-term liquidity of the Company. The following table details Operating working capital as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:
| (In millions) | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | Change | Organic Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Receivables - net | $ | 427.8 | $ | 442.8 | $ | (15.0) | $ | (15.6) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Inventories - net | 420.8 | 470.9 | (50.1) | (62.8) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Trade accounts payable | 179.7 | 208.9 | 29.2 | 25.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating working capital | $ | 668.9 | $ | 704.8 | $ | (35.9) | $ | (53.4) |
Operating working capital decreased $35.9 million to $668.9 million at December 31, 2023. Acquisitions, divestitures and foreign currency translation increased Operating working capital by $17.5 million during 2023. Apart from these items, reduced inventory levels were partly offset by lower levels of accounts payable, and strong price capture partially offset the impact of lower volume on receivables.
Cash Flow Summary
The following table is derived from the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Net cash flows provided by (used in): | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 716.7 | $ | 557.4 | ||||||||||
| Investing activities | (283.8) | (917.2) | ||||||||||||
| Financing activities | (344.7) | (37.8) |
Operating Activities
Cash flows provided by operating activities increased $159.3 million to $716.7 million in 2023 primarily due to lower working capital requirements in 2023 as a result of efforts to recalibrate inventory levels in response to normalizing market conditions. The prior year period included higher working capital requirements related to higher volumes and increased inventories to support production amid supply chain challenges.
Investing Activities
Cash flows used in investing activities decreased in 2023 primarily due to the purchase of Iridian and STC in 2023 for $311.8 million as compared with the purchases of Nexsight, KZValve and Muon Group in 2022 for $945.6 million as well as proceeds of $118.6 million in 2023 from the sales of Micropump and Novotema as compared with $49.4 million in 2022 from the sale of Knight. These items were partially offset by higher capital expenditures of $89.9 million in 2023 as compared with $68.0 million in 2022.
Financing Activities
Cash flows used in financing activities in 2023 primarily consisted of dividends of $190.7 million paid to common shareholders, payments of $150.0 million on the Term Facility, and the repurchase of shares for $24.2 million. Additionally, in 2023, proceeds of $100.0 million from the issuance of the 5.13% Senior Notes were used to redeem the $100.0 million of the Company’s 3.20% Senior Notes due June 13, 2025 (the “3.20% Senior Notes”) outstanding. Cash flows used in financing activities in 2022 primarily consisted of dividends of $177.4 million paid to common shareholders and the repurchase of shares for $148.1 million. These outflows were partially offset by net proceeds of $75.4 million under the Revolving Facility and $200.0 million under the Term Facility, which were used to fund the Muon Group acquisition.
Free Cash Flow
The Company believes free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, is an important measure of performance because it provides a measurement of cash generated from operations that is available for payment obligations such as operating cash requirements, planned capital expenditures, interest and principal payments on all borrowings, pension and postretirement funding requirements and quarterly dividend payments to holders of the Company’s common stock as well as for funding acquisitions and share repurchases. Free cash flow is calculated as cash flows provided by operating activities less capital expenditures.
The following table reconciles free cash flow to cash flows provided by operating activities:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| (Dollars in millions) | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Cash flows provided by operating activities | $ | 716.7 | $ | 557.4 | ||||||||||
| Less: capital expenditures | 89.9 | 68.0 | ||||||||||||
| Free cash flow | $ | 626.8 | $ | 489.4 | ||||||||||
| Free cash flow as a percent of adjusted net income attributable to IDEX | 101 | % | 79 | % |
The increase in free cash flow as compared to 2022 is due to lower working capital requirements in 2023 discussed above as compared with 2022, partially offset by higher capital expenditures.
Cash Requirements
Contractu**al Obligations
The Company’s cash requirements under contractual obligations include:
-
Borrowings and related interest - See Note 7 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail of the Company’s debt and timing of expected future principal payments.
-
Rental payments under operating leases - See Note 9 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail of our obligations and the timing of expected future payments.
-
Purchase obligations - The Company enters into purchase orders with vendors and other parties in the ordinary course of business. As of December 31, 2023, the Company’s purchase obligations, consisting primarily of inventory commitments, totaled approximately $265.6 million, of which $238.1 million is expected to be settled during 2024 and the remainder thereafter.
-
Pension and post-retirement medical benefit plans - See Note 17 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail of our obligations and the timing of expected future payments.
Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures generally include machinery and equipment that support growth and improved productivity, tooling, business system technology, replacement of equipment and investments in new facilities. The Company believes it has sufficient operating cash flows to continue to meet current obligations and invest in planned capital expenditures. Cash flows from operations were more than adequate to fund capital expenditures of $89.9 million and $68.0 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Share Repurchases
The Company repurchased 124,600 shares at a cost of $24.2 million in 2023. The Company repurchased 795,423 shares at a cost of $148.1 million in 2022. As of December 31, 2023, the amount of share repurchase authorization remaining was $539.7 million. For additional information regarding the Company’s share repurchase program, refer to Note 11 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Dividends
The Company increased its quarterly cash dividend by 7% from $0.60 per common share in 2022 to $0.64 per common share in 2023. Total dividend payments to common shareholders were $190.7 million in 2023 compared with $177.4 million in 2022.
Covenants
The key financial covenants that the Company is required to maintain in connection with the Revolving Facility, the Term Facility, the 3.37% Senior Notes and the 5.13% Senior Notes, are a minimum interest coverage ratio of 3.0 to 1 and a maximum leverage ratio of 3.50 to 1. At December 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with both of these financial covenants, as the Company’s interest coverage ratio was 18.43 to 1 for covenant calculation purposes and the leverage ratio was 1.45 to 1. There are no financial covenants relating to the 2.625% Senior Notes or the 3.00% Senior Notes; however, both are subject to cross-default provisions. For a discussion of the Company’s Revolving Facility and Senior Notes as well as the associated covenants, refer to Note 7 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Credit Ratings
The Company’s credit ratings, which were independently developed by the following credit agencies, are detailed below:
-
S&P Global Ratings reaffirmed the Company’s corporate credit rating of BBB (stable outlook) in August 2023.
-
Moody’s Investors Service affirmed the Company’s corporate credit rating of Baa2 (stable outlook) in December 2021.
-
Fitch Ratings reaffirmed the Company’s corporate credit rating of BBB+ (stable outlook) in April 2023.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company had $10.5 million of letters of credit as of December 31, 2023, primarily issued as security for insurance and other performance obligations. Of the $10.5 million of letters of credit, only $3.4 million reduced the Company’s borrowing capacity under the Revolving Facility as of December 31, 2023.
Except as disclosed above, the Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements that currently have or are reasonably likely to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The Company believes that the application of the following accounting policy, which is important to its financial position and results of operations, requires significant judgments and estimates on the part of management. For a summary of the Company’s accounting policies, including the accounting policy discussed below, see Note 1 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets — Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives, which consists solely of trade names, are not amortized; rather they are tested for impairment at least annually, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that the asset may be impaired. The Company follows the guidance prescribed in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, to test goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. In assessing goodwill for impairment, the Company determines the fair value of each reporting unit utilizing an income approach (discounted cash flows) weighted 50% and a market approach (consisting of a comparable public company multiples methodology) weighted 50%. To determine the reasonableness of the calculated fair values, the Company reviews the assumptions to ensure that neither the income approach nor the market approach yielded significantly different valuations. Key assumptions and estimates used in the goodwill impairment assessment are described below. Based on the results of the Company’s annual impairment test at October 31, 2023, all reporting units had fair values substantially in excess of their carrying values.
The key assumptions are updated every year for each reporting unit for the income and market approaches used to determine the fair value. Various assumptions are utilized including forecasted operating results, annual operating plans, strategic plans, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows, the weighted average cost of capital, market data and market multiples. The assumptions that have the most significant effect on the fair value calculations are the weighted average cost of capital, market multiples, forecasted EBITDA and terminal growth rates. The following assumption ranges were utilized by the Company in 2023 and 2022:
| Assumptions | 2023 Range | 2022 Range | |||||||||
| Weighted average cost of capital | 10.00% to 12.25% | 9.75% to 11.50% | |||||||||
| Market multiples | 10.0x to 20.0x | 10.0x to 19.0x | |||||||||
| Terminal growth rates | 3.0% to 3.5% | 2.5% to 3.5% |
In assessing trade names for impairment, the Company uses the relief-from-royalty method, a form of the income approach, to determine the fair value of its trade names. The relief-from-royalty method is dependent on a number of significant management assumptions, including estimates of revenues, royalty rates and discount rates. Based on the results of the Company’s annual impairment test at October 31, 2023, the trade names had fair values in excess of their carrying values.
The Company’s acquisitions have generally included significant goodwill components and the Company expects to continue to make acquisitions. At December 31, 2023, goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets totaled $2,929.2 million, or 50%, of the Company’s total assets.
See Note 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion on goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets.
Non-GAAP Disclosures
Set forth below are reconciliations of Organic net sales, Adjusted net sales, Adjusted gross profit, Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted net income attributable to IDEX, Adjusted diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) attributable to IDEX, Consolidated Adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) and Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA margin to their respective most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure. Management uses these metrics to measure performance of the Company since they exclude items that are not reflective of ongoing operations, as identified in the reconciliations below. Management also supplements its U.S. GAAP financial statements with adjusted information to provide investors with greater insight, transparency and a more comprehensive understanding of the information used by management in its financial and operational decision making.
Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as its principal measure of segment performance, and believes it is a useful indicator of the strength and performance of the Company and its segments’ ongoing business operations, as well as a way for investors to evaluate and compare operating performance and value companies within the Company’s industry. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA margin is useful for the same reason as Adjusted EBITDA. The definition of Adjusted EBITDA used here may differ from that used by other companies.
This report also references free cash flow. This non-GAAP measure is discussed and reconciled to its most directly comparable GAAP measure in the section above titled “Free Cash Flow.”
The non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by the Company should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Due to rounding, numbers presented throughout this and other documents may not add up or recalculate precisely. The financial results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and the reconciliations from these results should be carefully evaluated.
All table footnotes can be found at the end of this Non-GAAP Disclosures section.
| 1. Reconciliations of the Change in Net Sales to Organic Net Sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FMT | HST | FSDP | IDEX | FMT | HST | FSDP | IDEX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in net sales | 7 | % | (2 | %) | 6 | % | 3 | % | 17 | % | 19 | % | 5 | % | 15 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net impact from acquisitions/divestitures(1) | 2 | % | 9 | % | — | % | 5 | % | 7 | % | 6 | % | — | % | 5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Impact from foreign currency(2) | — | % | — | % | — | % | — | % | (3 | %) | (4 | %) | (4 | %) | (4 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Impact from the exit of a COVID-19 testing application(3) | — | % | (1 | %) | — | % | (1 | %) | — | % | 2 | % | — | % | 1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in organic net sales | 5 | % | (10 | %) | 6 | % | (1 | %) | 13 | % | 15 | % | 9 | % | 13 | % |
| 2. Reconciliations of Reported-to-Adjusted Gross Profit, Net Sales and Gross Margin (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||
| For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Gross profit | $ | 1,446.9 | $ | 1,426.9 | |||||||
| Impact from the exit of a COVID-19 testing application(3) | — | (17.9) | |||||||||
| Fair value inventory step-up charges | 1.6 | 8.5 | |||||||||
| Adjusted gross profit | $ | 1,448.5 | $ | 1,417.5 | |||||||
| Net sales | $ | 3,273.9 | $ | 3,181.9 | |||||||
| Impact from the exit of a COVID-19 testing application(3) | (17.9) | ||||||||||
| Adjusted net sales | $ | 3,164.0 | |||||||||
| Gross margin | 44.2 | % | 44.8 | % | |||||||
| Adjusted gross margin | 44.2 | % | 44.8 | % |
| 3. Reconciliations of Reported-to-Adjusted Net Income Attributable to IDEX and Diluted EPS Attributable to IDEX (in millions, except per share amounts) | |||||||||||
| For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Reported net income attributable to IDEX | $ | 596.1 | $ | 586.9 | |||||||
| Fair value inventory step-up charges | 1.6 | 8.5 | |||||||||
| Tax impact on fair value inventory step-up charges | (0.4) | (2.2) | |||||||||
| Restructuring expenses and asset impairments | 10.9 | 4.5 | |||||||||
| Tax impact on restructuring expenses and asset impairments | (2.5) | (0.9) | |||||||||
| Net impact from the exit of a COVID-19 testing application(3) | — | (1.1) | |||||||||
| Tax impact on the exit of a COVID-19 testing application | — | 0.3 | |||||||||
| Gain on sale of businesses - net | (84.7) | (34.8) | |||||||||
| Tax impact on gain on sale of businesses - net | 22.7 | 5.5 | |||||||||
| Gains on sales of assets | — | (2.7) | |||||||||
| Tax impact on gains on sales of assets | — | 0.6 | |||||||||
| Credit loss on note receivable from collaborative partner(4) | 7.7 | — | |||||||||
| Tax impact on credit loss on note receivable from collaborative partner | (1.6) | — | |||||||||
| Acquisition-related intangible asset amortization | 94.9 | 69.0 | |||||||||
| Tax impact on acquisition-related intangible asset amortization | (21.1) | (15.5) | |||||||||
| Adjusted net income attributable to IDEX | $ | 623.6 | $ | 618.1 | |||||||
| Reported diluted EPS attributable to IDEX | $ | 7.85 | $ | 7.71 | |||||||
| Fair value inventory step-up charges | 0.02 | 0.11 | |||||||||
| Tax impact on fair value inventory step-up charges | — | (0.03) | |||||||||
| Restructuring expenses and asset impairments | 0.15 | 0.06 | |||||||||
| Tax impact on restructuring expenses and asset impairments | (0.03) | (0.01) | |||||||||
| Net impact from the exit of a COVID-19 testing application(3) | — | (0.01) | |||||||||
| Tax impact on the exit of a COVID-19 testing application | — | — | |||||||||
| Gain on sale of businesses - net | (1.12) | (0.46) | |||||||||
| Tax impact on gain on sale of businesses - net | 0.30 | 0.07 | |||||||||
| Gains on sales of assets | — | (0.03) | |||||||||
| Tax impact on gains on sales of assets | — | 0.01 | |||||||||
| Credit loss on note receivable from collaborative partner(4) | 0.10 | — | |||||||||
| Tax impact on credit loss on note receivable from collaborative partner | (0.02) | — | |||||||||
| Acquisition-related intangible asset amortization | 1.25 | 0.91 | |||||||||
| Tax impact on acquisition-related intangible asset amortization | (0.28) | (0.21) | |||||||||
| Adjusted diluted EPS attributable to IDEX | $ | 8.22 | $ | 8.12 | |||||||
| Diluted weighted average shares outstanding | 75.9 | 76.0 |
| 4. Reconciliations of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Net Sales to Adjusted Net Sales (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| For the Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FMT | HST | FSDP | Corporate | IDEX | FMT | HST | FSDP | Corporate | IDEX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reported net income | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 595.6 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 586.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | — | — | — | — | 164.7 | — | — | — | — | 162.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | — | — | — | — | 51.7 | — | — | — | — | 40.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other expense (income) - net | — | — | — | — | 5.2 | — | — | — | — | (3.9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of businesses - net | — | — | — | — | (84.7) | — | — | — | — | (34.8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | 374.2 | 253.4 | 192.2 | (87.3) | 732.5 | 334.0 | 334.9 | 166.6 | (84.1) | 751.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense) - net | 2.2 | (1.1) | 0.2 | (6.5) | (5.2) | 1.8 | 1.9 | 2.4 | (2.2) | 3.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation | 14.1 | 33.2 | 8.9 | 1.0 | 57.2 | 16.1 | 25.7 | 8.4 | 0.5 | 50.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization | 22.7 | 65.8 | 6.4 | — | 94.9 | 20.8 | 41.6 | 6.6 | — | 69.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value inventory step-up charges | — | 1.6 | — | — | 1.6 | 0.4 | 8.1 | — | — | 8.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring expenses and asset impairments | 2.9 | 6.6 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 10.9 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 4.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net impact from the exit of a COVID-19 testing application(3) | — | — | — | — | — | — | (1.1) | — | — | (1.1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gains on sales of assets | — | — | — | — | — | (1.2) | — | (1.5) | — | (2.7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit loss on note receivable from collaborative partner(4) | — | — | — | 7.7 | 7.7 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 416.1 | $ | 359.5 | $ | 208.6 | $ | (84.6) | $ | 899.6 | $ | 374.2 | $ | 411.8 | $ | 183.9 | $ | (85.7) | $ | 884.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales (eliminations) | $ | 1,247.1 | $ | 1,316.4 | $ | 718.8 | $ | (8.4) | $ | 3,273.9 | $ | 1,167.3 | $ | 1,339.2 | $ | 679.2 | $ | (3.8) | $ | 3,181.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Impact from the exit of a COVID-19 testing application(3) | (17.9) | (17.9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted net sales (eliminations) | $ | — | $ | 1,321.3 | $ | 3,164.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income margin | 18.2 | % | 18.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA margin | 33.4 | % | 27.3 | % | 29.0 | % | n/m | 27.5 | % | 32.1 | % | 31.2 | % | 27.1 | % | n/m | 27.9 | % |
(1) Represents the sales from acquired or divested businesses during the first 12 months of ownership or prior to divestiture.
(2) The portion of sales attributable to foreign currency translation is calculated as the difference between (a) the period-to-period change in organic sales, and (b) the period-to-period change in organic sales after applying prior period foreign exchange rates to the current year period.
(3) The impact to Net sales and Gross margin represents the acceleration of previously deferred revenue of $17.9 million as a result of a customer’s decision to discontinue further investment in commercializing its COVID-19 testing application in 2022 that did not reoccur in 2023, which was largely offset by an impairment charge during the same period resulting in a $1.1 million impact on net income. See Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail.
(4) Represents a reserve recorded on an investment with a collaborative partner. See Note 3 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
The Company is subject to market risk associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates as well as inflationary factors. The Company may, from time to time, enter into foreign currency forward contracts and interest rate swaps on its debt when it believes there is a financial advantage in doing so. A treasury risk management policy, adopted by the Board of Directors, describes the procedures and controls over derivative financial and commodity instruments, including foreign currency forward contracts and interest rate swaps. Under the policy, the Company does not use financial or commodity derivative instruments for trading purposes and the use of these instruments is subject to strict approvals by senior officers. Typically, the use of derivative instruments is limited to foreign currency forward contracts and interest rate swaps on the
Company’s outstanding long-term debt. As of December 31, 2023, the Company did not have any derivative instruments outstanding.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rates
The Company’s foreign currency exchange rate risk is limited principally to the Euro, Swiss Franc, Canadian Dollar, British Pound, Indian Rupee, Chinese Renminbi, Swedish Krona and Brazilian Real. The Company manages its foreign exchange risk principally through invoicing customers in the same currency as the source of products. The foreign currency transaction losses (gains) for the periods ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were $7.3 million, $(0.8) million and $1.1 million, respectively, and are reported within Other expense (income) - net on the Consolidated Statements of Income. See Note 1 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.
Interest Rate Fluctuations
The Company has interest rate exposure due to $131.0 million of the $1,333.3 million debt outstanding at December 31, 2023 being floating rate debt. The Company’s Revolving Facility and Term Facility both bear interest at either an alternate base rate or adjusted Term SOFR (or appropriate alternative currency reference rates) plus, in each case, an applicable margin based on the lower of the Company’s senior, unsecured, long-term debt rating or the Company’s applicable leverage ratio. At December 31, 2023, there was $81.0 million outstanding under the Revolving Facility with an interest rate of 5.00% and $50.0 million outstanding under the Term Facility with an interest rate of 6.59%.
Inflation Risk
We source a wide variety of materials and components from a network of global suppliers. While materials are typically available from numerous suppliers, they are subject to price fluctuations, which could have a negative impact on our results. We seek to minimize the effects of inflation and changing prices through price increases to maintain reasonable gross margins.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is a process to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f).
Internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations. Because of such limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting.
Management has used the framework set forth in the report entitled “Internal Control — Integrated Framework” (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission to assess the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Management excluded Iridian Spectral Technologies and STC Material Solutions from its assessment of internal controls over financial reporting as these acquisitions occurred in 2023 (see Note 2 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail). This exclusion is in accordance with the general guidance from the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission that an assessment of a recently acquired business may be omitted from the scope of management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting for one year following the acquisition. The total assets (excluding goodwill and intangible assets) and net sales of current year acquisitions represented approximately one percent and zero percent, respectively, of the Consolidated Financial Statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023. Based on that assessment, management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2023.
The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of IDEX Corporation
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of IDEX Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, of the Company and our report dated February 22, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
As described in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management excluded Iridian Spectral Technologies and STC Material Solutions from its assessment of internal control over financial reporting as these acquisitions occurred in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. The combined total assets and net sales of these acquisitions represented approximately one percent and zero percent, respectively, of the consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023. Accordingly, our audit did not include the internal control over financial reporting at these acquired companies.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
| /s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP | |||||
| Chicago, Illinois | |||||
| February 22, 2024 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of IDEX Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of IDEX Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of
Showing the first 8K of 201K characters. Open the full section
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As required by SEC Rule 13a-15(b), the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on the foregoing, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2023.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing on page 37 of this report is incorporated into this Item 9A by reference.
There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, none of the Company’s directors or executive officers adopted or terminated any contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of Company securities that was intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) or any “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” as defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.
Not Applicable.
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Information under the headings “Election of Directors”; “Board Committees”; “Corporate Governance”; and “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” in the 2024 Proxy Statement is incorporated into this Item 10 by reference. Information regarding executive officers of the Company is located in Part I, Item 1, of this report under the caption “Information about Our Executive Officers.”
The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to the Company’s directors, officers (including the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer) and employees. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, along with the Audit Committee Charter, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter, Compensation Committee Charter and Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on the Company’s website at www.idexcorp.com under “Investors.” In the event the Company amends or waives any of the provisions of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer, the Company intends to disclose the same on its website.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
Information under the heading “Executive Compensation” in the 2024 Proxy Statement is incorporated into this Item 11 by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Information under the heading “Security Ownership” in the 2024 Proxy Statement is incorporated into this Item 12 by reference.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Information with respect to the Company’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2023 is as follows:
| Plan Category | Number of Securities To be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans**(1)** | ||||||||||||||
| Equity compensation plans approved by the Company’s stockholders | 1,156,393 | $ | 178.86 | 1,719,148 | |||||||||||||
| Equity compensations plans not approved by the Company’s stockholders | — | — | — |
(1)Includes an indeterminate number of shares underlying deferred compensation units (“DCUs”) granted under the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan and Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-officer Presidents which are issuable under the Company’s Incentive Award Plan. Also includes an indeterminate number of shares underlying DCUs granted under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Officers, which shares are issuable under the Incentive Award Plan. The number of DCUs granted under these plans is determined by dividing the amount deferred by the closing price of the common stock the day before the date of deferral. The DCUs are entitled to receive dividend equivalents which are reinvested in DCUs based on the same formula for investment of a participant’s deferral.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Information under the headings, “Corporate Governance” and “Board Committees” in the 2024 Proxy Statement is incorporated into this Item 13 by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Information under the heading “Principal Accountant Fees and Services” in the 2024 Proxy Statement is incorporated into this Item 14 by reference.
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(A)1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Financial Statements filed as part of this report are listed under Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
- Financial Statement Schedules
Financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, not required, not material or because the required information is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company or the Notes thereto.
- Exhibits
The exhibits filed with this report are listed on the “Exhibit Index,” which precedes the signature page of this report.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.
None.
Exhibit Index
| *,****101 | The following materials from IDEX Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 formatted in Inline XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2023 and 2022, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Income for the three years ended December 31, 2023, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three years ended December 31, 2023, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Equity for the three years ended December 31, 2023, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three years ended December 31, 2023, and (vi) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. | |||||||
| *,****104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (Formatted Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) |
***** Filed herewith.
****** Management contract or compensatory plan or agreement.
*** Furnished herewith.
**** In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the XBRL related information in Exhibits 101 and 104 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be part of any registration statement or other
document filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| IDEX CORPORATION | ||||||||
| By: | /s/ ABHISHEK KHANDELWAL | |||||||
| Abhishek Khandelwal | ||||||||
| Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Date: February 22, 2024
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||||||||||||
| /s/ ERIC D. ASHLEMAN | Chief Executive Officer, President and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||||||||||
| Eric D. Ashleman | February 22, 2024 | |||||||||||||
| /s/ ABHISHEK KHANDELWAL | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | |||||||||||||
| Abhishek Khandelwal | February 22, 2024 | |||||||||||||
| /s/ ALLISON S. LAUSAS | Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | |||||||||||||
| Allison S. Lausas | February 22, 2024 | |||||||||||||
| /s/ MARK A. BECK | Director | |||||||||||||
| Mark A. Beck | February 22, 2024 | |||||||||||||
| /s/ MARK A. BUTHMAN | Director | |||||||||||||
| Mark A. Buthman | February 22, 2024 | |||||||||||||
| /s/ ALEJANDRO QUIROZ CENTENO | Director | |||||||||||||
| Alejandro Quiroz Centeno | February 22, 2024 | |||||||||||||
| /s/ CARL R. CHRISTENSON | Director | |||||||||||||
| Carl R. Christenson | February 22, 2024 | |||||||||||||
| /s/ LAKECIA N. GUNTER | Director | |||||||||||||
| Lakecia N. Gunter | February 22, 2024 | |||||||||||||
| /s/ KATRINA L. HELMKAMP | Non-Executive Chairman of the Board and Director | |||||||||||||
| Katrina L. Helmkamp | February 22, 2024 | |||||||||||||
| /s/ DAVID C. PARRY | Director | |||||||||||||
| David C. Parry | February 22, 2024 | |||||||||||||
| /s/ LIVINGSTON L. SATTERTHWAITE | Director | |||||||||||||
| Livingston L. Satterthwaite | February 22, 2024 | |||||||||||||
| /s/ L. PARIS WATTS-STANFIELD | Director | |||||||||||||
| L. Paris Watts-Stanfield | February 22, 2024 | |||||||||||||