UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

 

☒ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2016

 

or

 

☐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 1-10879

 

 

AMPHENOL CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

358 Hall Avenue, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492

203-265-8900

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

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 ☒  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 ☒

 

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 ☒  No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).  Yes ☒  No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ☒

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes ☐ No ☒

 

The aggregate market value of Amphenol Corporation Class A Common Stock, $.001 par value, held by non-affiliates was approximately $15,415 million based on the reported last sale price of such stock on the New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 2016.

 

As of January 31, 2017, the total number of shares outstanding of Registrant’s Class A Common Stock was 307,664,328.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement, which is expected to be filed within 120 days following the end of the fiscal year covered by this report, are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains certain statements made by the Company (as defined below) that are intended to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements may be identified through the use of terms such as “expect”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “intend”, “plan”, “guidance” and other similar expressions generally intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and on information currently available to our management.  Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Significant risk factors or uncertainties that might cause or contribute to a material difference and may affect our operating and financial performance are described below under the caption “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and other Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.  There may be other risks and uncertainties that we are unable to predict at this time or that we currently do not expect to cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make and affect our operating and financial performance.  Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K speak only as of the date hereof and the Company does not undertake any obligations to revise or update these statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

 

PART I

 

Item 1. Business

 

General

 

Amphenol Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, “Amphenol”, the “Company”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) is one of the world’s largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of electrical, electronic and fiber optic connectors, interconnect systems, antennas, sensors and sensor-based products and coaxial and high-speed specialty cable. The Company estimates, based on reports of industry analysts, that worldwide sales of interconnect and sensor-related products were approximately $140 billion in 2016. 

 

Certain predecessor businesses of the Company were founded in 1932 and the Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 1987.  The Company’s Class A Common Stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1991.

 

The Company’s strategy is to provide our customers with comprehensive design capabilities, a broad selection of products and a high level of service on a worldwide basis while maintaining continuing programs of productivity improvement and cost control. The Company operates through two reporting segments: (i) Interconnect Products and Assemblies and (ii) Cable Products and Solutions.  The Interconnect Products and Assemblies segment primarily designs, manufactures and markets a broad range of connector and connector systems, value-add products and other products, including antennas and sensors, used in a broad range of applications in a diverse set of end markets.  Interconnect products include connectors, which when attached to an electrical, electronic or fiber optic cable, a printed circuit board or other device, facilitate transmission of power or signals.  Value-add systems generally consist of a system of cable, flexible circuits or printed circuit boards and connectors for linking electronic equipment.  The Cable Products and Solutions segment primarily designs, manufactures and markets cable, value-add products and components for use primarily in the broadband communications and information technology markets as well as certain applications in other markets.

 

The table below provides a summary of our reporting segments, the 2016 net sales contribution of each segment, the primary industry and end markets that we service and our key products:

 

 

Information regarding the Company’s operations and assets by reporting segment, as well as the Company’s net sales and long-lived assets by geographic area, appears in Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Our Strategy

 

The Company’s overall strategy is to provide its customers with comprehensive design capabilities, a broad selection of products and a high level of service on a worldwide basis while maintaining continuing programs of productivity improvement and cost control.  Specifically, our business strategy is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Markets

 

The Company sells products to customers in a diversified set of end markets.

 

Automotive - Amphenol is a leading supplier of advanced interconnect systems, sensors and antennas for a growing array of automotive applications.  In addition, Amphenol has developed advanced technology solutions for hybrid-electric vehicles and is working with leading global customers to proliferate these advanced interconnect products into next-generation automobiles.  Sales into the automotive market represented approximately 18% of the Company’s net sales in 2016 with sales into the following primary end applications:

 

 

Broadband Communications - Amphenol is a world leader in broadband communication products for cable, satellite and telco video and data networks, with industry-leading engineering, design and manufacturing expertise. The Company offers a wide range of products to service the broadband market, from customer premises cables and interconnect devices to distribution cable and fiber optic components, as well as interconnect products integrated into headend equipment.  Sales into the broadband communications market represented approximately 6% of the Company’s net sales in 2016 with sales into the following primary end applications:

 

 

Commercial Aerospace - Amphenol is a leading provider of high-performance interconnect systems and components to the commercial aerospace market.  In addition to connector and interconnect assembly products, the Company also provides rigid and flexible printed circuits as well as high-technology cable management products.  All of Amphenol’s products are specifically designed to operate in the harsh environments of commercial aerospace while also providing substantial weight reduction, simplified installation and minimal maintenance.  Sales into the commercial aerospace market represented approximately 5% of the Company’s net sales in 2016 with sales into the following primary end applications:

 

 

Industrial - Amphenol is a technology leader in the design, manufacture and supply of high-performance interconnect systems, sensors and antennas for a broad range of industrial applications.  Amphenol’s core competencies include application-specific industrial interconnect solutions utilizing integrated assemblies, including with both cable and flexible printed circuits, as well as high-power interconnects requiring advanced engineering and system integration.  In particular, our innovative solutions facilitate the increasing demands of embedded computing and power distribution.

Sales into the industrial market represented approximately 18% of the Company’s net sales in 2016 with sales into the following primary end applications:

 

 

Information Technology and Data Communications - Amphenol is a global provider of interconnect solutions to designers and manufacturers of internet-enabling systems.  With our industry-leading high-speed, power and fiber optic technologies, together with superior simulation and testing capability and cost effectiveness, Amphenol is a market leader in interconnect development for the information technology (“IT”) and datacom market. Whether industry standard or application-specific designs are required, Amphenol provides customers with products that enable performance at the leading edge of next-generation, high-speed, power and fiber optics technology.  Sales into the IT and datacom market represented approximately 21% of the Company’s net sales in 2016 with sales into the following primary end applications:

 

 

Military - Amphenol is a world leader in the design, manufacture and supply of high-performance interconnect systems and antennas for harsh environment military applications. Such products require superior performance and reliability under conditions of stress and in hostile environments such as vibration, pressure, humidity, nuclear radiation and rapid and severe temperature changes.  Amphenol provides an unparalleled product breadth, from military specification connectors to customized high-speed board level interconnects; from flexible to rigid printed circuit boards; and from backplane systems to completely integrated assemblies.  Amphenol is a technology leader, participating in major programs from the earliest inception across each phase of the production cycle.  Sales into the military market represented approximately 9% of the Company’s net sales in 2016 with sales into the following primary end applications:

 

 

Mobile Devices - Amphenol designs and manufactures an extensive range of interconnect products, antennas and electromechanical components found in a wide array of mobile computing devices.  Amphenol’s capability for

high-volume production of these technically demanding, miniaturized products, combined with our speed of new product introduction, are critical drivers of the Company’s long-term success in this market.  Sales into the mobile devices market represented approximately 14% of the Company’s net sales in 2016 with sales into the following primary end applications:

 

 

Mobile Networks - Amphenol is a leading global interconnect solutions provider to the mobile networks market.  The Company offers a wide product portfolio.  The Company’s products are used in virtually every wireless communications standard, including 3G, 3.5G, 4G, LTE, TD-LTE, 5G and other future IP-based solutions.  In addition, the Company works with service providers around the world to offer an array of antennas and installation-related site solution interconnect products.  Sales into the mobile networks market represented approximately 9% of the Company’s net sales in 2016 with sales into the following primary end applications:

 

 

Customers and Geographies

 

The Company manufactures and sells a broad portfolio of products on a global basis to customers in various industries. Our customers include many of the leaders in their respective industries, and our relationships with them typically date back many years. We believe that our diversified customer base provides us an opportunity to leverage our skills and experience across markets and reduces our exposure to particular end markets.  Additionally, we believe that the diversity of our customer base is an important strength of the Company.

 

There has been a trend on the part of original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) customers to consolidate their lists of qualified suppliers to companies that have the ability to meet certain quality, delivery and other standards while maintaining competitive prices.  The Company has positioned its global resources to compete effectively in this environment.  As an industry leader, the Company has established close working relationships with many of its customers on a global basis. These relationships allow the Company to better anticipate and respond to these customer needs when designing new products and new technical solutions. By working with customers in developing new products and technologies, the Company is able to identify and act on trends and leverage knowledge about next-generation technology across our portfolio of products.  In addition, the Company has concentrated its efforts on service, procurement and manufacturing improvements designed to increase product quality and lower product lead-time and cost.  For a discussion of certain risks related to the Company’s sales to OEMs, refer to the risk factor titled “The Company is dependent on the communications industry, including information technology and data communications, wireless communications and broadband communications” in Part I, Item 1A herein.

 

The Company’s products are sold to thousands of OEMs in approximately 70 countries throughout the world. The Company also sells certain products to electronic manufacturing services (“EMS”) companies, to original design manufacturers (“ODMs”) and to communication network operators.  No single customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s net sales for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2014.  During the year ended December 31, 2015, aggregate sales to Apple Inc., including sales of products to EMS companies and subcontractors that the Company believes are manufacturing products on their behalf, accounted for approximately 11% of our net sales. 

 

The Company sells its products through its own global sales force, independent representatives and a global network of electronics distributors. The Company’s sales to distributors represented approximately 14% of the Company’s net sales in 2016.  In addition to product design teams and customer collaboration arrangements, the Company uses key

account managers to manage customer relationships on a global basis such that it can bring to bear its total resources to meet the worldwide needs of its multinational customers.

 

Manufacturing

 

The Company is a global manufacturer employing advanced manufacturing processes including molding, stamping, plating, turning, extruding, die casting and assembly operations and proprietary process technology for specialty and coaxial cable production and sensor fabrication. Outsourcing of certain manufacturing processes is used when cost-effective. Substantially all of the Company’s manufacturing facilities are certified to the ISO9000 series of quality standards, and many of the Company’s manufacturing facilities are certified to other quality standards, including QS9000, ISO14000, TS16949 and TS16469.

 

The Company’s manufacturing facilities are generally vertically integrated operations from the initial design stage through final design and manufacturing.  The Company has an established manufacturing presence in approximately 30 countries.  Our global coverage positions us near many of our customers’ locations and allows us to assist them in consolidating their supply base and lowering their production and logistics costs. In addition, the Company generally relies on local general management in every region, which we believe creates a strong degree of organizational stability and deeper understanding of local markets. We believe our balanced geographic distribution lowers our exposure to any particular geography.  The Company designs, manufactures and assembles its products at facilities in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa.  The Company believes that its global presence is an important competitive advantage, as it allows the Company to provide quality products on a timely and worldwide basis to its multinational customers.

 

The Company employs a global manufacturing strategy to lower its production and logistics costs and to improve service to customers. The Company’s strategy is to maintain strong cost controls in its manufacturing and assembly operations. The Company is continually evaluating and adjusting its expense levels and workforce to reflect current business conditions and maximize the return on capital investments.  The Company sources its products on a worldwide basis.  To better serve certain high-volume customers, the Company has established just-in-time facilities near these major customers.  The Company’s international manufacturing and assembly facilities generally serve the respective local markets and coordinate product design and manufacturing responsibility with the Company’s other operations around the world.  For a discussion of certain risks attendant to the Company’s foreign operations, refer to the risk factor titled “The Company is subject to the risks of political, economic and military instability in countries outside the United States” in Part I, Item 1A herein.

 

Net sales by geographic area as a percentage of the Company’s total net sales for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

 

 

Net sales by geographic area are based on the customer location to which the product is shipped.   For additional information regarding net sales by geographic area, refer to Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Research and Development

 

The Company generally implements its product development strategy through product design teams and collaboration arrangements with customers, which often results in the Company obtaining approved vendor status for its customers’ new products and programs.  The Company focuses its research and development efforts primarily on those product areas that it believes have the potential for broad market applications and significant sales within a one- to three-year period.  The Company seeks to have its products become widely accepted within the industry for similar applications and products manufactured by other potential customers, which the Company believes will provide additional sources of future revenue.  By developing application specific products, the Company has decreased its exposure to standard products, which generally experience greater pricing pressure.

 

At the end of 2016, our research, development, and engineering efforts were supported by approximately 2,400 employees and were performed primarily by individual operating units focused on specific markets and technologies.  The Company’s research and development expenses for the creation of new and improved products and processes were $166.1 million, $124.7 million and $114.8 million for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, which are classified as selling, general and administrative expenses in our Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Intellectual Property

 

Patents and other proprietary rights are important to our business. We also rely upon trade secrets, manufacturing know-how, continuing technological innovations, and licensing opportunities to maintain and improve our competitive position. We review third-party proprietary rights, including patents and patent applications, as available, in an effort to develop an effective intellectual property strategy, avoid infringement of third-party proprietary rights, identify licensing opportunities, and monitor the intellectual property claims of others.

 

We own a large portfolio of patents that principally relate to electrical, optical, electronic, antenna and sensor products. We also own a portfolio of trademarks and are a licensee of various patents and trademarks. Patents for individual products extend for varying periods according to the date of patent filing or grant and the legal term of patents in the various countries where patent protection is obtained. Trademark rights may potentially extend for longer periods of time and are dependent upon the laws of various jurisdictions and the use of the trademarks.

 

While we consider our patents and trademarks to be valued assets, we do not believe that our competitive position or our operations are dependent upon or would be materially impacted by the loss of any single patent or group of related patents.

 

Raw Materials

 

The Company purchases a wide variety of raw materials for the manufacture of its products, including (i) precious metals such as gold and silver used in plating, (ii) aluminum, steel, copper, titanium and metal alloy products used for cable, contacts and connector shells, (iii) certain rare earth metals used in sensors and (iv) plastic materials used for cable and connector bodies and inserts and other molded parts. Such raw materials are generally available throughout the world and are purchased locally from a variety of suppliers. The Company is generally not dependent upon any one source for raw materials or, if one source is used, the Company attempts to protect itself through long-term supply agreements.  The Company does not anticipate any difficulties in obtaining raw materials necessary for production.  Information regarding our purchasing obligations related to commitments to purchase certain goods and services is disclosed in Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.  For a discussion of certain risks related to raw materials, refer to the risk factor titled “The Company may experience difficulties in obtaining a consistent supply of materials at stable pricing levels” in Part I, Item 1A herein.

 

Competition

 

The Company encounters competition in substantially all areas of its business. The Company competes primarily on the basis of technology innovation, product quality, price, customer service and delivery time.  Primary competitors within the Interconnect Products and Assemblies segment include TE Connectivity, Molex, Yazaki, Foxconn, Sensata, JST, Delphi, Hirose and JAE, among others.  Primary competitors within the Cable Products and Solutions segment include Commscope and Belden, among others.  In addition, the Company competes with a large number of smaller companies who compete in specific geographies, markets or products.  For a discussion of certain risks related to competition, refer to the risk factor titled “The Company encounters competition in substantially all areas of its business” in Part I, Item 1A herein.

 

Backlog

 

The Company estimates that its backlog of unfilled firm orders as of December 31, 2016 was approximately $1.319 billion compared with backlog of approximately $1.121 billion as of December 31, 2015.  Orders typically fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on customer demand and general business conditions. Unfilled orders may generally be cancelled prior to shipment of goods. It is expected that all or a substantial portion of the backlog will be filled within the next 12 months. Significant elements of the Company’s business, such as sales to the communications-related markets

(including wireless communications, information technology and data communications and broadband communications) and sales to distributors, generally have short lead times. Therefore, backlog may not be indicative of future demand.

 

Employees

 

As of December 31, 2016, the Company had approximately 62,000 employees worldwide.  The Company believes that it has a good relationship with its unionized and non-unionized employees.  Refer to “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A. herein for a discussion of certain risks related to employee relations.

 

Environmental Matters

 

Certain operations of the Company are subject to environmental laws and regulations which govern the discharge of pollutants into the air and water, as well as the handling and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes. The Company believes that its operations are currently in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and that the costs of continuing compliance will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Available Information

 

The Company’s annual report on Form 10-K and all of the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), such as quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports, are available to view, free of charge, on the Company’s website, www.amphenol.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed electronically with, or furnished to, the SEC. Copies are also available without charge, from Amphenol Corporation, Investor Relations, 358 Hall Avenue, Wallingford, CT 06492.

 

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

Investors should carefully consider the risks described below and all other information in this annual report on Form 10-K. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that it currently deems immaterial may also impair the Company’s business, operations, liquidity and financial condition.

 

If actions taken by management to limit, monitor or control financial enterprise risk exposures are not successful, the Company’s business and consolidated financial statements could be materially adversely affected. In such case, the trading price of the Company’s common stock could decline and investors may lose all or part of their investment.

 

The Company is dependent on the communications industry, including information technology and data communications, wireless communications and broadband communications.

 

Approximately 50% of the Company’s 2016 net sales came from sales to the communications industry, including information technology and data communication, wireless communications and broadband communications, with 14% of the Company’s 2016 net sales coming from sales to the mobile device market. Demand for these products is subject to rapid technological change (see below—“The Company is dependent on the acceptance of new product introductions for continued revenue growth”). These markets are dominated by several large manufacturers and operators who regularly exert significant pressure on their suppliers, including the Company.  Furthermore, there has been a trend on the part of OEM customers to consolidate their lists of qualified suppliers to companies that have the ability to meet certain quality, delivery and other standards while maintaining competitive prices.  There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to meet these standards or maintain competitive pricing and therefore continue to compete successfully in the communications industry.  The Company’s failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Approximately 6% and 9% of the Company’s 2016 net sales came from sales to the broadband communications and mobile networks markets, respectively.  Demand for the Company’s products in these markets depends primarily on capital spending by operators for constructing, rebuilding or upgrading their systems. The amount of this capital spending and, therefore, the Company’s sales and profitability will be affected by a variety of factors, including general economic conditions, consolidation within the communications industry, the financial condition of operators and their

access to financing, competition, technological developments, new legislation and regulation of operators. There can be no assurance that existing levels of capital spending will continue or that spending will not decrease.

 

Changes in defense expenditures may reduce the Company’s sales.

 

Approximately 9% of the Company’s 2016 net sales came from sales to the military market. The Company participates in a broad spectrum of defense programs. The substantial majority of these sales are related to both U.S. and foreign military and defense programs. The Company’s military sales are generally to contractors and subcontractors of the U.S. or foreign governments or to distributors that in turn sell to the contractors and subcontractors. Accordingly, the Company’s sales are affected by changes in the defense budgets of the U.S. and foreign governments. A significant decline in U.S. or foreign government defense expenditures could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The Company encounters competition in substantially all areas of its business.

 

The Company competes primarily on the basis of technology innovation, product quality, price, customer service and delivery time. Competitors include large, diversified companies, some of which have greater assets and financial resources than the Company, as well as medium to small companies. There can be no assurance that additional competitors will not enter the Company’s existing markets, nor can there be any assurance that the Company will be able to compete successfully against existing or new competition, and the inability to do so could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The Company is dependent on the acceptance of new product introductions for continued revenue growth.

 

The Company estimates that products introduced in the last two years accounted for approximately 20% of 2016 net sales. The Company’s long-term results of operations depend substantially upon its ability to continue to conceive, design, source and market new products and upon continuing market acceptance of its existing and future product lines. In the ordinary course of business, the Company continually develops or creates new product line concepts. If the Company fails to or is significantly delayed in introducing new product line concepts or if the Company’s new products are not met with market acceptance, its business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

 

The Company’s credit agreements contain certain covenants, which if breached, could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

The Credit Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2016, among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company and a syndicate of financial institutions (the “Revolving Credit Facility”), which also backstops the Company’s commercial paper program, contains financial and other covenants, such as a limit on the ratio of debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, a limit on priority indebtedness and limits on incurrence of liens. Although the Company believes none of these covenants is presently restrictive to the Company’s operations, the ability to meet the financial covenants can be affected by events beyond the Company’s control, and the Company cannot provide assurance that it will meet those tests. A breach of any of these covenants could result in a default under the Revolving Credit Facility. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under any of the Company’s credit facilities, the lenders could elect to declare amounts outstanding thereunder to be immediately due and payable and terminate all commitments to extend further credit. If the lenders accelerate the repayment of borrowings, the Company may not have sufficient assets to repay the Revolving Credit Facility and other indebtedness.  As of December 31, 2016, the Company had outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility and the commercial paper program of nil and $1,018.9 million, respectively.

 

The Company relies on the capital markets, and its inability to access those markets on favorable terms could adversely affect the Company’s results.

 

The Company has used the capital markets to invest in its business and make strategic acquisitions.  If general economic and capital market conditions deteriorate significantly, it could impact the Company’s ability to access the capital markets.  While the Company has not recently encountered any financing difficulties, the capital and credit markets have experienced significant volatility in the past.  Market conditions could make it more difficult to access capital to finance capital investments, acquisitions and other initiatives including dividends and share repurchases.  As such, this could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or

cash flows.  In addition, while the Company has not encountered any such issues to date, if the credit rating agencies that rate the Company’s debt were to downgrade the Company’s credit rating in conjunction with a deterioration of the Company’s performance, it would likely increase the Company’s cost of capital and make it more difficult for the Company to obtain new financing and access capital markets, which could also have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

The Company’s results may be negatively affected by changing interest rates.

 

The Company is subject to interest rate volatility with regard to existing and future issuances of debt. The Company monitors the mix of fixed-rate and variable-rate debt, as well as the mix of short-term and long-term debt. As of December 31, 2016, $1,024.4 million, or 34%, of the Company’s outstanding borrowings were subject to floating interest rates.

 

As of December 31, 2016, the Company had the following unsecured Senior Notes outstanding:

 

 

A 10% change in LIBOR or floating interest rates at December 31, 2016 would not have a material effect on the Company’s interest expense. The Company does not expect changes in interest rates to have a material effect on income or cash flows in 2017, although there can be no assurance that interest rates will not change significantly.

 

The Company’s results may be negatively affected by foreign currency exchange rates.

 

The Company conducts business in many international currencies through its worldwide operations, and as a result is subject to foreign exchange exposure due to changes in exchange rates of the various currencies including possible currency devaluations. Changes in exchange rates can positively or negatively affect the Company’s sales, gross margins and equity. The Company manages currency exposure risk in a number of ways, including producing its products in the same country or region in which the products are sold (thereby generating revenues and incurring expenses in the same currency), cost reduction and pricing actions, and working capital management.  However, there can be no assurance that these actions will be fully effective in managing currency risk, especially in the event of a significant and sudden decline in the value of any of the international currencies of the Company’s worldwide operations, which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The Company is subject to the risks of political, economic and military instability in countries outside the United States.

 

Non-U.S. markets account for a substantial portion of the Company’s business.  During 2016, non-U.S. markets constituted approximately 72% of the Company’s net sales, with China constituting approximately 30% of the Company’s net sales. The Company employs approximately 90% of its workforce outside the United States. The Company’s customers are located throughout the world and the Company has many manufacturing, administrative and sales facilities outside the United States.  Because the Company has extensive non-U.S. operations as well as significant cash and cash investments held at institutions located outside of the U.S., it is exposed to risks that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows, including:

 

 

The Company may experience difficulties and unanticipated expense of assimilating newly acquired businesses, including the potential for the impairment of goodwill.

 

The Company has completed a number of acquisitions in recent years, including the acquisition of FCI on January 8, 2016.  The Company anticipates that it will continue to pursue acquisition opportunities as part of its growth strategy.  The Company may experience difficulty and unanticipated expenses associated with integrating such acquisitions, and the acquisitions may not perform as expected.  At December 31, 2016, the total assets of the Company were $8,498.7 million, which included $3,678.8 million of goodwill (the excess of fair value of consideration paid over the fair value of net identifiable assets of businesses acquired).  The Company performs annual evaluations for the potential impairment of the carrying value of goodwill.  Such evaluations have not resulted in the need to recognize an impairment. However, if the financial performance of the Company’s businesses were to decline significantly, the Company could incur a material non-cash charge to its income statement for the impairment of goodwill.

 

The Company may experience difficulties in obtaining a consistent supply of materials at stable pricing levels.

 

The Company uses basic materials like aluminum, steel, copper, titanium, metal alloys, gold, silver, certain rare earth metals and plastic resins, in its manufacturing processes. Volatility in the prices of such materials and availability of supply may have a substantial impact on the price the Company pays for such materials. In addition, to the extent such cost increases cannot be recovered through sales price increases or productivity improvements, the Company’s margins may decline.

 

Our business reputation and financial results may be impaired by improper conduct by any of our employees, customers, suppliers, distributors or any other business partners.

 

Several anti-bribery laws, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act, generally prohibit companies from engaging in improper conduct for the purpose of obtaining, retaining or improving business.  Such acts may include, but are not limited to, bribery, conflicts of interest, fraud, kickbacks and money laundering.  While the Company’s internal controls and systems are designed to protect it from illegal acts committed by employees, customers, suppliers, distributors and other business partners that may violate U.S. or local jurisdictional laws, there are no guarantees that such internal controls and systems will always protect the Company from such acts.  Such violations or allegations could damage the Company’s reputation, lead to criminal or civil investigations in the U.S. or foreign

jurisdictions, and ultimately result in monetary or non-monetary penalties and/or significant legal and administrative fees.  Any significant violations of our standards of conduct by any of our employees, customers, suppliers, distributors or business partners could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

The Company may be subject to litigation and other regulatory or legal proceedings.

 

The Company may be subject to litigation and other regulatory or legal proceedings that could adversely impact our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows, including but not limited to, claims related to employment, tax, intellectual property, environmental, sales practices, workers compensation, product warranty, product liability and acquisitions.  These lawsuits may include claims for compensatory, punitive or consequential damages, and could result in significant legal expenses.  While the Company does maintain insurance coverage to mitigate losses associated with some of these types of proceedings, the amount of insurance coverage may not be adequate to cover the total claims and liabilities.

 

Cybersecurity incidents on our information technology systems could disrupt business operations, resulting in adverse impacts to our reputation and operating results and potentially lead to litigation.

 

Global cybersecurity threats to the Company could lead to unauthorized access to the Company’s information technology systems, products, customers, suppliers and third party service providers.  Cybersecurity incidents could potentially result in the disruption of our business operations and the misappropriation, destruction, or corruption of critical data and confidential or proprietary technological information.  Cybersecurity incidents could also result from unauthorized parties gaining access to our systems or information through fraud or other means of deceiving our employees, suppliers or third party service providers.  Despite the Company’s implementation of preventative security measures to prevent, detect, address and mitigate these threats, our infrastructure may still be susceptible to disruptions from a cybersecurity incident, security breaches, computer viruses, outages, systems failures, natural disasters or catastrophic events, any of which could include reputational damage and litigation with third parties, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. 

 

Changes in general economic conditions, geopolitical conditions, and other factors beyond the Company’s control may adversely impact our business and operating results.

 

The Company’s operations and performance depend significantly on global, regional and U.S. economic and geopolitical conditions.  The following factors could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows:

 

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

 

None.

Item 2. Properties

 

The Company’s fixed assets include plants and warehouses and a substantial quantity of machinery and equipment, most of which is general purpose machinery and equipment using tools and fixtures and in many instances having automatic control features and special adaptations. The Company’s plants, warehouses and machinery and equipment are generally in good operating condition, are reasonably maintained and substantially all of its facilities are in regular use. The Company considers the present level of fixed assets along with planned capital expenditures as suitable and adequate for operations in the current business environment. At December 31, 2016, the Company operated a total of approximately 390 plants, warehouses and offices of which (a) the locations in the U.S. had approximately 3.5 million square feet, of which approximately 1.7 million square feet were leased; (b) the locations outside the U.S. had approximately 15.0 million square feet, of which approximately 10.0 million square feet were leased; and (c) the square footage by segment was approximately 17.6 million square feet and approximately 0.9 million square feet for the Interconnect Products and Assemblies segment and the Cable Products and Solutions segment, respectively.

 

The Company believes that its facilities are suitable and adequate for the business conducted therein and are being appropriately utilized for their intended purposes. Utilization of the facilities varies based on demand for the products. The Company continuously reviews its anticipated requirements for facilities and, based on that review, may from time to time acquire or lease additional facilities and/or dispose of existing facilities. 

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

 

The Company has been named as a defendant in several legal actions arising from normal business activities.  Although the potential liability with respect to such legal actions cannot be reasonably estimated, such matters are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.  Refer to “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A herein for additional information regarding legal risks and uncertainties.

 

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 effected the initial public offering of its Class A Common Stock (“Common Stock”) in November 1991. The Company’s Common Stock has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since that time under the symbol “APH”.  The following table sets forth the high and low closing sales prices for the Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange for each quarter of 2016 and 2015:

 

 

The following graph compares the cumulative total return of Amphenol over a period of five years ending December 31, 2016 with the performance of the Standard & Poor’s 500 (“S&P 500”) Stock Index and the Dow Jones U.S. Electrical Components & Equipment Index.  This graph assumes that $100 was invested in the Common Stock of Amphenol and each index on December 31, 2011, reflects reinvested dividends and is weighted on a market capitalization basis at the time of each reported data point.  The comparisons in the graph below are based upon historical data and are not indicative of, nor intended to forecast, future performance.

 

As of January 31, 2017, there were 37 holders of record of the Company’s Common Stock.  A significant number of outstanding shares of Common Stock are registered in the name of only one holder, which is a nominee of The Depository Trust Company, a securities depository for banks and brokerage firms. The Company believes that there are a significant number of beneficial owners of its Common Stock.

 

Contingent upon declaration by the Board of Directors, the Company generally pays a quarterly dividend on shares of its Common Stock.  In the third quarter of 2015, the Board of Directors approved an increase in the quarterly dividend rate from $0.125 to $0.14 per share effective with dividends declared in the third quarter of 2015, and in October 2016, approved a further increase in the quarterly dividend rate from $0.14 to $0.16 per share effective with dividends declared

in the fourth quarter of 2016.  Total dividends declared during 2016, 2015 and 2014 were $178.8 million, $163.7 million and $140.6 million, respectively. Total dividends paid in 2016, 2015 and 2014 were $172.7 million, $159.3 million and $101.9 million, respectively, including those declared in the prior year and paid in the current year.  The Company intends to retain the remainder of its earnings not used for dividend payments to provide funds for the operation and expansion of the Company’s business (including acquisition-related activity), to repurchase shares of its Common Stock and to repay outstanding indebtedness.

 

The Company’s Revolving Credit Facility contains financial covenants and restrictions, some of which may limit the Company’s ability to pay dividends, and any future indebtedness that the Company may incur could limit its ability to pay dividends.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s equity compensation plan information as of December 31, 2016:

 

 

Repurchase of Equity Securities

 

In January 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program under which the Company could repurchase up to 10 million shares of Common Stock during the two-year period ended January 20, 2017 (the “2015 Stock Repurchase Program”).  During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company repurchased 5.5 million shares of its common stock for approximately $325.8 million.  These treasury shares have been retired by the Company and common stock and retained earnings were reduced accordingly.  As of December 31, 2016, the Company had repurchased all of the shares authorized under the 2015 Stock Repurchase Program.  The table below reflects the Company’s stock repurchases for the year ended December 31, 2016:

 

 

 

On January 24, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new stock repurchase program under which the Company may purchase up to $1.0 billion of the Company’s Common Stock during the two-year period ending January 24, 2019 in accordance with the requirements of Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act (the “2017 Stock Repurchase Program”).  As of February 10, 2017, the Company repurchased approximately 3.2 million shares of its common stock for $213.9 million under the 2017 Stock Repurchase Program.  The price and timing of any future purchases under the 2017 Stock Repurchase Program will depend on factors such as levels of cash generation from operations, the volume of stock option exercises by employees, cash requirements for acquisitions, dividends, economic and market conditions and stock price. 

 

 

Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

 

The following table presents selected consolidated financial data that is derived from the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements and that should be read in conjunction with our “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes included herein.  The Company’s acquisitions during the five-year period below may affect the comparability of results.  Our consolidated financial information may not be indicative of our future performance. 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

(dollars in millions, except per share data)

 

The following discussion and analysis of the results of operations for the three years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 has been derived from and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, herein.  The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in U.S. dollars, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”).  The following discussion and analysis also includes references to certain non-GAAP financial measures, which are defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below, including “Constant Currency Net Sales Growth” and “Organic Net Sales Growth”.  For purposes of the following discussion, the terms “constant currencies” and “organically” have the same meanings as these aforementioned non-GAAP financial measures.  Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” within this Item 7 for more information, including our reasons for including non-GAAP financial measures and material limitations with respect to the usefulness of the measures.

 

In addition to historical information, the following discussion and analysis also contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the risk factors described in Item 1A herein, as well as the risks and uncertainties that exist with the use of forward-looking statements as described in the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” section included herein at the beginning of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Overview

 

General

 

The Company is one of the world’s largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of electrical, electronic and fiber optic connectors, interconnect systems, antennas, sensors and sensor-based products and coaxial and high-speed specialty cable.  The Company operates through two reporting segments: (i) Interconnect Products and Assemblies and (ii) Cable Products and Solutions.  In 2016, approximately 72% of the Company’s sales were outside the U.S.  The primary end markets for our products are:

 

 

The Company’s products are used in a wide variety of applications by numerous customers.  The Company competes primarily on the basis of technology innovation, product quality, price, customer service and delivery time.  There has been a trend on the part of original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) customers to consolidate their lists of qualified suppliers to companies that have the ability to meet certain quality, delivery and other standards while maintaining competitive prices.  The Company has focused its global resources to position itself to compete effectively in this environment.  The Company believes that its global presence is an important competitive advantage as it allows the Company to provide quality products on a timely and worldwide basis to its multinational customers.

 

Strategy

 

The Company’s strategy is to provide its customers with comprehensive design capabilities, a broad selection of products and a high level of service on a worldwide basis while maintaining continuing programs of productivity improvement and cost control.  The Company focuses its research and development efforts through close collaboration with its OEM customers to develop highly-engineered products that meet customer needs and have the potential for broad market applications and significant sales within a one- to three-year period.  The Company is also focused on controlling costs.  The Company does this by investing in modern manufacturing technologies, controlling purchasing processes and expanding into lower cost areas.

 

The Company’s strategic objective is to further enhance its position in its served markets by pursuing the following success factors:

 

 

In 2016, the Company reported net sales, operating income and net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation of $6,286.4, $1,205.2 and $822.9, respectively, up 13%, 9% and 8%, respectively, from 2015.  Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Net Income attributable to Amphenol, as defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below and as reconciled in Part II, Item 6 and Item 7 herein, increased by 12% and 11%, respectively.  Sales and profitability trends are discussed in detail in “Results of Operations” below.  In addition, a strength of the Company has been its ability to consistently generate cash from operations.  The Company uses cash generated from operations to fund capital expenditures and acquisitions, repurchase shares of its common stock, pay dividends and reduce indebtedness.  In 2016, the Company generated operating cash flow of $1,077.6.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth the components of net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation as a percentage of net sales for the years indicated.

 

 

2016 Compared to 2015

 

Net sales were $6,286.4 for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to $5,568.7 for the year ended December 31, 2015, an increase of 13% in U.S. dollars, 14% in constant currencies and 2% organically (excluding both currency and acquisition impacts) over the prior year.  Net sales in the Interconnect Products and Assemblies segment (approximately 94% of net sales) increased 13% in U.S. dollars, 14% in constant currencies and 2% organically in 2016, compared to 2015.  The sales growth was driven primarily by growth in the information technology and data communications, industrial, automotive, mobile networks and military markets, with contributions from both the Company’s acquisitions as well as organic strength, partially offset by a decline in sales in the mobile devices market and a slight decline in the commercial aerospace market.  Net sales to the information technology and data communications market increased (approximately $404.0), reflecting the benefits of FCI and other acquisitions as well as growth in products for data centers, including server, networking and storage-related applications.  Net sales to the industrial market increased (approximately $183.9) reflecting the benefit of acquisitions including FCI as well as sales strength in hybrid bus and truck, factory automation and heavy equipment, which was partially offset by sales declines in products sold into oil and gas exploration and alternative energy applications.  Net sales to the automotive market increased (approximately $118.3), driven by both an expansion of our products across a diversified range of vehicles and new onboard electronics as well as contributions from acquisitions.  Net sales to the mobile networks market increased (approximately $114.9), primarily due to contributions from acquisitions including FCI as well as increased sales to

mobile network service providers and OEMs.  Net sales to the military market increased (approximately $24.0), driven primarily by increased sales into avionics packaging and military airframe applications.  Net sales to the mobile devices market decreased (approximately $158.8) primarily due to declining sales of products incorporated into tablets, smartphones and production-related products, partially offset by growth in sales of products incorporated into new wearable technologies.  Net sales to the commercial aerospace market slightly decreased (approximately $2.5) due to decreases in commercial helicopter and business jet demand which offset the growth associated with new airplane platforms.  Net sales in the Cable Products and Solutions segment (approximately 6% of net sales), which is primarily in the broadband communications market, increased 10% in U.S. dollars, 12% in constant currencies and 9% organically in 2016, compared to 2015, primarily due to the sales increase in the broadband communications market and contributions from an acquisition made during the third quarter of 2016.

 

The table below reconciles Constant Currency Net Sales Growth and Organic Net Sales Growth to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures, by segment and consolidated, for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:

 

 

Geographically, net sales in the U.S. in 2016 increased approximately 3% ($1,740.7 in 2016 versus $1,696.3 in 2015) compared to 2015.  International sales in 2016 increased approximately 17% in U.S. dollars ($4,545.7 in 2016 versus $3,872.4 in 2015), 19% in constant currencies and 5% organically, compared to 2015 with strength in both Asia and Europe.  The comparatively stronger U.S. dollar in 2016 had the effect of decreasing net sales by approximately $61.3 when compared to foreign currency translation rates in 2015.

 

Gross profit margin as a percentage of net sales was 32.5% in 2016 compared to 31.9% in 2015.  The increase in gross profit margin as a percentage of sales relates primarily to higher gross profit margins in the Interconnect Products and Assemblies segment reflecting the benefit of higher volumes and cost reduction actions as well as the impact of the FCI acquisition, which had higher gross margins than the average of the Company.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $798.2 or 12.7% of net sales for 2016, compared to $669.1 or 12.0% of net sales for 2015.  The increase is driven primarily by the impact of the FCI acquisition, which has higher selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales than the average of the Company.  Administrative expenses increased approximately $41.2 in 2016 primarily related to the impact of the FCI acquisition and increases in the amortization of acquisition-related identified intangible assets and stock-based compensation expense and represented approximately 4.9% of net sales in 2016 and 4.8% of net sales in 2015.  Research and development expenses increased approximately $41.4 in 2016 primarily related to the impact of the FCI acquisition and represented approximately 2.6% of net sales in 2016 and 2.2% of net sales in 2015. Selling and marketing expenses increased approximately $46.5 in 2016 primarily related to the impact of the FCI acquisition and an increase in sales volume and represented approximately 5.1% of net sales in 2016 and 5.0% of net sales in 2015.

 

Operating income was $1,205.2 or 19.2% of net sales in 2016, compared to $1,104.7 or 19.8% of net sales in 2015.  Operating income for 2016 includes $36.6 of acquisition-related expenses, which included external transaction costs, amortization related to the value associated with acquired backlog and post-closing restructuring charges related to the FCI acquisition, as well as transaction costs associated with other acquisitions.  Operating income for 2015 includes $5.7

of acquisition-related expenses, which included professional and transaction-related fees and other external expenses related to acquisitions closed and announced in 2015.  These acquisition-related expenses are separately presented in the Consolidated Statements of Income.  For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, these expenses had an impact on net income of $33.1, or $0.11 per share, and $5.7, or $0.02 per share, respectively.  Excluding the effect of these acquisition-related expenses, Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin, as defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below, were $1,241.8 or 19.8% of net sales in 2016 and $1,110.4 or 19.9% in 2015.  The decrease in Adjusted Operating Margin for 2016 compared to 2015, relates to the decrease in operating margin for the Interconnect Products and Assemblies segment.  Operating income for the Interconnect Products and Assemblies segment in 2016 was $1,280.3 or 21.6% of net sales, compared to $1,158.3 or 22.1% of net sales in 2015.  The slight decrease in operating income margin is driven by the impact of the FCI acquisition, which had a lower operating margin than the average of the Interconnect Products and Assemblies segment for the full year period.  In addition, the operating income for the Cable Products and Solutions segment in 2016 was $52.8 or 14.5% of net sales, compared to $40.3 or 12.2% of net sales in 2015.  The increase in operating income margin for the Cable Products and Solutions segment in 2016 compared to 2015 was primarily as a result of strong operating execution on additional volume, along with the benefit from the favorable impact from commodities.

 

The table below reconciles Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:

 

Interest expense was $72.6 in 2016 compared to $68.3 in 2015.  The increase is primarily attributable to the impact of higher average debt levels in 2016 which primarily resulted from the Company’s dividend and stock buyback programs.

 

Other income, net, decreased to $8.5 in 2016 compared to $16.4 in 2015, primarily related to lower interest income on lower cash equivalents and short-term investments, which resulted from the funding of the acquisition of FCI in January 2016 with cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments held outside of the United States.

 

The provision for income taxes was at an effective rate of 27.0% in 2016 and 26.6% in 2015.  The effective tax rate for 2016 and 2015 included the effect of acquisition-related expenses incurred during each year, which had the impact of increasing the effective tax rate by 50 basis points and 10 basis points, respectively.  For additional details related to the reconciliation between the U.S. statutory federal tax rate and the Company’s effective tax rate for these years, refer to Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

2015 Compared to 2014

 

Net sales were $5,568.7 for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $5,345.5 for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of 4% in U.S. dollars, 8% in constant currencies and 3% organically (excluding both currency and acquisition impacts) over the prior year.  Net sales in the Interconnect Products and Assemblies segment (approximately 94% of net sales) increased 5% in U.S. dollars, 8% in constant currencies and 3% organically in 2015, compared to 2014.  The sales growth was driven by increases in the automotive, mobile devices, industrial and information technology and data communications equipment markets, with contributions from both organic growth and the Company’s acquisition program; partially offset by decreases in sales in the mobile networks, commercial aerospace and military markets.  Net sales to the automotive market increased (approximately $190.9), driven both by acquisitions and an expansion of our products across a diversified range of vehicles and onboard electronics.  Net sales to the mobile devices market increased (approximately $116.5) primarily due to growth in next generation laptops, mobile device accessories and production-related products.  Net sales to the industrial market increased (approximately $43.0) reflecting the benefit of acquisitions as well as growth in industrial battery and hybrid vehicle applications and in alternative energy applications, offset by significant declines in products sold into oil and gas exploration.  Net sales to the information technology and data communications market increased (approximately $17.6), primarily due to the growth in products for server, web and data center applications, partially offset by declines in storage-related

applications.  Net sales to the mobile networks market decreased (approximately $101.7), primarily due to a decrease in worldwide mobile network build-outs.  Net sales to the commercial aerospace market decreased (approximately $21.5), primarily due to decreases in commercial helicopter and business jet demand.  Net sales to the military market decreased slightly (approximately $3.8).  Net sales in the Cable Products and Solutions segment (approximately 6% of net sales), which is primarily in the broadband communications market, decreased 7% in U.S. dollars and 2% in both constant currencies and organically in 2015, compared to 2014 primarily due to a slowdown in spending by cable operators and the effect of ongoing operator consolidations in the broadband market.

 

The table below reconciles Constant Currency Net Sales Growth and Organic Net Sales Growth to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures, by segment and consolidated, for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014:

 

 

Geographically, net sales in the U.S. in 2015 increased approximately 1% ($1,696.3 in 2015 versus $1,673.5 in 2014) compared to 2014.  International sales for 2015 increased approximately 5% in U.S. dollars and approximately 10% in constant currencies ($3,872.4 in 2015 versus $3,672.0 in 2014) compared to 2014 with strength in both Asia and Europe.  The comparatively stronger U.S. dollar in 2015 had the effect of decreasing net sales by approximately $190.3 when compared to foreign currency translation rates in 2014.

 

Gross profit margin as a percentage of net sales was 31.9% in 2015 compared to 31.7% in 2014.  The increase in gross profit margin as a percentage of net sales relates primarily to higher gross profit margins in the Interconnect Products and Assemblies segment reflecting the benefit of higher volumes and cost reduction actions.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $669.1 or 12.0% of net sales for 2015, compared to $645.1 or 12.1% of net sales for 2014.  Administrative expenses increased approximately $9.6 in 2015 primarily related to increases in the amortization of acquisition-related identified intangible assets and stock-based compensation expense and represented approximately 4.8% of net sales in both 2015 and 2014.  Research and development expenses increased approximately $9.9 in 2015 reflecting an overall increase in expenses for new product development and represented approximately 2.2% of net sales in 2015 and 2.1% of net sales in 2014.  Selling and marketing expenses increased approximately $4.5 in 2015 primarily related to the increase in sales volume and represented approximately 5.0% of net sales in 2015 and 5.1% of net sales in 2014.

 

Operating income was $1,104.7 or 19.8% of net sales in 2015, compared to $1,034.6 or 19.4% of net sales in 2014.  Operating income for 2015 includes $5.7 of acquisition-related expenses (separately presented in the Consolidated Statements of Income) related to professional fees and other external expenses for acquisitions that were closed and announced in 2015.  Operating income for 2014 includes $14.1 of acquisition-related expenses, which included professional and transaction-related fees and other external expenses related to acquisitions closed in 2014, as well as the amortization of the value associated with acquired backlog related to acquisitions that closed in 2013 and 2014.  For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, these expenses had an impact on net income of $5.7, or $0.02 per share, and $10.2, or $0.04 per share, respectively.  Excluding the effect of these expenses, Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin, as defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below, were $1,110.4 or 19.9% of net sales in 2015 and $1,048.7 or 19.6% of net sales in 2014.  The increase in Adjusted Operating